Lydia Gilbert
Lydia Gilbert
Year: 1654
Town: Windsor
Outcome: Found guilty and possibly hanged, although may have escaped
Lydia Gilbert is a harrowing reminder of how few legal rights women had in the Colonial era and how they were viewed in what then was almost an entirely misogynistic world.
According to The Witchcraft Delusion in Colonial Connecticut (1647-1697) by John M. Taylor and other sources, Lydia Gilbert and her husband Thomas were living in Windsor when Henry Stiles was shot and killed on Oct. 3, 1651 when neighbor Thomas Allyn accidentally discharged his gun. Allyn was officially indicted in December and plead guilty; at the trial, the jury returned a verdict of “homicide by misadventure.” Allyn was fined £20 for “sinful neglect and careless carriage,” plus an additional £10 bond, and was placed under a year-long probation that also required that he not carry a gun.
Accidental shooting, guilty party properly chastised, case closed, right? Not so much.
Connecticut was in the throes of the witchcraft hysteria, and for reasons quite not clear, suspicions turned to Lydia Gilbert as the “true” cause for the untimely death of Henry Stiles. On Nov. 28, 1654, Gilbert was brought to court and formally charged.
Here’s the indictment against Gilbert from The Gilbert Family: Descendants of Thomas Gilbert, 1582(2)-1659 of Mt. Wollaston (Braintree), Windsor, and Wethersfield by Brainard, Gilbert and Torrey, via the website of Loren Eiseley, an American anthropologist and descendant of Lydia Gilbert.
“Lydea Gilburt thou are 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 of Sathan the great 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.”
Harsh words, to say the least. It’s not recorded of what “other witchcrafts” Gilbert was suspected, although given the fact that she was going to be tried for an accidental death from three years earlier where the person responsible freely admitted their guilt and had been punished, fair to say that it probably was something closer to spurious than legitimate.
Whatever the “evidence,” it was enough to bring about the verdict of “guilty of witchcraft by ye jury,” even though the jury apparently knew about Allyn’s admission of guilt in the death of Henry Stiles.
Interestingly, there is no record of what exactly happened to Lydia Gilbert following her conviction for witchcraft. Historical experts seem to think that in conjunction with the conventions of the era, she was most likely hanged. Others aren’t so sure.
Again, according to the aforementioned anthropologist and descendent Loren Eiseley, family stories suggest that she escaped with her husband Thomas, who shortly after the trial moved to Nayaug, which is part of present-day Glastonbury. Eiseley claims that when Thomas died, it was noted that there were “charges of funeralls for him and wife.” A new wife? Or maybe, did someone, possibly realizing the absurdity of Lydia’s “guilt,” look the other way so the Gilberts could leave Windsor and never return?
Chances are we will never know Lydia Gibert’s true fate, but she will always be remembered for being another victim of Connecticut’s witchcraft hysteria.
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Unique is an absolute, and using qualifying adjectives deserves the modern-day equivalent of burning at the stake.
“Your” a unique kind of ****.
That’s me, washing semi-literacy out of the dark crannies of the net.
Really, a little more polish and professionalism on the writing here would elevate a fine and unique site quite a bit. Verb. sap., eh?
JK –
Thanks for the correction. I appreciate that you take the time to visit our site and for the constructive criticism—although don’t expect too much professionalism here! I will make the change and hopefully avoid getting my toes singed.
Ed –
We ask that your refrain from personal attacks and inappropriate language—thanks!
Nah, Ed’s right, my comment was snarky. But professionalism is all in the intent. You all usually do better; that one just snagged my editor’s eye.
Genealogical research is not all it could be – at this remove in time, but if mine is right – Thomas Gilbert Jr (husband of Lydia) is my 8th great grandfather. My 8th great grandmother is listed as Catherine Chapin Gilbert. They were married in 1655. Thomas Gilbert Jr is listed as having three wives, Lydia being one of them. Point is, the “new wife” would have been Catherine. I have no more information on Lydia’s fate.
There have been rumors of her escaping the ends of the trials, since it was quite obvious the outcome. I also, according to my mother’s genealogy, a descendant of Lydia Gilbert, which it would be fantastic to meet other descendants intrigued by this murky yet interesting bit of family history.
My mother supposedly has copies of some of the trials and paperwork from the family. I will try to find more information if possible.
Chelsey,
Love to see anything you can come up with.
Would love to see Lydia’s maiden name. Some accounts and genealogical charts show “Lydia Ballat,” or Lydia Bollot.” This appears to refer to a marriage between Thomas Gilbert and Lydia Ballat that occurred in 1690 – and therefore – could not be referring to the Lydia who was tried in 1654.
I wonder, if he had 3 wives, if this was another Lydia. I will be digging into paperwork and see what I can find. We are in the middle of relocating, so it may be a bit.
Did an hour or so of research last night – there is a diversity of opinion on whether Lydia’s husband was Thomas Gilbert Sr, born 1589, or Thomas Gilbert Jr, baptized 1611/12. Doesn’t really matter to me – as both are ancestors. Each point of view has compelling arguments – though I found those for Thomas Gilbert Jr slightly more so. This would mean he had three wives, and remarried in 1655 – within a year (or less) of the time Lydia Gilbert was condemned for witchcraft. Very mean, if true – yet if there were a number of children involved – it may have come close to necessity.
Some of the Thomas Gilbert Jr evidence revolves around location – who was where and when. This can hardly be ignored as it appears unlikely that a man would have a wife living in one town – while he resides in another.
Meanwhile – I have more to read.
RE: Comment #10: This appears to be a totally different, and somewhat later, Thomas Gilbert and Lydia – and has nothing to do (I believe) with the Lydia, Thomas Gilbert Sr, and Thomas Gilbert Jr under discussion.