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Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Re: Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Posted: 1 Oct 2010 5:43AM GMT
Classification: Query
ADDING NEW INFORMATION:

Laura May McAuliff (daughter of Laura Amanda Gilbert and John McAuliff, her first husband) married George Davis in Halifax. At some point they moved to Boston, MA and resided at 30 Windsor Street. They gave birth to a son, William D. Davis, who died March 28, 1910 at the age of 1 yr 5 months of pneumonia.

More to follow...

Re: Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Posted: 16 Apr 2015 7:56PM GMT
Classification: Query
This is all interesting.

I have been trying to research my grandmothers side, surname Kelly, her father changed the spelling from Celsie to Kelsey then Kelley and finally Kelly.
I can't find much accurate information on that family.
I *believe* her father James Henry Kelsey was born in Yarmouth, then moved to New York, then back to Nova Scotia. But some sources say he was born in NY then came to NS. He was born 1880.
He also was a sailor making trips from NS to Bermuda.... Not sure why.
His father was also James Kelsey b. 1851 in NY and his parents were a John and Mary. His first wife was Ada Thompson whom died young, she was James Henry Kelsey's mother. A source showed James Kelsey and James Henry Kelsey living with Ada's parents for a bit.
James Kelsey was a black loyalist from what I've heard but after years of research I can't find any other info.
That's all I know.....

Re: Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Posted: 17 Apr 2015 1:49AM GMT
Classification: Query
I do have a bit on the Gilbert's.

Thomas.

*GILBERT*

AMOS (REUBEN) GILBERT, m. JESSIE (JESSEY) CAMPBELL (b. ca. 1833, m. 1st ; m. 2nd by license Adventist Church, Halifax, Halifax Co., NS 13DEC1872 the Rev. Nelson Hugo Reed (b. Bear River, Digby Co., NS 14JAN1840 (ca. 1840-1, 16JAN1841 in 1901), d. Shelburne, NS 11SEP1928 age 88 years, 8 months and 29 days), s/o William and Esther Ann (Rice) Reed), d/o John and Sarah Campbell.
Amos' surname may have been initially Kelly or Kelley. A descendant of his brother, Oliver Gilbert (Stephanie Gilbert), suggests that they were slaves fleeing from Maryland (South Carolina in his daughter's death record) by way of the Underground Railroad to Lancaster, Pennsylvania by separate routes or at different times. Meeting together, they went on to Philadelphia and apparently separated. Amos may have first gone to Nova Scotia, which may explain why his wife is later in Halifax. He married and moved to Fredericton, York Co., NB, apparently running, possibly owning, a boarding house. He had "settled in business", as the anecdote had it. There is some indication that he was a saloon keeper. Amos died in Fredericton, York Co., NB of cholera, leaving a wife and two daughters, "one was married to a fur dealer in Halifax and the other to a book keeper at the United States Shirt and Collar Company, Troy, NY." The 'fur dealer', as it turns out, was William B. Thomas.
In APR1854 the ship, 'Blanche' brought the disease to Saint John. 5,000 caught it and 1,500 died in Saint John. It spread to Fredericton as well. 1853-4 was referred to there as "this year of pestilence." This seems the likely time when Amos/Reuben died. The Saint John, "New Brunswick Courier", dated 9JUN1855, has a notice:

"(Case 12) Two young women named KELLY went in steamer "St. John" to Fredericton 28th July and took lodgings in the house of a coloured man named GILBERT. There were people from cholera houses in almost every boat that went up about this time. One of these women, about the third day from her arrival was taken down with cholera and died after two days illness. Gilbert, the man of the house died the same day as the woman. Among the (?) subsequent to these were two labouring men who worked aboard the steamer named HOPE and McARTHUR."

