David Gibson (abt. 1804 - 1864)

Born about 9 Mar 1804 in Glammis, Forfarshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 25 Jan 1864 at about age 59 in Quebec City, Canada East

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Laurie Cruthers [send private message]

Biography

David Gibson is Notable.

David Gibson is/was a significant Ontarian .

David Gibson, the son of James Gibson and Margaret Watson, was born or baptised on March 9, 1804 in Glamis, Forfarshire, Scotland.^[1] He emigrated to Lower Canada (Quebec) from Scotland in 1825 to find work as a surveyor. From there, he moved to his uncle Alexander Milne's farm in Upper Canada (Ontario) and in 1828 became surveyor of highways for the southern part of the Home District. That same year he married his cousin, Eliza Milne. (They had four sons and three daughters.) In the years that followed, he became a prosperous farmer in York Township while still working as a surveyor. ^[2]

In 1831 he became associated with William Lyon Mackenzie and the Reform Party. In 1834 and 1836 he was elected to the assembly for the 1st Riding of York, where he became known as a moderate Reformer.

He reluctantly joined the Upper Canada Rebellion. In December of 1837, he protected the loyalist prisoners held at Montgomery's Tavern and led them to safety. Despite his actions, his farm was ordered burned and he fled to New York where he found employment on the Erie Canal and bought a farm. He was pardoned in 1843 but didn't return to Canada West (Ontario) and his Willowdale farm until 1848. In 1853 he was appointed inspector of crown lands agencies and superintendent of colonization roads for Canada West, a position he held until his death in 1864.^[3]

An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected in front of the Gibson House Museum in Toronto, Ontario, to commemorate David Gibson's role in Ontario's heritage.^[4]

Research Notes

DOB given in Dictionary of Canadian Biography appears to be christening date.^[5] The record is indexed on FamilySearch with a line that says 'Birth date' and '3'. Was he born March 3?

Sources

1. ↑ Birth or Baptism: "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms", database
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 289; Ref: 20/240
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 22 January 2024)
   David Gibson born or baptised on 9 Mar 1804, son of James Gibson, in Glamis, Forfarshire, Scotland.
2. ↑ Census of Canada West, 1861, York, York
3. ↑ Ronald J. Stagg, “GIBSON, DAVID,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 9, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed April 17, 2017, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/gibson_david_9E.html.
4. ↑ Wikipedia: David Gibson (Canadian politician)
5. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYJ4-QY9 : 10 February 2018), David Gibson, 09 Mar 1804; citing GLAMIS,ANGUS,SCOTLAND, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 993,434.

See also:

• Booklet: Davisville Village Walk, North Toronto Historical Society, page 4, The Gibson House (built by son Peter Silas Gibson in 1890).