Per Wayne Olsen:
From "The Gustin and Carlisle Genealogy", by Lester C. Gustin, 1954, Modern Press, Newton, MA:
Born in 1642, baptized in Hingham, MA May 3, 1646, was afterwards of Marlboro, Sudbury and Stow, and in 1703 went to Norwich, CT in that part that later became Preston. He was constable of Sudbury and had land in Lancaster, but sold all of his estate in MA after removing to Norwich CT in 1703.
From "Stephen Gates of Hingham, Lancaster and Cambridge, Mass, and Some of His Descendants" by the late Clarence Almon Torrey, reprinted from NEHGR in "Genealogies of CT Families" . Genealogical Publ Co., Baltimore,1983:
Thomas left a will, dated 10 Jul 1723, with a codicil, 8 Apr 1724, in which 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 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.
From Rootsweb Freepages: 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 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 (1884), p. 63, for particulars concerning this case.
From Putnam's Historical Magazine, Vol. 9, p. 174
"Thomas Gates, son of the emigrant, born 1640, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Freeman. He bought land in Preston in 1692-93 and died there 10 Aug., 1726, leaving a will dated 10 July, 1723, of which will Joseph, Josiah and Sarah are named as executors. John had lands at Stow, Joseph and Caleb each receive 5 pounds to bring up their children to read and write the English tongue well; the daughters Elizabeth Holms, Mary Rose, Deborah Standig, Anna Tiler (Fyles?) and Abigail Forbes, 3 pounds, "to lern their children also."
He also names daughters Sarah and RRuth, and "to my daughter Mary Pose her mother's legacy in Sudbury, given her by her uncle Joseph Noyes*"
The list of children of Thomas Gates should be revised to eliminate Joanna, and to add Mary. The births of several of the children will be found in the Preston records printed in this magazine.*John Freeman had Elizabeth who married Thomas Gates and had daughter Mary Rose. He also had a son Joseph, who married Dorothy, daughter of John Haynes and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Peter Noyes. Dorothy, wife of Joseph Freeman died in Preston 26 Jan 1697-8. Dorothy, wife of Joseph Freeman, had a sister Ruth, who married Joseph Noyes, son of Joseph,and grandson of Rev. James Noyes of Newbury. Thus, the uncle Joseph Noyes mentioned in the will was such because he married a sister of the sister-in-law of the mother of mary Rose."
This person is dead.
From wayne Olsen:
From "The Gustin and Carlisle Genealogy", by Lester C. Gustin, 1954, Modern Press, Newton, MA:
Thomas Wiswall of Cambridge, a brother of John of Dorchester, long dwelt with him at Dorchester, where he settled in 1635. He brought with him his wife Elizabeth and son Enoch, and perhaps daughter Esther as she was baptized here in 1635. He was made freeman in 1653, and was a selectman of Dorchester in 1642. He removed to Cambridge Village (Newton) about 1654, and was ordained Ruling Elder of the Church there, in 1664. A pond in Newton near his residence bears his name. After his first wife, Elizabeth, died, he married second, late in life, Isabella Farmer, a widow from England, mother of Edward Farmer of Billerica. Her maiden name was Barbage, of Great Packington in Co. Warwick.From "The Wiswall Descendants of Leofwine the Saxon" by J. M. Wiswall, Frehold Twsp. NJ, 1978.
First child (Enoch) was born in England.
Thomas, Elizabeth, and son Enoch emigrated to the Plymouth Colony, probably with Rev. Richard Mather and Company, who disembarked at Dorchester on 26 Aug 1635 from the ship JAMES. They lived for some time with Thomas's brother John before building their own home. On 12 Jan 1637 Thomas was granted 2 acres near Fox Point, on which he built a home. By Mar 1637 he owned 5 acres.
After serving two terms as a fence viewer, Thomas, and six others, were chosen as Selectmen on 24 Sep 1644 with full powers to run the town until 1 Nov 1645. He also served as Surveyor and as Rater on several occasions. Made several land purchases in Dorchester from 1645-1650.
Was made a freeman on 25 Feb 1652. Early in 1653 he moved to Cambridge but continued his membership in the Dorchester Church until 1664.
Was dismissed from the Dorchester Church on 5 Jun 1664 to help form a new church under Pastor John Elliot, the "Apostle to the Indians", at "Nonametown" or East Cambridge Village. He was appointed Ruling Elder. His wife was dismissed from the Dorchester church to the East Cambridge church on 11 Sep 1664.
East Cambridge Village was for some time called Nonametown because it was unclear where town lines should be. On 10 Nov 1656 Thomas was appointed a Surveyor of Highways at Cambridge and had something to do with straightening out this matter. The area later became the City of Newton and, since Thomas was the 15th inhabitant, he is rightfully considered one of the founding fathers of Newton. He donated part of the land used as a training center for the militia at Newton and was released from all "ordinary training" (1663) (he was 62 years old then).
