James Francis Gibson was born Abt. 1825 in Maryland, and died Jun 1874 in Bolivar Township, Jefferson County, West Virginia (?). He married Ann Olivia Sterrett on 17 Sep 1846 in Frederick, MD, daughter of Samuel H Sterrett and Lydia Kitzmiller.
Notes for James Francis Gibson: Re: James Francis GIBSON Search
I first went to the 1850 census to get some information on James. You said you had the record, so I did not copy it. However, to review, it had the following information:
4 Oct 1850 Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, VA Page 416
GIBSON, James F., 25, no occupation, born in Maryland , Ann, 18, born in VA , George H., 2, born in VA The census record has "H" instead of "G" for little George's middle initial.
There was also a James GIBSON on page 412 in Harper's Ferry, age 25, born in VA.
Your James was indexed in West Virginia in 1860, although the census record is still found on a Virginia 1860 film:
13 September 1860 Harpers Ferry, Jefferson Co., Virginia Post Office: Harpers Ferry Index page #831, Sheet #199 Line 34, Visitation 1425
GIBSON, James, 38, Awning employee, VA , Olivia, 25, VA , George, 11, VA , James, 7, female ?, VA , Mary, 5, VA , Samuel, 3, VA , Laura, 1, VA
James has no real estate, but his personal estate is valued at 150. George and James attended school.
I have not located James in 1870, so far.
Jefferson County was in West Virginia after 1860. There were:
GIBSON, James, 49, MD, Ohio Co., p. 214 (Didn't seem a match as far as the children or the wife.) I may have to look it up again, however, because there is a James F. GIBSON in 1880 in Ohio county, age 56, with a wife Anna (age 33), but all new children.
GIBSON, James, 39, MD, Jefferson Co., Bolivar Twp, p. 469 I didn't look this up, but there may be a mistake in the age given. The county is right.
In Virginia, a James GIBSON, age 47, in Giles County, p. 260, was not a match, as his wife was Louise and he only had a child, Allice, age 6.
I looked in the new 1880 CD index for family members, hoping I could recognize them and locate where James may have died.
I searched for George GIBSON in the states around W. VA. The closest were:
GIBSON, George, 32, Farmer, VA, VA, VA , Mary, 25, TN, TN, VA , James, 9, VA , Lucy, 8, VA , Elizabeth, 7, VA , Thomas, 3, VA , Rosa, 1, VA , Lucy, Mother, 67, VA Living in Rose Hill, Lee County, VA, Film #1255375, page 35A If his mother is named Lucy, then this must not be your George.
GIBSON, George, 30, Farming, VA, VA, VA , Rachel A., wife, 27, VA, VA, VA , Levy J., dau, 6, WV , Samuel J., other, 27, VA, VA, VA (Work hand on farm) Living in Edray, Pocahontas, West Virginia, Film #1255411, page 168B
Does this look like George Geary GIBSON? "A" could stand for Alphretta.
Nearby is a Samuel M. GIBSON, who could be George's brother:
GIBSON, Samuel M., 20, Farmer, VA, VA, VA , Mary J., wife, 19, VA, VA, VA Edray, Pocahontas County, West Virginia, same film, page 165D.
If the family is living in Pocahontas County in 1880, perhaps that is where James Francis and Olivia (Ann) are buried. A search for Olivia or Anna did not come up with anything in 1880.
The James F. GIBSON in 1880:
Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, Film #1255410, Page 225A
GIBSON, James F., Painter, 56, MD, MD, Eng , Anna, Wife, 33, WV, MD, MD , James T., Son, 7, WV , Lee, Son, 4, WV , Louisa, Dau, 2, WV , Joseph, Son, 16, WV, MD, WV It appears that this James may have married again and has young children, except for Joseph. Your James F. could have had a son, Joseph, after the 1860 census.
If you could give me some more clues about George, his wife's name, names of children, I will check if he is the one in Pocahontas County, WV. Then we can either check Jefferson County for death records or Pocahontas county.
