In 1866, Louis Diston Powles (1842-1911), or L.D.Powles, was appointed Magistrate of the Bahamas Island. One of his first acts was to tour the island group, after which he had a book published: Land of the Pink Pearl. One of the islands that he visited was Eleuthera where he learned of and wrote about the Gibson brothers. One of the eight Gibson brothers referenced in the book was my great great grandfather, Richard Gibson.
This is what the book had to say:
"We reached Savannah Sound early the following morning, and had a walk of a mile from the landing place to the settlement. We had been told that the people of Savannah Sound, who are exclusively engaged in agricultural pursuits, were superior to any on the Eleutheran Shore, and they certainly appeared to be so. This goes a long way to prove that, where colored people have opportunities and a guiding hand to teach them how to use them, they are not slow to take advantage of them. Most of the land here is owned by a family of colored brothers named, Gibson, the grandchildren of a Scotch Planter, who left all his property to his coloured offspring. The Gibson brothers were originally eight in number, but they are now reduced to five. They were all absent but one, and if he is to be taken as a specimen, they must be every much above the average of the Conch, white or black, for not only did he talk intelligently on general topics, but was well posted in European and American politics. But then the brothers Gibson own a three mast schooner, called The Brothers, and trade direct with the States, without allowing the blighting shadow of Nassau to cross their path."
[Source: Powles, Louis Diston. The Land of the Pink Pearl: or, Recollections of Life in the Bahamas. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, Ltd., 1888 (p. 226-227);[Second edition published in Nassau by Media Publishing, Ltd., 1996. (Page 269)]
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| The 700 Islands of the Bahamas |
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| http://www.discover-eleuthera-bahamas.com/support-files/eleuthera-map-lee.pdf |
The Gibson Brothers and Sisters were:
i. William GIBSON.
ii. James GIBSON was a Seaman. He was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
iii. Charles GIBSON Jr. was a Seaman. He was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
iv. Israel GIBSON was a Seaman. He was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
v. John GIBSON was a Seaman. He was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
vi. Thomas GIBSON was a Sea Captain. He was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
vii. Richard GIBSON was a Seaman. He was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
viii. David GIBSON was a Seaman. He was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
ix. Sarah GIBSON was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
x. Charlotte GIBSON was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
vii Richard is my personal family line!
