Happy 2023! I’ve officially been blogging for 15 years now. Crazy to think it’s been that long! There aren’t a lot of things I stick with for that long but here we are!
The first theme for this year is “I’d like to meet”. We recently lost my uncle, Max. We lost him shortly before Christmas. Today I was reflecting about him seeing and talking to my grandparents (his parents) a couple of days before his passing. I think about this a lot because it’s happened to so many people I know right before they passed away. In regard to my ancestry, there are a lot of people I’d like to meet. I know I won’t get to meet them all since we won’t all be going to the same place after death. Hopefully, I will meet the majority of them though.
I asked my husband today if he ever thought about this part of death – like, who would visit him and escort him out of this world when he died. He said no. Me? I think about it a lot. I think about the people I hope to see again after my death. I’m the opposite of my husband. In fact, I have a running list and have made requests for who escorts me from this life to the next. Never hurts to ask, right?
So, in addition to Jesus and a few prominent Biblical figures (I’m looking at you, Queen Esther!), I’d like to meet the two angel grandbabies that I never got to meet. I’d like to see my son again and my grandparents (Audrey, Gene, Jessie, and Troy) and great grandparents (Mark DRAKE, Edith HUBBARD DRAKE, Ralph LARKIN, Bessie WILLIAMS LARKIN, Albert BATES, Dettie GIBSON BATES, William RITER, and Laura BULLOCK RITER), but most of those are people I’ve already met and the theme was who would you like to meet. So, in addition to my angel grandbabies, I think I would like to meet Emily HENNIG or Lavina PILGRIM DRAKE. I’d like to know what they’re stories are and why I can’t find any information about them. Add in Lucinda DOW GIBSON. She had a crazy life. And maybe the great-grandmothers I didn’t meet – Laura BULLOCK RITER and Dettie GIBSON BATES (see links above). (I’d even settle for meeting the great-grandpas I never met: Ralph LARKIN, Albert BATES, and William RITER – see links above.) We could all sit down and have tea together and discuss the lives they led. I wouldn’t even mind if we discussed what I got right and what I got wrong about them on my blog. I could own up to mistakes in my research for this particular tea time.
Alas, I’ll have to wait. Hopefully they’re waiting for me in the place I intend to be after my death. I’m dying to find out…ha ha. Couldn’t resist that one. In the meantime, I’ll just have to keep researching and keep updating my death bed request list.
I apologize for the morbid start to 2023. Despite the morbid start (or maybe because of it), I recommend clicking the names above to read my blog posts about the people mentioned in this blog. I hope you have a wonderful year – meet all your goals, see all your dreams come true, and find all the love you ever wanted in your life.
“I should be obliged to you to let me have your New Natura Breinum or if you will be so kind and send for another for me, or any other Book of the kind that you may think proper for me, and I will run all Risque and greatfully pay you again.”
William PARSONS’ request to William PETERS in a letter written in Easton, Pennsylvania, on 28 November 1754.2
First Things First
I was so blessed to be writing this while on vacation in Pennsylvania. I’d been thinking for a few months that it would be nice to get back to Pennsylvania so when the opportunity arose, I took it! Bart was on a job up there and when he’s on a job that means I fend for myself, which typically means that you’ll find me in a library or archives or courthouse or graveyard somewhere doing research. There are so many people I want to tell you about right now but there’s one in particular that stood out. I met him…at the library.
William PARSONS’ grave in front of Easton Public Library in Easton, Pennsylvania.
The plaque on William PARSONS’ grave.
