Toby Gilmore
Encyclopedia
Tobias "Toby" Gilmore Born in coastal West Africa as Shibodee Turrey Wurry son of a local Chieftain
, he was kidnapped at age sixteen by slave traders. Later he would regain his freedom by enlisting in the Continental Army
during the American Revolution
.
(nautical, not military) John Gilmore of Raynham
Massachusetts.
According to local legend John and his wife had no kids of their own and renamed Shibodee to Toby Gilmore, teaching him to read and write.
However this is proven to be untrue the couple had several children, and it is unclear if Toby could read and write.
, Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery
, Battle of White Plains
, West Point, Siege of Fort Ticonderoga (1777) and the Winter at Valley Forge
.
Toby began his service on December 8, 1776 as a Private in Capt. Jonathan Shaw’s company Col. George Williams’s Regt. (3rd Bristol Co.) He served for eleven days the company marched to Warren, RI on an alarm. November 4, 1777 he joined Capt. James Cooper’s company, Col. Gamaliel Bradfords’s 12th Regt. After that his Continental Army pay records show he served from September 19, 1777 to September 3, 1780 he was enlisted for three years. In 1781 he served for two months and 24 days at North River (Hudson River). He was discharged from the army in December of 1781 and returned home to Raynham. Afterwards he served during Shays' Rebellion
his mitre
was embroider with the a Federalist
logo. Some of the records for him are missing local history/legend has linked him with Gen. George Washington
states that Toby during the war rose in the ranks to the position of “body guard “ or “body servant” of George Washington. For his service he was awarded a canon, that today resides at Old Colony Historical Society
(OCHS) in Taunton, Massachusetts
nicknamed “Old Toby“. Every July 4 in celebration Toby would fire the canon 14 times. 13 of these shots fired for the original Thirteen Colonies and the last shot would be fired to honor Gen. Washington.
Some have made claims that Toby is the African American pictured in the 1851 oil painting Washington Crossing the Delaware
. Popular belief today that the figure was Prince Whipple
, however it is documented that Whipple and his master were in Baltimore at the time of the crossing. It is more likely that Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze the painter wanted to express that black patriots fought alongside their white counter parts during the Revolutionary War. The image of the black soldier in the painting is not of anyone in particular but embodies all Black Patriots
.
business. Toby was consider to be a frugal businessman and purchased forty five acres and sixty rods
of confiscated land in Raynham, Mass. The land was confiscated from a loyalist
and auctioned off. Toby was so well liked in the area that very few prospectors bid against him.
The first house he built in c.1784 still stands in Raynham. 1798 he built his second homestead that was larger than his former masters home.
Toby died April 19, 1812 at the age of 70 according to his grave marker that still stands at Hall & Dean Cemetery in West Raynham.
, “Old Toby” the canon, and his rundlet all on display. In the archives they have a military coat that was also donated by the Gilmore family. It is unclear exactly what period the coat comes from but it is unlikely that it was Toby’s. It is speculated that it comes from one of his descendants and is a Civil War era coat.
The Taunton Daily Gazette in Oct. 24, 1921, did a short article stating that Caroline J. Gilmore the last member of the Gilmore line, died that morning. It was believed that all of Toby’s Gilmore descendants had died out. In the summer of 2010 OCHS staff along with one of the Gilmore descendants rediscovered the missing genealogical link. The article was printed in Oct. 20, 2010 in The Taunton Daily Gazette.
Chieftain
Chieftain may refer to:The leader or head of a group:* a tribal chief or a village head.* a member of the 'House of chiefs'.* a captain, to which 'chieftain' is etymologically related.* Clan chief, the head of a Scottish clan....
, he was kidnapped at age sixteen by slave traders. Later he would regain his freedom by enlisting in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Early life
In c.1758 Shibodee Turrey Wurry was captured by slave traders while collecting coconuts, chained he was placed below deck on the slave ship Dove. This ship bound for Virginia had to change course because it was damaged during a storm it sailed to Rhode Island instead. There he was auctioned off and purchased by CaptainCaptain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
(nautical, not military) John Gilmore of Raynham
Raynham, Massachusetts
Raynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,739 at the 2000 census. It has one village, Raynham Center.-History:...
Massachusetts.
According to local legend John and his wife had no kids of their own and renamed Shibodee to Toby Gilmore, teaching him to read and write.
However this is proven to be untrue the couple had several children, and it is unclear if Toby could read and write.
Revolutionary War
During the war Toby was attached to military companies that served at Battle of MonmouthBattle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
, Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery
Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery
The Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery was an American Revolutionary War battle fought in the highlands of the Hudson River valley, not far from West Point, on October 6, 1777. British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton captured Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, and then...
, Battle of White Plains
Battle of White Plains
The Battle of White Plains was a battle in the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on October 28, 1776, near White Plains, New York. Following the retreat of George Washington's Continental Army northward from New York City, British General William Howe landed...
, West Point, Siege of Fort Ticonderoga (1777) and the Winter at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
.