Jefferson County has marriage records, 1802-1899; Births and deaths 1853-1970 (maybe not all complete).
Pocahontas County has deaths 1854-1892, marriages 1822-1891, and some births 1854-1899. *** Re: James F. GIBSON Up-DATE
I located the 1880 census of G. G. GIBSON in Washington D. C. on the 1880 CD Search and tried to find some family members living near-by, but failed.
I looked for death records for both Ann Olivia and James F. in the following films in Jefferson County, West Virginia:
FHL #829325, Deaths, 1853-1904
This film did not have complete years. The deaths from 1860-1872 were missing.
FHL Film #829326, Deaths, 1866-1906
Since the film did not have the year Ann Olivia died, I looked for James F. GIBSON. I searched 1871-1877 and found no death record for him. He must have moved from the county before he died.
The fee for the death record search will be $15.00, and added to the previous amount, the total so far for the GIBSON search is $60.00. You do not have to pay this, yet.
Unless you have a specific request, I think I will check on the James F. GIBSON in the 1880 census in Ohio County, West Virginia. Although you have a death date of 1874, the James F. in Ohio county is about the right age, and has a son, age 16, who had a different mother than the present wife. If Ann Olivia died about 1863, she could have had a child age 16-17, before she died. I would like to look again at the 1870 census indexes for West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and D. C. Let me know if you have an inspirational idea on where to go next! *** Re: James F. GIBSON in 1870 West Virginia
I've been chasing James F. GIBSON and I think I finally have part of the story.
I first tried to see if the James F. GIBSON in the 1880 census was your relative. See the 1880 census record in my report of August 7. In 1870 this was his family:
2 July 1870, 3rd Ward, Wheeling, Ohio County, W VA
GIBSON, James, 49, House painter, MD , Susan M., 32, KY , John E., 21, House Painter, VA , William A., 18, House Painter, VA , Susan M., 15, VA , Martha A., 12, VA , Joseph A., 7, WVA , Martha J., 1, WVA His wife died about the same time as your James F. GIBSON, and he remarried. His wife in 1880 was Anna, and he had the son Joseph, age 16, still at home. There are a lot of similarities, age, place of birth, new wife, etc. However, after looking at the James GIBSON, age 39, in Jefferson County, Bolivar Twp, I think the one in Ohio county is not the right one.
In 1860, your James GIBSON was 38, Olivia was 25, and there were George, 11, another child that looked like James, but was listed as female, age 7, and Mary, 5, Samuel, 3, and Laura, one. He was in Harpers Ferry.
In 1870 he is:
21 June 1870 Bolivar Township, Jefferson County, West Virginia Index page 469, Sheet 40, Line 13 Visitation 311
The census taker was very careless. At first glance, it looks like he said Mary was 24 and she was Keeping House. However, looking closer, she also attended school, and the "2" could be a "1", making her 14. Also, James is listed as 39. Perhaps Mary gave the information, and didn't know how old her father was. Samuel is 11 instead of 12, and there is no Laura (from 1860). Instead there is a girl, age 7, named Harmony? Who would be just the right age if Ann Olivia died in 1863. All three children are attending school.
It appears that James did not remarry before 1870. He has no real estate value listed and no personal property listed. I copied this census and will mail it to you.
I went to FHL Film #1838372 which contains an index for Marriages, Births and Deaths in the Jefferson County records, some early 1800 and some later, but certainly not complete. I have not found any entries which pertain to James's immediate family. There may be some births, but no date is given, just volume and page numbers. I copied the indexes for GIBSON and will mail them to you.
FHL Film #249912 had a card index of Jefferson County Court records. I found the following GIBSON entries:
1. Envelope 40-A, Circuit Court, 1871 Howe(?) vs. GIBSON (Couldn't read the rest of the card.) The actual record may be found in Film #1838406.
2. Envelope 27, Circuit Court, 1867 J. Gibson Summons
3. Envelope 15-A, Circuit Court, 1858 Gibson, John A., et al vs. Gibson, James F. Creditor's Bill, Chancery E Depositions Chancery records may be in Film #31444, which was missing when I was at the library.
