He was married twice, the second marriage (to Cathrina von Harrasoffski ) giving issue to sixteen children of whom eight, including Ernst Wilhelm, became Danish naval officers.

Also in 1774, Stibolt undertook a journey to Christiansø, Frederiksværn, and Trosvig (near Frederikstad on Oslo Fjord), with a view to planning improvements to those harbours.

In 1778, therefore, he sought permission to go into the service of a foreign power, France, which at that time was engaged in hostilities with Britain during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).

In the period 1778 to 1782 Stibolt served in three French ships: Under the admirals Latouche Tréville and Count de Grasse he performed well, together with, among other Danes, Lorentz Fisker, witnessing various naval actions.

He was also involved with ship building (including the "unsinkable" defence frigate Hjælperen, which was to take part in the Battle of Copenhagen (1801), but his career was overshadowed by disputes with the master shipbuilder Henrik Gerner, who was considered the better designer.

[7] At the beginning of 1796, suffering from "weakness and a deep melancholy", Stibolt resigned his position, and shortly after on 29 February that year – committed suicide by jumping out of the window in his flat in Toldbodvejen (modern street name Esplanaden).