Person:George Gibson (15)

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This article is one of a series on the forts of southwest Virginia during the period of Indian Hostilities, (1774-1794). The accompanying map shows the location of the forts in the Powell, Clinch, and Lower Holston watersheds. An index to these forts is found at List of Forts of Southwest Virginia. The location of many of these forts is known only approximately, and different sources sometimes suggest different locations. Much of the information in these articles is based on Emory Hamilton's article "Frontier Forts".

This is a stub. It contains "working notes" from various sources about George Gibson, who established Gibson's Station 5 miles from Cumberland Gap, in Lee County, Virginia. These materials need to be integrated into a systematic article. Specific primary sources need to be identified. Would be nice to have a phtograph of the area where Gibson's Station was located. See also Place:Gibson's Station and Place:Gibson Station, Lee, Virginia, United States.

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From descendant Chuck Gibson

In a manuscript volume in the Virginia State Library, referred to as "War Four," which contains a list of the names of the soldiers of the Virginia State Line on Continental establishment who received certificates for the balance of their full pay, in accordance with the act of the General Assembly of Virginia, passed at the November 1781 session, on page 40, thereof appears the name of George Gibson.

The entry shows that George Gibson was a Major of Infantry and that his services in the Revolutionary War.

George Gibson fought at Valley Forge during the terrible winter of 1777-78, of the Revolution and at Point Pleasant during the Indian Wars when the Indians were defeated 10 October 1774. He held the rank of Major at the end of the war.

After the Revolution, Major Gibson moved westward to Washington Co., and when Lee was formed in 1792, his property fell in the new county. He had three or four entries of seven hundred acres of land on Treasury Warrant No. 14, 105. One of 200 acres on Four Mile Creek, a branch of the Powell River, and one of 200 acres on Indian Creek, another branch of Powell River. Here he built a fort for the protection of his family and neighbors; it was known as "Gibson's Fort." It was in the western part of Lee County. In later years, 1890, when the Louisville and Nashville Railway Company built their line through Lee County, they named this section Gibson Station.

George Gibson served his community as well in peace as he did his country in time of war. He was selected by Gov. Lee as one of the eight men to sit on the first court of the county, and was one of the signers of the petition for the establishment of the town of Jonesville for the county seat. His will in W. B. 1, p. 57, Lee Co., written 3 Oct. 1818, filed 1819. (Early Settlers of Lee Co. and Adjacent Counties, VA by Anne Wynn Laningham)

George Gibson was a signer of the petition of "sundry inhabitants of Clinch River, Moccasin Creek, Powells Valley, and others, citizens of Washington County" to form another county to be called Russell in December 1785.

James and John Gibson also signed this petition. Two John Campbells also signed this petition.

Relationship

George Gibson 1732-1819 Elizabeth Smith 1758-1826 | Matthew Moss Gibson 1788 &1819 Susanna Hornback? 1795 | William Carroll Gibson 1826-1877 &1847 Mary Ann Watts 1826-1893 | James Lane Gibson 1863-1951 &1886 Isola Lousia Ballou 1873-1953 | Charles Alfred Gibson 1898-1979 &1927 Julia Lorene Davis 1905-1976 | Charles Alfred Gibson 1932- &1956 Eula Nadine McClung 1932- | Charlie Alfred Gibson, II 1957-

The John Campbell reference probably deals with daughter:

Isabella Gibson

     * Born in 1777
     * Died on 5 September 1826 - Ark
     * Age at death: 49 years old

Parents

     * George Gibson 1732-1819
     * Elizabeth Smith 1758-1826

Marriages and children

     * Married to John Campbell +1852, with 
             * Betsy
             * Ann
             * Maragette
             * Susan
             * George
             * Jemima
             * Rachael

       The below from a genealogy contact. I can find the original
       email if it might be of use.

