Humphrey Gilbert and Elizabeth Black
Husband Humphrey Gilbert
Born: Abt 1615-1616 - Compton Parish, Devonshire, England Christened: Died: 14 Feb 1657-14 Feb 1658 - Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Buried:Marriage: Abt 1632 - Salem, Essex, Massachusetts
Wife Elizabeth Black
Born: Abt 1632 - Salem, Essex Christened: Died: Bef 29 Mar 1693 Buried:
Father: John Black (Abt 1591-1674) Mother: Susannah ( - )
Other Spouse: Corporal Daniel Killam (1620-1699) - 25 Dec 1679 - Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts
Other Spouse: William Rayner ( - ) - 24 Sep 1658 - Salem, Essex, Massachusetts
Other Spouse: Henry Kimball ( - ) - 16 Jun 1676
Children
1 F Martha Gilbert
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Richard Coomer ( - ) Marr: 23 Aug 1663
2 F Hannah Gilbert
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Peter Harvey ( - ) Marr: Jan 1670
3 F Mary Gilbert
Born: 14 Feb 1648-14 Feb 1649 - Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Richard Palmer ( - ) Marr: 24 Sep 1672
4 F Abigail Gilbert
Born: 1649 - Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Moses Elbern (Aborern) ( - ) Marr: Abt 1679
5 M Deacon John Gilbert
Born: 1656-1657 - Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts Christened: Died: 17 Mar 1722-17 Mar 1723 - Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts Buried:Spouse: Elizabeth Killam (Abt 1657-1722) Marr: 27 Sep 1677 - Ipswhich, Essex, Massachusetts
General Notes (Husband)
Humphrey Gilbert's birth date is often given as 1615/1616, but no source for that date is ever given, and parents rarely come with it.
Humphrey is sometimes listed as a son or grandson of Raleigh Gilbert or Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a famous explorer and a half brother of Sir Walter Raleigh (See below). But no proof of that exists and logic supports thinking he was a simple farmer who happened to share a not uncommon last name with several better off families who were in the area at the time. He and his sons had a few adventures and not colorless lives, but no unusual wealth, standing or position in their village.
Many people list his wife as Elizabeth, and I don't know where her last name came from. Some sources do list a birth date and parents for her, which is a good sign.
Settled in Ipswich, MA. In 1650 he went to Wenham, MA, at the age of 38.
[Death date could also be 1658]
From "The Gilbert Family History" by Margaret Gilbert Matthew (1961):
"He was supposedly born in England but arrived in Ipswich, Mass. on or before 1642. His second wife, Elizabeth Black, daughter of Susanna Black, was the mother of his only son John."
There is much speculation regarding the ancestry of Humphrey. Some people claim he is the son of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, the British explorer and half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh. There is, however, no proof of this.
From the data file for Rev. War soldier Elisha Gilbert at the DAR Library in Washington, which appears to have been lifted from "Gilberts of New England":
"HUMPHREY GILBERT was residing in Ipswich as early as 1642, when he took part in an expedition against Passaconaway, an Indian Cheiftan and his name appears in the list of soldiers who recieved payment December 4, 1643.
He was the one of the contributors to the fund December 19, 1648, to be paid to Major Denison. In May of 1650 he purchased land in Ipswich. This was near the Wengham line and he attended church there and contributed to the support of the minister 1657. His will of February 14, 1657 or 8 was proved March 30, 1658. Inventory of his estate taken March 10, 1657 or 8 amounted to L.169/12/06 (lbs.). the only daughter named in his will was Abigail, but mentions wife Elizabeth, son John and four daughters. From Essex Co. Records it appears Hannah the eldest recieved a legacy from her deceased mother, first wife of Humphrey. Apparently all daughter [except] Abigail were of his first marriage. No records of either marriage is in New England but if the ages of Hannah and Martha are correct that they gave in their depositions they must have been born there."
