... The affidavit of her husband Miles Gibson, aged 29, dated May 30, 1677, filed with her father's will, shows that she was the eldest daughter of Thomas Todd (see ante 24; 430). According to this deposition, about 12 months previously Mrs. Anne Todd had shown Gibson her husband's will "and sometime afterwards hearing of her husband's death — she left her habitation — in the Custody of her eldest daughter, who then tooke the will into her possession, the which she kept untill the day of her marriage & then delivered it unto the Custody of this deponent her now husband," etc.
Miles Gibson Nov. 6, 1667, assigns to "Thomas Overton all my right — of land for my servitude in this province," with John Collett as a witness. (Annap. Patents; 12; 269).
John Bradford, May 22, 1668 assigns to John Lee four rights of land "due to me for transport vizt. for my own right and my wife Ann Bradford and my brother George Reeve and my servant Miles Gibson" (idem ; 263).
These were all early settlers in Baltimore County. Whether Miles Gibson came into Maryland from Virginia or England is not known. Aged only nineteen at the time of his "servitude," Miles Gibson was certainly no ordinary servant, for before many years had elapsed we find him successively a Justice of Baltimore County, a member of the General Assembly, and the High Sheriff of Baltimore County, and referred to as one of the "substantial Protestant gentlemen" of the Province. It was not an uncommon practice for parents of position in sending a son to the colonies to seek his fortune, to "bind him over" to a relation or friend in order to insure his better protection.
Miles Gibson married three times, and on each occasion into a prominent family.
His first wife was Anne, the daughter of Thomas Thurston* of Baltimore County.
This is learned from a deed May 19, 1676 from Thomas Thurston to Miles Gibson, "in consideration of a marriage solemnized between Ann my daughter and Miles Gibson of Baltimore County," he deeds to Gibson two tracts. Cole's Banks and Moorfields in Talbot County, both containing 600 acres (Balto. Deeds TR : R A ; 262- 3).
Thomas Thurston May 2, 1676 assigned to Miles Gibson his rights for twenty servants transported "twelve years since," and on this date also assigns to Gibson his rights for transporting himself, Bridget his wife and his daughter's Anne and Elizabeth (Annap. Patents: 19; 258).
As has already been shown, Miles Gibson married secondly, a very short time before May 30, 1677, Anne 5 Todd.
He married thirdly Elizabeth the widow of Henry Hazelwood.
Miles Gibson lived at one time on Back River, as is learned from a power of attorney given him Apr. 9, 1679 by Nicholas Gassoway (Balto. Deeds IR: P. P. ; 34). He also owned on Romney or Rumley Creek, emptying into the Bay between the Susquehanna and Bush River, the tracts Persimmon Point, Port Royal, Delph Island, and Gibson's Marsh, where he later appears to have lived. He also owned Gibson's Park lying on the east side of Winter's Run.
Miles Gibson was appointed Justice of Baltimore County June 4, 1679, and again Dec. 13, 1680 (Archiv. Md. 15; 253; 326). He represented Baltimore County in the Lower House of the Assembly, 1682-3, resigning to become High Sheriff of the county, which position he held until 1687. (Archiv. Md., 7; 349: idem. 17, 142), when he again became Justice in 1686-7. (idem; 5: 470, 525, 541).
Nov. 28, 1689 Gibson signed a petition to the King, and Sept. 17, 1690 is referred to as one of the "most substantial Protestant Inhabitants" of the Province and as one of the "gentlemen supposed to be of my Lord's [i.e. Baltimore's] partie" (Archiv. Md.; 8; 136, 213, 285).
Under the will of Francis Lovelace of Baltimore County, a cousin of Anne 5 (Todd) Gibson, dated Mar. 3, 1683-4 and proved May 19, 1684 his "cozen Miles Gibson" was appointed executor and bequests made to Robert, Sarah and Anna, the children of Miles Gibson, with reversions to their father and mother, the residue of the estate to pass directly to Miles Gibson. It seems almost certain that these all were the children of Miles Gibson by his second wife Anne 5 Todd, and not by his first wife Anne Thurston, as they are not mentioned in the will of Thomas Thurston, father of the first wife, while they all received legacies under the will of Frances Lovelace, a "cosen" of the second wife Anne' Todd, and Robert was also a legatee under the will of Capt. David Jones, the stepfather of Anne' Todd (see ante 24; 436).
The date of Anne' Todd's death is not known.
Miles Gibson married thirdly Elizabeth the widow of Henry Hazelwood.
"Mar. 8, 1694 came Elizabeth Gibson formerly Hazelwood" executrix of John Collett. Henry Hazelwood had been appointed executor under Coletts will, 1673.
Elizabeth Gibson also appears as executrix of Francis Lovelace, succeeding her husband (Balto. Co. Court Proc. 1693-6; 165).
That Elizabeth Gibson had issue by Henry Hazelwood is learned from a deed of gift to her son John Hazelwood (Balto. County Court Proc. 1693-6; 550).
Miles Gibson died shortly before May 26, 1692, when his widow Elizabeth filed his inventory showing personal property valued at £516:2: 1, and debts due him valued at 28,458 pounds of tobacco (Balto. Invent. 1; 26).
Whether or not the widow married again is not known. The list of Baltimore County Taxables, Spesutia Hundred, for 1695, shows "at Mrs. Gibson's" 10 taxables, viz.: Daniel Palmer, William Palmer, William Hazelwood, Robert Gibson, Miles , John Hazelwood and 5 slaves. This shows that William and John Hazelwood, who were unquestionably her sons, at this time were 16 years of age or over.
The Register of St. George's records the burial of William Hazelwood at Rumley [Romney] Creek June 15, 1698; of John Hazelwood of the head of Musketa [Mosquitoj Creek at the mouth of Rumley Creek Apr. 2, 1699; and of Henry Haslewood of the head of Musketa Creek buried upon his own plantation June 9, 1699. ...
