Sarah Ann Gibson wife of David Randall - Can Lot 85 in Youngstown Ohio tell us who her family was?

WHO WERE SARAH (GIBSON) RANDOL'S PARENTS?

Does Lot 85 hold a clue?

Finding a female ancestor's lineage can be a frustrating challenge especially when you don't know her maiden name. Luckily for us, Sarah Ann "Sallie" Randall's maiden name of GIBSON was written in a family bible. Using land records, we are going to see if we can locate who Sarah's parents might have been. The biggest 2 leads are a parcel of land Sarah owned in Youngstown, Ohio, called "Lot 85" and a deed belonging to her brother in law, Enos Randall Jr in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

What are some facts we know about Sarah Ann "Sallie" (Gibson) Randall?

Sarah was born June 6th, 1769, most likely in Pennsylvania. In July of 1778, Sarah and her family were taken prisoner in the Wyoming Valley area of Pennsylvania. Below is an article published by the Ashtabula Sentinel on August 30th of 1877 talks about Sarah's capture.

SOURCE:"A Sketch of the Early History of Williamsfield" by William Giddings (An article in the Ashtabula Sentinel, August 30, 1877 page 8) - Ashtabula County OH:

"Mrs. Randall was fitted by nature to be the wife of such a pioneer. Born on the frontier, she was familiar with border life, and never felt fear. No weather or disease deterred her from ministering to the sick and attending to their wants. In the year 1778 she was living in Wyoming Valley, and was about ten years of age. – After the battle near Wyoming fort, between Union troops under Colonel Z. Butler any Torys, Indians, John Butler and Brant (the chief of the Indians) in which the Union troops were defeated, her family were taken prisoners on July 4, 1778. While the Indians and squaws were securing the prisoners, one old squaw had taken a silk dress belonging to her mother and cut the skirt off and put it over her shoulders. The heroic girl started for her and said she should not have it; and told her mother to take it from her. After some trouble she was quieted, but not reconciled to the old squaw’s wearing her mother’s dress. Brant soon ordered them to march, and she suffered the hardships and insults of a child among the Indians a number of weeks before she was rescued. She was the mother of seven children; four sons and three daughters. The sons were large, stout men, and good hunters; they supplied the early settlers with bears, meat and venison. Of the girls, the oldest, Anna, was the wife of Major Case, one of the two families that settled here on August 24, 1804; the death of her husband occurred in 1821; she lived in this township about ten years after the death of her husband, and then went to Indiana with her family. Sally and Phoebe were twins, the two first children born in Kinsman; Sally married Rex Brown and lived in Wayne; Phoebe married Hiram Allen and settled in Wayne; she was left a widow in about two years, and afterward married Charles Woodworth and lived in this town. With these two last daughters mother Randall spent her last days, living to a good old age, loved and respected by all who knew her.

In the year 1806 Samuel Randall settled on the farm now occupied by Orin Humphrey. He married Miss Abigail Lewis of Kinsman. In 1815 he sold to Nathaniel Reed, and settled again near the north line of the town, where Reuben Woodworth now lives.

I have sketched some incidences in the lives of the first pioneers of this town. I have attended school with their children, and was familiar with them for many years.

They have passed away. All gone! Not one that bears the name of Case or Randall, not any of their descendants, are now living in this town, except some of Charles Woodsworth's family.” by William Giddings

Sarah married David Randall on May 4th, 1784 in Canoe Place, Pennsylvania. 

Marriage details stated in a probate court affidavit. Citation information: Detail: Probate Court Affidavit - Ashtabula County, Ohio. Other information: Judge J.A. Giddings, Probate Judge of Ashtabula County, Ohio. Source information: No source specified for this citation. Repository information: No repository specified for this source.

In documents the Randall name can be found spelled:

 Randol, Randall, Rannel, Randle and Randolph.

In 1804 Sarah and her husband David were living in Greene twp, Trumbull county, Ohio. At that time, John Young was selling parcels of land in Ohio, part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. Mr. Young had purchased 15,560 acres from the Connecticut Land Company and formed the town of Youngstown, Ohio. In 1804, Sarah under her married name of Randall, purchased a single lot numbered 85 situated along Market Street in Youngstown. In 1804, Youngstown was part of Trumbull county, Ohio. This area later became Mahoning county, Ohio. Prior to Sarah's 1804 deed, there was a James Gibson who also purchased land from John Young in Youngstown but in 1801. Later in 1808 John Gibson, son of James purchases land there as well.

Source: The Book. "History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Ohio. V.01" by Butler, Joseph G. (Joseph Green), 1840-1927. Citation: https://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/digital/collection/p16998coll15/id/36156

1804 John Young sold land to Sarah Randall

Deeds of Trumbull County, Ohio. Date of Deed: May 21, 1804. Grantor: John Young. Grantee: Sarah Randall. Vol. F. Page 212. Township 2, Range 2. Lot 85. $25.00.

General Index to Deeds. Volume v. A. Language English. Creator: Trumbull County (Ohio). Recorder. Custodian. Trumbull County (Ohio). Recorder. Archival Reference Number None 0. Image Group Number: 005123050. Film Item Notes.

