Gervaise "Jarvis" Gilbert, I

GARVIS GILBERT -- THE GILBERTS OF HARFORD COUNTY MARYLAND: Garvis Gilbert, our emigrant ancestor, was born 15 April 1680 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. He married twice and surnames of both his wives are unknown. His first wife was Margaret and his second wife was Mary. The first child of Garvis was born 1707 in Baltimore County, Maryland (now Harford County). From this record we know that he was in this country in early 1700. His name first appears in Baltimore County in 1699 in the Middle River Hundred,

Garvis Gilbert (sometimes Gervais, Jarvis, Garvies) may have been the son of Michael Gilbert and Dorothy Hargrave. If so he was born 15 April 1680 at Leeds, Yorkshire, England. While there has been no primary proof that Garvis who came to Maryland was their son, so much circumstantial evidence shows this to be true, that after analysis and research by many different parties this is considered [by some to be] a reasonable conclusion. (Marcum, “The Way it Was with our Ancestors.")

The name Garvis Gilbert (sometimes spelled Jarvis or Gervais) first appears in Baltimore (now Harford) County, Maryland, in 1699 in the Middle River Hundred. (From Taxables in Baltimore County, 1699, Maryland Historical Magazine, Vol 8, page 64). (Henry C Peden Jr (707 Bedford Rd, Bel Air, Maryland, 21014), Gilbert Records in Harford County, Maryland, Bel Air Copy Center, Bel Air, Maryland, ©1986:

Baltimore County, Maryland Tax Lists (from LDS records) show the following:

1702-Jervis Gilbard, South Gunpowder Hd;

1703-Gervais Gilbert, South Gunpowder Hd;

1704-Jervis Gilbert, North Gunpowder Hd;

1705-Garvies Gilbert, North Gunpowder Hd;

1706-Jarvis Gilbert, North Gunpowder Hundred.

4 Nov 1707 - Garvis Gilbert purchased a tract of land located on the head of the middle branch of the Bush River in North Gunpowder Hundred, Baltimore County, Maryland, from William Lowe and his wife Rebecca (Marcum citing Baltimore County, Maryland, land deed records (Liber HW, No. B, folio 49). According to Marcum this was the homestead of Garvis throughout his life.

Garvis Gilbert paid 5,000 pounds of tobacco to William Lough (Lowe) for the property and it was laid out as 100 acres, more or less, and contained plantation houses, edifices, buildings, fences, orchards, gardens, pastures and woods, became known as Lowe's Lot and lay near the line of the land called The Agreement. (According to Davis (Baltimore County Land Records Vol RM:561-562),

22 Jan 1722 until 11 Apr 1726, Vestry records of Spesutia Church, St George's Parish show that Garvis Gilbert was a Vestryman at the Spesutia Church.

1727 - "In 1727 he (Garvis Gilbert) bought Hall's Pipe, 145 acres on Swan Creek for 50 pounds Sterling. He also bought Clark's Tobacco, 71 acres on Swan Creek (Wilbur E Davis, The Gilbert Family).

1735 - Garvis Gilbert, "for the natural love and affection which I have and do bear unto my son Michael Gilbert," gave Michael land to be released to his brothers at the time of his (Garvis') death: Clark's Tobacco, 60 acres; Hall's Pipe, 145 acres; Gilbert's Chance, 40 acres. (Marcum citing Baltimore County, Maryland, land deed records (Lib. HWS, No. M, folio 302).

2 Jun 1739/17 Jun 1739 - The will of Gravis Gilbert of Baltimore County, planter, was dated June 2, 1739 and proved June 17, 1739.

