John Gilbert (abt. 1536 - 1596)

Born about 1536 in Devon, England

Ancestors

Died 8 Sep 1596 at about age 60 in Devon, England

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Biography

This profile is part of the Gilbert Name Study.

The Gilbert of Compton Family tree produced for the 1564 Visitation of Devon shows John Gilbert Knight as the son of Otho Gilbert and Katherine Chapernon and to have died without children and with no wife shown. ^[1]It is assumed that this info was added by the editor and so not as at the actual Visitation in 1564, as Sir john died in 1596.

The Inquisition Post Mortem of Oto Gilbert who died on 18 Feb was held at was held on 13 Oct in the 1st year of the reign of King Edward V1 (=1547) and names son John as heir aged 11 and 3 quarter years and showed that he was born in January or February 1536,^[2] and other heirs in order: Humphrey, Adrian, Oto and Katherine.^[3]

Marriage: Possibly 10 Nov 1556 to Elizabeth Chudleigh - need source.

1573: Lease for 99 years:^[4]

1 Sir John Gilbert of Compton and Elizabeth, his wife

2 Thomasin Bastard, John and Joseph, her sons

Gerston, West Alvington

Rent: £4 pa

1578: Lease for lives:^[5]

1. Humphry Walrond of Bradfield, esq.

2. Sir John Gilbert, Elizabeth his wife, and John his son

Nov. 21 1578, Greenway. Sir John Gilberte to Walsyngham. Thanks for his favours shown to his brother Sir H. Gylberte, and his uncle Sir Arthur Champernowne. Is ready to perform any service in his power.^[6]

The will of "Humphrye Gylbert of Compton in the County of Devon Knight" was made on 28th August 1582 and was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 20 Oct 1584^[7]. It mentions his brother Sir John Gilbert.

Sir john Gilbert died on 8 Sep 1596 and is buried with his wife Elizabeth in Exeter Cathedral.^[8] Apparently the Cathedral's register of burials start in 1593 and do not mention Sir John.

There is a rich and imposing monument, in the South transept of the cathedral at Exeter, to the memory of Sir John Gilbert and his consort, the Lady Elizabeth, with their effigies, of life size and full length, lying side by side under a lofty canopy, all of marble, having at their feet respectively a squirrel (the crest of the Gilberts) and a lion (for the Chudleighs), while over their heads are three shields, one bearing the arms of Gilbert, Jr., on a chevron Sa 3 roses Ar., another the arms of Chudleigh, Erm., 3 lions ramp. Gu., while the middle shield bears Gilbert impaling Chudleigh.^[9]

Probate administration of Sir John Gilbert Senior occurred in 1596 at Churston Ferrers in Devon (7 miles from Compton castle)^[10] with a further reference to administration in 1604.

A number of letters by Sir John Gilbert and numerous other references to him can be found in the Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House by R. A. Roberts, and the Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, by Robert Lemon, both digitized and available on-line at British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/

Sources

1. ↑ The Visitation of the County of Devon, 1564 page 112
2. ↑ The Voyages and Colonising Enterprises of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Volume 1 edited by David Beers Quinn
3. ↑ The Genealogist Vol 25 by Selby, Walford Dakin, 1845-1889; Harwood, H. W. Forsyth; Murray, Keith W, published 1909
4. ↑ Ref 74/88/2 at Plymouth and West Devon Record Office
5. ↑ Ref 1926 B/W/L/2/10 at Devon Archives and Local Studies Service (South West Heritage Trust)
6. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth - Volume 126: November 1578." Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth, 1547-80. Ed. Robert Lemon. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1856. 604-607. British History Online. Web. 21 May 2021. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/edw-eliz/1547-80/pp604-607.
7. ↑ Will of Sir Humphrey Gilbert held by the National Archives, Kew, Ref PROB 11/67/362 (Image on Ancestry.co.uk)
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #41286488
9. ↑ Info from Essex Institute historical collections
10. ↑ Devon Wills Index, 1163-1999

See also

• The Gilbert Spoon