Toby began his service on December 8, 1776 as a Private in Capt. Jonathan Shaw’s company Col. George Williams’s Regt. (3rd Bristol Co.) He served for eleven days the company marched to Warren, RI on an alarm. November 4, 1777 he joined Capt. James Cooper’s company, Col. Gamaliel Bradfords’s 12th Regt. After that his Continental Army pay records show he served from September 19, 1777 to September 3, 1780 he was enlisted for three years. In 1781 he served for two months and 24 days at North River (Hudson River). He was discharged from the army in December of 1781 and returned home to Raynham. Afterwards he served during Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising in central and western Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787. The rebellion is named after Daniel Shays, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War....
his mitre
Mitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...
was embroider with the a Federalist
Federalist
The term federalist describes several political beliefs around the world. Also, it may refer to the concept of federalism or the type of government called a federation...
logo. Some of the records for him are missing local history/legend has linked him with Gen. George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
Lore of George Washington
It is unknown if Toby did in fact serve under Gen. Washington the documentation proving or disproving is not available. Local history of the Greater Taunton areaBristol County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 534,678 people, 205,411 households, and 140,706 families residing in the county. The population density was 962 people per square mile . There were 216,918 housing units at an average density of 390 per square mile...
states that Toby during the war rose in the ranks to the position of “body guard “ or “body servant” of George Washington. For his service he was awarded a canon, that today resides at Old Colony Historical Society
Old Colony Historical Society
The Old Colony Historical Society is located at 66 Church Green in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA.Since 1926, the Society has occupied the historic former Bristol Academy school building...
(OCHS) in Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
nicknamed “Old Toby“. Every July 4 in celebration Toby would fire the canon 14 times. 13 of these shots fired for the original Thirteen Colonies and the last shot would be fired to honor Gen. Washington.
Some have made claims that Toby is the African American pictured in the 1851 oil painting Washington Crossing the Delaware
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Washington Crossing the Delaware is an 1851 oil-on-canvas painting by German American artist Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze. It commemorates General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War...
. Popular belief today that the figure was Prince Whipple
Prince Whipple
Prince Whipple was an African American slave who accompanied his owner, General William Whipple of the New Hampshire militia, during the American Revolutionary War.- Early life :William C...
, however it is documented that Whipple and his master were in Baltimore at the time of the crossing. It is more likely that Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze the painter wanted to express that black patriots fought alongside their white counter parts during the Revolutionary War. The image of the black soldier in the painting is not of anyone in particular but embodies all Black Patriots
Black Patriot (American Revolution)
A Black Patriot was an African American who remained loyal to the American side during the American Revolutionary War. Black Patriots were the opposite of the much larger group of Black Loyalists who were African Americans who took up the British offer of freedom and took refuge behind the Redcoat...
.
Freedom after the war
By the end of his service Toby was married to Rosanna Hack they would go on to have eight children. Toby Jr., Nancy, Delia, Timothy, Esquire, Selina, Rosina, and Seabury. Toby returned and worked for his former master later he and his wife started their own housekeepingbusiness. Toby was consider to be a frugal businessman and purchased forty five acres and sixty rods
Rod (unit)
The rod is a unit of length equal to 5.5 yards, 5.0292 metres, 16.5 feet, or of a statute mile. A rod is the same length as a perch or a pole. In old English, the term lug is also used.-History:...
of confiscated land in Raynham, Mass. The land was confiscated from a loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
and auctioned off. Toby was so well liked in the area that very few prospectors bid against him.
The first house he built in c.1784 still stands in Raynham. 1798 he built his second homestead that was larger than his former masters home.
Toby died April 19, 1812 at the age of 70 according to his grave marker that still stands at Hall & Dean Cemetery in West Raynham.
Old Colony Historical Society
Most of the History of Toby Gilmore can be found at OCHS here local historians are the keepers of some of his artifacts. These artifacts include his military mitreMitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...
, “Old Toby” the canon, and his rundlet all on display. In the archives they have a military coat that was also donated by the Gilmore family. It is unclear exactly what period the coat comes from but it is unlikely that it was Toby’s. It is speculated that it comes from one of his descendants and is a Civil War era coat.
The Taunton Daily Gazette in Oct. 24, 1921, did a short article stating that Caroline J. Gilmore the last member of the Gilmore line, died that morning. It was believed that all of Toby’s Gilmore descendants had died out. In the summer of 2010 OCHS staff along with one of the Gilmore descendants rediscovered the missing genealogical link. The article was printed in Oct. 20, 2010 in The Taunton Daily Gazette.
External links
- http://www.enterprisenews.com/lifestyle/x788045982/Raynham-made-notable-contributions-during-wartime-over-the-course-of-U-S-history
- http://www.tauntongazette.com/celebrations/x2030533563/New-research-African-born-Revolutionary-War-heros-bloodline-lives-on
- http://www.wickedlocal.com/raynham/news/x414487711
- http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=afterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Research+%26+Technology&L2=Government+Data+%26+Documents&L3=State+Documents+%26+Resources&L4=State+Documents+Online&sid=Eoaf&b=terminalcontent&f=lib_ourorganization_
- http://www.slavevoyages.org/tast/database/search.faces
- http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x230258145/The-life-and-legend-of-freed-slave-from-Raynham-Toby-Gilmore?img=1