Gilbert was raised by foster parents in the South Boston VA area. His foster parents were named Wilmoth. John Wilmoth only had one arm, he lost the other in an accident. As a result, he couldn't shoot a rifle so Gilbert did all the hunting. He got very good with a rifle and shotgun and kept the family in fresh meat. Gilbert left home at 15 and went to work with his brother in the shipyards. He lived in Philadelphia for a while.
Gilbert was seperated from his brother when he was in his early twenties and lost track of him. He tried to locate him several times but failed. Then one day 35 years later he recieved a call from him. Francis had always looked for Gilbert's name in the phone book whenever he would go to a town that he had never been to before. His daughter Barbara lived in Houston so the first time he visited her he looked up Gilbert's name in the phone book and found it there! They had a great reunion and got their pictures in the Houston paper.
Gilbert lived in New York for a while and worked in the shipyard there. He worked with William Henry Purswell who also took care of a boarding house where he lived. Gilbert moved into the boarding house and started seeing William's daughter Lucy. They were married not long after. James Moody was born in New Jersey and shortly thereafter the family moved to Jacksonville Florida and then to Texas. William Purswell and Gilbert continued to work in the shipyards for a while. Gilbert also worked as a house-mover and then as a welder and burner for an oil tool company. He retired from Reed Roller Bit Company which was later bought out by Baker Oil Tool Co.
He contracted lung cancer from prolonged exposure to asbestos during his employment at the shipyards and died in 1990, probably from a stroke after surgery to remove part of his lung.1910 Census, Elizabeth City County, VA:
Fitzgerald John F. Head M W 54 NY NY NY Conductor
Fitzgerald Alberta Wife F W 44 VA VA VA
Fitzgerald Sadie Dau F W 19 VA VA VA
Fitzgerald Edward Son M W 15 VA VA VA
Fitzgerald Hugh Son M W 6 VA VA VA
Moody William Son/Law M W 23 VA VA VA
Moody Francis Gson M W 2 VA VA VA
Moody Gilbert Gson M W 6/12 VA VA VA1920 Census, Buckhorn Creek, Mecklinberg County, VA:
Wilmoth, John Head M W 39 M VA VA VA Farmer Own Farm
Wilmoth, Carmalla? Wife F W 50 M VA VA VA None (1910 census has her as Anita G.)
Wilmoth, Era Daughter F W 20 S VA VA VA None
Wilmoth, Eva Daughter F W 18 S VA VA VA None
Moody, Gilbert Son M W 10 S VA VA VA None1930 Census, Chesapeake, Elizabeth City County, VA:
Moody, Gilbert Private M W 22 S VA VA VA Soldier US Army
Battery A 253 12th Artillery Fort Monroe.
Lucy B Moody, no period after the B, it didn't stand for anything, her middle name was the letter B. Her sister Winnie had the letter "D" for a middle name.
Was Administrator of his father's estate until the time he moved to Clayton, Alabama, after which John McTyere was appointed by the court to succeed him. Move to Alabama about 1830 or 1831.
Birth record from "The Book of Record"
Register of Births & Christenings per John Giessendanner V.D.M.:521} On Sunday Octobr. 22d In Orangeburgh Church Anne Katharine, Daughter of Nicholas & Susannah Elizabeth Zorn, born Septr 23d 1758.Suret. Henry Zorn, Eva Katharine Pfuntzius, widow & Anna Maria Catharina, wife of Ulrick Roth.
Notes for Henry Zorn:
HEADS OF FAMILIES AT THE FIRST CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES TAKEN IN THE YEAR 1790 SOUTH CAROLINA
ORANGEBURGH DISTRICT (NORTH PART).
ORANGEBURGH DISTRICT (SOUTH PART).Name of head of family: Zorn, Henry
Free white males of 16 years and upward, including heads of families: 3
Free white males under 16 years: 4
Free white females, including heads of families: 4
All other free persons: 7
Listed in 1790 Orangeburgh, SC census:
Page 263 line 28 Bright, Ezekiel 1 (free white males including head) 0 (free white males under 16) 4 (white females) 0 (others) 0 (slaves)