That’s right. I went to the Marx Room at Easton Public Library to do some research. I didn’t notice William at first. I was distracted when I entered the building and in a hurry to go grab lunch when I exited the building but after lunch, I stopped to straighten up my backpack before re-entering the library. I happened to look up and there in the grass in front of the little rock wall my backpack was sitting on was a…GRAVE! I kid you not! A grave in front of a public library! I thought it was hilarious so I took a picture to send to my mom. She was a school librarian like me so I figured she would appreciate it as much as I did. I didn’t think much more about the grave until I was going through some files I requested, looking for my ancestors, and who should I come across but Mr. William PARSONS – the same man that was buried in front of the library I was sitting in! I was stunned. I looked at the librarian on duty and asked her if the man buried in front of the library was the same man in the family file I’d requested. She said he was. Before I launch into William’s story though, let me tell you how he connects to me. William PARSONS is my 8th great grand-uncle. He was the brother of my 8th great grandmother, Sarah PARSONS CUMMINS. Sarah was the mother of Elizabeth CUMMINS. Elizabeth was the mother of Esther TODD. Esther was the mother of Rebecca LEWIS. Rebecca was the mother of Mary ELSTON. Mary was the mother of Rebecca WHITE. Rebecca was the mother of my 2nd great grandmother Lucinda DOW (whom I’ve written about here). Lucinda is the mother of Dettie GIBSON (whom I’ve written about here) and Dettie is the paternal grandmother of my mom. I love that this is almost completely a maternal link (with the exception of my grandfather).
William’s Beginning
This is said to be William Parsons. I found the photo on Ancestry.com.
William was born in Bermondsey, Surrey, England on 6 May 1701. Historians differ on whether he learned his shoemaking trade during his youth in England and was already proficient when he came to America. Other historians say he came to America as a young boy and learned the shoemaking trade here in Philadelphia where his parents settled with their children. The information I have for his next younger sibling’s birth says she was born in America. So I’m inclined to believe he came as a young boy and learned his trade here in Philadelphia. In any case, he opened his shoemaker shop in Philadelphia and he had a good life. He had English friends who also lived here, he made a decent living as a shoemaker and he was free to do as he pleased in his spare time.
What pleased him as a spare-time activity was to educate himself on, among other topics, the subject of mathematics as it related to astrology. At some point it seems he moved away from astrology but maintained his avid interest and study of mathematics. He also loved geography and Benjamin Franklin, one of William’s best friends in Philadelphia, referred to William as a “geographer” when Ben spoke of William in April, 1744.1
It seems William also educated himself on the law as noted in a couple of letters he wrote in 1753 and 1754 where he requested a specific book on the law of writs called The Nature of Writs by Fitzherbert. The book’s full title is La Novel Natura Brevium by Anthony Fitzherbert.
…I must also desire you while you are in London to buy me the last English Treatise concerning the Nature of Writs, Fitzherbert if translated which shall likewise be great-fully paid you.
William PARSONS’ request for a book in a letter he wrote to William PETERS, Stonyhill, 17 Nov 1753.2
The book William requested is a treatise on the topic of legal writs. To this day, the book is still cited in common law courts as an authority on writs. There are very few “books of authority” that courts of law will accept but this is one. So in addition to math, we can assume that William was interested in law. In truth, William had many interests including grammar, letter-writing, geometry, trigonometry, surveying, astrology, general mathematics, geography, and law to name a few. The extent and success of his self-education was impressive. We’ll soon see how impressive.
In regard to religion, William was described as “nominally Lutheran”.3 Religion doesn’t seem to have been important to him until the end of his life. When he married in 1722 though, he married a devoutly religious German woman named Johanna Christiana ZEIDIG. She came from a Pietist upbringing which gifted to her a very morose, gloomy nature. Her father was described by one author as, “a gloomy pietist who…shunned all worldly amusements.” By contrast, William was intelligent, industrious, ambitious, social…and did I mention ambitious? He meant to go places and do things and leave his mark on the world. I think you can imagine how these two humans got along.
