New York State Library
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James Gibson, 1816-1897
Papers, 1832-1894

SC21142

Quantity: 3 Boxes (1.0 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Collation from single accessions, January 1995
Processed By: Fred Bassett, Senior Librarian, Manuscripts and Special Collections, February 1995; revised by Vicki Weiss, January 2008

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Biographical Note:

James Gibson, attorney and politician, was born at Salem, New York, September 5, 1816. He was educated at Washington Academy and, in 1836, was admitted to law practice. In 1838 he assumed the position as editor of the Washington County Post, which was affiliated with the Whig Party; he edited the newspaper through the presidential election campaign of 1840.  In 1848 he was an unsuccessful candidate for justice of the Supreme Court. In 1850 he was elected to the position of Washington County judge, a position he held from November 1851 to November 1855. In 1866 he was elected to the New York State Senate, having served only one term. Gibson was also an active member of numerous civic, learned, fraternal, and social organizations in Salem. He served on the board of trustees of the Washington Academy for many years, taking an active interest in its administrative matters. He was also active in the Washington County Historical Society, serving as president in 1876. He devoted much time to researching and writing about the history of Salem. He died in Salem in 1897.

Scope and Contents Note:

This collection of original manuscripts compiled by James Gibson relate to matters of his personal and professional career as well as his interest in local history and the Washington Academy. It includes correspondence, mostly with his brother, ca.1832-1839, that contains comments on local government and politics; a bound volume of incoming letters received while he was a member of the New York State Senate, 1866-1867, and an assortment of legal documents related to his law practice.

Gibson's interest in local history, especially the Town of Salem, is documented in a portion of a manuscript draft history of the town he had written and two scrapbooks consisting of news clippings on people and events of Washington County, ca.1893-1894. In addition, this collection includes several early letters, land titles, and court records of Salem that Gibson collected for his research. Lastly, this collection contains a variety of papers related to Gibson's position on the Washington Academy board of trustees. Included are letters related to the purchase of a piano; applications for teaching positions; subscription lists regarding building maintenance and academic facilities; and commencement programs.

Box and Folder List:

Box Folder Contents
1 1 Correspondence, 1832-1836 (Transfer from acc. #3831 and 3832)
1 2 Correspondence, January-June 1837 (Transfer from acc. #3831 and 3839)
1 3 Correspondence, July-December 1837 (Transfer from acc. #3831, 3832 and 3839)
1 4 Correspondence, 1838-1839 (Transfer from acc. #3829, 3831, 3832, 3839)
1 5 Correspondence, 1840-1870 (Transfer from acc. #3830, 3832, 12810(5), 12810(6), 12810(7), 12810(8), 12810(9), 12810(10), 12810(11))
1 6 Letters of others
  1. Davie Bethune to Mrs. Norse, A.L.S., May 24, 1797 (Transfer from acc. #12810(1))
  2. Davie Bethune to Joseph Norse, A.L.S., April 26, 1821 (Transfer from acc. #12810(2))
  3. S.T. Tanner to Samuel Stevens, A.L.S., April 27, 1829 (Transfer from acc. #12810(3))
  4. D. Wilson to Jane Woodworth, A.L.S., May 21, 1838 (Transfer from acc. #12810(4))
1 7 Land Titles and Legal Papers
  1. Lease, January 17, 1800. Goldsbrow Banyar to Walter Martin, Lot 22, Cambridge, New York (Transfer from acc. #12810(13))
  2. Execution (Judgment), November 20, 1810. Salem, New York. Benjamin Safford to pay Abram and Ephraim Allen (Transfer from acc. #12810(14))
  3. Affidavit of William Guthrie, March 7, 1822, before Washington County Court of Common Pleas (Transfer from acc. #12810(15))
  4. Deed, April 1, 1871. R.G. Oathy to John Edwards (Fragment) (Transfer from acc. #12810(17))
  5. Deed, April 1, 1871. John M. Williams to John Edwards. 40 acres of land in Town of Salem, Washington County, New York (Transfer from acc. #12810(18))
  6. Case brief: Timothy Packard vs. James Jackson, et. al., Washington County, New York, April 22, 1829  (Transfer from acc. #12810(16))
  7. Testimony o Employers, Neighbors or Acquaintances of Soldier (printed form). In the claim of Robert G. Allen, Co. B, 2[d] Reg't. N.Y. Inf. (incomplete), n.d. (Transfer from acc. #12810(22))
  8. Re: Tract of land granted to Butter Stonestreet by James P. Preston, Governor of Virginia, December 1, 1819 (Transfer from acc. #3835)
1 8 Docket, August 1820 Term (Washington County Court of Common Pleas?) (Transfer from acc. #5175)
1 9 Docket, December 1820 (Transfer from acc. #5175)
1 10 Docket, March 1822 (Transfer from acc. #5175)
1 11 Dockets, May, August and December 1822 terms (Transfer from acc. #5175)
1 12 Case briefs. Washington County Court of Common Pleas
  1. Aaron Ferris v. Guy Watkins, 1820 (Transfer from acc. #5175)
  2. Leonard Gibbs v. David Russell, 1820 (Transfer from acc. #5175)
  3. Lydia Brown v. John Alexander [1820?] (Transfer from acc. #5176)
1 13 Contracts, certificates, orders, and notes, 1835 (Transfer from acc. #3828)
1 14 Canceled checks of James Gibson, 1872 (Transfer from acc. #12180(19))
1 15 Account, Abstract, 1868. 30th Rgt. New York National Guard (Transfer from acc. #3855, 3856)