"Gilberts of New England" edited by Geoffrey Gilbert (Victoria, BC, 1959) contains the following:
"Humphrey Gilbert was born about 1616, probably in England (deposed 18 Dec. 1654 that he was about 38); died early in 1658 in Ipswich, Mass. He married (1) ________. He married (2) Elizabeth Black, daughter of John and Susanna Black. She married (2) 24 Sept. 1658 in Ipswick William Raynor or Rayner, who died 26 Oct. 1672 in Marblehead, Mass., leaving six children. She married (3), as second wife, Henry Kimball of Wenham, Mass., who died before 16 June 1676. She married (4) 25 Dec. 1679, as second wife, Daniel Kilham, then of Ipswich, father-in-law of her son John. She was living in 1686, but died before 29 Mar. 1693, when Daniel Kilham remarried.
Humphrey Gilbert was residing in Ipswich as early as 1642, when he took part in an expedition against Passaconaway, an Indian chieftain, and his name appears in the list of soldiers who recieved payment 4 Dec. 1643. He was one of the contributors to a fund, 19 Dec. 1648, to be paid to Major Denison. On 5 or 25 May 1650 he purchased land in Ipswich. The land was near the Wenham line, and he attended church there, for he contributed to the support of the minister of Wenham in 1657.
His will of 14 Feb. 1657/8 was proved 30 Mar. 1658. Inventory of his estate, taken 10 Mar. 1657/8 amounted to L.169/12/06. The will mentions wife Elizabeth, son John, and four daughters, of whom only Abigail is named. From Essex Co. Records it appears Hannah, who was the oldest daughter, recieved a legacy from her deceased mother, first wife of Humphrey. Apparently all daughters, except perhaps Abigail, were this first wife. There is no record of either marriage is in New England, but if the ages of Hannah and Martha are correct that they gave in their depositions they must have been born there."
This book then lists Humphrey's children as I include them in this record.
The same book contains these notes on Humphrey by C. A. Torrey:
"The will of Humbprey Gilbert of Ipswich, dated 14 Feb. 1657/58, was proved 30 Mar. 1658. Iventory was 10 mar. 1657/8. He must therefore have died between 14 Feb. and 10 Mar., in spite of the fact that the Ipswich Vital Records gave his death-date as 13 Feb. and the Probate Record as 20 Jan."
The "Banks Topograhical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England 1620-1650" by Charles Edward Banks (Baltimore, 1957) list Humphrey Gilbert as coming from Compton parish in Devonshire, England, and settling in Ipswich, Mass. The name of his ship is not listed.
The following is the will of Humphrey Gilbert from "The Probate Records of Essex County, Mass." vol. I, 1635-1664 (Salem, MA, 1916)"
ESTATE OF HUMPHREY GILBERT OF IPSWICH
"The 14 of the 12 moth 1657 The last will & Testamente of Humfrey Gilbard haueing his perfect memory dwelling in the boundes of Ipswich after my debts being payde I giue vnto my son John all The middow & Vpland wch is my farme one hundred Akers more or less & That this farme be let out or Improued acording To my wifes discretion for The bringing of my Child vpp till he com to age or be able to Improve it him selfe and it is my will that twentie pounds be payde oute of The Incom of my farme To my four daughters when They are seaventene yeares of age & in case god Take any of them a way by death be fore the age specied That her proportion shall be equally deuided To the Rest of the sisters or if a second or a Third still it com to she That doe seuiue moreouer it is my will That tow oxen and tow Cows that I haue now In possesion be let oute with the farme I doe also giue vnto my daughter abbigal one heffer of four yeares olde I doe giue vnto my Loueing and deare wiffe Elissabeth Gilbard twelue ackers of vpland with my, dwelling Howse I doe likwise giue vnto my wiffe my ffetherbed wth the furniture Therevnto belonging It is my will In Case my son Should die in his nonage That what I haue giuen to my son should be equially deuided a mongst my daughters."
Humfre H (his mark) Gilbard
Witness: Charles Gott, Thomas Hobes, Richard Hutton
Proved in Ipswich Court Mar. 30, 1658 and administration granted to Elizabeth Gilbard wife of Humphry Gilbert.
