Person Page - 975

     William was married to Sarah Elizabeth Wedding. William was born circa 1862 in Henderson Co., Kentucky, USA. He was the son of William C. Gibson and Mary Frances Floyd.
     William was listed as a household member living with William C. Gibson on the 1870 Census, on June 1, 1870 in Household No. 309, Cairo, Henderson Co., Kentucky, USA.¹ William was listed as a son living with William C. Gibson on the 1880 Census, on June 1, 1880 in Household No. 347, Corydon, Henderson Co., Kentucky, USA.²

     Frances was married to John Talbott , IV, son of John Talbott , III and Margaret Troutbeck.
     Her married name was Talbott.

     Anne died in Hempstead, Queens Co., New York, USA. Anne was born in 1630. She was the daughter of Richard Gildersleeve and Jo Anna Appleton.

     Elizabeth was born in 1624. She was the daughter of Richard Gildersleeve. Elizabeth was married to John Rock Smith, son of John Smith and Isabel (?), 1640. Elizabeth died in 1665 in Hempstead, Queens Co., New York, British Colony, at age 41 years.
     As of 1640, her married name was Smith.

     Richard was married to Jo Anna Appleton. Richard was born in 1601 in Little Wallingford, Suffolk Co., England. Richard died in 1681 in Hempstead, Queens Co., New York, British Colony, at age 80 years.
     The history of the Town of Hempstead really begins prior to its official inception in 1644. In 1636 settlers from the Plymouth, Massachusetts Colony established the towns of Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield (called Watertown) in Connecticut. From Wethersfield a handful of people journeyed along the Long Island Sound and established Stamford, Connecticut. This group included the Reverend Richard Denton and his four sons. In 1643, two emissaries (Robert Fordham and John Carman [Fordham's son-in-law]) were sent across the Long Island Sound to the Dutch-held westerly part of Long Island to obtain town rights from William Kieft (Director General) and to purchase title from the Indians. In December of 1643, Carman and Fordham met with tribal representation of the Reuckowacky, the Merockes, Matinecock, and Massapequas and a land deed was negotiated on December 13, 1643. The deed failed to specify boundaries of the vast land tract that was to become Hempstead. Nor did it mention any form of compensation for the tribes. The Deed that Fordham and Carman had concluded with the Indians in 1643 was not confirmed until July 4, 1657.

Although colonists began to come over to what is present day Hempstead [The name Hempstead seems to derive from Hemel-Hempstead, in Great Britain, which means town spot.], it was not until November of 1644 that Dutch Director General William Kieft issued the patent granting the settlers rights and title [Kieft Patent].

During the early years, the decisions that came out of the Town of Hempstead Annual and Special Meetings formed the basis for local government and community living. Primarily these decisions, often termed as "orders" dealt with the community land and the enforcement of local laws. The following excerpts provide a flavor of these early Town Meetings:

May 2, 1654 - It is ordered by all the inhabitants that hath any right in the work shall sufficiently make up either his or their proportion of fence at or before the 15th day of May next ensuing the date hereof stilo nova and every person or persons that is found negligent in so doing, shall pay for every rod defective two shillings and sixpence.1

May 2, 1658 - At a town meeting this present day, it is ordered that every inhabitant within this town of Hempstead shall within five days, after the date hereof, give in to be enlisted by the Town Clerk, all lands that was ploughed, and reaped and gathered viz. hollows, uplands, homelots, excepting one hollands acre by patent allowed, for each inhabitant, allowance whereby our tithe may be paid unto the Governor according to our agreement, being one hundred shocks of wheat.2

July 10, 1658 - It is ordered and agreede by general vote ye Mr. Richard Gildersleve, according to appointment is to go to Mannatens to agree with ye Governor concerning the tytles and therein is ordered not to exceede one hundred scheepels [sic] of wheate (and if required) it is to be delivered at the towne habour and the charge of his journey is to be defrayed by the towne.3
During the twenty years under Dutch rule the Town of Hempstead had a good measure of self-rule. Elections were allowed for magistrates, a clerk, five townsmen, a pounder, cattle keepers, hay warden, and other local officials. Following the British taking of New York from the Dutch, the Duke's Law Convention was held in Hempstead in February, 1665. The purpose of the Convention was to adopt basic principles of law, local government, and approve a constitution. The following towns sent delegates: Southampton, Seatalcott (Brookhaven), Huntington, Oyster Bay, Hempstead, Jamaica, Gravesend, Newtown, Flushing, Brooklyn, Bushwick, Flatbush, New Utrecht, and from the mainland, Westchester. Hempstead sent John Hicks and Robert Jackson.

In 1683, the New York Colony divided into twelve counties, and Hempstead became part of Queens County. At the April 1, 1684 Town Meeting it is agreed upon by majority vote that all and every person that have had grants of home lots are obliged, either to fence, build upon or improve them within three years and one day's time, or if they do not improve the same Lotts according to ye above written agreement in the time specified, then the said home lotts belonging to the persons they were given to, are to return to the towne again...."4 With the British back in charge, and Hempstead under British rule, the Town patent was again revised [Dongan Patent] in 1686.