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]

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:

Excerpts from Amos Richardson of Boston and Stonington: Jonathan was so wayward in his early manhood that his father left him a smaller share of his estate than his brothers. After his father's death he applied to the court for relief, saying that he had become fully reconciled to his father, who had approved of his marriage. The court, with the consent of Mrs. Gilbert, his stepmother, granted him a considerable increase from his father's estate. He married Dorothy Stow, daughter of Rev. Samuel, of Middletown. He had ten children, recorded at Middletown.

Jonathan married Dorothy STOW on 22 Jun 1679 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA. Dorothy was born on 01 Aug 1659 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA; died on 14 Jul 1698 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married John ROSSITER in 1669 in Killingsworth, New Haven Co., Connecticut. John (son of Bray/Bryan ROSSITER and Elizabeth ALSOP) was born in 1644 in Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut; died in Sep 1670 in Killingsworth, New Haven Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married Samuel HOLTON on 21/24 Jun 1673 in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, and was divorced on 6 Sep 1681. Samuel was christened on 1 Nov 1646 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut; died on 14 Jul 1730 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 23 May 1700

Lydia married Stephen RICHARDSON before 25 Sep 1673. Stephen (son of Amos RICHARDSON and Mary ?) was born on 14 Jun 1652 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; died about 1694. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Excerpts from Amos Richardson of Boston and Stonington: Thomas was Captain of the ship "Swan", which was owned by his brother-in-law, Captain Belcher. During King William's war the French sent a squadron to sweep our commerce from the shores of New England. Captain Gilbert, with his associates, captured a french ship called the "Saint Jacob". In 1695 he saled for London, was taken by a French privateer and imprisoned for 2 months in France. The remains of Captain Gilbert and his wife Lydia rest in the "Granery burial ground" in Boston.

Thomas married Lydia BALLETT on 25 Nov 1693. Lydia was born on 27 Oct 1670 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; died on 23 Mar 1708 in Boston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Mary HOWLETT on 24 Sep 1708 in Boston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Mary was born on 22 Jan 1670 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA; died on 30 Dec 1773 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: Pequot War

Notes:

Samuel married Mary Rogers, and resided in Hartford, where he was commissioned ensign of the train band in 1698. In 1707 he removed to Colchester, where he was appointed captain of the train band. He had six sons and one daughter.

"James Rogers and His Descendants": He was cornet under Major John Mason, in the Pequot war; ensign in a train band in Hartford, CT., July, 1678; one of the patentees of the town of Colchester, CT., in 1707, and commanded a company in the expedition against Canada, in 1711. He was also at one time marshall of the Connecticut Colony. His father, Jonathan, was one of the first proprietors of Hartford.

Samuel married Mary ROGERS on 02 Oct 1684 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Mary (daughter of Samuel ROGERS and Mary STANTON) was born on 17 Apr 1667 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 30 Sep 1756 in Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
After his mother's death in 1700, he settled in Kensington, probably because of a gift of 300 acres of land there, from his father in his will, dated Sept. 10, 1674. This land the elder Gilbert had acquired from Massecup, an Indian, who with other Indians, had sold land to Samuel Wyllys, John Talcott and others. (Early Conn. Probate Records, 1, p. 07.) Before 1717 he had built himself a house on Christian Lane with bricks made fro clay taken from his own land; the house is still standing and has always been in the possession of a gilbert in direct succession from Ebenezer. (N.E. Reg. 60, p. 314.) That Ebenezer was a man of standing in the community is shown from the fact that with the exception of Mr. Burnham, he was the only man in the community entitled to the prefix "Mr." (Andrews' New Britain, p. 34.) There are several references to him in the Kensington Church Records. He was seated in the first "pue" next the pulpit. "At a meeting of the church Jan. 7, 1716-1717, Insign Isaac Norton was appointed to take care for the obtaining a fashionable and decent 'cushing' for the desk of our Meeting-house upon the Society's charge"; apparently he was not successful for at the Annual Meeting, Dec. 1, 1718 "Mr. Ebenezer Gilbird was appointed to provide a convenient cushen", etc, (Andrew's New Britain, p. 29.) he was considered a very rich man; at his death his estate amounted to L4242, 5 sh. 0 d.; included in the inventory were a negro L100, woman L45, boy L100, child L30 total L275. North's History of Berlin, pp. 11, 12.

Family/Spouse: Esther/Hester ALLYN. Esther/Hester (daughter of Capt Thomas ALLYN and Abigail WARHAM) was born on 29 Jan 1676/7; died on 4 Oct 1750. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Charles DICKINSON. Charles was born on 20 Apr 1658 in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester Unitary Authority, Cheshire, England; died on 14 Sep 1740 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island; was buried in Platform Cemetery, North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rachel married Josiah MARSHFIELD on 22 Sep 1686 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Josiah was born on 29 Sep 1665 in Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts; died on 25 Jun 1712 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]