This name is written in early deeds "Kilchrist." "Gilcreas" and "Gilchrest." There were two brothers named Gilchrist, who were born in Ayrshire, Scotland. They emigrated to the vicinity of Londonderry, Ireland, and came to America about the year 1730. They settled at Chester, New Hampshire. Robert Gilchrist bought land in Chester, on which he settled and reared a family. His will, proved September 24, 1746, mentions wife Agnes, who died September, 1758, and sons John, William, Alexander and Robert, daughters Agnes and Elizabeth, and brother William, the executor. Children:
- John, born in Chester, New Hampshire, 1731, he never married, and was a house carpenter.
- Alexander, (mentioned below).
- William, born January 8, 1736, died unmarried.
- Agnes, born May 28, 1738, married John Kelso.
- Elizabeth, never married, but made her home with her unmarried brother William.
- Robert, born October 8, 1743, settled in Goffstown, and is said to have died in the "old war."
(II) Alexander, son of Robert and Agnes Gilchrist, was born in Chester, New Hampshire, October 28, 1733. He used to say he never had but two days' schooling in his life, yet he acquired such an education that he surveyed lands and wrote deeds. About 1763 he went to Goffstown and bought a farm near the Bedford line. He married Martha, daughter of John Shirley. He had seven children:
- John, (mentioned below).
- Samuel, born January 12, 1764; married, in 1791, Sarah Aiken, and died 1822; they had sixteen children, three of whom, John, James and Matthew, were physicians.
- Mary. died unmarried.
- Janet, born June 12, 1768, died 1839, she married William Riddle, and had eight children.
- James, died young.
- Alexander (2), born 1772; married Margaret Moore, and had five children.
- David, born December, 1777, died November 28, 1847; married Hannah, daughter of Robert Kennedy, and had eight children.
(III) John, son of Alexander and Martha (Shirley) Gilchrist, was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire, May 8, 1763, died September 8, 1853. He married Sarah Akin, and had eleven children, among them being Alexander, Frederick and Robert.
(IV) Robert, son of John and Sarah (Akin) Gilchrist, was born in 1782, died June 8, 1862. He settled in the town of Argyle, Washington county, New York, where he was a farmer and merchant. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a man of high standing. He married Elizabeth Dawson, born 1788. Children:
- Ellen, married Robert Cuthbert.
- Andrew, married Julia Davis.
- Mary, married William Davis.
- Jane, married ———— Bartlett.
- Margaret, married Alonzo Wood.
- Ralph.
- Martha, married John Millwood; children:
- Emma, married Myron Whittemore,
- Phoebe J., married Le Roy Hatch.
- Thomas, mentioned below.
- Elizabeth, married Joseph Broughton; children: Harry and Harriet (twins).
[Errata on Vol. IV, p. xlvii reads: "Robert Cuthbert writes to Mr. Frank Gilchrist: 'Our great grandfather's name was Andrew Gilchrist, father of Andrew, Robert and Thomas. Grandmother's name was Elizabeth Dawson. Grandfather and family came to this country from Newbliss, county Monaghan, Ireland.'"]
(V) Thomas, eighth child of Robert and Elizabeth (Dawson) Gilchrist, was born in the village of Argyle, Washington county, New York, May 20, 1829. He moved with his parents, about 1840, to Hartford, in the same county. He was educated in the common school. He adopted agriculture as his business, and became a large landowner, farmer and shipper of farm products. He bought up and shipped to New York City the first carload of potatoes that ever went out of Washington county to that city. He was an extensive dealer and a man of ample means, and influence. He served in several public positions in his town, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a Republican. He died in New York City, December 5, 1886. He married, January 1, 1851, Maria, daughter of John and Phebe (Qua) Powell. Children:
- Frank, mentioned below;
- Charles, born February 5, 1860; married Laura Foster, and has a daughter, Nina Jeannette.
(VI) Frank, eldest son of Thomas and Maria (Powell) Gilchrist, was born in Hartford, Washington county, New York, on the homestead farm, January 7, 1857. He was reared on the farm, and educated in the public schools, Fort Edward Collegiate Institute and Troy Conference Seminary. He was a farmer and produce dealer along the same lines followed by his father with such success. He continued in this most prosperous business until 1909, when he became connected with the Glen Falls Coal Company, succeeding James M. Hunting as president and manager. He now devotes his energies to the management of the coal company. He was a member of the board of assessors of Glen Falls for nine years, resigning in 1909. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a supporter of the Republican party. He married, August 1, 1876, Minnie C., daughter of John F. and Mary Calista (Brayton) Whittemore, of Hartford, New York. Children:
- Mabel Calista, born June 8, 1879; married Harry D. Gill, and has a daughter, Minnie Eloise, born March 27, 1905.
- Thomas Byron, mentioned below.
[From Addenda and Errata in Vol. IV, p. xlvii: "Robert Cuthbert writes to Mr. Frank Gilchrist: 'Our great grandfather's name was Andrew Gilchrist, father of Andrew, Robert and Thomas. Grandmother's name was Elizabeth Dawson. Grandfather and family came to this country from Newbliss, county Monaghan, Ireland.'"]
(VII) Thomas B., son of Frank and Minnie C. (Whittemore) Gilchrist, was born May 11, 1885. When ten years of age his parents removed to Glen Falls, where he obtained his early education and prepared for college. He entered Cornell University, where he was graduated from the law school, class of 1906. He was admitted to the bar in Rochester, New York, in 1906, and to the Saratoga county bar in September of the same year. He is now (1910) practicing his profession in New York City. He married, September 14, 1909, Alice Edith, daughter of Samuel B. Goodman, of Glen Falls, New York.