William Giberson Sr. (abt. 1733 - abt. 1816)

Born about 1733 in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth, New Jersey

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1816 at about age 83 in New Brunswick, Canada [uncertain]

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William Giberson was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:
Date: June 1776

Biography

During the American Revolutionary War, William Giberson / British Army was on opposite sides of his 1st cousin John Giberson / Continental Army.

• https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Special:Connection&action=connect&person1Name=Giberson-790&person2Name=Giberson-19&relation=0&ignoreIds=

^[1]64. William "Loyalist" Giberson Sr. (footenotes 235,236,237) was born about 1733 in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth, New Jersey. (footnotes 109,235,237) He died in New Brunswick. (footnote 109) He was Dutch. (footnote 20) Listed in "Revolutionary Census of New Jersey" by Kenn Stryker-Rodda in Upper Freehold Monmouth County II

List II has ratables from 1778-1780

1816 York County Roll lists Wm. Giberson, in Wakefield Parish. "Generations", New Brunswick Genealogical Society, Volume 16, page 19.

Crown Land Grant Index, 1988, lists: William Giberson as grantee on 11/09/1787 for property located in the Parish of Pennfield, Charlotte County, at 115 Johnson Lake, 191 acres; Vol. B. #132 William "Loyalist" Giberson Sr. was married about 1760 in New Jersey. (foot note 109)

From: Crime and Justice, Loyalists, Politics During the War (1775-1783), The War Years (1775-1783) June 10, 2021; LOYALIST “BANDITTI” OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY; [11] The most notorious leaders of these gangs were John Bacon, William Giberson and Joseph Mulliner^[2][3][4]

From: "The Other Loyalists" Ordinary People, Royalism, and the Revolution in the Middle Colonies, 1763 - 1787 published 2009 :Page 59 [1] Patriots in frontier counties such as Monmouth were in a vise grip between forces operating out of British held New York and "intestine enemies," such as Joseph Mulliner, William Giberson Jr., and John Bacon, who operated from "skulking places" in the state's southeastern pinelands.

From: The History of Egg Harbor Township, Early History of EHT and Atlantic County by Alfred M. Heston Absegami: Annals of Eyren Haven and Atlantic City 1609 to 1904 - Volume 1 and 2 Published 1904. Chapter: "Revolutionary Reminiscence"

Near the close of the Revolution some of the troops captured at the surrender of Cornwallis, who were cantoned in Virginia, escaped in small parties, and by concealing themselves in the woods by day and traveling by night, with the assistance of guides and friends whom they found on their way, finally reached Egg Harbor, whence they sailed for New York. To prevent this Captain John Davis was sent with a company of men to Egg Harbor. On one occasion his lieutenant, Benjamin Bates, with Richard Powell, a private, called at a house where it was understood two refugees were lodging over night. Bates and Powell reached the house shortly after daybreak and found two girls building a fire in the kitchen. They inquired if there were any persons in the house besides the family, and were told that “two men from up in the country” were asleep in one of the rooms. Bates directed the girls to show them where they were, and in doing so they passed through a room separating the kitchen from the bedroom. Two pistols were seen lying on a table in this room. Knocking on the door, Bates was at first refused admission, but finding him determined to enter, the two refugees opened the door and surrendered. They refused to tell their names, but were afterwards identified as William Giberson and Henry Lane, refugee lieutenants, the former a notorious rascal, who had committed many outrages and killed one or two patriots in cold blood. On their way to Davis’s headquarters, Giberson called Bates’ attention to something he pretended to see at a distance, and while Bates was looking in that direction, Giberson started to run in another, and being a very fast runner made his escape, Bates, however, firing several shots after him. Captain Davis directed Bates to recapture Giberson the next night, if possible. Accordingly, he went to the same house. While in the act of opening the door, Bates heard the click of a gun, and turning around he saw Giberson aiming at him from behind a tree. He quickly dropped on his knees and the ball passed through the crown of his hat. Giberson started to run, but was pursued by Bates, whose first shot took effect. Although badly wounded in the leg, Giberson succeeded in reaching a swamp, but was soon captured and taken to Burlington jail, whither Lane had previously been taken by Private Powell. Giberson had a sister who bore a striking resemblance to him, both in face and form. This sister obtained permission to visit him in prison, and while there they exchanged clothes. The brother left the jail in women’s attire, and the jailer, completely deceived, helped him into the wagon. He went to New York, joined the British army, and while with them went to Nova Scotia. Previous to his capture, as recorded above, Giberson had an exciting experience at Tuckerton. It is related that one day a lad was gunning in Tuckerton Bay, where he was surprised by the appearance of Giberson and his gang in a boat. They made the boy a prisoner and took from him his fowling piece. They then ordered him to pilot them to Tuckerton landing. Reaching what was called “scow landing”. They moored the boat and went to the tavern recently built by Daniel Falkenburg, the first inn keeper in Little Egg Harbor. As soon as the refugees reached the tavern they indulged in a drunken revel. Some of the residents sent a messenger to Mannahawkin, where there was a company of militia, and informed them of the presence of the refugees in Tuckerton. A squad of soldiers marched toward the place to capture or disperse the revelers, but a Tory informed the outlaws of their coming, and about the time the militia reached Tuckerton the refugees fled to the landing. The militia marched down Green Street toward the landing, and as they came near the creek, the refugees poured the contents of their heavily charged guns into the ranks of the militia with such fury and precision that the latter were forced to retreat, followed by the outlaws, who pursued them to West Creek. Seeing the retreating militia on the opposite side of the creek, Giberson and his victorious band returned to Tuckerton to go aboard their boat. When they reached the landing the boat some distance off. In their absence two of their comrades, who were too drunk to join in the pursuit, had become sober enough to unmoor the boat and were paddling the craft down the creek, shouting as their companions came in sight, “we are the boys to hold the boat”. The returning outlaws, mistaking them for their enemies, ran along the creek in pursuit. They fired at and killed both of the men before discovering that they were of their own gang. After this the refugees returned to the tavern and finished their debauch. Before leaving Tuckerton, Giberson hunted up the boy from whom he had taken the gun, returned it to him and also presented him with a Spanish dollar. After the close of the Revolution, Giberson returned to Egg Harbor and settled down to a more peaceful and honorable occupation.