To his son Samuel he gave a tract called Gilberts Addition and part of Gilbert's Outlet, joining to Edward Hall's Road;

To his son Garvis he gave Bow's (Lowe's) Lot and remainder of Outlet, joining;

To his son Charles he gave dwelling plantation Clark's Tobacco, Gilbert's Chance, and Negro Man, Oliver, after demise of wife;

To his son Aquila he gave The Agreement and Negro woman, Charity, after demise of wife;

To his son Benjamin he gave ten pounds of money when he became of age;

to his son Daniel he gave ten pounds of money when he became of age;

To his daughter Hannah he gave a cow, one feather bed and furniture, and Negro child, Oliver, after demise of wife;

To his daughters, Mary and Martha, he gave each ten pounds of money when they became age 16 or at their marriage.

The executors of this will were his wife Mary and Michael Gilbert.

Wit: Obd Pritchard, James Pritchard, and James Canell (Camell,Camill).).

(Will dated 2 Jun 1739 and filed 10 Jun 1739 by Obadiah Pritchard and James Pritchard. Administration bond posted 7 Nov 1739 by the executors with John Durbin and Samuel Pritchard securities; estate administered 12 Aug 1740 by execs).

The date of death of Garvis Gilbert has been determined to be 5/6 Jun 1739. (Marcum citing Baltimore County, Maryland, Perogative Court Wills 22, page 79).

The property of Gravis Gilbert, dec'd, distributed to his sons by executor Michael Gilbert follow:

•1740 (HWS, LS, 420) Samuel Gilbert, Clark's Tobacco, 60 acres.

•1740 (HWS, IA, 413) Jarvis Gilbert, Lowe's Lot, 100 acres, part of Gilbert's Outlet, 125 acres.

•1742 (TB, C, 204) Charles Gilbert, Clarke's Tobacco, 40 acres; Union, 60 acres; Gilbert's Chance.

•1753 (ABB, J, 17) Aquilla Gilbert, Hall's Mill Run, 200 acres.

(Marcum citing Baltimore County MD land deed records)

Even though Michael Gilbert is not named in Garvis' will as his son, it is proven in a gift deed in the Hall of Records in Annapolis, Maryland, that Garvis Gilbert "for the natural love and affection which I have and do bear unto my son Michael Gilbert." he gave land to Michael to be released to his brothers at the time of his (Garvis) death.

The Church Register shows the death of Charles Gilbert son of Gervase and Mary, and also the death of their daughter, Mary.

It is surmised that after the death of these children, Gervase and Mary had other children of the same name, as they are mentioned in his will of 1739. It was a familiar custom that when one child was named and died as an infant, another one would be named the same name. Garvis Gilbert fathered fifteen children and his line established the Gilbert family in Harford County, Maryland. The microfilm records of St. John's and St. George's parishes are full of birth, death, and marriage records on the Gilbert's of Harford County Maryland.

1727 - Wilbur E Davis, The Gilbert Family: "In 1727 he (Garvis Gilbert) bought Hall's Pipe, 145 acres on Swan Creek for 50 pounds Sterling. He also bought Clark's Tobacco, 71 acres on Swan Creek.

1735 - Marcum citing Baltimore County, Maryland land deed records (Lib. HWS, No. M, folio 302): Garvis Gilbert, "for the natural love and affection which I have and do bear unto my son Michael Gilbert," gave Michael land to be released to his brothers at the time of his (Garvis') death: Clark's Tobacco, 60 acres; Hall's Pipe, 145 acres; Gilbert's Chance, 40 acres.

From about 1748 until the late 1750's five of Garvis Gilbert's sons, Samuel, Garvis, Aquilla, Benjamin and Daniel moved to Bedford (formerly Lunenburg and now Campbell) County, Virginia. Two of his sons, Michael and Charles, remained in Baltimore County, MD; however, some of their children later moved to Virginia.

In 1773 the northeastern end of Baltimore County, Maryland was carved off to establish the new county of Harford, with its county seat at Bel Air. The coastal portion of Hartford County contains the towns of Havre de Grace of Aberdeen.

Most of Garvis' property lay west of the town of Havre De Grace and to the south and east of Aberdeen, including the northern portion of the present Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Descedants of Garvis Gilbert's sons, Michael and Charles Gilbert, inherited large portions of the original Garvis Gilbert estate.