General Notes

Nellie McCall married a man by the name of Gibson and resided near Martinsburgh, Butler County, where some of her descendants still remain.
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Nellie McCall Biography
by Garry and Carol Cundiff

    Jane McCall related that Nellie McCall married a man by the name of Gibson and resided near Martinsburgh, Butler County,1 where some of her descendants still remain. Jane also said that her father Robert went west from Belmont Forge2 to Huntingdon County about 1801 where his youngest sister, Mrs. Shaw3 was already living. Some of this is in error but it does provide a good framework for research.

    Nellie McCall4 was born in Ireland about 1780. According to Jane she came to America with her parents and siblings5 about 1790, landing in Charleston, South Carolina. They apparently moved north to Maryland and the first document that we have found that mentions any of the children is Nellie's marriage. Nellie was married James McLaughlin, September 11, 1801 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania by Reverend John Johnson. Nellie and James had a daughter Margaret, born about 1804. James apparently died not long afterwards and we next find Nellie in the 1810 census with her daughter living in Toby Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, next door to her brother Robert McCall.

    From the Butler County History published in 1883, 6 we find that, Nellie married Hugh Gibson. Hugh Gibson, who was 15 years of age, when he arrived in Armstrong County in 1797 along with three of his brothers. They established a farm and were joined by their father Levi Gibson a couple of years later. Hugh began improving his own farm in 1806 which was located in Parker Township. In 1811 he married Mrs. James McLaughlin (nee McCall). He and Nellie lived in Parker Township, Butler County7 the remainder of their lives. In addition to Margaret McLaughlin, Nellie and Hugh had the following children; William Harrison Gibson who was born in 1812 and was still living on the original homestead in 1883. Esther "Gibson" Foster, born about 1814 and living in Armstrong County in 1883, John Gibson, born about 1816 and living in Parker Township in 1883, and Sarah Gibson born about 1818 and living in Parker Township in 1883. Sarah apparently never married. Nellie died after 1850 and before 1860, while Hugh lived to be 87 and died in 1870.

    Cemetery information and perhaps other documentation is likely available in Parker Township that would add some meat to the story. We would like to get back and do some research in that area soon.
    Footnotes:

       1. Martinsburgh is not in Butler County but in Blair County. Portions of Blair were actually once a part of Huntingdon County and it would seem that Jane was actually referring to two seperate locations. Nellie was initially in Huntingdon and later moved to Butler County.
       2. We have been unable to locate Belmont Forge although Jane indicates it is in the valley of the Susquehanna River.
       3. The youngest sister was Sarah Shaw and she was not old enough to have been married and living in Huntingdon in 1801, but it is likely that Jane's reference should have been to Nellie.
       4. Nellie appears to have also gone by the name of Eleanor
       5. The named siblings were Robert, William and Sarah. There may have been other siblings but their names have not survived.
       6. Follow the Nellie McCall County History link below for details.
       7. Butler County was formed in 1800 from a portion of Armstrong County. Parker Township lies across the Alleghany River from Perry Township in Clarion County,
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Nellie McCall County History Information
Compiled by Garry and Carol Cundiff

    History of Butler County Pennsylvania - 1883
    Chapter 44 -- Parker Township

    John GIBSON and William FERGUSON from Indiana County, visited Butler County in 1796. While on their way hither, they saw several Indians in a canoe in the Allegheny River at Brady's bend. Ferguson, whose relatives had been murdered by the savages fired upon the Indians from a place of concealment, [p.406] wounded one fatally, and continued his way undiscovered and unpursued. In 1797, Alexander, John, Hugh and James GIBSON came out and made settlements. Hugh was then a boy fifteen years of age; they saw no signs of habitation after they left Kittanning until they reached this township. After living alone in the woods for two years; engaged in pioneer work. The boys' father, Levi GIBSON, came to this county and settled on the Dutchess farm, now in Allegheny Township. Two of his sons, John and Samuel, were volunteers in the war of 1812.

    Hugh GIBSON, after 1797, lived at home a few years, and about 1806 began improving the farm now owned by A. B. GIBSON; he lived alone until 1811, when he married Mrs. James MCLAUGHIN (nee MCCALL). He died in 1870, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. His children are William H., born in 1812, living on the old homestead; Esther (FOSTER), Armstrong County; John, Parker Township; and Sarah, Parker Township. Samuel GIBSON, brother of Hugh, was married to Sarah WADDLE, of Slippery Rock Township. Their children are Harvey, Mary (TURNER), and Lucinda (CRAWFORD)--all living.

    History of Butler County Pennsylvania - 1883
    Chapter 50 -- Allegheny Township

    In 1797, John CRAWFORD, from Greene County, settled on a tract adjacent to the Lowries. John CRAWFORD and John LOWRIE were two of the first Ruling Elders of the Scrub Grass Presbyterian Church. John CRAWFORD was the father of a large family. Most of his sons settled in Venango County and in Ohio; and only two, James and Samuel, in this county. William T., son of Samuel, lives upon the old farm. His father died in 1878. James CRAWFORD died in 1802, leaving one son, James CRAWFORD, born in 1800, who is now the oldest native resident of this township. He has spent his days in this township and in Armstrong County, and is well known as an active and useful citizen. The widow of James CRAWFORD, Sr. (nee Abigail COULTER), married Gideon GIBSON, and reared the following children: William, Polly (MECHLING), Thomas, George, Margaret (MARTIN), Abigail (MOORE), and John.

    Levi GIBSON and his wife, Sidney (ABERCROMBIE), settled on Scrubgrass, in Allegheny Township, about 1799, coming from the Eastern part of this State. Their children, John, Alexander, James, Samuel, Levi, Hugh, William, Betsey (SLOAN), Jane (REDICK), and Esther (DUTCHESS), all lived to rear families except Alexander and William, who died single. Nearly all resided in this county. James settled in Parker Township. His wife was Rebecca KNOX. Their children numbered eleven--Betsey, Sidney, Levi, George, Esther, Samuel, John, Rebecca, James, Houston and Eleanor.

    History of Huntingdon & Blair Counties, Pennsylvania (1883)
    Huntingdon County Marriages by Rev John Johnson (1787-1823)

    James McLaughlin married Nelly McCall September 11, 1801 in Huntingdon County