Deserving of some genealogical TLC. We may only need a few minor adjustments to get it right, who knows. Commencing with his duplicate profile:
Richard Gildersleeve, of Hempstead
I refer to them as duplicates because they share the exact same birth and death dates/years, and locations. In the Overviews of both profiles I find similar, incomprehensible walls of text. And both are a bit sketchy with details and possibly a bit confused regarding spouses and children.
So referring to an early published family history, I now attempt to make some sense of it. The Gildersleeves were extremely prominent and active members of Long Island society, and well documented with numerous land and other official records. We only need to make good sense of it here. Beginning with a few useful sources:
"GILDERSLEEVES of Gildersleeve, Conn. and the Descendants of Philip Gildersleeve" by Willard Harvey Gildersleeve (Meriden, Conn. Press of the Journal Publishing Co., 1914). A very pithy account that gets right to the point and starts from the beginning.
https://archive.org/details/gildersleevesofg00gild/page/6/mode/2up
"Records of the towns of North and South Hempstead, Long island, New York [1654-1880]" VOLUME ONE. Google provides 31 results, but actually there are many more than that, mostly for the Richards, Sr. and Jr. Thomas, Sr., Dorcas, Samuel, "Sargant", and "Mr." are also covered.
https://archive.org/details/cu31924092207764/page/n539/mode/2up?q=g...
"Records of the towns of North and South Hempstead, Long island, New York [1654-1880]" VOLUME TWO. 361+ results for "Gildersleeve" including tons for Richard and Thomas, plus suitable acknowledgment of Richard, Jr., Thomas Jr., Asa, Dorcas, Experience, George, and "Mr.".
https://archive.org/details/recordsoftownsof02hemp/page/548/mode/2u...
VOLUME THREE. 69+ results, with the addition of Elisha and an alternative spelling (Gildersleve, with one E).
https://archive.org/details/cu31924092207780/page/n543/mode/2up?q=g...
VOLUME FOUR. 3++ results, with the addition of Benjamin, Jonathan, and Henry. Also the same alternative spelling.
https://archive.org/details/recordstownsnor01nygoog/page/n546/mode/...
VOLUME FIVE. Several results.
https://archive.org/details/cu31924092207806/page/n539/mode/2up?q=g...
VOLUME SIX. Several results, with the addition of Timothy and James.
https://archive.org/details/recordsoftownsof00hemp/page/554/mode/2u...
VOLUME SEVEN. One result, for Benjamin D. Gildersleeve
https://archive.org/details/recordsoftownsof07hemp/page/568/mode/2u...
VOLUME EIGHT. At least a score of results, with the addition of Manasseh. Also Richards Sr. and Jr., Thomas, and Elisha.
The official records should be useful for cross-referencing and corroborating information supplied by the published family history, which briefly follows:
The name of Gildersleeve, Connecticut "is derived from the Gildersleeve family who established themselves here in 1776 as refugees from Long Island and who have been continuously in the shipbuilding business since then [as of 1914]."
"The Gildersleeves are an old yeoman family in County Norfolk and County Suffolk, England. There are many similar names such as Gilder, Gildea, Gildersome, Gyldenloeve and Gildensholme. Through six centuries of various spellings and pronunciations, the name has never lost its own peculiar identity. In the old Dutch records of New Netherlands it has been spelled Geallderslefes, Gyldersly and Gildersee while in colonial [English] records, we can find it spelled Gildensleaf, Gilderslea and Guildersieve." Also Gildersleve, Gilderslieve, Gildersleive.
Roger Gyldenesleeve A. 100 Rolls, Co. Norfolk, 1273
John Gildensleve, Fellow of College of Holy Cross, Atleburgh, 1421
Robert Gyldensleve, Close Rolls, 15 Henry VI. (1437)
John Gildensleve, Rector of Little Cressingham, Co. Norfolk, 1588.
