William Davidson Gibbons was born 27 Aug 1783 in Granville, Massachusetts, the second child of Lemuel Gibbons and Mary Goss Davidson. He was named after Mary's first husband who died tragically in the Wyoming Valley upheavals of 1778. There is no record of Lemuel and Mary divorcing but Mary was very close to her sister Sarah [Mrs. Enos] Seward [appointing Enos the guardian of her daughter Mary after her first husband died]. And when the Sewards moved from Granville to Huntington, PA in 1793 to farm the Goss family farm, it is believed that Mary went with them taking her three children.
Interestingly, William's mother was born with an extra finger on each hand and an extra toe on each foot, a genetic condition known as polydactyly. According to a History of Granville,Ohio, "...she had a son...who was marked in a like manner."
The History of Licking County, Ohio, puts William in that area (Union Township) very early, in about 1806 or 1807. At that time he was employed by a Mr. Backus from Blennerhasset's Island (WV) who was a large landowner. William was to deaden the trees on 1,800 acres of land. This was an arduous task of stripping the bark on the lower part of the tree which eventually kills the tree, the first step in clearing land to settle/farm. William received 100 acres of land in payment for this work.
William married Mary Polly Hoover at some point [no marriage record is available] and they were found in Granville, Licking County, Ohio, before 1811.
William and Mary had eleven children: A son (unnamed) born abt 1811, Sonora [1811-1901] Thomas [1811-1812]; Benjamin [1812),Rhoda [1813-1835]; Araminta [1815-1839]; Thomas Butler [1817-1876]; Benjamin S. [1819-1910]; Richard Cannine [1825-1897]; Andrew Smith [1825-1886]. Mary died from childbirth complications with the twins [Richard and Andrew] and William placed them with local families as it is assumed he felt he could not adequately care for them.
On 29 Jul 1827, William married Anna Roney [b 1 Nov 1791] in Newark, Licking County, Ohio. They had three children: John [b 1828]; Jane [b 1835]; and William Jasper [b 1838]. The last two children were born in Indiana.
William had Anna sign a deed in Nov. 1827 at Granville regarding the sale of his farm. He then told her he was going to go visit his sister in Knox Co. Ohio and suggested she take his four children and stay with her brother in Newark, Ohio, and wait for his return. After Anna left, Wm. sold the contents of their home and took off for parts unknown. Anna then gave birth to John at her brother's home. On 22 Sep 1829 Anna filed a complaint against Wm in Newark complaining that he left her destitute and asking for a share of monies due her from the sale of the farm and the contents of the house.
William and Anna must have reconciled at some point as they deeded property in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, in 1835; Wm. purchased 160 acres in St. Joseph County, Indiana, in 1836; and received a land patent from the government for 160 acres in 1838. The 1840 census shows him with a wife, one child under five and two children -- one boy and one girl -- between 5 and 10]. Their first child, John, is listed as an 'idiot' in the census and it should be noted that William left property to be used for his care and support.
William served in the War of 1812. Rank: Private, in Capt. Levi Rose's 3rd regt, Ohio militia, commanded by Col. Lewis Cass. He volunteered with nephews Campbell and David Messenger Jr. Company commissioned June 1, 1812, Mad River. He was taken prisoner, possibly after the Fall of Detroit, as he is listed on U.S. Marshal's returns of enemy aliens and prisoners of war, 1812-1815, part one. In this record he reports that he was married and had 3 children.
William Davidson Gibbons died 9 Nov 1854, in Union Township, St. Joseph, Indiana. Anna died about 7 years later and is buried in the same cemetery.
-------------------------
Birth date Source: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, Granville, Town Minutes and Earmarks with Births, Marriages and Death, page 103
Polydactyly source: The History of Granville, Ohio. pg 139
"A Turning of Hearts" William Davidson Gibbons Family History published 1981 by Remember When, Orem, Utah.
Interestingly, William's mother was born with an extra finger on each hand and an extra toe on each foot, a genetic condition known as polydactyly. According to a History of Granville,Ohio, "...she had a son...who was marked in a like manner."
The History of Licking County, Ohio, puts William in that area (Union Township) very early, in about 1806 or 1807. At that time he was employed by a Mr. Backus from Blennerhasset's Island (WV) who was a large landowner. William was to deaden the trees on 1,800 acres of land. This was an arduous task of stripping the bark on the lower part of the tree which eventually kills the tree, the first step in clearing land to settle/farm. William received 100 acres of land in payment for this work.
William married Mary Polly Hoover at some point [no marriage record is available] and they were found in Granville, Licking County, Ohio, before 1811.
William and Mary had eleven children: A son (unnamed) born abt 1811, Sonora [1811-1901] Thomas [1811-1812]; Benjamin [1812),Rhoda [1813-1835]; Araminta [1815-1839]; Thomas Butler [1817-1876]; Benjamin S. [1819-1910]; Richard Cannine [1825-1897]; Andrew Smith [1825-1886]. Mary died from childbirth complications with the twins [Richard and Andrew] and William placed them with local families as it is assumed he felt he could not adequately care for them.
