James Gilby
John Gilby was born January 9, 1812, in Kirton, Lincoln Co., England, and died February 15, 1863, in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Canada West, at age 51. He is the son of James Gilby Sr. of Willsby, Lincoln Co., England, and Mary Cooly of England.
Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" Straw was born April 15, 1816, in the City of Lincoln, Lincoln Co., England; Baptized April 26, 1816, in St. Mark's, City of Lincoln, Lincoln Co., England; and died May 2, 1910, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, at age 94. Buried in Prairie Home Cemetery, City of Gilby, Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND. She is the daughter of John Straw of England and Hannah Unknown of Unknown.
John Gilby and Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" Straw were married October 17, 1842, in York, County Yorkshire, England.
John Gilby and Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" (Straw) Gilby had at five children
John Gilby died 1863 in Canada.
Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" (Straw) Gilby then married John Gilby's brother, James Gilby Jr.
James Gilby Jr. was born May 2, 1821, in York Co., England, and died September 7, 1907, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, at age 86. He is the son of James Gilby Sr. of Willsby, County Lincolnshire, England, and Unknown of England.
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
Ontario was known as: "Upper Canada" from December 26, 1791, to February 10, 1841; "Canada West" from February 10, 1841, to July 1, 1867; and "Ontario" after July 1, 1867.
The Elisamon Saga, provided by Andy Straw, as a PDF file.
Dear Leigh:
I recently found your website while looking for information about an ancestor of mine, Alisemon Gibly (nee Straw).
My relationship to Alisemon is that she was a first cousin of Thomas Straw (born 1828 in Lincoln, England) who was my Great Grandfather and emigrated to Australia in 1853, the same year as the Giblys emigrated to Canada.
Although I had previously found that Alisemon Straw married John Gibly in York, I had very little information as to what became of them after they arrived. I found your website very interesting and have used the information about Alisemon in developing my records of the Straw family.
My particular interest in Alisemon is because of her uncommon name which with different spellings has been used in many generations and the original Elisamon was a "fairy godmother" to my Great Grandfather. This is explained in a story I have written in the attached document (The Elisamon Saga). I have attached two different formats of the same story
My reason for writing to you is to let you know that I have a great deal of information about Alisemon's ancestors in England which I could send to you if you are interested. Also I would be very interested to know if in your family research you have come across any information which may help in me finding more about why the name Elisamon or Alsemon has been so popular in our history.
Regards,
Andy Straw
Sydney Australia
The Straws of Lincolnshire, provided by Andy Straw, as a PDF file.
The Descendants of George Straw, provided by Andy Straw, as a PDF file.
The Descendants of Walter Straw, provided by Andy Straw, as a PDF file.
Thank you for your very prompt reply to my my previous email.
Yes, you can include whatever parts of my story you wish on your web site.
For your information I have attached some more information providing more details of Alisemon's English ancestors.
As all the names become confusing, in the attached story I have included the date of birth in brackets after the name to help in identifying who I am talking about. I have also attached two descendant charts to help in keeping track of all the ancestors.
To help in understanding where Alisemon Gilby fits into the story the line of descendants from the first Straw is as follows
Walter Straw (c1650) - Jane
Walter Straw (1679) - Mary
Walter Straw (1712) - Elizabeth
George Straw (1754) - Mary Walker
John Straw (1792) - Hannah Martin
Alisemon Straw (1816) - John Gilby (Emigrated to Canada 1853)
My line of ancestors is the same as far as George Straw (1754) then
Robert Straw (1786) - Sarah Martin (Sarah and Hannah Martin were sisters marrying brothers Robert and John)
Thomas Straw (1828) - Emily Osborn (Emigrated to Australia 1853)
Frederick Martin Straw (1858) - Harriet Stroud
Keith Blundell Straw (1894) - Constance Barbour
Andrew James Straw (1933) - June Hill
As well as my particular interest in Alisemon I am also interested in the Emily Straw who emigrated to Canada with the Gilbys.