The Middle Years
In October of 1723, Benjamin Franklin landed in Philadelphia ready to take America by storm. Sometime between October of 1723 and 1726, Ben and William met and became very good friends. Soon after William returned from London in 1726, Benjamin started The Junto Club and invited William to be a charter member. This is incredible! The Junto Club was no ordinary club. Money couldn’t buy you a spot in the club. Fame or social class couldn’t secure you a position in the club. Nope. Ben’s goal was mutual improvement and to this end he searched for interesting, intelligent people. He capped membership at 12 persons (with Ben being the first member) and membership was by invitation only. William enjoyed Friday evening Junto company with the likes of Benjamin FRANKLIN, Hugh MEREDITH (printer), Stephen POTTS (Book Binder), George WEBB (Printer?), Joseph BREINTNALL (merchant & scrivener), Thomas GODFREY (Glazier, mathematician, and inventor), Nicholas SCULL II (Surveyor and bibliophile), William MAUGRIDGE (Cabinetmaker and mechanic), William COLEMAN (Merchant’s Clerk), Robert GRACE (Gentleman), John JONES, Jr. (Shoemaker). In an auto-biography, Benjamin referred to these men as “most of my ingenious acquaintance”.4 If you’d like to learn more about The Junto Club, I suggest this PDF for starters.5
In 1726, William took on two apprentices. In 1727, in addition to joining the Junto Club, he opened a tavern with co-owner and fellow Junto Club member Nicholas SCULL. In 1730, Ben suggested the Junto members pool their books and open a library for the benefit of the Junto members which they did and it soon broadened to a subscription library. On 8 November 1731, the Directors of the library (who were handpicked by Ben FRANKLIN and included William PARSONS) met and elected a treasurer and a secretary. The voted in a library subscription cost of 40 shillings and 10 shillings annual dues for the library. With this money they ordered books from London. The books arrived October, 1732 and the shipment contained about 100 books. William was there to unpack the books.
On 14 March 1734, the library Directors voted William PARSONS as the first librarian. William maintained his cobbler business and worked the library on Saturday afternoons from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. His salary from the library was 6 pounds a year. He would retain this librarianship until 1746.
In 1736, Ben FRANKLIN started another venture, Union Fire Company. The first fire department in America. I’m not surprised at all that William PARSONS was a charter member of this fire department. It’s said that any time there was a fire in Philadelphia, it was common to see Ben FRANKLIN and William PARSONS running through the streets together toting in each hand a green leather bucket filled with water.
On 3 March 1742 a charter was granted to the library and it became The Library Company of Philadelphia – the first successful lending library.6
Prior to the charter being granted, William took on another roll. In October of 1741 he was elected a member of the Common Council of Philadelphia.7 This was, as far as I can tell, his first venture with the PENN family.
Let’s back up a bit to 1730. William’s first professional surveys had been conducted in 1730. By 1734 he was a very active surveyor. He was so capable a surveyor that he caught the attention of Richard PETERS, who was in charge of the land office at that time. This was the relationship and circumstances that got him appointed to be Surveyor General which also occurred in 1741. William’s hard work – all those work-all-day-and-study-all-night years of his life – had finally paid off. His dream came true. Unfortunately, due to poor health, he would be forced to resign this position in 1748.
In 1743, Ben FRANKLIN organized the American Philosophical Society8 for which William PARSONS not only qualified but, at Ben’s request, became a charter member. Throughout all of these adventures – the Junto Club, the library & librarianship, the fire company, the Common Council, the Surveyor General appointment, and the American Philosophical Society, he maintained his shoemaking shop and also continued studying, conducted a wholesale general merchant business, and continued his literary, educational and political organizations.
