Gibeon Gibson (abt. 1728 - 1792)

Born about 1728 in Bertie County, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 12 Nov 1792 at about age 64 in Woodville, Spanish West Florida

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Biography

Unfortunately, nothing can be documented as to Gibeon Gibson birth, parents or his where abouts prior to 1766. Historically it has been reported that Gibeon was married to one Mary O'Connell. However, no record has surfaced which confirms so much as his wife's first name, much less her maiden name. Not all researcher agree with this assessment. Readers interested in the particular Gibson line can find multiple accounts Gibeon (dc1791MS). Most often he is connected to the Gibsons in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina, both on the internet and in print, little of which offers any kind of documentation. This compiler has extensively researched the records of that Gibson family of Pee Dee. There is simply no evidence to support the claims, outside some similarity in given names in both families. For an in-depth discussion of that family, please visit http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~valvz/gibson_of_pee_dee.htm. An open discussion is always welcome regarding either of these families and the search continues for additional "proof" to get the lines as accurate as possible.

There is one record which has been found in South Carolina which appears to be for Gibeon Gibson who died in Natchez District, Spanish West Florida (now Adams County, Mississippia) after 12 November 1792. This is a petition by Gibbion Gibson for 400 acres on waters of the Saluda dated 1 July 1766. [Petitions for Land, Vol. VI 1755-1770, Holcomb, p. 15]. Mr. Brent Holcomb was hired to do an exhaustive search for this man and his property. Here is a copy of his report dated 6 March 2008: “I searched the SC Archives’ COM Index for a great and plat of this property, but none was found. I had the Archives staff to search for original loose plats, but none was found for Gibbion Gibson and none even for Gideon Gibson for 400 acres in the right place at the right time. Therefore, I conclude the Gibbion Gibson never perfected his grant. Perhaps he did not have the money to pay the fees for the survey or just decided that he did not wish to keep this land. “This does not mean that I did not search further. I was hoping to find a reference in a later record to this man. “Waters Saludy” could have been in a number of places on the north or south side of the Saluda River. In the Colonial period there was no settlement beyond the Indian line (which could be above Abbeville County on the south side and Laurens County on the north side). Therefore, the possible counties involved would be Abbeville, Edgefield, on the south side; Lexington on both side; Newberry and Laurens on the north side. Abbeville County deeds do not survive prior to 1872. Lexington County deeds do not survive prior to 1839. We do have Edgefield County deeds and there are a number of volumes of published abstracts. I checked the first published volume, which covers 1786-1796. There are no references to Gibbion Gibson there at all. We also have abstracts of Laurens County deeds and wills and estates 1785-1820. There are no references to Gibbion Gibson there. Next, is Newberry County, which I think is the most logical place anyway. I found there: “Newberry County Deed Book G, pages 148-149 [copy enclosed from SC Archives microfilm C5598, compliments of Gordon Briscoe of TX]: “South Carolina, Newberry District, Robert Russell of district aforesaid for $100 to James McClung, tract on a branch of Beaverdam, waters of Saluda, adjoining John Johnson, John Caldwell, David Ruff(Rees?), and Gibeon Gibson, granted to Arthur Barrett 5 June 1787, and is the land that the said Robert Russell lived on dated 23 Aug 1804. Robert Russell (LS), Wit: James Cleland, James Burton. Luerana Russell (x), wife of Robert Russell, relinquished dower in Greenville District, SC 115 (sic) Sept 1804 before Hudson Berry., J.Q. Proved in Newberry District 7 Jan 1805 by the oath James Cleland before Charles Griffin, J.P. Recorded 7 Jan 1805. “Comments: This is a reference to land of Gibeon Gibson, but I found no deed to or from him. Perhaps he did purchase land there and the deeds were never recorded. This reference does not mean that he still owned that land in 1804. It could have been copied from an earlier deed and that land had been conveyed before 1804.” [Compliments of Gordon Briscoe of TX]

A plat dated 1 April 1785 was located for Arthur Barrett’s showing Gibeon Gibson as an adjoining property holder in the same area, but this plat may also have been copied from an earlier one and does not mean that Gibson still owned the land in 1785. [Compliments of Gordon Briscoe of TX]

The original petition of Gibbion Gibson tells us a couple of things. That this man had probability never before been granted land in South Carolina, one was only allotted so many free acres of land. At this time in South Carolina, Gibbion would have been allowed to petition for 100 acres for himself as head of the family, and 50 acres for his wife and/or each other member of the household under the age of 18 years, including servants and/or slaves. Should this have been Gibeon Gibson (dc 1792 MS) it would fit the expected profile as a man petitioning for himself, his wife, and 5 children.

There are three additional records which confirm that Gibeon and family came by way of South Carolina to Mississippi: "Died on the 27th of September (1816) in Franklin Co., Mr. Reuben Gibson, formerly of South Carolina, but for many years an inhabitant of this territory. [Washington Republican & Natchez Intelligencer, 9 Oct 1816, Marriages and Deaths from MS Newspapers, Vol. 3 1813-1850, by Betty Couch Wiltshire, p. 197] "Died last day of Sept, 1839 at the residence of her son, DAVID BULLEN, Mrs. Edna Bullen, in her 82 year of age (born abt 1757/8). She was a native of SC, but had been in MS upwards of 60 years (arrived by/bef 1779). She was one of the original 8 members of the first Methodist Church in the West, about 50 years ago." [RODNEY TELEGRAPH, October 23, 1839] When the 1850 census was taken, David, Gibeon's only child to still be living can be found as D. Gibson residing in Jefferson County, Mississippi, giving his age as 82 (born abt 1768) in South Carolina.

