On the Family of Leland C Gates and Eunice A (Landphair) Gates

On the Family of Leland C Gates

and Eunice A (Landphair) Gates

authored January-February 2019

Leland C Gates is the youngest son surviving to adulthood of Ashbel William and Phebe Morgan (Reed) Gates. Phebe and Ashbel had ten other children. Leland is among three brothers who lived, fought and survived the Civil War.

When I began to go over the records for Leland and Eunice I had no idea how complicated sorting out where they lived, when their children were born, or how long any of them survived. My goal was to build out his family and their descendants. Other genealogists have provided pieces that help immensely to which I will provide reference for the curious but urge caution that they always require substantiation. I have not examined court or land records. Leland is my great-uncle and brother to William Noah Gates, my great-grandfather.

Long ago I acquired what I believe is a subset of Leland's Civil War Pension (#11008096) records from the National Archives. In addition in early 1999 I acquired two transcripts of family Bible records. I believe Bible records attributed to Ashbel and Phebe (source: Don R Gates) were later copied and maintained and extended by Jane (Gates) (Senter) Landphair (source 2009 - Linda1954@aol.com: Linda (Gates) Sharpe). In turn I theorize that Eunice Landphair may have used one or more of these sources and entered them into a Bible presented to her and Leland by her father when she married Leland C Gates.

Leland was born in Michigan (1842) and when a young child came with his siblings and parents to Rockford, Illinois. Later the family resided in Warren, Jo Daviess, Illinois and seems to have also resided in Gratiot, Lafayette, Wisconsin. By his own words he was 18 when he enlisted in the Illinois Volunteers, was transferred to the US Navy (Gunboat Service – served on Admiral's Flagship USS Benton), discharged due to injuries and after two years re-enlisted in the Illinois Volunteer Cavalry. He married Eunice Landphair in 1863, the eldest step-daughter of his sister Jane.

Leland's Pension records provide evidence that his family lived in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa and again Wisconsin (Viola) before migrating to Arkansas in roughly 1887. The family can be found in US Census records for 1870, 1880 (as Gale), 1900, 1910 and 1920. Eunice reportedly died in 1919 and Leland in 1930 as a resident of the Western Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Leavenworth, Kansas. He is buried in the Leavenworth National Cemetery (FindAGrave.com - FAG #687841).

There are two documents in the Pension collection that record details about their children. Census records are many times problematic in spelling variants and family nicknames, plus ages generally being estimates so these pension records are indispensable and considered primary sources. I have also noticed that handwriting appears to be the same person on many documents requiring a signature and filled out by a respondent – it appears to be that of Leland C Gates. In addition the names of children on both documents are listed chronologically such that I believe another source, such as a Bible, was being consulted simultaneously. The Pension collection has a document notarizing a Bible ...

These statements are from the Pension document dated 18971202. Six living children: 1,182,551: Addressed to Mr. Leland C Gates, Perryville, Arkansas. This is the earliest document provided from Leland's Pension file. Leland evidently filled it out and returned it by December 30, 1897.

It must have been preceded by other queries to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions. It is organized by five questions which the respondent fills in. The hand writing is consistent throughout the document including the style and formation of letters in the signature; another way of saying Leland could read and write (it is also consistent with other documents among the Pension records).

Somewhat paraphrased.

#1. Are married, etc. Ans. Yes and to Eunice A Landphair.

#2. About details of marriage. Ans. March 27, 1863. Town of Gratiot, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. By Norman Richardson, J.P.

#3. Marriage record. Ans. Certificate lost. Recorded at Shullsburg, Wisconsin.

#4. Previously married? Ans. No and first wife is living and we are living together.

#5. Have you any living children? Please provide names and dates of birth.

Ans. Six.

Harlow A. Gates, 18640312.

John H Gates, 18651107.

Francis A Gates, 18700522.

Ell A Gates, 18780106.

Emma R Gates, 18810227.

Milton George Gates 18850524.

Dated Dec. 22nd, 1897 Signed: Leland C Gates

That completes the form. Several other later documents identify family members; this is the earliest - none are quite as legible and easily read as this one. Leland was 55 years of age.

A Deposition dated 19110925 states he and Eunice had nine children and all are dead except Harlow A and Milton George.

The next Pension document providing data about all their children is from Form 3-389 (darkened facsimile copy), dated 19150326 and states that he and Eunice had nine children but only two survive, Harlow A and George Milton. Names and dates of birth are provided chronologically on the form (readability is a challenge). It is assumed that three were already deceased by 1897 (Pheby Hannah, Charles Leland and Nolan Wallace). Place of birth has been added with notes consistent with other sources.

Name Birth Place Status Note

Harlow A Gates, 18640312. IL Always single

John Henry Gates, 18651107. IL Dead.

Pheby Hannah Gates, 18680216. IL Dead. Ever Married?

Francis Adel Gates, 18700522. Dead. IL or I.O?

Married Brown (WI?)

Married Anderson (AR)

Charles Leland Gates, 18760622. Dead. Year?

E A Allen Gates, 18780102. WI Dead. Initials?

Emma Rosella Gates, 18810227. IL Dead. Roselle?

Milton George Gates, 18880524. WI Year – favor 1885?

Always single

Nolan Wallace Gates, 18900721. AR Dead. Wallace?

At this point Census records and administrative “Marriage” records are available for additional family construction. In the case of Leland and Eunice some details are sad but useful and others add confusion. Ideally we would know about the marriages of all his children and then find the grandchildren.

Among the daughters, Pheby Hannah and Francis Adel we only have evidence that the latter married. The record is silent about Emma Rosella.