GYSBERT GYBERSON, Jr. DECLARES HIS LOYALTY

In the summer of 1776, The Monmouth Committee in Freehold admitted their county was "exceedingly infested with Tories of the most inveterate disposition," and petitioned the Provincial Congress to take some decisive action against the disaffected in their district. Consequently, on July 3rd the Provincial Congress ordered Colonel Read and Lt. Col. Samuel Forman to pursue, disarm, and take prisoner the "dangerous insurgents" in Monmouth. As we shall see, several Gibersons were on that list.

When the colonies declared their independence from England, Guisbert Guisbertson, Jr. agonized over what action he should take. A few weeks later on August 3, 1776, he resigned his commission in the militia and announced that he would join the British. His resignation was obviously an act of conscience, in the face of what must have been enormous pressures and great personal risk, but he stuck by his belief in the justice of English constitutional government. As an influential member of the community who was against independence this must have concerned the Patriots initially, but in the end his actions proved a boon to them. It exposed Guisbert (and fellow dissenters who took similar action) to public scrutiny and ridicule, while at the same time it facilitated the patriot agenda of purging the militia in support of independence.

After resigning his commission in Monmouth militia, Guisbert attempted to join the British, but was caught and charged with treason by the Americans but was acquitted.

Late July and early August went very badly for the Americans culminating with a resounding defeat at the battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776. In the next three months, superior strength and skill drove the Americans out of New York, off Manhattan Island, across the Hudson River, and into central New Jersey. Cornwallis next landed a major force on Sandy Hook and pursued Washington's retreating force across New Jersey. On December 8th, Washington's troops managed a crossing of the Delaware into Pennsylvania just as Cornwallis and the leading British elements marched into Trenton behind them. Having failed to catch Washington, Cornwallis decided to put his army into winter headquarters and wait until spring before destroying the American army once and for all.

The British (and most Tories) believed that as Washington's small army was driven back, and ultimately defeated, the loyalist majority, they felt was there, would arise and flock to the British standard. The British never pretended to be trying to conquer America, they were merely liberating the population from Whig oppression. But Washington refused to be drawn into a conclusive battle with superior British troops, choosing to fight only when he had an element of surprise or other advantage.

After resigning his commission, Gilbert considered enrolling in the New Jersey Volunteers. This was formed as a regular unit of the British army made up entirely of volunteers, mostly from Upper Freehold, under the command of Colonel Cortland Skinner. This Loyalist unit joined British forces on Staten Island following the occupation of New York. Because of their green uniforms, they became known as "Skinner's Greens." However, Gilbert did not join the "Greens" immediately, perhaps because they were in New York, but he eventually did join the British army itself after Cornwallis invaded New Jersey and driven the American forces out in December of 1776. He joined Cornwallis at New Brunswick, NJ and served in the British Second Battalion of New Jersey volunteers as a foot soldier for the rest of the war. Among the British military records there is a 1777 muster list for that Battalion commanded by Lt. Col. John Morris Doing under Gen. Henry Clinton of New York, showing "Guis Giberson" as a private.

