Here's a good one I think.
I noticed looking at the grave sites, that she outlived not only her parents, but all but one of her siblings, and even all but 2 of her children. She died when 65 years old.
I've never been able to find out why her middle name was Benson. Born in South Carolina, of parents from Virginia. Maybe a famous politician or soldier that they looked up to. Maybe a famous Reverend of their faith, the Baptists. There was a Judge Gabriel Benson who was in the War of 1812, came from VA to Greenville, Spartanburg County SC, and then was in Perry County AL. Lucinda's father had followed a similar journey (living in Union District SC.) But Judge Gabriel Benson wasn't related, and wasn't a great soldier, just a private. However, maybe their paths crossed and Hiram Gibbs and his wife, Sabra Ann Wilbourn Gibbs had a reason to remember a Benson by giving their daughter his surname for her middle name. Perhaps he was asked to be a godfather (if Baptists do that).
A lot of speculation. I looked to see if he was in the SC area when Luci was born. He had a daughter born the same year, but was living in Alabama most of his life and at that time as well. He had several children who died in Union Parish LA, however, but not for many years. Luci spent many years in Mount Lebanon, Bienville Parish, Louisiana.
And why is he on my family tree over on Ancestry? Well, he's the ancestor of someone who married into the Bass family, and Bettie Bass was my grandfather Geroge Rogers' mother. Ancestry says he was the father-in-law of my 3rd great uncle!
And perhaps it was a woman's name that was given to Luci after all! Often a grandmother's name, or great grandmother's surname might be given to a daughter at birth (like I was.) But Hiram Gibb's grandmother had been a Barnett!
I'll put this question in the back of my mind, and maybe wake up in the middle of the night with another Ah-Ha moment in a few years.
And just to give a bit more history about the family...here's a quoted article about George Washington Rogers and his wife, Lucinda. I was thinking about how Luci had had her husband's body reinterred in Mount Lebanon, LA but she herself had died and been buried in Huntsville TX. I dare say she would roll over in her grave that she hadn't also been taken to Mount Lebanon where she more connections!
Biography of George Washington Rogers
(Feb. 7, 1820-Jan. 26, 1864, buried at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Bienville
Parish, LA.)
LUCINDA BENSON GIBBS (1818-1884) future wife of Colonel GEORGE WASHINGTON ROGERS
(1820-1864).
G.W. Rogers served in the War in Mexico - under Captain Gillespie; Col. John C.
Hays: 1st Regiment Texas Rangers, Gen. Zachary Taylor. He was wounded on
assault on Bishop's Palace, Monterrey, Mexico. His name is on the Gillespie
Monument in Huntsville, Texas. After the battle (from war department 1846) Col.
George Washington Rogers lay wounded on battle field all night, during icy
storm. He contracted tuberculosis. After recuperating, he returned to his home
in Gibbsland, LA. Later he married Lucinda Benson Gibbs.
George Washington Rogers and his wife, Lucinda Benson Gibbs purchased 600 acres
of land in Walker county in 1844 from Pleasant Gray and his wife, Hannah.
(This being out of their Headright.) Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Rogers were said to be
the wealthiest family in town and their Greek-Revival style home on University
Avenue was the finest in its heyday. The aristocracy from East Texas were
entertained there. (G.W. Rogers was Huntsville's first Treasurer.) One feature
was a huge ballroom that occupied the southeast wing. In later years, the
house served as the president's mansion for the third president of Austin
College - Rufus Bailey. The house also became the home of H.H. Smith, the
second president of Sam Houston Normal Institute. Other owners made changes in
the house, but it has been restored and is still standing today.
Listed in 1850 Walker County Census as a merchant, 30 years old.
Died near Cotton Gin, Freestone, Texas. (After remaining in Texas for 2 years,
remains were moved to Mount Lebanon, La., and interred by Mt. Lebanon Masonic
Lodge #104.)
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| Interestingly enough, she doesn't have herself listed as "wife of G.W. Rogers" |
