John Nicholas Gibbs (abt. 1733 - abt. 1817)

Born about 29 Sep 1733 in Wallruth, Duchy, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 22 Jul 1817 at about age 83 in Lost Creek, Knox, Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Nicholas Gibbs. Source: #S119 Alias: Johann Nickel Gibbs.

Event: Emigrant 1747 From Germany of English ancestry. Distinction The Nicholas Gibbs Historical Society.

Nicholas Gibbs performed Patriotic Service in North Carolina in the American Revolution.

Nicholas Gibbs is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A044667.

Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 5 May 2020), "Record of Nicholas Gibbs", Ancestor # A044667. Military Service: American Revolution - DAR Recognized. GIBBS, NICHOLAS Ancestor #: A044667. Service: NORTH CAROLINA. Rank(s): SOLDIER, CIVIL SERVICE, PATRIOTIC SERVICE.

Fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain. This was a military engagement between Patriot and Loyalist militias in South Carolina during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War, resulting in a decisive victory for the Patriots. The battle took place on October 7, 1780, 9 miles (14 km) south of the present-day town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina in rural Cherokee County, South Carolina, where the Patriot militia defeated the Loyalist militia commanded by British Major Patrick Ferguson of the 71st Foot. Ignoring the participation of Ferguson, the battle has been described as "the war’s largest all-American fight

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kings_Mountain

Birth: 29 Sep 1735 GERMANY. Death: (ANTE) 7- -1817 KNOX CO TENNESSEE.

Service Source: ABSTRACTS OF THE MINUTES OF THE COURT OF PLEAS & QUARTER SESSIONS OF ORANGE CO NC, PP.4,5,8,21;NC REV ARMY ACCTS, V.9 PP.841,898. Description:

1) RENDERED MATERIAL AID. 2) TAX ASSESSOR,GRAND JUROR,ORANGE CO.

Residence 1) ORANGE CO - NORTH CAROLINA.

Spouse Number Name. 1) MARY EVELAND/EFLAND.

Gibbs Family History by Curtis P. Irwin, Sr. (circa 1952).

From the first issue of The Gibbs Magazine, published by The Nicholas Gibbs Historical Society.

It is believed that the forefathers of Nicholas Gibbs, because of religious and political reasons, migrated from England, their mother country, about the time of the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the reign of Oliver Cromwell. They sought refuge along the Rhine River in Germany and it was in the village of Wallruth, near the town of Krumbach, Duchy of Baden, that Nicholas was born on September 29, 1733.

In the original Gibbs family there were three brothers, Peter, Abraham, and Nicholas, and two sisters, Mary and Catherine. Abraham and Nicholas came from Germany to America, Nicholas coming to America in 1747 and Abraham sometime prior to that time. Peter died in Germany before Nicholas left for America. Abraham settled in the town of Fredericktown, Maryland and his descendants were residents of Baltimore, Maryland in 1846. Nicholas, named for his father (Nicholas of Germany), became offended with his father in some way and left home for America at the age of 14 years (1747). He left home with 30 guineas (0.00 in American money), which the captain of the ship told him was just half enough to pay for his fare across the ocean, so Nicholas sold his time to pay for the other half.

After working his time out for the other half of his fare, he joined the English army and served five years in the French and Indian War. While he was a soldier his brother, Abraham, heard of him and sought an appointment with him. Nicholas had no recollection of ever having seen his brother, so he applied the criterion his mother had given him by which to identify Abraham, should ever they meet, which was a spot or scar on Abraham's head. Finding the spot on Abraham's head, he at once claimed him as his brother. After serving his tour of five years, Nicholas went to Frederickstown, Maryland to live with his brother, Abraham. However his brother's wife and he did not harmonize, so Nicholas went to North Carolina and settled in Orange County, where he married Miss Mary Ephland and where part of his family was grown and some married before he came to East Tennessee to settle 12 miles northeast of Knoxville, Tennessee, near House Mountain.

Nicholas sold his property in Orange County, North Carolina on October 12, 1791 to Obed Green. His daughter, Catherine, married John Holmes on October 17, 1791 and it is believed that shortly after her marriage he and his large family moved to East Tennessee and settled in what is now Knox County. His old home is still standing near Harbison's Cross Roads (1952). Acccording to Tennessee records, Nicholas bought 450 acres of land in Hawkins County on March 6, 1792, for 200 pounds, "including Beaver Dam Fork on Beaver Creek." This section of Hawkins County later became part of Knox County, when on June 11, 1792, Governor Blount issued an ordinance defining the lines of Greene and Hawkins Counties and laying off two new counties, Knox and Jefferson.

