Mary Gibson.

[dalek39]

Correction.  Mary Ballantine.  Not Ballantyne.  Sorry. 

[dalek39]

Jane Ballantine.  Not Mary.  🙄

[Ashtone]

According to the June 1847 marriage notice for Robert Reid & Mary Gibson, the bride's father was "John Gibson, Esq of Stafford, Ohio, U.S."

This doesn't mean Mary was born in Stafford. It's just where her father was living c1847.

Stafford is a very small village, and was a station on the Underground Railroad.
Originally named Bethel, it was laid out in 1838. In 1845 it's name changed to Stafford. William Steel, a Scottish-born abolitionist, is credited with changing the name of the village from Bethel to Stafford.

A couple of the marriage notices have "John Gibson, Esq of Stafford, Ohio, NS". Which I presume is Nova Scotia. Could be just a typo, though.

[Ashtone]

Jean Ballantine, the lady whom Mary and Josiah are residing with in 1841, could be their aunt.
There's a Jean Gibson born 1788 in Kilbucho, Peeblesshire. Same birth year and birthplace listed in the 1851 census for Jean/Jane Ballantine.

Not sure if this John Gibson is connected to Mary and Josiah (or Jane/Jean Ballantine):

"Apprentice to, and eldest son of, Archibald Gibson, W.S. Born 1st February 1789.
Died 31st January 1879. Married (1) 21st July 1818, his cousin, Catherine, third daughter of John Dickson of Kilbucho, Peeblesshire, Advocate ; and (2) 10th April 1849, Mary Ann Mazyck, second daughter of Paul Weston, Physician, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A. Treasurer, 1862-70".

April 1849: John Gibson, a Writer to the Signet, married Mary Ann Mazyck (of Charleston, South Carolina), in Portobello, Edinburgh.

[dalek39]

Thank you Ashtone.     That’s very interesting.  Will check that all out.  As you can imagine. So many Mary Gibsons. Quite a headache.   But I appreciate what you all have found so far.  Grateful Dalek.  🌺

[Ashtone]

You mentioned that Mary Reid (nee Gibson) arrived in New York in March 1864. Where is that passenger record? What ship did she sail on?

Looks like a Josiah Gibson traveled to America in 1842. He's described as "Gentleman" on the Passenger manifest image. Both record images can be found on Family Search.

If Josiah remained in America until the 1850 census it would give the state he was born in. Although locating him in 1850 would depend on how he's described in the census record.

There's a Josiah Gibson (1818-1888) who died in Creston, Iowa. Birthplace: Virginia. Looks like he was a Minister, and had been living in Iowa for 8 years at the time of his death.

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891
Name   Josiah Gibson
Birth Year (Est)  1818
Birthplace   United States
Nationality   United States
Event Date   1842
Ship Name   Oxford

New York, New York, Index to Passenger Lists, 1820-1846
Name   Josiah Gibson
Age   24
Residence Date   1842
Residence Place   GB
Event Date   1842
Ship Name   Oxford

[Ashtone]

I'm curious as to the connection between Mary's father (John Gibson, Esq) and Stafford, Ohio. It's always been a very small town. In 1850 the population was only 124. Throughout it's history the population has never been above 200. Was her father involved in the abolitionist movement?

Perhaps there's a clue connected to Mary's 1864 visit to America. Was she visiting John or Josiah?

There's an 1855 death for a Mrs Jane Ballantine at Sanquhar.

[Neale1961]

There's an 1855 death for a Mrs Jane Ballantine at Sanquhar.

The index shows that Jane Ballantine’s other name was Jane Gibson. Mother’s maiden name was Steele.
So Jane will be Aunt to Josiah and Mary, and sister to John Gibson in America.

[Ashtone]

I think Josiah Gibson, the Minister, is possibly your chap. He can be found in the 1850-1880 US census records. Occupation is always Minister or Methodist Preacher. The 1880 census in Effingham, Illinois gives his parents birthplaces as Scotland (father) and Virginia (mother). Might just be a coincidence.

If there's an online marriage record for Josiah, it might indicate his father's name and occupation.