Submission MM6C-CGC (LDS) makes the inference that Pheby Hannah Gates married some unknown individual with the surname Barrett. This is most likely incorrect although she may have married the record is silent. The Smith Anderson and Francis Adel household is enumerated in Maumelle, Pulaski County, Arkansas 1900 Census – there are six members; two younger children are (Rena and Louis B) are identified as Andersons. There are two older children identified as Browns (Vernie age 12 and Alice age 6) and step-children of Smith Anderson. So it seems that Francis Adel has the two older children by a previous partner. Searches of Illinois and Wisconsin records were silent about a previous marriage for Francis Adel.

Arkansas marriage records exist for Francis Adel Gates and (H S) Henry Smith Anderson. The records confuse the marriage date but it could be as early as 1894 or as late as 1896 (the latter is more likely). Her brother, E A Gates (as signed) is one of the bond signers as is H S Anderson the principal.

Fortunately, as already mentioned, the Anderson household in 1900 Arkansas makes it most likely that Francis Adel had a previous family of two children: Vernie (b 1887) and Alice (b 1894) and their surname is Brown. Their father, Mr. Brown was born in Wisconsin, they were born in Arkansas. She now has two children by Henry Smith Anderson: Rena (b 18950400 ) and Louis B (b 18971000). All but Vernie are living with the grandparents, Leland and Eunice, in 1910 Arkansas Census. Alice (age 17), the presumed daughter of Francis Adel, has a relationship/married a Barrett, been widowed, and has a child of age 2, living with her: “L Barrett”. This begs the question as to what happened previously to Mr. Brown, to Henry Smith Anderson and Francis Adel (Gates) and also what happened to Mr. Barrett.

There are some possible Vernie Browns in the Arkansas records but not conclusive.

Leland's Pension records again enter into the story. When I acquired the Pension records there were some documents that made no sense to me until now (2019) as I went through them rebuilding the family and examining Census records. There was a record in 1938 claiming Leland's possessions from Leavenworth, Kansas by a grand-daughter, Jewel Bryant. There was another document signed by her mother “emancipating” Jewel. It was signed by Alice Bryant. There was enough other information to locate Census records for these two women.

Jewel, in fact, is a great-grand-daughter of Leland and Eunice. Alice is first a Brown, then a Barrett and finally a Bryant, it would seem. These conclusions represent reasonable inferences from the record that does exist – however the record would ideally be more complete.

In the 1920 Census, the Bryants are enumerated on the 20^th of March in Louisiana, Richland County, Ward No 2. The head of household is identified as Floyd Bryant and they have three children (Beulah, Jewell and Franklin).

In 1930 they were residents of Louisiana, Claiborne County, ED 14-12 and J P Bryant was head of household and there are additional children (3 born in Louisiana). Are Floyd and J P the same man. In 1940 they were residents of Louisiana, Webster County, ED 60-17 and Alice is the head of household. The household includes two Bryant nephews. Jewel Bryant (age 24) is in a nearby household (Cox) as housekeeper. Sorting this out will have to wait until another day.

Now turning to the sons of Leland and Eunice.

Two sons, Charles Leland and Nolan Wallace, did not survive to adulthood. Two other sons, who survived the longest evidently remained single their entire lives and stayed with their parents. Harlow A died in 1926 and Milton George died in 1944.

John Henry and E A Allen may both have had their own families, especially John Henry, as eldest, but no specific records have been located to suggest definitively if either did.

There are two pieces of very confused 1920 Houston, Perry, Arkansas Census (hand numbered 772) enumeration that suggest a Gates grandson may exist by the initials P L (second enumeration version). Within the microfilmed Census one page refers to another page as to information being copied (in the margin) from it to the other. The potential grandson appears on these pages but only by initials and they are inconsistent between the pages. On the originating page the initials are quite illegible.

The enumeration has been done out of order (but error preserved on second version) and appears inconsistent by virtue of parents birth – both born in Arkansas. Leland and Eunice male adult children were not born in Arkansas. This kind of inconsistency is not unusual as it so depends on who is reporting.

Leland and Eunice and their family members leave so many questions unanswered and perhaps unanswerable. Why did the family move from Viola, Wisconsin to Arkansas. How many times did Francis Adel marry? Who is Mr. Brown? Are Floyd and J P Bryant the same man? Who was Mr. Barrett? Whatever happened to Jewel Bryant? How did so many in the family die? Who was the mysterious twenty-year-old who married Leland in 1920? What happened to the Gates grandson and who was his father.

Thus I conclude, knowingly incomplete, a very small part of a very large story.

Where Does David Gates (b1753 d1798) Belong! aka Gates-1969 WikiTree

Where Does David Gates-1969 Belong!

(1753 – 1798 WikiTree),

authored August 13^th 2018

[Postscript (August 26^th 2018):

This has been written to clarify the question in the above title. David-1969 should probably stay right where he is as a “probable” son of Rachel (Hayes-874) Gates. My preference would be with a note in the profile about the reason for probable.

One of the WikiTree “Helpers” originally suggested I file this as a post, more or less as a question, especially since I was proposing or questioning “people relationships”. It was a good recommendation as I had previously sent a private message to the “profile manager” but had not yet received a reply. In summary I was suggesting that David Gates-1969 (WikiTree adds these serial numbers as profiles get created) was not the son of Rachel (Hayes-874) Gates. Second I was suggesting that Samuel Gates-1970 was not his father nor was he Rachel's spouse. I still hold by that assertion and will develop the evidence in another entry in this blog.