Newspaper clipping: [   ]ected Casualty List and Mortuary Record of the 22d Regiment N.Y. Volunteers, from the time of its departure from Falmouth, Va., Sunday Aug. 10, 1862, to its encampment near Sharpsburgh, Md., Monday Sept. 29, 1862. Reported for the Ledger by Mr. D.H. King. [Verso indicates the item appeared in an October issue] (Transfer from acc. #3853)
1 16 Draft and Notes: History of Salem, Washington County, New York (Incomplete, p. 33-91)
1 17 Miscellaneous
  1. List of letters received, n.d. (Transfer from acc. #3836)
  2. List of pieces of declamations spoken by James Gibson, 1831 (Transfer from acc. #3849)
  3. Inventory of books in Law Library, 1824 (Transfer from acc. #3828)
  4. Genealogical notes (Transfer from acc. #3830)
  5. Copy of letter written by Charles Guiteau re: assassination of James Garfield (Transfer from acc. #128160(12))
  6. Poem: "Lament for Old Joe" (Transfer from acc. #12810(21))
  7. Photograph: Robt. Mac Carter (?); taken by W. Klauser, 630 Broadway, N.Y.
    Washington Academy Papers
1 18 Correspondence, 1868-1873 re: purchase and service of piano and school-related matters (Transfer from acc. #3833 and 3850)
1 19 Personnel
  1. William Gurrie. Contract as Principal, March 25, 1805 (Transfer from acc. #3837)
  2. Teachers Applications, 1868-1875, 4 items (Transfer from acc. #3852)
1 20 Financial Papers
  1. Tuition Receipts, 1812-1819, 7 items (Transfer from acc. #3838)
  2. Building and Grounds, 1859, 8 items (Transfer from acc. #3841)
  3. Subscription received for roof repairs, 1838 (Transfer from acc. #3841)
  4. Subscription agreement of J.A. McFarland, 1862 (Transfer from acc. #3846)
  5. Letter to Trustees from Stanley, Brown & Clark, Attorneys, December 16, 1874, with calling card (Transfer from acc. #3847)
1 21 Special Events
  1. Washington Academy Central, 1880, 4 items (Transfer from acc. #3854)
  2. Regents Convocation, Union College, 1875, 2 items (Transfer from acc. #3840)
1 22 Commencement
  1. Address of James Gibson, 1895 (Transfer from acc. #3834)
  2. Programs, v.d. 1884-1894, 11 items (Transfer from acc. #3834)
1 23 News Clippings, v.d., 1872-1894 (Transfer from acc. #3842, 3845, 3851)
2 v. 1 Letterbook, 1866-1867. Letters received as a member of the New York State Senate. Bound, 575 letters inclusive; includes index to correspondents (Transfer from acc. #3768)
3 v. 1 Account Book, 1835-1837, Bound, 152 p. (Transfer from acc. #3756)
3 v. 2 Scrapbook: History of Washington County, c.1893-1894, Bound, 38 p. (Transfer from acc. #3755)
3 v. 3 Scrapbook: History of Washington County, c.1893-1894, Bound, 82 p. (Transfer from acc. #3761)
3 v. 4 Timeline of events relative to Colonial History of New York State, ca 1600-1775; compiled ca. 1850 : 55 p. + blanks; includes supplement relative to history of Washington County and vicinity, ca. 1740-1850 (Transfer from acc. #3757)
Last Updated: February 15, 2022