The Gibson Family Newsletter

Hello, my name is Gena Gibson Davis. In the past few years, with the help of many people I have begun to collect interesting details related to our heritage. During the research I have come across other folks who are working on the Gibson, as well as other lines. We also met people who expressed a desire to obtain this information once we were done.

My intention soon became to compile all of this information into one book, a genealogical record of the Gibson family line. I feel that it is very important to share this information with everyone but it could take an entire lifetime to actually fulfill a work of this depth. Not only that but a book could be difficult and expensive to produce. In trying to find a cost-effective method of getting this information out to everyone who is interested, I have come to the conclusion that a newsletter would be best.

Understand, this is not a commercial newsletter, produced by the thousands and sent to anyone with the name Gibson. This is strictly for OUR family. The fee will be $8 each year, 2-4 issues per year. This fee is not for profit but merely to cover the cost of copying and postage. This newsletter is a labor of love, created and researched by and for those who are interested in our genealogy.

Each letter will contain genealogical information. The family line highlighted in an issue may not be yours but it will be one with whom you will have some type of connection. In order to get a full scope of our family tree, I NEED and WELCOME all contributions and each will be printed. Also needed for printing is: Family stories and descriptions, family charts, photocopies of old pictures of direct line descendants and documents and records. I would also like to print names and addresses of family members. If you send in a contribution, please indicate wether or not you are willing to have your address printed. This would be an excellent place to post notices of family reunions. If members of outside lines are invited, please make that invitation. Otherwise, the reunion will be recognized as for immediate family only. After a reunion occurs, please send us a list of people who attended and if possible, a group photo. This could be a valuable research source for future generations. I would welcome all query letters as this is intended to be an information sharing network among our family. Instead of purchasing a subscription, you may photocopy this letter for relatives but I would like to keep track of how many people are reading it, so if you are copying, please let me know for whom and ask them to be contributors of information too! Each letter will have holes so that the pages will fit neatly into a three-ring binder. Purchase for yourself a hardcover binder and insert each issue as it arrives and eventually we will each have a Gibson family genealogy book.

Choosing a starting point has been a difficult decision to make since the research is still in progress. Because of this, we are going to start with the first ancestor with whom we have evidence of and give a brief view of where he came from, who his parents MIGHT have been and of course, the facts that we have on his life. In the next editions we will begin to trace his children. This man is Robert Gibson Sr., later, as more facts are uncovered about him, we will take a break from the family being highlighted and continue with the new information.

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Who We Are: The Descendants of Robert Gibson, Sr.

Robert Gibson Sr., was born in 1793 and probably in North Carolina. According to Bible records of Rev. and Mrs. Wayne and Ruth Gibson and Mr. Harry Lee Gibson of Washington Co, MO, Robert Sr. was married to Martha Belton in Rockingham Co, NC on March 10, 1810.

Robert served in the War of 1812. According to his pension application, filed July 30, I871, from Walton's Mill, Washington Co, MO, it was stated that Robert was a volunteer in Geo W. Barker's Company, NC Militia, under Col. Atkinson's regiment of NC Volunteers.

Robert enlisted at Windsworth (Wentsworth), NC, November 28, 1814. He served at Norfolk, Virginia, until February 22, 1815. Robert stated that he was not involved in any battles.

According to various Bible records, Robert and Martha moved to TN where several of their children were born before moving on to Illinois and then to Washington Co., MO by 1838. Martha Belton died January 23, 1869. Robert then took a second wife, Martha Bays, on April 18, 1869, at Walton's Mill.

There is no record of any children being bom unto this second marriage but between Robert and the first Martha ten children were bom, they were:

1.Absolom Gibson, b. 15 Jan 1811, in NC, m 22 Nov 1838 in Washington Co, MO, to Alice Wiggins, d. 6 Mar 1848 in Washington Co, MO. 2.Tillman Gibson, b. 6 Jul 1813 in NC, d. Mar 1829, in Washington Co, MO. 3.James M. Gibson, b. 12 Sep 1815 in NC, d. I0 Apr 1848 in Washington Co, MO. 4.Lucinda Gibson, b. 12 Mar 1818 in NC, in. 13 Dec 1839 to James Bays in Washington Co, MO, d ? 5. Elisabeth Gibson, b. 24 Jan 1821 in NC, m 06 Feb 1844 to Jesse Richardson Pratt, Sr, in Washington Co, MO, she was Jesse Pratt's second wife. d 16 Jan 1905 in Warm Springs Randolph Co, AR. 6. Williamson "WO" Osborn Gibson, b. 04 Mar 1823 in TN, m 26 Mar 1844 to Taletha Pratt (dau of Jesse Pratt and Ist wife Frankie Fox) second marriage about 1860 to Mary. 7.Robert Gibson Jr., b. 04 Oct 1826 in TN, in. 05-JAN-1845 to Sarah Ann Lefler in Washington Co, MO, d. 4 Apr 1877 in Washington Co, MO. 8.Martha Gibson, b 12 Apr I829, d.? 9. Arene Gibson, b 02 Feb 1831 in IL, m about 1845 to John Lefler in Washington Co, MO. (John was believed to have been a brother to Sarah Ann Lefler Gibson) d.? 10. Clarinda(y) Gibson, b. 20 May 1833, d fall of 1834. It is not certain when Robert Sr. or Martha Bays died but surely it was in Washington Co., MO.