Gibbs' Home in 1963.

On July 18, 1792,¹ the first court in Knox County was held by James White, et al. On April 25, 1796, the first County Court was begun under the State Constitution, at which time Nicholas Gibbs was one of the Justices of Peace commissioned by the Governor. On April 25, 1796, Nicholas Gibbs was given a grant of 100 acres on Beaver Dam Creek (Knox County) for "services in the Continental Line" (Land Grant Records, Raleigh, North Carolina, Book 88, Page 193, Grant 257, dated March 7, 1796). This grant is also recorded in Knox County, Tennessee, Book B, No. 2, Registrar's Office, and his name appears on the Knox County roll of Revolutionary War soldiers as having participated in the Battle of King's Mountain.² Both Nicholas Gibbs and his wife are buried in an old cemetery located on Emery Road, near Harbison's Cross Roads, North Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1915 stones were erected on the graves by some of his descendants.

Judging from the Knox County Court records, Nicholas Gibbs took an active part in civic affairs until his death, which presumably was in 1817, as his will, dated May 19, 1810, was probated in the July 1817 Sessions Book 2, Page 343, Knox County, Tennessee. This will lists all of his children as follows: seven daughters, Mary, Sarah, Catherine, Silphenia, Elizabeth, "Sophie's heirs", and Barbara; sons, John, David, Jacob, George, Nicholas, and Daniel. At the death of his wife any remaining estate, land excepted, was to be divided as follows: one dollar each to his sons and all remaining estate to be divided equally among his seven daughters. His sons, John and Nicholas, were appointed executors and witnesses were sons, Jacob Gibbs and Daniel Gibbs. John Gibbs, oldest son of Nicholas Gibbs, was born about 1780 and died August 13, 1840. He was buried in Gibbs graveyard in Andersonville, Tennessee, and the grave marked by a rock with his name written on it. On August 8, 1797 he married Ann Howard, born about 1777 in Virginia.

John Gibbs was a Justice of the Peace in Knox County, Tennessee, in 1802,¹ later moving to Anderson County, Tennessee. The following notice of his death was abstracted from a file of East Tennessee newspaper [sic] 1791-1865:

"John Gibbs, Esq. departed this life in Anderson County, Tennessee after a protracted illness of 50 days. His disease was apoplexy. He died at 7 o'clock in the morning, on the 13th day of August (1840), in the 71st year of his age. For more than 30 years he filled the office of Justice of the Peace, was Entry Taker, etc., and once represented this county in the State Legislature. He was a man of strict urbanity of manner, honest and respected, a kind father, indulgent master, good neighbor and strict friend, lived respected and died lamented.".

John Gibbs, in 1821, owned 1091 acres on the Clinch River, where the present city of Norris, Norris Dam and Lake now is in Anderson County, Tennessee. He sold this farm to Jacob Weaver, who deeded it to his daughter and she, in turn, deeded it to her son. He deeded it to his son, who deeded it to Mrs. Seetha Longmire. For five generations the farm remained in the family of Jacob Weaver. Mrs. Seetha Longmire was 73-years-old when the U.S. Government bought her land to build Norris Dam. Mrs. Longmire had spent all her life up to this date, except one year, on this farm. She moved with her son, Austin Longmire, to Maryville, Tennessee, in 1934 and died in January, 1941, at Maryville, Tennessee.

and Captain Nicholas were brothers, both soldiers in the War of 1812. Captain Nicholas was killed in the Battle of the Horse Shoe, 55 miles south of Fort Strother, in Alabama, on March 28, 1814, leaving a wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Doyle, and two sons, William Daniel and John.

¹ Goodspeed's History of Knox County, Tennessee, page 810.

² North Carolina's Soldiers in the Revolution.

³ From the records of Mrs. Ada Morrows Reeves of Nashville, Tennessee.

[1972 - Original] Editor's Note: This Gibbs Family History is copied from the records of Miss Lucky Gibbs, 4500 Washington Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee, who had in her possession the original copy.

[Webmistress' note: The following information did not scan well. It will be corrected as soon as the original document is again available to us.] Samuel Frazier married Pacific(?) Tineey Gibbs Craighead, niece of ___ stepmother, Barbara Gibbs. They are the progenitors of the Fraziers of Hamilton County, Tenn.

