Nathaniel was born about 1755 somewhere in Maryland as Nathaniel Gladstone. The following is a portion of correspondence I had with Rachel Fischer Gladson. I quote her here.

"My husband is a descended from the brother of your Levin Gladson, Joshua D. Gladson. Since last spring, I have been searching for information on the internet and have connected with a number of other Gladson researchers. So far, my personal interest has been really sparked by a legacy of two wars: The American Revolution and the Civil War.

My interest in the family story of the American Revolution began when my husband's Great Uncle Larry told us a story of how the family came over from France with Lafayette. Imagine my surprise when my research began telling me otherwise. As far as I can tell, Levin's father, Nathaniel Gladstone was one of three brothers who were probably born in this country (about 1755 in Maryland). Their father, Obediah Gladstone, may have been born in England. Anyway, there are records that indicate that Nathaniel Gladstone and his brother Arthur were arrested for being loyalists during the Revolution! After the war, Nathaniel may have traveled in New England before moving south to Guilford County, North Carolina, where he changed name or just commonly was known as Nathan Gladson instead of Nathaniel Gladstone. (His brother Arthur kept the last name Gladstone, but several generations later, on of his descendants had his last name changed to Gladson). There are records of Gladsons in Guilford County, North Carolina.

My Joshua D. Gladson traveled to Hawkins County, Tennessee after his father's death, and later settled in Perry County, Illinois. I believe that some of his brothers may have followed suit in moving to Hawkins County, Tennessee.

Fast forward a generation to Joel Webb Gladson, son of Joshua D. Gladson. He fought in an Illinois regiment for the Union during the Civil War. According to Uncle Larry, who was Joel Webb Gladson's grandson, "grandpa" told the story that the family came over with Lafayette. I'm not certain whether Joel Webb Gladson and his brothers concocted that story about their grandfather as a cover or otherwise. I can imagine that during the Civil War, it would not have been too smart to say that your family were Loyalists during the great War of Independence!"

Nathaniel married September 27, 1780 in Bridgeport, Maryland. He died March 24, 1810 in Guilford County, North Carolina.