Calendar of Wills, 1444-1600, by F. A. Crisp, privately printed, from the Probate Court, Ipswich, County Suffolk, England:
Tho. Gildensleeve of Oltlie, 1544-1550
Thome Gyldersleive of Holesly, I550-I554
Johnis Gildensleeve of Aspall Stona, 1554-1557
Robti Gildensleve of Mickfield, 1560-1564
Robti Gildensleeve of Grundisburgh, 1569-1571
Briani Gildersleeve of Glemhm, Ma.; 1586-1587
Henrici Gildersleive of Mickfield, 1600-1601
Christiani Gildersleive, vid. 1600-1601
P. 327, Suffolk Manorial Families, Gildersleve and Appleton, Fine 1635.
Richard Gildersleve and John Boreham bought for £60 sterling at Little Waldingfield, some property of Thomas Appleton.
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~ AMERICAN ANCESTRY OF PHILIP GILDERSLEEVE, 1757-1822 Philip Gildersleeve ~
RICHARD Gildersleeve, [SR.] born in 1601 in County Suffolk, England, came to America in the Puritan Emigration of 1630-1640. Pausing at Watertown, Mass., he joined the small band of Puritan settlers who set out through the wilderness to settle the new colony of Connecticut. He made a home for himself in 1636, at Wethersfield, on the west side of High street, facing the Common near the river. He was one of the earliest proprietors of Naubuc Farms in Glastonbury when it was first surveyed.
Discontented with conditions here, he journeyed down to the new colony just planted at New Haven where he was enrolled among the first proprietors of New Haven Colony in 1639. In 1641, he moved from Wethersfield to Stamford, Conn., where he was deputy to the General Court at New Haven.
In 1644, he moved over with the first settlers of Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y., where he soon became one of the most influential and largest
land proprietors. He was a "schepen," or Dutch magistrate under Governor Stuyvesfeant, 1644-1664. The first persecution of the Quakers by the Dutch came as a result of Magistrate Gildersleeve's activity.
During the Dutch-Indian War, he lived in Newtown, L.I., as one of the first proprietors and magistrates, 1652-1656. In 1664, when New York was captured by the English, he was appointed colonial commissioner by Connecticut. However, by the Duke of York's patent he became a royal subject once more. In 1669, he was one of that notable gathering of deputies from the English towns of Long Island who framed a petition, which fairly breathed the spirit of liberty manifested in the Declaration of Independence later. Lovelace, the Royal governor, had oppressed the towns severely. Mr. Gildersleeve, as deputy of Hempstead, refused absolutely to pay taxes without representation. It is impossible to say what would have happened, if, in 1673, New York had not been captured by the Dutch.
In 1674, New York was restored to the English. Richard Gildersleeve was deputy to New York to the Dutch Council. He also held very many offices of trust and honor in the town besides figuring in many of the exchanges of vast tracts of land. His main occupation lasting through life was that of surveyor. He was a Puritan of Puritans, fiery, and intolerant, strict and harsh in his official duties, but then the times were harsh enough to try the most heroic soul amidst the early settlements of the United States. He represented the town in all its dealings with the Indians, especially with Tackapousha, Sachem of the Marsapeage Indians.
His wife was born in 1601 and witnessed in 1676 the final Indian exchange [a legal document, presumably].
He had three children: RICHARD, JR; Samuel; and Anna (the wife of John Smith, Nant., who came from Nantucket).
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RICHARD Gildersleeve, JR. -- In the Dutch-Indian War, he moved to Newtown, L.I., where he was one of the earliest proprietors. In 1656, he moved back again to Hempstead, L.I., where he became a large landed proprietor and a prominent citizen. He served as town clerk for many years. Besides other offices, he was town surveyor for many important cases. He was town drummer, calling the settlers to worship and for town meetings. In 1680, he bought the old meeting house which had a fort around it for safety against the Indians.
His wife, DORCAS, witnessed many deeds, and lived on the homestead in Hempstead village until her death in 1704.
Mr. Gildersleeve died in 1691, making a will, which is preserved in Jamaica, L.I.
He had four children: RICHARD, Jr. [AKA: "III"]; THOMAS; Elizabeth; and Dorcas [the younger] (the wife of Thomas Lester of Hempstead).