The departure of Washington's army from New Jersey, of course greatly encouraged "the friends of government." Loyalist agitators became very active in the county again. They attempted to retake the initiative from the Patriots by arming themselves, signing articles of association, and desperately attempting to maintain or regain control of the local militia organizations. For a week or so in mid-December, the Loyalists actually regained control from the rebels in Upper Freehold, but it was to be short-lived.

Not one to sit by in the face of such a threat, Colonel David Forman with a party of minutemen seized the initiative and without waiting for the "express command" of the Monmouth Committee, apprehended several leading Tory activists. Four of the first to be seized were several plantation owners who lived in the Allentown area -- Anthony and Lewis Woodward, Richard Robins and Moses Ivins. The Robins and Ivins families had close ties to the Gibersons. Gilbert's uncles, John and William, Sr. both married Robins girls. Robins and Ivens were well-to-do Quakers. Even though the Quaker religion specified that they should not become involved in matters such as this, some did take up arms, but, unlike Robins and Ivens, more often on the side of the rebellion. The Woodwards were also prosperous Quakers and must have been at least acquaintances of the Gibersons since they were all residents of Upper Freehold and apparently friends of the Robins.

Going back for a moment, in June of 1766, when the British invasion of New Jersey appeared imminent, Anthony Woodward, along with other plantation owners including Robbins and Ivins, called a special muster of the militia at Waln's Mill to organize fellow Loyalist dissenters and to agitate against Whig Committeemen and their adherents. This was the kind of event Thomas Jefferson complained about in the Declaration of Independence that King George had "excited domestic insurrections among us." At the Waln's mill muster, Anthony Woodward stirred anti-Whig sentiment, and Richard Robins and Moses Ivins were named the new militia captains. Robins' son John later testified that his father "proclaimed that those (Loyalists) who were against the Measures of Rebellion should follow him, on which most of the men assembled joined."

Ivins, Robins, and at least one Woodward were soon captured by David Lawrence and the Upper Freehold militia and jailed after a brief hearing. On July 1st, appearing before the Provincial congress, the two men "confessed their faults" and "voluntarily" paid 500 pounds in bonds on condition that they obey all the resolves of the Continental and Provincial Congresses and maintain good behavior. However, Anthony Woodward escaped behind British lines and could not be brought to trial. It later became clear that Ivins and Robins were more than a little disingenuous when they promised to behave themselves, and the two "fighting Quakers" soon joined several of their kin and neighbors in the Tory underground.

We do not know if there were any Gibersons at Waln's mill militia muster that night, but if not they most probably attended many similar gatherings that summer trying to convince neighbors and associates to stay loyal to their government. In June 1776 Gilbert's' brother and nephew, "Wm. Gibertson" & Son, were included on that list of Monmouth Tories prepared by David Forman. Also on the list were Anthony Woodward, Jr. and several others. Soon Gilbert, Benjamin, Malikeath, Josiah, John and Hezekiah Giberson were added to the list of of active Loyalists. While we do not know all the relationships involved, it appears that the whole Giberson family in the Upper Freehold/Allentown area had gone to war against the revolution.

On August 2nd county Committees were authorized to inventory and appraise the real and personal estates of Loyalist Refugees, sell perishables, and keep the proceeds safe until further notice. This was the first step toward confiscation of their estates. at a time when property defined social status in the community, threats of confiscation of their considerable estates, personalized the conflict between the Gibersons and their Whig enemies and greatly escalated their resolve to fight the rebel cause. It was perhaps understandable, but a bad career choice.

From: Crime and Justice, Loyalists, Politics During the War (1775-1783), The War Years (1775-1783) June 10, 2021; LOYALIST “BANDITTI” OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY; [11] The most notorious leaders of these gangs were John Bacon, William Giberson and Joseph Mulliner^[5][6][7]

From: "The Other Loyalists" Ordinary People, Royalism, and the Revolution in the Middle Colonies, 1763 - 1787 published 2009 :Page 59 [2] Patriots in frontier counties such as Monmouth were in a vise grip between forces operating out of British held New York and "intestine enemies," such as Joseph Mulliner, William Giberson Jr., and John Bacon, who operated from "skulking places" in the state's southeastern pinelands.

