Vital Statistics

Born 1577 in Bridgewater, Somersetshire, England . Son of Giles Gilbert and Joan Pearce.

Married (1) Mary Street January 17, 1602 in Bridgewater, Somersetshire, England. Reverend Nicholas Street was their nephew. Married (2) Widow Winifred.

Some sources give Winifred's last name as Peaslee, but from marriage records she appears to be Winifred Rossiter, widow of John Combe. Another clue is that Thomas Gilbert, her step-son, married Joan Rossiter who appears to be the daughter of Winifred, who was also a widow, of Hugh Rossiter. More investigation needs to be done on the Rossiter/Combe families and their connection to the Gilberts.

Children with Mary Street: Thomas, John, and probably Elizabeth Children with Winnifred Peaslee: Giles, Joseph, Mary (Norcross)

Mary Street Gilbert died before 1630, since when John Gilbert came to America in 1630, he had with him his second wife, widow Winnifred Peaslee. The first wife was probably the mother of Thomas and John Gilbert, who are described by Savage (whoever that is) as "well grown youths." She may also have been the mother of Elizabeth.

In 1637, John Gilbert and his two sons were members of an incorporated body of forty who purchased of Sachem Massasoit about 162 acres of land lying west of Plymouth, which was named Taunton. Here the family established itself, and here descendants were to be found for over 140 years. John Gilbert was made freeman of Taunton, Dec. 4, 1638, and was constable in 1640. In 1641 he received a grant of land from the town, with others, "for their great charges in attending courts, laying out lands and other occasions for the town."

Sources and Notes

http://books.google.com/books?id=mtoSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA48&dq=%22john+Gilbert%22+taunton&output=text#c_top

Various histories of Taunton call him "Sir John Gilbert" or give other towns of origin for him.

e.g.,

Mr. John Gilbert, Senior, as is supposed, came from Devonshire at an age somewhat advanced, and settled with his family at Dorchester. He was dead previous to 1654, but his widow, Mrs. Winnifred Gilbert, was then living. He and Henry Andrews were the two first deputies or representatives from Taunton to the General Court in Plymouth, in 1639. He was a leading man in town. In 1641, Mr. John Gilbert, Senior, Mr. William Poole, Mr. Henry Andrews, John Strong, John Deane, Walter Deane, and Edward Case, received a grant of forty acres each, "lying together in some convenient place, for their great charges in attending courts, laying out of lands, and other occasions for the town." Two of his sons, Thomas and John, came with him to Taunton, and were original proprietors.

http://otal.umd.edu/~walt/gen/htmfile/10618.htm

Giles Gilbert of Dunweare Parish of Bridgwater, Somersetshire, England died in Bridgwater, Somersetshire, England, on June 17, 1595. He was buried in St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater, Somersetshire, England.. Joan Pearce was born _____, and died in St. Mary's Church, , England.. They were married in St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater, Somersetshire, England, on Friday, August 10, 1571. She took the name Joan Gilbert. An unknown number of children were born, but included:

i. John Gilbert was born in England about 1580. He married Mary, the daughter of Nicholas and Mary Street, on January 17, 1602, in St. Mary's Church, Bridgwater, Somersetshire. John accompanied his nephew, Rev. Nicholas Street, to Taunton, Plymouth Colony, America.

ii. Susannah Gilbert [#5309]: She was born in England baptized on December 9, 1584, and died in Faunton, Somerset, England, on February 18, 1603.

Information about the John Gilbert who married Mary Street.

THE WILL OF JOHN GILBERT, SR.

MD 14:2; Plymouth Colony Wills & Inventories

[Provided by Robert Davenport, Sep. 2002.]

The will of "Mr John Gilbert senir" was probated at Plymouth 3 June, 1657, on the testimony of "Mr Nicholas Street And Captaine Willam Pole"

The will of "John Gilbert of Pondsbrooke in Taunton" was written "the tenth Day of May in the yeare .... one thousand six hundred fifty and foure" and ordered my body to bee buried heer by my house att Pondsbrooke upon the hill neare the pine tree seven or eight foot Deep att the least;"

Bequests were made as follows:

"unto my son Gyles my farme att Pondsbrooke Containeing one hundred acres with with the house and houses and Commons therto belonging" also "ten acres of the meadow lying in Scadingsmore" also "one yoake of my 2cond bigest oxen Named Colliar and Browne" also "two Cowes named Cherry and Colly" also "my two steers Named Summer and winter" also "one feather bed one bolster two pillowes my green rugg a paire of blankett and a paire of my best sheets" also "my best brasse pot or Crocke my best brasse pan one pewter platter and one pewter porrenger one pewter Chamberpott" also "my best bedsteed with the curtaines and vallence" also "my Cubbert" also "one halfe of my bookes of which hee shall make his Choise" also "two Chists or trunkes of which hee shall make his Choise" also "my best suite of apparrell;"