At about this time his farm in Cambridge consisted of more than 400 acres, being the northerly part of the 1000 acre grant set out to Governor Haynes in 1634. His land included Wiswall Pond, a 33 and 1/2acre pond which was renamed Crystal Lake more than 200 years later when it became a water supply reservoir for the city of Newton. His house stood on the south bank of the pond, near the present Center Street, in a delightful spot. The barn was located between the house and the road, which was a common arrangement in those days, there being at least 38 homes similarly situated on Jones' Hill alone.
Elizabeth died sometime between 1664 and 1669. Thomas married, for the second time, Mrs. Isabella (Muston) Farmer, the widow of John Farmer of Ansley, Warwickshire, England, about 1670. Isabella was a sister of Rev. Thomas Muston of Wykin, and later Brinklow, England. Her first husband John died before 1669 and she and their children arrived in Plymouth Colony in 1669. It seems unlikely that Thomas knew her prior to her arrival in Plymouth, for they came from different parts of England.
Thomas died intestate on 6 Dec 1683 at Cambridge, but his burial place is not known. Apparently no headstone was ever erected, probably due to Court fights between his widow and his sons Enoch, Noah, and Ebenezer, who were appointed administrators of his estate. He was probably buried in the cemetery adjacent to the East Cambridge Village church he helped found.
Listed in LDS Ancestral File, AFN: 5DN0-WP
From Wayne Olsen:
Listed in LDS Ancestral File, AFN: B62Q-D2
From "Early Settlers of Massachusetts:
Stephen, with wife and 2 ch. from Hingham, Eng., came in 1638 to Hingham, Fr. May 14, 1656. Removed to Cambridge about 1652; spent a few yrs. at Lancaster; Wife Ann: ch. Elizabeth (m. in Hing. John Lassell,) Mary, (m. John Maynard,) Stephen, Simon, Thomas, Isaac, Rebecca bapt at Hing. May 3, 1646, d. Jan 1650.
His will, dated 9 (4) prob. 24 (9) 1662, beq. to wife; sons Simon, Stephen and Thomas, daus. Elizabeth, and Mary Maynard. Elizabeth Bradstare to abide with his wife. The widow m. 2, Richard Woodward; she d. "Hannah G., widow" Feb 5, 1682; made will 18 April, 1682, prob. 9 (2) 1683; beq. to dau. Elizabeth Lazell; gr. ch. Mary, dau. of John Maynard, sons Stephen, Simon and Thomas G. "My last husband's name was Woodward, but I generally went by the name of Gates."
From "The Gustin and Carlisle Genealogy", by Lester C. Gustin, 1954, Modern Press, Newton, MA:
Born about 1600 probably, in or near Norwich Co. Norfolk, he came from Hingham, England to New England in the ship "Diligent:, of which Capt John Martin was master, and settled in Hingham, MA in 1638. He brought with him his wife, Ann Veare, born abt 1603, whom he married in Hingham England, together with their daughters Elizabeth and Mary and son Stephen Jr. 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. In 1647 he received a grant of one-half acre of Salt marsh. June 26, 1648 he sold his house lot, etc. to William Hersey, but remained in town for some time before his removal. He and his wife did not become members of the Hingham church until about May, 1646 when their children Simon,Thomas, Isaac and Rebecca were baptized. Birth dates of the children are not found in the Hingham record. In 1652 he removed from Hingham to Cambridge and the following year to Lancaster, MA where he subscribed to the Town orders Apr 3, 1654; was made freeman May 14, 1656 and was constable in 1657. In 1657 he failed to notify the voters about a town meeting and in consequence was fined 10 pounds but the fine was remitted when he informed the court that his failure was due to sickness. There was a controversy between the Gates and Whitcomb families at Lancaster that probably influenced Stephen Gates to return to Cambridge shortly after and he died in Cambridge in 1662. His will, dated June 9, 1662 and proved Oct 7th of that year, bequeaths to Stephen, his eldest son, the house and lot at Lancaster. His wife and son Simon received the place at Cambridge and his son Thomas was to remain with them at his pleasure. After his death his widow married as her second husband Richard Woodward of Watertown in 1663, but after the death of her second husband she resumed the name of her first husband.From "Stephen Gates of Hingham, Lancaster and Cambridge, Mass, and Some of His Descendants" by the late Clarence Almon Torrey, reprinted from NEHGR in "Genealogies of CT Families" . Genealogical Publ Co., Baltimore, 1983:
They sailed in the Diligent of Ipswich in 1638.. according to Daniel Cushing's records , which seems to be accurate, he brought two children with him (The Register, vol 15, pp. 26-27, Jan 1861). About the 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 these young children should have been left in England and come at a later date.
It is believed that he was born probably in or near Norwich, co. Norfolk, England, about 1600.
In 1658, the trouble between the Gates and Whitcomb families was 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 afterward sought to be released from paying, claiming that he was "aged and weak and mean in estate." The court decided that he must pay for the swine. See Henry S. Nourse, "The Early Records of Lancaster (1884), p. 63 for particulars.
