Benjamin Gilbert (1755 - 1824)

Born 31 May 1755 in Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Jun 1824 at age 69 in Middlefield, Otsego, New York, United States

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Biography

Benjamin Gilbert was the son of Daniel Gilbert and Lucy Barnes of Brookfield, MA. He was the grandson of Benjamin Gilbert of Ipswich, MA who would eventually settle in Brookfield.

Benjamin Gilbert was born in 1755 in Brookfield, Massachusetts,

Benjamin Gilbert married Mary Starr Cornwall (1766-1857) in 1786, in her hometown of Danbury, Connecticut. They moved to Middlefield, New York, and had 10 children. Benjamin Gilbert died in 1828. Daniel Gilbert’s father, also Benjamin, came to Brookfield from Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1747. Daniel Gilbert had been a soldier during the French and Indian war and eventually became an officer. His occupation was listed simply as a farmer, but he was also a selectman for the town of Brookfield.

Lieutenant Benjamin Gilbert served with 5th Regiment, Worcester County Militia, Massachusetts Militia during the American Revolution.

Benjamin Gilbert is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A045071.

For a grueling 8 years from 1775 to 1783, he was in service to his country during our fight for independence. He entered service on April 19th, 1775 when he marched to Lexington, MA in response to the Lexington Alarm (Paul Revere's famous ride). In 1774,

Benjamin enlisted as a fifer in the Brookfield company of minutemen under the command of his uncle, Joseph. A subsequent enlistment continued his service until the end of 1776. Gilbert then joined Captain Daniel Shays' company of Rufus Putman’s Fifth Massachusetts Regiment, an enlistment which expired in 1780. With the fifth he was part of an army that marched to Virginia in 1781, eventually becoming involved in the Siege of Yorktown.

He served in upper New Jersey in the fall of 1780 and spent the winter at West Point. Joining Lafayette's troops in February 1781, he saw action at Trenton, Wilmington, Christiana, Elkton, Annapolis, and eventually Virginia, in pursuit of the armies of William Phillips and Benedict Arnold. He also fought with Lafayette at Yorktown. Gilbert was part of small force under the command of Lafayette which marched from New York to Virginia to resist destructive British raids into Virginia. He was in Virginia beginning in May 1781, as part of the buildup to the Battle of Yorktown. his 1828 obituary said that he had “commanded a platoon in the detachment led by the late Gen Hamilton at the storming of the redoubt at Yorktown.”

He was promoted to sergeant at the beginning of this enlistment, was then later promoted to sergeant major following his actions in the Battle of Saratoga. He was subsequently also made a quartermaster sergeant. In December 1779, he was promoted to ensign, the lowest commissioned rank in the Continental Army. In June 1783, he was commissioned lieutenant in the Third Massachusetts Regiment.. On April 17, 1782, Gilbert was commissioned lieutenant in the Massachusetts Line in the Army of the United States, a post he held until the army was disbanded in 1783.

His military career lasted through the Revolutionary War and ended in 1783. He began his career as a fifer, and after several enlistments ended it as a commissioned lieutenant in the continental army and a member of the Society of Cincinnati, an organization founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence. He spent most of his career in New York and Massachusetts. Benjamin left the army near the end of 1783.

Pension: Benjamin Gilbert Lieutenant County: Otsego Co.

Annual Allowance: 240 00 Sums received: 461 91 Description of service: Massachusetts line When placed on the pension roll: 17 Sep 1818 Commencement of pension: 2 Apr 1818

In 1786, he married Mary Cornwall in Danbury, Connecticut. He quite likely had met her initially during the period of his convalescence in Danbury in 1778-1779. Little more is known about her than that she bore him eleven children and according to a letter to her father where he described her as having “become a hearty woman. She is able to do more business now in one week than she was in four when she left your House. Our little Dairy with the other business incident to the care of a Family employ her whole time so that She is delivered from the bane of humane happiness Iddleness. She feels herself contented and happy, with one Alloy which is the encroachment of the Wolves which are the constant disturbers of our Nights Repose.” He died on January 19, 1828 at the age of 73.