4. Envelope 9, 1853 Gibson, Jas. F. 2 accounts, receipt.
Film #250026 was a Probate Index and a Guardians Index.
John A. Gibson died August 17, 1857. It is possible that in order to settle the estate of John A. Gibson, money owed by James F. Gibson was requested to be paid. This record shows that somehow John A. Gibson is related to James F. Gibson.
I also looked in the Probate index for James F., but he was not listed. I also did not find any guardianship records in 1874-1875 about his children, assuming he did die in 1874.
Since we now know that John A. and James F. knew each other before 1857, I went back to the 1850 census in Jefferson County and copied all the GIBSON records:
14 October 1850 Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, VA Page 422, Line 1
GIBSON, John, 35, Boatman, Dele , Anna, 17, VA GREGORY, Isaac, 41, Manufacturer, MA MORGAN, Jane, 22, VA and 2 slaves
This may be the John A. GIBSON. A John T. GIBSON is also in Jefferson County, but in Charlestown on Page 293. He has been listed in the death records and court records, but does not appear to be related to James F.
The other James GIBSON is on Page 412, Line 11. He is age 25, a laborer, and born in VA, but I finally realized he is listed as "B", or black. So that explains two James GIBSONs in Harpers Ferry. Not related.
Your James is on Page 416. I copied that census even though you may already have it.
Although not listed as in Harpers Ferry, another GIBSON may be related:
4 October 1850 Bolivar, Jefferson County, VA Page 402, Line 38 Visitation #1676
Since James F. Gibson lived in Bolivar Township in 1870, perhaps there is some relationship here. Samuel could be James's father. Eliza is born in Maryland and so was James. James also named one of his sons, Samuel.
To summarize, it appears that we have James F. GIBSON (born in MD) in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 censuses. He stayed in Harpers Ferry during that time. His wife did die in the early 1860's and he probably did not remarry. He was a carpenter. His children were George, James or Jane, Mary, Samuel, Laura (died?) and Harmony. He may have moved to another state before he died, as there are no death records in Jefferson County. He knew John A. GIBSON and possibly Samuel GIBSON from Ireland, who lived in Maryland. Perhaps the next step would be to check for his death in Maryland.
*** Re: James F. GIBSON & Family
We received your e-mail and you may have found some good information. What was the source of the GIBSON-Araminta SAUNDERS marriage? It was in Harford County, MD. I may be able to get a copy of it.
Also, if there was a source given for the GIBSON-STERRETT marriage, I would like to find that one, too! Church or? I haven't located the marriage in Frederick County, MD.
The record of a James F. GIBSON in the Civil War, is hopeful. Was this a Confederate record? Most of the Confederate pension files are on film at the FHL in SLC. If they enlisted in MD, would this be Confederate? Virginia inhabitants were Confederate, but I do not know about MD. In order to receive a pension, many papers had to be filed. If his mother was the prime relative, then this indicates it could be your James. The other James F. GIBSON I found in 1880, same age as your James, living in Ohio County, WVA, was married.
The relative was Elizabeth GIBSON. I have found a family, previously mentioned in other reports, who could be James' parents. Samuel and Elizabeth GIBSON. They are listed in several legal disputes and there is a Samuel GIBSON indexed also in land records. I have found Samuel in the 1840, 1850 and 1860 censuses in either Bolivar Twp or Harpers Ferry. However, Samuel was born in Ireland, although his wife was born in MD. Do you have any traditions that James' father was from Ireland?
The marriage of Francis GIBSON to Elizabeth DAVIS is interesting, due to the location in Harford County and then their being in Harpers Ferry in 1820.
I will try to tell you what I have been doing.
1. Cemetery Records Search:
Tombstone Inscriptions and Burial Lots, compiled by the DAR (FHL 975.499 V3t) for the Harpers Ferry area. I copied the GIBSON grave inscriptions for Edge Hill Cemetery and Harper's Cemetery. The GIBSON names do not match any of your family. Even the Samuel and Elizabeth GIBSON family was not there. ??????
