The Family Tree Database of Timothy J. Barron

Family Notes

GENEALOGICAL STANDARD OF PROOF APPLIED: The following standard of proof was used in identifying the family of John Gibbs: The initial information was found in Vernon Gibb's genealogy book, and has been subsequently supported via additional records and documentation listed below. (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, March 18, 2006)

GENERAL NOTES: According to family legend, John was just 15 years old when his father was killed in an Indian raid on their Village. In his pension claim John made the statement that his parents died when he was very young and he was bound out as an apprentice in Halifax County when he was 15 years old. (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, found in Vernon Gibb's book "Gibbs Family History", March 18, 2006)

1777-1781 REVOLUTIONARY WAR SERVICE oF JOHN GIBBS: In 1777, John enlisted in the Revolutionary War and served for three months under the command of Colonel Peter Rogers. John was 21 years of age at that time. He was stationed at Portsmouth, Virginia and served as a guard for the city. After he was discharged, he returned to Halifax County, Virginia and remained there until September 1778 when he enlisted for nine months in the Militia at Granville County, North Carolina. He marched to Charleston, South Carolina under the command of Colonel Lytle. On Christmas day of 1778, they lost the city to the British. John escaped and took refuge in North Carolina until his tour of duty was complete and he was discharged. John again entered the service on March 15, 1779 and served in General Greene's army of reinforcement troops, joining in the battle near Guilford Court House. In this tour of duty, John served for ten weeks and was again discharged. In July of 1781 he again enlisted in the service and was assigned to the Militia in Halifax County. He served under the command of Captain Long for a period of three months. John was in the battle of Cornwallis and was discharged shortly after the battle on October 19, 1781. (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, found in Vernon Gibb's book "Gibbs Family History", March 18, 2006)

1781-1825 LOCATIONS OF JOHN GIBBS: After the war, John returned to Halifax County, Virginia, and he remained there for only a short period of time before he moved to Guilford County, North Carolina. One can surmise that during his brief stay in that county during the Revolution, John met his intended wife, Hannah. John and Hannah moved to Virginia and remained there until the latter part of 1790 when they moved to the waters of the Yadkin in Burke County North Carolina. Sometime after October of 1793, during the time of the black belt cotton rush, John and Hannah moved to York County, South Carolina. They later moved back to North Carolina to the waters of the Yadkin River and then to the Black Mountain Range where they remained until the early part of 1818. One of the mountains in that range was named Gibbs Mountain in honor of John. John Gibbs and his family migrated from the Black Mountain Range in North Carolina, through the Cumberland Gap, and on into the area of Quicksand in what is now Breathitt County, Kentucky. They settled in this area of Eastern Kentucky known as Frozen. John, Hannah, and their family remained in this area until the Spring of 1825, when they, along with their son Ebenezer, moved to Bedford County, Tennessee. (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, found in Vernon Gibb's book "Gibbs Family History", March 18, 2006)

1832 REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION CLAIM FOR JOHN GIBBS: The following is a revolutionary war pension record for John Gibbs: Brief in the case of "John Gibbs", "County" of "Bedford" in the State of "Tennessee" (Act 7th June, 1832). 1 - Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? "Court"; 2 - If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [blank]; 3 - How old is he? "76 years"; 4 - State his service, as directed in the form annexed: Period: "Summer 1777", Duration: "3 months", Rank: "Private", Field Officers: "Col. Rogers"; Period: "Augt 1778", Duration: "9 month", Field Officers: "Capt Farmer"; Period: "Oct 1778", Field Officers: [unreadable]; Period: "June 1779", Field Officers: [unreadable]; Period: "Spring 1781", Field Officers: "Capt Baird"; 5 - In what battles was he engaged? "Charleston Guilford C. House"; 6 - Where did he reside when he entered the service? "Halifax Co Virginia"; 7 - Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? "Traditionary evidence"; 8 - Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? "Defective"; Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. "Amended [unreadable] says 16 mo 12 days [unreadable] months afterwards he entered at Halifax Co Virginia under captain Log, 3 months [unreadable several words] served his country about 14 months. (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, transcribed March 18, 2006 by TJB)

