William Gilbert (bef. 1540 - 1602)

Born before 1540 in Leicestershire, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 4 Mar 1602 after age 62 in Lockoe, Derbyshire, England

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Biography

This profile is part of the Gilbert Name Study.

William Gilbert is shown in the Derbyshire visitation pedigree from 1611 as the son of Hugh Gilbert of Selby [now Sileby] in Leicestershire and married to Elizabeth Cooke the daughter of William Cooke of Trusley and widow of John Bird of Nether Locko, with children Thomas, Matthew, William, Helen (died without issue), Rachell (wife of Richard Sharp of Friseby) and Frances (wife of Francis Sacheverell of Reresby).^[1]

William Gilbert is shown in the 1619 Visitation of Leicestershire as William Gilbert of Selby in Leicestershire, son of Hugh Gilbert of Selby, married to Elizabeth Cooke the daughter of William Cooke of Trusley in Derbyshire with children Sarah wife of George Wellock, Thomas, William and Matthew.^[2]

Re-distributions of Royal lands during the Tudor era allowed William Gilbert of Barrow to acquire Locko manor with Spondon from William Byrde (his wife's son from her previous husband John Bird of Nether Locko) in 1563.

The Stenton Family Papers held at the University of Reading include a number of documents relating to the Gilbert family of Sileby/Lockoe, amongst them:

• William Byrd of Nether Locko, co. Derby to William Gilbert of Sileby, co. Leicester. The mansion house of Nether Locko, co. Derby. Consideration £650 2 July 1576. Signed: William Birde. Seal missing

• Release: William Byrd of Locko, co. Derby to William Gilbert of Sileby, co. Leicester. Land in Locko, co. Derby 25 May 1583. Signed: William Byrd^[3]

1584:^[4]

Thos. Balle v. Wm. Gylbarte: Mansion house and lands in Nether Lockhowe, sometime Richd. Byrd's or Bryd's, and tythes of Nether Lockhowe. Derby, 26 & 27 Eliz 1584

6 Apr 1590:^[5] Feoffment: William Gilbert of Sileby co. Leicester to Thomas Gilbert (his son) of Sileby co. Leicester. Land at Nether Locko co. Derby. Signed: William Gilbert

1600: Bargain and sale with feoffment:^[6]

William GILBERT of Locko, and Thomas GILBERT of Sileby, co. Leicester (his son) to Francis BEAMOUNT of Barrow upon Trent. Property in Barrow upon Trent. Consideration £70

From the following information, it would appear that William Gilbert was buried at Spondon in March 1601/02.

In the Notes on the churches of Derbyshire by Cox, J. Charles published 1875-1879 concerning Spondon, it says:^[7]

In this aisle both Reynolds and Bassano mention a memorial to William Gilbert, who purchased Locko of Byrd, which has also (as seems usual with Spondon monuments) disappeared. We are able, however, to give a copy of the inscription :

Mundi mens aeterna et innarrabile numen

Suscipe me laetum et meliori in sede repone

O ille beatus qui vitae infames scopulos et naufraga

Saxa festina potuit praetervixisse carina

Fcelix ille animi quern sic bona vita beavit

Morte bona cui sors vita pereunis erit

Credo in Christo in eternum vivere:

Golielmus Gilbertus de Lockoe armiger obiit 4 Marcii 1601.

This William Gilbert was succeeded by his son Thomas ; and Thomas left two sons, Henry, the elder, of Locko, and William, who went to Dublin ; this William, by his will (dated 1649) left 1000 to be invested in land for the poor of Spondon, as is recited on a brass plate still in the church, against the wall near the reading-desk.

Research Notes

There is a probate administration for William Gilbert of Spondon dated 23 Jan 1615/16 which cannot be attributed to another William suggesting that either the death year in the memorial has been mis transcribed or probate occurred very late.

Sources

1. ↑ Derbyshire visitation pedigrees 1569 and 1611
2. ↑ The visitation of the county of Leicester in the year 1619
3. ↑ Stenton Family Fonds; University of Reading
4. ↑ Ref C3700980 at the National Archives
5. ↑ MS 950 6/106 at University of Reading Archives - Special Collections
6. ↑ Ref http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/096d7f51-f78b-47f1-817b-936b22bc1ff6 at the Museum of English Rural Life.
7. ↑ Spondon Church in Notes on the churches of Derbyshire by Cox, J. Charles published 1875-1879