Introduction

I originally started this research in 1997 for myself and my immediate family, but the whole project has grown and introduced me to 'new cousins' also interested in the 'Gilbert's of Banham'. So now the circulation will be wider and more people will be able to comment and add to the story of all of our's family.

So far I have 'got back' as far as 1733. There is still much work that can be done in trying to develop some of the details of our ancestors and it would be wonderful if we can find links beyond this date. My knowledge of socal history is limited and an historian would help reveal more about how our ancesters lived and what drove them to settle in Banham and subsequently to move south in the Industrial Revolution.

All the following are my thoughts and impressions developed from the facts lying in parish records, census returns, maps, gazeteers, visiting the areas, and more recently from the internet, gleened initially to follow my direct line. Even they are not 'the truth'. Names are reused not only down the line, but across, and names are mispelt or nicknames used - errors can occur. Some links may need double checking or be disputed by others in the fullness of time, but Dr Nick Somogyi who used to work for the College of Arms checked my family tree in 1997 and agreed with it thus far.

To try to make it easier whilst writing this ever-changing document, I have put the dates of a person by their name and put the names in upper case eg ALEXANDRA (b1957). I hope this isn't too irritating, but organising the narrative became challenging once I went beyond births and deaths and tried to get a more detailed picture. I think this history works best when you have the actual family tree to consult alongside.

Apologies too for all the footnotes – not everyone's favourite thing – but essential as I got to the brain-befuddled stages and found myself asking “Why did I think that?”

Some of my speculations may be a bit free or coming from a point of ignorance, but hopefully in the future, I will find more information to help confirm, or send my suppositions in a different direction.

I have sometimes traced distantly related branches of the family as roads, in the future, to more information about our family through links with other genealogists or histories.

My move from England curtailed some of my investigations, which I hope may be picked up again at a later date or by others – maybe you!

Subscribing to Genes Reunited1 brought up 4 'cousins' (so far) whose research confirmed and added to mine and I hope that access to this narrative will help develop this 'history' further.

Also, there is a surname project (coming out of the USA) to genetically identify the Gilberts through male Y-DNA testing which (so far) has identified 37 geneticaly unique lines (now based mainly in the USA) carrying the Gilbert surname2. One of these lines is from ROBERT Gilbert (b1791) in Banham.  His living descendant, EDWARD Gilbert has also contributed to the document through his research.

Thank you to everyone for their generosity in sharing.

Our Gilbert family were skilled artisans and tradesmen who also farmed tithed and freehold land - millwright, brickmaker, engineer. The women married farmers. There doesn't seem to be any real skeletons in closets or links to the famous or infamous but it is the ordinary person who keeps the fabric of society rolling and we should be just as proud of them as any hero or superstar.

1.   www.genesreunited.co.uk
2.   www.janegilbert.org

The Origins of the Name 'Gilbert'

The name GILBERT is Norman French and North German. It comes from Giselbert, a Norman personal name composed of the Germanic gisil meaning nobel youth and berht meaning bright or famous. Gilbert has evolved from the spellings of Gislebert, Guilbert and Gilebert and has many other derivatives like Gilbart, Gelbart, Gilbertson, Gilbertti and Gillbert1.

Traditionally the GILBERTINES were an English order of monks founded in the 12th century by St Gilbert of Sempringham2 (1085-1189) and there were numerous convents of this order in the British Isles at the time of the suppression. This was the only native English monastic order and this, it is believed, contributed to the popularity of the name Gilbert during the Middle Ages.