1832 REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION CLAIM FOR JOHN GIBBS: The Revolutionary War pension claim of John Gibbs is recorded in Book E, Volume 7, page 79, Bedford County, Tennessee #19191. The following is transcription of the record: "State of Tennessee, Bedford County, Court of Pleas and Quarters Sessions, On this 12th day of November 1832, personally appeared in open court before Samuel Phillips, John L. Nail, and John B. Armstrong, Esquires Justices appointed to hold the Court of Pleas and Quarters Sessions for the county afore-said now sitting John Gibbs a resident of Bedford County in the State of Tennessee, age about 76 years - who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: He was born in Pittsylvania county, State of Virginia, but the year of his birth he cannot recollect positively but he is certain that he will be seventy six years of age sometime in December next (1832). His parents died when he was very young and he was bound out as an apprentice in Halifax county, Virginia. He states that he entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War some time in the Spring or Summer of the year 1777, but the particular month he cannot now recollect, as a volunteer under Colonel Peter Rogers in Halifax County, Virginia, for a term of three months, the name of his captain he does not remember. As soon as he volunteered, his company marched to Portsmouth, Virginia to guard and defend that place against the British. He remained stationed at that place until the expiration of his three months term of service when he was verbally discharged by his Captain. He states that he then remained at home until the latter part of August or the first of September of 1778, when he again entered the service as a substitute for a man by the name of Edmond Kelly for nine months in the Militia in Granville county, North Carolina. But before they done any service his company was discharged for a few months on furlough, but in a few weeks after they were discharged upon their furlough an express came for them to meet at Hillsboro, North Carolina and offering all of them who would agree to serve before their furlough expired, pay for what time they had been on furlough agreeable to this express. This applicant and a large number of the company to which he belonged which was commanded by Captain John Farrar met at Hillsboro about the first of October 1779 as well as he recollects. When after remaining there a short time, probably a week or two, for the purpose of organizing themselves and making necessary preparations for marching, they marched under the command of Captain Farrar and Colonel Henry Dixon, and Colonel Lytle to a place called the ten mile spring, or ten mile house, within ten miles of Charleston, South Carolina. They arrived at this place shortly before Christmas and spent their Christmas there. They then took up their line of march to go to the assistance of General Lincoln on the Savannah river between South Carolina and Georgia. They arrived at a place called Purysburg some time in January 1779 at which place Lincoln's army was stationed. Shortly after their arrival at this place, this applicant with others of his company were placed under the command of Captain High, Major Thomas Donaho, and Major Armstrong, regular officers of General Lincoln's army and sent in a detachment up the Savannah river to Black Swamp where General Lincoln had an encampment. At the same time some of Captain Farrer's company were sent to Briar Creek to assist General Ash against the British. After remaining at Black Swamp a short time, this applicant was sent in a detachment under the above named officers, still higher up the Savannah to Golfans Mills. From this place the detachment to which he belonged was ordered to march under the same officers to Charleston, South Carolina to defend that place against the British. They arrived at Charleston some time in the latter part of the spring, as well as this applicant recollects. It was in the month of May, shortly after they got into Charleston, they had a little engagement with the British under General Provost. This was the first engagement that this applicant was in during the war. Shortly after this engagement, General Provost abandoned his attempt to take Charleston and marched his forces, or part of them, into the country. This applicant was then marched out of Charleston to Stone Ferry under the command of Major Armstrong where they fought a battle with the British under the command of General Provost. This was as well as he recollects in the month of June in 1779. He was then marched to Willtown, between Stono and the Savannah river where he was discharged, his nine months term of service having terminated shortly before or about this time. When discharged, they were ordered to meet at Moaks Corner to receive their discharges, at which place this applicant states he received a written one from Major Armstrong. He states that while he was in Charleston he saw and conversed with Count Pulaski, a foreigner who he believes commanded the Light House on a company of them at that place. He then remained at home until a short time before the battle of Guilford in North Carolina when he volunteered under Captain Bird Walls in Halifax county, Virginia and marched under him into Guilford county, North Carolina. He states that Captain Wall's company arrived at Guilford Court House during the battle at that place between General Greene who commanded the American's and Cornwallis who commanded the British, in time to take part in it. In this battle the British had rather the advantage and compelled the forces under Greene to retreat. This battle, he thinks, was fought early in the Spring of 1781. After the battle, part of the Americans pursued Cornwallis to Ramsays Mill on Deep River where they took fifteen prisoners. At this place this applicant was discharged by Captain Walls, verbally, having served this tour about ten weeks. Several months afterwards he entered the service in the Militia in Halifax county, Virginia under Captain Long, for three months as a substitute for a man by the name of Ervin Brannan. He marched under Captain Long to Yorktown to aid General Washington against the British under the command of Lord Cornwallis. This applicants company arrived at Yorktown some two or three weeks as well as he recollects, before the surrender of Cornwallis. When they arrived, they found General Washington there and they were immediately set at work, digging and throwing up entrenchments for the purpose of beseisging Cornwallis' army, then in possession of the town. This applicant states that he saw General Washington frequently at this place and on one occasion, while he was at work, he recollects that General Washington took his axe and worked a little while with it. He states that he was in the battle of Yorktown but he took sick and left that place the day after the battle was fought and before the British marched out of the town. Shortly after the surrender of Cornwallis, this applicants three months term of service expired and he was verbally discharged by Captain Long. This applicant states that he served his country in the Revolutionary War, including the different towns above stated, about seventeen months. He further states that he has no documentary evidence of his service, nor does he know any person now living by whom he can make any proof of it. He never received any written discharges but the one above mentioned from Major Armstrong, which is lost or mislaid. He was acquainted with all the American officers mentioned in this declaration except General Greene. He cannot recollect the names of any regular or Militia Regiments that he was in or acquainted with during his service. He states that he has no record of his age. He recollects that he was informed that he was fifteen when bound out as before stated and he has kept his age from memory every since. After the Revolutionary War he moved from Virginia to North Carolina, from North Carolina to York County, South Carolina, then he moved back to the waters of the Yadkin, North Carolina, from thence to Kentucky, from thence to Bedford county, Tennessee where he has lived upwards of seven years and now living. He is acquainted with Major William Guy, Mayor William Murphree, Robert Clark, and William vancleve, all of whom will testify as to his character and to their belief of his services as a Revolutionary soldier. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity whatever, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. 12 November 1832. [signed]Jas McKeseck CLK [signed] John Gibbs. We, William Murphree, Robert Clark, and William vancleve, residing in Bedford county, Tennessee, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with, and have been for a number of years, John Gibbs, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. We believe him to be seventy six years of age or near that age as he states. He is a man of strict honesty and veracity and has always sustained that character since we become acquainted with him. He is respected and believed to have been in the neighborhood where he resides, a Revolutionary War soldier and we fully concur in that opinion. 12 November 1832. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [signed] William Murphree [signed] Jass McKeseck, Clk [signed] Robert Clark [signed] William vancleve (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, transcribed March 18, 2006 by TJB)

