THE
GILBERT FAMILY
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How
do they tie into the Bryans?
Celeste Jane Gilbert married George Jerome Bryan.
(See Third Generation of Bryans for more information about
Celeste and her children.)
Celeste's
grandparents were: David Gilbert and Adeline Baker. David, Sr.
was born in 1828, VT and Adeline was born in 1826, NY. They were
married about 1850 in NY and on the 1870 census resided in a town
called Altona, Clinton County, NY. His occupation is listed as
laborer. In 1880 David & Adeline had moved to Franklin
County, NY, town of Belmont.There is much speculation that
Adeline was nearly a full-blooded Native American. However,
research is being done on this. There were several Baker families
that resided in Altona, NY at the same time and I'm certain that
Adeline fits into one of these families. Adaline states on the
1880 census that her mother was also born in New York and her
father in Canada. David Sr. states that both his parents were
born in Canada and family lore has it that the Gilberts were fur
traders in the early 1700's in Canada.
Children of David Gilbert, Sr. & Adeline Baker
Mary,
born 1852, NY
Julius, born 1853, NY
Matilda, born 1854, NY
Napoleon, born 1859, NY
(wife Minnie found on census in 1880 with Gilberts)
Charles, born 1861, NY
(wife Fannie found on census in 1880 with Gilberts)
David, born 1863, NY
(wife Florence Watts)
Henry, born 1866, NY
Joseph, born 1869, NY
It is certain that Napoleon, Charles and David, Jr. eventually
went to Michigan. There, David, Jr. met and married Florence
Watts about 1895. She was born in Dunellen, New Jersey on June 11,
1873 to Phillip Watts and Jane Harnbly.
Children of Phillip N. Watts and Jane Harnbly
(known)
Florence,
born 1873, Dunellen, NJ
Edwin, born 1873, NJ (probably twin to Florence)
John H., born 1878, Michigan
Jane Harnbly Mother to Florence Watts |
David Gilbert, Jr. |
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Florence Watts |
Children of David Gilbert, Jr. & Florence Watts:
Cora,
born 1897
Celeste Jane, born 1899
Floyd James, born 1903
Melvin Hazen, born 1904
Wilbur Edwin, born 1906
Marshall David, born 1909
Florence Aileen, born 1915
Florence & David, Jr. 1919 |
Celeste, Aileen, Florence | Aileen at David Gilbert's grave | L-R- Unidentified man (?) Aileen, Celeste, Cora, Florence, Jane Harnbly, Cora's daughter Jean, George William Bryan, 1928. | ||
L-R, Jean (Cora's daughter), Gertie (Elinus' wife), Elinus, Glen, Cora Gilbert-Spitz, Joe, & Delores (Elinus' daughter) | The Widow
Florence Watts-Gilbert, abt. 1950 |
Florence
Watts Gilbert & Melvin Hazen Gilbert. |
David
died in 1921 from an infected abscessed tooth in Minneapolis. He
is buried at Crystal Lake Cemetery. The 1930 census shows
Florence and daughter Aileen living next door to Charles Gilbert
and his family. Napoleon Gilbert also resided in Minneapolis and
was referred to as "Uncle Pole". Florence died October
27, 1957 in Hennepin County and is also buried at Crystal Lake
Cemtery. Listed below is a poem that Great Grandma Florence would
tell her grandchildren from memory. I heard this poem so often
that I had it memorized at age 4. I hope some of you remember it
too, handed down from Grandma Florence.
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