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FAMILY MEMBERS ARRANGED IN DATE ORDER

To earlier Gilbert family members

1791 - 1851 THOMAS GILBERT

Born: 23 November 1791 Heathfield
Baptised; 16 (or 10) January 1792 at Waldron, Sussex, England
Parents; William Gilbert (1738-1800) = Mary Ashdown (1765?-1836)
Married; Mercy Errey (1802-1851) on 25 June 1823 at Heathfield.
Children; Elizabeth (1823-1853), Mary A. (1825-1894), Thomas (1827-1873), Jabez (1829-1854), George L. (1832-1908), Naomi (1834-1916), Lois (1836-1914), William (1840-1928).
Their daughter Elizabeth was born at Little Saperton, near Sandy Cross Lane, Heathfield in 1823
In 1837 Thomas Gilbert of Little Saperton ("Copyhold house and land") was recorded on the register of electors for Heathfield.
At the 1841 Census Thomas (aged 45, farmer) was living at Little Saperton with his wife Mercy (aged 35), daughter Mary (aged 15), sons Thomas (aged 13) and Jabez (Iaged 11), daughters Naomi (aged 5) and Lois (aged 4) and son William (aged 1).

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

The family emigrated late in 1851 to USA (initially at Buffalo, New York and later to Grundy County, Illinois) with some of their children (although Jabez and George had gone earlier, and some others followed later).
Died: 8 August 1851 soon after his arrival in USA, at Buffalo, Erie County, New York, apparently from injuries sustained after a fall down stairs, complicated by pneumonia. (His wife Mercy had died on the voyage and was buried at sea, and he died five months later.)

1802 - 1851 MERCY GILBERT (nee ERREY)

Born: 17 July 1802, Heathfield, Sussex, England
Baptised; 15 August 1802, Heathfield Independent Chapel
Parents: William Errey (15 April 1778 Heathfield - October 1840) = Elizabeth Gurnett (2 July 1780 Hastings - November 1859), married on 15 February 1802 at Heathfield Parish Church.
(William Errey's parents were William Errey [1746-1810] = Hannah Webb, both of them were from Warbleton, married in 1777.)
(William Senior's parents were Edward Errey [1706-17??] = Abigail Vine, married in 1735)
(Edward's parents were Edward Errey = Elizabeth Martin, married in 1706)

Married; Thomas Gilbert (1791-1851) on 25 June 1823, Heathfield.
Children; Elizabeth (1823-1853), Mary A. (1825-1894), Thomas (1827-1873), Jabez (1829-1854), George L. (1832-1908), Naomi (1834-1916), Lois (1836-1914), William (1840-1928).
The Errey family were from Heathfield and Warbleton.
Their daughter Elizabeth was born at Little Saperton, near Sandy Cross Lane, Heathfield in 1823
In 1837 Thomas Gilbert of Little Saperton ("Copyhold house and land") was recorded on the register of electors for Heathfield.
At the 1841 Census Thomas (aged 45, farmer) was living at Little Saperton with his wife Mercy (aged 35), daughter Mary (aged 15), sons Thomas (aged 13) and Jabez (Iaged 11), daughters Naomi (aged 5) and Lois (aged 4) and son William (aged 1).

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

The family emigrated late in 1851 to USA (initially at Buffalo, New York and later to Grundy County, Illinois) with some of their children (although Jabez and George had gone earlier, and some others followed later).
Mercy died on the voyage to America (15 April 1851), and was buried at sea off Newfoundland.

1823 - 1853 ELIZABETH ROBERTS (Nee GILBERT)

Born; 4 November 1823 at Little Saperton, Heathfield, Sussex, England.

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

Parents; Thomas Gilbert (1791-1851) = Mercy Errey (1802-1851)
The 1841 census shows an Elizabeth Gilbert living at Northdown, Heathfield aged 15 (i.e. born c.1825), possible as a servant. This may be the same person, as she wasn't recorded as living with her parents at nearby Little Saperton.
Married; James Roberts (whom she met and married in England, prior to moving to USA with her parents in 1851. A James Roberts appears in the 1841 Heathfield census, aged 20 (i.e. born c1821).
Children;
(i) Mercy Roberts (1847-1931) Married David John Pierce, farmer, in 1872, Illinois. 4 children? Later to Fargo, North Dakota.
(ii) Mary Jane Roberts (1849-??) Married William Hurst in Illinois, 1 daughter?
Died; 27 June 1853, aged 29, Town Line, New York.