Probably the earliest recorded 'Gilberts' were WILLELMUS GILBERTI reputedly listed in the Curia Regis Rolls in Wiltshire 1202 and a ROBERT GYLEBERT, recorded as living in Norfolk in 1235 3.  There was a William GILBERT of Compton Castle, Marldon, Devon (1204 - 1210 - 1270) 4. which has been home for that branch of the GILBERT family for most of the time since it was built.  Given to the National Trust in 1951, on the condition that the family should continue to occupy the castle, they administer it for the Trust.5


1.   Gilbert – Wikipaedia.com
2.   Sempringham is in Lincolnshire
3.   The Origins of Your Family Name, Blue Chip Products
4.  Submitted by John GILBERT - 24th in the line - 2 December 2017
5. Wikipedia "Compton Castle"

Banham

There are no GILBERTs (or any similar spelling) listed in the records for Banham, Norfolk prior to 1733. I checked the Births / Christenings 1654-1724, Marriages 1654-1730 and Burials 1652-1723. The Parish Register dates from 1558. Though there are Gilberts in the wider Norfolk region, any link at this stage would be too tenuous. (This is where DNA testing might provide a link.)

In 1733 a ROBERT GILBERT (b. circa 1713) probably came from, we know not where, to marry SARAH ENGLISH (b. circa 1713) in a small village south of Norfolk called BANHAM. Banham is in the triangle of the market towns of Attleborough, Thetford and Diss.

Map showing the position of Banham in relation to Thetford, Attleborough, Wymondham, Norwich and Diss

At that time drovers came from all over England, Wales and Scotland to sell to the Norfolk markets, as did fishermen sailing the east coast. Between the 11th century and the industrial revolution, Norwich was England's second city to London. It is said that the area benefitted from the prosperity which came from the flourishing woollen industry in the16th and 17th centuries. Despite markets being held nearby, Banham had its own weekly market even having an annual fair for horses, toys, etc (still recorded in 1845 as being held on 22nd June).

There are Gilberts in Cornwall, the Midlands, you name it but, usually in the early 1700s, one family, as we find in Banham. So far not a clan that could give us clear links to that 'first' Robert in Banham.

The prevalence of the name Robert in the family, led my grandfather, ALBERT (b.1904), to speculate that our ancesters were originally Scottish, but he also put the black curly hair and engineering traits down to a Cornish link. A Scottish friend of mine pointed out that the name Robert was Norman French and was adopted by mixed Scottish-Norman families in honour of Robert I of Scotland (aka Robert de Brus, aka Robert the Bruce). Adding to this the Norman origins of the name Gilbert we could be looking at  Norman French roots. It would be very tidy though if we could be linked with that 13th century ROBERT GYLEBERT of Norfolk mentioned above, this would show that Robert was a long established family name and our ROBERT (b. circa 1713) was not a long distance immigrant.

I visited Banham in 1997 whilst in Norfolk to study the Parish records. At the time the gravestones around the 14th century parish church were removed for cleaning, logging and re-positioning so I couldn't use them as a reference. (This source needs to be followed up). I decided to see if any of the buildings I had found on the tithe maps and parish information were still standing, as the centre of the village was mostly unchanged. I only had a few hours in Banham due to the country bus timetable so just photographed and wrote down what I came across.  It wasn't until I got home (and since in writing this up) that I realised what an amazing treasure trove of information I had accumulated in such a short time.

The Banham Gilberts 1700-1764

The first mention of the Gilberts living in Banham is in the baptismal register for 1734 where the children of ROBERT GILBERT(b. circa 1713) and SARAH (b.circa 1713) are listed. Assuming that ROBERT and SARAH married at the age of 21, they would have been born circa 1713.

ROBERT and SARAH appear to have had 3 sons and a daughter;

• SAMUEL (baptised 15.2.1734) who married SUSANNA and had 6 or 7 children of whom at least 3 died in infancy. There appears to be no further information of the male line after 17771. They could have moved to SUSANNA's family village.

• On 26.10.1789 a SUSANNAH GILBERT marries JOHN TAYLOR 2.also of Banham.This is witnessed by LYDIA GILBERT and WILLIAM GATHERCOTE 3.

• JOHN (baptised 11.10.1737) who I believe married MARYand had a daughter SUSAN who was buried 22.4.1750 at Banham. The lack of records of their marriage may indicate that Mary was from another village. There is no further mention of this line after 1750 so again they may have moved to a neighbouring village.