-Citation

"Trumbull, Ohio, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYXN-WX?view=explore : May 31, 2025), image 579 of 604; Trumbull County (Ohio). Recorder. Image Group Number: 005123050

Deed Record. Volume v. F. Language English. Creator Trumbull County (Ohio). Recorder Custodian Trumbull County (Ohio). Recorder Archival Reference Number Deed Records-Volume F-1800-1804 Image Group Number 005409513 Film Item Notes -

Citation

"Trumbull, Ohio, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9S8-J975-5?view=explore : May 31, 2025), image 213 of 375; Trumbull County (Ohio). Recorder. Image Group Number: 005409513

Sarah's husband David Randall is found in tax records for Youngstown 1801 - 1803. 

In 1809 Sarah Randall and husband David Randall sell Lot 85 in Youngstown to Mary Applegate and husband James Applegate. In this Deed they misspell the Randall name as Randolph, then it is corrected to Randall. Signed by Samuel Tylee, Justice of the Peace.

Transcribed Record of Deeds Volume v. E Language English Creator Mahoning County (Ohio). County Recorder Custodian - Archival Reference Number - Image Group Number 004022022 Film Item Notes -

Citation

"Mahoning, Ohio, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892H-K9MG-R?view=explore : May 31, 2025), image 176 of 329; . Image Group Number: 004022022

In 1801 Capt. James Gibson from Cumberland County, PA purchases land from John Young in Youngstown. This is the family we are going to focus on as a possible family relationship for Sarah. If James is not her father, could he be an Uncle? James Gibson was said to have been born in Ireland in approximately 1747. He married to Annabelle Dixon. It is also said he lived in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania until he was in his 50's. He planned to move his family to Warren, Pennsylvania but realized Youngstown had more to offer. James and Annabelle had sons: Robert Dixon Gibson, James Gibson Jr, Samuel Gibson and John Gibson. It is said they had one daughter. This daughter is not in Deeds or in the probate of James Gibson Sr. There is one minor female mentioned however, that is Isabelle Gibson, daughter of James Gibson Jr. James Gibson Jr had drown.

Findagrave bio reads: 

History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Vol. 1, p. 436 

"James Gibson . . . was married to Anna Belle Dixon in 1777. She had two brothers who were members of Captain Gibson's company, and were both killed in battle with the Indians while under his command. James and his wife had five children born to them, four sons and one daughter. John, the oldest son, was born July 29, 1779. On that same day the whites were attacked by the Indians and a terrible battle took place in the neighborhood where they lived. The mother and infant were carried by their friends to the river, placed in a canoe and floated down stream to a place of safety. Several of Captain Gibson's men were killed in this fight, among them one of Mrs. Gibson's brothers. Their home and its contents were burned. A few days afterwards another brother was killed.

John Gibson was married to Miss Esther Davidson in 1801, by Rev. William Wick. His father gave him one hundred acres of the south side of lot forty-three in Youngstown township, on which he spent the remainder of his life. He purchased seventy-five acres more from an adjoining farm. They had ten children, four boys and six girls. Three of the girls are yet living. John Gibson died October 28, 1833. His wife died in May, 1848, aged seventy-two years."

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99688545/john-gibson

Note that the story from findagrave is very similar to Sarah (Gibson) Randall's article from the Ashtabula Sentinel. The dates both being July with a year difference of time frame. It makes one question if this could be the same family but one of the articles is incorrect. This could also be a total coincidence. This story plus the close proximity in land does make once curious.

More information James Gibson's children found in stories on Ancestry.com

http://www.archive.org/stream/historyoftrumbul01will#page/435/mode/1up

History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties

with illustrations and biographical sketches

Published 1882 by H. S. Williams in Cleveland .

pg 436 TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

"James Gibson had ten children, four boys and six girls. John Gibson was married to Miss Esther Davidson in 1801, by Rev. William Wick. His father gave him one hundred acres of the south side of lot forty-three in Youngstown township, on which he spent the remainder of his life. He purchased seventy-five acres more from an adjoining farm. They had ten children, four boys and six girls. Three of the girls are yet living. John Gibson died October 28, 1833. His wife died in May, 1848, aged seventy-two years. The other sons of James Gibson, Robert, James, and Samuel, staid with their parents and cleared up the farm. In 1815 they bought two hundred and fifty acres more, lying on the west side of the original purchase. James Gibson, the elder, died in 1817; his wife died in March, 1836, at the age of eighty eight years. Robert D. Gibson and Lydia Marshall were married April 16, 1818. They had nine children, four of whom are now living, viz: Samuel, John, Mrs. A. O. Hine, and Mrs. James Neilson. Lydia Marshall was the daughter of James Marshall, who came from Hunting-"

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. pg 437

" In the spring of 1821 Robert D., James, and Samuel Gibson divided their lands. Robert took two hundred acres from the south end, and James and Samuel took three hundred and twenty-five acres on the north, extending to the Mahoning river.