More information about Elizabeth's family

1825 - 1894 MARY A.FELLINGHAM (nee GILBERT)

Born; 16 November 1825, Little Saperton, Heathfield, Sussex, England.
Parents; Thomas Gilbert (1791-1851) = Mercy Errey (1802-1851)
Living at Little Saperton, Old Heathfield, Sussex at the 1841 census.

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

Emigrated to USA in 1851.
Married; William Jabez Fellingham (16 February 1810, Suffolk - 10 August 1867, Grundy County, Illinois) as his 2nd wife on 1 January 1857.
William's first wife was Sarah Mills, born 1812, England. William and Sarah had two children, Ephraim and Betsey C. Reportedly they all moved from New York (1837), to Kendall (1846), to Grundy County, Illinois (1848).
Children;
(i) Emeline Amelia (married John Edward Augustus "Ed" Maxwell, Verona, Illinois. Three children, William, Fanny, Gilbert.)
(ii) Elsie Ophelia (married Marion Crumbaker, Methodist minister, Illinois, 3 children)
(iii) Gilbert Jabez (married Cora Murphy, Illinois, 2 daughters ?)
(iv) Frank (married Gertrude Waterman, Nebraska, 5 children)

William was the older brother of George Fellingham, who married Naomi Gilbert (born 1834). He was apparently a Baptist minister. Kevin Rucker, a descendant of Mary's line, wrote in 1998;
"My grandmother used to tell us this story. William [Fellingham]'s wife shortly after arriving in the U.S. [about 1837] decided to return to England to her family [another descendant, Jim Pool, said that she died in Kendall in 1848]. Later, when William was single again, him and his brother George were hanging around the train station. I guess the train station was the 'gathering place' back then. Many people were still coming from England and many times relatives were arriving after coming to the US. Anyway William and George were there and, all of a sudden, William spotted a young girl getting off the train. Evidently this girl must have really caught his eye! William and George watched her and her family arriving with her belongings. William told George 'That's the girl I'm going to marry!' and proceeded to find a way to introduce himself. Within a year William and Mary Gilbert were married; and evidently George must have asked her if she had a sister. George and Mary's younger sister, Naomi Gilbert, were married the following year."
Died; 8 October 1894, Grundy County, Illinois.

More information about Mary's family

1827 - 1873 THOMAS GILBERT

Born; 18 November 1827, Little Saperton, Heathfield, Sussex, England.
Parents; Thomas Gilbert (1791-1851) = Mercy Errey (1802-1851)
Living at Little Saperton, Old Heathfield, Sussex at the 1841 census.

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

Married; Maria Young from Brighton (1829-1905), possibly at Hailsham in December 1848
Children; Esther Ann Gilbert (1850-19??), Lilian (or Lois or Louisa) Rebecca (1858-1932), Henry (1861-19?? - married, lived in Minnesota, 1 daughter), David (1863-19??).

In the 1851 census Thomas Gilbert, aged 23, servant, born in Heathfield, is shown as living at 1 London Road, Hastings, with his wife Maria and child Esther A.Gilbert, aged one year and born in Heathfield. Head of the household is William Gilbert (b.1823) from Waldron, described in the census as his brother but this actually refers to Thomas's cousin William (1823-1874).
By 1858 the family seem to have been in Brighton, as that was where Lilian was born.
At the 1861 Census the family was living at Bethel Chapel, Horley, Thomas (aged 23), Maria (aged 23), Esther A (aged 11), Henry T J (aged 8), Louisa R (aged 3).
By 1863 the family seem to have been in Reigate, Surrey, as that was where David was born.
The 1871 census shows the family living in Reigate, Thomas (aged 42), wife Maria, daughter "Luis R" Gilbert (presumably Lilian - aged 13), and son David (aged 8). However, in a book about the Errey family by Neil Errey, Bordertown, South Australia, he states that Thomas emigrated to the USA. According to Neil he sought employment in Chicago in the rebuilding of the city after the disastrous fire of 1871. Apparently Thomas died of Tuberculosis (10 June 1873) and was buried in Verona, Illinois.
Died; 10 June 1873, Verona, Illinois.

