Kate’s notes: In the 1900 census for Minerva, Essex County, New York, the household of Robert Gilliland is listed as Robert, 63; wife Rebecca, 65; daughter Sarah, 38; son Robert, 34, daughter-in-law Elizabeth, 32, and granddaughter Mary, 11. Also according to this census, Robert and Rebecca had six children but only two were still living in 1900.
     Later, the 1920 census for Minerva reveals that 82 year old Robert Gilliland immigrated to New York from Ireland in 1857 and became a naturalized citizen in 1865. In this same census, which is for the “Irish Town” section of Minerva, there is a Madeline A. Gilliland living just two homes away as the 14 year old stepdaughter in the home of Walter and Elizabeth O’Connor. I must assume that Madeline was the daughter of Robert Gilliland, Jr. and his wife Elizabeth, who was listed in the 1900 census, and that Walter O’Connor was Elizabeth’s husband by a second marriage.
    Granddaughter Mary (of the 1900 census) would be the Mrs. William Ratigan mentioned in the article below and Madeline would have been her younger sister. At this time I am not aware of any other children from the marriage of Robert, Jr. and Elizabeth Gilliland. Any additional notes or corrections are welcome.

The North Creek News-Enterprise
Essex County, New York
22 January, 1975

From the Files of the North Creek Enterprise
50 Years Ago
Jan. 22, 1925

    Robert Gilliland and daughter, whose home was burned at Minerva, were staying with his granddaughter, Mrs. William Ratigan.

--transcription by Kate Maynard, 2013