James M Gilbert (abt. 1787 - abt. 1858)

Born about 1787 in Walkers Creek, Giles, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 21 Jan 1858 at about age 71 in Sneedville, Hancock, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Gilbert Name Study.

Baptist preacher Rev. James M Gilbert (about 1787 in Walkers Creek, Giles, Virginia - 21 Jan 1858 in Hancock County, Tennessee) and was buried 21 Jan 1858, Mulberry Gap Baptist Church Yard ^[1]

He married ca 1804-07 in Lee, Virginia, Sarah (Sally) Marshall (born about 1787 in Montgomery County, Virginia.-d.?). Sarah Marshall was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Johnston) Marshall. The Marshalls resided in Hancock Co, TN in the same community where the Gilberts resided.

Children of JAMES GILBERT and SARAH MARSHALL are:

1. NANCY GILBERT, b. 1807.
2. SARAH (SALLIE) GILBERT, b. 1808; m. LOUIS THOMPSON. SARAH was Baptized: 01 Apr 1834, Mulberry Gap Baptist Chuch.
3. WILLIAM M. GILBERT, b. 1809; He married + Mary Ann Jackson b: 1820 .
4. Rev. John Gilbert (26 Nov 1812 in Lee Virginia, -1891), he married Orpha Baker, after she died he married his second wife Sarah Lydia Baker (1835-1862);
5. JAMES BEATY GILBERT, b. 1815, Lee, County, Va. He married Rachell Wilburn b.1817.
6. Joseph Gilbert b.1820 in Lee, Virginia. He married Martha Rhea.
7. DAVID GILBERT, b. 1823; He married Nancy Ann Rice.
8. Rev. THOMAS GILBERT, b. 27 Oct 1825, Lee, County, Va.; d. 11 Feb 1901, Tennessee. he married Malinda McNeal on November 24, 1847,
9. Nancy Polly Gilbert b.1827 in Lee, Virginia, married Elijah Marion Jan. 9th, 1845, in Claiborne Cty., TN. One child we are aware of was Hiram E. Marion who married Sarah Drinnon.
10. ELIZABETH GILBERT, b. 1829; m. CALEB BELL.

^[2]The family moved to Lee Co, Va when James was just a lad. In 1813 he was converted and united with the Thompson Settlement Church. He was baptized by Elder Andrew Baker, the great-grandfather of Dr. Jesse Baker, and was the "last person, save one, baptized by that devoted servant of God." They went down into the water like Phillip and the eunuch, and when they had come out of the water, the spirit of prophecy came upon the venerable man of God and he exclaimed: "I have baptized a preacher." And so "the mantle of Elijah felled upon Elisha." In early manhood, James Gilbert was married to a Miss Sarah (Sally) Marshall, the daughter of Thomas and Rosannah Marshall. To them were born 10 children, two of whom, John and Thomas, became able and useful ministers of the gospel. James enjoyed few advantages of a school education, and never was a man of many books. But as a preacher of the old-school type, he was mighty in the Scriptures, one of the ablest preachers of his day. His ministry was largely in VA, where he was pastor of the Thompson Settlement Baptist Church, and did successful work as a missionary and evangelist. In TN, the larger part of his labors was in Hancock, Claiborne, Sullivan, and one or two other counties. Dr. I.B. Kimbrough, who as "secretary" and "agent" went almost everywhere, and use to say that when he struck Powell's Valley and Lee Co, VA, "where old Jimmy Gilbert preached", he found "nobody but Baptists."