[ Return to Gibbs Family History Contents Page ]. Return to Knox County TNGenWeb History Page ].

http:/www.knoxcotn.org/history/gibbscirwin.html

Indian Ambush.

http:/trees.ancestry.com/ptViewStory.aspx?pid=-2042116548&tid=106931&did=a170ae07-eaa1-42a6-aead-0bb64d326c89&pg=0

Added by vadissaga on 9 Dec 2006.

On November 13, 1794, Peter Graves from Sharp's Station was tricked into exposing himself to an ambush as he followed the sound of what he believed was the call of a wild turkey. Waiting in ambush, the Indians shot hims from behind, scalped, and mutilated his bory with a sword. For days the station was alerted for attacks, but none came and the settlers relaxed somewhat.

Dr. C.L. Ridenour's book, "The Land Between The Lakes" published in 1941, recorded the following: "For several days (after Peter Graves's death) the people around the station were on the alert (for Indians, but there was no sign). Around the first of December the weather was mild and several of the settlers crossed the Clindh and Powell River to a large salt peter cave (Meredith's Cave near Shanghai on property belonging to the Sharps) for niter for making gunpowder. Nicholas Gibbs, Henry Sharp, Conrad Sharop and Levi Hinds were the only men left at the station. About a score of small children, perhaps as many women and girlsand several boys were gathered from the cabins near by.".

"Just at dusk Gibbs heard several owls hooting on the mountain above. Something in the notes of the owls aroused his curiosity. The other men were convinced that a considerable force of Indians were about. The small children were placed in one of the cabins of the station while the women and girls with the boys were divided into four companies to with stand the Indian attack. Suddenly the owl calls ceased.

"In a short time the heavy chain at the stockade gate rattled and a gutteral 'open' aroused the bear dogs which rushed about the stockade barking furiously. The reply to the Indian at the gate was a rifle shot. The battle lasted through the night with no casualties to the people in the station. Before daybreak the Indians lifted the seige leaving blood on all sides of the station. This unreported Indian battle was perhaps the most hotly contested fight in the annals of East Tennessee. The bullet holes on the old log station remained as silent reminder of the battle of Sharp's Station". 1

Additional information about this story. Description Death of Peter Graves. Date November 13, 1794. Location Sharp's Station near Clinch River near what is now Knoxville, Tennessee. Attached to Peter Graves (1743 - 1794). Henry Sharp (1735 - 1814). Conrad Sharp (1767 - 1826). Gibbs (1733 - 181 Sharp, Graves and Gibbs Genealogy.

http:/www.rootsweb.com/~tnkin/historicalgibbs.htm

Another distinguised settler at Sharp's Station was Nicholas Gibbs. Gibbs was born in the Duchy of Baden, German, on September 29, 1733. It is claimed that he saw service in the French and Indian War and during the American Revolution as an official of Orange County, North Carolina, under the Continental Government. The Gibbs family had once been courtiers at the royal court when the Stuart dynasty held power in England and held great estates there. Gen. G. W. Gibbs, a son of Nicholas, in a letter to the first William Gibbs McAdoo, in 1846, stated that his family left England to save their heads at the time their king lost his, and from this bit of information, we believe that the Gibbs family migratd to German when Cromwell came to power and caused King Charles I to be executed. 1

Before migrating to Tennessee Nicholas Gibbs lived some four miles from present Burlington, North Carolina on Liberty Road. Stoner's Church at the confluence of the creeks that united to form Great Alamance, housed both the German Reform and the Lutheran congregations. 1

Hundreds of people throughout East Tennessee proudly claim descent from Nicholas Gibbs and his wife, Mary Efland. Gibbs and his family moved to upper Knox County, Tennessee, after Indian hostilities ceased where he purchased many acres and raised a large family. The Gibbs community and Gibbs High School bear his name. Gibbs died in 1817 and was buried on the homeplace at near Harbison's Cross Roads. His log home, built in 1792, still stands. 1

His children were:

