David Lay of Wilkes and Pittsylvania Cos. Virginia. First marriage unknown, m. 2) Susannah Gibson. Children: David Jr. b. ca, 1765, Charles Middleton? b. 1759, Bartlett, Mary, Elizabeth, Burrell b. ca. 1776,William, b. ca. 1785, George, Instant, and John b. Ca 1795. David Lay of Pittsylvania Co. Virginia By E. E. Fricks, P.E., P.P. - LFGA Line No. 2 David Lay appears as a landowner in Pittsylvania Co., Virginia, just across the border from Caswell Co. North Carolina in 1764. Pittsylvania Co. split from Halifax Co. in 1766. He married Susannah Gibson, the daughter of Andrew and Mary Gibson. Names of David and Susannah’s children and other data are as yet lacking. Since the Gibson family appears in Tennessee Cos. of Campbell and Claiborne a little later, with the Lays, it is helpful to include them here. We know comparatively little about Andrew Gibson, other than that he was an owner of extensive land holdings. After his death, his widow Mary married secondly, John Cooper 13 July 1782, Thomas Douglas bondsman and John Douglas, witness. Although remarried, she is frequently referred to after her marriage as "Gibson." A thoroughly remarkable woman, she engaged in extensive land dealings in her own name for a period of more than 25 years. Her prenuptial agreement with John Cooper dated 10 July 1782, stipulated that Cooper would not interfere with the disposal of her property to her children and would make no claims on it. The distribution of Mary Gibson’s property listed her heirs in an order that suggests a ranking by age: 1. Hannah Lay 2. Richard Gibson 3. Lucretia Burchfield 4. William Gibson 5. Julius Gibson 6. Naoma "Omey" Hogg 7. James Gibson 8. Susannah Lay 9. John Gibson 10. Joel Gibson Omey Hogg appears to be Naoma Gibson, probable daughter of Mary, who married William Hogg and appears in Grainger Co., Tennessee in 1794-1795. There is a will for James Gibson dated 11 November 1802, and proved April 1803, with wife Frances. James, John and Joel Gibson all appear in the NC State Census of 1786 (Caswell Co., St. David’s District.) in the 21-60-age category. This indicates that they were born before 1765. John Gibson married Juda Hogg in Caswell Co. on 8 June 1779, John Brockman bondsman and William Campbell, witness. According to Arlie Lay, Susanna was the wife of David Lay, Jr. (David Lay Jr. has been tracked to Pittsylvania Co. Virginia immediately to the north of Caswell Co. This designation of ‘Jr.’ and ‘Sr.’ is confusing as David was referred to as ‘Jr.’ in Pittsylvania records but as ‘Sr.’ in later Caswell Co. records.) This property was located on the state line with Virginia. In Caswell Co. Deed Book A, is an indenture between Jesse Lay and Braxton Cox for the "whole lot of land that fell to the aforesaid Jesse Lay by marriage to Hannah Gibson, heir of John and Mary Gibson." Jesse is described as of Campbell Co. Tennessee. Braxton Cox appears in the same Militia Company with the Lays in Campbell Co. in 1818, 1819, 1820, 1821, and 1822 Tax Lists. Braxton is described as ‘of Campbell Co. Tennessee’ in the 5th of June 1810 power of attorney to represent Jesse in the 01 Oct. 1810 sale of the inherited property to Epaphroditus Stone. Braxton eventually appears in Roane and Meigs Cos. Tennessee. In the 1787 tax lists for Pittsylvania Co. Virginia, we find John, David and David Lay Jr. David Lay appears with one male between ages 16-21. A David Lay appears the first time with a land transfer recorded in Claiborne County, Tennessee from the infamous James Glasgow in 1795. Campbell County at this period was part of Claiborne.       Pittsylvania County, VA Marriages:   ABRAHAM SHELTON PEGGY GIBSON 24 February 1808 Pittsylvania   JAMES MIZE AMY GIBSON 27 March 1839 Pittsylvania   JAMES SUTHERLIN ELIZABETH GIBSON 18 January 1832 Pittsylvania SARAH D. GIBSON'S BOOK PREFACE The first Gibson's to come to America of our family: The Gibsons of Cumberland. by Sarah D. Gibson Robert and George Gibson, brothers, came from Stewart's Town in the North of Ireland to Pennsylvania, about the year 1730, for we find the latter at Lancaster at that period, while Robert had settled in Derry Township. It is probable that William, Patrick, James, and John Gibson, who about the same time took up land, belonged to the same family, but how closely related cannot be ascertained. 1. Robert Gibson, born circa 1700, died prior to 1754 in Derry Township, Lancaster Co., PA. As stated he came with his brother, George from Stewart's Town, Ireland. He married Mary McClellen, a native of Donegal, Ireland. After her husband's death, she removed to Sherman's Creek with her son, Hugh, and there she was murdered by the Indians in July 1756. Robert Gibson's children are: (4) i. Robert, b. circa 1722. (5) ii. Andrew, b. 1724. (-) iii. John, b. 1726; d. in April 1764. (-) iv. Israel, b. 1728. (-) v. Hugh, b. 1730; m. Mary White. He was taken prisoner by the Indians. (-) vi. Mary, b. 1732. (Of their family, Robert, Andrew, and John, settled in the Cumberland Valley. Hugh was captured by the Indians. What became of Israel and Mary, there is no record. There were probably other children.) 2. George Gibson, b. circa 1708; inn-keeper at Lancaster, and owned a large number of tracts of land, which he had warranted from the Proprietary's. He died at Lancaster in December 1761, leaving a wife, Martha _____, and children as follows: i.  Mary, b. 1734, m. Matthias Slough. ii. Thomas, b. 1737. iii. John, b. May 23, 1740; was Gen. John Gibson of the Revolution. iv. Francis, b. 1742. v. Jean, b. 1745. vi. George, b. Oct. 10, 1747; m. Ann West; was Col. George Gibson, and was killed at St. Clair's Defeat in 1791. vii. Ann, b. 1749. 3.William Gibson , b. prior to 1717 in Stewart's Town, Province of Ulster, Ireland. Settled in Newton Township, Cumberland Co., PA, where he died in January, 1761, leaving a wife Margaret _____, and children: i. Robert, b. 1741. ii. John, b. 1743, served as a private in Capt. Thomas Kennedy's Company, Cumberland County Militia in July 1777. iii. William, b. 1745, served in Capt. James Laird's Company, Cumberland County Militia in July 1777. iv. Samuel, b. 1747, served as a private in Capt. Patrick's Jack's Company of Cumberland County Militia, in service May 1778. v. James, b. 1749; served as a private in Capt. Robert McTeer's Company, Cumberland County Militia, in service May 1778. vi. George, b. 1751. vii. Gideon, b. 1753. viii. Charles, b. 1755. ix. Janet, b. 1757. x. Ann, b. 1759. ***( These notes are by Gary T. Gibson: William Gibson wrote his will in December, 1770, and he died in January 1771. When William wrote his will, his wife Margaret was pregnant with his 11th child. Sarah does not mention that child here, but she does later on. However, that child was born in 1771!)*** 4. Robert Gibson (Robert) of Hopwell Township, Cumberland County, PA, b. circa 1722, died May 1756. He left a wife Ann, and children: i. Andrew, b. 1744; appears on the tax lists as Andrew Gibson, Sen. ii. Robert, b. 1746. iii. Jean, b. 1748. iv. Martha, b. 1750. v. Ann, b. 1752. 5. Andrew Gibson (Robert) b. circa 1724; settled in Antrim Township, Cumberland County, where he died in March 1783. He served a tour of duty on the frontiers of Cumberland County, during the Revolution. His wife was Elizabeth _____, their children were: i. Margaret, b. ca 1759, m. _____ Parks. ii. Thomas, b. 1752, Captain of a Company of Cumberland County Militia in January 1778; and in July 1778, was Colonel of the Battalion. iii. John (our ancestor?) b. ca 1754, served as a private in Captain James Poe's Company in July 1777, and in Capt. McCoy's Company in June 1778. iv. Jean, b. ca 1756, m. Daniel Long. (There were others of the name of whom we have little or no record, and in the absence of accurate dates of birth cannot definitely fix where they belong. The dates given in the fore going are approximate, hardly two years out of the way. The descendants of none of the lines have been followed out.) (These following notes are by Gary T. Gibson: So, what we have here is Sarah D. Gibson assigning birth dates to people, simply because she didn't have the correct ones. Many people missed this when they obtained information from her book. One person of interest is Dee Wayne Schvaneveldt, who submitted her ancestral file to the LDS, where it was then accessed by many other people, who also were not aware of what Sarah did. I have spoken with D. S. Schvaneveldt, and she did say she obtained some of her information from Sarah's book, and she never read William Gibson's Will. She also said that she would update the ancestral file that she submitted to the LDS.)