That the event took place in July, and the paper was dated in June, suggests the event took place in 1854 rather than in 1855. It also suggests that Mr. Gilbert lived in Fredericton. It would appear he died about 2AUG1854. At least its seems to match to some degree the story. I would guess, however, that he was not there before 1851 (not in the census), and that he was buried in an unmarked grave. In the two or three years between, there was not much opportunity to leave a trace.
The two Kelly ladies, it has been surmised, may have been relatives on their way to join him.
Nelson H. Reed was a widower (age 41, 2nd Adventist, fisher) in Pubnico. Yarmouth Co., NS in 1881 living with John and Susan David? This suggests that Jessie died between 1873 and 1880. When he died, Nelson was a 'health doctor'. His mother's family is found at:
http://www.go.ednet.ns.ca/~neil/henry/d6.htm
Nelson apparently remarried as, in Shelburne, NS in 1901, he is, again, a widower, but with several children b. 1876-1889. The child, Charles Reed b. 10JUL1876, may have been Jessie's. In 1891, Nelson's wife is Mary E. (b. ca. 1852), and Charles was b. ca. 1879. Another child is Nettie (b. ca. 1876). There are also 'Ester' (ca. 1887) and Cora (ca. 1890). Apparently there was a wife between Jessie, as Charles Graham Reed, in his 2nd marriage in 1928, gives his mother as Jane Daggett. Nelson H. 'Read' (a widower) m. Jane Gardner (a widow) 4APR1878.
This suggests that Jessie d. between 1873 and 1878. Possibly Nettie Reed was her daughter, and she died giving birth to her.
Children:
1st
1. LAURA AMANDA GILBERT b. ca. 1853-5 (17MAY1860; MAY1863 but age 57 so MAY1853), d. 29MAR1929 age 74 years, buried Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax, Halifax Co., NS, m. 1st by license, Christian Adventist Church, Halifax, Halifax Co., NS by the Rev. John G. Hook 6JUL1873 JOHN WILLIAM McAULIFFE (b. Halifax, Halifax Co., NS ca. 1846-7, d. ca. 1880), s/o John and Johanna McAuliffe; m. 2nd by license, Baptist Church, Halifax, Halifax Co., NS by the Rev. Henry H. Johnson 11MAY1882 WILLIAM BENJAMIN THOMAS (b. Preston, Halifax Co., NS ca. 1844-5 (27FEB1851; FEB1842); m. 1st Halifax 7JUN1870 Annie E. Allison (b. ca. 1846), d/o Thomas and Elizabeth (Fall) Allison), s/o the Rev. Thomas/James and Hannah Thomas.
John was a furniture maker; a 'furniture varnisher' when married. A witness to their marriage was Melvina Gilbert, presumably her sister. Both were given as b. Halifax, but in Laura's case this seems doubtful.
When their daughter, Laura, was born they lived on Lockman St., Halifax, and John was a cabinet maker.
A John McAuliffe d. Halifax, Halifax Co., NS 6FEB1927 age 80 years, but is given as single. This is particularly unlikely to be John as Laura 'McCauliff' (age 27) is a widow in the City of Halifax in 1881, with a daughter, May, b. ca. 1874. (1879 in a late registration of birth). Laura is Baptist.
In the marriage record for her 2nd marriage, Laura is a 'spinster' and William is a 'widower'. This would suggest she was previously unmarried, which would appear to be incorrect. William is a merchant, and having been b. in Preston was likely Black. Her father is given as having been a saloon keeper. Laura is given as b. 'St. John' in this case.
Her death record gives her as a resident of 19 Moran St. in Halifax, her father as 'Gilbert' (b. South Carolina), and her mother as Jessie Campbell. Her husband, Mr. Thomas, survived her. She was indicated as 'African' and as b. 'St. John, N. B.'
Thomas was a furrier in his first marriage record. His father, in that case, was Thomas and when William married Laura, his father was James, but was a clergyman in both cases.
