Gilbert Hicks (1720 - 1786)

Born 1720 in Queens, New York

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1786 at about age 66 in Nova Scotia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Mary Richardson [send private message] and Bruce Ross [send private message]

Biography

From the History of Bucks Co., PA - Vol 3, p 110-111:

Gilbert HICKS was the fourth son of Isaac and Elizabeth (MOORE) HICKS. Gilbert Hicks was born in Queens county, New York, September 19, 1720.

He married Mary Rodman on April 24, 1746, Mary RODMAN (b February 17, 1717) who was a daughter of Joseph RODMAN. Gilbert and Mary Hicks were the ancestors of all the HICKSes of Bucks county. Both were born at Flushing, Long Island. As a wedding present to the youthful couple, Joseph RODMAN conveyed to them six hundred acres (600 acres) of land in Bensalem township, on the Neshaminy Creek (twenty miles northeast of Philadelphia), which he had recently purchased.

Gilbert and Mary Hicks moved to the land in 1747. They made a comfortable log cabin their home, until they could build a larger house. To build a larger house, Gilbert sold off 200 acres of the land to Lawrence GROWDON. This helped with the new house expenses.

The Hicks eventually sold the remaining four hundred acres, ending at a point at Four-Lanes-End, (now Langhorne). On Four-Lanes End Gilbert erected a large spacious brick house in 1763 a commodious brick house. This house still stands.

On June 9, 1752, Gilbert HICKS was commissioned by the governor and council to be one of the justices of the peace for Bucks county. May 11, 1761 he was commissioned to be the chief justice of the court of commons. On March 29, he and Hugh HARTSHORNE were commissioned by John PENN, then governor, to hold court for the trial of negroes, whether slave or free. Gilbert HICKS was a man of superior mental abilities, and stood very high in the community, commanding the respect of all.

July 9, 1774, Gilbert Hicks was the chairman of a public meeting held at Newtown, the county seat of Bucks. In pursuance of previous notice, and in a short address explained, the objects of the meeting were to consider the injury and distress occasioned by the numerous acts of oppression inflicted on the colonies by the English parliament, in which the colonies were not represented, and entirely concurred in the resolutions then adopted, looking toward a congress composed of delegates from the different colonies, "to use every lawful endeavor to obtain relief and to form and promote a plan of union between the present country and colonies." See Pennslvania. Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV, page 343.

When, however, General HOWE issued his proclamation calling on the loyal subjects of George III to lay down their arms and seek peaceful means of redress, Judge HICKS, being greatly impressed with the power of England and the futility of armed resistance, while he condemned the injustices of the mother country toward the colonies, and being conscientious in regard to the oath he had taken as a justice, read the proclamation from the court house steps at Newtown, and counselled his friends and neighbors to pause before it was too late, and to postpone any (sic) action or resistance until the colonies grew stronger.

Since excitement ran high at the time, Gilbert was branded as a traitor and forced to flee the country and spend the remainder of his days in Nova Scotia. Gilbert was supported by a British government pension. March 8, 1786 George Hicks where he was waylaid and murdered by highwaymen for the quarterly pension he had just drawn. When his eldest son, Isaac visited him while in New York immediately after his flight, there is every reason to believe that if reasoned with calmly he would have realized that matters had progressed too far for peaceful measure to prevail, and would have lived to render to the patriot cause (the same eminent service that he gave to his county under royal authority).

Gilbert's property was confiscated and his family reduced to be almost destitute. Isaac Hicks was clerk of several courts of Bucks County was cast under suspicion at the time. Isaac Hicks was removed from office.

Mary RODMAN HICKS, "the wife of Gilbert", died August 17, 1769, years before his flight and disgrace. They were the parents of five children:

1. Isaac, born April 21, 1748, married his first cousin, Catharine HICKS, daughter of Colonel Edward HICKS and Violetta RICKETTS, of New Jersey.
2. Sarah, born November 3, 1749, died unmarried.
3. Elizabeth, born April 7, 1751, married June 4, 1768, General Augustine WILLET, of Bensalem township.
4. Mary, born January 15, 1753, married May 8, 1772, Samuel KIRKBRIDE.
5. Joseph RODMAN, born November 12, 1756, married July 29, 1777, his cousin, Margaret THOMAS.

Sources

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=j%2Dm%2Dhicks&id=I01959
• History of Bucks Co., PA - Vol 3, p 110-111
• Penna. Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV, page 343