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.