My reasoning should have included a careful review of my own files as I was in this case too focused on the Barbour Collection where nine children of Samuel and Rachel were listed, and David was not among them. One of the “Helpers” in G2G suggested that the Whitney Genealogy may have been the first source to suggest David as child. The Helper wrote, “That David was "youngest child" (and supposedly unrecorded child) of Samuel and Rachel was proposed as "probable" by Stephen Whitney Phoenix, 1878, The Whitney Family of Connecticut, and Its Affiliations..., Volume 1 page 65.”

Another G2G Helper went to the Torrey record of the Stephen Gates family published in THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, 1966-1967. David Gates is listed by Torrey as a possible child of Samuel and Rachel and married to a Jerusha Whitney (1774). As I re-examined the Torrey document I did notice that, James Gates had also married a Whitney, Polly Whitney. James would be the immediately older brother to “the possible” brother David. Both James and David later had relocated to Vermont.

James was born in August 1752 and David in June 1753 [Whitney1878]. David could perhaps be attributed to other Gates families in proximity in Fairfield County but this has not been pursued. Samuel's brother Jonathan had eight children in his will, none of them David. Perhaps the WikiTree entry for David Gates-1969 can have a note added about the “possible” assignment. One of the G2G Helpers did modify the entry to include the Whitney source.

The children of Samuel Gates-170 and Mary Richards-2135 (m.1709.10) absent Samuel JR (he is not listed in Barbour) were born in Pomfret (1712-1722) Gates family in Pomfret. The WikiTree profile for Samuel Gates-1970 reports he was born in August 14, 1715 but in East Haddam, CT [Barbour]. Torrey [NEHGR1966-67] reports Samuel as perhaps born born in Pomfret, 1710, but misreports his death as 1798. One theory was that the death was misreported as 1798 and should have been 1793, from ae of 84 at death, as reported, in the Barbour Collection. The death date of Gates-1970 (spouse Rachel) was before December 1793 by Connecticut Probate Records, docket #1920, Hartford State Library. From the docket #1920, Jonathan Gates of Ridgefield, Samuel Gates of Norwalk and Thomas St. John all of Fairfield County were the administrators.

Using geographical locations and children births [Barbour] Samuel Gates of Norwalk is likely the spouse of Ruth (Olmstead-5367) Gates and thus the son of Samuel Gates-1970. Jonathan Gates of Ridgefield is probably also a son of Gates-1970. I believe Thomas St. John is an in-law via the Hayes sisters (named in James Hayes Will).

At this point I am breaking off this postscript and starting a separate document. It will discuss the profile for Gates-1970 and Gates-4366 titled . “Which Samuel Gates married Rachel Hayes on April 1, 1734?”. I have made other minor edits in the body below for clarification.

White, L. Cook. (1994). The Barbour collection of Connecticut town vital records. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Pub. Co.]

[Original G2G Post]

I recently joined/registered with WikiTree. I especially like their collaborative model and emphasis on sources not just names and dates. They also have a “personal” touch to helping you feel comfortable as you learn the ropes … nonetheless it is a puzzle at times as to what to do next.

I chose WikiTree as a place to actually enter my collected genealogical data to avoid redundancy and later to produce a GEDCOM file for use with other genealogical tools, especially the DNA type. My first steps involved creating paternal and maternal lines and branch out from there as I learned the ropes. Redundancy is avoided because a lot of ancient ancestors (PGM – Puritan Great Migration) are already in the database and you just have to learn how to connect to them with your more recent ancestors – saves time and if you have valuable facts to add there is a gentle process for doing it.

I write this narrative about David Gates-1969 born of East Haddam, Connecticut to sort out what I see as confusing facts. If I get them sorted out I will be either adding something to Gates-1969's story or recommending some changes and will learn the ropes.

In WikiTree David Gates-1969 is identified as the child of Samuel Gates-1970 and Rachel (Hayes-874) Gates. This is the principle fact I have trouble with. The sources in this entry stem mainly from IGI and Pedigree Resource Files. In this case those sources lead to a little more confusion by virtue of dates – typos perhaps.

In my state of innocence I created a Samuel Gates-4366, surprised that he did not exist in WikiTree already and became by default the “profile manager”. From my original source searches about Samuel Gates-170 and spouse Mary (Richards-2135) Fairbanks Truesdell Gates were married in 1709/10.

Woodstock Vital Records (p21): Samuel Gates and Mary Trusdell both of Mashmoquet now Pomfret, Feb. 12: 1709.10

In my mind and record keeping I have always linked Samuel Gates-170 and my new creation Samuel Gates-4366 as father and son; as have others as in RootsWeb (as early as 2010) and I suspect this largely stems from the Barbour Collection (F104 A58 W48 v34(p156) and v36(p178-179)).

Their respective families are quite respectably identified by names, dates and location. Gates-170 was in Pomfret until at least 1722 (birth of daughter). His spouse, Mary Richards-2135 died in Ridgefield CT, March 26, 1732. Samuel Gates-4366 would have been ~22 when he married Rachel Hayes-874. Our other Samuel Gates-1970 would have been roughly 16. Rachel Hayes-874 would have been roughly 24 years of age.

I can add more details but I think this suffices to suggest that Gates-1970 and Gates-1969 should be disconnected from Gates-170 and Gates-4366 should take Gates-1970s place and his descendants put in place. This spills over to Mary Richards-2135 whose record can be made more complete about Fairbanks. (This request has been modified as in Postscript above.)

