Samuel Gates

SAMUEL3 GATES (Samuel2, George1), born August 14, 1715, in East Haddam, CT, baptized August 21, 1715, married, March 16, 1743, ANN4 FULLER, his cousin, born in East Haddam, August 29, 1707, daughter of Timothy3 Fuller (Samuel2, Matthew1) and his wife, Sarah Gates. He joined the First Church, June 6, 1773 and was captain of the militia. Captain Samuel and Ann resided on the homestead that had belonged to his father and his grandfather, Capt. George Gates. Samuel Gates had no children and he willed the majority of his homestead to his nephews, Darius Gates, and Jonah Gates, sons of his brother Stephen Gates. In his will he also left the First Ecclesiastical Society the east end of his homestead lot on the condition that the society should build a new meeting-house on the lot and set aside a portion for use as a burying ground. He also gave fifty pounds for the purchase of a bell for the church and one hundred and thirty pounds, the interest of which was to be used to pay the annual poor tax. His will was dated November 24, 1788 and proved February 11, 1789. On January 13, 1790 the society voted 80 to 67 to accept the site of “Capt. Gates’ Grove” as it was then called. However, there was some opposition to building so far north and this caused a split among the members with forty-three members withdrawing to join the Protestant Episcopal Church (St. Stephen’s) which was then forming. The church record notes his death, aged 74, between Lucy Andrews (December 17, 1788) and Clarissa S. Chapman (December 23, 1788). Mrs. Ann Gates died, December 27, 1793 in East Haddam. They were buried in the tomb, near the First Church, which was erected for themselves and for the family of Dyer Throop,