You will note that in Chapter 3 of my story I record that an Emily Straw, then aged 14, was residing with Robert Straw (1786) at the time of the 1841 Census. I think she was the same Emily that emigrated with the Gilbys, but I can't work out which family she came from.
Do you have any further information about this Emily Straw. Did she eventually marry?
John Gilby was born January 9, 1812, in Kirton, Lincoln Co., England.
Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" Straw was born April 15, 1816, in the City of Lincoln, Lincoln Co., England.
James Gilby Jr. was born May 2, 1821, in York Co., England.
John Gilby and Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" Straw were married October 17, 1842, in York, York Co., 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.
In 1855 John Gilby was still listed as a Grocer at 6 New Bridge Street.
The 1861 Canadian Census shows John Gilby Sr. (age 48) born in England is a married Farmer and is living in a single story log home in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Ontario, Canada. Living with him are the following, all unmarried, except for Alezamon: Alezamon Gilby (age 44); Emily Gilby (age 17) born in England; James Gilby (age 15) born in England, a Labourer; Emma Gilby (age 12); John Gilby Jr.(age 11) born in England, a Labourer; Geo. Gilby (age 9), born in England, a Labourer; James Gilby Sr. (age 83) born in England, a widowed Labourer; James Gilby Jr. (age 40) born in England, a Labourer; Chas. Gilby (age 11) born in England, a Labourer; Emily Straw (age not listed) born in Trafalgar; and Frank Gilby (age not listed) born in Trafalgar.
John Gilby died February 15, 1863, in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Canada West, at age 51.
The 1871 Canadian Census shows James Gilby (age 48) born in England is a married Farmer and is living in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Ontario, Canada. Living with him are the following, all born in England: Alisemon Gilby (age 57), a married female; Emily Gilby (age 26), an unmarried female; James Gilby (age 24) an unmarried Waggon Maker; Emma Gilby (age 22), an unmarried female; George Gilby (age 18), an unmarried male; and Frank Gilby (age 13).
Name
Country
Date
Papers
County
Gilby, Frank
Canada
April 19, 1880
1st
Grand Forks
November 01, 1890
2nd
Gilby, George
England
June 10, 1879
June 14, 1884
Gilby, James
March 01, 1890
Gilby, John
April 24, 1880
August 07, 1885
The Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, ND, August 10, 1907
SEEKS TO END HIS LIFE
JAMES GILBY SLASHES HIS THROAT BUT FAILS TO INFLICT A FATAL WOUND.
Neighbors Say He Is Insane and He Is Arrested and will Be Brought to Grand Forks This Evening - If He Proves to Be Sane He Will Be Up Against a Charge of Attempted Suicide - Is an Old Timer.
James Gilby, residing with a farmer named Abbey, a few miles west of Gilby, attempted to commit suicide yesterday by slashing his throat with a razor. He was unsuccessful and tonight will be brought to Grand Forks for examination as to his sanity. Neighbors say he is insane without any question. He is an old timer in that section of Grand Forks county. State Attorney Wineman was informed of the attempt last evening and ordered that Gilby be brought to Grand Forks, it appearing that his injuries are not serious. Should it be shown that he is sane he will be charged with attempting suicide and is liable to a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
The Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, ND, August 11, 1907
F. GILBY IS NOT INSANE
SLASHED HIS THROAT WHILE DESPONDENT - WILL BE SENT TO POOR FARM HOSPITAL AT ARVILLA.
According to a telephone message from Gilby yesterday Frank Gilby, who attempted to commit suicide Friday, is very weak and it would hardly be advisable to remove him to an asylum at this time. It is now the opinion that Gilby was sane but despondent when he slashed his throat. He will probably be sent to the Arvilla poor farm hospital for treatment.
Leigh Larson note: The above reports probably are for James Gilby, and not Frank Gilby.
James Gilby Jr. died September 7, 1907, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, at age 86.
Alisemon Elizabeth "Alise" (Straw) (Gilby) Gilby died May 2, 1910, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, at age 94. Buried in Prairie Home Cemetery, City of Gilby, Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND.