William Gilbert or Gylbert was Vicar of Barton Turf from 1517, replaced by John Contingham in 1531. We have very little information about him, but it is believed he was born around 1500 and married Ellen Furford who was born around 1504. They had two daughters: Cecilie and Ellen. Cecilie married John Bowman in 1558, their marriage being the first recorded in the Barton Turf marriage register. Ellen married Nicholas Wright in 1559 and had two sons: Nicholas and William. Both married and had children, William having 11 baptised in Barton Turf.

Genealogical research suggests that William Gilbert was a descendant of King Edward III, but we have not been able to verify this.