Royal Gilkey was born in Islesboro, Me. and later retired to Islesboro in 1893. He began a seafaring life in earnest, going to the West Indies, and during the hot season coasting along the shores of New England. When only nineteen he was placed in command of a vessel, named for him, the "Royal Welcome.

On December 21, 1841, Mr. Gilkey was married to Hannah N. Young, of Belfast, Me. They had have had four children. He followed the sea, making his home at Searsport, up to 1844, and in that year came to Watertown, and formed a partnership in the lumber business with Sylvester Priest. The partnership with Mr. Priest continued until 1851.

Afterward Mr. Gilkey was alone until 1855, when he took another partner, and the firm became Royal Gilkey & Co., continuing under that name until 1865. Gilkey filed for bankruptcy in 1874. Thenceforward until 1878 Mr. Gilkey was alone.

In that year was founded the firm of Gilkey & Stone. He has also served as Assessor, has been a director in the Union Market National Bank for several years. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen in 1848, 1853, and 1854. He is a member of the Baptist Social Union of Boston, and has been on the Bethel Board as auditor and clerk of the church several years.[Date:1890]

Source: The Watertown [MA] Public Library


The Union Market National Bank was organized
in 1873. The first meeting of the association for
organization was on the 9th of April, 1873. It was
voted at first to call the bank the Watertown National
Bank, but it afterwards was decided to call it the
Union Market National Bank, and that the capital
should be §100,000, with the privilege of increasing
to 8300,000.

Those who signed the certificate of organization
were John H.Conant, Charles J. Barry, Royal Gilkey,
George K. Snow, George N. March, Thomas L. French
and James S. Allison.

It was voted that there should be seven directors,
and the following were chosen : George N. March,
George K. Snow, Royal Gilkey, Thomas L. French,
Charles J. Bany, John H. Conant and James S. Alli-
son.

--From "Historical Sketches
of Watertown, " by Solon F. Whitney (1893) (Also of note the volume contains "The Baptist Church and Sabbath School", by Royal Gilkey p.338)

Note: Mr. Gilkey was a deacon of the Watertown Baptist Church, and local sources aften refer to him as Deacon Gilkey.