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Capt Robert Billups Gayle

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Birth	:	11 Feb 1908 Pribble, Mathews County, Virginia, USA
Death	:	18 May 1987 Bohannon, Mathews County, Virginia, USA
Burial	:	Providence Cemetery, Cardinal, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.4167560, -76.3675830
Description	:	. Robert Billups Gayle was born on June 11, 1908. Howard White, Jr. remembers swimming over at Robert's (Cousin Walter's) and watching Robert and his brother turning boats over and swimming out from under them. Howard watched in awe and admiration of the Gayle boys as they did this. Finally, Uncle Lawrence Trevathan convinced Howard that it wasn't so hard and showed him how it was done. At last he could be one of the "boys"! On June 27, 1939, Robert married Carrie Lee White (b. February 1, 1909). She was the daughter... Read More	. Robert Billups Gayle was born on June 11, 1908. Howard White, Jr. remembers swimming over at Robert's (Cousin Walter's) and watching Robert and his brother turning boats over and swimming out from under them. Howard watched in awe and admiration of the Gayle boys as they did this. Finally, Uncle Lawrence Trevathan convinced Howard that it wasn't so hard and showed him how it was done. At last he could be one of the "boys"! On June 27, 1939, Robert married Carrie Lee White (b. February 1, 1909). She was the daughter of Capt. Charles Diggs "Charlie" White and Mattie Belle Owens of Mathews County. She is also a cousin of Frances White Anderton, Ralph Anderton's mother. Carrie Lee attended public school in Mathews and three years of private school at the Log Cabin School which was organized by Miss Hopkins and Miss Mogford. It was located on the North River near the community of North. She attended Farmville State Teacher's College (now Longwood) where she earned a Teaching Certificate. Carrie Lee also attended classes at William and Mary College. Before she was married, Carrie Lee taught school about 13 years in various capacities – elementary, intermediate and high school levels. After she was married, for one year while plans were being made to relocate the school to the Mathews Court House area, she taught and served as principal for Peninsula High School at Bohannon. My uncle, Roland Anderton, was one of her many students. Robert attended public school in Mathews and briefly attended Richmond Business College. He went to sea when he was only 17 years old, as an ordinary seaman on the collier, JoNancy, out of Norfolk. Sixteen years later he was captain of the S.S. Achilles, another collier. Robert was a lieutenant commander during World War II. After the war, he continued with the Merchant Marines and as well, farmed his land on North River. For twenty years, he was the president of the Chesapeake Federal Pilots' Association. He, along with six other pilots, piloted ships in and out of ports on the East Coast. Over sixty plus years, he spent more Christmases at sea than at home. In an article about him in the Gazette-Journal (Dec. 26, 1985), Robert was quoted remembering the Christmas of 1942 aboard the Achilles, -- "We had a Christmas tree and a huge dinner. We always had good meals but they were really special on Christmas. My entire crew, except for the gun captain assigned by the U. S. Navy, was from Mathews. Although routine chores had to be done everyday, we did very little maintenance work on Christmas." A list of the crew and the menu for that Christmas dinner was also printed in the article: S.S. Achilles Commander CAPTAIN ROBERT B. GAYLE WILLIAM C. WEST ---------------------- Chief Mate LOUIS M. KNIGHT ---------------------- Second Mate JAMES C. DIGGS ------------------------ Third Mate WILLIAM E. TRUSCH -------------------- Fourth Mate EDGAR BUTLER ------------------------ Gun Captain Radio Officer SEYMOUR FELDMAN Chief Engineer ALFRED I. CARSON MARSHALL L. BLUM -----------1st Assistant Engineer GEORGE H. HARRISON ---------2nd Assistant Engineer JOHN C. HUDGINS ------------ 3rd Assistant Engineer HERSEY R. BATEMAN --------- 4th Assistant Engineer JOHN A. CASSIN ------------------- Junior Engineer WILLIAM H. GARRETT ----------------- Conveyorman EDDIE JONES ---------------- AssistantConveyorman Chief Steward LEO DINGUALL JAMES D. FARREN ---------------------- Chief Cook EDDIE ROBINSON ---------------------- Second Cook CHRISTMAS DINNER Shrimp Cocktail Chicken Noodle Soup Cream of Spinach Soup ----------------- Ripe Olives Dill Pickle Green Pepper Rings Radishes ----------------- Baked Cod, Sauce maitre d'Hotel Slices Tomatoes Julienne Potatoes ---------------- Lamb Chops Buttered Green Peas Roast Sirloin of Beef, Brown Gravy Broiled Capon Mushrooms Saute Roast Turkey Oyster Stuffing Cranberry Sauce ----------------- Baked Winter Squash Brussel Sprouts Banana Fritters ---------------- Potatoes, Mashed, Boiled, Candied Sweet Hearts of Lettuce, French Dressing ---------------- Plum Pudding, Wine Sauce Mince Pie Apple Pie Fruit Cake Mixed Nuts Dates Layer Raisins Fresh Fruit Ice Cream Roquefort Cheese, Crackers Lemonade, Tea, Coffee December 25, 1942 I don't think many at home ate as well as those seamen did, but it still wasn't the same. As Robert added, " . . . the hardest times at sea were those spent at Christmas." Robert and Carrie Lee made their home on Diggs Creek, off of North River, on land adjoining that was once owned by Columbus Anderton (later owned by Lewis Hudgins, presently by T. Parker Host), including the 11.36 acre tract once belonging to Ringold Anderton. Robert's father, Bobby Gayle, had purchased this property from various heirs of Armistead Davis. Columbus and Ringold Anderton (Anderton Chapter) were Armistead's nephews and their property was also inherited from him. Robert later purchased additional land, making the farm approximately 102 acres. The farm is named "Galewood" – partly because of their surname and partly because Carrie Lee says "It's always blowing a gale over here!" Robert spent more than sixty years at sea -- in fact, at age 79, just a few days before his death, he had piloted a ship to New York. While at the Port Authority in New York on this trip, he went to the rescue of a man who was apparently suffering a seizure. But it was later discovered that the man was taking advantage of Robert's kind, compassionate nature and had robbed him of his wallet. Robert returned home on Thursday and on Monday, while he and his son, Graham, were trimming the crepe myrtle trees in the heat, he collapsed in the yard and died -- May 18, 1987 -- active until the end! Carrie Lee, Robert's wife, died 30 Sept 2007 at the advanced age of 98! She lived in their home at Galewood until her death.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Capt Robert Billups Gayle's memorial?
Capt Robert Billups Gayle's memorial is located at: Providence Cemetery, Cardinal, Mathews County, USA.
When did Capt Robert Billups Gayle death?
Capt Robert Billups Gayle death on 18 May 1987 in Bohannon, Mathews County, Virginia, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Capt Robert Billups Gayle's memorial?
Latitude: 37.4167560
Longitude: -76.3675830