Shy, John, Winding Down: The Revolutionary War Letters of Lieutenant Benjamin Gilbert, Primary Source Documents: Benjamin Gilbert

‘’’Military Life’’’

August 9, 1778 Sunday. “In the fore noon it rained. In the afternoon, we had a party of Infantry Turned out of our Regt. Consisting of 1 Capt, 1 Sub, 1 Serjt, 1 Corpl, 39 Privates to be under the Comd of Colo. Morgan. At night it rained and run into our tent 5 inches deep and we had to ly in it till morning.”

August 25, 1778, “In the morning I Sat off from the saw pitts and got lost a comeing to Camp. Got to Camp about sunrise. In the afternoon wee had order for to strike all our Tents a Load our baggage by 6 oClock the next morning.”

August 26, 1778, “Wee struck all our Tents and Loaded our Bagage. Swept the peraide [drill field] and then pitcht our tents again by 12 oClock. This Day Corporal Ransom & I Laid a wager Concerning Marching.”

Letter to Charles Bruce January 2, 1781 “After retireing from the field to winter Quarters my Quarters weir in Tents together with the Regiment, till the second Instant when the Regiment moved into Barracks. But still many Embarrassments occur which render our situation disagreeable. Our wood is four miles to fetch by warter and then a bad hill which is equill to one mile more. Now I leave you to Judg whether I am happy or not.”

‘’’Crime and Punishment’’’

August 14, 1778, “Roger Alger of Capt. Shays Compy was whipt 50 lashes for stealing”

August 17, 1778, “This morning one Smith formally belonging to Colo. Greatons Regt was shot to death for desertion and inlisting several times.”

September 18, 1778, “Serjt. Peck of Capt Bensons Compy got Reduced to Ranks for Going into an oarchard after apples. Adjt Trotter and Lieut Cooper had their Swords Taken from them for Getting into a Turnip yard after Turnips.”

May 11, 1779, “At Piquet Mounting Elezr Howard of Capt Morses Compy., was Whipped Thirty Lashes each for fireing their Guns Contrary to Genl. orders.”

June 10, 1779, “In the Morning I went to the Baggage Waggon and got my Pack. At Evening Roll Call Serjt. Welsh of Colo. Greatons Regt., Serjt. Chamberlin of Colo. Put/mans Regt. Was Whipped one Hundred Lashes Each for Theft.

In two letters from May. 1781, he describes in detail watching helplessly from the banks of the James River as Generals Philips and Arnold march into Manchester and burn the town, crops and tobacco and drive off all the cattle and horses. He has a particularly low opinion of the Virginia forces, which he found to be small in number and not particularly dedicated to the cause. “The State of Virginia has not one man in the field for the War or three years and only six hundred men for 18 month, and some few Militia at this time. The Militia turns out with the greatest reluctance and cannot be prevailed upon to tarry more than one month.” The tone changes with the arrival of the ships and manpower of de Grasse. The final letter for the year ends by saying that “Nothing but the warmest expectations of capturing Cornwallis keeps my spirits high….”

‘’’Social Life’’’,

May 6, 1778 Fair. “Serjt. Bragg Brought Marcy into Camp at night.”

April 1, 1779 A clear warm day. “At Night Went to the Comisy store and Drank Grogg Freely.”

August 5, 1779 “At Night all the S Majors & Qr. M. Serjt. And number of serj ants walk out as far as Mr. Bassets. Had a heigh caper and a number fine Girls to convers with.”

August 19, 1779 “In the afternoon the Brigade paraded for Alarm but weir Dismist again. At Night I got a pass to peeks kill Hollow and Six Serjst Belonging to the Brigade went to John Drakes and had a Civill frolick and plenty of Groog and a number of Young Ladies.”

October 27, 1779,” Got back to camp just before sunrise and meeting again at 8 o’clock we kept it up drinking all day” and October 28, 1779 “We began drinking again this morning and held it till 11 o’ clock.”

