Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
The family business is still
listed
as "Robert Gibbon and sons, merchants" in
[Aberdeen Directory, 1824-25].
Virginia St was also the family home.
Capt. Robert's unmarried
daughters,
the "Misses Gibbon", are
listed there in
[Aberdeen Directory, 1824-25].
The business and family home are now
listed as number 11 Virginia St.
Presumably same building as when Capt. Robert was alive.
Gibbon business is also at 11 Virginia St in
[Aberdeen Directory, 1825-26].
Capt. Robert's son
Arthur Gibbon came back to the family home for a time.
He is listed at number 11 Virginia St in
[Aberdeen Directory, 1827-28].
He is listed there in
[Aberdeen Directory, 1829-30].
He then moved to England.
The "Misses Gibbon" are
again
listed
at 11 Virginia St in
[Aberdeen Directory, 1835-36].
And
listed there in
[Aberdeen Directory, 1839-40].
The Gibbon daughters are gone from Virginia St in
[Aberdeen directory, 1840-41].
Identifying the Gibbon house is hard because the street was re-numbered between 1839 and 1840, it was then constantly and massively re-developed, and most of the old street was demolished.
Virginia St on
1789 map of Aberdeen.
Close-up of W end of
Virginia St.
As worked out below, the Gibbon house would be to the N or S side of the "nia" of "Virginia St".
Gibbon entries on p.35 of
[Aberdeen directory, 1824-25].
And Livingston entry on p.52.
Capt. Robert Gibbon had just died in 1821.
His business and house were clearly at 11 Virginia St.
The W end of
Virginia St on
1828 map of Aberdeen.
The N side looks more residential. The S side more business.
Gibbon entries on p.46 of
[Aberdeen directory, 1829-30].
Arthur Gibbon is at 11 Virginia St.
He will shortly move to England.
Gibbon entries on p.61 of
[Aberdeen directory, 1835-36].
And Livingston entry on p.78.
The Gibbon/Livingston sisters are at 11 Virginia St.
Gibbon entries in Aberdeen on
p.171
of
[Pigot's directory of Scotland, 1837].
John Gordon, beadle (Union Chapel)
and funeral waiter,
is listed at 11 Virginia St (Gibbon address)
on p.67 of
[Aberdeen directory, 1839-40].
Gibbon entries on p.95 of
[Aberdeen directory, 1840-41].
And Livingston entry on p.113.
They have left Virginia St.
John Gordon
is listed at 8 Stronach's close
on p.98 of
[Aberdeen directory, 1840-41].
Looks like when Gibbon left, he left too.
1839 number - 1840 number (sorted by 1840 number since we know where these are) N side (odd numbers) 7 13 25 43 30 47 31 51 33 53 35 55 35 57 37 59 43 65 61 83 S side (even numbers) 59 8 (outlier - maybe discount this one) 9 16 10 18 12 20 15 26 16 28 17 30 19 34 22 38 27 48 32 50 38 56 48 60 54 66 |
The 3 courts are unchanged: 17 17 Walker's court 25 25 Gordon's court 28 28 Watt's court Possibly discount the other ones with no change. These may be an error recording the old number. 5 5 32 32 47 47 50 50 55 55 59 59 |
Virginia St on p.315
of
[Aberdeen directory, 1858-1859].
Same scheme as 1840 and 1847. Same scheme as today.
The list here is divided to show the odd numbers along the LHS (N side). Even numbers along S side.
Virginia St on
OS map. Surveyed: 1866. Published: 1871.
Using the modern map with numbers (below) plus the analysis above,
the Gibbon house, the old 11 Virginia St,
would be around the address to the left of the Union Free Church School,
or else directly across the road from that address.
The N side here seems more residential and the S side more for business.
Since it was a business as well as their home, maybe the Gibbon house is on the S side.
Or it may be in the small group of houses on the N side, with gardens, to the left of the school.
There are houses at the road and set back.
According to later numbering, there may be four residences in this group.
Sketch of Virginia St, by William Stratford Percy, 1932.
From the E end, looking back up the street.
S side (left) is warehouses. N side (right) is more residential. (But it could have been different in 19th century.)
Image from
Silver City Vault.
Possibly from
Artistic Aberdeen
(1932).
Virginia St on
OS map. Surveyed: 1954. Published: 1955.
This has house numbers marked.
The numbering system is the same as in 1840 on.
Now we can see roughly where the Gibbon house was.
Consider the "bonded warehouse".
The numbers inside the bonded warehouse, to the left of "22", would be a row of
16, 18, 20.
As shown above, this
is the old group of 9, 10, 12.
The Gibbon house, old no.11, therefore is one of these two:
or:
Closer look at the group 21 and 23 and 25 Virginia St.
In background: The building 23 and 23 ½ Virginia St.
In foreground: The edge of number 21 and 25.
Photo 1970.
From Canmore.
View from E down the street.
To the left, the house number 21 and 25.
To the right, the warehouse number 27 and 29.
Photo 1970.
From Canmore.
See further up the street.
Excavation during demolition of the buildings on the N side of Virginia St.
S side of Virginia St in background.
Building in background on N side would be 21 and 25 Virginia St, which is still standing (for now).
Photo 1978.
From Canmore.
The entire N side between Marischal St and James St was brutally wiped out in the 1970s
for modern apartments.
3D view from Google Maps.
Nothing left today.
See
street view.
The building 23 and 23 ½ Virginia St.
S front.
Photo 1973 by RCAHMS.
From Canmore.
S front door.
Photo 1973 by RCAHMS.
From Canmore.
Interior.
From Canmore.
Interior.
Photo 1973 by RCAHMS.
From Canmore.
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