Fred Gilbert

Fred was the son of William Frederick and Eliza Gilbert (née Taylor). His father was born in Milton, Nottinghamshire, in 1851, the son of John Gilbert. His mother was born in Lenton, Nottingham, in about 1850, the daughter of Joseph and Hannah Taylor. Eliza's family had moved to Grantham by 1861 where her father was a publican and fruiterer. Gilbert and Eliza were married at Grantham St Wulfrum on 8 September 1879 and had eight children of whom six survived infancy. Their surviving children were: Lily Taylor b. Sheffield 1880, Fred b. 5 January 1882, Martin Taylor b. 1883 and Mary Ellen b. 1884 who were born in Rawmarsh, Rotherham, and Beulah b. 1892 and Gwendoline b. 1895 who were born in Barlborough, Derbyshire (near Worksop). William, a draper, Eliza and their daughter Lily were living in Clarke Square, Sheffield, in 1881 but by 1891 had moved to Barlborough, Derbyshire, where William had a grocer and draper shop. Three of their children were in the home on the night of the census, Fred, Martin and Mary, while Lily was recorded on the census visiting paternal relations in Norton, Derbyshire. Beulah was born the following year and the youngest daughter, Gwendoline, in 1895. By 1901 William, a draper and grocer, had returned to Sheffield and was living at 148 St Mary's Road with his wife and their children Martin, a post office clerk, Mary, Beulah and Gwendoline. William employed a general domestic servant. His eldest daughter Lily, a draper's assistant, was living on High Street, Barlborough, Derbyshire, in the home of her widowed aunt, Ellen Harland (née Taylor m. Wm Harland, Grantham St Wulfrum 1876). Also in the household was the widowed John Gilbert, a retired farmer. The eldest son Fred was working as a grocer's shop assistant and boarding with a family at Harrington Street, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. William, a grocer and draper, and his wife had returned to Barlborough by 1911, where they had a shop. Only three children were still living at home: Fred who was assisting in the business, Mary a school teacher with Nottinghamshire Education Committee and Beulah. Also in the household was William's sister-in-law, Ellen Harland, and William employed a general domestic servant. Lily was a matron/sick nurse at a preparatory school in Englefield, Surrey. Martin had married Annie Elizabeth Northall in 1907 (reg. Glanford Brigg, Lincs) and in 1911 they and their two children were living in Chesterfield where he was a clerk for a fruit preserves and pickle manufacturer. Gwendoline, who was still at school, was living in Walkely, Sheffield, with an uncle and aunt, Francis and Bertha Davis (née Gilbert m. Francis Wm Davis 1893). The later CWGC record gave William and Eliza's address as 8 Kilnhurst Road, Ryecroft, Rawmarsh, Rotherham. William Frederick was still living at Ryecroft when he died in June 1930; probate was awarded to his surviving son Martin and eldest daughter Lily. His widow probably died in 1932. They had survived four of their children, two who died in infancy, Fred and Mary Ellen (d. 1924 reg. Rotherham). The youngest daughter Gwendoline later became matron at the Scaitcliffe Preparatory School in Englefield and was recorded there on the 1939 England and Wales Register along with her sister, Lily, who was a nurse and had been recorded at the school on the 1911 Census. Gwendoline and Beulah later lived on Dale Road, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, and were living at the same address when they died, Beulah in 1963 and Gwendoline in 1973. Their brother Martin had died in 1959 and their sister Lily in 1962 (reg Rother Valley). None of the sisters had married.