Stephen Gates, of Hingham

Not the son of Sir Thomas Gates, Colonial Governor of Virginia

Stephen Gates I, immigrant to USA

• Parents: Eustace Gates (c 1566 - c 1626) and Rose Wright (c 1566 - c 1635) (newest research)
• Spouse: Ann Neave (1602-1683) (Neave is from newest research)

Children:

• - Elizabeth 1630-1704
• - Stephen 1634-
• - Mary baptized 1636-1711
• - Isaac baptized 1646-1651
• - Rebecca baptized 1646-1650
• - Simon baptized 1646-
• - Thomas baptized 1646-

Disambiguation: Parents are NOT Thomas Gates (1575-1634) and Elizabeth Rose Gates (1582-1635) (traditional information - disproven; see discussion below, just after "HOWEVER".)

http://www.newenglandancestors.org/

(New England Historic Genealogic Society Web site; must be a member to use most services)

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"The New England Historical and Genealogical Register" (NEHGR), five-part piece, Vol 120:161-170, 260-272, 1966; 121:45-54, 217-223, 250-260, 1967 -: Stephen Gates of Hingham, Lancaster and Cambridge and Some of His Descendants, by Clarence Almon Torrey, Ph.B

From NEGHR vol. 120:

In 1898 Charles Otis Gates published “Stephen Gates of Hingham and Lancaster, Massachusetts, A preliminary work subject to addition and correction”. In his introduction, Mr. Gates stated that, “It is hoped that many additions and corrections will be furnished and these will be carefully preserved with a view to the issuance at some future day of a more thorough and complete edition.”

It seems evident from the above statement that Mr. Gates planned to publish a new edition, or to take an active part in publishing. It is a matter of regret that his purpose was not achieved. Since 1898, additional information concerning Stephen Gates and his descendants, in the colonial period, has been found and is given in the following pages.

The information in this history is based, for the most part, on the land, probate and vital records of Massachusetts; the probate and vital records of Connecticut; and the military records of the colonial period. No special lists of references are given at the end of the family sketches, but references are given in the sketches themselves when the sources of information might not be readily inferred. In general, the persons who married into the Gates family are not identified, owing to the compiler’s lack of time to make the necessary investigations.

Stephen Gates, immigrant ancestor of one branch of the Gates family in America, came from Hingham, England, with his wife and children in the year 1638. They sailed on the “Diligent” of Ipswich, John Martin, master. According to Daniel Cushing’s records, which seem to be accurate, he brought two children with him (NEHGR, vol. 16, p.26-27, January 1861). In regard to the Gates family, Cushing appears to have made an erroneous statement. Stephen’s children Elizabeth, Stephen and Mary were all born before 1638. It is unlikely that one of those young children should have been left in England and came at a later date.

Stephen Gates and Ann Veare were married in Hingham, England, 5 May 1628 (“The American Genealogist, vol. 10, p. 199, April 1934). She deposed in Middlesex County, MA, Court 12 June 1673, aged about 70 years, from which it appears she was born in or about 1603. It is believed Stephen Gates was born probably in or near Norwich, Norfolk Co., England, about 1600.

He settled in Hingham, MA where he received a grant of 3 acres for a house lot, 12 acres for a “greate Lott”, and a 3 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 ½ 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 1645, when their children Simon, Thomas, Isaac and Rebecca were baptized. Birth dates of the children are not found in the Hingham town records.

If Stephen Gates was in Cambridge, Mass., in 1652, as stated by some writers, he did not remain there long, since he was one of the early settlers of Lancaster, MA where he subscribed to town orders 3 April 1654.

While living in Lancaster, he was admitted freeman 14 May 1656. He was elected constable at that time, a responsible and honorable position. In 1657 he failed to notify the voters about a town meeting. In consequence, he was fined 10 pounds, but the fine was remitted when he informed the court that his failure was due to sickness.

In 1658, there was trouble between the Gates and Whitcomb families due to the fact that 3 sons of John Whitcomb had killed 3 swine belonging to Stephen Gates. Whitcomb agreed to pay for the swine, but afterward 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. See Henry S. Nourse, “The Early Records of Lancaster” (1881), p. 63, for particulars concerning this case. It is stated that Stephen Gates was deprived of his constable’s office. This probably occurred after his failure to notify 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, MA.

His next appeared in Cambridge, where he made his will 9 June 1662, and died before 29 Sept. 1662, when the inventory of his estate was taken.

