Gilbert Shelton was born in New York City on May 11, 1906. His parents were Mack and Emma (Moss) Shelton. Mack was originally from Richmond, Virginia, and Emma from North Carolina. The two were married in New York on May 17, 1903.
Between their marriage and the 1910 Census Mack and Emma had 5 children, though only 3 – Leola (born in 1904), Atron (born in 1905) and Gilbert survived infancy. Leola died at the age of seven in May 1911.
The Shelton family lived in Harlem, residing at several different addresses before settling on W. 133rd Street just before World War I.
Mack Shelton had originally worked for the city Street Department but later found work on the docks. In 1918 he was working as a longshoreman for Carter & Weeks Stevedore Co. on Pier 64.
Mack and Emma began to live separately in the early 1920s, but do not appear to have ever received a formal divorce. Atron and Gilbert remained living with Emma.
Gilbert left school at the age of 15 after completing 8th grade. Atron found work as a porter and later managing a pool room.
On February 26, 1926 Atron confessed to 3rd degree robbery and was sentenced to 2½ to 5 years in prison. He was processed at Sing Sing on March 1st, 1926 and later transferred to Great Meadow Prison upstate. He was released on December 20th, 1927 having received a seven month reduction in his sentence for good behavior.
While Atron was in prison Gilbert supported his mother by working for Excelsior Dry Cleaning Co. on East 124th Street for $25 per week. Soon after Atron was released Gilbert stopped working.
On May 8, 1931 Gilbert reportedly assaulted a man in a restaurant with a knife while intoxicated. He denied the act but was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison for 2nd degree assault on August 31, 1931. When he was processed at Sing Sing the next day he had $1.70 on him and no personal property.
Emma Shelton died in January 1934, while Gilbert was still in prison. Gilbert was released in the spring of 1935 but violated parole. He was officially released on October 10, 1936.
Just over a month later, on November 13, 1936, Gilbert was accused of robbing a man on the street of $46 at knife point. He confessed to the crime and was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. He arrived at Sing Sing on February 15, 1937 and was later transferred to Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York where he was assigned number 25587. He was supposed to become eligible for parole on August 15, 1943 but seems to have still been in prison in May of 1945 as his World War II draft card is stamped by the prison draft board.
His physical description on his draft card states he was 5’5.5” tall, weighed 145lbs, had a black complexion, black hair, and brown eyes.
A Gilbert Shelton appears in the 1960 Manhattan city directory living at 27½ Essex Street on the Lower East Side, which matches the zip code (10002) given as his last residence on the Social Security Death Index.
Gilbert Sheldon died on June 27, 1979. He wasn’t buried on Hart Island until December 17, 1981 – almost two and half years later.
Sources: 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Federal Censuses; 1915 and 1925 New York State Censuses; Manhattan, New York, City Directory, 1960; New York City Births 1846-1909; New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940; New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949; New York, Discharges of Convicts, 1882-1915; Sing Sing Prison Admission Records, 1865-1939; U.S. Social Security Death Index; United States World War I Draft Registration Cards; United States World War II Draft Registration Cards.