Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gilbert, Thomas (1610-1673)
GILBERT, THOMAS (1610–1673), ejected minister, is described by Calamy as ‘a Scottish divine.’ He is probably the Thomas Gilbert who graduated M.A. at Edinburgh on 25 July 1629, and became ‘minister verbi.’ His name does not occur in Scott's ‘Fasti.’ According to his epitaph his first preferment was to the rectory of Cheadle, Cheshire. In 1654 he was presented by Francis Allein to the vicarage of Ealing, Middlesex. He appears to have been a zealous puritan. His epitaph describes him as ‘the proto-martyr, the first of the ministers that suffered deprivation in the cause of non-conformity.’ Hence it may be inferred that he lost his living at the Restoration, owing to some informality in the appointment. His name is not in Newcourt's list of vicars of Ealing. He emigrated to New England, and became pastor at Topsfield, Massachusetts. He died in 1673, aged 63 years, and was buried on 28 Oct. at Charlestown, Massachusetts.
[Mather's Magnalia Christi Americana, 1702, iii. 221; Calamy's Account 1713, p. 467; Continuation, 1727 ii. 611; Palmer's Nonconf. Memorial, 1802, ii. 446; Cat. Edinb. Graduates, 1858, p. 43.]