Nat Gould

Elizabeth Gilbert 1717-1776

Elizabeth Gilbert was born in 1717, the daughter of Thomas Gilbert 1688-1742 of Cotton Hall in Staffordshire and his wife Elizabeth Philips 1691-1729. She was baptised at Alton in Staffordshire on 27 June 1717.

She was married to Richard Gould 1711-1762 of Pilsbury Grange, the son of William Gould 1677-1772 and his wife Anne Morewood. He was born in 1711, and succeeded his father William Gould at Pilsbury Grange Upper House.

Her sister Ellen Gilbert 1722-1792 was married to her husband’s brother Joseph Gould 1715-1777.

Her brothers Thomas Gilbert 1720-1798 and John Gilbert 1724-1795, land agents to the Marquess of Stafford and the Duke of Bridgewater, were important canal pioneers, working on many projects with James Brindley. Their waterways include the Duke of Bridgwater's Canal and the Trent and Mersey Canal. John Gilbert and Thomas Gilbert brought about very many industrial enterprises in eighteenth-century Staffordshire. They brought industry to the Churnet Valley and developed the Cauldon Low quarries, and had interests in the Ecton copper mines. Thomas Gilbert was Member of Parliament for Lichfield from 1768 to 1794, and introduced poor law reform. He inherited Cotton Hall, which he largely re-built.

The children of Richard and Elizabeth Gould (all baptised at Hartington) were:

Elizabeth Gould 1739-1742. She was baptised on 7 November 1739. She died in 1742, and was buried at Hartington on 1 April 1742.

Richard Gould. He was baptised on 16 January 1741, and succeeded his father at Pilsbury Grange. He died in 1820 and was buried at Hartington on 11 April 1820.

Anne Gould. She was baptised on 8 June 1744. She was married to George Ratcliffe. She died on 21 January 1770 in London, and was buried at Hartington, where there is a gravestone inscribed to her memory and that of her son Edward Ratcliffe who died in infancy. Her husband George Ratcliffe is there described as being "of London, late Bank Top, Sheen".

Mary Gould. She was baptised on 10 October 1746. She was married to Samuel Sleigh 1759-1822, and they had a son Henry Sleigh 1797-1821. Mary Sleigh nee Gould died on 1 May 1822 aged 75 years, and was buried at Hartington on 4 May 1822 where there is a gravestone inscribed to her memory and that of her husband and son. Samuel Sleigh had died on 5 March 1822 aged 63 years and was buried at Hartington on 8 March 1822.

Elizabeth Gould. She was baptised on 25 March 1749, and was known in the family as Betty. She is mentioned in a letter that her brother Richard Gould 1741-1820 wrote to his son John Gould 1784-1814 in 1806.

William Gould. He was baptised on 13 October 1754. He married Elizabeth Ashton

Ellen Gould. She was probably born in 1760, and was baptised on 15 January 1761.

Hannah Gould.

Their mother Elizabeth Gould nee Gilbert died in 1776 and was buried at Hartington on 23 June 1776.

Her Will dated 25 September 1774 was proved on 17 May 1777.