But his family do not seem to have emigrated with him, except perhaps Henry.
The 1881 Census recorded Maria Gilbert born Brighton, aged 52, widow, her daughter Esther (aged 30, unmarried), and her son David (aged 18) at 12 Richmond Terrace, Brighton. Head of household was Walter W. Mathews (relationship of Maria was mother-in-law). Walter was aged 30, married, commercial clerk, born Brighton 1851. His wife is shown as Lilian R. Mathews, aged 23, born 1858, Brighton.

More information about Thomas's family

1829 - 1905 MARIA GILBERT (nee YOUNG)

Born; 1829, Brighton, Sussex, England.
Married; Thomas Gilbert (1827-1873) possibly at Hailsham in December 1848.
Children; Esther Ann Gilbert (1850-19??), Lilian (or Lois or Louisa) Rebecca (1858-1932), Henry (1861-19?? - married, lived in Minnesota, 1 daughter), David (1863-19??).
In the 1851 census Thomas Gilbert, aged 23, servant, born in Heathfield, is shown as living at 1 London Road, Hastings, with his wife Maria and child Esther A.Gilbert, aged one year and born in Heathfield. Head of the household is William Gilbert (b.1823) from Waldron, described in the census as his brother but this probably referred to Thomas’s cousin William (1823-1874).
By 1858 the family seem to have been in Brighton, as that was where Lilian was born.
At the 1861 Census the family was living at Bethel Chapel, Horley, Thomas (aged 23), Maria (aged 23), Esther A (aged 11), Henry T J (aged 8), Louisa R (aged 3).
By 1863 the family seem to have been in Reigate, Surrey, as that was where David was born.
The 1871 census shows the family living in Reigate, Thomas (aged 42), wife Maria, daughter "Luis R" Gilbert (presumably Lilian - aged 13), and son David (aged 8). However, in a book about the Errey family by Neil Errey, Bordertown, South Australia, he states that Thomas emigrated to the USA. According to Neil he sought employment in Chicago in the rebuilding of the city after the disastrous fire of 1871. Apparently Thomas died of Tuberculosis (10 June 1873) and was buried in Verona, Illinois.

But Thomas's family do not seem to have emigrated with him, except perhaps Henry.
The 1881 Census shows Maria Gilbert born Brighton, aged 52, widow, her daughter Esther (aged 30, unmarried), and her son David (aged 18) at 12 Richmond Terrace, Brighton. Head of household was Walter W. Mathews (relationship of Maria was mother-in-law). Walter was aged 30, married, commercial clerk, born Brighton 1851. His wife is shown as Lilian R. Mathews, aged 23, born 1858, Brighton.
12 Richmond Terrace was (and still is) an elegant four-storey Regency town house (with basement) overlooking a park (The Level). It sold for £1.1 million in 2010.
In the 1891 census Maria is shown as living at 12 Richmond Terrace, Brighton as a 'lodging house keeper', aged 62. Other occupants of the house were her daughter Lois with her family (Matthews), and her son David Gilbert.
In the 1901 census there is a Maria Gilbert, aged 72, born in Brighton, living in Brighton, and 'living on own means'.
Died; Brighton towards the end of 1905.

More information about Maria's family

1829 - 1854 JABEZ GILBERT

Born; 6 August 1829, Little Saperton, Heathfield, Sussex, England.
Parents; Thomas Gilbert (1791-1851) = Mercy Errey (1802-1851)
Living at Little Saperton, Old Heathfield, Sussex at the 1841 census, aged 11.

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

There is a suggestion that he emigrated to the USA in 1849 (possibly with his brother George), some 2 years before the rest of his family.
Died; 7 December 1854, Princeton, Illinois, aged 25.

1832 - 1908 GEORGE LINMAN GILBERT

Born; 31 January 1832, Little Saperton, Heathfield, Sussex, England.
Parents; Thomas Gilbert (1791-1851) = Mercy Errey (1802-1851)
Living at Little Saperton, Old Heathfield, Sussex at the 1841 census, aged 9.

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

There is a suggestion that he emigrated to the USA in 1849 (possibly with his brother Jabez), some 2 years before the rest of his family.