As stated earlier, as of this date we cannot say with complete accuracy as to who were the parents of Robert Gibson Sr. but we do know that he came from the county of Rockingham, NC. This area was inhabited by the families of Dalton, Vernon and Pratt. It is reputed that Jesse Pratt, the husband of Elisabeth Gibson and father-in-law of WO Gibson, came from one of these Pratt lines. Through research it has been proven that each of these families was related to one another as well as to the large Gibson family which resided there during the mid 1700's to the mid 1800's. All of these Gibsons apparently descend from Joseph Gibson, who left a will which was written 28 Feb 1790 and went into probate Aug 1797.

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Copied Directly From The WiIl of Joseph Gibson

In the Name of God Amen, I Joseph Gibson Senr of Rockingham County in the State of North Carolina, being very sick and weak of body of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling unto the mortality of my body and knowng that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament: that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend to the earth, to be buried in decent Christian Burial all the discretion to my Executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly Estate where with it has pleased God to bless one in this life., I give, dismiss, and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth Gibson the Tract of Land whereon I now live containing two hundred and fifty nine acres be the same more or less together with all my personal Estate of what kind so ever during her natural life, and after her death my will and Desire is that my Executor or Executrix shall sell the said Tract of Two Hundred & fifty nine acres of land and all the remaining part of the Children to Wit, John Gibson, Joseph Gibson, Joshua Gibson, Absolom Gibson, Hezekiah Gibson, Elizabeth Gibson, Sarah Gibson, and Theaney Gibson, to them and their Heirs for ? Secondly, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Fields the sum of Two pounds current money. Thirdly I Give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Pratt the Sum of Two pounds Current money. Fourthly I give and bequeath to my Daughter Betty Williams the wife of William Williams, the sum of five shillings Sterling money. Fifthly-I give and bequeath to my son Randolph Gibson five shillings Sterling money--to be paid them by my Executor or Executrix after the Death of my Said wife Elizabeth. Lastly I appoint my two Sons John Gibson Joseph Gibson & my son in law John Fields Executors of this my last Will & testament revoking all former wills by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament In witness ? of ? ? unto set my hand and Seal this Twenty eight day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and ninety. Signed, Sealed, published, pronounced, and Declared by the Said Joseph Gibson Senr as his last Will and Testament in his presence and in the presence of each other, have here unto Subscribed our Names. Allen Dodd, Christopher Hand, George Peay Senr (all men of the court) and the signature and seal of Joseph Gibson.

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John Gibson and John Fields, husband of Mary Gibson were veterans of the Revolutionary War.

Although Robert did not face military combat during the War of 1812, his regiment suffered greatly due to an outbreak of measles. Eight men died from the dreaded virus and it was reported another 276 men were sick and unfit for duty.

Rockingham county's economy was based on agriculture which felt a boon during the War of 1812, when there was a high demand for American wheat and cotton. As the demand for these products began to wane after the war, commodity prices fell and banks began to call in their loans. This led to defaults and bank failures. Just after the war, tobacco brought $20/40 per hundred pounds but by June 1819 it was selling for $4/8 per hundred.

Coupling this problem was the fact that a great deal of land speculation was occurring within the county. Virginia promoters had purchased large amounts of acreage on the Dan River, which is the major river in Rockingham, promoting the site as a potential head of navigation. The land was originally sold for $500 per acre in 1818 and that price doubled in a few months. When the area did not prosper as promised by the promoters, the price dipped. Then the Panic of 1819 set in and the price per acre was a miserable $1.00.

This economic crunch probably contributed to the reasons why Robert Sr. chose to pick up stakes and move his young family. Another contributing factor could have been the increasing population. In 1790 the population was 6,219 which included 1,105 slaves. By 1810 the population had risen to 10,316 of which 2,114 were slaves.