*** ---------------------------------------------- GIBSON FAMILY HISTORY CHAPTER I. - THE SCOTT-IRISH The name Scotch-Irish is a strange compound. They lived in Ireland, but they had Scotch and English ancestors, and they were given the name Scotch-Irish, after they commenced to migrate to America, to distinguish them from the Scotch of Scotland. The Poet Edmund Spencer, after long residences in Ireland, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth of England, first suggested to her, the plan of colonizing Ireland, with Protestants, in this way, making Ireland more loyal to the English government. In 1611, James I of England, Scotland, and Ireland, put this scheme into practice. The Presbyterians had placed King James VI on the throne of Scotland, and on the death of Queen Elizabeth, he was the nearest heir to the English throne. James IV of Scotland, had married Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII of England, and Margaret was the great-grandmother of James I. Old John Knox had denounced from the pulpit, the beautiful, but ill-fated Queen Mary Stewart, in no agreeable or gentle manner, and he never hesitated to discipline King James, himself, if he went contrary to the rules of the Church. When James became King of England, he had Scotch friends, who he wished to reward, but he dared not give them anything in England, because there was such a great jealousy between these two nations. And there were friends of Queen Elizabeth, whom he wished to get out of the way. Therefore, King James drove the Irish out of the Province Of Ulster, the northern Province of Ireland. For an excuse, a plot was hatched against O'Neal, Earl of Tyrone, and O'Donnell, Earl of Tyconnel, accusing them of treason against the English government. And they, with all the Irish living in this Province were compelled to seek refuge in the neighboring Provinces in the bogs and the mountains. And thousands died of starvation, and other hardships. The Irish were every ready to rise at the least provocation, and try to drive out the intruders and oppressors. And many and terrible were the massacres that took place. Sometimes, the Irish were the conquerors, and sometimes the Protestants. Thus for many generations, the Scotch-Irish were trained for border warfare. The Protestants were from Southern Scotland and Northern England. Mostly Presbyterian picked men and women of the best sort, who for many generations, had been of a higher grade of intelligence and training. There was one million acres of good land in the Province of Ulster. And at the beginning of the 18th Century, it numbered nearly a million people. They made this Province a garden and established manufactories of wool, and of linen, which have ever since been famous thorough the world. These Scotch-Irish were not ignorant people of the peasant class, but they were intelligent farmers and artisans. And in 1718, on a paper signed by 319 men, only three of these were unable to write their names. Nothing like that could have happened anywhere else in the British Empire, hardly even in New England. These people were mostly Lowland Scotch Presbyterians with very little intermarriage with the Irish. For there was a hatred unsurpassed in bitterness and intensity, between the Irish Catholics, and the Scotch Presbyterians. But England became jealous of the manufactories in Ulster. They interferred with the English trade. So, England made laws, which supressed the Irish manufactories. And from 1698 to 1704, the Presbyterians were forbidden to have their own schools, or perform marriage ceremonies. They were patient hoping for improvement in these laws. But from 1719 to 1782, they emigrated to America in great numbers. They were received with open arms from Maine to Georgia. And they came with their Bibles in their hands. They were good industrious citizens. England became alarmed, and the "Toleration Act" was passed for Ireland. But this did not check the tide of emigration. The freedom and vast tracts of rich fertile land of the new world, had great attraction for them. This was before steam ships, but in one week in the year 1727, six ships, loaded with Scotch-Irish, landed in Philadelphia. In 1682, Francis Makemie organized the first Presbyterian Churches established in America, on the eastern shore of Maryland, and neighboring countries of Virginia, among the Scotch-Irish. In 1717, the Scotch-Irish made settlements in New Jersey and Massachusetts. From 1727 to 1749, William Gooch, a military Scotchman, was Governor of Virginia. During his government, it was remarkable the western emigration across the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It introduced into Virginia a new set of people and new forms of religion, and new habits of life. It affected all of the Colonies south of Pennsylvania, and did much to determine the character of all the states founded west of the Alleghanies, and south of middle Illinois. The coming of the Scotch-Irish was almost as important as the coming of the Puritans, and the Cavaliers. At the beginning of the Revolution, the Scotch-Irish element was the strongest and more important than all the others in the Alleghany regions. Pennsylvania was the great distributing center of a great Southwest. The Scotch-Irish spread down the Shenandoah Valley, following the course of the rivers, into the Carolinas, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, sweeping past all civilization. But taking their religious habits with them, building churches, first of pealed hickory logs, and later erecting better and larger churches. "Their pews of unpainted pine straight back and tall, Their galleries mounted high three sides around, Their pulpits goblet shaped halfway up the wall, With sounding board above with acorned crowned." The Scotch-Irish did good work in their country schools, "log colleges", as they were called. From 1715 to 1745, large colonies of Scotch-Irish emigrated to South Carolina, where land was cheap and easy to get. And it was secured by them in large tracts. Too large for the prosperity of the country. And the land quickly rose in value. There were Presbyterians, who had English names, and they founded some of the most important families, and produced some of the most brilliant leaders in South Carolina. The Pinchneys, the Rutledges, John C. Calhoun, and Andrew Jackson. He went afterwards to Tennessee, and twenty-seven times he crossed the trackless wilderness between Nashville, Tennessee, and South Carolina, infested with wild animals, and the more savage Indians. The Scotch-Irish emigrated to the Shenandoah Valley in 1730. They settled on the Opequan River, and their oldest churches, the Tuscarora meeting house, and the Opequan Church, are still standing, the first near Marlinsburg, VA., and the latter near Winchester, VA. Their small farms, their few slaves, and the democratic ideas of these Scotch-Irish soon made great changes in the aristocratic life of the Virginians. For two generations there was a contest between these two classes in the House of burgesses of VA., which resulted in the separation of Church and State, and complete religious toleration, and the abolishing of entail, and primogeniture, and many important changes were made under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson, who was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Jefferson is called the father of modern Democracy, and the Shenandoan Valley its cradle. In 1770, one third of the population of Pennsylvania was Scotch-Irish, and at the beginning of the Revolution, they were one-sixth of the population of the American colonies. 