In the report of the Cambridge committee for seating the meeting house, 19 Jan. 1662, it was provided that “Goodie Gates” should be seated “at ye end of ye Deacon seats”. This record refers to Stephen’s widow.

She married secondly (contract 18 April 1663), as his second wife, Richard Woodward of Watertown, MA, who died 16 Feb. 1664/5. In her will, dated 18 April 1682, she described herself as of Pompasitacutt (now Stow, MA). The will was proved 9 April 1683. In it she calls herself “Ann Gates”. A footnote states that “my last Husbands name was Woodward but I generally went by ye name of Gates notwithstanding”. There are conflicting statements about the date of her death. According to Stow records, Anne Woodward died 19 Feb. 1682 (i.e., 1682/3). Marlborough, MA, records state that Widow Hannah Gates died 5 Feb. 1682 (i.e., 1682/3).

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From “The American Genealogist”, vol. 10, page 199, April 1934 "ENGLISH ORIGIN OF STEPHEN GATES" by Clarence Almon Torrey, Ph.B., of Dorchester, MA

Stephen’s wife was Ann, as we know from New England records, and their children were Elizabeth and Mary. According to the Chute Genealogy, by William E. Chute (p. 1 xvii), Stephen’s wife was Ann Hill. This statement has been repeated by later writers and is generally accepted by Stephen’s descendants. That the statement is erroneous is evident from the record of his marriage in the parish register of Hingham, England. The Gates items in the register, prior to 1645, are as follows. (Acknowledgement is made to the late Col. Charles E. Banks for his extracts from the Hingham Parish Records, used by permission of his daughter.)

Marriages:

Thomas Gates & Margaret Mylnye – June 24, 1622

William Gates & Alice Foulesam – Sept. 18, 1627

Stephen Gates & Ann Veare – May 5, 1628

Baptisms:

Ann Gates, daughter of Thomas – June 16, 1623

Alice Gates, daughter of Thomas – Feb. 26, 1625 (1625/6)

Thomas Gates, son of Thomas – Dec. 27, 1627

Mary Gates, daughter of Thomas – May 28, 1630

Isaac Gates, son of Thomas – Apr. 7, 1634

Marie Gates, daughter of Stephen & Ann – Oct. 15, 1636

Burials:

Rose Gates, widow – July 25, 1635

Thomas Gates – Sept. 2, 1635

[blank] Gates, widow – Dec. 13, 1639

There is no clue in the Hingham register to the identity of Ann Veare. No other person bearing that family name is mentioned. Her parents probably resided elsewhere.

It will be noticed that there is nothing in the register relating to Stephen Gates between his marriage in 1628 and the baptism of his daughter, Marie or Mary, in 1636. It is probable that two or three children were born in this interval. One of them was Elizabeth, whose birth, since she married in 1649, should certainly be placed not later than 1634, and perhaps as early as 1629. Possibly Stephen lived in some other town for a number of years after his marriage, but returned to Hingham by 1636.

Concerning the other persons bearing the Gates family name who are mentioned in the Hingham register, the following theories are offered:

1. That Thomas Gates and William Gates were brothers of Stephen.

2. That the widow Rose Gates was their mother.

3. That the widow Gates buried in 1639 was the widow of Thomas.

According to the Gates Genealogy by Charles Otis Gates (1898), Stephen Gates was the son of Thomas Gates of Norwich, England. As there are more than 30 parishes in Norwich, and several probate courts, it may not be an easy matter to verify or to disprove the statement in the family history. Assuming that proof is found that Stephen’s father was Thomas Gates of Norwich, the ancestry of Thomas as given in the Gates book would still need investigation and confirmation.

HOWEVER:

On the issue of Stephen’s parents, we have the testimony of Frances Sage of Endicott, New York, saying (NEHGR 137:146) that the error had been perpetuated in published works because her grandfather "gave the information to C. O. Gates, who incorporated it into the preface of his book (N. Y., 1898)." Having later discovered his error, Mrs. Sage's grandfather published a "correction" in the Boston Transcript (16 September 1925):

