A Connecticut Witch Trial

Thomas Gilbert, the immigrant ancestor of this family in New England, was baptized in the parish of Yardley, county Worcester, England on April 25, 1589. His English ancestry was not known until recently when it was discovered by Douglas Richardson and published in the American Genealogist in July 1992. His parents were Richard Gylbert and Margary Morken. The parish records also mention his marriage to Elizabeth Bennett on August 29, 1610 and the baptisms of most of his children. The parentage of Elizabeth Bennett has not yet been found.

The first record of Thomas Gilbert in New England was February 24, 1639/40 when he was granted 28 acres of land. His household at that time contained “seven heads”. His immigration does not appear on any passenger lists.

Prior to 1651, his sons leased a farm in Nayaug from Lt. John Hollister. The location of the farm in 1650 was in Wethersfield, CT but is now part of Glastonbury. Thomas was definitely on this farm by August 17, 1658 when he signed a petition to the General Court of Connecticut.

Thomas died soon after as the inventory of his estate was accepted by the court on October 4, 1659. The estate consisted of 78 entries with a total value of £189.7s.6d. Since money was taken from the estate to pay for his wife’s funeral, it is believed that she died about the same time.

Thomas and Elizabeth had eight children. The baptism record of six appear in the parish register at Yardley and the burial of an unnamed child makes seven. Only the baptism record of Sarah is not on record. It was the life of the eldest son, Thomas Jr., that was the most controversial.

Thomas Bennett Jr. was born and baptized on February 16, 1611/12. He married first to Mary James on September 17, 1639 in All Saints, Bromwich, Staffordshire, England. Their daughter Mary Bennett was baptized in Yardley in 1641. Thomas Jr. did not come to New England with his parents but came over about 1643.

His second wife was presumed to be Lydia Gilbert. About 1643 they purchased a five-acre house lot in Windsor, CT and made their home there. In 1652 they sold this property and purchased a larger 113/114 acre lot. The real importance of this time period concerns Lydia and witchcraft.

Although not as common in New England as it was in England and other parts of Europe, people were convicted of witchcraft and executed by hanging. In Germany all women is some villages were executed mostly by burring and drowning. But in the colony of Connecticut, the only means of execution was hanging. The fifth victim to be executed in Connecticut was Lydia Gilbert.

In 1654 Lydia Gilbert had the charge of witchcraft brought against her in Windsor, CT for procuring the death of Henry Stiles. Henry Stiles was accidentally shot by Thomas Allyn three years earlier. For whatever reason Lydia was charged and indicted. Although no record exists it seems very apparent she was executed:

Lydea Gilburt thou art here indited by that name of Lydea Gilburt that not having the feare of god before thy Eyes thou hast of late years or still dust give Entertainment to Sathan the greate Enemy of god and mankind and by his helpe hast killed the Body of Henry Styles besides other witchcrafts for which according to the law of god and the Established Law of this commonwealth thou Deservest to Dye. Verdict: Ye party above mentioned is found guilty of witchcraft by the Jury.

Thomas Gilbert Jr. then married Catherine (Chapan) Bliss, the daughter of Deacon Samuel Chapin and widow of Nathaniel Bliss, on June 30, 1655 in Windsor, CT. She was born abt. 1626 in England and died  February 4, 1712/13 in Springfield, MA. Thomas had died in Springfield some 40 years earlier on June 5, 1662.