"Inventory taken 10: 1: 1658, by Charles Gott, Edward Coborne and Richard Hutton: one payre of Oxen, 12li.; one Red Cow, 4li.; one Cow white faced, 4li. 5s.; one Black Cow, 4li.; one 2 yeare old steare, 2li.; one yearelin Heffer, 1li. 5s..; 3 swine, 2li.; one stuff sute, 13s.; one payre of Hose & one old Cote and wastecote, 14s.; one Hatt, 4s.; 4 payre of shetes, 1li. 10s.; one napkin, 2 old pillebeares, 2s. 6d.; tow bolester Casses, 6s.; one sherte 4s.; five bandes, 3s. 4d.; one fetherbod & bolster, tow fether pillowes & one bolster case, tow blankits, one Rugg, 7li. 10s.; one bras ketle, 1li. 10s.; one bras skillit, 2s. 6d.; one warmeing pan 6s.; one pewter dish & fowre spownes, one poringer, tow sawser, one lattin pan, 9s.; tow Iron pots & one Iron skellit, 17s. 6d.; one ax, one hansaw, one shave, 5s.; one payre of Tonges, 3s.; one muskit & sword, 8s.; one plow & Tacklin, 10s.; one smothing Iron, 2s.; earthen ware, 2s. 6d. ; Tow Chistes & tow boxes, 16s.; vvooddin ware, 12s.; 2 sives, 2s.; Bookes, 8s.; one shepe, 1li. 5s.; one flock bedd, 6s.; one friing pan, 3s.; Tow baskets, 4d.; one payre of shows, 1s. 6d.; one Glass, 6d.; one payre of stockins, 1s.; halfe a ferkin, 8d.; one spade, 1s. 2d.; small Towles, 5s.; one payre of Cardes, 1s. 3d.; one Cros Cut saw, 4s.; Halfe a whip saw, 5s.; Howses and Lande, 120li.; total 169li. 12s. 6d.
"Attested to in Ipswich Court Mar. 30, 1658, by the widow of Humphry Gilbert. (Essex Co. Probate Files, Docket 10,889)
"William Rayner, husband of Elizabeth, late wife and adminstratrix of Humfry Gilbert, deceased, was ordered 26: 4: 1666, to deliver Hanna Gilbert, daughter of the said Humfry, a great kettle, a box and a pewter platter, which were mentioned in the inventory of the said estate. (Salem Quaterly Court Records, vol. 4, p. 162)
"The wife of William Geare deposed that she heard Goodman Gilbert say when he made his will that the bed, kettle and some other things were to be Hanna's.
"Ellen Haselton, aged about twenty-five years, deposed that Goodwife Gelbord gave her daughter, upon her death bed, a great brass kettle, a pewter platter and a black box.