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RICHARD Gildersleeve, 3D -- In 1683, his father gave him the Carman proprietorship in Hempstead so that he became a proprietor early in life.
With his wife, EXPERIENCE, he witnessed many land transactions. In 1690, he was lieutenant of militia. In 1687 he received by purchase and town grant, large properties in the town of Huntington, Suffolk County, L.I. He finally moved to Huntington and settled down in the northeastern part on Fresh Pond Neck near Crab Meadow. He sold all his rights in Hempstead in 1704, to
his brother, THOMAS.
His descendants still own portions of his estate in that section of Huntington near the Smithtown line.
Son, THOMAS.
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THOMAS Gildersleeve -- He was a farmer in Huntington, L.I., serving as a private in the militia in 1715 and as town trustee in 1739 and 1740. His children were: Benjamin; Philip; OBADIAH; RICHARD ("son of Thomas") and EXPERIENCE (wife of John Bailey), and perhaps others.
Obadiah married Mary Dinge. He found employment as ship carpenter and builder in Connecticut, founding the first generation of Gildersleeves in the state. It would be prudent to assume that this Connecticut family did not completely sever ties with family who remained on Long Island, particularly Hempstead and Newtown.
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CONCLUSIONS about this line specifically:
1 RICHARD Gildersleeve, SR.: Born 1601 in Suffolk Co., England. Yeoman. Immigrated to Massachusetts but quickly moved on, to Long Island. Lived briefly in Connecticut but returned to settle permanently in Hempstead, Long Island, where he prospered. Parents UNKNOWN. Wife UNKNOWN. Siblings UNKNOWN. Children: Richard, Jr., Samuel, Anna (Mrs. John Smith).
2 RICHARD Gildersleeve, JR.: He and his father resided in Newtown during the Dutch-Indian War. Returned to Hempstead afterwards. Wife DORCAS (Unknown, d. 1704). He died in 1691 leaving a will, which is preserved in Jamaica, L.I.. Children: RICHARD, III; Thomas ("son of Richard, Jr."); Elizabeth; and Dorcas (Mrs. Thomas Lester of Hempstead).
3 RICHARD Gildersleeve, III: Wife, EXPERIENCE. Son, THOMAS ("son of Richard III").
4 THOMAS Gildersleeve: Wife unknown. Children: Benjamin; Philip; Obadiah (shipwright, settled in Connecticut); Richard ("son of Thomas, grandson of Richard III"); Experience (Mrs. John Bailey).
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FURTHER CONCLUSIONS:
There should be only one Richard Gildersleeve, Sr. (1601-???), not two. His unknown(?) wife was also born in 1601(?).
Of the 'twin' MPs, Richard Gildersleeve, of Hempstead is more detailed and better matches the description in the family history.
I didn't check every generation, but this one at least has the children and one daughter-in-law (Dorcas) mentioned in the book.
The Overviews of both are filled in with similar information, mostly speculative secondary sources. They are both in need of solid and more authoritative sources; and some simple pedigree charts for quick reference. There isn't enough to support all of the facts given on these profiles.
Richard Gildersleeve, Sr. was a member of the Great Migration and a socially prominent, politically powerful, well-to-do land-owner. One of the original Founders of Hempstead, there is a staggering number of official records bearing his name. In fact he was himself a government official and businessman. His life is far more thoroughly documented than average, which ought to be reflected here on his Geni profile.
Richard, Sr.'s several wives do not appear to be properly documented.
Neither are the children of the one whose children are listed.
Neither are the parents of Richard Sr.
Neither are any of his 'siblings'.
His siblings all appear to be his children who have been 'recycled' as children.
Very strange and disappointing, smh...
FINALLY: I hope that all superfluous and undocumented connections will soon be removed from this family group (preferably deteted, if they are indeed fictional). Because we should always strive to present a representation of this and every family's history that is as accurate as possible. More than a simple family history, this is a significant chapter in the early history of a nation.
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