[End Original Post/Edited]

Phebe Morgan (Reed) Gates, b 1805 (d 1869 Illinois)

(authored July 2006, this preface 2018)

This story is principally about Phebe Morgan Reed collected from the files and last revised in 2006.  There are tidbits that are now known, July 2018, that I will add in this preface material but do not intend to do more that superficial edits to the body of this document.  This was to be Chapter X of a larger collection.  I note that the 1850 Rockford Il U.S. Census was discovered when I was in Washington, D.C. although I do not recall when exactly (I think the early 1980's) -- it was a major breakthrough.

One fact has been added already, her middle name was extracted from her mother's maiden name.
Although not so relevant to Phebe's story I see that I included her son's (William N) wife and the consternation again about her last name.  Now, in July 2018, I can record that it is most likely Osmon and her family has been found in Wisconsin and Ohio ... although now I have seen more variants than I recorded in 2006.

I also know more about the marriages and families of her children -- to be completed another time

I never compiled anything extensive (at least at the time this story was originally written) about the Reed's in Birmingham, Erie Co, Ohio but I think they are there to be connected.  A road trip to Birmingham's cemetery and vague recollection of some county histories make me think so. 

I should mention one recalled detail from her son Leland's Civil War records.  He says the family home burned down (where - Gratiot or Warren or ?).  I took some time, unsuccessfully to look for newspaper stories etc. 

Based on Paul Gates discovery that Ashbel has a building in Praire du Chien, the Old Rock School,    on the National Register of Historic Places .  I need to examine the Census of 1860 if they were living there.

So perhaps some of the questions and tentativeness of the original story are unnecessary.  Some of the "unknowns" should be written as unrecorded or just not filled in.

End of 2018 preface.

Part x. Reed

Phebe M (Reed) Gates certainly has a presence in land transactions of Jo Davies and Winnebago County IL. However beyond knowing her parents names we can only guess that she was born in New York or Pennsylvania?  

Phebe M. Reed

~1805 - Ohio/Pennsylvania(?),

Parents: f. John, m. Charlotte _____

Paternal Grandparents: gf. unknown

Maternal Granparents: gf. unknown

Phebe's siblings: unknown

m1. Ashbel Gates

m2. John Glendenning

Family Link: William Noah Gates (f. Noah, m. Ruth Olmsted, gf. Samuel, gm. Rachel Hayes)

Ancestors Introduced

Phebe’s surname and her parents are known to us as a consequence of her second marriage. After Ashbel Gates died Phebe married Johnathan Glendenning 1868 April 6^th and her parents names are given on the registration (WI Vital Records) of that document as John and Charlotte Reed. Searches of Census records has provided no other clues partly due the numerous possibilities and spelling variants of the surname.

Some Descendants Introduced

Ashbel Gates – Phebe M. Reed

William Noah Gates – Alvira [? Osmon, Osman, Osmond, Olson, etc]

Charles Leroy Gates – Emma Arminta Briggs

Eldon Earl Gates – Katherine Erval Homuth

Phebe’s Children:

Of Ashbel Gates

John Reed Hayes Gates

b. ~1828

m. Harriet

d. unknown

Allen

b. NY ~1830

m. unknown

d. unknown

Jane Abigail [www1990sCovell]

b. 1834 May 17 [1850 Census implies 1837]

m1. George M. Senter

m2. Harlow Landphair, 1862 July 19^th (his 2^nd marriage d. Rush, Jo Davies County IL, 1913 August 14^th)

d. 1929 May 9^th

William Noah

b. Birmingham, Erie County, OH 1833 October 8^th (some record 1834)

m. Our Subject

d. 1923

Charlotte Anne Eliza

b.

m. Willoughby

d. Milwaukee WI 1914 January 21st

Hannah

b. MI ~1840

m. Armstrong

d. unknown

Leland

b. MI ~ 1842

m. Landphair

d. unknown

(Francis) Caroline [1850 CensusIL][www1990sCovell]

b. MI ~ 1844

m.

Phebe M. Reed in Context:

Geographic Chronology

1805 Ohio/Pennsylvania – Birth

Phebe M. Reed is born.

1826 January 12^th – Marriage

Phebe M. Reed and Ashbel Gates were married 1826 January 12^th [1999Gates PC]. From the birthplace of the first son John Reed Hayes Gates one can infer they were married in Saratoga County NY. Furthermore by the place of residence of deceased grandparents and a living uncle, Coleman Gates, probably in Malta or Ballston of that county.

1830 – Census, Birmingham, Erie County OH

1833 October 8^th – Birth

William Noah Gates - Birmingham, Erie County OH

It is not certain when Ashbel Gates and Phebe came to Ohio but certainly by mid-1830 and probably rather directly from New York. There are many indications of William Noah’s birth date from Civil War Pension records and Census sources and even his obituary. [www1990sCovell] provides us with Jane Abigail’s birth date as 1834 May 17^th. This is William Noah Gates’s sister and from this evidence it seems more probable that William Noah Gates was born in 1833 October 8^th rather than in 1834. If William was born in 1834 then he was conceived immediately after Jane’s birth and was born in eight months later. Perhaps other records can clarify this point and the possibility that Jane’s birth date is incorrect.

1838 September 10^th - Bureau of Land Management Patent Purchase

Ashbel Gates purchased a patent from the Bronson Land Office (now Kalamazoo), St. Joseph County MI … Document Number 7513 Acccesion /Serial Number MI1250__.431. The legal land description is as follows:

• E½SE  21/  6-S  10-W  Yes  Michigan-Toledo Strip  MI  St Joseph.

