In 1664, his period of servitude was up and he began his private life as a planter and carpenter. As is common today with ranches and farms, early settlers named their plantations and tracts of land. Robert Gates patented 100 acres called Gates His Hope in 1668; 60 acres called Gates Purchase in 1672; and 193 acres called Gates His Swamp in 1688. In addition to the the land he patented, he purchased additional acreage and by the time of his death in 1698 he owned 1567 acres. He served in a minor office as the overseer of highways in Charles County.
Sometime before 1676 he married Dorothy Hunt, the daughter of John and Dorothy Hunt. He and Dorothy had six children together, three boys and three girls. Robert Gates’ will4 was written on Feb 5, 1694 and probated June 6, 1698, so he probably died in early 1698. His children are named in his will.
The years of their births are listed in a book written by Mary Louise Donnelly5
Katherine b. 1676
Susannah b. 1678
John b. 1681
Robert b. 1686
Anne b. 1690
Joseph b. 1693
- Carr, Menard, and Walsh, Robert Cole’s World Agriculture and Society in Early Maryland, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1991
- Maryland State Archives St. Mary's County Circuit Court Land Survey, Subdivision, and Condominium Plats MSA S1598: Volume 17 Page 475
- Family History Film 13064, "Patents series of the Maryland Land Office,1640-1658, St. Mary’s County Volumes 5, Liber Q, Page 18”
- "Maryland, Register of Wills Books, 1629-1999." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2014. Citing Prerogative Court. Hall of Records, Annapolis. St. Mary’s County, Volume PC1 page 89-90
- Donnelly, Mary Louise, Charles County, Maryland My Colonial Ancestors Plus Others, Published by Mary Louise Donnelly, 2000, page 112
i needed to learn about his family not him
ReplyDeleteWhat is it that you wanted to know about his family? I researched that branch of the family for a dozen years and wrote what I learned over the years in about twenty different blog posts. That research took me to Kentucky libraries, Maryland Archives, and Salt Lake City Family History Library. I have purchased at least seven research books that were not available in my city library If you wanted to know who his parents were then you would have to research even more. There was no record of his parents in the documents I found and since he came to Maryland as a kid it is possible we will never find out.
DeleteHow does James Gates married to Jaynet Boarman fit into this family?
ReplyDeleteThis Robert (#1) married Dorothy Hunt. They had a son named Robert (#2). He had six children including James and Peter. Peter was my 5G Grandfather and he married Jane. James ( my 5G Granduncle)married a lady named Janet and they had nine children. I have long wondered if this could be Janet Boarman but I do not know this for a fact. Remember that Janet is a diminutive of Jane, which only causes more problems. I’m sorry that I can’t give you a definitive answer.
ReplyDelete