Gibbons, James

The Late James Gibbons.
The late James Gibbons, who died at his residence on the second line, Esquesing, on Wednesday, 12th April, had reached his eighty-sixth year. He was born in the parish of Ballinacree, County of Meath, Ireland, on the 21st May, 1819. On the 9th April, 1832, at the age of thirteen years, he sailed with his parents for Canada, arriving in this county about the first of June. The family settled on the well-known homestead, where he resided until the time of his death - seventy-three years. This part of Esquesing was a forest in those days, and Mr. Gibbons did his full share in clearing the land. Some years ago he told the FREE PRESS that he was the first settler to cradle wheat on the second line above the mountain. He was married to Ellen O'Connor in 1847. Mrs. Gibbons and two sons and five daughters survive. They are: John, in Erin; James, on the homestead; Mrs. George Mulholland, Esquesing; Mrs. John Hogan and Mrs. James Clancy, of Rochester, N.Y.; Mrs. Thos. Egerton, Rockwood; and Miss Ellen at home. There are also thirty-one grandchildren. The pall bearers at the funeral were the two sons, John and James, Thomas Egerton, son-in-law, and Matthew and Patrick Lee and Peter Gibbons, nephews. An impressive funeral service was conducted in St. Joseph's Church by Rev. Father Feeny.