2. STERRETT genealogy search
I hoped I may find some clues by looking in The Sterrett Genealogy, (FHL 929.273 St45s by T. Woods Sterrett). I copied the pages relating to your STERRETT direct line. I thought it was interesting that Lydia STERRETT and James F. GIBSON both died in June, 1874. Since Lydia was supposed to have been buried in Erie, PA, I looked in that area for her grave and also James F. GIBSON.
I looked through the Erie County cemetery records, not indexed, but in alphabetical order by surname for each cemetery. This was FHL film #911843 and #911844.
In #911843 I found STERRETTS in Fairview Cemetery. A GIBSON and STERRETTS in Girard Cemetery. I found your right line in the Sterrettania Cemetery in McKean Township, Erie County, PA. I copied all the STERRETTS, but Lydia and James F. GIBSON were not in that cemetery. James STERRETT (1755-1822) and Anna MCKNIGHT STERRETT (1760-1815) are buried there. These are the grandparents of Ann Olivia.
FHL film #911844 had GIBSON and STERRETT families in Oak Hill Cemetery and East Springfield Cemetery and Ye Old Burying Ground in West Springfield. There were many GIBSONs in Old Edinboro Cemetery, but none I recognized. Your STERRETTS were mostly in McKean Twp.
Thinking that Erie city may be separate from Erie County, I checked our FHL Catalog and found only a Jewish cemetery source in the city of Erie. The cemeteries for Erie city may be on-line.
So the theory bombed, that I would find James buried near Lydia in Erie, PA. But where is Lydia? I could not find a KITZMILLER grave either, assuming her brother died also in that area.
3. 1840 Census for Samuel GIBSON
Located in Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, VA, page 238-239.
GIBSON, Samuel 1 male (10-15), 2 males (15-20), 5 males (20-30), 4 males (30-40), 2 males (40-50).
1 female (10-15, 1 female (20-30), 2 females (60-70). There were free colored persons and also slaves. The total counted was 34 people at that farm. James F. GIBSON would be in the (15-20) range if he were there.
4. 1860 Census for Samuel GIBSON
11 September 1860 Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, VA Page 194 (Index page #825), Line 4 Visitation 1375
GIBSON, Samuel, 60, Armory Watchman, Ireland , Eliza A., 48, MD , Margaret, 15, VA , Adalaide, 10, MD BROWN, Mary, Black, 53, House Servant, VA Samuel has no real estate, but has personal property of 2300.
This is the family that has so many legal problems. Whether or not it is the family in the 1840 census is not certain. What is interesting is that your James F. GIBSON is living nearby on index page #831 and visitation #1425.
In 1850, James was on page 416 in Harpers Ferry and Samuel was on page 402 in specifically, Bolivar Twp. To review,
4 Oct 1850 Bolivar Twp, Jefferson County, VA Page 402, Line 38 Visitation #1676
Margaret is born in MD in this census. The places of birth of the girls in 1860 may have been reversed. This means that Samuel was living in MD in 1845 and so that would check with James F. GIBSON being married in MD. That would also mean that the Samuel GIBSON in 1840 is a different family.
This is all I have to report on the GIBSON line. I think, if you agree, that I would like to go to Harford Co., MD and Frederick County, MD, and see what I can find. If you have any more information about the marriage source in Harford, let me know. Also, I would like to clarify on which side the GIBSON's were in the Civil War, so I could check for pension files.
**** I did a few things on the GIBSON line. Your April 7 e-mail giving the marriages of James F. GIBSON caused me to search for the records.
1. Marriage 18 Jan 1841, Harford, County, MD. FHL Film #14116
This is a transcribed record, but handwritten. Only the names of the bride and groom are given. Bride: Araminta SAUNDERS
I copied this.
2. Marriage 17 Sep 1846, Frederick County, MD to Anna Olivia STERRETT
The film given in the citation, #14082, only covers 1778-1797 and 1780 to 1797. The only other marriage sources at the FHL for Frederick County, Maryland, are the ones we tried before. I believe the record can be requested from the State Archives, Annapolis, MD, as they have the original marriage books.