But What About…
The extent of his adventures at such a young age is overwhelming. As overwhelming and exciting as his public life was, his private life was equally under-whelming. Johanna thought only of religion and continually sought new religious experiences. One author described her saying she “inherited the gloomy outlook of the pietists. Her restless, morbidly religious craving could not be satisfied.”9 The same author described Johanna as having bouts of despondence and joining each new sect with which she came into contact. I don’t fault Johanna for trying to find her way spiritually. However, as hard as William pursued his work and social life, Johanna pursued religion that hard or harder. It seemed they were going in opposite directions and each working as hard as they possibly could to go in those opposite directions. William seemingly had no sympathy or empathy for Johanna’s desires and she didn’t seem to have any for his either. Johanna bounced from her Pietist upbringing to the Tunkers to the “French Propehts” to being Separatist to being Agnostic to seeking out the Moravian Evangelists. While William was laser-focused on his goal, Johanna was floundering in her life and neither cared to help the other. Into this union, they brought six children – William Jr. (born about 1722), Johanna Grace (b. 1736), Juliana Sarah (b. 1738), Anna Mary “Molly”, and Susannah (who died, unmarried, the year before William died). They also had a daughter that died very young and was not named. Some historians say he also had a son named Robert and a daughter named Hannah.10, 11
The Moravians did not have a good reputation in Pennsylvania at that time and the men paying William’s wages didn’t necessarily favor the Moravians and from all these circumstances, William adopted his opinion of Moravians. When Johanna turned to the Moravians for spiritual solace, William hit his limit with her religious searching. Johanna and their older daughter had been going to services together. William put his foot down when Johanna involved the children. He told her she could choose the Moravians or him but he wouldn’t have her marring his good reputation by associating with the Moravians. Johanna chose the Moravians and, true to his word, William packed up the youngest two daughters and left in 1745.
The Foundation
I’ve laid out a pretty good foundation of William’s early and middle life. I’ll fill in some holes and finish his life in the next post. Whether you love William or hate him, his life was incredibly interesting. Like all of us, he has his faults. I’m looking forward to finishing his story in the next post. Like William, I hope you choose your dream and pursue it with gusto! I wish you all the best in your adventures.
Dream big,
Lisa @ Days of Our Lives Blog
Resources
Jordan, John W. “William Parsons. Surveyor General, and Founder of Easton, Pennsylvania.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 33, no. 3, 1909, pp. 340–46. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20085475. Accessed 10 Jun. 2022.
Weaver, Ethan Allen. Copies of Revolutionary War Letters Relating to Northampton County, PA. Easton Public Library, 1936.
Ancestry.com. A frontier village, pre-revolutionary Easton [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com. Operations Inc, 2005.Original data: Chidsey, Andrew Dwight,. A frontier village, pre-revolutionary Easton. Easton, Pa.: Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1940.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junto_(club), accessed 10 June 2022.
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/becomingamer/ideas/text4/juntolibrary.pdf, accessed 10 June 2022.
https://librarycompany.org/about-lcp/, accessed 10 June 2022.
https://hsp.org/sites/default/files/legacy_files/migrated/findingaid1002councilpetitions.pdf, accessed 10 June 2022.
https://www.amphilsoc.org/, accessed 10 June 2022.
Ancestry.com. A frontier village, pre-revolutionary Easton [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com. Operations Inc, 2005.Original data: Chidsey, Andrew Dwight,. A frontier village, pre-revolutionary Easton. Easton, Pa.: Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1940.
Jordan, John W. “William Parsons. Surveyor General, and Founder of Easton, Pennsylvania.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 33, no. 3, 1909, pp. 340–46. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20085475. Accessed 10 Jun. 2022.
Time Is a Great Storyteller. This week’s theme is “luck of the Irish” either someone very lucky or someone Irish or however you choose to interpret that phrase. You’re in luck today because I have lucky AND Irish. I love Irish proverbs, blessings, and toasts so you’ll see several throughout this post. You’ll know them because their text color will be green.
My Irish Roots If you’re enough lucky to be Irish…you’re lucky enough! My grandpa BATES’ mom was Dettie Louisa GIBSON. Dettie’s dad was James Thomas GIBSON. For decades my mom and I researched this branch of her family and got nowhere and then one day I got a break on Ancestry. We learned James’ parents were Samuel GIBSON and Lucinda BELL. Lucinda’s grandfather (James BELL) was born in Ireland. Samuel’s great-grandfather (George GIBSON) was also born in Ireland. And now I present to you Samuel’s and Lucinda’s son, James Thomas GIBSON- my 2nd great-grandfather.
