Thomas GATES

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 03 May 1642, Hingham, Norfolk, England
• Will: 10 Jul 1723
• Fact: 08 Apr 1724, Codicil to the will

Notes:

Excerpt from New England Historical and Genealogical Register: In Thomas's will his wife is not mentioned. He gave his new Bible to his son John of Stow. John had received land in Stow by gift of his father. He mentioned sons Joseph and Josiah who had received their portions, but he gave some more land to Joseph. He gave to son Caleb part of his homestead. Caleb's oldest son, Thomas, when he became of age, was to receive the rest of the homestead, "both lands, buildings and orchards, never to be sold or mortgaged.: He mentioned daughters Elizabeth Holmes, Deborah Standish, Abigail Fobes, Sarah and Ruth, then single and Mary Rose. The inventory amounted to 535.6s pounds. He was "of Norwich" in 1723, when he made his will, but his death was recorded in Preston. His land was probably partly in Norwich and partly in Preston.

Thomas married Elizabeth FREEMAN on 06 Jul 1670 in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of John FREEMAN and Elizabeth NOYES) was born on 23 Jun 1648 in Sudbury, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elizabeth GATES was born on 12 Oct 1671 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 14 Dec 1726 in Colchester, New London, Connecticut, USA.
2. Sarah GATES was born on 20 Nov 1673 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA.
3. Mary GATES was born on 10 Mar 1676 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1737 in Preston, Massachusetts.
4. John GATES was born on 09 Apr 1678 in Sudbury, Massachusetts; died on 19 Sep 1747 in Stow, Mass.
5. Joseph GATES was born on 16 Mar 1679 in Sudbury, Massachusetts; died on 24 Oct 1742 in Preston City, New London, Connecticut, USA.
6. Josiah GATES was born on 08 Mar 1681 in Stow, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died after 22 Aug 1763 in Prob. in Colchester, Connecticut.
7. Deborah GATES was born on 22 Feb 1683 in Stow, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died before 15 Jan 1745.
8. Anna GATES was born on 18 Jul 1686 in Stow, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died on 27 Mar 1766 in Preston, Massachusetts.
9. Abigail GATES was born on 18 Feb 1688 in Stow, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died on 10 Jul 1774 in Preston, Massachusetts.
10. Caleb GATES was born in 1693 in Stow, Mass., or Possibly in Preston, Conn.; died on 23 Sep 1774 in Preston City, New London, Connecticut, USA.
11. Ruth GATES died after 15 Jan 1762.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 26 Dec 1597, Coney Weston, Suffolk, England
• Birth: 1600, Norwich, England; Norwich, Norfolk, England
• Immigration: 1638, From Hingham, England to America

Notes:

I originally had Thomas Gates as the son of Peter and Mary Josselyn. However, after reading "the English Origins of Stephen Gates, 1638 Immigrant to Massachusetts, by Edward J. Harrison) (NEGH Jan2006, vol. 160) challenged Stephen's descent from Peter Gates and Mary Josselyn. Based on the dates given, it is impossible for Peter (born circa 1583) and Mary to be the grandparents of Stephen who was born circa 1600. The entries in the Hingham parish registers show no evidence that Stephen's father was named Thomas.

The Gates family is one of the ancient Colonial families of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the progenitor of the branch of the family here considered having been conspicuous in the early settlement of several of the towns in Massachusetts, which state has since been the home of numerous of his descendants, many of whom have been the leading spirits in their several communities, among whom may be mentioned the late Samuel Pearly Gates, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, who broad charity, benevolence and high efficiency easily made him in many ways the guardian and counsellor of that community.
Stephen, the first of the name in New England was a native of England, born at Norwich, in the county of Norfolk, the son of Thomas Gates. Stephen came to New England in the ship "Diligent", in 1638. He settled first at Hingham, Massachusetts. He was accompanied by his wife and children. In1652 he located at Cambridge, and later at Lancaster, where he was one of the largest proprietors of the town, and was one of the petitioners for its incorporation in 1654; he was also constable there in 1657. Returning to Cambridge he spent the remainder of his life there where he died in 1662. He was admitted a freeman May 14, 1656, He was in Lancaster in 1656 and for a few years afterward, but disagreed with some of his neighbors and left town, returning to Cambridge. His will was dated June 9, 1662, and proved November 24, 1662.