Family Members:

Parent

Walter Lucas Gayle

(1878 - 1955)

Minnie Vernon Garnett Gayle

(1880 - 1967)

Spouse

Carrie Lee White Gayle

(1909 - 2007)

Siblings

Sarah Elizabeth Gayle Mickelborough

(1904 - 1991)

Capt William Edmund “Pete” Gayle

(1910 - 1986)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Providence Cemetery
Cardinal, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4167560, -76.3675830

2. Billups Cemetery
Cardinal, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4186110, -76.3672220

3. Poplar Woods Cemetery
Cardinal, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4205584, -76.3710153

4. Diggs - Machen Cemetery
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4243289, -76.3666202

5. Foster Burials
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4247320, -76.3708234

6. Cook Cemetery
Cardinal, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4265629, -76.3738042

7. Richard Foster Cemetery
Cardinal, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4105180, -76.3557220

8. Green Family Cemetery
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4245400, -76.3572300

9. Johnson Wormley Burials
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4292455, -76.3699694

10. Ruff Cemetery
Cardinal, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4054077, -76.3541087

11. Greene Cemetery
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4321269, -76.3596016

12. White Cemetery
Bohannon, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3995200, -76.3573800

13. Perkins Spring Cemetery
Bohannon, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3981097, -76.3584948

14. Williams Cemetery
Mathews, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4127500, -76.3385000

15. Oakland Creek Burials
Cardinal, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4266395, -76.3948929

16. Shinault Cemetery
Retz, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4185820, -76.3375667

17. Christ Church Kingston Parish Cemetery
Mathews, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4106925, -76.3357766

18. Sibley Family Cemetery
Bohannon, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3974400, -76.3928100

19. Hodges Family Cemetery
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4450258, -76.3618931

20. James Cemetery
Mathews, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4246500, -76.3288300

21. Poplar Grove Plantation Cemetery
Williams, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3994440, -76.3330555

22. Wayland Baptist Church Cemetery
Beaverlett, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4095600, -76.3248100

23. Sugar Hill Cemetery
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4337500, -76.3291200

24. Armistead-Miller Family Cemetery
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4292000, -76.3258700