Susannah Gates

Susannah Reed was born 4 December 1745 in Woburn, Massachusetts, the daughter of Nathan and Susannah (Wood) Reed. The birth record in the Woburn vital record book says:

"Reed, Susanna, d. of Nathan & Susanna, Dec. 4, 1745"

Susanna Reed married Simon Gates in Marlborough, Massachusetts on 27 May 1766. The marriage record in the Marlborough vital record book says:

"Gates, Simon and Susanna Reed, May 27, 1766"

Simon and Susanna (Reed) Gates had 11 children between 1767 and 1794. Their births were recorded in 1767 in Stow, the next six from 1769 to 1782 were recorded in Westminster, and the last three were recorded in Gardner. Four children died in September 1778, probably of a common disease. Only four of her children lived to adulthood and had families of their own.

Simon Gates of Gardner died intestate, and left a sizable estate. The widow, Susanna Gates, was named as administratrix on 6 April 1803.

A warrant of partition was issued to Aaron Wood, Matthias Mosman and Stephen Hoar on 7 September 1803. Their report was filed and allowed on 17 May 1804.

The partition of the estate was very detailed and very complex, due to the large land holdings of Simon Gates. The appraisal of the real estate totalled $3,796, of which the widow's one-third dower rights amounted to $1265.33-1/3.

The appraisers set off to the widow, Susanna Gates, one half of the dwelling house, 32 acres of the home farm, the 30 acre Conant lot, one half of pew 15 in the Gardner meeting house, and one half of the stable near the meeting house. This added up to $1,265.33-1/3.

The personal estate was listed in a detailed inventory, and totalled $1,887.25. Susanna Gates charged herself with this amount, and filed the account listing the charges and debts paid to many people, totalling $1,287.62. This left a balance of $599.63 to be distributed to the heirs. She was granted her one third share ($199.88), and was directed to pay the other five children $79.95 each.

The administratrix filed her account and it was allowed on 17 May 1804, with the balance of $599.65 to be distributed to the heirs as ordered.

Susanna (Reed) Gates died in Gardner, Massachusetts on 18 December 1833. The record in the Gardner vital records book says:

"[GATES] Susanna, wid. Simon, Dec. 18, 1833, a. 88."

The gravestone for Susanna Gates is in the Old Burying Ground in Gardner, Massachusetts. The inscription says:

Mrs. SUSANNA relict of SIMON GATES died Dec. 18, 1833 AE. 88

There are no probate records for Susanna (Reed) Gates in the Worcester County, Massachusetts probate estate files.