In Halifax, in 1891, W. B. Thomas was age 46, b. NS, father b. England, mother b. U. States, and he was a furrier. Laura (36) was b. NB, her father was b. West Indies and her mother in NS. Two daughters are Mary (19) and May (17), both b. NS, father b. NS and mother b. NB. This suggests they are Laura's daughters by her first marriage. Mary Sarah Thomas b. 27DEC1871, however, was a d/o W. B. and Annie E. (Allison) Thomas; therefore William's daughter by his 1st marriage. Other children were Jno. B. (9), Annie S. (7) and Will'm B. (3); almost certainly Laura's children. Mary Thomas (9) in Halifax in 1881, lives with a Robertson family (the wife is Catharine or Cathline, but the husbands' name is hard to read; perhaps S. John?) They are all 'African', and this is likely Mary after her mother died and with her father elsewhere at the time. At least, I cannot find him in 1881. Next door are Robert (ca. 1845) and Mary (ca. 1856) Allison, likely Mary's uncle and his family. Particularly, this should be Robert Samuel Allison (s/o Thomas and Esther Allison) and his wife, Mary Williams, married in Halifax in 1876. So the Mary Thomas in 1881 is very likely William's daughter by his 1st marriage.
Another furrier was Peter McKerrow, whose sons worked for the railway when the furrier business closed, was described as a brother-in-law to William B. Thomas. Peter was m. to Mary E. Thomas, apparently William's sister. William did well enough to create the William B. Thomas Scholarship Fund, apparently administered through the St. Thomas Baptist Church of Preston; likely his father's church as it was organized in 1879 by the Rev. James Thomas. The Rev. James Thomas died before the church was officially opened, and it was named, in part, for him.
In Halifax, in the 1901 census, William B. Thomas is given as b. 27MAY1851, and Laura A. as b. 17MAY1860. The dates may be accurate, but the years are sufficiently in conflict with other estimates as to be questionable. A daughter is Laura M. Thomas b. 11MAR1877. Since a birth record gives her as b. 11MAY1879, this illustrates the ambiguity. Especially as she was b. ca. 1877 in 1891 and ca. 1874 in 1881. This sort of discrepancy is more common than not.
In 1911, they are listed at 19 Moran St., Halifax with William B. b. FEB1842 (a definite discrepancy) and Laura A. is give as b. MAY1863, but age 57, so it should be MAY1853.
Children:
1st
11. LAURA MAY McAULIFFE b. Halifax, Halifax Co., NS 11MAY1879 (ca. 1874-7, 11MAR1877 in 1901), m. GEORGE DAVIS.
Went to Boston.
2nd
12. JOHN B. THOMAS b. 1JUN1882 (ca. 1882), d. 19 Moran St., Halifax, Halifax Co., NS 29MAY1909 age 27 years, buried Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax, Halifax Co., NS.
When he died of tuberculosis, John was a clerk, 'Coloured', the s/o W. B. Thomas, a Baptist and single.
13. ANNIE St. CLARE THOMAS b. Halifax, Halifax Co., NS 14MAR1885 (ca. 1884), d. 25MAY1908 age 24 years, buried Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax, Halifax Co., NS
14. WILLIAM B. THOMAS b. 27JUL1888 (ca. 1888; JUL1884 in 1911), m. ELLA E. _____ (MAY1885)
15. INEZ THOMAS b. Halifax, Halifax Co., NS JUN1893, d. 19 Moran St. (of diphtheria), Halifax, Halifax Co., NS 9OCT1904
16. IDA ESTELLE VICTORIA THOMAS b. Halifax, Halifax Co., NS 16JUL1897 (birth record, JUL1896 in 1911, ca. 1897 when married), m. by license Annapolis Royal, Annapolis Co., NS by the Rev. George D. Hudson 15FEB1919 the Rev. WILLIAM CONSTANTINE PERRY (b. Jamaica ca. 1887), s/o William and Margaret Perry.
In Toronto, Ontario; and, in 1968, is apparently the family Bible of William Benjamin Thomas, her father. Lloyd William Perry of Toronto, notary, justice-of-the-peace and commissioner (a relative?) examined the Bible and attested to the entry regarding Ida's birth. From this, a late registration of birth was made in NS, which stated that her father owned the Thomas Fur. Co. Ida E. Perry, living at 39 Cranbrooke Ave., Toronto, York Co., Ontario (and apparently in possession of the Bible), applied on 15APR1968 for her birth to be registered in NS.
William C. Perry's father, in Jamaica, British West Indies, was a shoemaker. He was a clergyman for the United Baptist Church in Truro, NS When they married. She gave her father, William B. Thomas, as a clergyman as well, but this may be incorrect. Possibly he was a deacon.
2. MELVINA GILBERT