Letter to Rufus Hamilton October 13, 1780

“You cannot conceive how disagreeable time itself appeared to me on my first arrival in Camp having Just left the rural enjoyments of Domestick life, and obliged to conform to the strick regulations and implicit obedience of a Military government, but this being become habitual and familiar I am tolerable reconciled to my present situation.” “February 3, 1780 he noted, “In the morning Docr. Bartlet and I went to Magor Harwood to Breckfirst. Walkt from their to Nathan Bartlets to diner. Then to Chasses, From Chasses Came home. In the evening we went to Peter Hills. Back by 9 oClock. The Docr Staid all night with me.” “June 27, 1780, “I plowed among the Corn in the forenoon. In the after noon I rode to South parish. At night I was at Mr Hills and had a Dance.”

Letter 1781 to Lieutenant Park Holland that “The ladies are exceeding Amouris but not so beautiful as the northward, though there is some rare beauties amongst them. Amouris intrigues and gallantry are everywhere approved of in this state, and amongst the vulgar any man that is given to concupcience may have his fill.”

Letter to Captain Jonathan Stone, March 1, 1783, “We have established a Seraglio at a place Vulgalarly callen Wyoma where we have super fine Kippen (prostitutes) Issued immediately on application. We draw on separate orders, I make my returns once a week and receive a full ration without giving a receipt for the same.”

(The use of seraglio is accurate in that the original meaning of the word was a place for women, a harem. However, Gilbert’s seraglio would better be called a brothel.)

‘’’Civilian Life’’’,

March 9, 1780 “At 11 oClock I sat out to go to [a] Weding. Went to Mr Nathl. Bartles and got back to Balls by four and Staid till Just night. Then went to Decon Hamiltons wheir I saw Mr Reuben Hamilton and Miss Elisabeth Woodbury Join hands in wedlock bands. Staid and Danc’d all night.”

May 15, 1780 “In the fore noon I covered corn. At noon Levi Barns Inlisted during the war. After noon I rode to Braintree. Got home by 7 oClock in the Evening. I was at Peter Hills to a Dance.”

The diary also details the winter of 1778-79 which Gilbert spent in Danbury, Connecticut, attempting to recuperate from a debilitating illness. His description of the symptoms, mouth sores, vomiting, and general weakness, suggest some form of vitamin deficiency which was not helped by his drinking.

October 24, 1778, “I was very Poorly this Morning. The Cankor in my Mouth got to [be] so Great a height that I could not Rest Day or Night. My mouth, Gums, and Tongue weir all white with the cankor. At Nigt I had my bed by the Fire.”

January 18, 1779, “Very Cold. I Rid Eli Horse to Town. Dr. Euestis Gave me an Order for Six Days Provision and some Physiack. I got my Provision and 1/2 lb. chocolate, 1 lb. sugar. I am Growing Worse.” January 19, 1779, “Extream Cold. I took a Portion of Physiack which worried me Very much. In the after noon it snowd. I grow Worse Very fast.” By the middle of March, 1779 the reports of illness disappear from the diary.

Sources

• Find A Grave: Memorial #33573826 (includes photo of gravestone)
• DAR record A045071
• United States Senate. Report from the Secretary of War, in Obedience to Resolutions of the Senate of the 5th and 30th of June, 1834, and the 3d of March, 1835, In Relation to the Pension Establishment of the United States. [New York Section]. Washington, D.C.: Duff Green, 1835.
• More information on Benjamin's Revolutionary War Service can be found in his pension record # W19418 and in Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, Volume 6." https://archive.org/stream/massachusettssolfgypmass#page/408/mode/2up]
• Shy, John, Winding Down: The Revolutionary War Letters of Lieutenant Benjamin Gilbert (1989).
• Symmes, Rebecca, A Citizen-Soldier in the American Revolution: The Diary of Benjamin Gilbert (1980).

See Also: Benjamin Gilbert - From Fifer to the Society of the Cinncinnati https://jyfmuseums.org/learn/learning-center/benjamin-gilbert/