Margaret Gibb

Born in Jamaica c. 1795, sister of Mary Gibb (q.v.). Margaret had eight children with planter James Brock, owner of Industry plantation in St Ann, Jamaica. Five of her children were baptised in Jamaica, 06/09/1829: Elizabeth Gibb Brock, Margaret Jane Brock, John Alexander Brock, James Robert Brock and Sidney Henderson Brock. James Brock died in 1829 and after his death Margaret Gibb moved with their 7 surviving children to Denny in Stirlingshire, Scotland, James's birthplace. James bequeathed Industry plantation and a house in Scotland to Margaret Gibb and her children.

In 1840, an inventory of James Brock’s estate was carried out and documented in the Court of Session, possibly after the death of Margaret Gibb. At this time, three of his children were minors and living with various family members in the Denny area, one son had died in 1837, and the other three were now adults. The Court of Session document states that James Brock’s remaining assets, including £3500 that James Brock had invested in “three per cent consols,” and the assets of the Industry plantation in Jamaica were now divided 6 ways. The sum of £1300 was reported to have been already remitted to Scotland from proceeds from the plantation but the “state and condition thereof being unknown the amount or value thereof cannot be condescended on”. Proceeds from the estate may have continued to be paid to the six Brock children and their families for many years after this inventory.

Margaret Gibb has not been traced in any Scottish censuses.

At least four of her children remained in Scotland, as did her sister Mary Gibb. On the death certificate of Mary Gibb in 1878 her parents' names were given as Robert Gibb, planter, and Sydney Gibb nee Anderson.

Sydney Gibbes or Gibb, free Woman aged 35 Years was baptised in Trelawney, Jamaica, 11/12/1813 on the same day as Caroline Gibb, free mulatto daughter to said Sydney and Robert Gibb, a white man, age 20 years and 6 months. Also on the same day was baptised Edward Anderson a free quadroon, born November 1811 and baptised 11/12/1813, son to Mary Campbell a free mulatto and Adam Anderson a white man. Sydney Gibb, a free mulatto age 3 years was baptised in Trelawney 15/11/1816.

Familysearch.org batch no. I03817-7.

Copy of last will and Settlement of James Brock, Jamaica, 21/02/1829 (copy is dated 1857) supplied by Claire Callender.

Censuses online.

GROS Deaths 1884 476/2 5.

Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

We are grateful to Claire Callender for her assistance with compiling this entry.