Jonathan GILBERT

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 1616

Notes:

Excerpt from "Amos Richardson of Boston and Stonington": Jonathan Gilbert, born in England about 1616, was a land owner at Hartford, Conn., in 1645. He died there December 10, 1682, aged 64. It is probable that he had been in the colony a number of years , as in 1646 he was engaged in difficult negotiations with Uncas and other Indian chiefs, and as an interpreter with the Indians in April 1647. Savage says: "William Gilbert, of Windsor, 1640, was perhaps the father of Jonathan, Thomas, John, Josiah and Obadiah, but no proof."
Thomas, of Windsor and Springfield; John, of Hartford, and Josiah, of Wethersfield, were known to have been his brothers, and according to family tradition Obadiah, of Fairfield, was also. He married first, Mary, daughter of Elder John White, Jan. 29, 1645-6. She died in 1650 and he married second, Mary, daughter of Hugh and Frances Wells and niece of Governor Thomas Wells.

His second wife was remarkable for her prudence and energy, which contributed greatly to his success, and who was honored in the lives of her children. He died Dec. 10, 1682, aged 64, and his second wife July 3, 1700 aged 74. they lie side by side in the ancient burial place at Hartford.

Jonathan Gilbert was the chief inn-holder of Hartford, and in his house the General Court usually met when they did not sit at the meeting-house. Mrs. Gilbert conducted the inn for many years after her husband's death.
He was a man of business, respectability and enterprise, engaged in the trade and coasting business of the young colonies, possessed of great wealth for the day, collector of customs at Hartford, Marshall of the Colony. He acquired large tracts of land in the different settlements, which he subsequently divided among his children.

Name:
Where he came from and who his parents were, is not definitely known but he and all his brothers and a sister shared in the estate of "Thomas Gilbert" and it seems likely he was their father. In January, 1654, the town allowed him to "sett up a waire-house: att the common Landing Place," and in 1658 he was one of the "Troopers" under Maj. John Mason; was townsman several times from 1659 to 1679, inclusive; Marshall of the colony; Deputy to the General Court, and collector of Customs at Hartford. In May, 1662, the General Court granted liberty "to ye Marshall, Jonathan Gilbert to keep an Ordinary at his house at Cold spring for releiueing of Travellers", etc. His most important services were rendered in dealing with the Indians, whose language he was well acquainted with, and he served constantly as intermediary between them and the English Government. In 1661, the General Court granted him 300 acres of upland and 50 acres of meadow, doubtless for such services. It was to him, as Marshal of the Colony, that was addressed the Royal Search Warrant of Charles II for the apprehension of the regicides, Goffe and Whalley. He was a man of the most resolute bravery and was generally called upon to lead in time of danger. He was also a man of business capacity, respectable and enterprising; he was engaged in trade and in the coasting business and acquired what was the thought great wealth. He had large tracts of land in the different settlements. Savage says of him---"He was a man of distinction and kept an inn."

Jonathan married Mary WHITE on 29 Jan 1645/6 in Hartford, Hartford County,Connecticut. Mary (daughter of Elder John WHITE and Mary LEVETT) was christened on 16 Jul 1626 in Messing, Essex, England; died about 1650. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Jonathan GILBERT was born on 11 May 1648; died on 7 Mar 1698.
2. Mary GILBERT was born on 15 Dec 1649; was christened on 17 Dec 1649.

Jonathan married Mary WELLS in 1650 in Hartford, Hartford County,Connecticut. Mary (daughter of Thomas WELLS and Frances ALBRIGHT) was born about 1626 in Evesham, England; was christened on 15 Jul 1630 in St. Lawrence Parish, Evesham, Worcestershire, England; died on 03 Jul 1700 in Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut; was buried in Hartford 1st Church Burying Gounds. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sarah GILBERT was born on 25 Jul 1651; died on 26 Jan 1688/9.
2. Lydia GILBERT was born on 03 Oct 1654.
3. Thomas GILBERT was born in 1655; died on 09 Feb 1719 in Granary Ground, Massachusetts.
4. Nathaniel GILBERT died before Jul 1700.
5. Samuel GILBERT was born about 1663; died on 05 Aug 1733 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
6. Ebenezer GILBERT died on 11 Aug 1736.
7. Esther GILBERT was born on 27 Apr 1662 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut.
8. Rachel GILBERT was born about 1667; died on 13 Nov 1754 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

Notes:

Name:
Mr. Homer W. Brainard of Hartford, who has made an exhaustive study of Thomas Gilbert, states that the cumulative evidence shows that he was the father of Jonathan, John, Josiah, Obadiah, Thomas Ezekiel, Brothers, and Sarah Judkins, wife of Joel Judkins of Braintree, Mass., a sister. They all shared in his estate. Some of the children were young at the time of their coming to Connecticut and there was no other Gilbert there at the time to whom they appear to belong. he bought a house and lot in Windsor of Francis Stiles, Jan. 24, 1644, and seems to have cultivated Stiles' farm. No mention is made in the Windsor Records of him or children as such. the house be bought in 1644, he sold to John Drake and his son Jacob. In a deed from Francis Stiles to Robert Saltonstall, it is specified that the house and land are "at present in the occupation and tenure of Thomas Gilbert and John Bancroft." He continued to live at Francis Stiles' as late as 1651. he bought part of the home lot of Thomas Gunn on the west side of the street and built on it; this last he had sold Thomas Bissell by 1658, and removed to Wethersfield, (Glastonbury Society), where he died. It is thought by some good authorities that his wife was that Lydia Gilbert who was condemned to be hung as a witch Dec. 7, 1654, but from the fact that the funeral expenses of his wife were paid out of his estate in 1659, it would seem that this is either a mistake or that the sentence was not executed.

Thomas married Lydia ?. Lydia died before 1659. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]