Whatever the case, about the 1830's residents what grown restless and began to look onto greener pastures in Alabama, Mississippi, east Texas and Missouri. Many of the Pratt and Vernon families headed to Bibb Co., AL. John and Joshua Gibson went to Davidson and then settled in Lincoln Co, TN.

It is likely that our Robert could have traveled with any of these groups, or have taken a third popular route from Abbeyville Co, SC, through TN and into IL. In the 1830 Federal census of Illinois, Jesse Pratt can be found with a wife and one child, a daughter, believed to have been Taletha, in Randolph Co, IL. Also within Randolph county is a Robert Gibson who was listed as of 30 under 40. There were three females living in the household, one of 10 under 15, one of 20 under 30 and one of 60 under 70. It is doubtful that this Robert could have been ours. There was a total of four Robert Gibsons enumerated in the 1830 Illinois census.

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The Gibson Name: Where Do We Come From?

The exact date of our family's arrival onto the shores of America is not known at this time but we can be sure that many of you are working on it! According to several generic books on the Gibson name, we could have come from anywhere (No, probably not China or Africa). To narrow down the field a little though, some generic books on Gibsons living in North Carolina, state there was a large immigration of Scotch-Irish to NC during the period of 1730-1790. Before this time though, the Gibson name ("son of Gib") probably had its origins in Norway around the time the Vikings were powerful seamen. During their exploits some Vikings settled into areas of Scotland (and other parts of Europe) and carried with them the name of Gibson. Later, some Scottish peoples were forced to move to Ireland.

To better describe what the term "Scotch-Irish" means is a direct quote from a letter written by Mr. Harry Gibson, "Dad always said that we were Scotch Irish. I thought that meant we were of Scottish/Irish lineage but I have since learned that we are of Scotch origin, with our ancestors having fled from Scotland because of religious persecution, settling in Ireland; there too they were persecuted, resulting in their immigration.

To expound on this a little further, the land in Ireland was taken away from the Irish and the King of England forced the Scots to move onto those confiscated lands. This group of Scots remained in Ireland for up to one hundred years. When the Scots refused to give up their allegiance to the King and denounce their religion they were virtually tortured, their homes burned, people imprisoned and killed.

So, if you too, had heard that your Gibson line was from Ireland or Scotland, it was probably true. In the March 1996 issue of Reader's Digest is the article 'Braveheart: legacy of a People', the following information is taken. "Notable Americans, who traced their heritage across the waters to Scotland: John Paul Jones, Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stuart and General Patton. The Ist US census revealed that in the South people of Celtic descent (those of Viking heritage) outnumbered Anglo-Saxons by 2-1. A decade after the Civil War, of the whites in the South 3/4% were of Celtic heritage. The "rebel yell", described by Union soldiers as "making the hair stand up on the back of your head", bore an uncanny resemblance to the war cry of the Highland Scots."

With almost every family is a legend, passed from one generation to the next, on where their family came from or how they first arrived in America. Many of these stories tell of how adult brothers arrived together to start a new life or of a lone stowaway, usually caught by the ships captain before making it across the ocean. If you have heard a story such as these, please send it to us. Sometimes a grain of truth can be found in the stories or if not, they sure do make for interesting reading!

Before we sign off, I'd like to tell you about my family, mainly because I know more about them than the others and also because many of the readers also hail from this line.

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The Line of Williamson "WO" Osborn Gibson

The large portion of this article is taken from a genealogical compilation created by the Gibsons of Oklahoma around the 1960's and updated recently. Other information comes from the Steele family (of Texas) history. Other sources are my aunt, Judy Gibson Guilliams and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Dow and Maxine (McKinney) Gibson, of Puxico, MO.

Williamson Gibson was married first to Taletha (Talitha or Tabitha) Pratt. Taletha was the daughter of Rev. Jesse Richardson Pratt Sr. and his first wife, Frankie Fox. Taletha was bom by 1830 in Randolph Co., IL. To the union of WO and Taletha were four children: 1. Jesse Richardson Gibson, b. 16 Aug 1844 in IL, m 20 May 1869 to Rudy Louisa Russell in Randolph Co, AR, d 29 Jul 1927 and is buried at Johnston Chapel in Ripley Co, MO. 2.Francis E. Gibson, b 28 Dec1848 in IL, m 13 Oct 1872, the third wife of Josephus Steele in Franklin Co, MO, d 18 Jan1940 in Texas, buried in the Cataline Cemetery, location not found in record. 3.Mary Jane Gibson, b. 1847 in IL, m.? into the Greenlee or Greenleaf family of Franklin Co, MO, d? 4.James M. Gibson, b. before 1860 in Wash Co., MO, m 14 Jun 1877 to Samantha S. Russell, in Randolph Co, AR, d ?, possibly in Ripley Co, MO.