His brother (an inference) Hiram made two purchases on the same date, essentially adjacent:

• NWSW  21/  6-S  10-W  No  Michigan-Toledo Strip  MI  St Joseph

• NWNE  21/  6-S  10-W  No  Michigan-Toledo Strip  MI  St Joseph

The brothers are described as of St. Joseph County MI which may or may not be an artifact of the transaction itself. Another Hiram was making similar purchases in Ohio. There are other transactions which may be of interest especially in Huron County OH.

[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch] 

[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch] 

1840 – Census , Alleghan County MI

1850 -- December 25^th – Census, Rockford, Winnebago County Il

The late date of the Census provides an opportunity to examine ages. Ashbel is 47 years old implying birth in 1803. Allen is 20 implying birth in 1830 OH. (William) Noah is 16 implying birth in 1834 OH. Jane is 13 implying birth in 1837 OH. Hannah is 10 implying birth in 1840 MI. Leland’s implied birth year is 1842 MI and Caroline’s is 1844 MI.

The eldest son, John in his own household, is 22 implying birth in 1828 NY.

Charlotte Anne Eliza has married J. Willoughby.

Phebe (Reed) Gates is 45 implying her birth year as 1805 OH.

1855 WI State Census

Ashbel and family are recorded as residents of Gratiot, Lafayette County WI.

1860 Census

Several searches of Census records have not yielded where Ashbel and Phebe are residing in 1860. Ashbel lived until 1863 and Phebe until 1869 according to their gravestones. Ashbel’s family was recorded in the WI State Census of 1855 as of Gratiot WI. One would expect Gratiot WI or Warren Il but neither has yielded any positive results.

Death of Phebe – Gravestone in Warren, Jo Davies County Il - 1869 May 24^th

Phebe probably died in Warren Il and was buried here along with information on gravestones about both husbands. She is survived by her second husband, John Glendening (aka Glendenning, Blindenning and Clendening).

In this instance from a family stone in the Elmwood Cemetery, Warren Il the name looks as if it begins with a “C” and ends with a “G” although the style of the “C” could still be a “G”. Other examples from other stones do not appear to make the distinction … need to follow up. The marriage registration makes it look like a small letter “b”.

[newspapers]

[census]

[1999Gates PC] personal communication from Donald R. Gates, 1999 February 10^th.

Dates are provided from the Ashbel and Phebe (Reed) Gates, Family Bible noted as from 1849 by date of publication. This transcript from Donald R. Gates contains invaluable information but several confusing details so one must be careful and use corroboration facts where possible.

[www1990sCovell] Al Covell, various website sources.

Al Covell has been widely collecting Gates information for a lengthy period of time, probably since before 1990. His material has been widely published on the www and copied by many researchers. As with many compilations he has probably used/copied others as well and in the www versions there is little information as to original sources, some of which is in error and other information which simply has to be questioned until source information is found or provided. His inclusion of the English Ancestry (as of this date 2006) of Geoffrey Gates (1898 Otis) has been quite positively discounted.

[pre1907WVR] Wisconsin Vital Records pre-1907, microfiche indexes and microfilms, Births, Marriages and Deaths.

These vital records help immensely to fill in details that might otherwise be unavailable. However if after using the indexes you cannot find the person you are looking for you should still do an area search by county. In searching for five of William Noah and Alivra Gates’s daughters only two were in the index but four of five marriages (there may not be a fifth) were found in the records by searching at the county level.

[1966Torrey] , Clarence Almond Torrey Ph.B., NEHGR 1966:261

Walker McCord married Jeannett Moore in the Spring of 1825, Mercer County, PA

(authored 2018 cosmetic changes 9/2024 - Homuth side)

The title phrasing is taken from Walker McCord's obituary published in the Boscobel Dial, December  2nd 1881.    Just as important is the declaration of what we assume to be his wife's maiden name, Moore.  She lived on to 1884 so we further assume she put the obituary together but even so other anecdotal accounts raise some questions - more later.

The principal purpose of this entry is to record what I and others know or surmise about her family origins.

Walker McCord Obituary - Boscobel Dial,
December 2nd, 1881 (WI SHS microfilm, Newspaper Collection)

This begins the story of a number of additional information sources about the McCord's and Jeannett Moore's ancestry - some explored here.  Mercer county is a far western county in Pennsylvania on the border with Ohio.

I reopened my files/recollections by seeing what now existed in the FHL (Family History Library) and was surprised to find her placed as a child of Daniel Chestnut and Isabella Blain.  I was aware of the Chestnut name being involved with her or the McCord's but did not recall this "placement as child".

FHL - Chestnut/Moore Questions

As I dug into it I determined that FindAGrave.com was the source for a more recent update of the FHL (Jeannett Moore - FindAGrave.com) now Jennett C Morr,  (but not on the gravestone, 1803-1884) nor in the FHL.  The FindAGrave contributor is not accepting messages so this identifying Jeannett as "Jennet Chestnut Morr McCord" or as above "Jennet Caldwell Moore" remains a mystery.  I pondered this and tried contacting by email several people who seemed to have been involved in the "Jeannett" mystery and got replies but no insights.

I next got into my paper records of the McCords, mostly from when we lived in California (1990s).  I had some handwritten notes of an 1880 Census record Boscobel, Grant County WI.  What popped out at me were the questions about where were your father and mother born.  Walker's parents were both identified as born in Pennsylvania.  Jeannett's parents were different.  My notes said her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Pennsylvania.

This is substantial evidence Jeannett is not a Chestnut by Daniel and Isabella.  To be absolutely certain I would need to find some of her "Chestnut" brothers or sisters living in 1880 and see how they responded or her "father" Daniel Chestnut born in the colonies.  I offer the latter, Daniel was born in Virginia not Ireland as she reports about her father in 1880 Census.

