Kingsley Beatty Gibbs (1810 - abt. 1859)

Born 25 Jul 1810 in Brooklyn Heights, Kings, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died about 15 Oct 1859 at about age 49 in Florida, United States

Biography

Kingsley Beatty Gibbs was born in 1810 in Brooklyn Heights, New York City, New York.

"Kingsley Beatty Gibbs was the son of George and Isabelle (Kingsley) Gibbs, and nephew of Zephaniah Kingsley, a prominent planter and territorial-era politician with an extensive plantation at Fort George Island. On the death of his uncle, Gibbs inherited the plantation at Fort George Island, his uncle's schooner, "North Carolina," and his uncle's books. Gibbs entered public life in 1840 as a member of the House of Representatives, and in 1843 he was appointed by Governor R. K. Call as justice of the peace in Duval County. In October, 1846, he was inspector of Duval County elections at St. Johns Bar. Sometime after 1847, he moved from his plantation on Fort George Island to St. Augustine, where he built a house on the corner of Bay and Hypolita streets. In St. Augustine, Gibbs was deputy clerk of the Circuit Court under his father, George Gibbs, who was clerk, and later he became clerk of the Circuit Court. He was also the first recording secretary and librarian of the Florida Historical Society from 1856 to 1860. He died in 1860 shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War."^[1]

According to other sources, including his own diary^[1], his uncle, Zephaniah Kingsley Jr, sold him the Kingsley Plantation, Duval County, Florida on Fort George Island in 1839, which included 40 slaves. His uncle's will stated the following bequest:^[2]

To my nephew Kingsley B. Gibbs I will and devise one half of my two Thousand acre Tract of Land in the Twelve mile Swamp which when divided into two parts will give one thousand acres of land for his one half be the same more or less, to him his heirs of assigns: I also bequeath to him in fee, my Schooner North Carolina with all its appurtenances, likewise my books and arms not otherwise disposed of.

In the 1840 census, Kingsley was living in Duval County. His household was comprised of himself, a free woman of color aged between 24 and 35, and six free children of color under the age of 10. He was enslaving 48 people.^[3]

In the 1850 census Kingsley (age 40), Farmer, was in St Johns Bar, Duval, Florida, United States.^[4] He owned 54 slaves.^[5]

Kingsley Beatty “King” Gibbs passed away in 1859, or 1860 according to some records.^[6]

However, Kingsley's estate passed probate on 28 December 1859, so the 1859 date appears to be the accurate one.^[7]

Slaves

• For information on the people enslaved by Kingsley Beatty Gibbs, please see: Slaves of Kingsley Beatty Gibbs, Florida.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Gibbs, Kingsley Beatty, 1810-1860. Kingsley Beatty Gibbs Journal, 1858. 1858. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. (https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/345406?id=2), accessed 2 February 2022.
2. ↑ Will of Zephaniah Kingsley - Kingsley, Zephaniah (1765-1843). Will of Zephaniah Kingsley. -20617. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. (https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/178006), accessed 27 Dec 2023.
3. ↑ 1840 Census - "United States Census, 1840", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBF-RKF : Wed Oct 04 12:30:40 UTC 2023), Entry for Kingsly B Gibbs, 1840.
4. ↑ 1850 Census: "1850 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1850; Census Place: St Johns Bar, Duval, Florida; Roll: 58; Page: 119b
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #18441211 (accessed 2 February 2022)
   Kingsley B Gibbs (40), Farmer, in St Johns Bar, Duval, Florida, USA. Born in New York.
5. ↑ 1850 Census: "1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules"
   The National Archive in Washington DC; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census Of The United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8055 #91395378 (accessed 2 February 2022)
   Kingsley B Gibbs in St Johns Bar, Duval, Florida, USA.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53969684/kingsley-beatty-gibbs : accessed 02 February 2022), memorial page for Kingsley Beatty “King” Gibbs (25 Jul 1810–1860), Find A Grave: Memorial #53969684, citing Evergreen Cemetery, Saint Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida, USA ; Maintained by Joan Martindale Roth (contributor 47279595) .
7. ↑ Probate: "Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950"
   Probate Records; Author: St. Johns County (Florida). County Judge; Probate Place: St Johns, Florida
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8993 #58447 (accessed 2 February 2022)
   Kingsley B Gibbs probate on 28 Dec 1859.

• Kingsley Plantation, Duval County, Florida free space page (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Kingsley_Plantation%2C_Duval_County%2C_Florida)