THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

MUDDLE RELATED FAMILIES

 

Chart of the Gates Family

 

Thomas and Mary’s eldest child was Mary Gates who was born at Penhurst in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel in Penhurst on 19 May 1695. When she was 26 years old Mary married John Stonestreet at the Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel in Penhurst on 17 October 1721. They were both then living in Penhurst.

 

Thomas and Mary’s second child was Thomas Gates who was born at Penhurst in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel in Penhurst on 11 July 1697. When he was 25 years old Thomas married Catherine Duke at the Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel in Penhurst on 14 May 1723. They were both then living in Penhurst.

Thomas and Catherine had eight children born between 1724 and 1742, the last of whom died when only about eight months old. They first lived at Chalvington in Sussex where Thomas worked as a servant on Mr Nokes’ Farm, but by the time their fourth child was baptised on New Year’s Day 1731 they were living in the adjacent parish of Ripe. The parish authorities in Ripe must have considered that this family, which didn’t have legal settlement in Ripe, might become a charge on their parish so they requested a Settlement Certificate from the parish authorities of Penhurst, where the family did have legal settlement, with the result that Robert Overy and James Bray, who were Churchwarden and Overseer of the Poor of Penhurst, produced a certificate on 13 February 1733 that acknowledged that Thomas Gates, his wife Catherine, and their children, Thomas, John, Mary and George, had legal settlement at Penhurst, and had it certified by two Justices of the Peace the same day.[1]

They were still living at Ripe when their last child was baptised there on Christmas Day 1742 and then buried there on 13 August 1743. It’s not known what happened to Thomas and Catherine during the next twenty-nine years, but it’s assumed that Catherine died during this time, and that Thomas was a widower living with the family of his son Joseph at Chalvington and then moved with them in late 1770 or early 1771 about 20 miles west to Washington in Sussex where he died at the age of 74, and was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul in the adjacent parish of Ashington on 8 March 1772.

 

 

Thomas and Catherine’s eldest child was Thomas Gates who was born at Chalvington in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in the adjacent parish of Ripe on 22 April 1724. When he was 25 years old Thomas married 20-year-old Anne Paris at the Parish Church of St Mary & St Peter in Wilmington, Sussex on 1 May 1749. They were both then living in Wilmington. Anne was the daughter of William and Ursula Paris, she had been born at Wilmington and baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary & St Peter in Wilmington on 17 October 1728.

Thomas and Anne first lived at Wilmington where they had two children born in early 1750 and late 1751. They then moved to Ripe where their other two children were born in 1754 and 1760. Then in 1773 they were living at Rotherfield in Sussex where Thomas was a yeoman when Thomas was bound with his son Thomas in the sum of £100 that they would indemnify the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of St Michael’s Parish in Lewes, Sussex for all expenses relating to the bastard child fathered by Thomas junior.

By 1794 Thomas and Anne had moved to the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, where their sons Thomas and William had been living with their wives and children since the early 1780s. Anne died there at the age of 65, and was buried in the Churchyard of All Saint in Lewes on 14 April 1794. This was the start of a sad period for Thomas because one of his grandsons died later that year and then the following year two of his sons died within 2½ months of each other.

Thirteen years after the death of his wife Thomas died at the age of 83 (not 84 as given on his burial record), and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saint in Lewes on 11 November 1807. Thomas had made his will on 22 March 1802 when he described himself as a husbandman of Lewes. This will was proved by the Archdeaconry of Lewes on 5 April 1808 when the personal estate of Thomas was valued at under £200, and the sole executor, Sir Henry Blackman of Lewes, Knight, was sworn to truly administer. Thomas left one third of his personal estate to be divided equally between the surviving children of his deceased son Thomas, another third to be divided equally between the surviving children of his deceased son William, and the last third to his son John.[2]

 

Thomas and Anne’s eldest child was Thomas Gates who was born at Wilmington in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary & St Peter in Wilmington on 21 January 1750.

When he was 23 years old Thomas was working as a servant to Mr Thomas Kemp, who was the Member of Parliament for Lewes and had inherited Lewes Castle with surrounding land in Lewes, as well as Herstmonceux Park. In the household of Mr Thomas Kemp the position Thomas held was that of Postilon, who was the rider of the leading left-hand horse of a team or pair drawing a coach or carriage, normally without a coachman. On 12 July 1773 Jane Balcombe of St Michael’s Parish in Lewes was examined by Henry Shelley, a Justice of the Peace, about the father of the child she was then pregnant with, which was likely to become a bastard and a charge on the parish of St Michael. In this examination Jane stated that the father of her child was Thomas Gates the servant of Mr Thomas Kemp of St Michael’s Parish in Lewes.[3] Five days later, on the 17 July 1773, after the birth of Jane Balcombe’s son, who had been baptised the day before, Thomas Gates junior and his father Thomas signed a Bastardy Bond that bound them in a penalty of £100 to indemnify the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of St Michael’s Parish in Lewes for all expenses relating to the bastard child of single woman Jane Balcombe that had been fathered by Thomas junior.[4]

Twenty months later Thomas, at the age of 25, married spinster Mary Taylor, who was about 30, at the Parish Church of St Michael in Lewes on 27 March 1775. They were both then residing in the parish of St Michael. Thomas and Mary had eight children; the first two born in 1777 and 1779 while they were living in the parish of St Michael in Lewes, and the other six born between 1781 and 1792 while they were living in the parish of All Saints in Lewes. They also raised the illegitimate son of Thomas and Jane Balcombe as their own son and he took the Gates name.

