Giddens Family Branch: An Introduction

🌳Giddens🌳

 Name Origin:

'Recorded in many forms including Gidden, Giddens, Gidding, Giddings, Gedding, Geddings, Gittens, Gittins, Gutans, Guttans, and possibly others, this is an English surname. The surname is known as a locational name, which means the place where people lived.  The changed spellings may be due to people moving around and interpreting the name as 'sounds like' and changing the spelling.'   Through my research, I have encountered many of these spellings. 

 Here's an interesting statistic: Giddens is an uncommon surname in the United States. When the United States Census was taken in 2010, there were about 7,034 individuals with the last name "Giddens," ranking it number 4,995 for all surnames. Historically, the name has been most prevalent in the Southeast, especially in Georgia. 

Source: TheInternetSurnameDatabase

My Grandfather: Robert Eugene Giddens

When I first began researching my Dad's side of the family, I thought I might be hitting a lot of brick walls.  I didn't know much about the Giddens side of the family and their history, so I was really expecting to struggle.  With that said, I would like to begin this post with a special shout out to a few family members for their assistance:  Aunt Gail Mosely for providing some great pics, articles and partnership in solving a mystery.  Cousin Kenneth McMillan for letting me borrow the 'red book' of our family history and lots of information for future posts....interesting read!  And finally, my Dad, Lowell Giddens for the telling of family stories and providing old family pics.   This edition and future chapters would not be possible without your assistance.  Thank you all.
Let's see what we found out, shall we?

🍁 James S. Giddens 🍁

The Giddens lineage can be confirmed back to my GG grandfather, James (J.S.) Giddens 1859 - 1935. An 1870 census shows a James S Giddings, aged 11, living with Nancy Giddings age 26 and Laura J Giddings age 8.  They lived in Pulaski, GA.  No father is listed. Research has yet to uncover anything further on Nancy or Laura.

J.S. Giddens grew up to be a farmer who lived in Pulaski, GA, near Cochran.  He was married twice.  His first wife was Sarah  Martin (1844- 1890).  They married in Pulaski, Georgia in 1877.  Together, they had three children: John Thomas (JT), Minnie Viola, and Ida.  

Marriage license of JS and Sarah Martin Giddens.  Written as Giddings

1880 Census showing household of James Geddings, wife Sarah and 1yr old son John.  An interesting note here is the addition of a step son named Clemy Martin.  Does this mean Sarah was previously married?  One might say yes since she was 30 and J.S. was 21.  There is also a baby boy nephew named Willie Floyd in the house along with several adult Floyd males.  Were they family to Sarah?  Was her maiden name Floyd?  Another mystery to follow for a future post!


 Sarah died in 1890.  In 1891, J.S. married Hattie Asbell.  Not much is known about Hattie, although the Asbells will play a signifigant role in the Giddens family.  What we do know is that J.S. and Hattie grew their family by an additional 7 children: Mabel, Mary, Adeline, William, Susan, and Robert.  One child died at birth in 1895.  There is also the possiblity of an 8th child by the name of J.S. Giddens, Jr.  He was born in 1920 and died at the age of 12 in 1932.  The 1930 census lists him as a grandson, but information input by others on different online sites states that he was a son. Something to note is that J.S. Sr. would have been 60 when Jr was born if this were true. The following are documents found for J.S. and Hattie, which paint the story of their life. 

Marriage of J.S. to Hattie Asbell (written as Etta...more misspellings)

1910 Census showing household of JS and Hattie and 6 children.  The two daughters from his first marriage, Minnie Viola and Ida had passed away by  this time.  Minnie in 1895 and Ida in 1905.  The eldest son, John Thomas married in 1898 and lived in Willacoochee, GA.

1920 Census shows the family had lived in Beckley Georgia with only 2 children left in the household.  This census also lists Hattie's place of birth as South Carolina as well as her mother's.  This has not shown up before.  Still a dead end lead where Hattie is concerned.  Outside of these documents, I have yet to find anything more about Hattie.

1930 Census shows JS, Hattie and JS, Jr. listed as a grandson.  Regardless of his parentage, he would only live two more years, dying at the age of 12. 

J.S Giddens, Sr. died 1-7-1935. 

Death Certificate of James S. Giddens.  Again, no mention of Hattie. Son Robert didn't know her maiden name?  Very curious that so little is known about her.

