The GIBBONEY Family
Older genealogies conjecture that John Gibboney came to Pennsylvania from Ireland. Newer genealogies have him as a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, born to Alexander and Ann Giboney. Note the difference in spelling; often, names were not subject to standardized spelling. What we do know about John Gibboney is that he had a strong dislike for the British Crown and was a staunch Patriot. John was born on January 3, 1747 or 1748; no one is quite sure. In 1780, at the age of 32, he married Elizabeth Ferree, the daughter of a French Huguenot, Jacob Ferree, and a Swiss Mennonite, Barbara Carpenter [Zimmerman] of Paradise Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
John and Elizabeth must have known each other for some time, because in 1777, John joined the Pennsylvania Line of the Militia and served under George Washington. John did not marry Elizabeth until three years later. Family legend places him at Valley Forge during the Winter of 1777-1778. According to the Daughters of the American Revolution, John Gibboney was a Corporal in Captain James Power's Company, 7th Pennsylvania Continental Line, .
Record Card of Captain James Power (Pennsylvania Archives)
John Gibboney (1749-1831) enlisted 1777, as a corporal in Capt. James Power's company, 7th Pennsylvania Continental Line. He was born in Lancaster County; died in Bedford County, Pa.
Daughters of the American Revolution, Roll Book
The Brandywine Flag used by the 1st Pennsylvania Line
John left us no personal recollections of the Revolutionary War, so here is the unit history,
Authorized January 4, 1776 in the Continental Army as the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion.
Organized between January 8 - March 20, 1776 at Carlisle to consist of 8 companies from Cumberland and York Counties.
Assigned February 27, 1776 to the Middle Department.
Relieved March 14, 1776 from the Middle Department and assigned to the Main Continental Army.
Assigned on April 24, 1776 to Greene's Brigade, an element of the Main Army.
Relieved on April 27, 1776 from Green's Brigade and assigned to the Canadian Department.
Defense of Canada
Lake Champlain Summer, 1776
Relieved July 2, 1776 from the Canadian Department and assigned to the Northern Department.
Assigned July 20, 1776 to St. Clair's Brigade, an element of the Northern Department.
Defense of Philadelphia
Relieved November 18, 1776 from St. Clair's Brigade.
Reorganized and redesignated on January 1, 1777 as the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment, to consist of 8 companies.
Relieved February 8, 1777 from the Northern Department and assigned to Main Continental Army.
Assigned May 22, 1777 to the 1st Pennsylvania Brigade, an element of the Main Continental Army.
Battle of Brandywine September 11, 1777, near Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Battle of Paoli September 20, 1777, in the area surrounding present-day Malvern, Pennsylvania
Battle of Germantown October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania
Battle of Monmouth June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Reorganized on July 1, 1778 to consist of 9 companies.
Battle of Springfield June 23, 1780, Springfield Township, Essex County (present day Union County), New Jersey
Battle of Bull's Ferry 20 and 21 July 1780, Bulls Ferry, New Jersey
Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line January 1, 1781, at Jockey Hollow, near Morristown, New Jersey
Consolidated on January 17, 1781 with the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment.
It is not known what role John played in the Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line; however, his departure from service in 1781 seems to correspond to the relief of soldiers following a Board of Review that addressed the soldiers grievances and applied a reallocation of troops within the regiments. One grievance revolved around the terms of enlistment. While Officers serve at the pleasure of the Commander-in-Chief, enlisted serve in time increments called terms. The contract was for a three-year term or the duration of the war. When the war went beyond three years, the enlisted put the emphasis on 'three years' while Officers told them the emphasis was on the 'duration of the war.' This is not self-centered, these were young, able-bodied frontiersmen who needed to get back to their families - parents, wives, children, and farm - after an extended absence.
We know that John's unit was involved in the mutiny. As a Corporal, he would have had a leadership role in his unit. While mutiny is a serious and capital offense, approximately 1,500 soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line mutinied, making this more than a mutiny. But this was a mutiny, none-the-less, and the extent of the mutiny shows the seriousness of a failure of leadership at the very highest levels. While the soldiers kept their confidence in General Anthony Wayne, the soldiers had not been paid for a year, had not received uniforms and clothing to replace those damaged in battle or through rugged use, and then, during the winter months - when the army dispersed to ease logistics - the regiment was housed in deplorable conditions. When the British heard the news, they offered the mutineers the opportunity to switch sides. This offer was rejected. The Pennsylvania Line was Patriotic and upheld their end of the bargain, pledging to fight for the American cause if attacked. The mutineers had grievances and nobody seemed to care…
Somewhere in activity, John found time to marry Elizabeth Ferree in 1780.
Is this an accurate date? Their first child was born in 1777 - before John and Elizabeth were married and while John was away. Alternatively, is Willis Gibboney John's son? After all, Elizabeth was 24 years old when this son was born. Elizabeth's second son, Benjamin, our ancestor, was born two years later, and a year before Elizabeth and John were married. There has to be more to tell about this.
Children of John and Elizabeth Gibboney
i Willis Gibboney b 1777, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d 1804; m Mary Mawry
ii BENJAMIN GIBBONEY b About 1779; d Unknown
iii Elizabeth Gibboney b About 1781; d Unknown
iv John Gibboney b About 1783;
v Alexander G Gibboney b About 1785; m ________ Gain
vi Davis/David Gibboney b 1787, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d. 1833; m1 Elizabeth Baum; m2 Jane Foy; m3 Mary Glasgo
vii Sarah Ann Gibboney b November 6, 1790, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d. 1858; d August 15, 1858, Kylertown, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
viii Emanuel Carpenter Gibboney b 1793; d 1847; m Lydia Biller
ix Joel Gibboney b 19 March 9 or 19, 1795, Lancaster or Blair County, Pennsylvania; d 19 March 19, 1846, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
After the War, John and Elizabeth moved west to Bedford County, Pennsylvania. This placed the family in closer proximity to the Cox, Lemen, and Brown ancestors.
Then, another war came along - the War of 1812. Once again, John signed up, at the age of 61, and went off to fight a war. When John returned home, the couple were in the twilight of their days. John passed away on August 9, 1824 and Elizabeth passed six years later on February 22, 1831.
Now we focus on their son, Benjamin.
Benjamin Gibboney born in Lancaster County, Penn. September 6, 1798. Died at Muscatine, Iowa Jun 20, 1850.
Margaret Kendall, wife of Benjamin Gibboney born in Bedford County, Penn. August 26, 1796.
Gibboney Tombstone Inscription, Grandview Cemetery, Grandview, Louisa County, Iowa
With the passing of John and Elizabeth, we have a new story to tell. How did John and Elizabeth's son start in Middle Pennsylvania end up in a cemetery on the West Bank of the Mississippi? We might thank the Honorable N.T. Brown for this.
The easiest thing, in Benjamin's case, is to start with definite facts from this marker.
- Benjamin was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on September 6, 1798. But wait! Earlier you said 1779…
- Benjamin died in Muscatine County, Iowa on June 20, 1850.
- Since the grave is located in Grandview Cemetery, in Louisa County, Iowa, we can start looking in Louisa County for some ties as well.
- Benjamin married Margaret Kendall, who was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania on August 26, 1796, about two years before Benjamin.
- Armed with this, we find a couple of Federal Census entries,
From the 1830 United States Census for St Clair Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania,
Benjamin Gibboney
In 1830, the Census only recorded the Head of the Household. But we can add another fact… Benjamin was about 32 when he lived in Bedford County where Margaret was born.
1850 United States Census for Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa
Household Sex Age Birthplace.
Benjamin Gibony M 52 Pennsylvania
Margarett Gibony F 54 Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Brown F 22 Pennsylvania [Wife of N. T. Brown - TEB]
James Brown M 21 Pennsylvania [Brother of N. T. Brown - TEB]
Francis Gibony M 15 Pennsylvania
Geo Schooly M 27 New Jersey [Possibly lodgers - TEB]
Martha Ann Schooly F 22 Ohio [Possibly lodgers - TEB]
Obviously, the Census Taker spelled the name the way he thought it should be spelled. Here we have a snapshot of the family taken shortly before Benjamin's death. So far, everything matches the tombstone as well. But now we have to ask, who is Elizabeth, James, Francis, George, and Martha Ann? Why are they all living together in Muscatine?