• ROBERT (also baptised 11.10.1737). This Robert married an Isabel 4. COWELES in October 1763 and may have had 5 or 6 children 5. One of the witnesses to their wedding is JOHN TAYLOR who may be related to (or may be) the John Taylor who married SUSANNAH Gilbert (b. circa 1769) in 1789. In 1768, ROBERT (bap. 1737) is described as a Freeholder in the Norfolk Poll so would be a landowner and have some standing in the village. He is my ancestor.

1.   Sarah born 7.9.1764, baptised 10.2.1773; Susannah born circa 1769 and married John Taylor 26.10.1789; James baptised 30.12.1772 and buried 19.12.1772; James baptised 10.2.1773; Samuel baptised 13.3.1774; Elizabeth buried 6.11.1776 and another Samuel born 27.3.1777 and baptised 2.4.1777. One of the Samuels was buried 1.5.1777. It would make sense that it was the second one, the first one's death having not been recorded. All were born, baptised and buried in Banham.

2.   The Kenninghall, Norfolk records show a THOMAS TURNER being baptised at the age of 25 on 16.7.1837, son of LYDIA GILBERT born circa 1768 married to JAMES TURNER of Keninghall. The Kenninghall connection may be worth following up and those Parish records checked out.

3.   A WILLIAM GATHERCOTE is also a witness at the wedding of ROBERT GILBERT to MARY KENT on 21.9.1789.

4.  aka ARABELLA circa 1766 and ISABELLA 1770 and 1781, but pretty sure its the same person.

5.   Six children if SUSANNAH is his and not SAMUEL and SUSANNAH's.

Banham 1765-1789

ROBERT (b. circa 1737) and ISABEL's eldest child is JOHN (b. circa 1764).  He is baptised on 23.8.1761 aged 2 years. JOHN appears to marry three subsequent MARY's;

• Mary Chapman of Banham on 3.5.1785 and witnessed by Elizabeth Hait (?).  Mary is buried 17.7.1797, the same day as her son CHAPMAN, so probably died following complications during childbirth.

                   JOHN (b. 1764) and MARY have three children:

•  SARAH born 13.3.1782 and baptised 4 days later at Banham.

•  MARY born on 17.8.1785 and baptised 8 days later but there is also a record of their MARY being buried on 15.5.1785 aged 14 years at Banham check my records

• CHAPMAN born 30.4.1797 and baptised on 14.5.1797. He is buried in Banham on 17.7.1797 when his father is shown as a widower.

• Mary Berney of Banham married on 17.11.1798, just over a year after JOHN (b. 1764)'s first wife's death and at the age of about 34 years old.  The marriage was witnessed by George Downs (Jnr). This is likely to be the same George Downs that witnesses ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY KENT's wedding a year later.

• Mary Drake of Banham on 1.11.1816 witnessed by MARIA GILBERT1. and ROBERT GILBERT. JOHN (b. 1764) would have been about 52 years old.

ROBERT (b.circa 1737) and ISABEL's second child is another ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) who was baptised in 1766 and in 1789 married MARY KENT. This ROBERT is my direct descendant, so more of him later in The Millwrights. He dies at the ripe old age of 74 sometime before the end of September 1840.

The next child is REBECCA (b. circa1770) (aka REBEKAH in 1790) who was baptised in Banham on 18.8.1770 2. REBECCA marries John Woods (Jnr) a Banham man on 10.12.1787 with ROBERT (either her father or her brother who is aged 21) as a witness. Sadly REBEKAH is buried on 7.10.1790 after having been married only three years and aged only 20 years old. There is no evidence, but her death could have been from childbirth.

ISABEL (bap 1772)  is their next child and all we know about her is that she was baptised on 14.12.1772.

Their last child is LIVIA born 12.3.1781 and baptised 4 days later. Her father and mother would have been in their early to mid forties.  ISABEL (bap. 1772) and LIVIA (b. 1781) don't appear in later marriage or death records for Banham.

