GILBERT, Thomas, soldier, born about 1714; died in New Brunswick in 1796. His ancestor, John, came from Devonshire early in the 17th century, and was one of the first two representatives from Taunton, Massachusetts, to the general court. Thomas was a captain at the memorable siege of Louisburg in 1745, and in the French war of 1755 held a lieutenant colonelcy in the Massachusetts forces under General Ruggles. He was engaged in the attempt against Crown Point, and after the fall of Col Williams in the battle with the French under Baron Dieskau, he succeeded to the command of the regiment. On retiring from the service at the close of the war he declined to receive half pay. At the beginning of the Revolutionary struggle he raised and commanded a body of 300 royalists at the request of General Gage. In April, 1775, the congress of Massachusetts declared him an enemy to his country, and a few days later he fled to a vessel lying in the harbor of Newport, and sailed to Boston, then in possession of the British. He accompanied the royal troops to Halifax in 1776, and in 1778 was proscribed and banished. He continued to serve in the British army during the war, went to Nova Scotia in 1783, and subsequently settled in New Brunswick.