The Gilbert Homestead

This house was built by Pelatiah Gilbert in 1793. The Land was granted to Henry Gilbert, Captain of the Indian Fighters, who was sent to Brookfield by John Pynchon to protect the settlers in 1688. 

The homestead land was  in the Gilbert family for  251 years. In 1718 Henry Gilbert received a land grant for more than 600 acres. It was awarded for their services to the community. The home still stands to this day and is located off Wickaboag Valley Road in West Brookfield.

Henry died in 1740 at the age of 57 leaving the homestead to Samuel Gilbert. At his death in 1779 at 63 years old, it was left to Othniel, who lived to be 67, at his death in 1795, the homestead was passed to Peletiah. Peletiah built another house which stood next to this one. It was moved to the Eastern States Exposition Grounds in Springfield and put on display.

Peletiah died in 1814 at the age of 64. His son Calvin was next to receive the homestead. Calvin died in 1843 at 59 and left it to George. George died in 1879 at 77 years old and gave it to Calvin Edward. He died in 1898 at the age of 70. It then went to Lewis Abbott Gilbert. on April 14, 1894 (pictured below), which then to Arthur W. the Commissioner (shown at the bottom). The Commissioner then passed it down to Vincent Cooper Gilbert.  A portion of the land, with the house pictured was sold to Paul G. Buzzell in1939.  It has remained in the Buzzell family to this day.

Lewis A. Gilbert at 73

Commissioner Arthur Witter Gilbert, son of Lewis A. Gilbert

Commissioner Gilbert graduated from Massachusetts State College, Boston University, and took post graduate work at Harvard. He was a Professor at University of Maine for 2 years and Cornell University from 1909 to 1917.

During the War he was Secretary of Federal Milk Commission under President Hoover.

In 1926 and 1927 he was a member of American Delegation at the Economic Conference of the League of Nations.  

He was an author of many books on plant breeding and other agricultural subjects.

In 1933 he was Chairman of the American Committee of the International Institute of Agriculture with head quarters in Rome.