Gilbert was born in 1744 to parents Barzillai and Phebe (Coleman) Folger.
He married Ann Gardner, daughter of Charles and Ann (Pinkham) Gardner, in 1771 at Nantucket, Massachusetts. Their children were Abigail, Shubael, Obed, Phebe, Rowland and Love Folger.
Gilbert was a master mariner and commanded at least six whaling voyages.
Summary of Whaling Voyages
List of Capt. Gilbert Folger's whaling voyages serving as Master[1] :
Ship
Port
Depart
Return
Destination
Oil Harvest
Whalebone
Dolphin
Nantucket, MA
1782
—
—
—
—
Industry
Nantucket, MA
1784
—
—
—
—
Industry
Nantucket, MA
1788
1789
—
—
—
Industry
Nantucket, MA
1789
1790
Woolwich Bay, Africa
951 bbl
—
Industry
Nantucket, MA
1792
1793
Brazil
900 bbl
—
Ranger
Nantucket, MA
1793
—
Woolwich Bay
—
—
His son, Rowland, was lost at sea “killed by natives” in 1805.
Gilbert passed away in 1824.
Research Notes
Gilbert's birth date was also recorded as 5 or 15 Dec 1744. The difference in month may be due to how the record was transcribed: the 12th month on the "Old Style" calendar would be February and December in "New Style" (after 1752).
Gilbert, ch. Barzillai and Phebe, 5: 12m: 1744. CR4 [h. Anna (d. Charles Gardner and Anna), s. Barzillai and Phebe (Coleman), 15: 12m: PR38].[2]
The Barney Genealogical Record lists a son "Alexander" with no birth or death date.
Alexander, s. Gilbert and Anna (Gardner), ––– ––, ––––. PR38.[3]
Sources
↑ “The Whaling History”, database, New Bedford Whaling Museum, entry for Gilbert Folger: WRI AM1940, https://whalinghistory.org/?s=AM1940 (accessed 31 May 2023).
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