HumphrysFamilyTree.com

The genealogy site of Mark Humphrys

Home      Blog      Surnames      Ancestors      Contact

Search:

148,000 page views per month

€2k competition      Random page


My wife's ancestors - Gibbon - Contents

Capt. Robert Gibbon
   
Capt. Robert Gibbon.
Portrait perhaps c.1780. Portrait must be pre-1801 (see ship's flag).
The ship was hidden under dirt. Uncovered when portrait cleaned.
See smaller shot.
See detail, taken at angle, from large shot at angle.
Capt. Robert Gibbon, sea captain, born 23rd Aug 1738,
described as from Aberdeen at mar,
it seems he went to Holland for trade (as did his wife's family),
he must be "Robbert Gibbon", born approx. 1741 at Aberdeen, who on 19 Nov 1768 became a citizen of the town of Veere in Zeeland, SW Netherlands (see map),
between 1541 and 1799, Veere was the prosperous staple port for Scotland, in particular for the wool trade,

mar 16th Aug 1769 (her age 20) at the Scots Church (the "Schotse Kerk"), Rotterdam, Holland, by the Rev. M. Walker, see church records,
to Barbara Yeats [born 16th July 1749, descendant of Robert III, King of Scotland and of Henry I],
many Scottish merchants traded through Rotterdam at this time, Barbara's father was a Scottish merchant in Rotterdam,
the Scots Church was founded for Scottish merchants 1643, moved 1695 to new church on the Vasteland, at corner of Herderstraat, Rotterdam (see map),

there is a 2 volume Bible, by Rev. William Luke Phillips, printed 1766, with a concordance of 1767, signed "Robert Gibbon and Barbara Yates", Virginia St, Aberdeen,
Virginia St is just off the quay in central Aberdeen (see map), exactly where a ship's captain would live, the street was formed and named in the 18th cent, the name reflects trading route to Virginia in America,
he is described as "Shipmaster" at children's baptisms 1770 through 1776,
and as "merchant" at dau's baptism 1789,
Barbara died 13th Nov 1791, age 42 yrs,
death notice in Aberdeen Journal, bur Nigg Bay,

described as "merchant" in his wife's death notice 1791,
he must be "R. Gibbon" who was owner of the Fortune (built 1795),
described as "merchant" of Aberdeen in son Arthur's marriage contract 1815, and grave at Nigg Bay,
he might be "R. Gibbon" who was owner of the Castle Forbes (built 1818),
however "R. Gibbon" is still listed as owner in 1831, perhaps this is just the name of his company surviving in the family,
described as "Ship-owner" in his burial record,
died 2nd Aug 1821, age 82 yrs, bur 7th Aug at Nigg Bay,
the family business was "Robert Gibbon and sons, merchants" at 11 Virginia St, Aberdeen, the business is still listed there with that name in [Aberdeen Directory, 1824-25] and [Aberdeen Directory, 1825-26],
11 Virginia St was also the family home, his unmarried daughters the "Misses Gibbon" are listed there in [Aberdeen Directory] 1824-25 to 1839-40,
had issue:
  1. Elizabeth Gibbon, born 5th Dec 1770,
    bapt 12th Dec [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    must be after her grandmother Elizabeth Leslie,
    died in infancy, bur Nigg Bay.


  2. William Gibbon of Viewfield, born 17th [family papers] or 31st [St.Paul's] Oct 1772,
    bapt 5th Nov [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    must be after his grandfather William Gibbon.


  3. Alexander Gibbon, born 1st Apr 1774,
    bapt 30th Apr [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    must be after his grandfather Alexander Yeats,
    died in infancy, bur Nigg Bay.

  4. Margaret Gibbon, born 6th [St.Paul's] or 7th [family tree] Feb 1776,
    bapt 11th Feb [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    must be after her grandmother Margaret Innes,
    mar 1799 to Dr. William Livingston.

  5. Robert Gibbon, born 4th June 1777 (NOT July),
    bapt 11th June [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    died in infancy, bur Nigg Bay.


  6. Ann Gibbon (she spelt her own name "Ann" rather than "Anne"),
    born 1st Nov 1778 [see her birthday, St.Paul's must be wrong to say 8th],
    bapt "Ann", 11th Nov [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    see Her diary, 1818 to 1820,
    the unmarried sisters continued to live at the old family home, 11 Virginia St, after their father's death (1821),
    this would be some or all of Ann, Elizabeth and Barbara, and also after 1822 the widowed and childless Margaret,
    the "Misses Gibbon" are listed at 11 Virginia St, Aberdeen in [Aberdeen Directory] 1824-25 to 1839-40,
    the "Misses Gibbon" are listed at 54 Union Place, Aberdeen in [Aberdeen Directory] 1840-41 to 1844-45 (Union Place ran from Union St to South Bridge, think now gone),
    the "Misses Gibbon" are listed at Ellangowan cottage, Pitfoddels, Aberdeen in [Aberdeen Directory] 1845-46 to 1850-51,
    the "Misses Gibbon" are listed at Nellfield House, Cooperston, Aberdeen in [Aberdeen Directory] 1851-52 to 1860-61,
    Nellfield was formerly the home of their uncle Alexander Martin,
    Ann died unmarried, 12th Mar 1856, age 77 yrs,
    bur Nigg Bay.


