Michael Gilbert, Jr. of Leeds Grammar School for Boys

Rev. Michael Gilbert, Jr., was born 07 February 1642, at Aldborough, Yorkshire, England, the son of Michael Gilbert, Sr. and Mary (Cooleston) Gilbert.  He was accepted into Christ's College, Cambridge at the age of 16, receiving his B.A. in 1661 and an M.A degree in 1665.  In May of 1662 he was made deacon in Lincoln, and ordained a priest at York later in the year.  He was appointed headmaster of the Leeds Grammar School for Boys (founded in 1552) in 1662, and held that position until 1690.  The curriculum of the school was most likely confined to Latin and Greek, probably including a study of the Vulgate and Greek Testament.  Part of the duties of the Head Master was to collect rents on all the lands owned by the School on condition that he paid the Usher and officials, kept the building in repair and handed to the Committee (comprised of prominent men of the town and chaired by the Vicar) a stated sum for fines (licenses) and other purposes  When Michael became ill and died in 1691 the salaries fell into arrears and the Committee took the management back.

This is a drawing of what the school looked like at the time Michael Gilbert, Jr. was the Head Master.School continued in this same building until 1854 when a new larger school was built.  The school today has grown and is in a newer larger facility and is known as Leeds Grammar School, and is one of the leading grammar schools in the north of England.  Judy Watker, secretary to the current Head Master (2007) wrote in a letter to Larry Gilbert, then of Oskaloosa, Kansas, "I am not sure whether or not Rev. Gilberts would have been pleased to know that from 2008 we will become co-educational--of course, in his day girls wouldn't have been allowed to walk through the door!"

These photos show the building as it looked in 1900, after it was no longer used as a school in 1854 it was sold and turned into a foundry.  Soon after these photos were taken the building was demolished to widen the road.
Michael Gilbert, Jr., was married 01 March 1668 at St. Peter's Church, Leeds, Yorkshire England to Dorothy Hargrave/Hargreaves who was born 28 September 1645 at Holbecke, England the daughter of Adam Hargrave/Hargreaves Sr. and Elizabeth (Muncton) Hargrave/Hargreaves.  Michael and Dorothy lived at New Chapel Road, Leeds close to the school.
Michael Gilbert Jr., died 02 October 1691, at Leeds Yorkshire, England at the age of 49.  He left no will.  Upon his death an Inventory of the Goods and Chattels of Michael Gilbert, Jr., was made by Adam Hargrave, St., his father-in-law, with John Grave, James Dawson and John Dawson.  The larges single item on the list was Michael's Library valued at 20 pounds, 5s, 6d. while his purse and apparel were only valued at 5 pound, 10s.  Other household items listed were about 42 chairs, six of whom were leather, several tables, beds with bedding, dressers, several sets of fireplace tools, brass kettles, brass pots, warming pans, pewter plates and pewter candlesticks.
Dorothy, his wife, died 05 April 1693 at Leeds, Yorkshire, England.
The children of Michael and Dorothy were 1-Michael III, 2-Mary, 3-Robert, 4-Thomas, 5-Garvis and 6-Charles.