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.

Rev. Michael Gilbert, Sr.

At this time, the oldest known Gilbert ancestor in our family is the Reverend Michael Gilbert, Sr., who was born circa 1604 into the reign of King James I of England.  When and where Michael was born plus the identities of his parents are not known at this time.  It is assumed that since Michael was well educated he came from parents of wealth, because in that time period education was for those that could afford to buy it. 
Michael Gilbert, Sr., was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge, England in 1621.  (Note:  While attending college at Cambridge, Michael was a classmate to Roger Williams, who founded the first Baptist church in America, and the state of Rhode Island.)  There he received his B.A. in 1624 on the visit of King James I of England.  Michael was made deacon by Theophilus (Field) Bishop of St. David's on 09 March 1627 and was ordained priest by him on 01 March 1628.  Shortly after his ordination he was named Vicar of St. Andrew's Church, Aldborough, Boroughbridge Deanery, Yorkshire, and served in this capacity from 1629 to 1677, except for the years 1653 to 1659.  In those years he was ejected from his duties for his beliefs.  Michael's beliefs were with the Royalists an King Charles I.  The opposition was with Oliver Cromwell of whom Michael wrote in the Register of St. Andrew's, "the infamous arch-rebel appointed out of the basest hypocrites and dissenter with God and Man."  Civil war broke out in August 1642.  King Charles I surrendered in 1646, and was beheaded on 30 January 1649.  The Scots were shocked at the execution of Charles I and sent for his young son whom they crowned as Charles II.  The Puritans with Cromwell as the leader were now in control of England.  The government was a Common-wealth, there was to be no King.  Under Cromwell, the Puritans were allowed to worship as they liked and he would not allow the members of the Church of England to meet nor to pray out of their Prayer Book, as the Puritans wanted everyone to be like themselves.  Oliver Cromwell died on 03 September 1658.  Winston Churchill once said, "Cromwell did more damage of England than any Englishman in all of its history."  Upon the death of Oliver Cromwell, his son Richard took control of England.  Richard Cromwell and his Parliament were kicked from power by the soldiers when he refused to allow them to select their own general.  A new Parliament was chosen and Charles II was invited to come home and reign in 1660.  Michael Gilbert was restored as Vicar when Charles II came to the throne at the Restoration of the Monarchy.
Michael Gilbert, Sr. and three Churchwardens misused some charitable funds that had been donated to the poor of the Parish for several years.  A trial was held on 24 March 1669.  The three Churchwardens were directed to pay it all back and as Michael had no money to speak of, the Court appointed a committee to take over all financial activities in the Church.

Photos of St. Andrews Church, Aldborough, England, copyrighted by Colin Hinson, used with permission.

Michael Gilbert, Sr. had been married in 1632 to Mary Cooleston, who was born about 1610 am was from Bradford, Yorkshire, England.  Her parents nor any information on her family is known at this time.  Michael died 10 December 1677 at Aldborough, Yorkshire, England.  Mary died after Michael but the exact date is not known.  They were the parents of 1-Gabriel (1st); 2-Lydia, 3-infant girl, 4-Marie, 5-Gabriel (2nd), 6-Michael Jr., 7-William, 8-Charles, 9-Robert, 10-Joshua, and 11-Gabriel (3rd).