Married; Sara Carrick of Buffalo, New York in 1863.
Children; Mary Carrick (1864-1944), Thomas J. (1865-1944), Gertie Jennie (1867-1956), Sarah Jane (1868-??), Charles E (1868-1868), Charles (1869-1870), William J (1871-1871), Hattie (1872-??), Miriam Elsie (1873-1955), Augusta M. (1875-1934), David G (1877-1878).
Address; Lived in Mazon, Illinois.
Died; 1 September 1908, Illinois.
Buried; Ward Cemetery, Verona, Illinois.

Betty Jo Griffith in the USA sent the following obituary she found in June 1999; "George L.Gilbert was born in Sussex, England, January 31, 1832, and died September 1, 1908, aged 76 years, 7 months. He came to America at the age of 17 years, stopping at Buffalo, N.Y. for some time. From there he came to Illinois, finally settling in Grundy County. He was united in marriage to Sarah Carrick in 1863. To this union was born ten children, five of whom preceded him in death. Those living are Mrs Mary Gillett of Holtville, Cal; Thos.J.Gilbert of Mazon, Illinois, Mrs Jennie Ash of Dwight, Il., Mrs Miriam Kerns of Glendale Arizona, and Miss Augusta, who lives at home. These, with the aged widow are left to mourn. Mr Gilbert has been a member of the Primitive Baptist church for over 50 years living the life professed and beloved by all who knew him."
This suggests that he emigrated in 1849 (possibly with his brother Jabez), some 2 years before the rest of his family.

More information about George's family

c.1834 - 18?? SARA GILBERT (nee CARRICK)

Born; around 1834. Apparently came from Buffalo, New York.
Married; George L.Gilbert (1832-1908) in 1863.
Children; Mary Carrick (1864-1944), Thomas J. (1865-1944), Gertie Jennie (1867-1956), Sarah Jane (1868-??), Charles E (1868-1868), Charles (1869-1870), William J (1871-1871), Hattie (1872-??), Miriam Elsie (1873-1955), Augusta M. (1875-1934), David G (1877-1878).
Address; Lived in Mazon, Illinois.
Buried; Ward Cemetery, Verona, Illinois.

More information about Sara's family

1834 - 1916 NAOMI FELLINGHAM (nee GILBERT)

Born; 14 September 1834, Little Saperton, Heathfield, Sussex, England.
Parents; Thomas Gilbert (1791-1851) = Mercy Errey (1802-1851)
Living at Little Saperton, Old Heathfield, Sussex at the 1841 census, aged 6.

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

Emigrated with her family to the USA in 1851.

Married; George Samuel Fellingham (born 7 July 1812 Monk Soham, Suffolk - died 20 May 1890 Morris, Grundy Co., Illinois) as his 2nd wife, around 1857 in Grundy County, Illinois.
(George's first wife was Emma Scroggins, whom he had married in Suffolk. George and Emma had seven children, arriving initially in Oneida, New York in 1837 where they built a log home on land owned by John Emery. They then moved to Kendall, Illinois in 1846, being among the first few settlers in that area. What became of Emma and her children between 1846 and 1857 is not known. George Fellingham was the younger brother of William Fellingham, who married Naomi's sister Mary A.Gilbert (1825-1894). For details of how they met, see the entry for Mary A.Gilbert.)

Children;
(i) Emagine (or Emmogene) (c1860-1945, a nurse, married ?? Roberts, one son. She died in 1945 and was buried with her husband in Colonado, California)
(ii) Jabez (c1863-??, possibly not married)
(iii) Freddie T. (c1866-??, possibly not married
(iv) Betsey (c1870-??)
(v) David (1872-??, married Maude Sovern 1883-19??)
(vi) & (vii) Mae & Rae (or May and Ray, twins, born around 1879, when their father would have been about 67. Mae married ?? Villa and had 3 children, Los Angeles.
It is said that George and Naomi fell upon hard times, and her brother William Gilbert (1840-1928) had to assist with their support for a time.
Died; 23 August 1916, Grundy County, Illinois.

More information about Naomi's family

1836 - 1914 LOIS GILBERT

Born; 25 November 1836, Little Saperton, Heathfield, Sussex, England.
Parents; Thomas Gilbert (1791-1851) = Mercy Errey (1802-1851)
Living at Little Saperton, Old Heathfield, Sussex at the 1841 census, aged 4.