Gibeon is first documented in that part of Spanish West Florida which became Adams County, Mississippi: 1781 Oct 16: Gibeon Gibson had been in the area which historically was called Spanish West Florida, (near present-day Natchez, Mississippi) long enough to have taken a position with a man named Andrew Whitefield. At that point he had worked for Whitefield for an undetermined amount of time when he (Gibeon) petitioned the court at Natchez for some back pay. According to these court records Gibeon had been hired as an overseer, and he and Whitefield had mutually agreed that the work Gibeon had preformed was to be valued by two appraisers in Whitefield’s absence. In the interim, Whitefield died. Gibeon called in three neighbors: Robert Dunbar, John Shunck and Richard Curtis to value his work, and they have appraised the same at $107 to which he [Gideon?] added 15 bushels of corn delivered to William Ferguson on an order drawn by Whitefield, the petitioner is a poor man with a large family and asks for your consideration. Signed Gibeon Gibson. [Natchez Court Records, Book F, p. 26: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~valvz/natchez_1781_petition_english.jpg; or click here for the original document in Spanish: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~valvz/natchez_1781_petition_spanish.jpg [Compliments of Gordon Briscoe of TX]

Note: Gibeon probably never collected the debt, or not much of it. There were several other claims against Whitefield. When Whitefield's property was seized consisting of: 1 horse, 1 cow and calf, 15 but. corn, 1 horse plow, 1 grindstone, 1 looking-glass, 1 chest, 1 old pair of trousers, 1 old linen jacket, 2 doz. brass buttons, 15 but. potatoes, and 200 pumpkins, the value was estimated at $75 which when sold, produced only $67 after costs. For at least a portion of the final settlement click here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~valvz/natchez_1781_settlement_english.jpg [Compliments of Gordon Briscoe of TX]

$107 in back wages does not sound like much money. However, when you compare the relative value of “unskilled wage” that amount in today’s dollars it comes to $40,684.88 [www.measuringworthcom]. It doesn’t seem logical that Gibeon could have earned such an amount over the period of a few months. He had probably been in the employ of Whitefield for quite some time.

1792 Nov 12: Gibeon Gibson conveys both real and/or personal property to his sons: Reuben, Randal and David; and to his daughter Cynthia Gibson. It is presumbed that Gideon died shortly the division of his property.

Gibeon Gibson to his son, Reuben Gibson, all cattle and horses belonging to me marked "B.B." for $100 in hand paid; both *signed*. [Natchez Rec. Bk. C-44]

Gibeon Gibson conveyed to Randal Gibson, his son, 335 arpents, 6 miles from Natchez [Natchez Rec. Bk. C-45].

Gibeon Gibson, to son, David Gibson, a negro lad named "Neil", age 16, nat. of Natchez, for $150, paid. Gideon Gibson. David Gibson. [Natchez Rec. Bk. C-46]

Gibeon Gibson to son, Randal Gibson, negro boy, "Harry", age 8, for $150, in hand paid. Gideon (X) Gibson, Randal Gibson. [Natchez Rec. Bk. C-46]

Gibeon Gibson to daughter, Cynthia Gibson a negro woman, "Sylvia", age 4, nat. of Natchez, for $100 paid. Gideion (X) Gibson, Cynthia Gibson. [Natchez Rec. Bk. C-47]

Gibeon Gibson to son, David Gibson, 500 arpents on a branch of St. Catherine's Creek, adj. lands of George Killian, Jeremiah Bryan and vacant lands, for $500 paid. Gideon (X) Gibson, and David Gibson. (Another transcript says both "signed".) [Natchez Rec. Bk. C-47]

The index of these records demonstrates the way the name was originally recorded.Compliments of Gordon Briscoe of TX

And as they say -last, but not least- is the fact that Gibeon is found in the 1792 Spanish tax list (which serves as the earliest known census) in Santa Catalina, Natchez District as GIBB GIBSON, next door to Reuben, and in the same neighborhood were Juan Ferguson, Joe Harrison, Juan Bulling (sic) and the several Foster brothers, Tomas, Guillomo and Juan are also found [Mississippi State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866, www.Ancestry.com]. Gibb’s household consists of two adult males, 1 elder male, 1 young female, 2 adults females and 1 elder female, and taxed on 800 acres. From this one can conjecture that sons Randal and David and their respective wives, together with David and Frances' newborn, Elizabet (thought to have been born about 1791), were all residing with with Gibb and his wife.

Note

Note: Gideon Gibson emigrated to the vicinity of Natchez, Mississippi in

1781 with his family. He lived on St. Catherine's Creek.

Sources

Source S41

Author: Edmund West, comp.

Title: Family Data Collection - Deaths

Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.;

http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=11259176&pid=-496797546 http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=genepoold&h=997657&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

This person was created through the import of LaBach Family TreeApril28_2011.ged on 05 May 2011. This person was created through the import of Kahn Family Tree 3.2.11_2011-04-29.ged on 30 April 2011.