#52Ancestors - Week 7 - Who is Alexander Gibson from South Carolina to Missouri?

Again, its time for the 52 Ancestors Challenge.  I am just throwing this post together...I'm a little behind this week.  This time, I'm going to finish up my Gibson Family line.  I'll show what I do know, then discuss what connections I think might be possible.

What we do know...

The earliest known Gibson ancestor I can verify is Alexander Gibson, born about 1804 in South Carolina and died between 1870 and 1880 in, or near, Jefferson County, Missouri.  His wife was named Melinda, but have not been able to locate her maiden name.  We believe Alexander and Melinda had the following children:

• William H. born 1832 in South Carolina
• Margaret or Martha E. born 1834 in Tennessee
• Herod born 1836 in Tennessee
• John A. born 1839 in Tennessee
• James J. born 1841 in Tennessee
• Jefferson (or Green BJ) born 1843 in Tennessee

We believe Alexander and Melinda were probably married in South Carolina based on census records and the state listed for the birth of their first child, William.  They must have moved to Tennessee sometime between 1832 and 1834.  They resided in Gibson County, Tennessee according to the 1840 census.  Gibson County, TN was named after Colonel John H. Gibson, who served in the war of 1812 and the Creek Wars in 1813.  He was in the Tennessee militia and was from Bedford, TN.  I have nothing supporting a relationship between Alexander Gibson and Col. John H. Gibson of Tennessee.

1850, the family is shown living in Carroll County, TN, which is next to Gibson County, TN.  But, by 1860, the family had moved about 200 miles to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.  Then 1870 Alexander and Melinda are living in Central Township, Jefferson County, Missouri.  Sometime before 1880, Alexander must have passed away.  Melinda is seen on the 1880 census living with Herod, their son,
in De Soto, Jefferson County, MO, and listed as a widow.  Melinda died November 12, 1889 and is buried next to her son, Herod, in the De Soto City Cemetery.  I do not know where Alexander would have been buried.

Here are possible connections...this might get a bit confusing

Doing research online, I've found a Gibson Family DNA Project hosted by WorldFamilies.net.  On this site, you will find a kit submitted by a descendant of William Frank Gibson, Alexander's great grandson.  Who submitted this, I don't know.  The kit, or ID, number is GX-3.  Alexander is listed under Gibson Lineage VIII on the Patriarch's page.  Here we see another Gibson, George Washington Gibson, born June 17, 1800 in Union County, SC.  I'm not a DNA expert, but I would guess that these two Gibson men would be related in some way...how, I don't know??

By clicking on the kit number, you are taken to the Y-results page.  Here we see Alexander listed under the Haplogroup R1b - Lineage XVI.  What this means, I'm not sure.  However, there are other Gibson men listed in this group:

• Jos... (years ago, I saw this online and my notes have it listed as Joseph Gibson of Union County, SC who died in 1804, but currently, it just says "Jos...")
• Alexander Gibson b.1804
• George Washington Gibson b.1800 SC
• Mr. Samuel Gibson b. 1850
• Robert Gibson 1853-1934
• William L. Gibson 1846-1905

Could these people all be related?  Still not sure.

Further research into the census records of Union County, SC we find the following names:

• 1790: Robert, John
• 1800: Gideon, John, Joseph, Robert (2), William
• 1810: George, Herod, Robert, Salley, Soloman, William
• 1820: Herod, John (2), Matthew, William
• 1830: James, John (3), Martha, Washington, William, Herod

Also, research online into estates in Union County, SC we find the estates of Joseph and Juda (Judith) Gibson in 1804, William Gibson in 1820, George Gibson in 1827, and John Gibson in 1837.  We see there is a Herod Gibson as the executor of the estate of John Gibson.  There is also paperwork showing a John Gibson who fought in the Revolutionary War.  This John Gibson entered the war while residing in Bedford Co., VA and  was living in Union County, SC when filing for a pension around 1833.  The age listed is 84 years, and he received $20 per year.  I believe the Revolutionary War John is the same as the John Gibson who died in 1837.

There is also a John Gibson living in Union Co., SC, born about 1801 in SC.  In the 1850 census, we see him in Union County and in his house is a 13 year-old Alexander.  This John Gibson is shown as the son of Herod Gibson of Union County, SC on some family trees online.  This Herod is also listed as the son of John Gibson who died in 1837 in Union County, SC.  Of course, this is just what people have put online, and I don't have absolute proof of it.  I'm using it as a starting point.

I've had a lot of luck in the past with different lines by using naming patterns to locate family members.  By looking at records of names shown often in the family, we've been able to find the paper trail leading to our ancestors.  By looking at the names of Alexander's children, we can assume he had family members by the names of William, John, James, Herod...all of which show up often in the Union County, SC records.  This compiled with the DNA results, I am leaning toward the assumption that our Alexander Gibson came from this area.  Of course, this is all theory. 

Could Alexander be the son of Herod of Union County, SC.  Based on naming practices, the first son would have been named after the mother's father.  So, could Melinda's father be named William???  The second son would be named after the father's father.  This is what I'm basing my theory on.  Hopefully, I can find the paper trail to prove, or disprove, that Alexander is the son of Herod Gibson of Union County, SC, and possibly the grandson of John Gibson, Revolutionary War veteran, who died in Union County, SC.

If you have any questions, or comments, please feel free to leave them.