At the time of the American revolution, there were possibly as many as 12 Elisha Gilberts or as few as six. In addition, there were seven men in the 1790 census. Five are located in records at Footnote. And at least two men with this name were at Valley Forge.
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors
1. Gilbert, Elisha, Sr. Loudon (Otis). From Private to Captain, 1775-1781.
2. Gilbert, Elisha, Stockbridge, 1775. (about 3½ months)
3. Gilbert, Elisha, Stockbridge, Private to Ensign, 1777-1779 (three years). Valley Forge
Connecticut Men in Revolutionary War
4. Gilbert, Elisha, Fairfield Co, Sgt, 26 May 1777-6 Jan 1778. Died at Valley Forge.
Vermont Men in the Revolutionary War
5. Gilbert, Elisha, NH, MA and VT Militia. Corporal, 1775 to Ticonderoga
6. “Gilburd,” Elisha, Pawlet, 6-11 Nov 1778, Capt Parmalee Allen’s Co
7. Gilbert, Elisha, Middletown, 1781.
Additional men in Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War—Vermont.
8. Gilbert, Elisha. Service not identified, buried in Bridgewater.
New York Military in the Revolution
9. Gilbert, Elisha. One of the Green Mountain Boys at Quebec, 1775.
10. Gilbert, Elisha, Captain, Albany County Militia. Service records demonstrate clearly that he is the same as #1, above.
11. Gilbert, Elisha, Jr. Received bounty land for service in Albany County Militia.
Footnote.com
12. Gilbert, Elisha, 3rd regt MA militia, 1779
1790 census
13. Gilbert, Elisha, New Haven, New Haven, CT
14. Gilbert, Elisha, Watertown, Litchfield, CT
15. Gilbert, Elisha, Dighton, Bristol, MA
16. Gilbert, Elisha, Loudon, Berkshire, MA
17. Gilbert, Elisha, Chemung, Montgomery, NY
18. Gilbert, Elisha, Canaan, Columbia, NY
19. Gilbert, Elisha, Weathersfield, Windsor, VT
DAR Patriot Ancestors
20. Ancestor #: A045092, Sgt, 1736-1778
21. Ancestor #: A045094, Capt 1747-1823
22. Ancestor #: A045093, 1717-1796, “Applicant must prove correct service”
About half these Gilberts are in HW Brainard, HS Gilbert and CA Torrey. The Gilbert Family: Descendants of Thomas Gilbert. 1582(?)-1659. New Haven, 1953. (BGT)
My (speculative) solution:
A. #1, 10, 16, 21. 1744/47-1823, married Sarah Wheeler, moved MA to NY. BGT 103
B. #2, 3, poss 12. poss BGT, 197
C. #4, 20. 1736-1778, married Submit Glazier. Not in BGT. His family in Westchester Co NY recs
D. #5, 6, 7, 9, 17, my ancestor. 1752-1818, married Hepsibah –?–, BGT 182
E. #8, 19. Just possible could be same as C.
F. #11, 18, good details at Footnote.com on this man in 1838. 1768-1857, BGT 141
G. #13. born 1758, m Sarah Bradley (Fam Ancient New Haven, p 267)
H. #14. born 1770. Married Mary Messenger.
I. #15. totally unknown, must have been on the move.
J. #22. Early DAR applications confused A and his son F, substituting A’s father.
I have the land grant from from Martin Van Buren to David Light for lands in Edgar County. Lands were sold in the 1950s by grandchildren of William Wallace Light. I don’t know if it is an original or a parchment copy. Probably a copy, has a gov’t seal.
I like your site.
Thanks for the kind comment. I am trying to prove as many lines as I can (since none of my children or grandchildren is currently interested) via DAR supplemental applications. That way my research is preserved.
I have Jacob Light already, but am wanting David Dickinson and Elisha Gilbert. Both of them have a lot of supposition, and I’d like to see those Clermont County records in case there’s any hint.
Issue of Elisha Gilbert b 18 May 1743 Canterbury, Windham Co, CT. Anyone know?
Look at these gedcoms on Ancestry.com. They may not be documented, so use with caution.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=Search&includedb=&lang=en&ti=&surname=gilbert&stype=Exact&given=elisha&bplace=&byear=1743&brange=0&dplace=&dyear=&drange=0&mplace=&myear=&mrange=0&father=&mother=&spouse=&skipdb=&period=All&submit.x=Search