Bryson GIBSON

   Other names for Bryson were Brison GIBSON and Bryson GIPSON.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Biography: Carmel Indians. If Vardy Collins and Buck Gibson were the 'head and source' of the Melungeons then Valentine Collins and Bryson Gibson are likely the 'head and source of the Carmel Indians or as they were called in Kentucky, 'The Brown People of Magoffin County.

Bryson Gibson was born in 1782 and according to Cherokee applications he was the son of Thomas and Franky Gibson. He is living in Lee County, Virginia in 1820 and Mulberry Gap, Claiborne Co., Tennessee in 1830 listed as fpc. He married Fannie Green and is found in early court records, Hawkins Co., Tenn., 1828 -- Charles Gibson vs. Bryson Gibson--.

He removed to Morgan County, Kentucky by 1860 where he died. He is likely the brother of Henry Gibson who died in Morgan County 1857, also a son of Thomas Gibson and possibly the same Thomas and Henry Gibson found at the Stoney Creek Church records. From these records it seems he would probably be considered a Melungeon.

I have found at least five of his sons. Some lived in Magoffin County and were probably called the Brown People... or "Gipsons"

--From Jean Patterson Bible we have this;

"Of the Magoffin County Melungeons, a friend from Gifford, Kentucky, writes that "All of the old timers here are of the opinion that the first Gipsons came to Magoffin County from Virginia in the early 1800's. There are about two hundred in the county today [i.e., ca. 1975], I would guess. The most prominent family name is Gipson and then there are the Coles, Mullinses, Fletchers, and Nicholses. All of them are usually referred to locally as "Gipsons" rather than Melungeons."

These families are listed as Indian on the 1910 census and some are listed on the Guion Miller Rolls. They are descendants of Bryson Gibson.

Some of these Gibsons/Coles/Nichols etc, left Magoffin County and went to Highland Co., Ohio where they became known as "Carmel Indians."

Mrs. Elsie J Ayres, historian of Highland County, Ohio to Jean Patterson Bible;

" The Wyandotte, Miami, Mingo, Delaware, and Shawnee Indians built shelters along the streams in Highland County. They were nomadic tribes and many claiming to have been of foreign origin. Those who came were mostly tired of conflict, willing to hunt and fish and live at peace with the early setlers,, most of whom arrived after the Revolution to take advantage of their war land grants... Carmel, a small settlement, was never platted as a town, but snuggled in the foothills of four hills nearby southwest of Carmel, the people you inquired about live in almost primitive style. They began to build their cabin homes in the hill country in the early 1800s. They are known here as Carmelites or "Hill People" with names such as Gibson, Nichols, Mureen, Mull, Crispin, Hogshead, and others. In 1842 most of the Indians were relocated to Kansas and Oklahoma but a number remained.......The Carmelites claim they are descendants of the Shawnee Indians who remained behind .......

http://www.geocities.com/ourmelungeons/carmel.html

• Alt. Birth, 1782, Washington County, VA.

• Tax List, 1812, Warren County, TN.

• Tax List, 1833, Claiborne County, TN.

• Reference: Son's Cherokee Application, 1908, KY. Kizziah Gibson Rejected

Residence; Gulleltt Kentucy

Aunt of 31695 and claims throught the same source

[31695 is Christina Cole, daughter of Hezekiah Gibson]

How old are you [1837] born in Tennessee

Are you married No

To what tribe of Indians does he or she belong? Cherokee

Father and Mother; Bryson Gibson and Fannie Gibson

Where were they born?
Father; in Virginia or Tenn
Mother; '' ''

Where did they reside in 1851 Don't know [Hezekiah/Kiah Gibsons
application says they lived in Morgan Co., Ky.]

Father died 1865
Mother died 1867

Brothers and sisters
Tyra Gibson
Polly Gibson
Dice Gibson
Alex Gibson
Betty Gibson
Ava Gibson
Burl Gibson
Kiah Gibson

State English and Indian names of your grandparents
Thomas Gibson
Polly Gibson

August 23rd, 1907

Personally appeared T. J. Arnett and J. J. Pace who being duly sworn
on oath depose and say that they are well acquainted with Kiah
Gibson.......

Kezziah Gibson being duly sworn and examined deposes and says;

My name is Kizziah Gibson; I was born in Wise Co., Va., in 1836; I claim my Cherokee blood thru both my father and mother I think my gather was born in Wise Co., Va., about 1785; he died in 1865. My mother was born in Wise Co., Va., about 1785 . My mother died in 1870; In 1835 I and my father and mother lived in Wise Co., Va. In 1851 I and the ancestors thru whom I [claim?] lived in Floyd Co., Ky. In 1835 the grandparents thru whom I claim lived in Wise Co., Va. In 1835 my parents and grandparents thru whom I claim lived among the cherokees in Wise Co., Va. I don't know whether they lived as members of the ribe or not; none of the ancestors thru whom I claim were ever held in bondage; none of the ancestors thru whom I claim were ever enrolled that I know of and never received any money or land as an Indian; none of my ancestors ever had an Indian name that I know of;

I never heard my grandparents say how much Indian blood they had; they always told me that we belonged to the Cherokee generation. My father was a voter. In this community I have always been regarded as having Cherokee Indian blood


Kezziah Gibson

Subscribe and Sworn to before me this 29th day of July 1908 at Salyersville, Ky.

Bryson married Francis GREEN about 1820 in Claiborne County, TN. (Francis GREEN was born in 1765 in Wise County, VA.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Alt. Marriage, 1828, Hawkins County, TN.