John Gilby

John Gilby was born January 9, 1812, in Kirton, County Lincolnshire, England, and died February 15, 1863, in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Ontario, Canada, at age 51. He was the son of James Gilby, Sr. of Willsby, County Lincolnshire, England, and Unknown of England.

Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" Straw was born April 15, 1817, in the City of Lincoln, County Lincolnshire, England, and died May 2, 1910, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, at age 93. She was the daughter of Unknown.

John Gilby and Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" Straw were married October 17, 1842, in York, County Yorkshire, England.

John and Alise had at five children:

1. Emily Gilby: Born April 17, 1844, in St. John Parish, City of York, Micklegate, County Yorkshire, England; Died February 11, 1935, in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Ontario, Canada (age 90). Married January 25, 1872, in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Ontario, Canada, to George Henry Hardy: Born January 9, 1843, in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Ontario, Canada; Died 1933 in Unknown (about age 90).
2. James Gilby: Born February 1846 in St. John Parish, City of York, Micklegate, County Yorkshire, England; Christened March 15, 1846, in York, County Yorkshire, England; Died November 9, 1922, in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN (age 76). Married about 1881 to Louisa Schaefer: Born June 1860 in Canada; Died July 27, 1951, in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN (age 91).
3. Emma Gilby: Born January 9, 1848, in St. John Parish, City of York, Micklegate, County Yorkshire, England; Christened February 6, 1848, in York, County Yorkshire, England; Died July 19, 1928, in Gilby, Grand Forks Co., ND (age 80). Married July 29, 1884, in Grand Forks, Grand Forks Co., ND, to Abner Nathaniel Abbey: Born August 9, 1849, in Port Hope, Durham Co., Canada West; Died September 26, 1929, in Gilby, Grand Forks Co., ND (age 80).
4. John Straw Gilby: Born April 1, 1850, in St. John Parish, City of York, Micklegate, County Yorkshire, England; Died November 4, 1942, in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada (age 92). Married about 1877 in Ontario, Canada, to Elsie Reid Young: Born March 13, 1852, in Berlin, Ontario, Canada; Died 1929 in Alberta, Canada (about age 77).
5. George Gilby: Born September 22, 1852, in St. John Parish, City of York, Micklegate, County Yorkshire, England; Died June 4, 1936, in Galveston, Galveston Co., TX (age 83). Married January 1, 1884, in Glen Williams, Halton Co., Ontario, Canada, to Maria Jane Forster: Born July 17, 1865, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Died October 16, 1932, in Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada (age 67).

John Gilby died February 15, 1863, in Ontario, Canada, at age 51.

Alisemon Elizabeth (Straw) Gilby then married John's brother, James Gilby, Jr.

James Gilby Jr. was born May 2, 1821, in Yorkshire, England and died September 7, 1907, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND at age 86.

James Gilby Jr. and Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" (Straw) Gilby were married about 1890 in Grand Forks Co., ND.

James Gilby Jr. and Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" (Straw) (Gilby) Gilby had no children.

TIMELINE

John Gilby was born January 9, 1812, in Kirton, County Lincolnshire, England.

Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" Straw was born April 15, 1817, in the City of Lincoln, County Lincolnshire, England.

John Gilby House, Oakville

The 1841 UK Census as of March 30, 1841, shows John Gilby (age 25) born in another county is a Porter living in the City of York, St. Crux Parish, County Yorkshire, England.

The 1841 UK Census shows John Gilby (age 25) not born in Yorkshire is a Porter (in a Grocery Store?) living in St. Crux Parish, York, County Yorkshire, England.

The 1841 UK Census shows Alesmore Straw (age 25) born in Lincolnshire, England is living in Boston, Lincolnshire, England.

John Gilby and Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" Straw were married October 17, 1842, in York, County Yorkshire, England.

The 1851 UK Census as of March 30, 1851, shows John Gilby (age 36) born in Kirton, County Lincolnshire, England is a Grocer Master employing one man and living at 6 New Bridge Street, St. John Parish, City of York, Micklegate, County Yorkshire, England. Living with him is his wife Elizaman Gilby (age 34) born in the City of Lincoln. Also living there are their children, all born in York: Emily Gilby (age 6); James Gilby (age 5); Emma Gilby (age 3); and John Straw Gilby (age 1). John's widowed father also lives there: Jas. Gilby, Sen., (age 70) a Retired Farmer born in Willsby, County Lincolnshire, England. The assistant grocer and two house servants also live there.

A receipt, dating back to 1852, for 12 pounds and 10 Shillings rent paid by John Gilby while still in England. They left England for Canada in 1853.

In 1855 John Gilby was still listed as a Grocer at 6 New Bridge Street.

John Gilby died February 15, 1863, in Ontario, Canada at age 51.

Gravestone in Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Alise then married John Gilby's brother, James Gilby, Jr.

Emily and Emma (sisters) holding pictures of their parents, John Gilby and Alisemon Straw

Emily (Gilby) Hardy and Emma (Gilby) Abbey, 1914

John Gilby

Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" (Straw) (Gilby) Gilby

In 1880 Abner came to Grand Forks County, North Dakota and that year filed a pre-emption claim four miles southeast of the present site of Gilby. Here the Gilby brothers, George, James and John, homesteaded. In 1882 Miss Emma Gilby came to keep house for her brothers. Emma and her three brothers had emigrated from York, England with their parents, John and Alisemon (Strow) Gilby to Canada in 1853. Accompanying them were several uncles and aunts making a total of ten Gilbys who sailed for three weeks on a sailing vessel to the new land.

It was when Abner came to discuss a land sale with the Gilbys that he met their sister, Emma. A romance began and in 1884 Abner and Emma were married in Grand Forks. A daughter, Alisemon was their first born. In the fall two years later, a second child was expected. Abner had business in Grand Forks and he left by horse and buggy for the two day trip. Arrangements were made with the Lewis family who lived a short distance away, that if Emma needed help she could signal them by placing a lighted lamp in the east window. In the early morning hours of September 20th, sharp pains indicated an early birth. Emma attempted to get out of bed to light the lamp. Halfway to the window she stumbled and fell to the floor and her baby boy, Charles Gilby was born there. She was able to tend to her own needs and it was here Abner found her and their son upon his return from Grand Forks.

Abner Nathaniel Abbey was married in 1884 in Grand Forks to Miss Emma Gilby. Mrs. Abbey is a native of England, her parents, John and Alisemon (Straw) Gilby, having emigrated from that country to Canada in 1853. They had three sons and one daughter, Mrs. Abbey. Two of the sons, James and George, settled in Grand Forks county in 1879, in the township that has been named for them.