Rev. John Gibbs, Sr.

The Pioneer Family,Married 70+ years (he and his wife died within 10 days of each other)

• http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/GIBBS/2004-10/1098938221
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=gwenscull... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5393858/john-gibbs

The Gibbs family came from England and settled in New Jersey, where there is a community named Gibbstown, thought to be named after them. As the colonies formed a union and declared their independance in 1776, John & Rebecca (Connelly) Gibbs were married on October 10, 1776 in Lovelady, Rowan Co., NC. This union lasted for over 70 years, and produced 12 children. John was a Methodist preacher and farmer by occupation. The Gibbs moved south by 1780, and settled in Burke Co., NC. In that year, he entered the Revolutionary War, enlisting as a private in the NC Militia; he served 3 months in Captain Clark's Company. In 1781, he reenlisted and served 3 months in Captain John Connelly's Second Company of the Militia. Captain Connelly was his wife Rebecca's brother. John received a pension in 1844 for his service during the American Revolution. To see a closeup of the military marker at his gravesite, go to the Media section.

Revolutionary Pension Application of Rev. John Gibbs (Sr.) - entry in the Burke County, NC Library refers to John's pension application, partially transcribed below:

John Gibbs - - S 8556, NC Revolutionary Soldier. Enlisted while a resident of Burke County, North Carolina in 1780. Served three months under Captain Clark, Again called out in the summer of 1781 and served three months under Captain John Conley by order of Colonel McDowell. He was allowed a pension on an Application executed July 15, 1844, while a resident of Burke County, N.C. aged 89 years, at the rate of $20.00 Per Annum.

State of North Carolina, Burke County: on this 15th, day of July one thousand eight hundred and forty four, 1844 personally appeared before me. Mr. William R. Rust, one of the acting magistrates and member of the court of pleas and quarters sessions in and for said county, John Gibbs a resident of the county and state aforesaid, aged eighty nine years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That in the days of the Revolution he resided in Burke County North Carolina and entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in the year of 1780 he was drafted into the service for a tour of three months under Captain Clark who marched his company from Burke into Charlotte where they joined General Davidson who was stationed in Mecklenburg County and that after staying some weeks at the post, they were joined by General Morgan who spent a few days with them, and then the armies parted and the declarant was placed under General Morgan who marched on to the south Carolina to the Cowpens at which post the declarant was discharged having served out his tour of duty. The next tour of duty was in the summer of the year following, in the year 1781, he was again called into service to serve another three months tour under Captain John Conley by order of Colonel McDowell and was ordered on to the Fort at the head of the Catawba River where the deponent served out his tour of duty and was then discharged. The deponent further states that he performed other services but the above is the only regular tours that he was out, he also stated that he has no documentary evidence in support of his service that he can prove a part or all his service by payroll evidence. The declarant also states that his name is not on the pension roll or any agency except the present and that the reason why he has not applied before this late day for his pension is that he was disappointed by an agent that he had employed, and that the amount was so small that he thought to live without and is now from actual necessity he is induced to apply for a pension. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written before me. Wm. B. Rust, J.P."

A letter listed with above William Rust testimony states that Stephen Ballew, a resident of Burke County and aged 83 years, stated that John Gibbs " Is a minister of the Gospel, a person to whom statements is due full faith and credit." also Mr. Ballew said that he now and was in the days of the Revolution well acquainted with John Gibbs of Burke County; that he was out in the service with said John Gibbs in July or August 1780"

End of application - George H. Gibbs.

Following the War John returned home and farmed; he also served as the minister of Obeth Methodist Church in Burke Co., NC. His pension application made no mention of children. In his later years Reverend John once represented Hebron at the quarterly Methodist circuit meeting. Hebron Wesleyan Methodist Church is located in present Old Fort across the street from Hardee's Resturant. This makes three Methodist Churches (Oboth, Nebo and Hebron) in which Reverend John was an active participant.

http://www.wnconline.net/~hermes/gsdnap/ylines/yline1_rjg1.htm

In 1790 Census Rev. John Gibbs and Rebecca had six boys under sixteen ( William, James, Hugh, John, Joshua and Bryant) and three females (one was Rebecca his wife), Females were not categorized by age during this census. He was living near all the Connellys in the Lovelady district on the North side of the Catawba River, which is present-day Caldwell County, North Carolina.

In the 1800 Census for Burke Co., NC John Gibbs is missing and I (Georgia Hugh Gibbs) now know that he moved from Lovelady district to the Bridgewater/Nebo North Carolina before 1810. I believe he may have traveled or moved to Garrard County Kentucky where his Daughter Suzanna married a Brown and then returned to Bridgewater before 1810. Thus he missed the 1800 Burke County North Carolina Census.