Three years after the birth of their last child Thomas died at the age of 45, and was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Lewes on 8 May 1795, only 2½ months after his brother William had died and been buried there. This left Mary a widow with eight children ranging in age from 3 to 17. Thomas had been the publican at The Dolphin public house at 51 St Nicholas Lane in the Parish of All Saints, Lewes and after his death Mary carried on the business for several years. She was the occupier of The Dolphin when it was sold at Christmas 1796 by the trustees of the late Charles Scrase to brewer William Verrall.[5]

 When her father-in-law Thomas Gates died in 1807 his will left one third of his personal estate to be divided equally between Mary’s surviving children, this would have been no more than £10 to each child. By 1808 Mary was no longer at The Dolphin because when brewer William Verrall leased it to victualler James Penford on 12 June 1808 the occupier was John Wilmshurst.[6]

Twenty-two years after the death of her husband Mary was the Governess of the Poor House of All Saints Parish when she died in this Poor House in the early morning of Monday 17 February 1817, at the age of 73. Then eight hours later in the same Poor House her sister-in-law Elizabeth Gates also died, both had suffered about a week’s serious illness. Mary and her sister were both buried in the Churchyard of All Saints, Lewes on Sunday 23 February 1817. Their deaths were reported in the Sussex Weekly Advertiser of Monday 24 February 1817 which noted that Mary’s conduct as governess of the Poor House had gained her the approbation and respect of all the parishioners. This report also called them sisters, which they may have been as they both had the maiden name of Taylor, but this is difficult to prove as several Mary and Elizabeth Taylors were born in Lewes at about the time they would have been born, and at this time the term sisters was frequently used for sisters-in-law.

Thomas’ uncle James Gates left one quarter of the residue of his estate to be shared equally between Thomas’ children, which they were to receive on the death of James’ wife Dorothy, which happened in 1826.

 

Thomas Gates and Jane Balcombe’s bastard child was Thomas Balcombe who was born in Lewes, Sussex and privately baptised by the Parish Church of St John sub Castro in Lewes on 16 July 1773, and then received into the church on 3 October 1773. Thomas was raised by his father and his father’s wife Mary as their own child and he became known as Thomas Gates. When his great-uncle James Gates made his will on 18 December 1813 he described Thomas as a cabinet maker of Lewes. Then when his great-aunt Dorothy Gates died in 1826 Thomas inherited £50 that had been left to him in the will of Dorothy’s late husband James Gates.

 

Thomas and Mary’s eldest child was Ann Gates who was born in the Parish of St Michael in Lewes, Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael on 20 August 1777.

 

Thomas and Mary’s second child was Mary Gates who was born in the Parish of St Michael in Lewes, Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael on 29 August 1779.

 

Thomas and Mary’s third child was John Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 23 July 1781, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 14 August 1781.

 

Thomas and Mary’s fourth child was Harriot Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 19 April 1783, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 14 July 1783.

 

Thomas and Mary’s fifth child was Sarah Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 9 April 1785, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 26 June 1785.

 

Thomas and Mary’s sixth child was James Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 23 September 1788, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 9 November 1788.

 

Thomas and Mary’s seventh child was Elizabeth Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 26 May 1790, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 28 July 1790.

 

Thomas and Mary’s eighth child was Diana Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 19 March 1792, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 17 May 1792.

 

Thomas and Anne’s second child was John Gates who was born at Wilmington in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary & St Peter in Wilmington on 19 December 1751. John was still alive when his father made his will on 22 March 1802, and when his father died in 1807 he was to receive one third of his father’s personal estate, which would probably have been no more than £60. John’s uncle James Gates left one eighth of the residue of his estate to John, which John was to receive on the death of James’ wife Dorothy, which happened in 1826.

 

Thomas and Anne’s third child was William Gates who was born at Ripe in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 28 April 1754.

When he was 26 years old William married spinster Elizabeth Taylor, who was about 28, at the Parish Church of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 11 April 1780. William was then living in the parish of St Anne, Lewes and Elizabeth in the parish of All Saints, Lewes. They first lived in the Parish of St Michael in Lewes where their first two children were born in 1781 and 1782, the first of these dying when only about 6 months old. They then moved to the Parish of All Saints in Lewes where their other seven children were born between 1784 and 1794, the last of these dying when only 3 weeks old.

It was only about 7 months after the birth and death of their last child that William died at the age of 40, and was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Lewes on 24 February 1795. This left Elizabeth a widow with six children ranging in age from 2 to 11. When her father-in-law Thomas Gates died in 1807 his will left one third of his personal estate to be divided equally between Elizabeth’s surviving children, this would have been no more than £10 to each child.