"unto my son Josepth all that my great lott att Pondsbrooke lying on the otherside of the brooke next the towne of Taunton aforsaid Containing thirty acres with the Devisions not yet layed out adjoyning therto" also "five acres of meadow in Scadings more lying or to bee layed out together att the further end of the fifteen acres in Scadingsmore aforsaid to be layed out att the Descretion of the overseers of this my last will;" also "my two bigest steers named Duke and buttler" also "my Cow called Bunne and one heifer Called gentle and my two steer yearlings" also "one feather bed one bolster one pillow one paire of blanketts and one paire of sheets with one bedsteed;" also "my 2cond best brasse pott or Crocke my 2cond best brasse pan one pewter platter and one pewter porrenger & one pewter Chamberpott" also "the other halfe of my bookes" also "one Chest or trunke;" also "my 2cond best suite of apparell;"

To "my son Thomas my best sowe hee to make his Choise"

To "my son John one shilling to bee Delivered in silver"

"unto my wives grandchild Elizabeth Pester my blacke-sowe and that one of her piggs which already is given her and shee hath made Choise of"

"I give ten bushells of Indian Corn unto such as have most need of corn in the Towne to bee Desposed by the Descretion of the two Deacons of the Church of Taunton;"

To "my Daughter Mary Norcrosse my great ffurnace or brewing kettle if shee bee liveing or otherwise unto her Daughter Mary the furnace to bee sold by my overseers and the vallue to bee Imployed to Increase somthinge untill the Child bee of Age;"

"if either of my said sonnes Gyles or Josepth Die before they or either of them are married that then all the lands goods or whatsoever soe given to either shall Decend bee and remaine unto the Surviveer"

"I give all my goods unbequeathed unto my Wife Winnefred and my will is that shee shall have the use and profitt of the one moyety or halfe of the farme with my son Gyles During her life if she remaine in Widdowhood or will live upon it; And Doe make and appoint her my exequitrix .... And Doe Constitute and appoint my welbeloved frinds in Christ Nicolas Street and Richard Williams overseers of this my last Will and Testament and Doe give unto each of them foure bushells of wheat for and Towards theire paines and Christian Care they shall use in this behalfe"

"Upon the fift Day of Aprill 1656 the said Testator John Gilbert Desired this his last Will to bee Attested unto by Witnesses after hee had caused it to bee read before his wife and sonnes and they expressed their good liking of It This wee whose names are heerunder written Doe Testify Nicolas Street Willam Pole"

The inventory of the estate of "Mr John Gilbert" taken by Richard Williams, Walter Deane and James Wyate, was presented at the court held 3 June, 1657, on the oath of "mis Wennefred Gilbert". Joseph Hackett and John Bryant were indebted to the estate.

From The "Mary and John" ... comes [provided by Robert Davenport]:

"John Gilbert was born about 1580. (In 1643 he was over sixty years of age and not subject to military duty). He was the son of Giles Gilbert (d. June 17, 1595) of Dunweare Parish of Bridgwater, Somersetshire, England, who married in St. Mary's Church, Aug. 10, 1571, Joan Pearce (d. Apr. 18, 1597). Both are buried in St. Mary's churchyard.

John Gilbert married (1) Jan. 17, 1602, in St. Mary's Church, Mary, daughter of Nicholas and Mary Street, baptised Mar. 22, 1578, in Taunton, England. She died before 1630, as when John Gilbert came to America in 1630, he had with him his second wife, widow Winnifred Peaslee. The first wife was probably the mother of Thomas and John Gilbert, who are described by Savage (whoever that is) as "well grown youths." She may also have been the mother of Elizabeth, who is mentioned Nov. 16, 1632, in the will of Emma Escott of Bridgwater, England, but is not mentioned in the will of John Gilbert.

In 1637, John Gilbert and his two sons were members of an incorporated body of forty who purchased of Sachem Massasoit about 162 acres of land lying west of Plymouth, which was named Taunton. Here the family established itself, and here descendants were to be found for over 140 years. John Gilbert was made freeman of Taunton, Dec. 4, 1638, and was constable in 1640. In 1641 he received a grant of land from the town, with others, "for their great charges in attending courts, laying out lands and other occasions for the town."

Sources:

Kuhns, Maude Pinney; The "Mary and John", A story of the founding of Dorchester, Massachusetts, 1630 published by Charles E. Tuttle Company, Rutland, Vermont (provided by Robert Davenport, 2002)

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