James Gilbert was the founder and builder of the Mulberry Gap Church, and was pastor of Sneedville, Beech Grove, Little Sycamore, and other churches. Of the Mulberry Gap Association, he was the moderator for 16 years in succession. He presided over the conference or convention at the organization of the association in 1835 and was for years the leading spirit, the "big preacher" of the association. He fought long and hard against the "anti mission" heresy in the association [an internal Baptist church schism in the 1845 era]. Frequently he would call some brother to occupy the moderator's chair while he went down into the arena, to "hew to pieces" the bold and defiant spirit of anti-Christ, which thus dared to lift its head among Baptists. At other times he would turn the association into a protracted meeting. When the association met at Little Sycamore, he preached and called for penitents. The vast throng, as if moved by one impulse, came forward. Only two sinners in all the crowd were unmoved. On another occasion, the association met at a private house. After the regular sermon, Brother Gilbert was called on to "conclude" the service, according to the customs of those days. The preacher arose and said, "I have a headache, brethren, and, what is worse, I have a cold heart"-but before he had talked ten minutes the fire had kindled and he was launching out on an exhortation. The audience was stirred. One woman, a "hard-shell", shouted. She had broken her iron jacket, and was shouting herself hoarse, as she came out from among the "antis" to join the "missionaries". As a visitor to the Holston Association, when the body met with Muddy Creek Church, Elder Gilbert was appointed to preach out of doors. Hismtext was "I have a message from God unto thee." In the midst of the sermon it began to rain. The preacher told his hearers they had better find shelter, but they said, "Go on." The few umbrellas at hand were lifted. The preacher preached and the rain poured. Most of the audience were drenched, but still they listened. More than one offered to hold an umbrella over the preacher, but he said, "No, if you can listen in the rain, I can preach without a shelter."

Brother Gilbert's special gift was that of an evangelist. His greatest work was in revival meetings. He was instrumental in the conversion of more than 2,000 souls, who were added to the Lord through his ministry. East TN and the mountains have had few men, if any, who had greater power over an audience than James Gilbert. Under the lightning strokes of his fiery denunciations of sin hard-hearted sinners would quake and tremble-would sometimes fall to the floor, crying out, "Pray for me! I am a lost sinner!" A noted preacher and competent critic said of James Gilbert, that "when the spirit of exhortation was upon him he was simply irresistible."

In personal appearance, Elder Gilbert has been described by those who knew him as a man of "portly mein, tall, and commanding eyes dark and flashing, voice powerful and trumpet-like, as if given to awaken sinners and call them to judgement. His manner was grave and impressive. He had a fine delivery and was a persuasive, melting preacher." He was also a great singer and had a voice not only of great power but of wonderful melody and sweetness, both in preaching and singing the gospel. On Jan 21, 1858, this noble servant of God passed to his reward, at the age of 71. His brethren memorialized him in their Association minutes as "an able minister of the gospel," and his death as removing "one of the few remaining ancient pillars of the sanctuary among the Baptists of East TN." This "venerable father" was laid to rest in the old graveyard under the shadow of the church at Mulberry Gap. When the writer was on the ground no stone marked his resting place. His monument is in the life he lived, the good he was enabled to do-but, someday, Baptists and others will "bethink" themselves and place a stone at his grave. Memorial Stone erected at Mulberry Gap by the Mulberry Gap Association in 1959.

"Received by experience into Thompson Settlement Baptist Church the Third Saturday in April 1913. Baptized Sunday, April 23, 1815, by Elder Andrew Baker in the Lone Branch, a tributary of Wallens Creek. July the First Saturday, 1822 he was licensed to use a public gift where he may think fit.. June the First Saturday, 1823 brothers William Jones and William Wells as Presbytery ordained brother James Gilbert. James was a leader in the church and served as paster (sic) of the Thompson Settlement Baptist Church for several years. Later moved to TN where he pastored churches in Claiborne and Hancock Counties. Founder of the Mulberry Gap Church, Hancock Co., TN. He is buried in the churchyard there. The Marshalls resided in Hancock Co, TN in the same community where the Gilberts resided. ^[3]

• Residence (1850) Hancock County, Hancock, Tennessee

• Occupation Reverend

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #6222866
2. ↑ Burnett, J .J. Sketches of Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers. Nashville, Tenn.: Press of Marshall & Bruce Company, 1919. pages 174-178 URL: http://knoxcotn.org/old_site/tnbaptists/gilbert_thomas.htm
3. ↑ Brøderbund WFT Vol. 18, Ed. 1, Tree #1624, Date of Import: Nov 15, 1999

• US Federal Census 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850

• Virginia Baptist Ministers Vol 2

• Tennessee Early Tax List Records

• Sketches of Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers