SEcnoN II., 1913. [107] Traxs. R.S.C. 



The Vicissitiides of a Loyalist Clergyman 

 By Sidvin Frank Tucker. 



Presented by W. D. Lighthall, F.R.S.C. 



(Read May 28, 1913) 



Information in regard to the life of the Rev. George Gillmore 

 previous to his coming to America is very meagre. Nothing has been 

 found to show who his parents were, or where they resided. There 

 is doubt as to just when and where he was born, but according to the 

 best information at hand, he was born in 1720, in County Antrim, 

 Ulster, Ireland. The first exact knowledge we have of him comes 

 from the records of the University of Edinburgh, which show him 

 to have studied there in 1762, in the class of Logic and Metaphysics, 

 and also in the class of Natural Philosophy. He probably prosecuted 

 his studies at Edinburgh the succeeding year also; this appears from 

 the following memoranda found among some of his papers: "I de- 

 livered a lecture in the Divinity Hall, College of Edinburgh, upon Prov. 

 3rd. chap, beginning at the 18th. verse, the 18th. Feb. 1763." ''I 

 delivered a sermon in the Divinity Hall at Edinburgh, on the 9th. of 

 April, 1763. " From these items it will be seen that it was at a period 

 of life considerably later than usual that he began his studies for the 

 ministry. It is evident, however, that he was not graduated from 

 the University. 



A paper connected with the period of his life before leaving the 

 old country is a copy written by himself of the rules of a ' 'Fellowship " 

 of which he was a member. This Society met once a week for prayer 

 and conference, and no member was to absent himself without suffi- 

 cient reason, of which the members were to judge. The principal 

 exercises were prayer, praise, and conference on "questions relating 

 to the substantial of religion or practical godliness. " In these exer- 

 cises each member was to engage in turn. 



Gillmore married in Ireland, a Miss Allen, and part of his family 

 were born in Ireland. He embarked with his wife and six children for 

 America in 1769; thus it will be seen that he was nearly 50 years old 

 when he ventured into the colonies. In his diary he says: "June 21st. 

 we set sail for America, with a very agreeable gale. " 



On leaving he was naturally much dejected and in his diary 

 he says: "Imprecations which were echoed by everyone on board too, 



