The son of Matthias Corwin and Mary Aldrich, Gilbert was born in the year 1742 at Southold, Long Island where Gilbert's great-great grandfather, Matthias Corwin, was one of its founders. Gilbert went to Nantucket, Mass. when about 19 years of age, and became a whalesman, which business he followed for many years. About 1768 he removed to Haverstraw, Rockland Co., N.Y. He was a soldier in the Revolution, having charge for a long time of King's Ferry, at Peekskill. He ferried Gen. Anthony Wayne across the Hudson from Croton Point to Stony Point prior to the attack on the latter, and, with the aid of an old negro owned by Mr. Lamb, assisted Gen. Wayne through the swamps, back of the unguarded points. Gilbert died at Haverstraw on April 11, 1810.

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