William Gibson (1753-1838)
James Dodson
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
William Gibson was born near Knockbracken, County Down, Ireland, July 1, 1753. Though born in the general Presbyterian body, he joined the Reformed Presbyterians early in life because of the defections amongst the larger Presbyterian body. He passed through routine studies in the national studies, and under private instructors, and graduated from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1775. He studied theology in Edinburgh, and was licensed by the Reformed Presbytery of Ireland, May 19, 1781. After some years of preaching in vacant pulpits, he was installed pastor of the united congregations of Kellswater and Culleybackey, Country Antrim, Ireland, April 17, 1787. Due to the subjects upon which he preached, he came to the notice of the civil government and was suspected of countenancing rebellion as a member of the “United Irishmen.” As a Covenanter, he refused to take the oath of allegiance required during the civil upheaval. So, in 1797, he and his family fled to America where they joined up with his brother in law, the Rev. James McKinney. Together, he and McKinney constituted the Reformed Presbytery in America, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May, 1798. For a time, he pastored a Covenanter congregation in Ryegate, Vermont, resigning in 1815. At the time of the breach in the Synod, in 1833, Gibson remained on the side of the “Old Lights” along with his son Robert, also a minister. In the summer of 1838, he became increasingly debilitated due to old age and died, October 15, 1838. He was one of the principal authors of the American Testimony and published two pamphlets relating to the Hopkinsian controversy.
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