  7. Arthur Gibbon,
    born 7th July 1780,
    bapt 15th July [St.Paul's, Aberdeen].


  8. Robert Gibbon,
    born 2nd Dec 1781 (second Robert),
    bapt 11th Dec [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    moved to Sunderland, Durham,
    Robert Gibbon of Sunderland is listed as subscriber to [Milne, 1805],
    mar pre-1809 to Hannah Joanna Harrison,
    he and Hannah wit his brother Arthur's mar 1814,
    died 31st Dec 1848, age 67 yrs, at "Portobello" [grave, Nigg Bay], poss. "Perta Bella",
    had issue:

    1. Barbara Yates Gibbon,
      born 1809, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland,
      mar 16th Dec 1840, at [St.Machar's, Aberdeen] to Anthony Scott [born 1803, Southwick, Sunderland],
      they lived Southwick, Sunderland (see map),
      he is listed as "earthenware manufacturer" at children's deaths 1864,
      after her children died she wrote to her 1st cousin Arthur Augustus Gibbon from Southwick, 14th June 1864: "My dear Arthur, my early life was beset with trials, but I never had such a fiery one as this. ... I had had 17 years of rest" [since her father died] "- not only rest but as much happiness as could fall to the lot of a human heart. ... As it is, a curtain has fallen down never to be raised on this side of Jordan.",
      researched family history, drew up family tree 1872 from records in her father's writing in a family bible that once belonged to her great-grandfather William Gibbon,
      they are both alive, listed in [UK census, 1881] as living 56 High Southwick, Southwick, he is listed as "Retired Potter", they have 2 servants,
      had issue:

      1. Joanna Harrison Scott, born 1846,
        think NOT Johanna,
        died 3 Mar 1864, High Southwick, age 18 yrs, of scarlet fever [GRO.UK],
        bur Southwick churchyard.

      2. Anthony Scott.
      3. Elizabeth Scott [Elizabeth Pearson Scott].

      4. Robert Scott,
        Robert Gibbon Scott, born 1854,
        died 8 Mar 1864, High Southwick, age 10 yrs, of "scarlatina maligna" [GRO.UK],
        bur Southwick churchyard.


  9. Isabella Gibbon, born 13th [St.Paul's] or 16th [family tree] Nov 1783,
    bapt "Isabel" 18th Nov [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    died in infancy, bur Nigg Bay.

  10. Elizabeth Gibbon, Eliza, born 5th June 1785 (second Elizabeth),
    bapt 12th June [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    died unmarried, 15th Feb 1859, age 73 yrs, bur Nigg Bay.

  11. Jane Barbara Gibbon, born 17th Oct 1787,
    bapt "Jean" or "Barbara Jean", 29th Oct [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    died in infancy, bur Nigg Bay.

  12. Barbara Gibbon, born 11th Mar 1789,
    bapt 20th Mar [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    "Miss Gibbon" is listed as living 85 Crown St, Aberdeen, in [Aberdeen Directory] 1861-62 to 1878-79,
    living 1871 with her widowed sister Margaret Livingston at 85 Crown St,
    died unmarried, 28th Feb 1879, age 89 yrs, bur Nigg Bay.

  13. John Allison Gibbon, born 21st June 1790,
    bapt "John Alison" 24th June [St.Paul's, Aberdeen],
    died in infancy, bur Nigg Bay.

Barbara Yeats.
Portrait perhaps c.1790. Portrait must be pre-1791 (when she died).
See smaller shot.


 

The grave of Capt. Robert Gibbon and his family, Nigg Bay. Photo 1998.

85 Crown St, Aberdeen

The current building at 85 Crown St is not the old Gibbon family home. Presumably the old Gibbon home was on this (large) site before.
The current building dates from 1908 and is a Masonic Hall or Masonic Temple.
It is about the largest building on the street. It has various Masonic insignia on the outside.
A number of Masonic lodges meet here, including: Lodge 1 - The Lodge of Aberdeen.
It is a listed building. See entry.

The new building (the Masonic Hall) at 85 Crown St, Aberdeen.
Photo 1998.

The ship in Capt. Robert Gibbon's portrait
   
The ship in the background of Capt. Robert Gibbon's portrait above.
(Left) Picture taken in sunlight outdoors (true colours).
(Right) Picture taken indoors. See full size.

The flag is the Red Ensign (also here), the Union Jack in the top LHS corner, the rest of the flag red.
On the picture it can be seen that this is the pre-1801 Union Jack (also here).
This indicates a British merchant ship between 1707 and 1801.
The Red Ensign (with the modern Union Jack in the top LHS corner) is still the flag of the British Merchant Navy today.


   
Alternative indoor version. See full size.
See also other indoor version here.

"What do I intend by writing this history of my feelings? Who is there that will care for this detail? While I live, no eye but my own will peruse it, and when I die in all probability my nieces may curl their hair with this honest index of my mind."
- Diary of Ann Gibbon, Sun 1st Nov 1818.

Feedback form

Long version of this form.

Email me.

 
Upload additions and corrections to this site:
(Please include your email address.)
Upload a file (e.g. a picture):
Enter this password:

Help      Conventions      Abbreviations      Privacy policy      Adoption policy      Image re-use

     Bookmark and Share           Since 1983.