Daniel Chestnut in FHL records

So I decided to track it down again, some twenty years later.  Both Ancestry and FHL have the 1880 Census online, images and transcripts included.  They have worked from microfilm, I assume, but not necessarily the same "originals"?  However they generate the transcripts they both say her father was from Indiana.  I looked at the images and felt it looked more like "Ireland" than Indiana.  I scanned the image looking for other instances of "Ireland" and "Indiana".  Ireland is the winner with the FHL image, although faint, it is more legible.

Below is the Census entries for David McCord household which includes his living parents.  The first image is the lefthand side ... see lines 18 and 19

1880 Wisconsin - David McCord family

Walker McCord (Ireland father?) - 1880 WI Census

I also recalled that the Archives at the State Historical Society had manuscript (Series 1678 Vol 8 Shelf 2M/72/05-F2, Page A #51, Boscobel) copies of the 1880 Census.  So I proceeded to examine them in person and again "Ireland" was the winner.  Her father was not from Indiana - so remember always verify for yourself.  Her parents born in Illinois - seems unusual?

1880 Census Wisconsin - McCord

Bible presented to Abigail Gates by Thadeus Betts her Father February 1819 (Images)

(authored 2018, image caption added 9/1/2024)

As I rather fuzzily recall I came into possession of the photograph via Al Covell or Bob Gates.   I may be able to clarify that later. According to image properties it was shot with a Nikon June 27, 2007, 2.9 MB. If you had asked me I would have said I had it earlier, as in by 1999. Perhaps I was told about it – good reason you should keep a journal – you can count on your memory failing you.   I have another document in this blog that discusses or rather "questions" the bible in depth, "Thaddeus Betts Bible Chronology" authored in 1999.

I do recall as provided the information from the bible, before I saw the image, it did not occur to me that the entries might not be contemporaneous, nor written by the grantor or grantee.  Some probably were but some of the entries might also have constructed in hindsight. I have decomposed the image and minorly attempted to enhance the “script”.  You can extract the images for your own entertainment.

Abigail's husband Noah dies circa 1814, specifics unknown.

I have lifted the following text from the above mentioned “Chronology”, which incidently makes it obvious I had text in 1999 but the image came later –

A Bible titled the "Life of Jesus Christ" is presented to Abigail (Betts) Gates by Thadeus Betts, her Father, in February of 1819 (or 17). Abigail gives the Bible to her daughter Augusta. Hiram B. Gates receives the Bible from his Mother (Augusta) in 1841. Elmer Gates reports that this Bible is currently in Florida (email 1/23/99) and was/is in the possession of Ted Gates. Elmer Gates has further provided photcopies of the inscriptions of the Betts Bible which suggests that Hiram B. is the son of Augusta (2/24/99)? Elmer recieved photocopies in 1995 from Ted Gates.

As Transcribed by Elmer Gates - email to WmAGates 2/25/1999, edited.

Presented to Abigail Gates by Thaddeus Betts her Father February 1817.

Abigail Gates to her daughter Augusta.

Hiram B. Gates - Book presented to him by his Mother, Augusta.

Presented to Harriet Jackson by Hiram Gates her Father in December, 1859.

Presented to Dan J. Gates by Harriet Jackson, his sister, 1898.

Presented by Dan J. Gates to his son, Leon John Gates, 1915 - (died 1925).

Leon John Gates to Eleanor Gates Roberts, his daughter.

Eleanor Gates Roberts to Fay R. Gates, his Cousin. July 27, 1958.

Fay R. Gates to Edward J. Gates, his son. Jan.'77.

I now have one major question with the transcript and the text. Abigail does not have a daughter “Augusta”.  I believe this is an example of a later addition of the event at an unknown time. Abigail has a daughter “Angeline” who I will document more thoroughly later. Not the only one.  Angeline was Hiram's sister.  At the time Elmer presented this transcript I was unfamiliar with Hiram B Gates's genealogy (and have not reviewed it now) so I assumed this Hiram was a grandson not a son of Abigail.

Images of Bible presented to Abigail Gates by her father Thadeus Betts 1819(?)

Miscellaneous

I need to find images of Birmingham Cemetery and identify them clearly … I want Abigail's birth date and age … will lead the most positive evidence I have for her birth date.

Ted R. work …. ROOD, Abigail d. 31 Jly 1845 a. 80y 3m 9d w/o Caleb @Birm. Matches 22 Apr 1765.

I need to look at Al Covell's GEDCOM and see if "Augusta" can be clarified.

Abigail (Betts) Gates and Noah Gates: Journey from Connecticut to Ohio 1766 - 1842

Abigail (Betts) Gates and Noah Gates:  Journey from Connecticut to Ohio  1766 - 1842

(authored 2004)

Preface

It has been a long journey in itself to discover Abigail and Noah. The beginning and the end of this story are told in the title. However, the story then and now, in between, is to me just as interesting. The large and small events of the times and the impact on personal and local history are all intertwined. There have been many participants in making discoveries and untangling the details but especially two cousins, Don Gates and Elmer Gates, both of whom I encountered on the Internet, that I consider most responsible for making the connection to Abigail and Noah, as they were on their own journey. Long before I encountered either of my cousins I was quite certain that my missing grandfather was one of three brothers, Noah, Moses or Coleman Gates and of these Noah was the most probable. Obviously I had no clue that Abigail Betts was the missing grandmother or even her first name.