  
It is unknown when Hattie died.  J.S., Sarah, Hattie, Minnie  Viola, Ida, and J.S., Jr. are all buried in the Giddens Family Cemetery in Beckley, GA.  Not all of the graves have markers, but courthouse records confirm their burials.  
Click this link for more information on the Giddens Family Cemetery:
J.S. Giddens Burial Site 

🍁 John Thomas Giddens 🍁

John Thomas and Mamie Victoria Asbell Giddens

 As previously mentioned, J.S and Sarah's eldest son, John Thomas married in 1898.  His wife was Mamie Victoria Asbell of Twiggs Co., Georgia.  They were my great grandparents.  Through census records, we can again tell a story of their lives and their growing family.  Together, they had 8 children: Mamie Ethel, Minnie Estelle, John James, Robert Eugene, Leola, Ruby May, Ruth Clara, and Cora Agnes.  

 Marriage of John T Giddens and Miss Mamie Asbell , January 3, 1897, Pulaski, GA

1900 Census, Coffee County GA, household of John T., Mamie and baby daughter, Ethel. JT lists his occupation as farmer.

1910 Census, Willacoochee, GA.  Family is expanded to JT, Mamie, and 5 children.  JT is listed as a house painter.

Gibbs Family Branch: Chapter One

🌳 Genealogy:  Where to Begin? 🌳

When beginning a search into genealogy, everyone says start with what you know.  For me, that isn't much.  As a child, I have many happy memories of family reunions in south Georgia, eating great homemade meals, swimming in the Alapaha River,  harvesting vegetables, and playing with cousins.  I don't have much recollection of discussions about our family history. But then, maybe I wasn't listening too closely.  

Now, as an adult, I am curious about our heritage.  With the help of online genealogy sites, Facebook groups, and questions to family members, some puzzle pieces are falling into place.  

My goal with this blog is to share what I have learned, to find out more with input of other family members, and to have a record of our family history online for other's to view in the future.  Please feel free to share your stories or pictures.  I would love to add them! Please let me know of any mistakes, too! 

So let's get  started with the Buddy Gibbs Branch

(note: names highlighted in yellow are our direct family line)

 

The Gibbs of Ty Ty Georgia, a Brief History

Note: this area was also known as Worth, Wilcox, Irwin, and Tift County

Elton Conger "Buddy" Gibbs

As of this posting, our family history can be confirmed back to 1770, the year  Thomas Gibbs was born in Sampson County, NC.  His wife, Nancy, was born there in 1777. They had 10 Children: John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Sampson, Nancy, Rebecca, William, Thomas, Mary, and James.  

Thomas and Nancy moved to Georgia in 1812, first settling in Montgomery County and eventually settling in Irwin County.  They were one of the first settlers of Irwin County.  They lived in the 1st land district near the Ocmulgee River. They were members of the New Hope Primitive Baptist Church, organized in 1830. Thomas died in 1845, Nancy about 10 years later.   

Our lineage is from Thomas and Nancy's youngest son, James Gibbs, Sr. (1818-1895).  He married Mahala Henderson Paulk (1824-1888) in 1841.  They lived about 4 miles north of Ty Ty near Little River.     They had 8 children: Ellen, Martha, Jacob, James (Babe), Catherine (Katy), Allen, Mahala Frances, and Johnnie.  

James Gibbs Sr.

Mahala Henderson Paulk source:Ancestry.com

Marriage Certificate of James and Mahala Gibbs

James Sr. and Mahala lived on a farm raising cattle.  They supplied beef to the Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.  He also ran a general store in Ty Ty. 
During his life, James Sr. acquired much land.  In 1872, he donated 4 acres for the formation of the Hickory Springs Primitive Baptist Church.   

James and Mahala are buried at Hickory Springs Cemetery in Tifton, GA.

Source: findagrave.com

Source: findagrave.com

 Elder James (Babe) Gibbs 1848-1930

James Babe Gibbs* 

*source: findagrave.com

Since this is a brief history, I will not go into the entire life of Elder James "Babe" Gibbs, as much has been written about him.  I will leave that for a future edition of this blog.  Again, this is a 'brief' history.

James lived north of Ty Ty.  He was married twice.  His first wife was Mary 'Polly' Warren (1851-1890).  They married in 1867. Together, they had 9 children:  J.S. (Jimmie), William (Billy), George Warren, Nancy, Mahala Frances, Henry F. and Millie Ellen, Sarah Catherine, and Wright Allen.

source: Just Kinfolks by Idelle Gibbs Dorsey

 

 James was an ordained Baptist preacher.  He served as Pastor of Hickory Springs Church for about 35 years.  See link below for church history.

