MY ANCESTRY

Gibsons in PA

( Here is what I belive to be my ancestry. It is based on what I have been told, and what has been learned.)

From Ireland, Samuel A. Gibson and his sister, Margaret, travelled to America possibly between 1807 and 1811. They were of Scotch-Irish descent. Upon arriving in the new world, they eventually settled in Indiana Co., Pennsylvania.

Samuel Allison Gibson was born in 1782, according to the census records. It is believed that he was born in Ireland, but is of Scottish descent. Some of Samuel's children state in the census records, that he was born in Ireland. Samuel and his sister, Margaret, both state in the 1820 census, that they are "foreigners not naturalized". Historical records place Samuel Gibson in Indiana Co., PA. The History of Indiana County, PA states: "Samuel and his sister, Margaret, were of the Manor Settlement". This settlement was a manor of the heirs of Wm. Penn, and contained about 1200 acres of land in Indiana County. By 1809, the manor was owned by Joshua Gilpin, and later sold to Thomas Duncan. The settlers in the manor leased the land that they were living on, and eventually the land was divided up and sold. Samuel A. Gibson did buy an additional 350 acres of land in this area in 1819.

Since Samuel and Margaret were "of" the Manor Settlement, that would mean they were living there before each of them married. Margaret Gibson married James "Jimmie Moccassin" Stewart, and they removed to Brushvalley Twp., Indiana Co., PA by 1813. Stephen's book claims that Samuel Gibson was living with his sister, Margaret, and James Stewart was living with his sister, Mary. Samuel and James made an exchange, and married each other's sisters. Samuel Gibson married Mary Stewart. So, that puts Samuel Gibson in Indiana Co., PA by 1813 too. Samuel's first son, William, was born in Indiana Co., PA in 1814.

But Samuel Gibson can also be found in the area a little earlier than that. Samuel Gibson would have been 30 years old in 1812. In the list of volunteers in the 154th Regiment in the 2nd Brigade of the 15th Division of the PA Militia under Captain John Wallis (Wallace), there is a Samuel Gibson, age 30. This is from the "Pennsylvania Volunteers" -The War of 1812-1814, pp 781-782. The ensign of this Regiment was a James Stewart, who was know as "Moccassin Jimmie", and soon would become Samuel's brother-in-law. This regiment was formed under General Harrison, and consisted of men from Armstrong and Indiana Counties.

A great aunt of mine said that her great, great grandfather (Samuel A. Gibson) had built a log cabin on 50 acres of land, and later received a deed for the property from the government. He then moved into it with his wife and started a family. Remnants of the foundation of that cabin have been found in Cherryhill Twp., Indiana Co., PA.

Samuel A. Gibson married Mary Stewart, and they had their first child in 1814, in Indiana Co., PA. Mary Stewart was born in Emmitsburg, MD abt 1787. She was the d/o a William Stewart and Elizabeth St. Clair. The ancestors of William Stewart had settled on a tract of land around the area that became Gettysburg, PA, many years before the Revolutionary War. This area around Gettysburg was known as the Manor of Maske.

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