Gibb Patent

Written By Dino DiPietro

History of the Gibb Patent (Islip, Long Island, NY)

📜 Origins

  • On March 26, 1692, the English crown (King William and Queen Mary) issued a land patent to Andrew Gibb, granting approximately 3,500 acres in what is now Islip Hamlet, Suffolk County, Long Island

  • Gibb was a business associate of William Nicoll, founder of Islip Town, and a figure linked with the Leisler’s Rebellion

Andrew Gibb & Early Administration

  • Before receiving the patent, Andrew Gibb served as Clerk of Queens County (1688–1702), succeeding William Nicoll

  • It’s unclear if Gibb ever lived on the land long-term. By June 1705, records confirm his presence in the area, and later mention William Gibb as a local tax collector (elected in 1721)

Role in Islip's Development

  • The patent area became the central hub of commerce and civic life in Islip Town. Over time, it grew into the seat of local government

  • The Historical Society of Islip Hamlet commemorates the site with a marker on Main Street, near Town Hall in Bay Shore, highlighting the 1692 land grant to Andrew Gibb by William and Mary

Legacy & Modern Relevance

  • Known as the “Gibb Patent”, this land grant is recognized as foundational to the establishment of Islip Hamlet, anchoring its earliest social, governmental, and commercial structures

  • Its history is preserved through local exhibits—like the 2016 show at Brookwood Hall, detailing the village’s settlement from the 1692 grant onward

In summary, the Gibb Patent represents a pivotal moment in 1692, when Andrew Gibb's royal land grant laid the groundwork for what would become Islip Hamlet—a center of governance, commerce, and community on Long Island.

Dino DiPietro