In 1810 Census, Burke Co., NC, page 337, line 1. They had one boy less than ten (Wesley), two boys ten to sixteen (Bryant and Thomas) and two sixteen to twenty-six (Joshua and John). William, James and Hugh had separate households. They had one girl sixteen to twenty-six, thus born between 1784 and 1794. Suzanna's wedding date will indicate whether this could be her or even a third girl child. This can not be Elizabeth since she married in 1805 and moved to Ohio.

In 1820 Census Burke Co., NC, John & Rebecca had two boys between sixteen and twenty-six; these could be Thomas and Wesley, since Archibald is probably over twenty-six . There are also two girls between ten and sixteen listed. (Need to double check census records - perhaps they were over sixteen). Rebecca would have been too old to have these girls. They may be Wesley and Thomas's wives or John & Rebecca's grandchildren. This Census lists was head of household as John Gibbs, Sr. which indicates he indeed had a son named John.

Prior to 1825 John gave land for the Nebo Meeting House although he didn't actually deed it until 1844. He had land on Shadrach Creek in present Nebo area just to the west of Bridgewater.

Find A Grave Memorial # 5393858.

THE GIBBS SURNAME DNA PROJECT = Y-Line 1: John (nmn) Gibbs; aka, Rev. John Gibbs http://www.wnconline.net/~hermes/gsdnap/ylines/yline1_rjg1.ht

The following comes from Rev. John Gibbs 1755-1847 - Pioneer Family:

On July 7, 1778 John was granted 200 acres of land just north of the Catawba River, Burke County, North Carolina. His neighbors were Moore's, Ballew's, Saylor's. In the spring of 1779 John and Rebecca's first child, William, was born. John was called to defend his country against the British, sacrifice of leaving a wife and infant alone for three months. It was in 1780 John joined Captain Clark Company in Charlotte, there he was reassigned to General Morgan Company. Having served his 3 months tour of duty he was discharged and returned home to his young bride and infant son. The next year, 1781, their second child James was born. John again was called for 3 months duty, likely during the time of James birth. This time John was sent to Catawba River and assigned to a Company led by his brother-in-law Capt. John Wesley Connelly. The next year another son Hugh, named after Rebecca's brother, was born, and the following year John Jr. was born. Poor Rebecca, four boys under the age of five years. Three years would pass before their first daughter Elizabeth was born. Joshua, #6 child was born in 1788, two years later Bryant their 7th child was born. David followed in 1792, and Archibald in 1795, their 10th child Thomas was born in 1797. In 1802 their last child Wesley was born, having a total of 11 children, 1 daughter and 10 sons.

Private, North Caroline Militia, Pensioner. Rev. John Gibbs was a Revolutionary Soldier #S-8556 N. C. ~~~~~~

John and Rebecca's union lasted for over 70 years and they died within ten days of each other in January of 1847. He was a Methodist Minister at the Obeth Methodist Church, and they are both buried there.

They were the parents of 11 children: 1. William Gibbs, married Elizabeth Connelly 2. James Gibbs, married Rebecca Mashburn 3. Hugh Hibbs, married Sarah Penland 4. John Gibbs, Jr. born 1783, Brightwater, Burke County, North Carolina, died after 1850 in Jackson County, North Carolina, married Catherine Sherrill, born 1788, Bridgewater, Burke County, North Carolina, died, 1878, Swain County, North Carolina. (John, Jr. and his brother Hugh moved from Burke County, to Jackson County, North Carolina). 5. Elizabeth Gibbs, married Alexander Penland 6. Joshua Gibbs, married Rebecca Mira Connelly 7. Bryant Gibbs, married Hannah M. Finley 8. David Gibbs, married Mary Beal 9. Archibald Gibbs, married Sophia Finley 10. Thomas Gibbs, married Priscilla Eunice Finley 11. Wesley Gibbs, married Malinda Finley

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 3 2016, 4:49:06 UTC

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John Gibbs, son of John Gibbs (1716 - 1770) and Suzanne Phillips ( - 1786). Names of their children, Zacharias, James , Phillip, Zacheus, John, Mary, Hannah, and Elizabeth.

Brother, James Gibbs,1740 - 1794), buried Gibbs Cemetery, Union County, South Carolina, FAG #98812066

John Gibbs, married Rebecca Connelly, on October 10, 1776, Rowan County, North Carolina.

The following comes from Rev. John Gibbs 1755-1847 - Pioneer Family: and Faith and Community:

On July 7, 1778 John was granted 200 acres of land just north of the Catawba River, Burke County, North Carolina. His neighbors were Moore's, Ballew's, Saylor's.

In the spring of 1779 John and Rebecca's first child, William, was born. John was called to defend his country against the British, sacrifice of leaving a wife and infant alone for three months. It was in 1780 John joined Captain Clark Company in Charlotte, there he was reassigned to General Morgan Company. Having served his 3 months tour of duty he was discharged and returned home to his young bride and infant son. The next year, 1781, their second child James was born. John again was called for 3 months duty, likely during the time of James birth. This time John was sent to Catawba River and assigned to a Company led by his brother-in-law Capt. John Wesley Connelly. The next year another son Hugh, named after Rebecca's brother, was born, and the following year John Jr. was born. Poor Rebecca, four boys under the age of five years. Three years would pass before their first daughter Elizabeth was born. Joshua, #6 child was born in 1788, two years later Bryant their 7th child was born. David followed in 1792, and Archibald in 1795, their 10th child Thomas was born in 1797. In 1802 their last child Wesley was born, having a total of 11 children, 1 daughter and 10 sons.

~~~~~~
Private, North Caroline Militia, Pensioner.
Rev. John Gibbs,was a Revolutionary Soldier #S-8556 N. C.

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This comes from Faith and Community - Rev. John Gibbs 1755-1847. "Methodism in Burke County: Early Beginnings" there is this reference: "The earliest known document still in existence is that of the Morganton Circuit's Quarterly Meetings from 1814 - 1825. On March 26, 1814, the First Meeting was held at Obeth Meeting House...Although William Fullwood and John Gibbs were listed as Deacons, they were indeed Ministers. In "Burke": The History of a North Carolina County, 1777-1920" pp. 108-109, the organizational structure of early Methodism is explained.
"The organization of the early Methodists was exceedingly complex, but it was flexible and effective. Ordained ministers were of three ranks similar to those of the parent
Anglican Church - bishops (first called superintendents), elders, and deacons. In the Methodist practice of that period, elders, and deacons might be either circuit preachers or "located" ministers (called Local Elders or Local Deacons).
In another reference as to John Gibbs being a Minister.
In a letter by Stephen Ballew which was submitted with John Gibbs pension application there is this remark "(John Gibbs) is a minister of the Gospel, a person to whom statements is due full faith and credit".
Ref. http://home.arcor.de/unity9/Gibbs/faithandcommunity.html
found in 2003.
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The Gibbs's came from England.

In 1780, while a resident of Burke County, North Carolina, he enlisted in the Army and served three months in Captain Clark's Company. In 1781, he re-enlisted again and served three months in Captain John Connelly's Company. Captain Connelly was his wife, Rebecca's brother. John received a pension in 1844 for his service during the Revolution. In the Pension application, it states, John Gibbs, is a Minister of the Gospel, a person to whom statements is due full faith and credit.

John Gibbs, married Rebecca Connelly, on October 10, 1776, Rowan County, North Carolina, she was the daughter of John Bryan O'Connelly and Mary Carney O'Connelly. Her parents were born in Galway, Ireland. This Irish Pioneer, came to the American Colonies in 1743 and settled in the Lovelady Ford section of the Catawba River Valley. The O'Connelly's formed one of the most extensive families of what was orginally Burke County. When they came to America they dropped the O in O'Connelly.

John and Rebecca's union lasted for over 70 years and they died within ten days of each other in January of 1847. He was a Methodist Minister at the Obeth Methodist Church, and they are both buried there.

They were the parents of 11 children:
1. William Gibbs, married Elizabeth Connelly
2. James Gibbs, married Rebecca Mashburn
3. Hugh Hibbs, married Sarah Penland
4. John Gibbs, Jr. born 1783, Brightwater, Burke County, North Carolina, died after 1850 in Jackson County, North Carolina, married Catherine Sherrill, born 1788, Bridgewater, Burke County, North Carolina, died, 1878, Swain County, North Carolina. (John, Jr. and his brother Hugh moved from Burke County, to Jackson County, North Carolina).
5. Elizabeth Gibbs, married Alexander Penland
6. Joshua Gibbs, married Rebecca Mira Connelly
7. Bryant Gibbs, married Hannah M. Finley
8. David Gibbs, married Mary Beal
9. Archibald Gibbs, married Sophia Finley
10. Thomas Gibbs, married Priscilla Eunice Finley
11. Wesley Gibbs, married Malinda Finley* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 4 2022, 15:26:09 UTC