Anne Gilbert

circa 1523 - 1559

Anne was probably born around 1523 ⁽¹⁾ in Youlgreave ⁽²⁾, the daughter of Humphrey & Elizabeth ^(3)(11). Her only known siblings are brothers George & Richard ⁽³⁾.

She married George Bradbury ^(3)(11) in the early-mid 1540s ⁽⁴⁾, and they had a son Richard ⁽⁵⁾ soon afterwards. Her husband died sometime before June 1546, when the Consistory Court of Lichfield demanded that she provide an inventory of his goods before administration could be granted ⁽⁶⁾. Sometime before the following May, she married George Allen of Stanton Woodhouse ^(3)(7)(11).

She and her second husband had a number of children but its not clear how many. Two of them were George ⁽⁸⁾⁽⁹⁾ and Anthony ⁽⁹⁾, but as she lived for another 14 years there were undoubtably more - two of which may have been Richard & Thomas.

She died in 1559, and was buried in Youlgreave on 6th March ⁽¹⁰⁾.

• Richard has his own page.
• George was probably born in the late 1540s in Stanton Woodhouse. He married Barbara Vernon, and they had at least five children - John, Dorothy, Jane, William and Mary. He died in 1598.
• Anthony was probably born in Stanton Woodhouse in the 1550s. He was mentioned in his half brother's will in 1581, but nothing more is known of him.

1. Her date of birth is estimated based on a few assumptions as follows:
   
   • There is only known to have been one child to the marriage between her and George Bradbury. It seems reasonable to expect that her first child would have born when she was around 20 years old. The fact that there is not known to have been a second child implies that this was not too long before she was widowed in about 1546.
   • Her second husband, George Allen, in known to have been born around either 1519 or 1526 (as he was said to be 43 in the IPM of his father Thomas in 1569 - him having died in 1563. Its not clear whether George's age is at the time of his father's death, or at the time of the IPM - hence two possible dates). A birth date of the mid 1520s for Anne, makes her an appropriate age to marry George, whichever of the possible dates are correct for his birth.
2. Her family was said to be "of Youlgreave", but this could possibly mean within the wider parish, rather than Youlgreave township itself.
3. Pedigree of the Gilbert family of Yolgreave in the visitations of 1569 and 1611 (as published in "The Genealogist (New Series)" Volumes 7 & 8).
4. Approximate date of marriage derived from their only having one known child at the time of George's death in (or slightly before) 1546 ⁽⁶⁾.
5. Richard Bradbury must have been their son, as he mentions his Allen half brothers in his will ⁽⁹⁾.
6. The Probate Act Book for the Diocese of Lichfield (Ref: B/C/10i/4 folio 44 @ Lichfield Record Office) contains as entry dated 14th June 1546, concerning the estate of George Bradbury of Youlgreave. Anne his widow is asked to submit an inventory by July next. The actual probate documents have not survived.
7. The Probate Act Book for the Diocese of Lichfield (Ref B/C/10i/4 folio 62b @ Lichfield Record Office) contains as entry dated 13th May 1547, concerning the estate of George Bradbery of Youlgreave. Administration was granted to Anne his widow, and George Alen her husband. The actual probate documents have not survived.
8. Will of George Allen (ref: B/C/11/George Allen, Woodhouse, 1574 @ Lichfield Record Office) is badly damaged (including some holes in it indicated by ****) and difficult to read, but it mentions :
   
   • "to George Allen my sone & heyre apparant"
   • "amonges my younger chyldren that ys to ************ Ric [Thoma.........] *****************"
   • "*********** equally devyded amongst my said eight chyldren last mentioned"
   • "my [young..] chyldren which I had by Anne my former wyffe I wyll that they shall have their parte & portions [delyvered] to then when they come to full age of xxi yeares"
9. Will of Richard Bradbury (ref: B/C/11/Richard Bradbury, Youlgreave, 1581 @ Lichfield Record Office) reads:
   In the name of God Amen they tenth daye of Aprill And in
   xxiiii^th yeare of they raigne of our sovaryine Ladie
   Elizabeth by they grace of god of England France &
   Ireland [.....] defender of the they fayth [..] wytneseth
   that I Richard Bradbury of the parish of Yolgreve in
   they countye of Darbie sore syck in bodie yet thanks
   be unto allmightie god of perfitt witte & memorie
   dreading death to approach & drawe nere & they tyme
   thereof is uncertin: do make this my last will and
   testament in maner and forme folowing fyrst I gyve &
   bequethe my soule to almightie god my maker and
   redimor trusting that by they merits of christs passion
   they sonne my soule to be saved Also I will that my
   body be buried in the parish church of Yolgreve before
   they pulpit: Also I will that my detts be payde of my
   wholle goods and my funerall expences discharged according
   to they lawes of this realme And that then they residue
   _^^{of my goods} to remayne and gooe to my younger sonne Thomas
   Bradbury And he & they to be in they custodie of my
   Brother George Alen of they Woodhouse until he come
   to they full age of xxi yeares. Also I most hertely
   desier my wellbeloved brother in lawe Anthony
   Alen to have they governmant of my sonne and heire
   Francis Bradbury and to be allowed for his bringing upp
   att they discrescion and [seygte] of Mr Francis Gilbert
   and my brother George Alin; Also I ordayne
   constitute and make my forsaid brother George Alin my
   trewe and lawfull executor to see that this my last
   will & testament be performed: And Mr Francis Gilbert
   & my brother Anthony Alin to _^^be my supervisors of this
   my last will and testament: These wytneses
   Richard Knyfton vicar: Ric Alin. George Eliot. [Henry?]
   hartill [... .... ....]
   
10. Parish Register of All Saints, Youlgreave includes the entry:
    [1559] Anne Allen y^e wyffe of Georg Allen bur: March vi^o
11. Pedigree of the Kniveton alias Gilbert family, of Youlgreave, from the papers of Benjamin Bagshaw, antiquarian. Sheffield Archives reference Bag C/3361B

Check for any Gilbert wills/admons.