Let's start with Elizabeth. She is 22 in 1850, so that places her birth in about 1828. In 1830, Benjamin was in Beford County… and so was Margaret. Elizabeth might be a daughter… As for the age, well, the Census Taker wasn't too good with spelling either and easily avoided an impolite question by guessing.
Fortunately, we can find her tombstone as well,
Tombstone of Elizabeth Ferree Gibboney Brown, Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
More facts. Elizabeth was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania on March 18, 1822. That starts to make a case that she is a child of Benjamin and Margaret. If her last name is Brown, then she is married. Looking around Louisa County for a man named Brown, we find this one,
Fortunately for us, the Newark (Ohio) Advocate Press printed a book in 1912 about the Brown family. This book tells us that Bazzel Brown's oldest son, Nicholas T Brown, married Elizabeth Gibboney in Kirkersville, Licking County, Ohio on March 25, 1840. Benjamin and Margaret would have been there. Bazzel went to Missouri with his wife while Nicholas and Elizabeth, along with her family, went on to Iowa. Francis Gibboney is Elizabeth's brother. Records of Francis abound that corraborate the story thus far.
FRANCIS E. GIBBONEY
Francis E. GIBBONEY, section 3, Riley Township, was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1829. His parents, Benjamin and Margaret (KENDALL) GIBBONEY, were also natives of Pennsylvania, residing there until 1838, when they moved to Licking County, Ohio, and from there in May, 1846, to Louisa County, Iowa, where our subject attained his majority.
In 1856 he went to Kansas, and lived in that State and Missouri until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. In June, 1861, he went to Fort Leavenworth and enlisted at the first call for three years' volunteers, and was assigned to Company C, First Kansas Infantry. He participated in the battle at Wilson's Creek, where the gallant General LYONS was killed. His regiment lost heavily, Company C having twelve men killed and thirty-six wounded. Mr. GIBBONEY was shot through the right arm, and so disabled as to necessitate his discharge. He now receives a pension of $10 a month.
After his discharge he returned to Louisa County, and in 1869 located in Ringgold County, buying his present homestead which contains eighty acres of good land, which he has brought under cultivation, it being wild land when he bought it. He also owns ten acres of valuable timber land.
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company of Chicago, 1887, p. 256
We can now piece together Benjamin and Margaret's life. Benjamin was born on September 6, 1798, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. After 1820, he moved to Bedford County, in St Clair Township. Benjamin appears in the 1830 Census for Bedford County, but no Gibboneys or Kendalls are found in the 1820 Census. The Gibboneys dissappear from Bedford County by 1840, although some Kendalls remain. In Bedford County in 1830, we find the household of Benjamin Gibboney: 1 male under 5, 1 male between 10 and 15, 1 male between 15 and 20, and 1 male 30 to 40 years old; 2 females under 5, 1 female between 5 and 10, and 1 female 30 to 40 years old. Benjamin would account for the older male, Margaret the older female. Elizabeth is the female between between 5 and 10, with two younger sisters. Francis is the male under 5 with older brothers and sisters.
In 1838, the family moved to Licking County, Ohio. There he lived in the Kirkersville area of southern Licking County and northern Fairfield County near the Brown family. Here, their daughter Elizabeth met Nicolas T. Brown, son of a local preacher, missionary, and lumberman. Elizabeth and Nicholas were married on March 25, 1841 according to Licking County Marriage Records.
During this time, the 'West' - Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa - was opening up land speculation and trading was common. In 1846, the Gibbonneys moved to property in northern Louisa and southern Muscatine Counties. By 1850, the extended family is found in the Muscatine County Census under one roof. Then, two months after the Census, Benjamin died. Nicholas and Elizabeth were there for the Gibboneys and apparently helped raise Francis. When Francis turned 21, he struck out on his own.
In 1866, Margaret lost her son-in-law leaving her daughter Elizabeth a widow with eight children. Margaret passed away in Louisa County on September 5, 1876 and was buried beside her husband in Grandview, Iowa.
North Main Street, Grandview, Iowa, early 1900s.
Our story continues in the Brown Family Section.
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