On 29 Jul 1827, William married Anna Roney [b 1 Nov 1791] in Newark, Licking County, Ohio. They had three children: John [b 1828]; Jane [b 1835]; and William Jasper [b 1838]. The last two children were born in Indiana.
William had Anna sign a deed in Nov. 1827 at Granville regarding the sale of his farm. He then told her he was going to go visit his sister in Knox Co. Ohio and suggested she take his four children and stay with her brother in Newark, Ohio, and wait for his return. After Anna left, Wm. sold the contents of their home and took off for parts unknown. Anna then gave birth to John at her brother's home. On 22 Sep 1829 Anna filed a complaint against Wm in Newark complaining that he left her destitute and asking for a share of monies due her from the sale of the farm and the contents of the house.
William and Anna must have reconciled at some point as they deeded property in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, in 1835; Wm. purchased 160 acres in St. Joseph County, Indiana, in 1836; and received a land patent from the government for 160 acres in 1838. The 1840 census shows him with a wife, one child under five and two children -- one boy and one girl -- between 5 and 10]. Their first child, John, is listed as an 'idiot' in the census and it should be noted that William left property to be used for his care and support.
William served in the War of 1812. Rank: Private, in Capt. Levi Rose's 3rd regt, Ohio militia, commanded by Col. Lewis Cass. He volunteered with nephews Campbell and David Messenger Jr. Company commissioned June 1, 1812, Mad River. He was taken prisoner, possibly after the Fall of Detroit, as he is listed on U.S. Marshal's returns of enemy aliens and prisoners of war, 1812-1815, part one. In this record he reports that he was married and had 3 children.
William Davidson Gibbons died 9 Nov 1854, in Union Township, St. Joseph, Indiana. Anna died about 7 years later and is buried in the same cemetery.
-------------------------
Birth date Source: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, Granville, Town Minutes and Earmarks with Births, Marriages and Death, page 103
Polydactyly source: The History of Granville, Ohio. pg 139
"A Turning of Hearts" William Davidson Gibbons Family History published 1981 by Remember When, Orem, Utah.
William Davidson Gibbons was born 27 Aug 1783 in Granville, Massachusetts, the second child of Lemuel Gibbons and Mary Goss Davidson. He was named after Mary's first husband who died tragically in the Wyoming Valley upheavals of 1778. There is no record of Lemuel and Mary divorcing but Mary was very close to her sister Sarah [Mrs. Enos] Seward [appointing Enos the guardian of her daughter Mary after her first husband died]. And when the Sewards moved from Granville to Huntington, PA in 1793 to farm the Goss family farm, it is believed that Mary went with them taking her three children.
Interestingly, William's mother was born with an extra finger on each hand and an extra toe on each foot, a genetic condition known as polydactyly. According to a History of Granville,Ohio, "...she had a son...who was marked in a like manner."
The History of Licking County, Ohio, puts William in that area (Union Township) very early, in about 1806 or 1807. At that time he was employed by a Mr. Backus from Blennerhasset's Island (WV) who was a large landowner. William was to deaden the trees on 1,800 acres of land. This was an arduous task of stripping the bark on the lower part of the tree which eventually kills the tree, the first step in clearing land to settle/farm. William received 100 acres of land in payment for this work.
William married Mary Polly Hoover at some point [no marriage record is available] and they were found in Granville, Licking County, Ohio, before 1811.
William and Mary had eleven children: A son (unnamed) born abt 1811, Sonora [1811-1901] Thomas [1811-1812]; Benjamin [1812),Rhoda [1813-1835]; Araminta [1815-1839]; Thomas Butler [1817-1876]; Benjamin S. [1819-1910]; Richard Cannine [1825-1897]; Andrew Smith [1825-1886]. Mary died from childbirth complications with the twins [Richard and Andrew] and William placed them with local families as it is assumed he felt he could not adequately care for them.
On 29 Jul 1827, William married Anna Roney [b 1 Nov 1791] in Newark, Licking County, Ohio. They had three children: John [b 1828]; Jane [b 1835]; and William Jasper [b 1838]. The last two children were born in Indiana.
William had Anna sign a deed in Nov. 1827 at Granville regarding the sale of his farm. He then told her he was going to go visit his sister in Knox Co. Ohio and suggested she take his four children and stay with her brother in Newark, Ohio, and wait for his return. After Anna left, Wm. sold the contents of their home and took off for parts unknown. Anna then gave birth to John at her brother's home. On 22 Sep 1829 Anna filed a complaint against Wm in Newark complaining that he left her destitute and asking for a share of monies due her from the sale of the farm and the contents of the house.