"There is Gates genealogy, frequently quoted, and apparently generally accepted, which gives Stephen Gates, the immigrant, as son of Thomas Gates of Norwich, Norfolk, England, and grandson of Peter and Mary (Josselyn) Gates of London. Mr. Charles Otis Gates in his book ... gives this line and seems to be satisfied with the evidence, although he gives no proofs. Within the past twelve months I have seen a visitation of Suffolk made in 1612 and delivered in 1621 which includes further data, that shows that Stephen could not possibly have been a grandson of Peter and Mary Gates. Peter Gates was twenty-nine years old in 1612, and had one "son and heir, Josselyn, aged 3, and two daughters." Stephen's birth date is not known, but he was married and had five children, all born in England, when he came to America in 1634 or 1642. I have seen both dates given, but incline to the later one. Obviously, Peter could not have had a son Thomas born after 1612 who would be a grandfather in 1642. The Hon. Benjamin A. G. Fuller of Boston stated in the New England Genealogical and Historical Register [sic] in 1877: 'it seems that Stephen Gates, second son of Thomas Gates of Norwich...' There has never been any reason to question this statement, but the later claim that Thomas was the son of Peter seems now disproved."

Mrs. Sage further noted that Peter Gates married Marian Jocelyn in the parish of High Roding, Essex, 6 October 1605, and their son Jocelyn was baptised at the London church of St. Mary Woolchurch Haugh in February 1607.

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For the most recent research on the parents of Stephen Gates, see NEHGR, January 2006 issue (Volume 160)

for an article by Edward J. Harrison. A synopsis is given below.

Recent research by Edward J. Harrison indicates with reasonable certainty that Stephen Gates was the son of Eustace Gates and Rose Wright, daughter of Martin & Elizabeth Wright.

It was originally thought that Stephen Gates was “of Hingham, England” mainly because his marriage in 1628 and the 1636 baptism of his daughter Marie (Mary) appear in the Hingham, Norfolk parish registers. Mr. Harrison’s research into the registers of other parishes in

Norfolk and Suffolk led him to the discovery of additional important family records in the parish registers of Coney Weston, Suffolk, a small parish located about sixteen miles south of Hingham.

There he found a baptism record for Stephen Gates, son of Eustace, dated December 26, 1597, a marriage record for Stephen’s parents Eustace Gates and Rose Wright, dated March 4, 1592, and baptismal records for Stephen's siblings (Thomas, Rose, William, Alice, Mary the elder, Bridgett, Simon, and Mary the younger) ranging from 1593 through 1609.

In addition to these parish records Mr. Harrison found a will dated March 15, 1625/6 for Eustace Gates, laborer, which names his wife Rose and his four daughters, Rose, Alice, Mary the elder, Mary the younger and his four sons, William, Thomas, Stephen, and Simon.

One of the problems in conducting this research was that the spelling of the surname was not consistent. The will names Eustace “Jaques” and in a Coney Weston burial record, dated April 26, 1626, his name is spelled Eustace “Jayuettes.” Mr. Harrison is not sure why these variations in the surname exist, but he points out that the vicars of old were not consistent spellers and they spelled phonetically what they thought they heard.

After reviewing parish registers of Hingham, Mr. Harrison believes that the transcription of Ann’s surname as “Veare” may be in error. There are no other entries there for this surname.

After analyzing the records in the Hingham and Coney Weston parishes and the Eustace Gates will it appears that the composition of Stephen Gates’s family was as follows: Eustace Gates, laborer, was buried at Coney Weston on April 26, 1626. His will, dated March 15, 1625/6, was proved June 5, 1626 in the Archdeaconry Court of Sudbury. He married at Coney Weston on March 4,

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From “Stephen Gates of Hingham and Lancaster Massachusetts And His Descendants, A Preliminary Work Subject To Addition And Correction, compiled by Charles Otis Gates, New York, Willis McDonald & Co., Publishers, 1898”

Mr. H.S. Nourse, in his book “Early Records of Lancaster”, speaks thus of Stephen Gates and his family: “The Gates blood seems to have been of decided tropical nature. The daughter, Mary, very boldly contradicted the minister in the public assembly. Stephen Gates quarreled with his neighbors, the Whitcombes, was deprived of his constable’s staff, and moved away from Lancaster after less than three years residence. He died at Cambridge in 1662, and his sons attempted, without success, to break his will, alleging that their father was not of disposing mind.”

This “tropical nature” of the Gates blood was evidently a heritable element, for they were fighters in the Indian and Colonial wars. They were active in the Revolutionary War – one of them commencing his service at ten years of age. In the War of 1812, they rallied around the flag they had helped to create. Of the Mexican War, we have little record, but it is evident that their swords flashed upon its battlefields, and a record of their services in the War of the Rebellion would fill an ample book.