Going back now to ROBERT (circa1766-1840) and MARY KENT who married in 1789.  They have 10 children between 1790 and 1805, most of whom survive to marry. ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) seems to have been very successful; a wheelwright in 1802, a millwright in 1806 and a maltster. He dies leaving a Will showing he owned a house with a Millwright's shop ajoined to it in Banham, three dwellings with yard, gardens, newly built brick and tiled stables and a cart lodge, 3 acres of enclosed arable land, brick kilns, a malting and a post windmill...

...“with patent sails, fly wheel and all necessary and modern machinery lately completely fitted up and capable of doing an extensive business and now in the occupation of Mr. Jonas Mallett 3 and others.” (4)

ROBERT (circa 1766-1840)'s signature appears in the parish accounts of 1829 (and some other year's records) as an overseer that the accounts were correct indicating that he had been educated.5

ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY's first children are twin daughters MARY ANN (aka MARIA circa 1815) and REBEKAH ISABELL born on 10.1.1790 (4 months after their marriage and not easy to hide!). Both girls are baptised on 2.2.1790 6. We hear no more of REBEKAH, but when MARY ANN is 23 years old, she marries Joseph Howlett also of Banham on 26.5.1813. Their marriage is witnessed by the mark of GEORGE GILBERT (b.1796) who, assuming it is Mary Ann's brother, would be 17 years old 7. They appear to have only one child; George Howlett (b. circa 1828) born 15 years after they marry. In the 1841 census, George Howlett is 13 years old and found living with his uncle and aunt in Westgate Street, Banham. Further investigation into any Howletts of Banham might shed more light.

Two years into their marriage, ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY have their first son on 19th October 1791 and duly call him ROBERT (b.1791)! He is baptised 8 days later. More of him below.

Two more daughters follow. LUCY born 19.2.1793 and baptised 3 days later and of whom we hear no more, and HANNA MARIA born just over a year later on 27.3.1794 and baptised a week later.

HANNAH MARIA (b.1794) marries Edward Roper of Bressingham 6 on 13.4.1824. She would have been 30 years old, quite some age in those days.  As her father is 58 by now she may have stayed at home to look after her parents and younger siblings - who knows?!  HANNAH MARIA (b. 1794)'s brother and sister WILLIAM GILBERT (b1802) and SARAH WOODCOCK7 (aged 26) witness the wedding.

In 1841, Edward Roper is listed as a farmer living at Tickenhall Street, Banham with his wife HANNAH MARIA. They are both 45 years old and have three children John Roper aged 15 and born around 2 years after they married, Eliza Roper aged 12 and Edward Roper aged 4.

Twenty years later the 1861 census tells us that the family is living at 111 Great Green, Banham. Edward Roper Snr (aged 66) is a Farmer of 38 acres employing two labourers and a boy.

Houses on Great Green, Banham (1997)

HANNAH MARIA (b. 1794) and Edward Roper  live to a ripe old age for the time. They appear again in the 1871 census as being 76 and 77 years old. This time HANNAH MARIA (b.1794) is shown as being a year older than Edward. They now have retired and are living at 57 Great Green. Eliza Roper, still unmarried at aged 42, is living with them as is their grandaughter Martha E aged 6. It is unknown whether Martha E is the daughter of John Roper (b circa 1826) who would be 45 years old or Edward Roper (b circa 1837) who would be 34 years old or - shock! horror! – unmarried Eliza Roper (b circa 1829).  The 'E' could stand for 'Eliza'!!!!!!

The Roper family stay in Banham for some time. Both White's History Gazeteer & Directory of Norfolk 1883 and 1892 list Miss Eliza Roper living at Yew Cottage and her older brother John Roper who is a farmer, assistant overseer and highway rate collector. By 1892 John is Clerk to the School Board and Attendance Officer 8. He would be 66 years old and his sister 63.