James Gibson was married to Miss Jane Riddle in May, 1833. They had one daughter. He, James Gibson, was drowned in the spring of 1835, while trying to ford the Mahoning on horseback, at what was known as the Gibson fording.

Samuel Gibson, the youngest of the four sons of James Gibson, was a deaf mute. He was a very large and strong man, kind hearted and industrious and systematic in all that he did. He was a great lover of horses and always kept his own in good order, and they were considered the best trained horses in the neighborhood. He conversed by motions of the hands and face, and took pleasure in telling of the privations of pioneer life and of the game he used to kill. He was very expert in the use of the rifle. He died in his seventieth year, never having been married.

Robert D. Gibson died at the old homestead, March, 1863, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife died at the same place in August, 1873, at the age of seventy-seven years.

After the death of James Gibson by drowning, the lands of James and Samuel, the mute, were divided. Henry Wick bought some two hundred acres of the river farm, and Robert McCartney twenty acres. Samuel kept the balance, including the big spring and the buildings.

Robert's son Samuel afterwards bought the land that his uncle Samuel, the mute, had owned, and in 1870 sold a portion of it to Andrew Hitchcock. He resides on the balance near the spring. John Gibson, Robert's youngest son, lives on the old homestead. There remains of the third generation Mrs. Stephen Saxton, of Poland, Ohio, about seventy years of age. Mrs. George Allen, about sixty-seven years of age, living near New Bedford, Pennsylvania; and Mrs. George Dickson, about sixty-two years of age, daughter of John Gibson; and Mrs. Brindley, living near Wheatland, Pennsylvania, the daughter of James Gibson, aged forty-eight years.

James Gibson served about one year in the War of 1812. Robert D. Gibson served about three months in the same war.

[A more detailed account can be found in Capt. James Gibson and Anna Belle, his wife and their descendants by W.T. Gibson http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89066148974 ]

LOT 85!

Sarah (Gibson) Randall's lot location in correlation to where the Gibson family was located.

This map below was of landowners after James Gibson Sr's death. James Sr owned lot 43. His sons held on to his land and they are listed there as James Gibson (Jr) (lot 43) and Samuel Gibson. Examining deeds for lot 85 and those deeds discussing bordering lot 85, we know its approximate area on Market Street. This area looks to have been businesses. Did Sarah run a shop? Sarah owned lot 85 on Market Street while James Sr was still alive on lot 43.

Map below of Youngstown found on the Library of Congress website

 Title: Map of Mahoning County, Ohio : showing the original lots and farm. Names Canfield, J. W. Schuchman, William, 1823 or 1824- Created / Published Canfield, Ohio : J. W. Canfield, 1860. Pittsburgh, Pa. : Wm. Schuchman, lith.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4083m.la000651/?r=-0.205,0,1.41,0.679,0

Could this James Gibson be the father of Sarah or is he an Uncle? It is a good chance they are related in some manner.

Could Sarah be related to the Applegate family she sold Lot 85 to?

In 1807, Sarah sold Lot 85 to Mary & James Applegate. 

When taking a close look at the Applegate family, there is an estate record for a man named Joseph Stewart of Hubbard, Trumbull, Ohio in 1853. In it Benjamin Applegate and John Findley Gibson are named Administrators. John Findley Gibson married Joseph Stewart's daughter Maria. John Findley Gibson is the son of John Gibson (Sr). John Sr is the son of Capt. James Gibson (of the above lot 43). Mary & James Applegate had a son Benjamin, could this be the Benjamin Applegate administrator? Could Sarah this further indicate Sarah may be related to these Gibsons.

Final Record. Volume v. 1. Language: English. Creator: Ohio. Probate Court (Trumbull County). Custodian: Ohio. County Court (Trumbull County). Archival Reference Number - Image Group Number 004019838(Item 1 of 2) Film Item Notes -

Citation

"Trumbull, Ohio, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9Q2-HQSR?view=explore : May 31, 2025), image 125 of 268; Ohio. County Court (Trumbull County). Image Group Number: 004019838

Let's discuss the Deed in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Enos Randall Jr, Sarah's brother in law had a deed witnesses by two Gibsons.

We have yet to find Randalls in documents with Gibsons until Cape Girardeau. This Deed dated 29 September 1806 is Enos Randall Jr (brother in law of Sarah) selling land to Edward F Bond. Witnesses are: Betsey Gibson and Arra Minta Gibson. Could these women be related to Sarah?

Citation: "Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSRH-6NYY?view=explore : Jul 31, 2025), image 36 of 58; . Image Group Number: 008298143

More research is needed on the Gibson in Cape Girardeau. 

 That's the end of today's blog. I just wanted to make sure to get this information out on the internet for those of you also researching this line. If you have more details to share please comment. We are also working on DNA surrounding Sarah. We are looking for more direct descendants of Sarah to download their DNA from Ancestry DNA or another other platform and upload it in to Gedmatch. There we can do further runs against other Gibsons in the system, to see who seems to match. Until, then we are working with a limited pool. 

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions. DNAmaeve@gmail.com

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Enjoy and happy researching!

Sunny