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

Emigrated with her family to USA in 1851.
Married; Osborn Holbrook.
Children;
(i) Anna. Married ?? Stocking. Five children; Anna (piano teacher in Sacramento), Eugene, George, Geraldine, Howard (a butcher).
(ii) William. Married with 4 children.
(iii) Josiah.
(iv) Ruth. Married with 4 children, including Pearl who married Emory Ford and had a daughter named Esther.
Died; 4 February 1914, aged 77, Sacramento, California.

1840 - 1928 WILLIAM GILBERT

William Gilbert in 1919 (with two of his children, Permelia and Robert).

Born; 17 March 1840, Little Saperton, Heathfield, Sussex, England.
Parents; Thomas Gilbert (1791-1851) = Mercy Errey (1802-1851)
Living at Little Saperton, Old Heathfield, Sussex at the 1841 census, aged 1.

More information about Little Saperton, Heathfield.

Emigrated to USA in 1851.
Married; Anna Rumney (1845-1921) on 13 February 1869, Somonauk, Illinois.
Children; Permelia Mercy (1871-1966), Robert Rumney (1874-1957), Lillian Anna (1877-1971)

The family arrived in the USA at New York in 1951 (Mercy had died on the voyage), and lived initially around Buffalo and Grand Island. About 1853 they moved to Illinois (near Princeton), where William worked as a farmhand until 1860, when he went to Kansas with his brother George. They started out in a covered wagon, driving five yoke of oxen, to get a farm from the government. Arriving at Iola, Kansas about 2 months later, they built a log house and 'broke some prairie'. The summer was very dry, and lack of feed for their cattle caused them to return to Illinois. They located at Verona, Grundy County, Illinois, and he made his home there for about 20 years.

William appears in the 1880 Census as a farmer, aged 40, living at Vienna, Grundy County. In the fall of 1880 he moved with his family to Audubon County, Iowa, returning again to their old home in February 1882. Having always nurtured a desire to go west, they moved again in March 1889 to Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota, where he bought land and farmed there until 1911. They then built a house in Luverne, where he lived until the death of his wife Anna on 2 July 1921.
He then lived at different times with his various children (according to his obituary he "..made his home with his three children, going from one to the other, as it suited his pleasure..."), and died at the house of his daughter Permelia in 1928.
One of his grandchildren is reputed to have written a book about the Gilbert family.
Died on Thursday 1 March 1928 at his daughter Permelia's house, Los Angeles, California at 1:30pm, aged 88.
Funeral conducted by Dr Snape of Temple Baptist Church, Los Angeles on Saturday 3 March 1928.
Buried; Ward Cemetery, Verona, Grundy County, Illinois beside his wife.
H R Gilbert has a copy of a photograph of William Gilbert taken on 17 March 1927 at Laguna Beach, Calfornia while attending a picnic with all his children to celebrate what was to be his last birthday. A digital copy of the original is in the family bible held by Bob Gilbert at Eugene, Oregon in 2020.

More information about William's family

1845 - 1921 ANNA GILBERT (nee RUMNEY)

Born; 8 February 1845, Kent, England.
Parents; James Rumney (1794 Kent - 1853 Niagara) = Mary Rockcliffe Winch (1804 Medway, Kent - 1884 Verona, Illinois)
(James had previously married Judith Goodyear (1797 Kent - 1830 Kent) on 16 September 1815, Strood, Kent. Six children)
The family emigrated from Kent to USA in 1850, initially to Niagara Falls, New York State and later to Somonauk, Illinois.
Married; William Gilbert (1840-1928) on 13 February 1869 at Somonauk, Illinois.
Children; Permelia Mercy (1871-1966), Robert Rumney (1874-1957), Lillian Anna (1877-1971)
After William and Anna married they moved to Verona, Illinois.
She appears in the 1880 Census as aged 35, living at Vienna, Grundy County, Illinois.
The family moved from Illinois to Rock County, Minnesota on 20 March 1889.

Died; Saturday 2 July 1921, Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota at 6:15am of pneumonia.
Funeral held at the Gilbert home in Luverne, Wed 6 July 1921 conducted by Rev J T Brown.
Buried; Ward Cemetery, Verona, Grundy County, Illinois beside her parents. In attendance were William Gilbert (1840-1928), Robert Gilbert (1874-1957), Permelia Webster (1871-1966) and Lillian Loose (1877-1971).

More information about Anna's family

To later Gilbert family members in the USA