Thomas Gibson

Biography

Thomas Gibson, first recorded in New York in 1799 as a 'musical instrument maker in general,' entered a partnership with Morgan Davis in 1801 as Gibson & Davis, pianoforte-makers, at 63 Barclay Street. Spillane learned from Gibson's descendants, still living in New York at the time of writing, that their ancestor was a Scotchman who had learned the piano trade legitimately in London. Mr. Henry Hazelton is cited as remembering Gibson's shop on Barclay Street. The Gibson & Davis partnership can be traced through directories until it split around 1820, after which Gibson kept the shop at 63 Barclay Street while Davis moved to 61. Gibson's business continued until 1839, when the name disappeared from the trade directories, apparently indicating his death.

Highlights

• A Scotchman who learned the piano-making trade legitimately in London, per his descendants (still living in New York at time of writing).
• Partnered with Morgan Davis as Gibson & Davis, pianoforte-makers, at 63 Barclay Street from 1801.
• Continued the business alone at 63 Barclay Street after the partnership split around 1820, until the name disappeared from directories after 1839.

Source

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), p. 102.

Public domain.