Thomas Gates

Life

Thomas Gates was born in Norfolk, England, around 1595. He married Mary McInye in 1622, and the couple settled in Hingham. Children:

1. Ann Chew, b. 1623
2. Alice Gates, b. 1625
3. Thomas Gates, b. 1627
4. Mary Gates, b. 1630
5. Isaac Gates, b. 1634

Thomas died young, in 1635.

Origins

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” 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. NAME: 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 was generally accepted by Stephen’s descendants, including Charles Otis Gates in his 1898 book. That the statement is erroneous is evident from the record of his marriage in the parish register of Hingham, England. The last name of Veare originated with Charles E. Banks and was repeated by Clarence Almon Torrey. Percival Boyd seems to have based his use of the name Veare on the Banks transcripts. There is no clue in the Hingham register to the identity of Ann Veare. No other person bearing that family name is mentioned. NEW RESEARCH seems to show that Anne's last name was Neave. An Ann Neave, daughter of Thomas Neave was christened in Hingham, England 16 June 1611. This is the only Ann in the records. (From Harrison, Edward J. "Ann Neave, Wife of Stephen Gates, 1638 Immigrent to Massachusetts", The New England Historical and Genealogical Register volume 163 (April 2009)). Mr. Harrison's research turned up 16 burials for Neaves or Neeves during 1600 - 1700. Indeed, the Banks transcripts of the Hingham, Norfolk registers have only 1 record of Veare but 20 entries for Neave. Additionally, Mr. Harrison conducted a thorough investigation of the original registers and makes a strong case for Anne's last name to be Neave. I assert that Ann Gates IS NOT Stephen Gates’ daughter, but rather Thomas Gates’ daughter (with Mary McInye) on the following basis, and that the incorrect assumption that she was Stephen Gates’ daughter has been perpetuated to the point it was taken as fact when evidence exists to the contrary for the following reasons: (1) No record exists of Ann Gates having been born to Stephen and Ann Hill/Veare/Neaves Gates. (a) To the contrary, their children are well documented in multiple records. No Ann is listed. (b) Two daughters immigrated with them, a Mary and an Elizabeth. Spouses are named for both in multiple places, including wills and court documents. Neither married John Chew. (2) Ann Gates DOB is variously listed as 1616 – 1625. Unless she were born out-of-wedlock, she could not derive from the 1628 marriage of Stephen and Ann. She is also listed as having been born in Virginia, which is unlikely. If she is associated with Stephen/Ann Gates, more likely she is their niece and arrived at a later date. (a) I can find no documentation for Ann Gates actual DOB other than an American Genealogical Biographical Index reference (Vol 61 p 156) that refers to 1610, however (to my knowledge) there is no supporting documentation, and this may well be based on false information. Other researchers seem self-referential in a circular fashion, with no one referring to church records, wills, or other substantive sources. (b) A baptismal record for Ann Gates DOES exist for 16 Jun 1623, which would make her of marriageable age and also appropriate child-bearing age for our John. She would also have been old enough to immigrate around the time of her aunt/uncle. Not all passenger lists have been transcribed, and there was a dearth of brides in the New World. Thomas died in 1639, and a widow (possibly his wife) in 1639. It is not unlikely that she would have been placed under the guardianship of her uncle.

Thomas Gates

Parents: Eustace Gates (1566-1626) and Rose Wright (1566 - 1635)

Spouse: unknown, if any

Children: unknown, if any

http://www.newenglandancestors.org/

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

From: Harrison, Edward J. "The English Origins of Stephen Gates, 1638 Immigrant to Massachusetts", The New England Historical and Genealogical Register volume 160 (January 2006).

Thomas Gates was christened on 6 December 1593 in Coney Weston, Suffolk, England. He was the son of Eustace Gates and Rose Wright. On 24 June 1622 in Hingham, Norfolk, England, Thomas married Maget Mylnye. Thomas Gates was buried on 2 September 1635 in Hingham, Norfolk, England.