3. I checked the Film #1002685, Obits, Bible records, church records, family genealogies, county records, etc. for Frederick Co, MD, 1800-1977. This is the film for "GIBSON". There were no entries for James F. GIBSON. All the Gibson records were too late.
4. You requested Catholic church records in Harpers Ferry, specifically St. Peters. There are no Catholic Church records on film at the FHL for Harpers Ferry.
5. I checked on FHL Film #14132, item 1, Index to the register of births, marriages and deaths in St. John's and St. George's parishes, Baltimore and Harford counties.
I found several birth and marriage entries for GIBSON, but none involving James F. GIBSON. I found one entry that was interesting:
Birth: Araminta Elizabeth GIBSON, but it was too early, 12 Oct 1792, and the parents were Thomas and Betsy GIBSON.
6. I went to the Deed Index for Jefferson Co., WV, FHL films #828409 and #828410. I found the following entries, but I did not look all of them up:
Film #828409
1828 Gibson, Samuel from Michael Wash, Trust, Book 15, p. 105 1830 Gibson, Samuel from Godfrey Weise, B of Sale, Book 16, p. 346 1831 Gibson, Samuel from John Donaldson, Trust, Book 16, p. 573
Film #828410
1848 Gibson, James to A. M. Kitzmiller, Trust, Book 29, p. 294
Film #827909: This involved no property. It just was an "I owe you $100", with a lien on furniture.
1851 Gibson, Eliza Ann to John C. Neseld, Book 32, p. 38 1856 Gibson, Eliza Ann to Thomas C. Green, Book 36, p. 229 1857 Gibson, Eliza Ann to George C. Beckham, Book 36, p. 380
1858 Gibson, Eliza Ann to Thomas A. Moore, Book 38, p. 100
1851 Gibson, James F. to Arnold S. Shephens, Book 32, p. 66
Film #827911: This involved no property. A debt was settled for $50.
1844 Gibson, Samuel to U. S., B of Sale, Book 29, p. 121 1844 Gibson, Samuel vs. James B. Wager, Decree, Book 29, p. 140 1848 Gibson, Samuel to Richard Parker, Trust, Book 29, p. 490-491 1850 Gibson, Samuel to John C. Neseld, Trust, Book 31, p. 115 1856 Gibson, Samuel to T. C. Green, Trust, book 36, p. 229 1857 Gibson, Samuel to Geo. C. Beckman, Trust, Book 36, p. 380
Eliza Ann was the wife of Samuel GIBSON. Possible parents of James. I was hoping to find some connection. The only obvious one, it appears, is that they were both poor. It is possible that these deeds of Samuel may mention James F. GIBSON, but usually if they do, he would also be indexed
Re: GIBSON - Jefferson Co, WV Deed copies and Wash DC Marriage search
1. I retrieved the copies of the James F. GIBSON Deed entries, which I reported on 4-24.
FHL Film #827909, 1848, James GIBSON to A. M. KITZ MILLER, Trust Book 29, page 294-295.
The indenture, made 12 Jan 1848, between James GIBSON, of the first part, Philetus O. LITTLEJOHN, of the second part, and A. N. KITZMILLER, trustee, of the third part, all of Harpers Ferry.
James GIBSON is indebted to LITTLEJOHN for the sum of $100. KITZMILLER paid one dollar, and GIBSON sells to A. N. KITZMILLER household property and furniture, but is allowed to keep it, until default of the loan. LITTLEJOHN may sell the personal property at public auction, with 2 weeks notice, if GIBSON hasn't paid off his debt. Proceeds of the auction should pay the debt and interest, and any left over is to be given back to GIBSON.
The debt is payable on 1 Jan 1849.
FHL Film #827911, 1851, James F. GIBSON to Arnold S. STEPHENS, trustee for Jno. A. GIBSON, Book 32, page 66-67.