James Thomas GIBSON, born 1828 Kentucky Here’s to a fellow who smiles When life runs along like a song. And here’s to the lad who can smile When everything goes dead wrong.
Portrait of James Thomas Gibson.
At various points throughout James’ life he went by the names J. T., James, and Thomas. James was married first to Elizabeth GARDINER. She passed away and he later married Lucinda DOW ALBIN- my great-great-grandmother. When they married, James had 10 children from his previous marriage and Lucinda had one child living with her from her previous marriage. She had at least one other child that she gave up for adoption after his birth- a boy named William Edgar (ALBIN) GIESE. You can read about Lucinda in my blog post Fresh Start(s) here http://happy-girl-24.livejournal.com/14935.html. I feel James must surely have had the luck of the Irish on his side about 1879. Before I get into James’ story though, I want to say that history is what it is. We each make our choices- good or bad. I will never know in this life whether James was truly innocent or guilty of charges made against him. The court and a jury of his peers made a decision according to the law and that is what will stand for the duration of this world. I will present to you what I know based on court records.
Rough Beginnings, Rough Middles For the test of the heart is trouble And it always comes with years. And the smile that is worth the praises of earth Is the smile that shines through the tears. James entered into his marriage with Lucinda on 16 September 1875 in Adams County, Iowa. It was the second marriage (that I know of) for each of them. James’ marriage had ended with the death of his wife. I suspect Lucinda’s marriage ended because her husband abandoned her and their children although I can’t say for sure. It’s certainly possible that she took the children and left him or that he died. So with both James and Lucinda struggling, they united their families.
Rocky Paths If God sends you down a stony path, may he give you strong shoes. In April of 1879, the world was turned upside down for the family once again. James’ daughter Manda (his youngest daughter from his previous marriage) accused James of raping her. A case was filed and a warrant was issued on 8 April 1879. The charge was Rape. On 5 May 1879 James entered a plea of Not Guilty. Subpoenas were issued on 6 May and on 7 May 1879 a “Nolle” was entered and accepted. Following are five transcriptions of court entries regarding James Thomas and his case:
The first: May, 1879 The State of Kansas vs N0184 Thomas Gibson Now on this 17th day of May AD 1879, the same being the 12th Judicial day of the May 1879 term of this court, this cause came on for hearing, the State of Kansas appearing by E. S. Torrance county attorney, and the defendant Thomas Gibson appearing in person and by his attorney James McDermott and said defendant files a Plea in Bar to the charge contained in the information herein, to which Plea in Bar the county attorney aforesaid demurs which demurer is by the Court sustained, to the sustaining of which demurer the defendant duly excepts, whereupon said defendant is duly arraigned on said Information, and required to further plead thereto, and for further plea to said Information says that he is not guilty as therein charged, Whereupon said cause is by order of the Court continued until the next term of this Court, and said defendant is required to enter into a Recognizance in the sum of Five Hundred ($500) Dollars, to the State of Kansas with sufficient sureties for his appearance before this Court on the first day of the next term thereof to answer to the charge of the Information herein, and not depart the Court without leave thereof, and to abide the Judgment of the Court, and in default of such recognizance that he stand committed to the Jail of Cowley County until he be discharged according to law. James plead not guilty and filed a Plea in Bar above. At http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/plea+in+bar “Plea in Bar” is defined as: An answer to a plaintiff’s claim that absolutely and entirely defeats it. A plea in bar sets forth matters that deny the plaintiff’s right to maintain his or her lawsuit; for example, because the Statute of Limitations has expired or because the claim necessarily overrides a constitutionally protected right of the defendant. To demur is to disagree or dissent. According to the entry above, the judge affirmed and upheld the demurer of the County Attorney (attorney against James GIBSON).
Comes a Jury of Twelve Good and Lawful Men May the face of every good news And the back of every bad news Be toward us.