       And now comes to hand under date of May 30th 1900, Cousin J.E.
       Atkins history on Mother's side, viz:   

       "Our great great grandfather's name was Fortune, our  great
       grandfather's name was Gibson and married a Miss Fortune.  I do
       not know their given names. Our grandfathers name was John
       Campbell (this was my mother's father --Gooch) and married Miss
       Isabella Gibson, our grandmother. Grandmother had a sister named
       Betsy who married a brother or relative of the historical David
       Crocket. Grandma and Aunt Betsy were the only children of our
       great grandparents I ever heard of that I can call to mind. They
       were from Ireland, Scotland and France and among the very first
       settlers of Virginia when they forted up from the Indians. Many
       of our relatives were killed and captured by the Indians and
       some of them redeemed after the Treaty, and some made their
       escape and returned to their friends. I could tell you some sad
       things if I could see you that is impossible for me to write. My
       mother used to entertain their children by the hour with
       sketches of our history. Yes, it has been nearly a hundred years
       since our grandfather came to this country. He emigrated in a
       keel boat down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi, Red and
       Ouchita rivers and landed at Camden which was then called (I can
       not make out this name, it looks like this--       ) on the
       Ouchita river. They brought their horses, cows, hogs and
       chickens with them. They settled in a cane brake as the country
       was covered with cane five miles from Washington, the county
       site of Hempstead Co. which was built after they came. Their
       first house was a polo pen with dirt chimney and hog pen in the
       corner where they could protect the pigs from the wolves and
       cats. They reared seven (7) children, 6 girls and one son. Aunt
       Betsy the oldest married Elijah Gibson her second cousin. They
       settled in one mile of Columbus in Hempstead County, where they
       lived and died.  Julia Ann, their only child married John White
       and moved to Gainsville Texas in 1861 or 2. I have lost sight of
       them many years ago. Aunt Ann married Birton Holman. They reared
       six children all dead but Marion and Isabella who were living a
       few months ago. They have large families and live in Ark. I
       think our mother was the next oldest. Aunt Susan Eskridge the
       next of which Cousin Rebecca has told you more than I can. My
       mother Margarette was the next and a a twin--her mate--a
       sister--died in infancy. My mother married James Moss. They
       reared six children all laid away but myself. My father,
       brother, sister and mother all died within six weeks. My
       youngest brother left a little son. Uncle George never married.
       Aunt Jemima, the youngest married Hamilton Scoby. They reared
       nine children, six are living and all live in Warren. cousin
       John Scoby married Miss ??? Price,  and Warren's composed of the
       Scoby and Price families. I can count probably 200 grand, great
       and great grand children. Now you see we are a prolific family.
       My father and mother were third cousins and I think our French
       blood is ?????side. There are none of the old set living that I
       know of. The last of my father's brothers died ninety odd years.
       When Grandpa Campbell left Virginia to come here Aunt Betsy
       Crocket lived near Cumberland Gap near the Tenn and Va line. I
       don't think they ever heard from each other after they were
       separated. I never knew anything about our Campbell kin. We have
       Gibsons & Moss relatives living in Texas."

From Hamilton, 1968 who provides the following information about George Gibson's history and family:

George Gibson was a son of Robert and Isabella Gibson, and was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1732. Came to America when quite young with his parents and settled in Augusta Co., VA. About 1776 he married Elizabeth Smith, a daughter of Zachariah Smith of Augusta Co. When upon coming to Southwest Virginia, it is said that he first settled in the vicinity of Abingdon, before coming to Powell Valley around 1785. He was a Lieutenant in the French and Indian War, and served during the Point Pleasant Campaign in 1774. During the Revolution he served in the Continental Army, was promoted to Major, and is said to have been at the Battle of King’s Mountain. He died at Gibson’s Station, April 3, 1819.

The Indians captured his son, Matthew Moss Gibson, when he was a small child and he lived with the Indians until grown, when he was identified by a birthmark and ransomed by his father. Family tradition states that he never became accustomed to living with his family, and would often be found outside the door listening and not entering the house. That he often returned to his Indian parents, staying awhile and then returning to his own parents. He later moved to Missouri where he spent the remainder of his life.

1. ↑ Hamilton, 1968.

   FRONTIER FORTS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
   By Emory L. Hamilton From Historical Sketches of Southwest Virginia, Number 4, 1968, pages 1 to 26