30,000 Scotch-Irish settling in Lancaster Co., and Cumberland Co., PA. These were afterwards divided into several counties. It was the policy of the government to place Scotch-Irish between the colonies, and the Indian frontiers as defenders. March 17, 1755, Richard Hernderson, Thomas Hart, John Williams, William Johnson, Jon Luttrell, James Hogg, David Hart, and Leonard Bullock, all of Scotch-Irish ancestors, purchased a large tract of land, south of the Ohio River, between Green and Cumberland Rivers. It is now part of Kentucky. It was called Transylvanis. They expected to make immediate settlement. They obtained this land from the Cherokee Indians, and paid them 10,000 pounds of English money for 17,000,000 acres of land. They did this at great expense and peril of life. They made an offer to induce settlers to go there, and to any man who would go thee and raise a crop of corn, and help defend the settlement, and give all needed assistance to the same to him, they would give 500 acres of land and 25 dollars in money. And many accepted this offer and had gone to Kentucky, but when the war of the Revolution was declared, this contract was worthless. Congress afterwards gave this company other grants of land, and confirmed the men in their titles, who had already settled in Kentucky. This settlement by the early pioneers secured this country to the United States in the final settlement between England and the Colonies. And George Rogers Clark, another Scotch-Irishman, by a bold scheme, and skillful execution of the same, secured the Illinios country to the Colonies. He was a pupil of the Scotch-Irish schoolmaster, Donald Robinson, and James Madison, one of the presidents, was also his pupil. Clark was well educated, and in 1772, he was land surveyor upon the upper Ohio, and he had rendered valuable assistance in the Great Kanawha. He obtained from the government of VA, 180 picked men with their rifles, and some light artillery, and a flotilla of boats. They rowed down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River. All the British soldiers had been taken from Kaskaskia to Detroit, and Clark easily took Kaskaskia, and Cahokia, and two other towns. All of these towns were inhabited mostly by French settlers and Clark represented in such glowing terms the alliance between France and the American colonies, that they were easily persuaded to submit, and the Catholic Priest Gibault voluntered to carry Clarks's terms of surrender to Vincennes, which easily yielded, and Clark sent a party back to Virginia with the news of his bloodless victory. Thus all of the country north of the Ohio River was annexed to Virginia, as the Illinois country, and 600 men were raised for its defence. This was 1788 and 1779. Clark's younger brother, William, with Merriwwether Lewis made the exploration of the Columbia River in 1804, thus giving the United States a claim on Oregon and Washington. It was the Scotch-Irish that won the battle of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, of the Revolution, and crushed the Indians in Alabama. They overthrew Wellington's veterans in the short, sharp battle of New Orleans, under the command of General Andrew Jackson. Some of the most celebrated descendants of this race are among the statesmen, Jefferson, Madison Calhoun, Benton; among the orators, Patrick Henry, Rutledge, Preston, McDuffie, Yancy; jurists, Marshall, Campbell, Robinson; poets, Edgar Allen Poe; divines, Waddell, Alexander, Breckenridge, Robinson, Plummer, Hoge, Hawks, Fuller, McKendree; physicians, McDowell, Sims, McGuire; inventors, McCormick; soldiers, Lee Jacksons, Johnstons, Stuart; sailors, Paul Jones, Buchanan; seven Presidents, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Taylor, Polk, and Johnson. They are mingled with the descendants of many other races. They were the vanguard of the fighting settlers, who with their ax and their rifle in their hands, won their way from the Alleghanies, to the Rio Grande and Pacific Ocean. During the Civil War, the descendants of the Scotch-Irish of Kentucky and Tennessee were true to the Union, and stood like a living wall between the North and the South. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER II THE SCOTCH PRESBYTERIANS In 1688, some of the Scotch Presbyterians were dissatisfied with the settlement of religious questions in Scotland, and they withdrew from the Presbyterian Church, and united in a religious organization and were called Reformed Presbyterians, and sometimes Cameronians, or Covenanter, most generally. November 17, 1733, Ebinezer Erskine, Alexander Moncrief, William Wilson, and James Fisher, gave in protestation to the Commission of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, declaring their secession from the prevailing party in the jurisdiction of the Church, and they associated themselves together as a Presbytery for the administration of discipline, and their motto was, the people should be free to choose their own ministers. They took the name of Associate Presbyterians, but they were called Seceders. The Seceders adhered to the convenants as firmly as the Convenanters, but did not reject the present British Constitution. Members of both Communions emigrated to America. A Reformed Presbytery, and two Associate Presbyteries, the Presbytery of New York, and Presbytery of Pennsylvania, were in existence at the time of the Revolution. The leaders of the Associate Presbytery were Dr. John Mason, and Rev. Robert Annan, of the Reformed Presbytery, John Cuthbertson, William Linn, and Alexander Dobbins. In the struggle of the Colonies for freedon, all the members of both Presbyteries were for freedom, and when the British captured New York City, Dr. Mason had to flee to the American camp, and he was one of General Washington's chaplains, and his Church in New York was used by the British for a stable. In 1782, the Seceders and the Convenanters united, and were called the Associate Reform Church, or Union Church. Two ministers dissented from this union, Marshal and Clarkson, and other ministers came or were sent to their aid from Scotland or Ireland. So, the Associate, or Seceder Church continued to exist, as a distinct church, and some people of the Reformed Presbyterian Church continued to exist, and ministers were sent from Scotland or Ireland. The associate Reform Church founded the first Theological Seminary, established in the U. S. in the year 1804. In 1790, the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians constituted the principle portion of the population in some settlements of South Carolina, and they had their churches and schools and academies. These were more common then than at a later date in the slave states. The Associate Reform Church was among the first to object to slavery. There were then but few slaves in that part of South Carolina, and for the white man, labor was not as degrading as it afterwards became. The invention of the cotton gin gave power to slavery. A man must raise cotton, and therefore, he would be obliged to purchase more slaves, or see his family drop to the same level with slaves, or remove west, which many families of the Scotch-Irish did. Those who would move, must load their all into a wagon, and wend their way over mountains, across swamps, and through the wilderness. Many weary weeks were spent on this journey by day, and around the camp fire by night, before they arrived at their destination. ---------------------------------------- CHAPTER III THE GIBSONS OF CUMBERLAND VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA Robert and George Gibson, brothers, came from Stewartstown, in the province of Ulster, in the North of Ireland, before the year 1730. For we find them at this date already land owners. George Gibson is settled at the town of Lancaster, and Robert, the elder brother, is settled in Derry Township, which is now in Dauphine County, PA. And it is probable, that William, Patrick, James, and John Gibson, who about the same time took up land in the same county, belong to the same family, but how closely related I do not know. SECTION I The first generation of the Gibson's in America follows: I. Robert Gibson, from Stewartstown, Ireland, born about 1700, died 1754 in Derry Township, then Lancaster Co., PA. He married Mary McClellen, a native of Donegal, Ulster Province, Ireland. After her husband's death, she removed to Shermans Creek in Perry Co., PA, northwest of Lancaster Co., with her son, Hugh, and there she was murdered by the Indians, July 1756, and her son, Hugh, was taken prisoner by the Indians at that time. The children of Robert Gibson and Mary McClellen, his wife, were as follows: Robert Gibson, born abt. 1722 in Ireland. Andrew Gibson, born abt. 1724 in Ireland. John Gibson, born abt 1726, died 1761 in Lancaster. Israel Gibson, born abt 1728. Hugh Gibson, born abt 1730, married Mary White. Mary Gibson, born abt 1732. Of this family, Robert, Andrew, and John, settled in the Cumberland Valley; Hugh was captured by the Indians; and there is no further record of Israel and Mary. SECTION II II. George Gibson was born about 1704 in Stewartstown, Ireland. He was an innkeeper at Lancaster, and owned large tracts of land, which he had warranted from the original proprietors. He died at Lancaster, December 1761, leaving a wife, Martha, and children as follows: Mary Gibson, born 1734, married Matthias Clough. Thomas Gibson, born 1737. John Gibson, born May 23, 1740, was Gen. John Gibson of the Revolution. Frances Gibson, born 1742. Jean Gibson, born 1745. George Gibson, born October 10, 1747, married Ann West. He was Col. George Gibson of the Revolution, and he was killed in a fight against the Indians on the Miami, "St. Claire's Defeat" in 1791. Ann Gibson, born 1749. The executors of George Gibson's Will were Robert Gibson, and Thomas Donnelson. SECTION III III. William Gibson, supposed to be related to the two brothers, Robert and George. He was born before 1717 in Stewartstown, Ireland. He settled in Newton Township, Cumberland Co., PA, in the west side of the county, where he died January 1761, leaving a wife, Margaret _____, and children as follows: Robert Gibson, born 1741. John Gibson, born 1743; served as a private in Capt. Thomas Kennedy's Com. Cumberland Co. Militia July, 1777. William Gibson, born, 1745, served in Capt. James Laird's Com. Cumberland Co. Militia, July, 1777. Samuel Gibson, born 1747, served as a private in Capt. Patrick Jacks Co. of Cumberland Co. Militia, in Oct. 1777. James Gibson, born 1749, served as a private in Capt. Robert McTeers Co. of Cumberland Co. Militia, in May 1778. George Gibson, born 1751. Gideon Gibson, born 1753. Charles Gibson, born 1755. Janet Gibson, born 1757. Ann Gibson, born 1759. Infant, born 1761. ***(These following notes are by Gary T. Gibson: So, the above information is what Sarah had in her book. If you would, please GO HERE, to see what I believe is a more accurate assignment of William's children after reading William's Will.)