Gibbons, William, -1852

William Gibbons (d. 1852) inherited his vast fortune from his father, Thomas Gibbons (1757-1826). Thomas Gibbons was a former mayor of Savannah, Georgia (1791-1792, 1794-1795, 1799-1801), and an attorney and rice planter. His Savannah plantation was called "Whitehall." In addition to his plantation holdings, Thomas Gibbons held a half interest in the New York-New Jersey ferry rights. In 1802, Thomas and William left Georgia to buy up portions of the Elizabethtown, New Jersey waterfront, amassing a large interest in the ferry rights. In 1824, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Gibbons' favor in the Ogden vs. Gibbons case, a decision which ended steamboat monopoly in all states and one which continues to influence decisions regulating public transport. Following Thomas' death in 1826, William sold this interest and began breeding thoroughbred race horses in New Jersey. In 1832, he started buying land for his horses and by 1851 he owned 1,000 acres in New Jersey. Between 1833 and 1836, William Gibbons built the Greek Revival house he named "The Mansion" on the family estate, "The Forest" in Morris County, New Jersey.