Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Gilbert, Samuel J. Or Frank May 2, 1901
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 October 15, 2025, 1:47 pm

Virginian-Pilot May 4 & 5, 1901
SAD END OF A WRECKED LIFE - S. J. GILBERT DIES A PAUPER
A very sad scene was witnessed in Elmwood cemetery yesterday morning, when the 
red stained coffin, which was little more than a pine box, which contained all 
that was mortal of Samuel J. Gilbert, who had fallen from a station of social 
eminence to that of a pauper, was committed to mother earth. This was the awful 
fate of one who was graduated in England. His last end came while he was an 
inmate of the Norfolk city almshouse.
Gilbert was the son of Gilbert, the noted composer, who, with Sir Arthur 
Sullivan, composed the operas that have electrified the music loving people of 
America and Europe. The poor unfortunate was the victim of strong drink, in 
which he was so completely enslaved that he had not the will power to break 
loose from.
The deceased was 49 years of age and drifted to Norfolk from New York some time 
last fall. Being a man of dissipated habits, he soon fell into the hands of the 
management of the Union Mission, on Lower Church street, where every effort was 
made to aid him in throwing off the shackles which he seemed so anxious to be 
rid of, and it was thought at one time that he had reached a state of 
reformation. After remaining at the mission for two months, he obtained 
employment with a local music house as an organ tuner. Possessing a fine musical 
talent, he longed to get a situation in one of the churches, in several of which 
he played on Sunday, but was unable to find an opening. However, he played the 
organ at the Union Mission, to the great pleasure of those with whom he came in 
contact while there, not only on account of his musical talent, but also on 
account of his conversational powers, which he used in relating the story of his 
life and travels. Through repeated conversations, it was learned that he was in 
possession of $25,000 when he arrived in New York from England nine years ago. 
He had no relatives in America or elsewhere and was unmarried, and he had 
nothing to show for nearly fifty years of his life but a depraved appetite, 
which resulted in his ruin.
At 9 o'clock yesterday morning, the almshouse wagon brought his remains to 
Norfolk for interment, at the expense of the city. There was no minister at the 
grave to officiate, but Christian burial was given the deceased by Mr. Lee Guy, 
of the Freemason Street Baptist church, who is a Union Mission Worker, and Mr. 
Wm. G. Ashley, superintendent of the mission. The former read a lesson from the 
Scriptures and the latter offered up an earnest invocation. The only persons 
present were the keepers of the almshouse and cemetery and the helpers at the 
grave.
Rev. Dr. J. J. Hall, a fellow countryman, and others in the city rendered 
Gilbert assistance. As he neared the eternal world, he gave those who had been 
administering to his spiritual good an assurance that he had made his peace with 
God.

The statement that the man Gilbert, who died at the Norfolk almshouse, was the 
son of W. S. Gilbert of "Pinafore" fame, is said to be erroneous. It is stated 
by persons who profess to know that the young man was Frank Gilbert, whose 
father is a composer and an organist at one of England's universities.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/obits/g/gilbert17413nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/vafiles/

File size: 3.8 Kb