From the beginning of my interest in the 1950s my first real discovery came from an aunt who had the commission to Lieutenant of my great-grandfather, William Noah Gates, just before he was mustered out of the Wisconsin Volunteers following the end of the Civil War. Later, along my journey I discovered the book about Stephen Gates by Charles Otis Gates, Stephen Gates of Hingham and Lancaster Massachusetts and his Descendants. A Preliminary Work Subject to Addition and Correction [1898Gates]. Eventually I encountered [1966Torrey] Clarence Almon Torrey, Ph.B. Stephen Gates of Hingham, Lancaster, and Cambridge, Mass., and some of His Descendants, in the NEHGR and tried to trace both backward and forward. As I became more aware of resources I worked on geographical areas and connections between individuals building more confidence that I was missing only two generations in the connection to Stephen Gates. Census records, Vital Statistics Records and Land Records in Wisconsin and Illinois eventually revealed Phebe M. Reed and Ashbel Gates as William Noah's parents. So then who and where were Ashbel's parents (Phebe's parents were an even deeper question ... or so it seemed for many years)?

Abigail and Noah in Connecticut

Abigail and Noah began their life together in Connecticut. We have evidence that Noah's parents Ruth Olmsted and Samuel Gates were married in the Wilton Congregational Church. I do not have specific evidence of when or where Abigail Betts and Noah Gates were married but there is evidence from records of the Wilton church that Noah had children baptized in that church (but Abigail is not identified). The same source seems to make it a safe inference that Noah was Samuel's son.

Abigail as a Betts was of a numerous family making it still a mystery as to which family she properly belongs. There are many guesses about her family and some good evidence but nonetheless nothing absolutely certain. But even 10 years ago her first and last name were not known (at least to me). Similarly Noah was the unknown grandfather. For many years all I knew was that my great-grandfather's name was William Noah Gates. Civil War records revealed that William Noah was born in Birmingham, Erie County, Ohio where I have chosen to end the story of this journey. So both Abigail and Noah were the lost grandparents.

Settlement of Connecticut

The “English” settlement of Connecticut has been told by many authors. The truth is that much of New England had been depopulated of native peoples through the previous decades of exposure to disease from maritime visits by the English and others. Nonetheless there were still more conflicts between periods of trust or uneasy coexistence. Connecticut may have been one of better examples of coexistence until the Pequot War 1637-1638. In the 1630s, determined by the coast or access by river, the Connecticut River Valley was sparsely settled by the English. In a larger perspective the settlement was at least partly to offset the Dutch influence in New York across the Long Island Sound.

We are mostly interested in a later period and about Norwalk, Ridgefield and Wilton in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The story of Ridgefield has been told by George L. Rockwell in his book The History of Ridgefield Connecticut [1927Rockwell]. The story of Wilton has been told by Robert H. Russell in his book, Wilton Connecticut: Three Centuries of People, Places and Progress [2004Russell]. The Betts surname figures prominently in both books but more with the original Norwalk and then Wilton. The Gates are in Connecticut by say 1709/10 and in Ridgefield before 1732 and those we wish to follow were in Norwalk or Wilton for sometime before they left for the vicinity of Stillwater and Ballston, Saratoga County, New York circa 1800. Land Records may reveal more particulars but largely remain to be examined.

Although Norwalk, Ridgefield and Wilton may seem like a physically small area the “lay of the land” in the 17^th century certainly affected how you got to a place, and how long it took, and therefore who and how you associated with other people in the region. For example, it was going to take a couple of days to travel comfortably from Norwalk, on the coast, to Wilton, to Ridgebury in the north of Ridgefield. This is borne out by the organization of parishes and local government of the time. There were several petitions to establish, due to travel times and conditions, new churches in Ridgebury and Wilton.

The Betts in Norwalk

The Betts in Norwalk and thus Wilton and Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut, were present from the start of English/Puritan settlement so it no suprise that there is much to be sorted out, including a lack of standard spelling for the last name. A Thomas Betts (b. d.) is reported to be the ancestor of most [2004Russell]. It seems obvious that Noah Gates and Samuel Gates were contemporary with the numerous Betts after 1732 which is the earliest of our Gates in the area.

Connecticut has been well covered by historians and genealogists to collect ancient vital statistics and church records. Our problem is that there is no Abigail Betts among these records (at least known to this compiler) that fits as an identified family member that might have married Noah Gates. There is a later family Bible which by its chain of posession and notes recorded in it that Abigail's father was Thaddeus and that he was alive at least until 1814. Thaddeus was a rather common first name among the Betts, including later a doctor and U.S. Senator of the area.

As we shall later see a Thaddeus Betts was also in Saratoga (then part of Albany?), New York as early at 1786 and travel between the two areas was not infrequent, the Hudson River being a convienent highway.

But again given the well covered plethora of Connecticut records there is no family documented containing Thaddeus as its head that could also contain an Abigail, even if not documented (subject to revision). So what is one to conclude?

Perhaps a family of Betts containing a Thaddeus who reached a marriageable age left the area but remained in contact with family and had his own family such that Noah became acquainted with a daughter Abigail. Noah then became the transition in migration perhaps of four Gates households (Samuel, the father, Noah, Moses and Coleman, sons) from Connecticut and New York. Otherwise we have to conclude perhaps more reasonably that we just have an incomplete enumeration of Betts family in Wilton or Norwalk and our Thaddeus and Abigail are yet to be discovered or linked.

The Olmsted in Norwalk

The Gates in Norwalk, Ridgefield and Wilton Connecticut

Jonathan Gates and Sarah Keeler

The Three Sisters

Saratoga County New York

Saratoga become a county in 1791.