The second: August 1879 The State of Kansas vs N0184 Thomas Gibson On the 27th day of August AD 1879 the same being the third Judicial day of the August AD 1879 term of this Court, the Jury in the above entitled case, who retired upon yesterday to deliberate of a verdict in said Cause, and returned into Court by the officer having them (?) in charge, and they announce to the Court through their foreman that they are unable to agree upon a verdict in said Cause the defendant being present by his Counsel, Whereupon, it satisfactorally appearing to the Court that said Jury cannot agree upon a verdict in said Cause, and no objection being made thereto, the Court discharges said Jury from the further consideration of said Cause. Above, the Jury has deliberated and returned to the judge as a hung jury. The judge accepts and releases them.
The third: September 1879 The State of Kansas vs N0184 Thomas Gibson Now on this 5th day of September 1879 the same being one of the Judicial days of the August AD 1879 term of this Court, this Cause is by order of the Court continued until the next term of this Court for want of time to try the same at the present term of this Court. And it is ordered by the Court that the defendant enter into a recognizance in the sum of ($500.00) Five Hundred Dollars, to the State of Kansas with sufficient sureties for his appearance before this Court on the first day of the next term thereof to answer to the charge of the Information herein, and not depart the Court without leave thereof, and that he abide the Judgment of the Court, and in default of such recognizance that he stand committed to the Jail of Cowley County until he be discharged according to law. Above, the judge is holding James over for trial and the trial will be scheduled for the following court term as the current term is about to end without enough time to re-try James’ case. Isn’t waiting hard!?
Comes a Jury of Twelve Good and Lawful Men…Again The person bringing good news knocks boldly on the door.
The fourth: December 1879 The State of Kansas vs N0184 Thomas Gibson Now on this 13th day of December 1879, the same being the 12th Judicial day of the December 1879, term of this Court, this Cause comes on for trial on the Information of the County Attorney filed herein charging the defendant Thomas Gibson with the offense of Rape, the plaintiff appearing by E. S. Torrance County Attorney and the defendant appearing in his own proper person, and by his attorneys James McDermott and W. W. Perkins, and the parties having respectively announced themselves ready for trial, comes a jury of twelve good and lawful men of Cowley County, to wit, Joseph S. Hill, I. (J.?) D. How, Amos Biddle, William White, H. C. Fisher, Pause King, W. R. Beadell, S. Morris, A. E. Woodard, S. H. Tolles (?), G. W. Webb, & C. C. Robinson, who are duly impanneled and sworn in said Cause, and who having heard the evidence adduced upon the trial of said Cause, the instructions of the Court and the arguments of Counsel, retire under charge of a sworn officer of the Court to deliberate of this verdict, and afterwards on the same day the defendant being present in person and by his Counsel aforesaid, the said Jury are returned into Court by the officer having them in charge aforesaid, and they announce to the Court through their foreman that they are unable to agree upon a verdict in said Cause, Whereupon, it satisfactorially appearing to the Court that said Jury cannot agree, upon a verdict in said Cause, and the defendant or his Counsel making no objection thereto the Court discharges said Jury from the further consideration of said Cause, Whereupon, the County Attorney aforesaid, with the assent of the Court enters a Nolle Prosequi in said Cause, and said defendant is discharged from further custody and permitted to go hence without day.
The fifth: December 1879 The State of Kansas vs N0184 Thomas Gibson On the 26th day of December AD 1879 the same being the second judicial day of the August hearing, the plaintiff appearing by E. S. Torrance County Attorney, and the defendant appearing in person and by his attorney, James McDermott, and the parties having respectively announced themselves ready for trial, comes a jury of twelve good and lawful men of Cowley County, Viz. M. Ellinger, J. P. Musselman, F. M. Osborn, Johnson Chandler, John Sinton (?), J. F. Tucker, R. Eastman, S. G. Castor, J. M. Hooker, John F. Miller, M. B.(?) Hennen (?), N.(?) J. Thompson, who are duly empanneled and sworn in said cause, and who, having listened to the evidence and the instructions of the Court, retire under a sworn officer of the Court to deliberate of their verdict. Here you can see the court record where charges have been brought against him in State of Kansas v. Thomas Gibson:
State of Kansas v. Thomas Gibson court record.