*** SECTION IV There are six Gibson mentioned as belonging to the first generation in America. 1. Robert and George, brothers, and William, Patrick, James, and John. And in the second generation, are given 5, and 7, and 11, equal to 24 persons. Robert Gibson (son of the first Robert) was born about 1722, of Hopewell Township, northeast corner of Cumberland Co., died May 1756, leaving a wife Ann _____, and children as follows: Andrew Gibson, born 1744, appears on the records as Andrew Gibson, Sr. At the close of the Revolution he disappears. Robert Gibson, born 1746. Jean Gibson, born 1748. Martha Gibson, born 1750. Ann Gibson, born 1752. Executors of Robert Gibson's Will: William Patton, and Hugh Thompson. SECTION V Andrew Gibson (son of the first Robert) was born about 1724, settled in Antrim Township, Franklin Co., PA, on the Maryland boundary line about five miles north from Hagarstown, MD., where he died March 1783. The executor of his Will was his wife Elizabeth. Her name before marriage was Elizabeth Carnes or Karns. Andrew Gibson served a tour of duty on the frontiers of Cumberland Co., during the Revolution (from manuscript archives of PA.) Their children were as follows: Margaret Gibson, born about 1750, married Parks. Thomas Gibson, born 1752, Capt of a Company of Cumberland Co., Militia, Jan. 1778, and was Col. of a battalion July 1778. John Gibson, born 1754, served as a private in Capt. James Poe's Com. July 1777, and in Capt McCoy's Com. Jan. 1778. Jean Gibson, born abt 1756, married Daniel Long. Elizabeth Gibson, born abt 1758, married James Sterling of Baltimore. There are records of land titles in Franklin Co., PA. George Gibson, 520 acres of land, Andrew Gibson, 203 acres of land, October 28, 1746. There were several other Gibson families at this time in Cumberland Co., but their records are very incomplete. John Carnes enters land in 1748, also Robert Armstrong and William Maxwell, Robert Richey, Hugh Martin, and John Martin and James Parks was Commission Clerk 1796 to 1799. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER IV John Banister Gibson, son of Col. George Gibson, he who was killed at "St. Clair's Defeat" was born in Sherman Valley, PA., November 8, 1780, and died in Philadelphia, May 3, 1853. John B. Gibson studies at Dickson College, and was admitted to the Bar in 1803. He practiced law in Carlisle, Beaver and Hagarstown, MD. Then he returned to Carlisle. He was elected to the Legislature in 1810 and 1811. In 1813, he was made Presiding Judge. In 1816, he was Associate Justice, and in 1827, was made Chief Justice of PA. I do not know anything positive about any of the other families of Gibsons of Cumberland Valley, PA. -------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER V I will now continue the account concerning our branch of the Gibsons, which was Andrew Gibson, second son of Robert Gibson, who came from Stewartstown, Ireland. Andrew was born in Ireland, but perhaps married in America. He and his wife were both Scotch-Irish, and there is a tradition that these Gibsons were from London, and went to Ireland in Queen Ann's reign. Andrew Gibson and his wife were members of the Associate, or Seceder Church. And there were churches of this belief at Greencastle, Mercersburg, and Chambersburg, in Franklin Co., PA. Of Andrew's daughters, Margaret Parks, and Jean Long, I have no further record. Elizabeth, his youngest daughter, married James Sterling of Baltimore. He was a merchant from Scotland. He was a member of the Associate Church. He was an energetic business man. He built the first quay for ships landing in Baltimore. Before this, all ships had landed at Annapolis. James Sterling bought some marshy land, and drained it, and filled the marsh and made the finest landing in Baltimore. People at first laughed at him for his investment, "but they laugh who win", is the old proverb. Col. Thomas Gibson, Andrew's oldest son, lived in Baltimore and was in partnership with his brother-in-law James Sterling. Thomas never married, and was a very rich man at his death, and his brother John ought to have inherited some of his property, but John lived so far away in Tenn., so it was all kept by the Sterlings. John Gibson, second son of Andrew Gibson, and my great grandfather, married Martha Parks of Hagarstown, MD., in the year 1772. The genealogy of Martha Parks family is as follows: Elizabeth Knox, born before 1700, said to have been related to John Knox, married _____ Alexander. Their daughter, Jean Alexander, married 1st, _____ Morrow. Their children as follows: Thomas Morrow. Elizabeth Morrow. Mrs. Jean (Alexander) Morrow, married 2nd, James Parks. Their children as follows: James Parks. Margaret Parks. Martha Parks, born 1753, in County Down, Ulster Province, in the north of Ireland. James Parks, and his family, came to America about 1760, and lived in or near Baltimore. Thomas Morrow married and had children, and one daughter married Andrews. The Andrews lived near Nashville, Tenn. They had a large family of children. Their daughter, Nancy, married Rev. Robert Armstrong. Of them, we will have a more extended account in the future. Her brother, Hugh Andrews, was one of the earliest settlers of Green Co., Ohio. About the time the Parks came to Baltimore, there were about 25 houses, only four of which were of brick. The others perhaps were of logs, of every primitive structure. James Parks had a store in Baltimore, and about 1770, he sent his son, James Parks, Jr., to open a store in Hagerstown, MD, and his sister, Martha Parks, went with him to keep house for him. She had a colored woman to help with the work. James Parks was a royalist. Already trouble had commenced in the Colonies. The Colonists refused to be taxed so unjustly by England, and the Colonists were not allowed to have any representation in the English Parliament. The Colonists were not allowed to manufacture anything in America. But they were obliged to buy everything from England. Beaver skins were caught in America, and sent to England to be made into hats, and then the Colonists had to by the hats. There was a sever punishment for any man who dared to manufacture a beaver hat for himself, and there were many other articles in this same class. Window glass was another article that was taxed. The Colonists said they would not buy, but that they would do without these articles, and the Colonists formed companies of mounted militia to scour the country to enforce this rule, that the Colonists should not buy these things, and stores were entered, and if any of the condemned articles were found, they were destroyed by the soldiers militia. John Gibson, son of Andrew, belonged to one of these Continental militia. One day they rode into Hagerstown. They entered James Parks store, there they found some beaver hats that had been manufactured in England. The militia took the hats out into the street and made a bonfire of them. Naturally, James Parks would hate all of the Continental militia after the destruction of his fine English beaver hats. James Parks invited some of his Baltimore friends to visit him at Hagerstown. In those days, they traveled on horse-back, and carried their clothes in saddle bags. Saddle bags were made of leather, about 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 yards long and about half a yard wide. They were sewed down one side, and around both ends, and the other side one third, in the middle was left open, to put in what the owner wished to carry. Then it was strapped together, with a leather strap passed back and forth through slits cut in the edges of the saddle bags. It was thrown across the horse and fastened with straps to the saddle. In these they carried their money and their clothes, and often some corn for their horse. I have a pair in my possession