Thomas Gibbs (1615 - 1692)

Born 1615 in Warwickshire, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 27 Mar 1692 at about age 77 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

The origin of THOMAS GIBBS, born ca. 1615, died shortly before 27 Mar. 1693, Sandwich, MA has not been proven. The name of his wife is also unknown, but she is believed to be the mother of all of his children.^[1]

A previous version of this profile attached Thomas as son of another Thomas Gibbs for which there is no source provided.

Plymouth Colony records show the birth of three children, each "sonn of Thomas Gibbs": John, b. 12 Sept. 1634, Thomas, b. 23 March 1636, and Samuel Gibbs, b. 23 June 1639. Apparently Sandwich records between 1637 and 1651 were entered in a book not found, and the births were entered later in the Colony records. It is believed all three were born in Sandwich after 1643.^[2] Four additional children were born at Sandwich by 1657.^[3]

Thomas is first recorded in the "List of those able to Beare Arms in the Colony of New Plymouth in 1643", men of Sandwich between 16 and 60. He took the oath of fidelity the same year. In Sandwich in 1654, he pledged money to build a mill; and the next year he pledged for the building of a "place for publick meetings". In 1657, he was among those "engaged to pay a tax towards the minister's support".^[1]

He served on the grand jury 18 May 1659; was one of the "musqueteres" supplied shot as a member of the military company 25 June 1660; surveyor of highways for Sandwich 1 June 1669; town constable 21 March 1673/4, and again surveyor of highways 1 June 1675.^[2]

The inventory of his estate was taken 27 Mar. 1692/3, and John Gibbs of Sandwich, eldest son, appointed administrator. The three sons, John, Thomas, and Samuel entered into an agreement to provide jointly for support of their mother; the real estate going to John according to the father's desire; and Thomas and Samuel quit claim thereto, "because wee all desire peace and union amongst us".^[3][4]

Children

1. John Gibbs b Sep 12, 1644
2. Thomas Gibbs b Mar 23, 1645/46
3. Samuel Gibbs, b Jun 23, 1649
4. Sarah Gibbs b Apr 11, 1652; m Ebenezer Nye
5. Job Gibbs b Apr 15, 1655; killed in battle at Rehoboth 1676
6. Bethia Gibbs twin
7. Mary Gibbs, b Aug 12, 1657

Research Notes

Unsubstantiated family tradition includes:

Thomas had a brother, Samuel Gibbs, who also settled in Sandwich. Researcher Brownson of the NEHGR calls this "mistaken."^[2]

"The Gibbs Family, it is claimed, is of Scottish-Norman extraction and can be traced back to 1560; and the name is said to have appeared in various parts of England as far back as 1327 in the reign of Edward III. A fleet of eight ships sailed from England in 1638, carrying eminent Puritan leaders and their followers in search of freedom to worship freely. Reportedly, two great Puritan patriots, John Hampden and Cromwell, were apprehended on board by the King's officers and forcibly detained in England. One of these ships was the "Lion's Whelp", carrying Thomas Gibbs, his wife, and two sons, his brother Samuel and family, and perhaps another brother, Matthew. After a long voyage, the "Lion's Whelp" arrived at Salem, MA, in 1639. Salem had been selected earlier, and the pioneers had chosen their home sites." Harold E. Gibbs, "The Cape Cod Branch of the Gibbs Family in America", The Gibbs Family Bulletin No. 5, 1925.

David C. Gibbs - adds a note. The above story written by Harold, was severely edited and changed. The original date was 1629. And the Story of Hamden & Cromwell incorrect for the time period of 1638. I have photocopies of Harold's original research notes. He ended the Cape Cod Gibbs Family relationship with the Gibbs Family Association due to the Edited version.

On a second note: Two descendants of two of Thomas son's tested their Y-Chromosome for the Gibbs Surname DNA Project. They matched 100% at 37 markers with Two descendants of Mathew's 2 son Matthew Jr. and John. Proving the Thomas and Mathew share a Common Unknown Ancestor, and are NOT related to the greater Kent County, England Gibbes/Gibbs.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Brownson, Lydia B. Phinney. "Thomas Gibbs of Sandwich, Mass. (ca 1615-1693)." New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 123, January 1969. Page 54. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB202/i/11620/54/0
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Brownson, Jan 1969, Page 55. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB202/i/11620/55/0
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Brownson, Jan 1969. Page 56. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB202/i/11620/56/0
4. ↑ "Probate records v. 1-3 1686-1747" database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YB-N9Y5 : 18 April 2024), Film# 00770540, Barnstable, Massachusetts, image 50, Vol 1, Page 75-76.