^[8]William Giberson Jr. "Loyalist" (footnote 236) was born about 1762 in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth, New Jersey.236 He lived in Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick in 1783. 1816 York County Roll lists Wm. Giberson, laborer, in Wakefield Parish.

"Generations", New Brunswick Genealogical Society, Volume 16, page 19.

Previous research information:

The father Guisbert Guisbertson, born about 1710, died 1766 New Jersey. Wife Hannah Parent. His son, William left New Jersey with his family during the Rev. war and settled in New Brunswick.

William "Loyalist" born abt. 1733 in Upper Freehold, New Jersey did die in New Brunswick, Canada. He is listed in "Revolutionary Census of NJ by Kenn Stryker-Rodda in Up. Freehold. 1816 York Co. Roll lists William Giberson in Wakefield Parish "Generations", New Brunswick Genealogical Society Vol. 16 pg. 19. Crown Land Grant index lists Wm. Giberson as grantee on 11/09/1787 for property located in the Parish of Pennfield, Charlotte Co. at 115 Johnson Lake, 191 acres, vol. B #132. This information was obtained by Mike Walton of Maine, Guisbert's descendant who I have been in contact with. His mother was Virginia Giberson, daughter of John "Jack" Giberson born Lewiston, ME. Then it goes...Guy Giberson born in Florenceville, NB, Marshall "John" Giberson born in Bristol, NB, Simon Giberson born Kent Parish, NB, John Giberson Sr of Up. Freehold, William Giberson, and Guisbert Guisbertson 1710-1766 died in Allenstown, NJ

Name

William "Loyalist" Giberson

Birth

ABT 1733 Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth, New Jersey^[9][10][11]

Death

New Brunswick, Canada^[9]

Nationality

Dutch^[12]

Marriage

Husband: William "Loyalist" Giberson

Marriage ABT 1760 New Jersey^[9]

1. Child: John Giberson
2. Child: William Giberson
3. Child: Gilbert Giberson

Husband: Guisbert Guisbertson

Wife: Hannah Parent

Marriage ABT 1730^[10][11]

1. Child: John Giberson
2. Child: William "Loyalist" Giberson
3. Child: Elizabeth Giberson
4. Child: Esther Giberson
5. Child: Hannah Giberson
6. Child: Helena Giberson
7. Child: Meribah Giberson
8. Child: Lydia Giberson
9. Child: Mary Giberson
10. Child: Guisbert Giberson

Sources

• https://sites.google.com/site/earliestguibersonancestors/colonial-guisbertsons
• "Revolutionary Reminiscences": http://www.k2tqn.net/history/index.html
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCJZ-1FV
• https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~abenaki/genealogy/Mike%20Steps%20In%20It%20Walton's%20Maternal%20Ancestors/b1877.htm#P5463
• WikiTree profile Giberson-19 created through the import of mike_walton_2011.ged on Aug 20, 2011 by Mike Walton.
• Source: S1702 Abbreviation: 1881 Gordon, NB, Canada (Victoria) Title: 1881 Gordon, NB, Canada (Victoria)
• Source: S687 Abbreviation: R. Crawford Brewer Title: R. Crawford Brewer.
• Source: S74 Abbreviation: IGI - International Genealogical Index Title: IGI - International Genealogical Index William "the Loyalist" Giberson - b. abt 1733 Quality: 2 QUAL Source: D Information: S EVID D

1. ↑ https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~abenaki/genealogy/Mike%20Steps%20In%20It%20Walton's%20Maternal%20Ancestors/b1877.htm#P5463
2. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/?s=William+Giberson
3. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/06/loyalist-banditti-of-monmouth-county-new-jersey-jacob-fagan-and-lewis-fenton/
4. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/09/captain-john-bacon-the-last-of-the-jersey-pine-robbers/
5. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/?s=William+Giberson
6. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/06/loyalist-banditti-of-monmouth-county-new-jersey-jacob-fagan-and-lewis-fenton/
7. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/09/captain-john-bacon-the-last-of-the-jersey-pine-robbers/
8. ↑ https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~abenaki/genealogy/Mike%20Steps%20In%20It%20Walton's%20Maternal%20Ancestors/b1877.htm#P5463
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Source: #S687
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Source: #S74 Page: William "the Loyalist" Giberson - b. abt 1733 Quality : 2 Source: D Information: S EVID D
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Source: #S74 Guisbert Guisbertson - b. 22 Sep 1752, 21 Dec 1843 Quality: 2 Source: D Information: S EVID D
12. ↑ Source: #S1702 Page: Dist 32 Sub L Pg 19 HH 80+ Quality: 3 Information: P