Notes |
- He was "one of the Indian captives." His father was Benjamin Gilbert; his family was captured by a group of Mohawks and others in 1780 and taken north to be distributed among tribes who had lost members to white incursions; all were eventually released. He later settled in Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania with his brother Benjamin.
"The names of these Indians, with their respective tribes, are as follows:
"Rowland Monteur, first captain; John Monteur, second in command, who was also styled captain, - these two were Mohawks, descended of a French-woman; Samuel Harras, a Cayuga Indian; John Huston and his son, John Huston, Jr., Cayugas; John Fox, of the Delaware nation. The other five were Senecas.
"At this place they made captives of the following persons: Benjamin Gilbert, aged sixty-nine years; Elizabeth, his wife, fifty-three years; Joseph Gilbert, his son, forty-one years; Jesse Gilbert, another son, aged nineteen years; Sarah Gilbert, wife to Jesse, aged nineteen years; Rebecca Gilbert, a daughter, aged sixteen years; Abner Gilbert, a son, aged fourteen years; Elizabeth Gilbert, a daughter, aged twelve years; Thomas Peart, son to Benjamin Gilbert's wife, aged twenty-three years; Benjamin Gilbert, a son of John Gilbert, of Philadelphia, aged eleven years; Andrew Harrigar, of German descent, hired by Benjamin Gilbert, aged twenty-six years; Abigail Dodson (daughter of Samuel Dodson, who lived on a farm near one mile distant from the mill), who came that morning with grist, aged fourteen years. They then proceeded to Benjamin Peart's dwelling, about half a mile farther, and brought himself and family, viz: Benjamin Peart, son to Benjamin Gilbert's wife, aged twenty-seven years; Elizabeth Peart, his wife, aged twenty years; their child, about nine months old."
The story is also told in the History of Westmoreland County, where Abner settled, in a section on the history of the Gilbert family.
Abner was part of the founding of the Friends meeting at Sewickely Twp.: "Abner Gilbert produces a certificate from Friends in Chester County, 8mo. 31, 1798, an unmarried man. . . . The meeting was not yet permanently established . . . Finally, on 8 mo. 30, 1799, it was agreed to establish the meeting . . . Abner Gilbert was appointed overseer 6 mo .29, 1809, and appoint a member of the ‘Meeting for Sufferings' 3 mo 29, 1811, in the room of his brother Benjamin, deceased." [2, 5, 6, 7]
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