Re: Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Posted: 17 Apr 2015 9:54PM GMT
Classification: Query
Great info, Thomas! I have has success in tracing Amos' descendants down to the current, living family in California. I'd love to get to Halifax and NB to see where Amos settled. A couple of articles have recently been published on Oliver, Amos' brother, who was running with him. Google Oliver Gilbert, slave, and something should come up.

Re: Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Posted: 17 Apr 2015 9:59PM GMT
Classification: Query
Star, I don't think your Kelly's are connected to the Gilbert/Kellys. The Gilbert Kelly's did not start as Celsie's or Kelseys. The Kellys (who changed their name to Gilbert to hide as fugitive slaves) were from Maryland. They began escaping slavery in the 1830 - 40 time-frame and continued to do so though 1855.

Re: Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Posted: 8 May 2015 10:43PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gilbert
Thomas,
Greetings!!
I am working to further develop the picture around Amos, Laura and Melvina. With your incredible support, I have a great story around Laura, but nothing on Melvina, other than that Oliver told us she was married to "a bookkeeper at the United States Shirt and Collar Company in Troy, NY". Did you ever locate anything more on Melvina, daughter of Amos?

Thanks again!
Stephanie Gilbert

Re: Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Posted: 9 May 2015 4:29AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi, Stephanie.
Beyond witnessing her sister's marriage in 1873, I have not found anything reasonable. The few Melvina Gilbert's I did find seem mostly to have been Quebecoise. I even have difficulty verifying any "United States Shirt and Collar Company, Troy, NY", although there appear to have been at least one such company, if not quite by that name. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluett_Peabody_%26_Company
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyrensse/article11.htm
There was a United States Shirt and Collar Company, a combine of several companies formed in the 1880's, and dissolved 1922. The 1890 directory for Troy has 1,427 bookkeepers.

I searched for Melvina's born between 1852 and 1862 in Rensselaer Co., NY, but found nothing useful.

I did read, "Oliver Cromwell Gilbert: A Life". Very illuminating.

Thomas.

Re: Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Posted: 2 Jul 2015 2:59PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thomas, thank you again for your assistance with research I am, right now, in Halifax and will spend a few days trying to overturn a few stones.
Please let me know if there is anything I can research for you while I am here.
Stephanie

Re: Amos Gilbert - Fugitive Slave from Maryland - Married and Died in St John

Posted: 2 Jul 2015 6:06PM GMT
Classification: Query
That is kind, Stephanie, but one of the problems with the work I was doing was that I intended to briefly look at only New Brunswick families. This, as it turned out, is impossible. One has to consider the families in Preston, Africville, Birchtown, Truro and in the Annapolis and Digby counties. Not to mention Boston and Maine. This was too much for me, and I hope that, someday, someone can begin a study of NS families.

To me Genealogy is the 'skeleton' of history. For example, if you study the Duke of Wellington, you begin with his family and biography. Upon this you can build a history of Europe during the Napoleonic Wars and after. With family, you often take in much of the history of a country or continent. You cannot fully study your ancestors without also studying the times they lived in and the events in which they took part, even peripherally. From this you gain an understanding of why things are the way you are and especially why you are the way you are. For some people, their History has been ignored and even lost. Genealogy is a means to recover some of it and to provide a structure on which to 'flesh out' that History. Wellington did not win the Battle of Waterloo, there were thousands involved. Knowing something about some of those thousands puts the event into a more personal perspective for many people.

I have often felt that the creation and existence of No. 2 Construction Battalion may have had political and social consequences after WWI. I am not sure and hope that, someday, someone will be able to find out. I believe there may be people living who new the participants and can give some personal insight, but they won't be around for long. Not only do we 'lose' History by not paying attention to it; it gets 'changed' to meet someone's expectations rather than reflecting any element of reality.

I think the thing to remember is not to make the mistake I made when sources were readily available to me, and to be sensitive to material seemingly irrelevant but becoming essential later.

Thomas.
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