now. James Parks had bought for his sister, a fine English chintz dress, and the skirt was cut with gores and a train. In her hurry in waiting on her brother's guests, she switched her train, over a pile of delft china plates, that stood on a stone bench in the kitchen, and the plates were all broken in pieces. She was dreadfully frightened for she was afraid her brother would be very angry with her for her accident. So she went into the cellar, where her brother had his dishes stored, and got another set of plates exactly like the broken set, and she carried the broken dishes out and buried them under the currant bushes, and her brother never found out about the broken plates. John Gibson soon became acquainted with Martha Parks, for his home in Antrim Township, Franklin Co., PA., was about ten miles from Hagerstown. But James Parks did not approve of Continental militia and he forbade Martha having anything to do with such rascals. But Martha was for the cause of the Colonists, and she had her own riding horse, and she and John Gibson often met without her brother knowing of it. They were married in Maryland in 1773. They lived in Chambersburg, and also on Andrew Gibson's farm in Antrim Township, I have heard. Their children are as follows: Thomas Gibson, born July 31, 1774, in Chambersburg. Margaret Gibson, born March 26, 1776, in Chambersburg. Andrew Jackson Gibson, born Feb. 16, 1778, in Chambersburg. William Gibson, born July 31, 1781, in Chambersburg. John Gibson, born March 18, 1785, in Chambersburg. James Parks Gibson, born Nov. 18, 1793, in Blount Co., Tenn. George Gibson, born Sept. 19, 1798. This record I copied from great grandfather John Gibson's Bible bought in Blount Co., Tenn., in the year Feb. 23, 1804. This Bible, he gave to his son, John Gibson, and John Gibson gave it to his oldest son, Cyrus Gibson, or it became his after his mother's death. There is a tradition in the family that Martha and John Gibson had two or three children, that met with an accidental death. One was lost in the woods of Tenn., and one fell on a pair of scissors. But their names were not written in this old Bible of John Gibson's. I have heard that their names were, Samuel, Othniel, and Robert. ---------------- CHAPTER VI THE HOGG OR HOGUE FAMILY I believe the family changed the spelling of their name in Tenn., for my grandmother Gibson always said her name had been Hogg, and she would never own the name of Hogue, and in my reading of the American Archived, I often found the name Hogg, but never saw the name Hogue. The Hogg's came from the north of Ireland, but in what year I do not know. They settled in Virginia near to Alexandria, and the creek of Bulls Run ran through their farm. James Hogg married Margaret Parks of Baltimore, Md. She was a sister of James Parks, Jr., of Hagarstown, and sister of Martha Parks, who married John Gibson of Antrim Township, Franklin Co., PA. James Hogg was a farmer and a raiser of fine stock, and he and his wife were members of the Associate or Seceder Church. The following is from the American Archives. "Before the Revolution, George Washington and Peter Hogg, both took up land in Augusta Co., VA. Washington had 5,000 acres, and Peter Hougg had 2,100 acres of land, and one of the Hogg brothers and some other white men were killed on the head waters of the Kanawha River. A James Hogg took up land in Greenbrier Co., VA." My grandmother, Martha Hogue was born in Greenbrier Co., VA, Oct. 31, 1774. In what year her father moved there I have not been able to find out. During the Revolution, the Indians encouraged by the British and helped with arms, committed cruel depredations on the distant frontiers, and many had to give up their farms and return to the settlement. And nothing remained in a few years to show that the white man had been there. The cabins were burned to the ground, and the clearings made by the settlers were grown up with brush. The children of James Hogg and Margaret Parks, his wife, are as follows: JOHN HOGG, married in Va. Samuel Hogg, married in Blount Co., Tenn. Martha Hogg, born Oct 31, 1774, in Greenbrier Co., West VA., and married Thomas Gibson, son of John Gibson, of Lexington, VA Esther Hogg, married _____ Maxwell in Blount Co., Tenn. George Hogg, married Margaret McCartney, Tenn. Jean Hogg, married 1st, William Neally in Tenn., and 2nd, George Sloan in Tenn. Sarah Hogg, married _____ Ritchey, related to Thomas Gibson. The war of the Revolution was over, and George Washington was serving his first term as President of the United States, which then numbered 15 states, for Vermont was admitted in 1792. And James Hogg and all of his family left the state of VA. The went to Franklin Co., PA. On the way, James Hogg's oldest son was taken with small pox and died. His widow and two children, Samuel and Margaret, continued the journey with James Hogg. They all went to stay at John Gibson's home, and there Martha Hogg was taken sick with smallpox. Her aunt Martha Gibson took care of her. She wet a linen cloth in sweet cream, very often and covered Martha Hogg's face with it, keeping it moist all the time, and her face was not marked with smallpox, only two or three on her forehead. (As marks of that terrible disease.) ------------------------------------ CHAPTER VII Before the war of the Revolution, several families, and individuals, who had belonged to the Associate or Seceder Church, both in Scotland, and Ireland, emigrated to what afterwards became the State of Tennessee. They settled at Nashville, and about twenty miles south of Knoxville in east Tennessee, Knoxville was the first capital of Tennessee. It is in Knox County, north of Blount County, and near the Holstein River, which is the boundary line between the two counties. About the year 1782, The Presbytery of the Associate Church of Pennsylvania, received a petition from these two places, Nashville and Knoxville, praying for preachers to be sent to them. But it was impossible for the Presbytery to grant this petition, for the ministers had to be sent from Scotland, for there was not at that time any place in America for the theological education of the ministers of the Associate Church. And it was difficult to obtain minsters for the Associate Church of the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina, where there were the greatest numbers of the Associate Churches. And there were a few churches in some of the New England States. But these people continued steadfast in their faith, and often renewed their petitions for a preacher of the Gospel. It was 16 years before they received their first ministerial visit. Between 1790 and 1792, John Gibson, and all of his children, and James Hogg, and all of his children moved to Blount County, Tennessee. I do not know if other families went with them, but it was always desirable to have a large colony in those early days, to form new settlements in new States. Their journeys were long and weary, some through the wilderness infested with wild animals, and the more terrible Indians. Our ancestors were always interested in having churches and schools, where ever they lived. And were educated, well informed people, as the times and their surroundings would afford. They journeyed down the Shenandoah Valley, between the mountains, following the streams and rivers, for then they were the main highways of the Colonies. And along the rivers were the most settlements. And the rivers afforded a supply of water for their stock, and for themselves. And the soil of the bottom land is the richest and the most productive. Thomas Gibson and Martha Hogg were married on their journey to Tennessee. They were married near Lexington, VA., near the Natural Bridge. There was an Associate Church at Rockbridge, Virginia, which is near Lexington, and both are in Rockbridge County. Rev. John Crie was the minister there in 1792. The church was established in 1790, Rev. David Somerville was the minister in 1793. Blount County, Tennessee had been part of North Carolina, there had been a great deal of quarreling over this territory, and much lawlessness committed. In 1790, North Carolina gave up her claim to this territory, and it was then called, the Country Southwest of the Ohio River. William Blount was the first Governor of the State of Tennessee, and it was stipulated by North Carolina, that Tennessee should be a slave state. It was made a State in 1796, the white population then being 67,000, and the slaves 10,000. Andrew jackson was the first representative from Tennessee. A mail route was established there in 1797. --------------------------------------------- CHAPTER VIII John Gibson and his oldest son, Thomas Gibson, had fine farms adjoining, and James Hogue had a fine farm on the other side of Thomas