Sarah GILBERT

Sarah married Capt Andrew BELCHER, Jr. on 01 Jul 1670 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Andrew (son of Andrew BELCHER and Elizabeth DANFORTH) was born on 01 Jan 1647 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 31 Oct 1717. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Andrew BELCHER, III was born on 12 Mar 1671/2.

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 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]

Notes:

First Church of Christ on Main Street, Hartford, Conn.

Gravesite of Mary Wells Gilbert located approx. 10 feet back of wrought iron fence and to the right of the foot path approx. 40 feet. Mary buried beside her husband Jonathan Gilbert.
Inscription reads:

Mary Gilbert age 74 years died July 3, 1700 wife of Jonathan Gilbertt.
Jonathan Gilbertt's gravestone inscription reads:
Here lieth of Jonathan 1682 (blank) December."
Other words on marker too obliterated to read.

Mary and Jonathan had 8 children. They were the grandparents of Jonathan Belcher, Governor of Massachusetts and later of New Hampshire, and ancestors of Noah Webster, noted American author and lexicographer.

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]

Notes:

Will of Thomas Welles, dates 9 February 1637:

In the name of god amen be it knowe to all men that I Thomas WElles of Evesham weaver doe make my last will and testament the ninth day of February 1637 the aner and forme as foloweth
first I beequeth my soule unto the hands of my lord and saviour Jesus Christ whoo had Redemed it next I bequeth my body to the earth and all my worldly goods In maner and forme following
first I forgive my father the 5 pownd which he oweth to me and I give to my father 6 pownd more to be paid in three yere by equell somes fourty shillings a yeare but if he dy the mony that is unpaid to remain to the Exseckiter.
Next I give to my eldest son Thomas 20 pownd to be paid at the age of 21 yeares and my house after the death of his mother Item I give to my daughter Mary 30 pownd likwise to my son John 30 more but if my wife be with child and it live then it is my will that 10 pownd a pece shall be taken from John and Mary and given to it and it is my will that my son John shall be paid at the age of 21 yeare and my daughter Mary at hur day of mariage or at the age of 21 yeares: but if they prove stouborne and dissobedent then it shall be left to the will of thir mother and the overseers when they shall have it: and further it is my will that if my son Thomas dy without a aire then it is my will that it shall come to my son John and if John dy without a a ire then to com to the other son if it be a son or elce to remaine to the Daughter if ther are two or elce to remaine to my daughter Mary.
Item I give to my man CHARLES WHITELL a shipe & Hoge worth eight shillings or two hachibs which he nowe doth work with upon his good behaviour to his dame.
Item I give to my godsons JOSEPH BLISSORD and JOHN WELLES 2 shillings a pece
Item I give to JOHN PATHIT 2 shillings. Item I give to ANN ALBRIGHT and JONE the daughters of JOHN ALLBRIGHT 2 shillings a peece.
Item I give to JOHN ALLBIRGHT and CATHERIN the sonne and daughter of RICHARD ALLBRIGHT 2 shillings a peece.
Item I give to JOHN LOE and SARA LOE the son and daughter of GRIFFEN LOE 2 shillings apeece.
Item I give to SARA ORDWAY 2 shillings.
Item I give to my brother JOHN ALLBRIGHT my cloake.
Item I give to my brother RICHARD ALLBRIGHT my best coate.
Item I give to the pore 5 shillings to be geven to whome my wif and EDWARD ORDWAY and WILLIAM LAMPIT think good and I make my wife my whole exseckiter and my brother JOHN ALBRIGHT and my brother RICHARD ALBRIGHT ovorseres.

The will was not signed. However it was witness by THOMAS HANDY (mark TH), WILLIAM LAMPIT, and EDWARD ORDWAY.

Thomas married Frances ALBRIGHT on 13 Oct 1625 in All Saints, Alcester, Warwickshire, England. Frances (daughter of Richard ALBRIGHT and UNKNOWN) was born about 1600 in Prob. Welford-on-Avon, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, England Worcestershire, England; died in Mar 1678 in Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Frances came to New England with her second husband, Thomas Coleman.

Notes:

Richard married about 1592 to a woman whose name has not been learned. Following their marriage, richard and his wife lived in the parishes of Welford-on-Avon, Gloucestershire, and Alcester, Warwickshire.

According to the NEHG Register: the surname Albright is extremely rare in New England. Richard probable descended from the Albright family seated in the parishes of Mickleton and Ebrington, Gloucestershire. These adjacent parishes lie 3-6 miles south of Welford-on-Avon, Gloucestershire.

Richard married UNKNOWN. died between 24 Jan 1626 and 1627 in Alcester, Warwickshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]