On 13 December 1879 the charge was “nollied”. I looked up “Nolle Prosequi” in an online law dictionary and the definition said: (no-lay pro-say-kwee) n. Latin for “we shall no longer prosecute,” which is a declaration made to the judge by a prosecutor in a criminal case (or by a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit) either before or during trial, meaning the case against the defendant is being dropped. The statement is an admission that the charges cannot be proved, that evidence has demonstrated either innocence or a fatal flaw in the prosecution’s claim or the district attorney has become convinced the accused is innocent. Understandably, usage of the phrase is rare. In the 1947 courtroom movie, Boomerang! the climactic moment arrived when the District Attorney himself proved the accused person innocent and declared nolle prosequi. So I present to you now my Irish James as a free man- a vindicated man. In my heart I truly, very much hope he was innocent and there was some emotional or psychological flaw in Manda that caused her to accuse him. Perhaps, still grieving over her mother and angry at her father for remarrying, she chose to take vengeance in this way. That is my hope. I could forgive her for that. Grief is difficult.
A Man As Mysterious to Me Today as He Was 20 Years Ago Better the trouble that follows death than the trouble that follows shame.
James’ life after the trial is somewhat confusing to me because of recent information I found. What I knew before: In 1880, James and Lucinda were not living together. Lucinda and her daughter Mary Rebecca were living with Lucinda’s parents in Cowley County, Kansas. James’ whereabouts were unknown. However, he had two daughters with my great-great-grandmother, Lucinda. They had Barbara on 12 January 1881 in Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas. Then they had Dettie (my great-grandmother) on 7 December 1883 in Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas. So I figured perhaps he was off working somewhere or perhaps the legal trouble flared back up and he ended up in prison. There were ways to explain his absence But then…WAIT! WHAT?!? In 1880, James appears to be living with a woman named Elizabeth who is almost exactly the same age as his supposedly-dead first wife Elizabeth and there are 3 children with the same names as 3 of his 10 children from his first marriage in the home with him!! All explanations just went out the window. Maybe more than one James Gibson? So I dig a little deeper. I take a look back at Lucinda’s timeline and see that in 1885, James and Lucinda ARE living together with Barbara (called Myrtle) and Dettie in Cedar, Cowley County, Kansas. Mary Rebecca was living with her maternal grandparents, Henry and Rebecca DOW. I wonder if they had prejudices against James because of the trial and I wonder if they’d had Mary Rebecca in their own home for so long that they felt she was more theirs and wouldn’t allow Lucinda to take her into Lucinda and James’ home? There will probably never be an answer to that question. I’m not sure Mary Rebecca ever lived with Lucinda again. Fast forward 5 years and Lucinda is married to David Jones. Does that clear things up? About as clear as muddy water…
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead May you have food and raiment, A soft pillow for your head, May you be forty years in heaven Before the devil knows you’re dead.
All my life I was told James died on 15 October 1886 in Benton County, Arkansas. The fact that I’ve never been able to find any death record or grave was not really that bothersome considering that happens frequently. So you just keep on looking and trying to find it. And then… Um…why’s he still with that Elizabeth woman in 1900 with one of his ten children?? I give. I’m stumped. Anyone want to help me solve this one?? I’m still searching. The answer is out there somewhere and one day I’ll find it. But for now, I have no answers and no conclusion for you. So I leave you now with this unresolved mystery and a few of my favorite Irish blessings and proverbs.
We cannot share this sorrow If we haven’t grieved a while. Nor can we feel another’s joy Until we’ve learned to smile. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. May you live all the days of your life. ~ Jonathan Swift