Gibson. They were in the state road, and lived three miles south of the Holstine River. John Gibson owned an island in the river of 61 acres, and a farm of several hundred acres. He pastured his cattle and horses on the island in the summer season, and they had a boat to row back and forth. There was fine timber and water in Tennessee, and good soil, and they raised good indigo and cotton, but railroads had not yet been dreamed of. And the Mississippi River belonged either to France or Spain, and there was no prospect of ever having a market for their grain and stock. The Cumberland mountains were plainly visible in the distance. John Gibson lived in a large two story house with a porch, and an ell kitchen. The house fronted towards the state road, with a wide gravel walk leading to the front gate, with a row of Catalpa trees each side of the walk. And lilac, and rose bushes, and other shrubbery. A fine garden, and a large orchard of different kinds of fruit. And meadow land, and he had a fine large barn. He made a settee and bottomed it with cane, to stand on the porch. And when the grandchildren went to visit their grandparents, the children thought it a great treat to sleep on the settee. Thomas Gibson's house was built the same style as his father's house, but it was built of nice hewed logs. James Hogue's house was situated a mile on the other side of Thomas Gibson's house. Thomas Gibson had a very fine spring that ran out of the cliffs above, and a spring house below the spring, where the water was deep and clear, and near the spring, shading it with its branches, was a large persimmon tree. The fruit was not good to eat until frost came and touched the fruit with his icy breath, and then they were delicious, and there was a scramble in the early morning among the children to see who would get there first, and get the fallen fruit. John Gibson and his wife were both young people when they went to Tennessee, and they had children born in Tennessee. One son was named Samuel. One day in the early spring, when the days were still cool, and the children were at school, the school house was warmed by a fireplace built of stone. The teacher allowed the children to go and gather pine cones to burn in the fireplace, for they make a beautiful fire. Sammie was six years old, he got separated from the other children and they supposed he had gone home, for his home was near the school house. But when school was ended, and the children went home in the evening, Sammie was not there, and could not be found. His poor mother was almost distracted with grief. The neighbors all came to help search for the lost boy, and the poor mother would go to assist in the search for her darling. They rang bells, and called loudly, and searched for days, but could find no trace of the little boy. In August of the same year, a neighbor was hunting in the woods. As he was about to cross over a log over a stream of water, close by the log, covered with cane and leaves, he found the remains of clothing and bones of a small child. He informed John Gibson of his discovery, and he and the mother and friends went to see the remains, and the mother recognized the clothes and the buttons, as those worn by her darling boy. They could not tell how he came to his death. If he were killed by an Indian or had died of cold and starvation. It was such a comfort to his mother to find his remains and bury them in the church yard, and to settle the dreadful uncertainty of his disappearance I do not know if these people owned negro slaves or not. ? But either in Pennsylvania or Tennessee, John Gibson owned a negro man, who had been a Prince in his own country of Africa, before he had been seized, and sold into slavery in America. This negro would not obey any person's orders but his master's, John Gibson. Two strangers stopped at John Gibson's house one day and asked for feed for their horses. He told the man to drive to the barn, and there they would find a colored man, who would feed their horses for them. The negro threw down as many sheaves of oats as he thought the horses needed. The men ordered the negro to throw down more oats, but he said no, that was enough oats for the horses. One of the men struck him with his whip; the negro caught the white man and threw him on the floor, and took a two pronged pitch fork and placed it over the man's neck, with a prong each side, and then placed the end of the handle under the beam, so the man could not get up, and the other man he picked up and threw into a grain bin, where he could not get out, and he went away and left them to enjoy their imprisonment. John Gibson heard their calls for help and went out and released them. Another time a man driving carelessly knocked down John Gibson's fence, the negro called to the man to put up the fence again, but the man refused to be ordered by a nigger. So the negro caught the man and stripped off all his clothes, and took them to his master, for that was the way they did in Africa. But John Gibson made the negro to understand that he could not do that way in America. Thomas Gibson was educated in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He said his uncle, Thomas Gibson, often carried him to school on his back, through the deep snow, when he was a little fellow. Thomas went to Baltimore and worked for his uncle, James Sterling, and his uncle Thomas Gibson, these two were in partnership in business. There Thomas learned the stone mason's trade, which was very useful to him in his after pioneer life. Thomas was a very fine penman. Some of his business papers, which are still in existence are a model of neatness and accuracy; and his writing looked like steel engraving. Thomas Gibson fought against the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee, but he did not like to talk about that war, for he said some of the white soldiers were very cruel to the Indian prisoners. They would kill the Indian children, because the mothers could not carry their children and keep up with the marching soldiers. He would think of his own little ones at home, and he would feel so sorry for the poor Indian mothers. He was opposed to all unnecessary cruelty and bloodshed. The Tennessee Indians were of the most savage tribes, and Kentucky and Tennessee had been a battle ground for ages between different tribes. CHAPTER IX The following sketch, I obtained from the lives of Mr. Robert Armstrong and Mr. Andrew Fulton, who were sent from Scotland to America, in 1792, as Missionaries to the Associate or Seceder Church of Kentucky. When they arrived in Philadelphia, on their way to Kentucky, they were shown the petitions which had been sent by the Seceders of Nashville, and the church near Knoxville, Tennessee, begging that a minister might be sent to them. Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Fulton were urged to visit them. And the minister, Mr. Marshall, in Philadelphia, wrote to the petitioners of the Nashville and Knoxville Churches, of the arrival of the missionaries, and that they were going to Kentucky. In may, 1798, eight weeks after the missionaries arrived in Kentucky, a man came from Nashville with a petition, begging one of the missionaries to go to Nashville for a short time. Mr. Fulton went to Nashville in June 1798, and stayed there seven weeks and organized a congregation. This congregation soon obtained a permanent minister from Scotland, Mr. William Hume. But many of this congregation objected to slavery, and they moved to Ohio where many of the Kentucky congregations had already gone. Mr. Fulton said, "Mr. William Turnbull of this Nashville congregation was a most worthy man, and very useful in diffusing religious knowledge among the people." He was from Knoxboroughshire, Scotland, and was born Oct. 29, 1757. Nashville and Knoxville were both about 200 miles from the places where Mr. Fluton and Mr. Armstrong preached in Kentucky, and it was about 200 miles from Nashville to Knoxville. And all this traveling had to be done on horse back, through unsettled country. Before Mr. Fulton returned to Kentucky, a man arrived from Knoxville with a petition for a minister to go to that place. He waited about ten days, and then Mr. Armstrong went with him. In this place near Knoxville, Mr. Armstrong found fifty families living in the same neighborhood, believing in the doctrines of the Associate Church. He organized a congregation. This was about August 1798 in Blount County, Tennessee. He said of this congregation, "It is without an equal, for consistent stability in holding fast to their profession of religion." Although they repeatedly gave calls to such ministers as they had the opportunity of hearing, they did not obtain a settled pastor until September 20, 1825, when Mr. Carson