"Elisabeth Hotten deposed that Gilberd said that there were several things his other wife had given his daughters and he would not alter it. Sworn, 27: 4: 1666, before Wm. Hathorne. [note: William Hathorne was the great-great-great grandfather of the writer Nathaniel Hawthorne] (Essex Co. Quarterly Court Files, Vol 11, leaf 133)
"'The humbell petisyon of the foure dafteres & there husbands of Humphrey Gillburd desesid January the 20: 57,' to appoint the four husbands, the petitioners administrators said Gilbert's estate that was not given away by will, and six acres of fresh meadow never inventoried by the administrator. Signed by the petitioners, Peter Harvi, Richerd Palmer, Richard Comer, Mosis Ebern. Administration granted to the petitioners. (Essex Co. Quarterly Court Files, Vol. 3, leaf 148)
"Inventory of estate of Humphrey Gilbert, that had not been willed away before, taken by Phillip Fowler, Capt. Gidney, attorney: One paire of Oxen, 12li.: cow, 4li. 5s.; 2 year old steers and 1 yearlin, 3li. 5s.; 3 swin, 2li.; 2 pair of sheets, 15s.; 2 napkins, 2 ould Pilloberes, 17s.; 2 bolster casis, 6s.; bras skillits and warming pan, 8s. 6d.; spounes, poring sases, Latin pan, 3s.; 2 iron potes, 1 iron skillit, 17s. 6d.; one paire of tonges, 3s.; one musket & sord, prized 8s., 11s.; Plou & tacklin, 10s.; smuthing iron & erthin ware, 4s. 6d.; 2 chestes & 2 bockes, wooden ware, 1li 10s.; Boockes, 8s; sheep, 25s.; flockbead, 6s.; frying pan, 6s., 2li., 2s.; 2 baskits, 4d.; 1 glas, 6d., 10d.; 1-2 ferkin, 8d.; 1 spad, 14d.; small toules, 5s., 8s. 10d.; one coos cut sau, 4s.; half a whipsa, 5s., 9s.; 6 acres of meado yet not inuentarid, 18li.; total, 53li. 11d. (Essex Co. Quaterly Court Files, vol. 4, leaf 19)
"Deposition of Richard Hutten, aged about sixty years, concerning the will of Humphery Gilbert, he being present when it was made, and upon reading the copy finds the following differences between it and his words: 1st, the oxen and cows that were to let out with the farm, in the copy is omitted that when his son came to age or able to improve it he should have them; 2d., the gift to his daughter Abigall was expressed by him towards their bringing up, 3d., the house and twelve acres of land he gave as a jointure. And further testified that notwithstanding the expressions of said Gilbert he saw him sign the will and declare his wife to be is executrix. Thomas Hobbs, aged about sixty four years, testified to the above. Sworn to Mar. 21, 1685 by both parties. (Ispwich Deeds, vol. 5, page 75)"
The Gilbert Family History
The Humphrey Line - 1616 – 1961
“ALWAYS BE PROUD OF YOUR NAME AND KEEP IT ALWAYS A NAME TO BE PROUD OF”
COMPILED BY
MRS. MARGARET GILBERT MATHEW
40 SOUTH 14TH STREET
TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA
"FOREWORD"
There is no real information as to where Humphrey Gilbert of Ipswich Mass. came from. All of the New England families seem to have tradition that claimed decent from Sir Humphrey Gilbert, the famous explorer of Devonshire, England. In the case of our own Humphrey there is a possibility that the traditions may have some basis; in fact Sir Humphrey, through his son Raleigh did have a grandson of about the same age as Humphrey of Ipswich, Mass. There is.no evidence of what happened to him. The claim that he was Humphrey of Ipswich has never been proved but so far as we know, it has not been disproved.
Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539-1583) one of the earliest of the North American Colonizers, first won fame as an English Navigator and Explorer. During his early manhood he attained distinction in the English Navy. In 1578 he received a commission from Queen Elizabeth to conduct an expedition in search of a new route to India, a little known land in which he became interested. The history of this voyage is obscure, but it availed nothing. He returned to England the next year having lost one of his chief ships and one of his bravest captains. Undaunted, however, he started out in 1583 in command of a second expedition accompanied by his half brother, Sir Walter Raleigh who owned the largest ship and who turned back two days after their departure from Plymouth, England. Sir Humphrey went on and this time succeeded in planting a colony near St. Johns, Newfoundland, taking possession of the Island in the name of Queen Elizabeth. After this he proceeded southward, encountered a storm and was never heard of again.
lst Gen. HUMPHREY GILBERT b. about 1616, supposedly in England, d. 1658 in Ipswichs Mass., where he had arrived in or before 1642. His 2nd wife Elizabeth Black, dau. of John & Susanna Black was mother of his only son John.
