(6 May 1802-1841, probably Nov.), surveyor. Born presumably in GC. Parents: Capt. Donald McGillis (1758-1843) and his wife Isabella MacDonell, both U E Loyalists. (For Donald McGillis, and the GC connections of his family, see the entry for his father, who was a U E Loyalist also called Donald McGillis). John McGillis was appointed a land surveyor on 14 Oct. 1825. His death is described in the following item copied in full from an old scrapbook, “We regret to learn that John M’Gillis, Esquire, Surveyor, of Williamstown met with an untimely death by drowning, in the beginning of this week. Mr. M’Gillis had been visiting an acquaintance at a little distance from his own house, and left to return home on foot after dark when it is supposed that from the darkness of the night he mistook the road and fell into the river Raisin and was drowned. His body has been found in the river between Williamstown and Lancaster.” He was unmarried. In 1935 Col. D. M. Robertson had in his possession a map or plan which John McGillis had made of Williamstown and which showed the property there of Hugh McGillis, who was John’s uncle and laird of Williamstown.

ASC ii, 50 (undated clipping, from Cornwall Observer?) (QF) * Reid, DN, 303 (Toronto Herald 18 Nov. 1841, based on CO) * his biog. in “John McGillis,” OLS No. 50 (1935) 94-95 (no picture had been located at this time)