This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ed57176 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.gibson/5616.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Still looking for possible records for the parents of Elisha, living in or around Tazewell County, IL. Based on land purchase records and the 1850 US census, I have three possibilities. I'm putting these out there with the hope that others can find more information to either strengthen their validity or reject them from further consideration. My last post to this thread was about the E Gibson 1850 US census record, thinking in 1850 Elisha may have been an apprentice blacksmith, and living away from his parents home. If it is safe to assume Elisha's parents stayed in the area, here are three possible Gibson families listed in the 1850 Tazewell census: David Gibson (48, farmer, birthplace PA), Mercy (39, PA), Bascom (15, Laborer, IL), Rhoda (14, IL), Laura (6, IL), David A. (5, IL), Eileen C. (4, IL) G D Gibson (40, Farmer, PA), Alise (32, VT), Sarah (12, IL), Elizabeth (11, IL), John (8, IL), Charles (6, IL), Dorothy (2,IL) Thomas S. Gibson (41, farmer, OH), Elizabeth (37, IL), William (19, farmer, IL), Joseph (14, IL), Elizabeth (18, IL) The David Gibson family looks possible as ages of the parents are such that they could have been married and had had a child of Elisha's age. There are no children listed in this family group whose ages conflict with that theory. The biggest issue with these parents are their birthplaces. Later records for Elisha indicate his parents were born in Ohio or Indiana. The G D Gibson family is possible, but not probable. If Alise is G D Gibson's first and only wife, she would have been about 14 years old when Elisha was born. The children listed with this family are much younger than Elisha, and the expected ages of the children of a 32 year old mother. If Alise is a second wife for G D and a step mother to Elisha, then G D becomes a stronger possibility to be Elisha's father. The Thomas Gibson family is also possible, but only if Elizabeth and Elisha were twins or step siblings. Thomas lists his birthplace as Ohio, which is a match to other records for Elisha's parents. There was also a Samuel Gibson family (not listed above), but Samuel is listed as being born in "Gy" (Germany?) and there is a son, also Samuel (age 18) with a PA birthplace. This one does not seem to fit well at all. Of all of these records, the ones that are the most probable are the David Gibson family and the Thomas Gibson family. I guess I favor the David Gibson family as the most likely choice, since there is an empty place in this family where a person of Elisha's age could have easily fit. I also found a Tazewell history naming a David and Mary (not Mercy, but close) Gibson as persons involved in the formation of a local Presbyterian church. Elisha was associated with the Presbyterian church, another circumstantial connection. It would also be interesting if Elisha's oldest son, George David, were named after his grandfathers, George Lewis and maybe, just maybe, David Gibson. However in the interests of accuracy, I did find a record saying Ann Maria's father was named George D. Lewis and he died shortly before George David Gibson's birth. If the "D" in George Lewis' name also stood for "David," and not Daniel, or Darrel, or whatever, then the previous theory is less likely. George David Gibson could have been named after George D. Lewis and no one else. Of course, if Elisha stayed in Tazewell and his parents had either moved or died, then none of these families would be a match. Comments and further evidence supporting or disproving any of these theories are welcome. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.