It is stated that Stephen Gates was deprived of his constable's staff. This probably occurred after his failure to notify the voters about the meeting. At the time of the Gates-Whitcomb trouble, Stephen Gates was living in Sudbury.
From Wayne Olsen
Listed in LDS Ancestral File, AFN: 25N8-33
From "The Gustin and Carlisle Genealogy", by Lester C. Gustin, 1954, Modern Press, Newton, MA:
From "Stephen Gates of Hingham, Lancaster and Cambridge, Mass, and Some of His Descendants" by the late Clarence Almon Torrey, reprinted from NEHGR in "Genealogies of CT Families" . Genealogical Publ Co., Baltimore,1983:
She deposed in Middlesex County, MA Court, 12 Jun 1673 aged about 70 years, from which it appears that she was born in or about 1603.
In her will, dated 18 Apr 1682, she described herself as of Pompasitacutt (Ponpositicut, now Stow, MA). The will was proved 9 Apr1683. 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 Wid. Hannah (!) Gates died 5 Feb 1682 (i.e. 1682/3).
Per Wayne Olson:
Much conflicting info in "First Settlers of New England", by Pope:
John, husbandman, ae. 35, with Sycilie, ae. 4, Marie, ae. 50, Johnae. 9, came in the Abigail in July 1635. He settled at Sudbury; propr. 1639. Wife Elizabeth; ch. Joseph b. 29 (1) 1645, James b. and d. 1647. Elizabeth Freeman (his widow?) m. 13 Nov 1649, Josiah Haine.
From "Freeman Genealogy," Boston, Franklin Press, 1875:
(repeated list on ships)...Whether all whose names are on the lists embarked, and actually came over, we are not able to determine; we can only trace with a probability approximating to certainty, besides those already mentioned as constituting the immediate family of our ancestor, the name of "John, ae. 35," who beyond question, was an original proprietor of the township of Sudbury in 1639, and who probably had a daughter Elizabeth who married Thos. Gates. Nor can we satisfactorily account for the apparent absence of any mention of the WIFE of our ancestor. Our opinion is, that she came over in the ship "Abigail" with her husband and children.
It has, we confess, been a question with us, whether she was the person mentioned as "Elizabeth, uxor, ae 35," and whether the "edward, husbandman, ae 34," was not intended for Edmund, a mistake being made either in the record or in transcribing. But then the ages given would in neither case favor the idea of these being parents of the four children first mentioned in the lists.
...By the English "admiralty records" it appears that there were several bearing the name of John Freeman registered as intending passage in the ship "Abigail" 1635. The first of the name, "john ae. 8," was beyond doubt the son of Edmund the proprietor of Sandwich. The "John ae 35, "it has been conjectured, with a probability amounting nearly to certainty, was he who is reported as original "proprietor of Sudbury, 1639". Whom he married we are unable to say; but he was probably father of the Elizabeth who married.... (need to get p. 446).
Mr. Carlton Gates of Yonkers supposes that the wife of the aforesaid John Freeman was the Elizabeth named in the admiralty records. He cites an original document: "Whereas Thos. Gates of Norwich, alias Preston in the colony of CT, having married Elizabeth the daughter of Mr John Freeman, .... It has been conjectured by some that the Jo. and Sycillae mentioned in the admiralty rec. were children of said John; and that the "Marie" mentioned was sister. Others have supposed that possibly she was the wife, or that possibly the record has not been accurately deciphered. We have not traced with any great degree of care the genealogy of the Sudbury Freemans; future researches of antiquaries may be rewarded with success.
1634: Richard Woodward, 1590-1665, came to New England on the "Elizabeth" and settled at Watertown, Massachusetts, with wife Rose and sons George and John, both age 13. He was a miller and owned a windmill in Boston. [Research of Bonnie Hamilton]
"A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of those Who Came Before May 1692 on the Basis of the Farmer's Register"; by James Savage; 4:644; The Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.; Baltimore, Maryland; 1981 (929.274 S264 LAPL) (NE Sec. SR) (974.0 NEa/Gen SCGS)
From Wayne Olsen
Listed in LDS Ancestral File, AFN: 25N8-33
From "The Gustin and Carlisle Genealogy", by Lester C. Gustin, 1954, Modern Press, Newton, MA:
From "Stephen Gates of Hingham, Lancaster and Cambridge, Mass, and Some of His Descendants" by the late Clarence Almon Torrey, reprinted from NEHGR in "Genealogies of CT Families" . Genealogical Publ Co., Baltimore,1983:
She deposed in Middlesex County, MA Court, 12 Jun 1673 aged about 70 years, from which it appears that she was born in or about 1603.
In her will, dated 18 Apr 1682, she described herself as of Pompasitacutt (Ponpositicut, now Stow, MA). The will was proved 9 Apr1683. 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 Wid. Hannah (!) Gates died 5 Feb 1682 (i.e. 1682/3).