General Notes (Wife)
The following article 'Humphrey Gilbert's Second Wife' by Clarence Almon Torrey appeared in "The American Genealogist" (vol. 17, no. 1) in July, 1940:
"Humphrey Gilbert of Ipswich, Massachusetts, deposed in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Court, Dec. 18, 1651, aged about thirty-eight years, from which,it appears that be was born in or about 1616. His will, dated Feb. 14, 1657/8, was proved March 30, 1658. The inventory of his estate was taken March 10, 1657/8 (Essex Connty, Massachusetts, Probate Records, Vol. 1, pages 264-265).
"He left a widow Elizabeth, son John, daughters Hannah, Martha, Mary and Abigail. Birth dates of his children are lacking, but Hannah deposed in 1670, aged about twenty-four years age (Essex County Court Records, vol. 4, p. 264), hence born about 1646, and Martha deposed Nov. 23, 1668, aged about nineteen (Ibid, vol. 4 page 84), and April 21, 1670, aged 21 (Ibid, vol. 4, page 242), hence born in or about 1651 and Abigail about 1653.
"From Essex County Probate Records (vol. 1, pages 265-266), it appears that Humphrey Gilbert's first wife gave her daughters 'several things' on her death bed. Daughter 'Hauna' is mentioned but the other daughters are not named. This implies that at least two daughters were by his first wife, and Mary was probably her daughter. It is uncertain whether Abigail was by his first wife, whose name has not been found by the writer, or by his second wife Elizabeth, who was the mother of his son John.
"Humphrey Gilbert's widow married second, at Ipswich, Sept. 24, 1658, William Raynor, who died at Marblehead, Mass., Oct. 26, 1672. Administration on his estate was granted to his widow Elizabeth, March 25, 1673. Six children are mentioned in the probate records (Essex County Probate Records, vol. 2, pages 326-327). Subsequently, she married third, as his second wife, Henry Kimball. He died before June 16, 1676, when the inventory of his estate was taken. His widow Elizabeth was appointed administratrix of his estate June 30, 1676, and signed an agreement Sept. 26, 1676. The inventory mentions 'Remainder of Legacies belonging to Humphrey Gilbert's children' and 'Land belonging to Humphrey Gilbert's farm which William Rayner Recd. of Thomas Fiske' (Essex County Probate Records, vol. 3, pages 74-75). Elizabeth's fourth husband was Daniel Kilham, or Killam senior, to whom she was married by 1679, and she was living in 1686 (Essex Institute Historical Collections, vol. 49, page 215). She died before March 29, 1693 When Daniel Kilham married third, Rebecca Smith, according to Topsfield, Mass., vitals records. In Wenham, Mass. death records her baptismal name appears as Mary. Daniel Kilham had a fourth wife.
"John Black, senior, [of Beverly, Mass.], died intestate March 16, 1674/5. Administration on his estate was granted July 20, 1675, to his son John, who was ordered to make payments to hid sisters Eliza Kemboll, Pearcis Follett and Lydia Davis (Essex County, Mass., Probate Records, vol. 3, page 9).
"Evidently, the sister Eliza [Elizabeth] was the wife of Henry Kimball, who was the only Kimball in Essex County who had wife Elizabeth in 1675.
"Salem, Mass., church records mention the baptisms of three daughters of John Black: Lydia, Dec. 25, 1636, another Lydia June 3, 1638, and a daughter not named in the record, Nov. 27 1640.
"From the probate records it appears that Lydia, baptized June 3, 1638, was the youngest daughter living in 1675. Persis Black who married Robert Follett, Nov. 29, 1655, was younger than Elizabeth. Presumably, Elizabeth was born about 1632 and Persis about 1634.
"John Black's wife is not mentioned in Essex County Probate Records, Court Records, or in Perley's History of Salem. It is believed that she was the Susanna Black, who with her husband John Black, joined the church at Charlestown, Mass., Jan. 4 1634/5 (Wyman's Charlestown, page 86). Sept. 9, 1645, John Black, aged 54, was exempted from military training (Essex County Court Records, vol. 1, page 84).
"As nearly as can be ascertained, Humphrey Gilbert's son John, by his second wife Elizabeth Black, was born in or about 1656."
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