Mays Family Tree - Person Sheet
Never married
Misc. Notes
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM GIBBONS, a son of the second Joseph, was one of the young men of Chester County who was honorably distinguished in the war for independence. He belonged to the Sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, and was selected by Gen. Wayne to lead a forlorn hope of twenty men in the most brilliant and daring exploit of the war,— the capture of the enemy’s fortress on the Hudson River, at Stony Point. The approaches to the enemy’s works were obstructed first by a deep morass, and then by double rows of abatis in front and flank. It was the duty of Gibbons to cross this morass with his men, remove the abatis and other obstructions, and thus open the way for the assaulting party, consisting of one hundred and fifty volunteers, with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, constituting the van of the right column.
A like duty was assigned to Lieut. Knox, of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment, with twenty men, who preceded the van of the left. The order for the assault was given at midnight on the 15th of July, 1779, with specific and pointed orders that there was to be no firing on the enemy, but that the whole dependence of the assaulting columns was to be placed on the bayonet alone. Gibbons moved across the morass with his twenty men. A terrific and incessant fire of musketry and grape-shot was opened from the fortress on the advancing heroes. Not a shot was returned. Encouraged by the resolute lieutenant, not a man flinched from his duty. Seventeen of the twenty fell, killed or wounded, but Gibbons accomplished his work, and the assaulting column, following him, forced its way by the bayonet alone through the fire and into the fortress, and in the very centre of the works met the van of the left, which had been equally successful. The garrison surrendered at discretion. Gen. Wayne’s official report of the capture of Stony Point may be found in the 8th volume of The Remembrancer, p. 368, etc., and also the resolutions of thanks passed by Congress on the 26th of July, 1779, for what they distinguish as "a glorious enterprise." Among the resolutions is the following:
"Resolved, That Congress warmly approve and applaud the cool determined spirit with which Lieut. Gibbons and Lieut. Knox led on the forlorn hope, braving danger and death in the cause of their country."
A sword was presented to each of them by Congress, with a brevet of captain. Lieut. Gibbons was afterwards promoted to the rank of major, continued in the service till the end of the war, and returned to private life deeply marked by honorable scars. He removed to Virginia, and was appointed by President Washington, United States collector of the port of Richmond.
He was a warm Federalist, and when Jefferson was elected to the Presidency he was urged to remove Gibbons from the office, under the pretext that he had entertained at his house the friends of Aaron Burr during his trial. On being strongly pressed, Mr. Jefferson jocularly but peremptorily replied, "Remove the major! I would sooner divide my last hoe-cake with him!" (Randall’s "Life of Jefferson," vol. iii. p. 218.)
The major died unmarried. There seems to be no record of the date of his death.
A like duty was assigned to Lieut. Knox, of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment, with twenty men, who preceded the van of the left. The order for the assault was given at midnight on the 15th of July, 1779, with specific and pointed orders that there was to be no firing on the enemy, but that the whole dependence of the assaulting columns was to be placed on the bayonet alone. Gibbons moved across the morass with his twenty men. A terrific and incessant fire of musketry and grape-shot was opened from the fortress on the advancing heroes. Not a shot was returned. Encouraged by the resolute lieutenant, not a man flinched from his duty. Seventeen of the twenty fell, killed or wounded, but Gibbons accomplished his work, and the assaulting column, following him, forced its way by the bayonet alone through the fire and into the fortress, and in the very centre of the works met the van of the left, which had been equally successful. The garrison surrendered at discretion. Gen. Wayne’s official report of the capture of Stony Point may be found in the 8th volume of The Remembrancer, p. 368, etc., and also the resolutions of thanks passed by Congress on the 26th of July, 1779, for what they distinguish as "a glorious enterprise." Among the resolutions is the following:
"Resolved, That Congress warmly approve and applaud the cool determined spirit with which Lieut. Gibbons and Lieut. Knox led on the forlorn hope, braving danger and death in the cause of their country."
A sword was presented to each of them by Congress, with a brevet of captain. Lieut. Gibbons was afterwards promoted to the rank of major, continued in the service till the end of the war, and returned to private life deeply marked by honorable scars. He removed to Virginia, and was appointed by President Washington, United States collector of the port of Richmond.
He was a warm Federalist, and when Jefferson was elected to the Presidency he was urged to remove Gibbons from the office, under the pretext that he had entertained at his house the friends of Aaron Burr during his trial. On being strongly pressed, Mr. Jefferson jocularly but peremptorily replied, "Remove the major! I would sooner divide my last hoe-cake with him!" (Randall’s "Life of Jefferson," vol. iii. p. 218.)
The major died unmarried. There seems to be no record of the date of his death.