Let No Good Deed Go Unnoticed

     Connecting William R. Gates to his father, Elisha was not easy.  My Aunt Jane had recorded them as father-son but we didn't have any bible records. I am sure that she spent many hours quizzing her mother, Mary Catherine Blandford about her family.  Mary Catherine's parents had died before she married Elmer J. Armstrong. Her grandfather, William R. Gates passed away before she was born but she would have known Elizabeth Mattingly Gates, wife of William.  (Elizabeth Gates lived until 1918.)  So Aunt Jane would have had it on good authority that William was the son of Elisha.  
     William was born on Feb 24, 1822 in Nelson County, Kentucky.  The Kentucky requirement for recording births was enacted in 1852 but this was interrupted by the Civil War.  Recording began again in 1911.  There may be church records but nothing yet. 
     Elisha died intestate so not much luck there.  There are some administrative accounts but they have been no help.
     The first census that list the names of children along with parents occurred in 1850 but William and Elizabeth had been married in 1849 and they were not living in the same household with Elisha. . 
     Because I wanted to know where the Gates' land was located I started to look for some land deeds. And there it was.  
      An 1855 deed states “This Indenture made this 10th day of October in the year 1855 between Elisha Gates of the County of Nelson and Commonwealth of Kentucky of the one part and William R. Gates of the County and Commonwealth aforesaid and John G. Gates of the state of Texas of the other part. Witnesseth. that the said Elisha Gates for and in consideration of the natural love and affection he has the said William R. Gates and John G. Gates his children…” 

Nelson County, Kentucky Deeds  

Book 29 page 345  

FHL Film 483138