Excerpt from "New England Historical and Genealogical Register": He settled in Hingham, Mass., where he received a grant of three acres for a house lot, twelve acres for a "greate Lott,: and a three acre planting lot. His house lot was on Town (now North) Street and was bounded on the north by the street, on the east by William Buckland's land and upon the west by the town swamp. In 1647 he received a grant of half an acre of salt marsh. On 26 June 1648 he sold his house lot, etc., to William Hersey, but remained in town for some time before his removal. Stephen Gates and his wife probably did not become members of the Hingham Church until about 3 May 1646, when their children Simon, Thomas, Isaac and REbecca were baptized. Birth dates of the children are not found in the Hingham town records...... In 1658 there was trouble between the Gates and Whitcomb families due to the fact that three sons of JOhn Whitcomb had killed three swine belonging to Stephen Gates. Whitcomb agreed to pay for the swine, but afterwared sought to be released from paying, claiming that he was "aged & Weak and mean in estate." The court decided that he must pay for the swine. It is stated that Stephen Gates was deprived of his constable's staff. This probably occurred after his failure to nitify the voters about the meeting, to which reference has been made. At the time of the Gates-Whitcomb trouble Stephen Gates was living in Sudbury, Mass..

Name:
Coneyweston.onesuffolk.net

by Margaret Mason
History recorder, Coney Weston/Knettishall

STEPHEN GATES
CONEY WESTON, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND

In June 1638 the ship "Diligent" sailed from Ipswich, Suffolk, England and arrived on August 10th 1638 at Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The majority on board were families from Hingham, Norfolk.

The passenger list included, STEPHEN GATES OF CONEY WESTON, his wife Anne, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. He also had a four year old son Stephen who does not appear on the passenger list although he was later baptised at Hingham Massachusetts.

Stephen and Anne settled in Hingham MA, they had four more children who were baptised at Hingham church. Later the family moved to Lancaster MA, and finally Cambridge MA.

the founders of Hingham, Massachusetts left their original homes seeking a better life, free from discipline of the High Church, many selling their possessions for a fraction of their value. Hingham, Norfolk was forced to petition Parliament for aid, claiming that the departure of it's most wealthy citizens had left the town destitute.

Hingham, MA, originally called Bare Cove, grew through the efforts and determination of a handful of people to become a major port of entry, as well as a thriving fishing port.

THE ORIGIN OF THE SURNAME GATES

Two miles north of Coney Weston is the Little Ouse River is the border between Suffolk and Norfolk. There is a bridge across the river and on the Norfolk side is a tiny hamlet called "Gasthorpe". In 1066 its ancient name was "Gates thorpe"(1). In the Iveaugh-Phillips manuscripts dated 1463 there are references to land "be twyx" the 'Gatys' (2). As surnames evolved from a persons trade or place of origin and the fact that STEPHEN GAGTES father's name was in some instances written as GATYS there is a strong possibility that the GATES family originated from Gasthorpe.

After 1198 and before 1346 these three names occur in Gasthorpe:

Warine De Gatesthorp (3)
Sir Adam De Gatesthorp (3)
Sir John De Gatesthorp (3)

1300 Massive sandstorm, Gasthorpe & Knettishall deserted

Sources:
(1) Thorpe: Old Norse for tiny hamlet
(2) Held at Suffolk Records office Ipswich.
(3) An Essay towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk volume I Author Francis Blomefield. Year published 1805. pp 250-254

Stephen married Ann BEARE on 05 May 1628 in Hingham, Norfolk, England. Ann was born about 1603 in Norwich, England; died on 19 Feb 1682 in Stow, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
E-mail from Margaret Mason, dated 7/31/2013 states the following:

"The surname VEARE is most probably BEARE. I have studied the original and have a copy of the Parish Registers for Hackford/Reepham held at Norwich Records Office which gives the marriage of Stephen GATES Ann BEARE 5th May 1628. It is difficult to read and can see why the B was mistaken for V. The surname BEARE is quite common in that area."

