Gibson of Derry (possible Templemore/Coshquin?)

I’m searching for information about my Gibson (sometimes spelled Gipson) ancestors. They came to Steuben/Schuyler counties in NY in the mid 1850’s from Londonderry, Northern Ireland. All but one moved to Vinland, WI a few years later. The oldest ancestors I have are William and Christina Gibson, both born around 1800. A later descendent was called Mary Christina, so it’s possibly the elder Christina was actually named Mary Christina.

 

Children of Christina and William were Joseph, Margaret Jane, Rebecca and William Allen all born in the late 1820’s and early 1830’s. William Sr did not come to America, so it’s suspected he died prior to 1854. The Gibson’s arrived around 1853, with Margaret and Rebecca arriving together.  

 

Rebecca married James McLaughlin (family originally from Donegal) and they lived in Watkins Glen and Hornby, NY. Joseph and William both married McCarty’s, I believe. My ancestor Margaret married John Lord in Vinland, WI in 1857. Rebecca was the only child who remained in New York; Joseph, Margaret and William all eventually headed west to Wisconsin.

 

Margaret’s eldest son named John was born on the A.B. Dickinson farm in Hornby in July 1854. She left for Wisconsin shortly thereafter, and her mom Christina cared for John and followed to WI several years later. In the 1855 Hornby census, Margaret Gipson can be found as a servant of the Van Nortwick household and Christina Gipson can be found living as a boarder with the Conway family, directly next door to the Dickinson farm. Also living with her is an 11-month-old child called John Gipson (presumably Margaret’s son John).  

 

Upon arriving in Wisconsin, John became known as John Lord Armstrong (Lord for his stepfather, Armstrong for his alleged father who “died in a war in the East Indies”.) Most family believe the soldier John Armstrong story is a fancy made to cover up an illegitimate birth, but DNA evidence has so far not provided any conclusive leads one way or the other. It’s more likely than John was the result of a relationship with someone Margaret met in America (perhaps a fellow worker on the Dickinson farm?) since she arrived in 1853 and John was born in 1854.

 

I am searching for any information about the Gibson family. I am also curious if there are any known records from the A.B. Dickinson farm (perhaps a journal/diary, employment records, etc.) which may shed some light on whether my ancestor John was actually born there as the story has been told. Any information at all would be welcome, and anyone connected to my family (even indirectly) would be great to hear from! I hope to one day find out where exactly in Derry my Gibson’s originate, and maybe connect with family who stayed behind.