William and Anna must have reconciled at some point as they deeded property in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, in 1835; Wm. purchased 160 acres in St. Joseph County, Indiana, in 1836; and received a land patent from the government for 160 acres in 1838. The 1840 census shows him with a wife, one child under five and two children -- one boy and one girl -- between 5 and 10]. Their first child, John, is listed as an 'idiot' in the census and it should be noted that William left property to be used for his care and support.
William served in the War of 1812. Rank: Private, in Capt. Levi Rose's 3rd regt, Ohio militia, commanded by Col. Lewis Cass. He volunteered with nephews Campbell and David Messenger Jr. Company commissioned June 1, 1812, Mad River. He was taken prisoner, possibly after the Fall of Detroit, as he is listed on U.S. Marshal's returns of enemy aliens and prisoners of war, 1812-1815, part one. In this record he reports that he was married and had 3 children.
William Davidson Gibbons died 9 Nov 1854, in Union Township, St. Joseph, Indiana. Anna died about 7 years later and is buried in the same cemetery.
-------------------------
Birth date Source: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, Granville, Town Minutes and Earmarks with Births, Marriages and Death, page 103
Polydactyly source: The History of Granville, Ohio. pg 139
"A Turning of Hearts" William Davidson Gibbons Family History published 1981 by Remember When, Orem, Utah.
Interestingly, William's mother was born with an extra finger on each hand and an extra toe on each foot, a genetic condition known as polydactyly. According to a History of Granville,Ohio, "...she had a son...who was marked in a like manner."
The History of Licking County, Ohio, puts William in that area (Union Township) very early, in about 1806 or 1807. At that time he was employed by a Mr. Backus from Blennerhasset's Island (WV) who was a large landowner. William was to deaden the trees on 1,800 acres of land. This was an arduous task of stripping the bark on the lower part of the tree which eventually kills the tree, the first step in clearing land to settle/farm. William received 100 acres of land in payment for this work.
William married Mary Polly Hoover at some point [no marriage record is available] and they were found in Granville, Licking County, Ohio, before 1811.
William and Mary had eleven children: A son (unnamed) born abt 1811, Sonora [1811-1901] Thomas [1811-1812]; Benjamin [1812),Rhoda [1813-1835]; Araminta [1815-1839]; Thomas Butler [1817-1876]; Benjamin S. [1819-1910]; Richard Cannine [1825-1897]; Andrew Smith [1825-1886]. Mary died from childbirth complications with the twins [Richard and Andrew] and William placed them with local families as it is assumed he felt he could not adequately care for them.
On 29 Jul 1827, William married Anna Roney [b 1 Nov 1791] in Newark, Licking County, Ohio. They had three children: John [b 1828]; Jane [b 1835]; and William Jasper [b 1838]. The last two children were born in Indiana.
William had Anna sign a deed in Nov. 1827 at Granville regarding the sale of his farm. He then told her he was going to go visit his sister in Knox Co. Ohio and suggested she take his four children and stay with her brother in Newark, Ohio, and wait for his return. After Anna left, Wm. sold the contents of their home and took off for parts unknown. Anna then gave birth to John at her brother's home. On 22 Sep 1829 Anna filed a complaint against Wm in Newark complaining that he left her destitute and asking for a share of monies due her from the sale of the farm and the contents of the house.
William and Anna must have reconciled at some point as they deeded property in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, in 1835; Wm. purchased 160 acres in St. Joseph County, Indiana, in 1836; and received a land patent from the government for 160 acres in 1838. The 1840 census shows him with a wife, one child under five and two children -- one boy and one girl -- between 5 and 10]. Their first child, John, is listed as an 'idiot' in the census and it should be noted that William left property to be used for his care and support.
William served in the War of 1812. Rank: Private, in Capt. Levi Rose's 3rd regt, Ohio militia, commanded by Col. Lewis Cass. He volunteered with nephews Campbell and David Messenger Jr. Company commissioned June 1, 1812, Mad River. He was taken prisoner, possibly after the Fall of Detroit, as he is listed on U.S. Marshal's returns of enemy aliens and prisoners of war, 1812-1815, part one. In this record he reports that he was married and had 3 children.
William Davidson Gibbons died 9 Nov 1854, in Union Township, St. Joseph, Indiana. Anna died about 7 years later and is buried in the same cemetery.
-------------------------
Birth date Source: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, Granville, Town Minutes and Earmarks with Births, Marriages and Death, page 103
Polydactyly source: The History of Granville, Ohio. pg 139
"A Turning of Hearts" William Davidson Gibbons Family History published 1981 by Remember When, Orem, Utah.
Inscription
(Masonic square and compass emblem in the center)
William D. Gibbons
died Nov. 9, 1854
Aged 71 years
Gravesite Details
Marble grave marker featuring symbols of Freemasonry (the square and compass, the level, and the plumb). The stone is lying flat.
Family Members
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