To Janice A. Frank janiceaf@ix.netcom.com and others researching the GILSON surname in Crawford County: Here are the references I found to that surname in the "History of Crawford County, PA, 1885." On page 311, in the section of Crawford County history, telling about attorneys: "Those residing in Titusville are: Julius Byles, G.A. Chase, W.M. Dame, Samuel Grumbine, F.B. Guthrie, M.J. Heywang, Samuel Minor, F.L. Seeley, Roger Sherman, L.W. Wilcox, J. Willis Witherop. Conneautville - A.J. Harper Linesville - R.P. Miller, James D. Bowman, M.A. GILSON Cochranton - J.W. Spear Centerville - Charles M. Wood Bloomfield Township - H.E. Rossell Randolph Township - David T. McKay Athens Township - James D. Minnis" On page 580, in the history of Oil Creek Township: "John GILSON emigrated with his father, William GILSON, from England to Maryland, and thence to Bedford County, this State. In 1799 he set out for French Creek with the intention of settling there, but while on his way, in chopping a tree, on which to cross Oil Creek, he accidentally cut his knee, and was compelled to abandon his further journey. He stopped with Daniel Titus, afterward returned to Bedford County, and in 1801 or 1802 his father and family, consisting of wife and nine children, John, William, Thomas, Richard, Peter, Benjamin, Sarah, Charity and Martha, removed to this township." On page 584, in the history of Oil Creek Township, Borough of Hydetown: "In 1797 Robert Curry and his son James had sojourned during the summer on the site of the village, then removed nearer to Titusville. In 1824 Charles Ridgway purchased 800 acres of land, and removed to within the present borough limits, where he remained until death in old age. Elijah Hyde and his son William started the first store. They purchased the Titus Mills, and for many years carried on saw-milling extensively. William Hyde was the first Postmaster. The office was originally called Oil Creek, now Hydetown, and was established about 1856. Benjamin GILSON, a lumberman, came to the place about 1845. Penile Crane opened the first hotel in 1852 or about that date." On page 614, in the history of Rome Township: Note before 1820 did the little cabin clearings begin to dot the length and breadth of the forestry of Rome, but in 1830, when the first tax duplicate was made for the township, it included about seventy-five names, including the early settlers already named and many of their descendants. The remaining resident tax-payers of Rome in 1830 were the following: Moses Blodgett; Roswell Buell, who had settle don Tract 29, two miles southeast from Centreville and died in Steuben Township; Charles Barber, who until death occupied a farm on Tract 30, a mile east of Centreville; Russel and Cyrus Bidwell; Daniel Bement, a Yankee and the first tanner in the township, working at his trade on Tract 3, south of Centreville, through life; Asa Babcock; John Blakeslee, on Tract 1666; B. Bassett, owning Tracts 1661 and 1648; Charles Bachus, in Centreville; Rev. Amos Chase, the well-known pioneer Presbyterian divine who dwelt just south of the borough; Charles Chase, his son; Cornelius Cummings, a carpenter of Centreville; Nathan Cook, on Tract 1731; John Colton, a Yankee and a life-long resident on Tract 36; William Davenport, also from New England, on Tracts 1653, 1654; Peter Fink and his sons John and Martin, three miles southeast from Centreville; Benjamin GILSON, on Tract 29; David, Aaron and Henry Gardner in the southern part; Jabez Galpin; Nancy Hall; the heirs of Andrew Hagany; Horace Humphrey, of Centreville; Samuel Kerr; Peter McKeiffer, an Irish Catholic, who settled and remained through life in the southwest part; James R. Maginnis; Alfred McCarley; Joseph Norris; John Odell, still living in the township; William T. McCray, in Tract 1666; Joseph Patten, Gad and Charles Peck and Samuel Rice, of Centreville; Daniel Rogers, an Irish Catholic and one of the earliest settlers; Stephen Sloan; Patrick Shirley; David Tryon, who operated a fulling and carding-mill south of Centerville, on Oil Creek; Thomas Tubb, a life-long resident of Tract 1648; David Winton, who operated a saw-mill just south of the borough; Samuel and Bradley Winton, of Centreville; Myron Whipple, a shoe-maker of the village; Alexander Wood; Converse White, who settled south of Centreville and soon after moved away; Barnabas Ward, of Centreville, and Adam and Martin Zely." More to follow on the GILSON surname! Kathy Brubaker Volunteer Genealogist Linesville Historical Society kbrbkr@toolcity.net