1848 DEATH OF JOHN GIBBS: John died October 18, 1848 at the age of 92. At the time of his death, he was living with his son Nathan in on Frozen Creek. John is buried in the small Day family Cemetery located on top of a knoll, behind the post office, overlooking what is now Kenucky Highway route 15, approximately one half mile south of the town of Vancleve. The grave is covered with large hewn lime-stone boulders and a DAR Revolutionary War tombstone marks the grave. The DAR tombstone on his grave incorrectly lists his death as March 17, 1847, as the DAR confused him with another John Gibbs. His pension stop date was October 18, 1848, and a deposition from Hannah, his wife, gives his death as October 13, 1848. The DAR has him listed as being in legislature in North Carolina, which is actually the other John Gibbs. (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, found in Vernon Gibb's book "Gibbs Family History", March 18, 2006)

1848 REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION RECORD OF JOHN GIBBS: The following is a Revolutionary War pension record of John Gibbs: "Kentucky #943", "Hannah Gibbs", a widow of "John Gibbs", who served in the Revolutionary War "Virginia" as a private. Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of "54" dollars "66" cents per annum, to commence on the "18th of October" 1848. Certificate of Pension issued the "20th" day of "May 1852" and sent to "Hon J. C. Mason, 17 September 1850." Recorded on Bill of pensioners under act July 29, 1848, page "174", Vol "A." (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, transcribed March 18, 2006 by TJB)

1850 REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION RECORD FOR JOHN GIBBS: The following is a Revolutionary War pension application for Hannah Gibbs, widow of John Gibbs: "State of Kentucky, Morgan County, On this 29th day of March One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty personally appeared before the undersigned Caleb Kash a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid Hannah Gibbs a resident of Morgan County, Kentucky, aged ninety five years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed the 29th day of July 1848. John Gibbs (formerly of the State of Tennessee) who was a private of infantry in the army of the Revolution was entitled to receive a pension of fifty four dollars and sixty six cents per annum during his natural life commencing on the 4th day of March 1831, according to an original certificate given at the War office of the United States on the 14th day of August 1833 and recorded in the pension office, book E, vol 7, page 79. She further declares that she was married to the said John Gibbs on the 22nd day of January seventeen hundred and eighty two, that her hus-band the aforesaid John Gibbs died on the 18th day of October 1848, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the mar-riage took place previous to the second of Janu-ary Eighteen Hundred Viz; at the time above stated. She further swears that she is now a widow and that she has never before made any application for a pension. Hannah Gibbs, Her Mark [checked] Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above mentioned before, Caleb Kash, J.P., M.C. [Morgan County]" (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, transcribed March 18, 2006 by TJB)