By his will, Stephen, the eldest son, received the house and lot in Lancaster. His wife and son, Simon, received his place in Cambridge, his son, Thomas, was to remain with them at his pleasure.

Ann, the widow of Stephen Gates, married Richard Woodward of Watertown, MA, in 1663. The “Chute Genealogy” says: “Richard Woodward, aged 45, and wife, Rose, aged 50, Ipswich, England, came to Watertown, Mass., in 1634, with his two sons, George and John. Rose died in 1662, aged 80.” (?) “He married 2nd, Ann, widow of Stephen Gates and died February 16, 1665, aged 76.” Ann resumed the name of Gates on the death of Richard Woodward and died at Stow, MA, February 5, 1682-3.

Founder of Lancaster, MA in 1654

immigrant to USA

Parents:

- Thomas Gates (1575-1634) and Elizabeth Rose Gates (1582-1635) (traditional information - not proven; see discussion below)
- Eustace Gates (@1566-@1626) and Rose Wright (@1566-@1635) (newer research) Spouse: Ann Veare or Neave (1602-1683) (Veare is traditional; Neave is from newer research)

Children:

- Elizabeth @1630-1704 - Stephen @1634- - Mary baptized 1636-1711 - Isaac baptized 1646-1651 - Rebecca baptized 1646-1650 - Simon baptized 1646- - Thomas baptized 1646- http://www.newenglandancestors.org/

(New England Historic Genealogic Society Web site; must be a member to use most services)

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"The New England Historical and Genealogical Register" (NEHGR), five-part piece, Vol 120:161-170, 260-272, 1966; 121:45-54, 217-223, 250-260, 1967 -: Stephen Gates of Hingham, Lancaster and Cambridge and Some of His Des...

• _______________________
• 'Stephen Gates of Hingham and Lancaster, Massachusetts, and his descendents : a preliminary work subject to addition and correction
• http://archive.org/details/stephengatesofhi00gate
• http://archive.org/stream/stephengatesofhi00gate#page/n26/mode/1up
• Pg. 9 Stephen Gates, 2nd son of Thomas Gates of Norwich, Norfolk County, England. He came from Hingham, England to Hingham, Massachusetts Bay, America, in the ship "Diligent" in the year 1638. He was accompanied by his wife Ann (The "Chute Genealogy." by William Edward Chute, gives her surname as Hill) and two children. .... His will, dated June 9, 1662, was proved October 7, 1662, ....
• ______________________
• 'Stephen Gates
• 'M, #66341, b. 26 December 1597, d. between 9 June 1662 and 29 September 1662
• Father Eustace Gates b. c 1563
• Mother Rose Wright b. 25 Feb 1567
• ' Stephen Gates was christened on 26 December 1597 at Coney Weston, Suffolk, England.1 He married Ann Veare on 5 May 1628 at Hingham, Norfolk, England.1 Stephen Gates immigrated in 1638; To Massachusetts on the ship Diligent.1 He died between 9 June 1662 and 29 September 1662 at Cambridge, Middlesex, MA.1 His estate was probated on 7 October 1662 at Cambridge, MA.
• 'Family Ann Veare d. 5 Feb 1683 or 19 Feb 1683
• Children
  • Elizabeth Gates+ d. 3 Aug 1704
  • Stephen Gates+ b. c 1634, d. 9 Jul 1707
• Citations
• 1.[S110] Unknown author, New England Historical and Genealogical Register., Vol. 160, January 2006, p. 14.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2208.htm#...
• __________

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From http://www.coltechpub.com/hartgen/htm/gates.htm

"The information given by Charles Otis Gates in his 1898 publication "Stephen Gates of Hingham and Lancaster, Massachusetts and his Descendants" regarding the parentage of Stephen Gates the immigrant is apparent erroneous. He claimed that Stephen's father was a Thomas GATES and that his paternal Grandparents were Peter GATES of London and Mary Josselyn. According to the Harlein Society publication "The Visitation of Suffolk, 1561, 1577 and 1612", London 1981, this Peter Gates was age 29 in 1612, thus could not have been a grandfather of our Stephen Gates (who we know was born about 1599). Also, Peter Gates and Mary Josselyn apparently had one son, Jocelyn, bapt. Feb 1606/07 at St. Mary Woolchurch Haugh, London and perhaps two daughters. Also, the NEHGS Vol. 137, Apr 1983, pg 146 has an article about further errors made by C.O. Gates regarding the ancestry of Stephen Gates."