20 August 1867

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain J. W. Francis

A passionate letter in which Tobias refuses to comply with General Sheridan's orders to act as a commissioner of elections. He claims that supporters of negro voting rights are violating the U.S. Constitution, which he believes supports a "white mans government." He argues that social peace either excludes suffrage for blacks or severely restricts it. He fears giving political power to Black people and that white people would become inferior. "I must respectfully decline to change all my school boy lessons & to adopt a faith which Consigns the land of Washington & Jefferson [3]…

GLC04501.099

19 March 1845

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Sarah Gibson]

A touching letter in which Tobias declares he will always have a special place for his oldest child, Sarah. The letter also contains Gibson family genealogy since before the revolution.

GLC04501.044

February 2, 1846

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Sarah Gibson]

He wants Sarah to spend a year in Philadelphia and another in New York to finish her education. By the time she finishes school, the new house in Lexington and the plantation in Louisiana should be completed. Continued 2/8/1846.

GLC04501.050

6 November 1850

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife Louisiana B. Gibson

He writes that due to the heat and a recent dry spell, the river is not high enough to let boats pass therefore, Louisiana will not be able to join the family. The younger boys are learning the "sugar business". He has heard from Randall, who is at South Hampton, but not from Hart. He sends his love to Sarah and Loula.

GLC04501.060

13 July 1852

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Preston Gibson

He urges Preston to do something with his life. Writes that uncle William is ill, his daughter Loula has worms, and Hart and Claude are on their way home. He concludes by commenting on the pageantry of Mr. Clay's funeral.

GLC04501.067

January 15, 1853

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randall Lee Gibson

Discusses plantation business. They are still digging ditches in an attempt to make the place healthier. He discusses the debates concerning the annexation of Cuba. Sarah will soon have to make a decision between J.H. (Joseph Humphreys) and T.G.R. (perhaps another suitor for Sarah). Her father will not interfere as he thinks both would make a good match.

GLC04501.068

11 October 1853

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph A. Humphreys

He has decided to stay in Lexington for a while. Sarah (Gibson Humphreys) writes the second page of the letter and teases her husband about being away from home.

GLC04501.071

8 December 1854

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randall Lee Gibson

Writes about plantation business. He hopes Randall and Preston will write to him from New Orleans.

GLC04501.074

January 28, 1855

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randall Lee Gibson

Hart has graduated but his father feels he was a lazy and sluggish student. He mentions the sugar and molasses crops.

GLC04501.076

28 May 1856

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his son

Family news and problems with the sugar crop.

GLC04501.077

7 October 1858

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

Writes that he has just arrived and that both the cash crop and the provision crops are doing well. He wishes he could bring surplus hands from Sumners Forest to Live Oak to help with the sugar grinding. He feels guilty about leaving Loula and Hart with her since she has children of her own. The letter is continued on October 8th.

GLC04501.087

20 February 1871

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

A melancholy letter discussing the difficulty of running a profitable plantation. Tobias worries over his children and his failings. He mentions the death of his wife, 20 years ago to the day. He writes of another woman he fell in love with after Louisiana died: "we were everything to each other but the nuptial ceremony . . . ." but "we do not correspond, but I hear occasionally of her."

GLC04501.100

1861-1865

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Sarah Gibson Humphreys]

He discusses social activities in Lexington. He also instructs Sarah to forward his letters if she and Mr. Humphreys cannot come to Lexington.

GLC04501.104

29 December 1861

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randall Lee Gibson

The letter provides news about the plantation crop and Randall's friends in New Orleans. Tobias Gibson believes Seward will "comply with the British demand."[Refers to the Trent Affair. Britain demanded the release of Southern Commissioners, James M. Mason and John Slidell.] Continued on 12/30. Surgeon C.M. Smith [see # 4] told Tobias he may not be able to return to duty. The North released Mason and Slidell.

GLC04501.020

14 April 1864

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Loula Gibson]

The recipient is inferred from the content of the letter. Gibson completed an "unpleasant affair" (settled a contract) with the hands who will work on the plantation. He bitterly complains of being under the rule of the Provost Marshall and Federal occupation, "American ideas of liberty have totally changed since this Negro War began & education for them is soon to be the order of the Day by Regular Military order. Whilst as far as I know the white [2] Children are to grow up in ignorance or mix in the same cabin with the Negro with the same Yankee Marm for the teacher! How much…

GLC04501.095

3 August 1864

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

He writes that "The blacks are getting worse every day & at the end of this year I think they will be intolerable on account of bad work and the condition of the crops. I told them they must work on Saturday evening last - but they would not do it, and a dozen of the best men, Wesley at the head, went off to Thibodeux (wouldn't go to Capt Lee) and last night got back with a paper from Genl Cameron requiring them [2] to go to work till the Provost Marshall had investigated the matter..." He believes that he will lose half his cotton crop. He notes that Southern feelings will become…

GLC04501.097