Deed made 1 October 1851 between James GIBSON, of the one part, and Arnold S. STEPHENS trustee, all of Harpers Ferry in the County of Jefferson and State of Virginia of the other part. (Does this mean that the state of Virginia is involved, too, perhaps in the settling of an estate?)
James GIBSON sells to Arnold S. STEPHENS personal property, which is described, and sounds like the personal property in the 1848 deed, but more items. This is in trust to secure the payment of $150, which GIBSON owes to John A. GIBSON with interest.
The deed is recorded on 1 October 1851, when James F. GIBSON appears before Rich Henderson, justice of the peace.
I don't know if he actually sold the personal property, or it is used as collateral. The relationship of John A. GIBSON to James is not given. In a September 2001 report, I noted a Circuit Court listing for 1858, where James F. GIBSON owed money to John A. GIBSON et al. John A. GIBSON died 17 Aug 1857. I think I found him in the 1850 census in Harpers Ferry, age 35, born in Delaware. He may be an older brother of James.
In your e-mail of 1-8-2002, you sent information you had received from Pat Duncan, in which A. M. KITZMILLER was Archibald M. KITZMILLER, son of Martin KITZMILLER and brother of Lydia KITZMILLER. He was the administrator at Samuel STERRETT's probate. He was evidently living in Harpers Ferry in 1848, according to the deed record above.
I noticed in another e-mail, you said that you found a Francis GIBSON living in Harpers Ferry in 1820. I wonder if he is listed in any of the early land records or probate records. I will check.
2. Search for the Methodist-Episcopal Church where George GIBSON and Alpharetta BINNIX were married in Wash. DC, 8 Sep 1868.
I first checked the only ME church in Wash DC which had records on film at the FHL, Union M. E. Church, Film #1303264, item 9. This was negative.
I used the Wash DC directories for 1866, 1867 and 1868 to find Reverend Hamilton:
1866 - Rev William Hamilton, 13th West n D South 1867 - Rev William Hamilton, 10th West n D South 1868 - Rev William Hamilton, Clk Pat O, 10th West nr D South
In 1868, the church directory:
Methodist Episcopal Ryland Chapel, 10th cor D, Island, two squares from the passenger railway, Rev. Wm. Hamilton, D. D. pastor.
So, George and his bride were probably married in the M. E. Ryland Chapel, right where the Rev William Hamilton was living. However, I have not found the records in our library, unless they are in an archive I don't recognize.
While looking at the directories in Wash DC, I looked up GIBSON and BINNIX.
1867 - Robert BINNIX, stonecutter, h H South n 7th West - Samuel BINNIX, plasterer, h. G South cor 10th West - George GIBSON, stonecutter, H North n 19th West - James F. GIBSON, (Brady & Co.) bds National Hotel
Was George a stonecutter? There were other George GIBSON listings, but only one James F. GIBSON. If George was a stonecutter, then that may be how he met his bride. However, she may be the daughter of Robert or Samuel. I suppose you already know her father, but the stonecutter connection is interesting.
I checked the Inventory of Church Archives in DC, Protestant Episcopal Church, 975.3K2h, but the Ryland Church was not listed. I guess Methodist Episcopal is not Prot. Episcopal. A book on the shelf at the FHL had the marriage license listing for George and Alpharetta. I believe that you said you had a copy of the marriage license. If not, I may be able to get it.
More About James Francis Gibson and Ann Olivia Sterrett: Marriage: 17 Sep 1846, Frederick, MD.
Marriage Notes for James Francis Gibson and Ann Olivia Sterrett: Select Maryland Marriages GIBSON, JAMES F. STERRETT, ANNA OLIVIA 17 Sep 1846 Frederick MD Original data: Frederick County, Maryland Marriages, 1778-1850. County court records located at Frederick, Maryland or Family History Library microfilm #0014082.
Children of James Francis Gibson and Ann Olivia Sterrett are:
+George Geary Gibson, b. 17 Jan 1847, Maryland, d. 06 May 1940, Stamford, CT.
James Francis Gibson (b. Abt. 1825, d. Jun 1874)
Notes for James Francis Gibson: