John Gibson Sr. (abt. 1601 - aft. 1688)

Born about 1601 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Rebecca (Unknown) Gibson — married 1634 (to 1 Dec 1661) in Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

Husband of Joane (Unknown) Gibson — married 24 Jul 1662 (to 12 May 1687) in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died after 1688 after about age 87 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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John Gibson Sr. migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 3, p. 49) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

This profile is part of the Gibson Name Study.

Origins

John Gibson's parents and his date and place of birth are unknown (see research notes, below). His birth date is estimated at about 1601 based on his age when he was deposed in 1688.^[1] He is thought to have probably been born in England.^[2]

Life in New England

The ship on which John traveled to New England and the port where it landed are not known. Wilson states John did NOT arrive with the Braintree company in Cambridge on 14 August 1632 nor with Rev. Thomas Hooker on 4 September 1633.^[2] John settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the first record of him in New England is found: he was granted 6 acres of land in the West End of Cambridge on 4 August 1634.^[1] John built his house on this land before 10 October 1635, when it was recorded in the "Registere Booke of the Lands and Howses in the Newtowne 1635".^[2]

The First Church in Cambridge had been organized 1 February 1636 and John and his wife, Rebecca, are on the earliest list of members dated 1637.^[2] On 17 May 1637, John was made a freeman (John's membership in the Cambridge church is implied by same) and, in January 1659, John and his wife, Rebecca, are listed as members in full communion with the Cambridge church.^[1]

John held minor offices in the town of Cambridge, which included fence viewer in 1662/3 and 1666, and field driver on 15 March 1676/7 and 11 March 1677/8.^[1]

John obtained and sold several properties, including:

• 1635: 20 August: received a proportional share of one in the undivided meadow^[1]
• 1636, April 4: he held 5 acres in the Fresh Pond Meadow^[2] (he sold the 5 acre plot to Nathaniel Sparrowhawk in 1642)^[1]
• 1639: he had purchased 3 acres of land from Edward Elmer in the West End and also held one parcel of 3 acres of planting ground in the new lots next Manotomie^[1][2]
• 1648: he was granted 60 acres^[2] "on the rocks on the north side of the river", which he sold that year to Thomas Danforth^[1]
• 1652: 4 June: he received lot #52 (80 acres) in the Shawsheen land grant^[1][2][3]
• 1679: 26 May: John sold three acres to Edmond Angier - the sale was acknowledged by his wife, Joanna^[1]
• 1687: 15 April: John sold one and a half acres in West End to Walter Hastin^[1]

In October 1664, John, with others of the town, petitioned the General Court to preserve the present conditions of the town as to governance and church.^[2][4] In 1688, John Gibson and George Willow, representing Cambridge citizens, signed a petition to King James II regarding the oppressive rule of Gov. Edmund Andros and his taking of lands in the town. At the time he deposed he said he was 87 years of age.^[1][2][5]

Marriages and Children

John married first to Rebecca _____ by about 1634.^[1] The place of their marriage is unknown - they could have married in England or Massachusetts. Rebecca's last name at birth is not known. That she was born of a noble Scottish Thompson family is not supported by evidence.

John and Rebecca had five children, all born at Cambridge and baptized into the church there (see Vital Records, below):^[1][2][6]

1. Rebecca, born c. 1634/5; married 22 June 1654 to Charles Stearns^[1][7] of Watertown, as his second wife^[2]
2. Mary, born in March 1637/8; married John Ruggles on 3 April 1655 in Roxbury^[1][7] as his first wife; she died at Roxbury 6 December 1674^[2]
3. Martha, born in April 1639; married at Roxbury 3 November 1657 to Jacob Newell^[1][2][7]
4. John, born about 1641; died at Cambridge 15 October 1679; married 9 December 1668 to Rebecca Errington^[1][7]
5. Samuel, born 28 October 1644;^[7] married first on 30 October 1668 to Sarah Pemberton; married second 14 June 1679 to Elizabeth Stedman;^[1] perhaps married third to Abigail ____, who was executrix of his will dated 17 March 1709/10; Samuel died at Cambridge on 20 March 1709/10 (more research needed)^[2]

Rebecca died in Roxbury, Massachusetts on 1 December 1661,^[1] the "wife of Goodman Gibson of Cambridge".^[2][8] She may have been buried in the Eliot Burying Ground in Roxbury,^[9] but no sources have been found to confirm her burial place.

John married second at Cambridge on 24 July 1662 to Joanna ______, widow of Henry Prentice.^[1][2][7] In 1663, "his relict widow Joan, and John Gibson, her now husband" were called the administrators of Henry Prentice's estate.^[2]

Witchcraft Accuser

John Gibson Sr. was a witchcraft accuser in New England

In 1659, members of John's family accused Winifred Holman and her daughter Mary of witchcraft, but there is no record of a subsequent trial. In early 1660, John, Rebecca and their son John were sued by Winifred and Mary for defamation.^[1] Winifred Holman appears to have been unsuccessful in her suit against the Gibsons, however Mary Holman won her defamation suit against John Gibson Jr.,^[1] and he was ordered to publicly apologize or pay her £5 (he apologized).^[10]

Death

Although John owned significant acreage, he died a poor man due to the oppressive rule of Sir Edmund Andros, who claimed much of the Cambridge lands from the original holders.^[2]

No will for John was found. By a deed dated 30 November 1668 (recorded 15 January 1668/9?),^[11] John Gibson Senior deeded to John Gibson Junior the westerly end of his dwelling house and 3 adjoining acres. At that time, provisions were made for John Sr.'s wife, if she outlived him.^[1]

According to Anderson, John died in or after 1688,^[1] probably in Cambridge. Several sources attribute a 1694 date of death to him, but Anderson states there is not sufficient evidence for this date.^{[2][7][12][13]} However, there is a record for a John Gibson who died on 2 December 1694 in Newton, Massachusetts.^[14] Perhaps this is another/different John Gibson.

Research Notes

Disputed Origins

Anderson claims John Gibson's origins are not known.^[1] That John Gibson, the immigrant, was of Scottish origins has been questioned as early as 1899.^[2] Adequate evidence is lacking that he was son of a specific Scottish noble, namely Alexander Gibson. Sir John Gibson of Pentland, son of Sir Alexander Gibson and Lady Craig, apparently did not leave Scotland: "Sir John Gibson of Pentland, his lordship's 2d son: A steady loyalist Sir John Gibson of Pentland attended Charles I in all his vicissitudes of fortune, and in 1651 accompanied King Charles II to the unfortunate battle of Worcester where he lost a leg and for his gallant behaviour was knighted by the king."^[15] Alexander was previously attached as John's father, but the connection was removed.

A William Gibson has been suggested to be John's father, but evidence is lacking to connect them.

Vital Records of Cambridge

Cambridge Births^[16]

Gibson... John, s. John and Rebecca, bp. ––– ––, 16––. CR1 (p. 288)

Gibson... Martha, d. John and Rebecca, Apr. ––, 1639. (p. 288)

Gibson... Mary, d. John and Rebecca, Mar. ––, 1637. (p. 288)

Gibson... Samuel, s. John and Rebecca, Oct. 28, 1644. (p. 288)

Cambridge Marriages^[17]

Gibson, John and Joanna Prentice, July 24, 1662. (p. 161)

Gibson, Rebecca and Charles Sternes, June 22, 1654. (p. 162)

Gibson, John and Rebeccah Errington, Dec. 9, 1668. (p. 162)

Gibson, Samuel and Sarah Pemberton, Oct. 30, 1668. (p. 162)

Gibson, Samuel and Elizabeth Stedman, June 14, 1679. (p. 162)

Cambridge Deaths^[17]

Gibson, John, Oct. 15, 1679, a. 48 y. GR1 (p. 570)

Gibson, Samuell, Mar. 20, 1709-10. (p. 571)

