"Benjamin Gilbert, son of Joseph Gilbert, was born at Byberry, about 15 miles from the city of Philadelphia, in the year 1711, and received his education among the people called Quakers." [1]
He married first Sarah Mason,[2] a daughter of Richard and Abigail (Seary) Mason, of Dublin Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Benjamin settled on a farm which his father purchased for him in Richland, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where eight of Sarah and his children were born,[3] Rachel, Abigal, Sarah, Joseph, Benjamin, John, Sarah, Joshua and Caleb.[2]
In 1755, Benjamin returned to Byberry to take care of the family farm,[4] where Sarah died in 1759.[2]
In 1760 he married second Elizabeth Peart,[5] widow of Bryan Peart and daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca (Homer) Walton, of Byberry.[2] Benjamin and Elizabeth had four children, Jesse, Rebecca, Abner and Elizabeth.[6]
His children by his first wife were nine in number:
The children by his second wife, Elizabeth (Walton) Gilbert, were four in number:
In the spring of 1780 Benjamin Gilbert and his family were surprised by the Indians, and taken from their farms, on the frontiers of Pennsylvania to Canada. Benjamin, Elizabeth and their son Jesse were eventually allowed to return home, but the others were held by the Indians. Returning home on their descent down the St. Lawrence River Benjamin Gilbert died. He was buried under an oak tree on the banks of the St Lawrence River.[1]
Quaker records record that when they were taken on the 25th of the 4th month of 1780, Benjamin's household consisted of:[7]
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Benjamin is 24 degrees from Herbert Adair, 22 degrees from Richard Adams, 16 degrees from Mel Blanc, 24 degrees from Dick Bruna, 17 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 29 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 14 degrees from Sam Edwards, 15 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 18 degrees from Marty Krofft, 12 degrees from Junius Matthews, 14 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 17 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.