Rebecca Connelly, Daughter of John Bryan O'Connelly, born, 1720, Gateway, Ireland, and Lovellady Ford, died, 1799, Wilkes County, North Carolina and Mary Sanor O'Connelly, married John Gibbs, 1776.

When Rebecca's family came to America, they dropped the O from their last name. The O'Connelly's formed one of the most extensive families of what was originally Burke County. The Irish pioneer, John O'Connelly, came to the American Colonies in 1743 and settled in the Lovelace Ford section of the Catawba Valley.

October 10, 1776, Rowan County, North Carolina, married Rev. John Gibbs,

Rebecca had a twin sister Elizabeth Connelly, she married, Captain Joseph William Ballew.

Rebecca's brother, Captain John Connelly, was her husband, John Gibbs's Militia Commander. John was in the 3rd Company at a Fort at the head of the Catawba River.

What is written below, is taken from an article, Rev. John Gibbs -1755 - 1847 - the Pioneer Family.
As the colonies formed a union and declared their independance in 1776, John Gibbs formed a union with Rebecca Connelly (aka O'Connelly & Conley), daughter of a patriarch named John O'Connelly. They were married for seventy years, when Rebecca died. 10 days later John passed away.

They were parents of 11 Children:
1. William Gibbs, 3-14-1779 - 12-21-1860
2. James Gibbs, 7-5-1781 - After 1960
3. Hugh Gibbs, 1782 - 6-1870
**4. John Gibbs, Jr., 1783 - After 1850
5. Elizabeth Gibbs, 2-23-1786
6. Dr. Joshua Gibbs, 3-29-1788 - 6-26-1869
7. Bryant Gibbs, 3-29-1790 - 2-22-1872
8. David Gibbs, 5-6-1792 - 7-29-1869
9. Archibald Gibbs, 1795 - 11-27-1857
10. Rev. Thomas Gibbs, 1-31-1797 - 5-14-1863
11. Wesley Gibbs, 1802 - After 1870

Still looking for where John Jr. and his wife Catherine Sherrill Gibbs are buried in Jackson or Swain County, North Carolina.