For use by Schuylkil County PaGenWeb part of the USGenWeb Project
contributed by Nancy Froh
dnn@prodigy.net

None or part of this may be used without the express permission of the 
contributor
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JOHN CONRAD GILBERT b. 4/29/1734 in Hoffenheim, Germany d. 4/29/1757 in
Schuylkill Co., Orwigsburg, PA.  He married ANNA ELIZABETH STOLTZ (STELTZ)
4/19/1757 in Trappe Lutheran Church, Montgomery Co., PA.  

JOHN CONRAD GILBERT served as a private on an armed war vessel during the
Rev. War on boats CEEagle and CEVulture commanded by JACOB HANCE, July 1,
1776 to Jan. 21, 1777.  He was sick from Oct. 26 to Nov. 14, 1776.  PA
Archives 5th Series Vol. 1, pages 551, 552, 553, 554, PA Archives 3rd
Series Vol. 23, pages 30, 32, 137, 138, 139, 140.  His place of residence
during the Revolutionary War was Orwigsburg, Berks/Schuylkill Co., PA

The Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, PA, indicated that
Conrad was a taylor in his early manhood.  By the time he enlisted in the
PA Navy, he was the father of nine children.  Later in his life he became a
schoolmaster and taught at the Zion (Red) Church east of Orwigsburg.  In
addition, Conrad he was an artist who produced a number of drawings in
color (German Fraktur) on laid paper, some with texts or other writings.  

Conrad Gilbert was a Fraktur Artist.  The first Easter Bunny in America is
attributed to him and the drawing is in Abby Rockefeller Folk Museum in
Williamsburg, VA

Two hundred years after Conrad made the Fraktur, the fourteen photographs
of his work which were presented in the Journal of the PA Society (their
quarterly) all suggest that the originals are still in good condition.  The
journals are called "Der Reggeboge" (The Rainbow).