accepted a call to them. But three persons were then living, who had signed the first petition, 43 years before. The first petition to Philadelphia for a minister was in 1782. Mr. Armstrong in a letter to Scotland said, "I will tell you how I traveled through the wilderness from Kentucky to Tennessee. I first provided myself with a large wallet, one end contains food for myself, the other end contains food for my horse, and my Indian blanket and my saddle bags, these are all fixed on the horse with the saddle. Some of your proud Scotch ministers will exclaim, 'travel in this mean style!' But this is the way all classes of men travel in this country. "Three members of the Knoxville congregation met me about 20 miles from the settlement, and there were tears in their eyes, when they told me for more than ten years they had been praying and waiting for such a day. Such a reception was the best encouragement I could wish. In Blount County, Tennessee, the profession of religion was general and here I met persons who had never heard a minister of our church (Seceder), but their religious beliefs were the same." Mr. Armstrong baptized a number of children at this time, and ordained five elders. I will have more to tell of Mr. Armstrong farther on in my history. Mr. Fulton was pastor of Drennons Creek, Henry County, Kentucky for 17 years. But on account of slavery, he and most of congregation moved to Madison, Indiana, where he died. He was buried at Carmel. His wife married again, Col. Morrow of South Hanover, Indiana, and his oldest daughter married Rev. Mr. James Adams of Massies Creek, Green County, Ohio. The Seceder Church in Blount County, was at Blue Springs, Rev. Linn preached there for a short time in 1800. A Mr. Gormley was one of the school teachers, and he was an elder in the church. And Nathaniel was also one of the school teachers, and he was a member of the Seceder Church. Samuel Hogue, son of James Hogue, was the leader in the singing and elder in the Seceder Church. He owned a farm near Thomas Gibson's. He was a wagon maker, and had a shop, and employed workmen. His sister, Esther Hogue, married a Maxwell, and they owned a farm in the same neighborhood. CHAPTER X When Ohio and Indiana were admitted into the Union as free states, many of these people living in Blount County, Tennessee sold their farms and moved to these new states. The Hogues moved early in 1800 to Gibson County, Indiana, near Princeton. James Hogue and his wife died there. And some of their children lived and died there. Some of the Hogues' moved to Warren County, Illinois, early in 1830 to 1835. I do not know the exact date. John Gibson and some of his sons moved to Green County, Ohio about 1804. His son, Andrew Jackson Gibson married Jennie Stevenson, September 18, 1806, by William McFarland, Esq., in Green County, Ohio. Two brothers, John and James Stevenson, settled in Green County, Ohio, near Xenia in 1797. They came from Virginia, and they became influential men. John Gibson's son, William, married Mary Chambers in 1808, in Green County, Ohio. She was born in Chambersburg, PA., October 1, 1782, and Chambersburg was named for her family. In her infancy, her parents moved to Bourbon County, Kentucky, and from there to Green County, Ohio. At the age of 16 years, she joined the Seceder Church in Kentucky. Thomas Gibson and his family moved to Green County, Ohio in 1807. They crossed the Ohio River at Cincinnati. The following are Thomas Gibson's children, which were born in Blount County, Tennessee: Margaret Gibson, born April 19, 1793. John Gibson, born Oct. 19, 1794. Elizabeth Gibson, born Oct. 30, 1796. Esther Gibson, born July 16, 1798. James Gibson, born May 7, 1800. William Gibson, born Jan. 12, 1802. Samuel Gibson, born Sept. 3, 1804 Thomas Gibson, born July 31, 1806. And Thomas Gibson's children as follows, were born in Green County, Ohio: Martha Gibson, born May 8, 1809. Andrew Gibson, born Jan. 6, 1811. George Gibson, born Jan. 4, 1813 Robert Armstrong Gibson, born Nov. 6, 1815. Jane Gibson, born Jan. 23, 1818. Mary Gibson, born Aug. 27, 1819, died Mar. 23, 1822. Thomas Gibson bought a farm 2 miles east of Xenia, Ohio, on the state road between Cincinnati and Columbus. It is a beautiful farm with a beautiful clear stream of water running through it, with rocky banks and pebbly bottom, and there was a spring, and a spring house, where they kept their milk and butter. Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States when Thomas Gibson moved to Ohio. There was a Seceder church already established at Massie's Creek, Green County, Ohio. One of the first settlers in Green county, Ohio, was James Galloway, Sr. He came from Bourbon County, Kentucky in the spring of 1798. He was from Cumberland County, PA. He had five sons and two daughters. In 1802, or 1803, James Galloway and his son, James, went to Kentucky about surveying business. They visited Samuel Galloway living at McConnells Run, Kentucky, where Rev. Mr. Robert Armstrong preached, he also preached at Davis Fork, Miller's run and Cane Run. These Places were near Lexington, Kentucky. They heard Mr. Armstrong preach, and the became acquainted with him, and they urged him to come to Green County, Ohio, and preach for the Seceders there. Mr. Armstrong agreed to go, if the people wished him to come. When the Galloways returned homs, they laid the matter before the church, and the wish was unanimous to have him come. And James Galloway, Jr. was sent to bring Rev. Armstrong. They traveled from Cincinnati, along the road cut by Gen. Wayne when he was fighting the Indians. Mr. Armstrong preached in the cabin of James Galloway, Sr., to a dozen or fifteen families. The Gibson's are not mentioned, they had not yet moved from Tennessee to Ohio. He also preached at Sugar Creek in the cabin of James Clemssey, to ten or twelve families. He was urged to remain in Green County, Ohio. But he said if his congregations in Kentucky could be persuaded to come, he was willing if Presbytery agreed to it. For he and all his congregation were opposed to slavery. Mr. Armstrong and almost all of his congregation did move to Green County, Ohio, in the spring of 1804. They settled in the fertile region around Sugar Creek, and Massies Creek. In 1802, Robert Armstrong had married Nancy Andrews of the Nashville Seceder congregation. Before moving to Ohio, Mr. Armstrong and his wife went from Kentucky to Nashville on horseback, to visit her family. And they rode on horseback from Nashville to Green County, Ohio. Mr. Armstrong married the first couple that was married in Green County, Ohio. The parties were Miss Ann Gowdy, and James Bull. In the spring of 1805, Mr. Armstrong built his cabin. He bought 301 acres of land of James Galloway, Sr. He had to improve his new farm. He preached to two congregations. He had to visit all the families and catechise them, attend meetings of Presbytery and Synod, often sever hundred miles away, and long and tedious journeys on horse back. All this meant a very active life. But his sermons were well prepared and delivered with force and earnestness. A church was soon erected at Massies Creek, on a lot next to the cemetery. It was built of pealed hickory logs, without any floor and with only two windows, and no chimney, and the seats made of puncheon boards, (not cushioned). The people walk from two to twelve miles to church in the winter, and listened to two sermons, and without any fire. In 1813, this congregation built a church of hewed long, near the first. A historian in writing of this congregation, said it was the most intelligent congregation to be found in the country, and many of the members of this congregation occupied important positions in public life. Mr. Armstrong preached to this congregation for 17 years. He died October 14, 1821, and he was buried in the old cemetery at Massies Creek. His wife erected a stone to his memory. It was a large flat sandstone, as were all the stones first erected to the memory of the dead in all the oldest cemeteries. There is no trace of either of the old churches now, but the old cemetery is kept in beautiful order by descendants of the Stevenson family, who live in the vicinity. A Seceder congregation was organized in Xenia in 1814, and some of the families belonging to Massies Creek congregation were transferred to the Xenia congregation. And Thomas Gibson and his children all belonged to this congregation. John Gibson, after moving from Tennessee to Ohio, lived in Preble County, Ohio, for some time. CHAPTER XI When the war of 1812 was declared, several of the Gibson's were obliged to go. John Gibson and his sons, Thomas, Andrew, William, and John, and Thomas Gibson's son, John, the two latter men were drafted the same day. And Thomas