Stillwater

Stillwater is located north of Albany with the eastern edge on the Hudson River. In 1762, most of the congregation (something less than 100 members) of the Congregational Church in Canaan, CT, moved to the area [1899StillwaterNY].

Malta

In the excerpt below one can recognize surnames of many from Norwalk, Wilton and Ridgefield, Connecticut: Keeler, Dunning, Rockwell, Gregory and Samuel Gates, of which we may speculate is the husband of Ruth Olmsted and father of Noah Gates.

Malta was formed from Stillwater March 3, 1802. A portion of Saratoga was added March 28, 1805. The first town meeting was held at the house of Michael Dunning, jr., April 6, 1802, when these officers were elected:

Supervisor, Samuel Clark; clerk, Ashbel Andrews, jr.; assessors, Joseph Rockwell, Luther Landon, Dean Chase; commissioners of highways, Abraham Valentine, Ebenezer Dibble, Uriah Hawkins; overseers of the poor, William Dunning, Samuel Gates; constables, Pontius Hooper, Eleazer Millard, jr.; collector, Pontius Hooper; overseers of highways, Obadiah Tompkins, Elisha Wood, Samuel Gregory, David Keeler, Reuben Doolittle, Jesse How, Cornelius Abeel, Stephen Ireland, Timothy Shipman; fence-viewers, Obadiah Mather, Robert Hunter; poundkeeper, William Dunning. [1899SaratogaNY]

Thaddeus Betts in Ballston, Saratoga County, New York

Thaddeus Betts appears in the 1790 census (2 males16 up, 1 under 16 and 5 females) as do Joseph and Jeremiah Betts as well as Elijah Gates within 5 households. Thaddeus Betts appears again in the 1800 Census. His household has 2 males under 10 and 2 females 16 to 26 plus himself and 1 female both 45 and over. Thaddeus Betts appears again in the 1810 Census at Ballston as the head of household with himself and one female 45 years and over. Ira Betts, Taylor Betts and a Joseph Gates(?) are very nearby on the same page. In the next census, 1820, Thaddeus Betts, Taylor Betts and Joseph Gates appear in the same order. Both Taylor and Ira Betts appear to be younger than Thaddeus. Thaddeus's household in 1820 includes himself and one female 45 and up plus one male under 10 years of age. Assuming that all three Thaddeus are one and the same he was no longer in Stillwater in 1830 (by inspection). He would have at least been 75 in 1830 so he may not be living.

Is this Thaddeus the father of Abigail? I have assumed that Abigail as a Betts was born in Connecticut and probably lived somewhat nearby the Samuel Gates family and thus made the acquaintance of Noah Gates. Now one needs to believe that the Gates and the Betts (with the Betts leaving 10 years earlier) left Norwalk for New York about the same time and continued in contact for sometime. There are several reasons to think so but none can be considered more than a theory.

Other evidence of a connection can be piled on as noted in the bibliography [1935Bullard] but it remains on the the outer edge of the theory and counts on Thaddeus being born in the 1740s..

Dorothy Betts (husband Giles Fitch - a Revolutionary War soldier) is identified as the daughter of Thaddeus Betts (of Ballston, New York). The Fitches were from Norwalk Connecticut. About 1786 she migrates (with Giles and a few interesting others) to St. John's Corners, Greenfield, New York from Ballston Spa. Giles Fitche's sister Hannah married Capt. John St. John. Both he and his brother Ebenezer Fitch migrated together.

We hope Dorothy had at least one sister (Abigail). Dorothy died 25 February 1815 at age 52 which implies her birth as about 1763 [1935Bullard p84]. Abigail according to others (no references provided) was born 1765 April 22^nd.

The Dunning Street Cemetery

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/saratoga1/family/fammikedunning.htm

Michael DUNNING was the son of John & Sarah (LAMBERT) DUNNING & grandson of Benjamin DUNNING

1 MICHAEL  DUNNING b: June 03, 1726 in Newtown, Fairfield Co., Connecticut   d: November 29, 1813 in Malta, Saratoga Co., New York

.. +HANNAH GREEN b: 1723 in Connecticut d: January 09, 1775 in Malta, Saratoga Co., New York

The Erie Canal

The Military Tract of Central New York - Revolutionary War Bounty Lands

The Military Tract contained the present New York counties of Onondaga, Cortland, Cayuga, and Seneca and portions of Oswego, Schuyler, Tompkins, Yates and Wayne. As an incentive to raise regiments, required per Congress 1776, to fight the Revolutionary War, the state of New York decided to use land. Eight Military Tract Townships were eventually surveyed and soldiers or their heirs were to receive 600 acres. Keep in mind that these tracts do not map directly to today's Towns in these counties and the process was a little more complicated. It was 1790 before New York actually accomplished the task of assignment and only after new treaties with several Indian tribes were negotiated.

Given the area is described as 1.75 million acres it is difficult to imagine how this all took place, assignees designated, disputes settled, trades and transfers accomplished and recorded [1825RevWarBounty].

Abigail and Noah Gates were living in this area before 1810 and probably as early as 1806 given his resignation from the New York Miltia (41^st) of Saratoga County. This conclusion requires several inferences based on Census, family histories, county histories and cemeteries. Land Records are still to be examined.

Cayuga County New York

Cayuga became county in 1799, formed from Onondoga.

Livingston County New York

Livingston became a county in 1821.

Mt. Morris

Connecticut's Western Reserve

The Firelands of Ohio

Postscript:  This document was a work in progress as each of the "blank" entries for titles show (added note 20180528)