Gibson... Sarah, w. Samuel, Oct. 10, 1676. (p. 571)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25} Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III: G-H. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003, pp. 49-52. AmericanAncestors.org($)
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20} Mehitable C. C. Wilson. John Gibson of Cambridge, Massachusetts and His Descendants, 1634-1899. Washington, DC: McGill & Wallace, 1900, Vol. 1, pp. 1-11 (John Sr.), 19-23 (John Jr.), Intro (discussion of origins). Archive.org. (Anderson mentions this book in a bibliographic note)
3. ↑ Lucius Robinson Paige. History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: H.O. Houghton and Co., 1877, p. 59. Archive.org
4. ↑ Paige, p. 74. Archive.org
5. ↑ Paige, p. 102. Archive.org
6. ↑ Stephen Sharples, ed. Records of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in New England: 1632-1830. Boston: Eben Putnam, 1906, p. 14. Google Books.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6} Paige, p. 558. Archive.org.
8. ↑ A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston: Containing the Roxbury land and church records. Boston: Rockwell & Churchill, 1884, p. 177 (image 184). Familysearch.org, Roxbury Deaths: "1661. Moneth 10 day 1. The wife of Goodman Gibson of Cambridge."
9. ↑ "Find a Grave", database, Find A Grave: Memorial #35956409, Memorial page for Rebecca Gibson (1613-1 Dec 1661), citing Eliot Burying Ground, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA. (No gravestone photo, no sources.)
10. ↑ Paige, pp. 356-365. Archive.org.
11. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986", database with images, Catalog: Record books of the registry of deeds, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, 1649-1900; indexes: grantee (1639-1905) and grantor (1639-1950) Index - Grantor, A - G 1639-1799. Deed index (grantor) 1639-1799 A-G, image 574 of 630. FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-99Z7-XZWM
12. ↑ Frederick Clifton Pierce. "The Gibson Family of Cambridge" in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: NEHGR, 1883, Vol. 37, pp. 388-392. AmericanAncestors.org($) or Archive.org.
13. ↑ "Find a Grave", database, Find A Grave: Memorial #36287705, Memorial page for John Gibson Sr. (1601-2 Dec 1694), citing Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Diana L. Brace (contributor 46885260).
14. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001" (has image). FamilySearch: John Gibson, 2 Dec 1694.
15. ↑ William Anderson. The Scottish Nation: Or, The Surnames, Families, Literature, Honours, and Biographical History of the People of Scotland, Vol. 2. Edinburgh: A. Fullerton & Co., 1867, p. 296. Google Play.
16. ↑ Thomas Baldwin, comp. Vital Records of Cambridge Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. 1: Births. Boston, MA: Wright and Potter, 1914, p. 288. Archive.org.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Thomas Baldwin, comp. Vital Records of Cambridge Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol. 2: Marriages and Deaths. Boston, MA: Wright and Potter, 1914, pp. 161-162 (mariages), pp. 570-571 (deaths). Archive.org.

See also:

• FamilySearch Tree
• Website by Jim Crawford. "Crawford (Welch) Ancestors in Massachusetts", 2010. "The Gibson and Errington Families".
• "U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700", database with images. Third Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) - Ancestry Record 3824 #177963 ($), John Gibson marriage to Rebecca ______ c. 1634; 2d marriage to Joanna ___ Prentice 24 July 1662.
• Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Massachusetts, a Descriptive List. Boston: C.H. Pope, 1900, p. 186. Archive.org.
• Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Vol. 2. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., p. 248. Archive.org.
• Hall, David D. "Witch-Hunting in Seventeenth-Century New England". Duke University Press, 1999. Not available online.
• Dobson, David. "Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America, 1625-1825", database with images, Vol. V. Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) - Ancestry Record 62215 #10962 ($): "Emigrated from Scotland to America. Settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during 1634. Freeman there 17 May 1637. Land- owner. Married (1) Rebecca Thompson, Duddingston, Midlothian (2) Mrs Joan Prentice in 1662. Father of John, 1641-1679. Died during 1694(BAF)". Unsourced.