Gibson's wife and younger children had to plant the corn that spring. Thomas Gibson obtained a substitute as soon as possible, and returned to his family. About 1825, John Gibson and his wife, Martha, came from Preble County to live with their son, Thomas Gibson, near Xenia. They lived there until their death. Martha (Parks) Gibson died may 15, 1828, age 75 years, and John died May 13, 1830, age 76 years. They both are buried in Massies Creek cemetery, and a large old style sandstone is erected to their memory, and is at the present time in a perfect state of preservation, and stands erect and firm after so many years, but was overgrown with moss, but a knife soon removed that, and the inscription was easily read. And by them lies little Polly, youngest child of Thomas Gibson. And Andrew Gibson, son of John, is buried in the same cemetery. He died July 13, 1851, age 73 years. Mr. Adams was the next pastor after Mr. Armstrong. Dr. Simpson Kendall, Robert, and William Kendall, all belonged to this Massies Creek church. Thomas Gibson saw all of his thirteen children become members of the old Seceder church. He was an earnest true Christian, and he knew the Bible almost by heart, for books were rare in those days, and more time was spent in reading the Bible. He wanted churches and schools everywhere he lived, and always had them. All this children had as good an education as could be obtained in the country schools of those days in new states, and were well informed men and women. SECTION I Thomas Gibson's oldest child, Margaret, married James McCallon, near Xenia, Ohio, about 1822. James McCallon was a saddler by trade. And he was Captain of a military company when he lived in Xenia. Margaret and James McCallon were both members of the Seceder church of Xenia. There children were as follows: James Adams McCallon, born March, 1823, Xenia. David Carson McCallon, born Nov. 1825, in Xenia. Martha McCallon, born Oct. 11, 1828, in Xenia. Andrew Jackson McCallon, born Jan. 19, 1829, in Xenia. Elizabeth McCallon, born Sept. 9, 1830, in Xenia. Margaret McCallon, born June 2, 1833, in Xenia. Esther McCallon, born Dec. 23, 1836, in Monmouth, Ill. She was the first white girl born in Monmouth, Illinois. James McCallon moved with his family to Warren County, Illinois, in October 1831. SECTION II John Gibson married first, Martha Ann Campbell, July 4, 1816, by Rev. Robert Armstrong. She was born March 28, 1796. Their children are as follows: Thomas Gibson, born May 20, 1817, in Green County, Ohio. Samuel Campbell Gibson, born Jan. 31, 1819, in Green County, Ohio. William Gibson, born March 27, 1821, in Green County, Ohio. Sarah Campbell Gibson, born Sept. 9, 1822, in Green County, Ohio. James Gibson, born Nov.. 24, 1824, in Green County, Ohio. John Gibson, born April 8, 1827, in Green County, Ohio. He died Aug. 11, 1840 in Henderson County, Illinois. John Gibson's wife, Martha Ann Campbell, died June 17, 1828, age 32 years, in Green County, Ohio. He married the second, Ann McNary, May 21, 1829, by Rev. Andrew Pogue. She was born April 16, 1805. Their children are as follows: Margaret Gibson, born June 11, 1830, in Sangamon County, Illinois. Martha Gibson, born Feb. 19, 1832, in Illinois. Andrew Jackson Gibson, born May 27, 1834, in Henderson County, Illinois. Mary Ann Gibson, born April 2, 1836, in Henderson County, Illinois. Elizabeth Gibson, born May 22, 1838, in Henderson County, Illinois. Stephen White Gibson, born Dec. 22, 1840, in Henderson County, Illinois. Robert Armstrong Gibson, born Dec. 21, 1843, in Henderson County, Illinois. John Gibson, and his first wife, and second wife, were all members of the Seceder church, and he was a farmer and a democrat. He was drafted to go to the War of 1812 in Green County, Ohio. He was then 18 years old. He died in Henderson County, Illinois, Sept. 30, 1858. SECTION III Thomas Gibson's third child, Elizabeth, married John Kendall, Dec. 28, 1819, by Rev. Robert Armstrong, near Xenia. Their children were as follows: Jane Kendall, born Dec. 30, 1820, near Xenia, and died June 19, 1822, and was buried in the Massies Creek cemetery, Green County, Ohio. Martha Ann Kendall, born May 22, 1823, near Xenia. Mary Isabel Kendall, born Sept. 25, 1825, near Xenia. Margaret Kendall, born March 31, 1829, near Xenia, and died March 4, 1842, near Monmouth, Illinois. Sarah Kendall, born Jan. 7, 1835, near Monmouth. Frances Beveridge Kendall, born Oct. 6, 1838, near Monmouth. Elizabeth and John Kendall were members of the Seceder church in Xenia, Ohio. He was a carpenter and a farmer. SECTION IV Thomas Gibson's fourth child, Esther, married James White, June 21, 1827, by Rev. James Adams. He was the son of Thomas White and Hannah (Bigger) White, and he was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. His father moved to Ohio in 1814. The children of Esther (Gibson) White and James White were as follows: Martha White, born 1828, in Montgomery County, Ohio. Hannah White, born 1830, in Montgomery County, Ohio. Esther White, born 1832, in Montgomery County, Ohio. Thomas Gibson White, born 1834, in Montgomery County, Ohio. Sarah White, born in Montgomery County, died in young womanhood. Emma White, born in Montgomery County, died in young womanhood. They were all members of the Seceder church. James White was a farmer. SECTION V Thomas Gibson's fifth child, James, married Sarah Kendall, cousin of John Kendall, Feb. 21, 1826, by Rev. James Adams, near Xenia. Their children were as follows: 1. John Kendall Gibson, born Jan. 15, 1827, in Green County, Ohio. Thomas Hogue Gibson., born in Green County, Ohio. Jane Gibson, born in Green County, Ohio. William Beveridge Gibson, born Nov. 4, 1833, in Warren County, Illinois. James Simpson Gibson, born in Warren County, Ill. Robert Gibson, born Feb. 3, 1836, in Warren County, Ill. Samuel Hanna Gibson, born in Warren County, Ill. Alberta Gibson, born Sept. 23, 1842, in Warren County, Ill. CHAPTER XII Again the Gibsons decided to move to new States where land was plenty at low prices. Indiana was made a State in 1816, and Illinois was made a State in 1818. New farms were to be improved, but many hardships must be encountered before they were established in comfortable homes in the new states. Andrew, William, John, James Parks, and George Gibson, moved in 1834 to White County, Indiana, near Burnetts Creek. John Gibson settled near Idaville, White County, Ind. James Parks Gibson lived near Idaville for a while, and then he moved to Terra Haute, Ind. George lived near Idaville. But of these Indiana Gibsons, I will have more to tell farther on in my story. Thomas Gibson's son, John, moved with his family to Sangamon County, Illinois in 1829, and to Warren County, Illinois in 1831. His brothers, James and William, went to see him the winter of 1829, and they told him to move to Warren County, for that their father and 25 families were going to move to Warren County, the next year, from Green County, Ohio. Henderson County was then a part of Warren County, Illinois. James Gibson and his family, and Samuel Gibson and his family, and Elizabeth (Gibson) Kendall and her husband and family, all moved to Warren County, Illinois in 1830. Thomas Gibson sold his farm near Xenia, to James McMillen from South Carolina. His farms contained 240 acres of land. It was land cleared of heavy growth of large timber. It was long and laborious work to clear a farm. He lived on this farm twenty-five years. He received 12 per acre for this farm. James McMillen and twenty-five families wished to leave South Carolina on account of slavery. He sent his son, John, on horseback to look at the land in Green County, Ohio. John McMillen was pleased with Thomas Gibson's farm, and he made an offer for the farm, which was accepted. John returned to South Carolina, and his father was satisfied with the bargain, and the money was sent out to Thomas Gibson. The McMillens moved to Green County, Ohio in 1831, and the two Gibson brothers came from South Carolina with him and settled in Green County, but they were not related to our Gibson family as far as I can trace them. They married into the Stevenson family of Green County, Ohio, and also, our Gibson family married twice into the Stevenson family. Mr. McMillen made the above mentioned farm into one of the most valuable farms in that part of the state, and he raised fine cattle. Thomas Gibson moved to Warren County, Illinois in 1831, and he invested in a good many acres of land. He was always very kind to lend a helping hand in the new settlement. Helping his friends and neighbors to erect their cabins, and build their cellar walls and chimneys, for he had learned the stone mason's trade in Baltimore, when he was a very young man, and he was a good cooper, and a wagon maker.