His second marriage was to Mary Fletcher Paulk (1842-1914).  No children in this marriage.  James and his two wives are buried in Hickory Springs Cemetery, Tifton, GA.

source: findagrave.com

History of Hickory Springs Church

💡💡Side note here:  it wasn't until I spoke to my Aunt Jean, that she clarified our genealogy.  Another thing I have learned about research is that you never assume anything.  This is so true when following information posted by others on family history sites.  Double check your facts.  Remember, all data on these sites are input by individuals who may not be doing their due diligence.  If there are no resources to back up the data, you may need to do your own digging.  Now, back to our story.....



 Elder James and Polly's son, William, was my Great-great grandfather. 

William Gibbs as  a young man. Photo credit: Jean Lemke

William "Billy" Gibbs (1870-1926) was a farmer who raised cattle and hogs.  He was married twice.  His first wife was Novarrah Melridge Willis (1868-1900). They married in 1892. Their marriage produced 4 children: Eulin Elmore (EE), Elizabeth Ellen, Ethel F. and Novarrah (Nora) Lee.   

Soon after Novarrah's death, Billy married his second wife, Bessie Partridge(1885-1943).  They married somewhere between 1900 and 1901.  Their marriage produced 6 additional children: Mary Alice, Jimmie Eric, Evelyn Dorothy, Georgia M, Jessie C,  and William.  

Marriage license of William and his first wife, Novarrah Willis

 

Headstone of Novarrah Willis Gibbs, Hickory Springs Cemetery

1900 US Census.  Shows Wm. with 1st 4 children and his future wife, Bessie Partridge is listed on same page

William and Bessie Gibbs photo credit: Jean Lemke

William and Bessie are buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Tifton, GA

source: findagrave.com

Eulin Elmore "EE" Gibbs (1891-1964), son of William and Novarrah Gibbs was my great-grandfather.  He married Sara Priscilla Conger (1893-1979) in 1908.  They had 7 children: Myrtle Cleo, Elton Conger (Buddy), Alice Novarrah, Mary Edna, Lillian, William (Billie) Elmore, and Carl Robert.  

1917-1918 draft card for Eulin Gibbs

 

1920 US Census for Eulin and Sara Gibbs.  5 children at this time.  Daughter Alice is listed as Allie

 

I don't know much about EE and Sara.  I do remember grandma Sara when we visited Waycross.  Her trailer was in-between Buddy and Carl's homes.    I also know that she was a twin. That's it. Sara and Eulin are buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Tifton.

If anyone can fill in some blanks here, it would be appreciated.

     

Clockwise: Myrtle, Buddy, Alice, Carl, Billie, Lillian,

E

dna

Eulin & Sarah with Myrtle, Buddy, Alice and Edna

   

 

Photo credits:  Rose Marie Robbins and personal collection

                  

E.E. and Sarah's 50th Anniversary celebration in Cochran newspaper.  Photo credit: Elton and Sherry Gibbs

E.E. and Sarah's grandchildren at the 50th anniversary party.  Photo credit: Elton and Sherry Gibbs

                                               

                        

source: findagrave.com

And so, this brings us to my grandfather, Elton Conger "Buddy" Gibbs.  Since this is the first edition of my blog, I think I will end this chapter with a walk down memory lane via pictures.  There's plenty of time to expand on family information as genealogy is an ongoing pursuit of facts and gathering photos & memories shared by others.  Plus, I've given you a lot to absorb here.

Future chapters will include other branches of the family including Giddens, Rouse, Gray, Benchley, Fletcher, Asbell, Conger, and wherever else the road leads.  

💡One last thing:  Many of you may be asking "What about our history before 1770?" 
Well, this is where I made an audible gasp during my research.  It seems that back in 1824, the wise leaders of Duplin,  NC decided to clean out the county courthouse of old records.  They literally threw them out the window!!  Aaaa!!  😱  There are hints of our ancestors originated in England before coming to the new world in 1635. 
Probably landed in VA or MA. More digging!!

Until next time, enjoy the pics and be sure to leave a comment.  Would love to hear from you and share some knowledge and pictures.

Join the email list to get the lastest updates of this blog!!

My special gift to you.  Please excuse the quality of the video, but it is over 50 years old:

Buddy and Elizabeth Gibbs

Buddy and Elizabeth Gibbs with their 5 children: Priscilla, Harriet, Mary Alice, Jean, and Elton

June 1971:  Sara Gibbs (seated)  Standing L-R: Buddy, Carl, Alice, Lillian, and Billie

Buddy Gibbs, seated center with (clockwise L-R): Harriet, Jean, Elton, MaryAlice, Priscilla

Sources:  familysearch.org, findagrave.com,  Just Kinfolks by Idelle Gibbs Dorsey, Rose Marie Robbins, Lowell Giddens, Jean Gibbs Lemke

 

Gibbs Surname Project An interesting link to the science behind the name