The date of Taletha's death is still unknown but it is estimated to have been before 1860 because the oldest child of WO and Mary Glore was born near that year. It is believed Taletha is buried in Washington Co, MO.

After the death of Taletha, Williamson married Mary Francis Glore by 1860 in Washington Co, MO. Mary was bom 1836 in KY, she was the daughter of Lisbon and Catherine Glore. Lisbon was bom in Kentucky in 1814 and Catherine was born in Virginia in 1815. To WO and Mary were bom eight children: 1.Josephine Gibson, b 1860 in MO, m ?to John Bridges, d? 2.Joseph Gibson, b 1862 in MO, m d ?, is buried in Covington Cemetery near Covington, OK. 3.Bruce Gibson, b 1864 in MO, m d. 1940 buried in Pine Cemetery in Ripley Co, Mo. 4.Emma Gibson, b 1866 in MO, m into the Hodo family of Ripley Co, MO, d? could be buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Ripley Co, MO. 5.John B. Gibson, b 23 May 1868 in MO, m ? (Is said to have lived around Bennett,MO) d April 1946, is buried in Pine Cemetery. 6. Stephen Gibson, b 1869 in MO, m ?, d.? , died at son's home in Grandin, Ripley Co, Mo. 7.Straud Gibson, b 1872 in MO, m ?, d?, (is said to have lived in Doniphan, MO). 8.Theodocia Gibson, b 1878 in MO, m ? to Bud Bryant in Ripley Co, MO, d ?

In the 1880 Oregon Co., MO, census, this family was found but the 1890 Federal census was destroyed by a fire in Washington, D.C. and only a handful of records was saved, none of which pertain to our family. In the book, 'History of Ripley County Missouri, by Jerry Ponder, Williamson is listed as having been the postmaster of Tucker Post Office from November 1893 until December 1893. The dates of WO's and Mary Glore's deaths are unknown but a description of their cemetery plot at Pine Cemetery reads, "One hand-carved stone, no dates." They are surrounded by their descendants.

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Most of the people who have contributed to this letter have been recognized above but I would especially like to thank each one personally.

Judy Gibson Guilliams and my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Dow and Maxine (McKinney) Gibson. Without their patience, knowledge, generosity and encouragement, I could never have even started on this project.

Mrs. Hazel Dickens, of Memphis, TN, for filling in many questions and writing some of the most pleasant letters I have ever read. Her grandson is involved in Civil War re-enactment and can be seen as an extra in the Turner movie, 'Andersonville'.

Rev. and Mrs. Wayne and Ruth Gibson, of Washington Co, MO, for opening up their Bible records to me and introducing me to Harry Gibson. Ruth's maiden name is also Gibson and it is through her that we are related.

Mr. Harry Lee Gibson, for sharing, in depth, his fantastic research notes. He and his wife presently reside in Hong Kong where he has worked at the Baptist University. Harry will be retiring this year and upon their return to the US, they plan an extended tour of important genealogical sites. We look forward to hearing about their trip and wish them luck in the endeavor!

Mrs. Flo Gates of Oklahoma, whom I recently found, not that she was actually lost. Flo is an author and a genealogist and has been compiling information on many families for years but most importantly to us, the Pratt line. Most of the information you have read on the Pratts in this letter has come from Flo.

Of course, for me to have cited every source of information while writing this letter would have made for tedious and uninteresting reading. To make this an accurate record though, I will periodically print a bibliography.

With this letter you will find several family charts, it is recommended that you make master copies before filling them in. Please, make copies for me once you are done. (Note: Blanks forms not included with this online Newsletter).

Standard abbreviations used are: Date of birth--b, Date of marriage--m, Date of death--d, other abbreviations which may be used are, Birthplace--bp, Place of death--pd.

In the next issues we plan to highlight further the children of Robert Sr. and from there we will continue on with the grandchildren and so forth. Our family has a long history with the Baptist church and an article will be written on the subject.

The Gibsons have also been active in the military, if you have any information or contributions on these two subjects, send them in so these articles can be written in depth.

Please fill in the following questionaire with your subscription or query letters: 1. Name (including maiden) 2. Address and phone 3. May we print your address? 4. From which Gibson do you descend? 5. Do you have any suggestions or comments that may help us produce a better letter?

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~~~REV. WILLIAMSON O. GIBSON~~~~~~~REV. JESSE & ELIZABETH (GIBSON) PRATT~~~ ~