1938 LETTER CONCERNING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION OF JOHN GIBBS: The following is transcription of the letter from the National Archives: "June 26, 1938. Mrs. Annie Gibbs Wilson, c/o Mrs. W.T. Weed, Rocky Face, Georgia. BA-J/ILL, John Gibbs, W. 2729. Dear Madam: Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Gibbs of Virignia, who resided in Tennessee at the time he received a pension. The data which follow are found int the papers on file in pension claim, W. 2729, based upon service of John Gibbs in the Revolutionary War. John Gibbs was born in December 1756, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia; his parents, whose names are not shown, died when he was very young and, at the age of fifteen years, he went out as an apprentice in Halifax County, Virginia. He volunteerd in the spring or summer of 1777 and served three months as a private in the Virginia troops under Colonel Peter Rodgers, engaged in the defense of Portsmouth. About September 1778, he went into Granville County North Carolina, enlisted there, served as private in Captain John Farrar's and High's companies under Colonels Henry Dixon and Lytle in the North Carolina troops, was in an engagement near Charleston, South Carolina, was in the battle of Stone Ferry and was discharged at the expiration of service of nine months. After his return to Virginia, he enlisted in the spring of 1781, served as private in Captain Bird Wall's Virginia Company, was in the battle of Guilford Court House and was discharged, length of service ten weeks; he enlisted afterwards, served as private in Captain Long's Virginia Company, was the battle of [unreadable] and was discharged after serving three months. John Gibbs moved after the Revolutionary War from Virginia to North Carolina, then to York County, South Carolina, afterwards returned to the "Waters of the Yadkin, North Carolina", thence to Kentucky and then to Bedford County, Tennesse. John Gibbs was allowed pension on his application executed November 12, 1832, at which time he resided in Bedford County, Tennessee; he had resided there for about seven years. About November 1842, he moved from said Bedford County, Kentucky. The soldier died October 18, 1848. John Gibbs married January 22, 1782 or 1783, in Guilford County, North Carolina, Hannah, whose maiden name was not given. Hannah Gibbs, the solider's widow, applied for pension March 29, 1850, at which time she resided in Morgan County, Kentucky. The claim was allowed. In 1850, she gave her age as ninety-five years, but did not state the date and place of her birth. She died September 17, 1850, survived by the following children, all of whom were living in 1852; John Gibbs; Sally Gibbs Woods; and nathan Gibbs, who was born October 12, 1793, whose residence was West Liberty, Kentucky, in 1850. Very truly yours, A.D. Hiller, Executive Assistant to the Administrator. (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, transcribed March 18, 2006 by TJB)

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (DAR) APPROVED LINEAGES FOR JOHN GIBBS SR: The following are Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) appproved lineages for John Gibbs Sr.: Mary Eleanor Day, DAR ID Number: 83501, descendancy through: John Gibbs and Hannah Muchmore, Nathan Gibbs and Nancy Jane Lipps, William Day and Phoebe Eleanor Gibbs, John C. Mason Day and Maggie C. Mclin; Golden Day, DAR ID Number: 87718, descendancy through: John Gibbs and Hannah Muchmore, Nathan Gibbs and Nancy Jane Lipps, William Day and Phoebe Gibbs, Floyd Day and Rosa Lee Kash; Elizabeth Ellenor Day, DAR ID Number: 107278, descendancy through: John Gibbs and Hannah Muchmore, Nathan Gibbs and Nancy Jane Lipps, William Day and Pheobe Ellenore Gibbs, Floyd Day and Rosa Lee Kash; Edith Rudd Woodson, DAR ID Number: 93461, descendancy through: John Gibbs and Hannah Muchmore, John Brown Saint and Polly Gibbs, John C. Saint and Mary Harriet Kyser, Benjamin Franklin Rudd and Alice E. Saint; Mary H. Saint Elliott, DAR ID Number: 110640, descendancy through: John Gibbs and Hannah Muchmore, John Brown Saint and Polly Gibbs, John C. Saint and Mary Harriet Kyser; Mabel Elliott Stuart, DAR ID Number: 110641, descendancy through: John Gibbs and Hannah Muchmore, John Brown Saint and Polly Gibbs, John C. Saint and Mary Harriet Kyser, George Elliott and Mary H. Saint; Deborah Slager, DAR ID Number 819563, descendancy through: John Gibbs & Hannah Muchmore, John Gibbs Jr and Elizabeth Shephard, Washington Gibbs and Martha Ingram, Woodson Gibbs & Martha Tyra, May O. Gibbs and John Keough, Martha Irene Keough and Darrell N. Koch, Judith Koch & Herbert R. Klawitter Jr. (Research Source: Timothy J. Barron, updated August 8, 2006)