On 25th July 1796, ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY KENT have their sixth child and second son, GEORGE (b.1796). He is baptised 6 days later. Because the core architecture of Banham hasn't changed and because of the importance of his occupation to the economic survival of the village, I could find out a lot about GEORGE (b.1796), so he also gets a section The Brickmaker devoted to him later.

SARAH is born on 6.12.1798 and baptised 4 days later. She marries George Woodcock of East Harling  in Banham on 20.7.1819. East Harling is a village on the road from Banham to Attleborough.  The marriage is witnessed by John Gaymer and Mary Palmer. (See The Cider Makers below).

George Woodcock is shown in the Parish accounts to have paid 2/6d for firing cutting on 1.10.1823. I am not sure if this is a fine or a charge.  It is likely that SARAH (b.1798) died between 1833 and 1841 in her mid-to-late 30s. We can guess this because George Woodcock is listed in the 1841 census as a Butcher of Whithurst Street, East Harling. He has four children; Ester (sic) aged 15, Charles aged 15, Mary aged 14 and George aged 8. No wife is listed.9 George Woodcock continues to be entioned in the 1850 Gazeteer as a Butcher (he would be about 50 years old).

ROBERT (circa1766-1840) and MARY KENT's third son (and eighth child) is born at Banham on 11.12.1800 and baptised 5 days after. He is named JOSEPH (b.1800) and is my direct line, so more about him later in The Engineers.

1.   MARIA is likely to be MARY ANN (b1790) daughter of ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) as she is stated as being MARIA in the 1815 census and would be about 26 years old. ROBERT could be her brother (b1791) who would be aged 25 or her father who would be 50 years old.

2.   This is 4 years after her brother so it is still conceivable that SUSANNAH, who I have put in SAMUEL and SUSANNA's family, could fit as an elder sister.
3.   Probably his employees keeping the business going.
4.   Norfolk Chronicle - 26th September, 3rd & 10th October 1840 quoted on www.norfolkmills.co.uk
5.   I am assuming the Robert Gilbert referred to in the parish records at this time is Robert (bapt 1766) and therefore aged around 53 and not his son Robert (b.1791) who would be aged 38 – this may be a misassumption and needs further evidence to prove. His son George (b1796) can not write at age 17.
6.   We know REBEKAH is not the one buried 7.10.1790 because that record clearly states the person as being aged 20 years at death.
7.   Would he be able to be a witness at this age?
8.  Kelly's 1892.
9.   Assuming SARAH mothered all the children, CHARLES would have been born circa 1833. in 1841 SARAH does not appear in the census entry. Death is far more likely than divorce in those days!

A Little Bit of Scandal

Two years on and the next child is born – WILLIAM on 26.12.1802. He is baptised on 5.1.1803.The youngest son of ROBERT (b1766) and MARY KENT, WILLIAM witnesses his sister Hanna Maria's marriage to Edward Roper (so we know he can write) and appears on the Poor Record for the Parish. From 1823 to 1836 (when he is 21 years old and for 13 years) he pays 1/6d for the upkeep of SARAH ROPER's illegitimate child. SARAH ROPER (b circa 1798) was born in Old Buckenham two villages towards Attleborough and could well be EDWARD ROPER's (husband of HANNAH MARIA GILBERT (b1794)) older sister. Interestingly this payment starts about a year before HANNAH MARIA and EDWARD ROPER marry. Did this 'family scandal' bring them together?.


In 1841, SARAH ROPER is shown as 43 years old (WILLIAM GILBERT is about 39 and married to another woman). She has a child ROBERT (aged 14) living with her in Church Green, Banham. This doesn't quite tally – their child would be about 18 years old in 1841 – so its probably not ROBERT who was WILLIAM and SARAH's lovechild. Being 18 years old, the child could have already moved out of his or her home to work or marry. But ROBERT is likely to have the family name ROPER as another name is not shown in the census. Of course people do also lie, make mistakes and may be the math was more socially acceptable on paper?