Because of this e-mail, I will be making the change from VEARE to BEARE, unless further proof proves otherwise.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Eustace Jaques
• Name: Thomas Gates

Notes:

I originally had Thomas Gates as the son of Peter and Mary Josselyn. However, after reading "the English Origins of Stephen Gates, 1638 Immigrant to Massachusetts, by Edward J. Harrison) (NEGH Jan2006, vol. 160) challenged Stephen's descent from Peter Gates and Mary Josselyn. Based on the dates given, it is impossible for Peter (born circa 1583) and Mary to be the grandparents of Stephen who was born circa 1600. The entries in the Hingham parish registers show no evidence that Stephen's father was named Thomas. Three Gates marriages took place in Hingham, Thomas (1622), William (1627), and Stephen (1628). The baptisms of these three men were not recorded in Hingham, registers. The Hingham registers do not name the mother(s) of Thomas, William, and/or Stephen, but a Rose Gates, widow, was buried in July 1635. Another "widow Gates" (no first name given) was buried in 1639. No names of the husbands were given. Rose was buried as a wido, so she was not the wife of the Thomas Gates buried after her in Sept 1635- a fact that may have been overlooked in identifying Stephen's father as a Thomas. The registers also lists the baptisms of five children of Thomas Gates between 1623-1634. Thus, the father of these five children was probably the Thomas married in 1622 and the Thomas buried in 1635. It is also believed that the Widow Gates buried in 1639 was the wife of this Thomas (Margaret MyInye)

Entries in the Coney Weston parish registers suggests:
1- In 1592 Eustis Gates married Rose Wright, probably the Rose baptized 25 Feb 1566 as the daughter of Martin Writt.
2- Eustis Gates had four sons baptized at Coney Weston - Thomas (1593), William (1596), Stpehen (1597), and Simon (1606). the first three sons had the same names as the three Gates men married at Hingham in 1622, 1627, and 1628, respectively. Note that Stephen, the 1638 immigrant, named a son Simon (baptized 1646 at Hingham, Massachusetts).
3- No marriages or burials of Thomas, William, or Stephen Gates were recorded at Coney Weston.
4- Eustis Gates was buried at Coney Weston in 1626 as Eustace Jayuettes, but there is no record of the burial of his wife, Rose, in those registers.
5- Martin Wright was buried in 1592, and Elizabeth Wright(Moer), a widow, was buried in 1598, both at Coney Weston. Elizabeth probably was the wife of Martin and mother of Rose Wright.

"Eustace Jaques of Cony Weston....laborer" made a will dated 15 Mar 1625/6, proved 5 June 1626, naming "Rose Jaques my wife...Rose Jaques ,Ales Jaques, Marie Jaques the elder, and Marie Jaques the younger my fowre daughters........William Jaques, Thomas Jaques, Stephen Jaques and Symond Jaques my fowre sonnes....my brother in lawe William Wright of Greate Ellingam in the countie of Norff yeoman."

Editor's note: So because of the above entries by "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register" I am changing the name to Eustace. Also, I am disconnecting the marriage of Elizabeth Weedon.

Eustace married Rose WRIGHT on 04 Mar 1592/3 in Coney Weston, Suffolk, England. Rose (daughter of Martin WRIGHT and Elizabeth ?) was born in Feb 1566 in Coney Weston, Suffolk, England; was buried on 25 Jul 1635 in Hingham, Norfolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: Between Feb 1566 and 1567, Coney Weston, Suffolk, England

Martin married Elizabeth ?. Elizabeth died before 29 Mar 1598 in Coney Weston, Suffolk, England; was buried on 29 Mar 1598 in Coney Weston, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Aft 1592, Married a man named Mower, Moer or Moore
• Will: Mar 1598, Recorded in the Archdeaconry Court of Sudbury