MC1729: Valentine Gibbs fonds: [1836-1840]
Dates of creation: Photocopied 1989
Physical description: 25 pp.
of textual records
Biographical Sketch / Administrative History
Valentine Gibbs was born about 1787 in County
Kilkenny, Ireland. He immigrated to the Miramichi area of New Brunswick, probably
with his parents, eventually settling at Lower Pokemouche in Gloucester County
by 1820. On 15 January 1827 he married Isabelle Arseneau, the daughter of Hélène
Robichaud and Etienne Arseneau, and they had no fewer than 11 children: Marie
(McGraw), Brigitte (Robichaud), William, Valentin (died in infancy), Marguerite,
Valentine, Hélène, Elisabeth, Michel, Julie, and Marianne.
Valentine Gibbs, Sr., was engaged in farming
and lumbering. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Gloucester County
Agricultural Society, and prominent in the Gloucester militia, serving as Captain
in the 2nd battalion until his death. He died at Pokemouche on 16 September
1847 of "immigrant fever," which he contracted while assisting newly-arrived
Irish immigrants.
Several of Valentine's sons were also engaged
in farming. In 1861 sons Valentine and William and daughters, Margaret, Elisabeth
(Betsy) and Hélène were living in the parish of Inkerman, Gloucester County.
Valentine and Margaret resided with Charles Robichaud and his family, and Elisabeth
(Betsy) and Hélène were living with their brother William and his wife, Judy.
Several of Valentine Sr.'s children - Brigitte, Elisabeth, Valentine, and Michel
- married into the Robichaud family.
Source: Dictionnaire Biographique du Nord-Est
du Nouveau-Brunswick, La Revue d'Histoire de la Société Historique Nicolas-Denys,
Vol. XXIII, no. 1
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of photocopies of 8 letters
which were sent to Valentine Gibbs, Sr. between 1836 and 1840. The correspondents
- Valentine's sister Margreth, his cousins Silvester Dooly and Valentine Kennedy,
and his friend Michael Eagan - comment on family matters.
Baptismal information, dating from 1825 to 1847,
is also included for members of the Pierre Robichaud family of Pokemouche.
INVENTORY
MS1 Correspondence
to Valentine Gibbs, Sr., 1836-1840
A
Letter addressed
to Valentine Gibbs and dated Miramichi, 15th July [1834]. From unknown.
B
Letter addressed
"to Piece Butler, Meriamiche [Miramichi], North America to be forwarded to Valentine
Gibbs by private ship Kilkenny no. 2 1836. New York Ship, Dec. 20." Dated at Bohertaundish
(?), 2 November 1836, from [Marg ] Gibbs. Regards personal family business and news.
C
Letter addressed
"Merimashe [Miramichi], Chatam [Chatham] Post to James White for Valentine Gibbs."
Dated Chicago, 16 August 1836, from Silvester
Dooly. They may have been cousins. Regards Dooly's journey.
D
Letter addressed
"Mr. Valentine Gibbs care of Mr. James White, Chatham Street, Mirimachi [Miramichi],
New Brunswick." Dated at St. George's Bermuda, 21 December 1836,
from Valentine Kennedy, Gibbs' cousin. Regards Kennedy's journey to Bermuda. Also includes
some family news.
E
Letter addressed
"To the care of Reverend Mr. Eagan, Parish Priest of Nelson, Miramichi North
America by private ship, Valentine Gibbs.” Dated 27 June 1837, Bohertaundish, Kilkenny,
Ireland, from Marg Gibbs (Valentine's sister?). Regards family news, local deaths.
F
Letter addressed
to Valentine and dated Helltown, 11 August 1838, from Michael (?) Egan. Regards Gibbs'
possible accusation of Mr. Davidson for eating meat on a Friday during lent.
G
Letter addressed
to Mr. Valentine Gibbs, dated Nelson, 7 April 1840, from Michael O’Eagane Sogasth
P.
H
Letter addressed
"Mr. John Slack, Tavern Keeper, Chatham to be forwarded to Mr. Valentine Gibs
in your vicinity or on the coast elsewhere." It is dated 3 August 1832 and is from Salvester
Dooly (Gibbs' cousin?). It regards Dooly's travel and shipwreck off the
coast of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
MS2 Transcription
of baptisms (in French) for the Pierre Robichaud family of Pokemouche, 1825-1847.