However, in 1861 SARAH ROPER is living at 138 Tickenhall Street (the same street, and maybe house, her father lived in in 1841 – he now lives at Great Green). She is aged 70 and designated as a pauper and still using the name ROPER so probably never married. Living with her is 10 year old THRIZA SCARFE (b circa 1851) shown as granddaughter and scholar.


My thinking is that if THRIZA SCARFE is a true grand daughter, the first illegitimate child was a daughter who moved away and married into the SCARFE family. However there is also a THRIZA GERMANY (b circa 1855) who is SARAH ROPER's 'neice' and MARY ANN GERMANY's (daughter of GEORGE GILBERT b 1796) daughter. The unusualness of the first name makes me wonder if there is a connection. Someday, someone may go down this route and find those connections!


In 1831 WILLIAM aged 29 marries REBECCA GASKIN (m.12.10.1831) whilst still paying 'child support' to SARAH ROPER. REBECCA is from Banham so would no doubt know all about WILLIAM's illegitimate child. The witnesses at the wedding are ANN GILBERT (probably ROBERT's (b1891) wife), MARIA CHAPMAN (her mark), Michael Wiley and George Minton. MARIA CHAPMAN is is likey to be a relative of JOHN GILBERT (b. circa 1764) and his first wife MARY CHAPMAN (circa 1735-1797).

The Routs of Banham

The youngest daughter LIVY aka Levy (23.1.1805) marries SAMUEL ROUT of Shelfanger (a village on the Diss Road from Banham) on 17.10.1821. She would have been only 16 years old. The marriage was witnessed by EDWARD ROPER (to be HANNA MARIA's farmer1 husband two and a half years later) and SOPHIA ROUT (probably the sister or mother of the groom SAMUEL). They have five children; WILLIAM ROUT (b circa 1826), GEORGE ROUT (b. circa 1825) ELLEN(?) (b. circa 1824), RICHARD ROUT (b circa 1830) and ELIZABETH (b. circa 1832).


By 1861, RICHARD ROUT lives at 128 Tickenhall Street and is a Butcher2in Banham. He has a wife MARIA from Stowmarket and four children AGNES L (b.circa 1855), HENRY C (b. circa 1857), WILLIE (b circa 1859), and FREDERICK (b. circa 1861). RICHARD's sister ELIZABETH (aged 27) lives with the family as a servant.


The ROUTS were prominent members of Banham from this point on. RICHARD ROUT sat on the School Board (formed in 1875) with WILLIAM GAYMER JNR, and the ROUT family are listed as cider makers, butchers and dealers in 18613 and 18834. In 1881 Richard employed 4 men. His son FREDERICK is listed as a Cider Merchant and HENRY C a butcher living at 28 North Bight5.


In 1896 L.F.6 Rout & Co Ltd - already cider makers in Banham - took over their rivals Gaymer's Banham enterprise when Gaymer's moved to Attleborough (probably due to the need for expansion). Gaymer's were already using a hydraulic press introduced in 1870 but the GILBERT family had moved away by then so it is tenuous that the GILBERT Engineers would have had anything to do with its design.


ALBERT V ROUT appears on the First World War memorial in Banham.


In the 1930's Mr Rout, owner of the cider works, bought a large area, including the area near the old brick works and built a house called the 'Garden of Eden' where he dug a tunnel, filled it with coloured lights and charged courting couples to walk through it, The Garden of Eden scene was used on Rout's cider bottle labels of the time7.


1.   White's Directory 1845 , Kelly's Directory 1845, Hunt & Co's Directory 1850.
2.   Sarah Roper lives at 138 Tickenhall St in 1861 and Edward Roper lived in the street in 1841 but we don't  know the number. 
3.   1861 census.
4.   White's Directory 1883.
5.   1881 census.
6.   Leonard Frederick Rout. Lived at Lydford House according to Kelly's 1929 Directory.
7.   Banham Heritage Register, 1991.