Mary Gibson

Mary was a matriarchal women unprecedented for her time. Upon the death of her husband, who has been recorded as both "John Gibson", "Andrew Gibson", and "John Andrew Gibson", and her subsequent marriage she both required as prenuptial so she would maintain control of her lands and finances, as well as refusing to change her last name from Gibson. Her second husband was John Cooper.

(I'm entering this from memory, go look for sources!!!)

https://heathcock.org/genealogy/ps02/ps02_453.html

Mary’s maiden name is widely cited to have been Duncan. However, I am as yet unaware of any documented source for this information (Clayton Heathcock 28 Oct 2011).

1Andrew Gibson
Death 1778, Caswell Co NC

Children

1. Joel (1749-1830)
2. James (1750->1803)
3. Julius (1751-)
4. Naomi (Omey) (1752-1795)
5. William (1753-1810)
6. Richard (1754-<1816)
7. Susannah (1756-1832)
8. John (1758-1830)
9. Lucretia (1768-)
10. Hannah (1775-1863)

2 John Cooper Marriage 13 Jul 1782, Caswell Co KY
Bondsman/Witness for the marriage of Mary Gibson and John Cooper was Thomas Douglas.

Notice that Mary's Gibson's will names her as Mary Gibson, not Mary Cooper, her second husband's surname. She must have been a very strong-willed woman or John Cooper was deceased and she took back the name of her first husband, and/or the second marriage was merely one of convenience for financial reasons/estate management.

References

1. https://heathcock.org/genealogy/ps02/ps02_453.html
2. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L6DP-6YX shows parents as Marshall Duncan & Mary Ann Durron & husbands as 1) George Gibson 2) John Cooper
3. Mary Anne Duncan Gibson 1725-1795 Research Notes https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/L6DP-6YX Mary Anne DUNCAN (about 1725, Culpepper, VA – March 1795, Caswell, NC) Note: There are two Mary GIBSONs found in the records of Caswell County during the same time period of 1775-1800. This Mary GIBSON was married to John GIBSON and died in 1795 leaving a deed listing all ten children and spouses. The second Mary GIBSON was the widow of Andrew GIBSON who died in 1779 and who later married a John COOPER in 1782. See Mary Gibson FS ID# 9NPF-14Q
   1. Comment: Actually, John & Andrew Gibson were the same person. Only one "Mary Duncan."'
4. Death: March 1795 in Caswell, NC 1) Caswell County, North Carolina Will Books 1777-1814. (Ref # 3210) page 48. Book C, # 118. April Court 1795. Inventory of goods of Mary GIBSON.
5. 2) The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina. “Gibson and Hogg Families, Article 247.” (Ref # 3212) “Mary Gibson, widow of John, and mother of ten children died in Caswell County in 1795…”
6. Land Records: 1) Caswell County, North Carolina Deed Books 1777-1817. (Ref # 3164) pg. 69. Book C, pg 138.