1. Elizabeth Gibbs, born 1765, married John Snodderly, buried at Lost Creek Cemetery. 2. Mary Gibbs, born 1766, married Henry Albright, buried at Stoner's churchyard, Orange (now Alamance) County, North Carolina. 3. Sarah Gibbs, married Conrad Sharp, buried Lost Creek Cemetery. 4. John Gibbs, married Ann Howard and was buried near the mouth of Hinds' Creek in Anderson County, Tennessee. 5. Catherine Gibbs, married John Holmes and is buried in Stoner's churchyard, Alamance County, North Carolina. 6. Nicholas Gibbs Jr., married Rachel Doyle. He was a captain and fell in the Battle at Horseshoe Bend, supposedly buried there. 7. David Gibbs, born in 1774, married Sarah Tulman, daughter of Tobias and Catherine Sharp Tillman. Catherine was a daughter of Henry and Barbara Graves Sharp. Tobias settled where the late Harvey Stooksbury lived near Loyston, but migrated to Preable County, Ohio, in 1803. 8. Jacob Gibbs, born 1777, married Hulda Reed and is buried in Gibbs family graveyard near Harbinson's Cross Roads, Knox County, Tennessee. 9. Barbara Gibbs, married Dr. Beriah Frazier and is buried in Rhea County, Tennessee. 10. Sylphenia Gibbs, married Jesse Martin and migrated to Missouri. 11. George W. Gibbs, married Leanna Dibrell of White County, Tennessee. He was a lawyer and banker in Nashville, founded Union City, Tennessee, and buried there. He was Adjutant General of Tennessee under Gov. William Carroll. 12. Daniel Gibbs, born 1786, married Sarah Sharp.

For more information on this article or any article or publication of the Union County Historical Society please write them at: Union County Historical Society. P.O. Box 95. Maynardville, TN 37807.

One World Tree.

http:/trees.ancestry.com/owtperson.aspx?pid=13302949&st=1 Nicholas Gibbs. Born: 29 Sep 1733. Wallruth, Duchy Baden, [state], Germany. Died: 1817. [city], Knox, Tennessee, USA.

Spouse 1. Mary Efland. Born: 1745 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA. Died: 1834 in [city], Knox, Tennessee, USA Edit. Marriage: 1764 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit.

Children: Elizabeth Gibbs F 1765 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. Mary Gibbs F 1766 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. Sarah Gibbs F 1768 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. John Gibbs M 1769 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. Catherine Gibbs F 17 Jan 1771 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. Nicholas Gibbs M abt 1772 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. David Gibbs M 18 Apr 1774 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. Jacob Gibbs M 1776 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. Silphenia Gibbs F abt 1779 in Orange, [county], North Carolina, USA Edit. Melinda Gibbs F abt 1783 in Orange, [county], North Carolina, USA Edit. George Washington Gibbs M 3 Oct 1784 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. Daniel Gibbs M 20 May 1786 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. Barbara Gibbs F 18 Apr 1789 in [city], Orange, North Carolina, USA Edit. Sophia Gibbs F abt 1790 in Orange, [county], North Carolina,.

Sources

https://archive.org/stream/springer_10.1007-b100518/10.1007-b100518#page/n63/mode/2up

Sharp, Graves and Gibbs Genealogy.

http:/www.rootsweb.com/~tnkin/historicalgibbs.htm

S119 Gary W Watson's Genealogy Archives Repository: #R47 NOTESource Medium: Internet

• Repository: http://www.geocities.com/watsgw1155/eveland/aqwg05.htm#9240

Title: Record of Commissions of Officers in the Tennessee Militia Note:

Title: North Carolina Census, 1790-1890 Author: Jackson, Ron V.

Title: War of 1812 Service Records Author: Direct Data Capture, comp. Publication: National Archives and Records Administration. Index to the Compiled Military Service Records for the Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the War of 1812. Washington, D.

Title: Millennium File Author: Heritage Consulting Publication Title: Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots Author: Hatcher, Patricia Law

Note

Note: Gibbs Homestead

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=5c009772-cf8e-4098-a89e-153493e7a9e5&tid=27284681&pid=830

Note: Indian Attack on Sharp's Station

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=30a9ab26-562f-4c40-aaf8-26d3a37e3a77&tid=27284681&pid=830

Note: Gibbs Historical Marker

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=61f67c0b-d4d5-4cfe-bda1-283d3fdbf26f&tid=27284681&pid=830

Note: Coming to America 1747

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=3742e0ed-d984-4696-9528-4e6adc59afed&tid=27284681&pid=830

Note: Nicholas Gibbs Home

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=43ce6cd4-b922-41dc-b9ab-8d8d73bd2f9e&tid=27284681&pid=830

Note: Gibbs Gravestone

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=898fcf08-6ff6-438a-b08d-94c09a249203&tid=27284681&pid=830

Note: Nicholas Gibbs Headstone

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=271be631-1d39-4236-94fe-c94d82ec02a0&tid=27284681&pid=830

Note: Nicholas Gibbs History

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=a6a2ed4b-1284-4097-9588-de828a7a91ae&tid=27284681&pid=830

Note: Gibbs Homestead Historical Marker

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=7b3dd78d-c261-4c7b-8e2e-ebd4a6697a03&tid=27284681&pid=830