Twenty-two years after the death of her husband Elizabeth died in this Poor House of All Saints Parish in Lewes on Monday 17 February 1817, at the age of 65. Her death occurred about eight hours after that of her sister-in-law Mary Gates who had died in the same Poor House in the early morning, both had suffered about a week’s serious illness. Elizabeth and her sister were both buried in the Churchyard of All Saints, Lewes on Sunday 23 February 1817. Their deaths were reported in the Sussex Weekly Advertiser of Monday 24 February 1817 which called them sisters; they may have been as they both had the maiden name of Taylor, but this is difficult to prove as several Mary and Elizabeth Taylors were born in Lewes at about the time they would have been born, and at this time the term sisters was frequently used for sisters-in-law.

William’s uncle James Gates left one quarter of the residue of his estate to be shared equally between William’s children, which they were to receive on the death of James’ wife Dorothy, which happened in 1826.

 

William and Elizabeth’s eldest child was William Gates who was born in the Parish of St Michael in Lewes, Sussex on 1 March 1781, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael on 8 April 1781. William died when he was about 6 months old and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Michael on 7 September 1781.

 

William and Elizabeth’s second child was Elizabeth Gates who was born in the Parish of St Michael in Lewes, Sussex on 15 April 1782, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael on 12 May 1782. Elizabeth never married; she died at the age of 35 and was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Lewes on 19 February 1817.

 

William and Elizabeth’s third child was Mary Ann Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 22 April 1784, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 18 May 1784.

 

William and Elizabeth’s fourth child was William Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 4 December 1785, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 4 January 1786.

 

William and Elizabeth’s fifth child was George Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 17 September 1787, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 11 October 1787.

 

William and Elizabeth’s sixth child was Henry Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 29 November 1789, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 23 February 1790.

 

William and Elizabeth’s seventh child was Robert Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 31 January 1791, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 6 March 1791.

 

William and Elizabeth’s eighth child was Susanna Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 29 August 1792, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 7 September 1792.

 

William and Elizabeth’s ninth child was Thomas Taylor Gates who was born in the Parish of All Saints in Lewes, Sussex on 17 July 1794, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints on 29 July 1794. Thomas died when he was only 3 weeks old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Lewes on 8 August 1794.

 

Thomas and Anne’s fourth child was Mary Gates who was born at Ripe in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 1 May 1760. Mary was not mentioned in her father’s will made on 22 March 1802 so she had presumably died by then, probably unmarried as there was also no mention of any of her children.

 

Thomas and Catherine’s second child was John Gates who was born at Chalvington in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Bartholomew in Chalvington on 10 April 1726. When he was about 25 years old John married Martha, this was probably in about 1751, but no record of this marriage has been found so it is possible they never married but just lived together as man and wife. They had at least two children the first was born at Ripe in Sussex in 1755, and the second at Maresfield in Sussex in 1755. John had died by the time his brother James Gates made his will on 18 December 1813.

 

John and Martha’s eldest child was Elizabeth Gates who was born at Ripe in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 1 August 1752. Elizabeth’s uncle James Gates referred to her in his will made on 18 December 1813 as Elizabeth Gooding and left one eighth of the residue of his estate to be shared between Elizabeth’s children on the death of his wife Dorothy, which happened in 1826.

 

John and Martha’s second child was Mary Gates who was born at Maresfield in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Bartholomew in Maresfield on 18 June 1755. When she was about 22 years old Mary married Richard Goodwin at the Parish Church of St Bartholomew in Maresfield on 26 May 1777. Richard was then living at East Grinstead in Sussex and Mary at Maresfield.

 

Thomas and Catherine’s third child was Mary Gates who was probably born at either Chalvington or Ripe in Sussex in about 1728. No baptism has been found for her, but she is named as one of the children of Thomas and Catherine in a Settlement Certificate of 1733.

 

Thomas and Catherine’s forth child was George Gates who was born at Ripe in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 1 January 1731.

 

Thomas and Catherine’s fifth child was William Gates who was born at Ripe in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 16 May 1735.

 

 

Thomas and Catherine’s sixth child was James Gates who was born at Ripe in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 7 May 1737. When he was about 28 years old James married Dorothy Geal at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 7 April 1763 by licence. They were both then living in Ripe. Dorothy was the daughter of John and Mary Geal; she had been born at Ripe and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 5 March 1738. James and Dorothy didn’t have any children.

James and Dorothy moved to Chillies at High Hurstwood, within the Parish of Buxted, Sussex where James was a tenant farmer. Land Tax records show that in 1769 Chillies was owned by John Alchorne and occupied by James Gates, and had a Rentable value of £47 on which £7 1s 0d Land Tax was payable. Then in 1776 Chillies was owned by John Batchelor and occupied by James Gates, and had a Rentable value of £47 on which £9 0s 0d Land Tax was payable. And in 1785 Chillies was owned by Obed Elliott and occupied by James Gates, and had a Rentable value of £45 on which £9 0s 0d Land Tax was payable. By 1793 James Gates was no longer occupying Chillies.

On 24 May 1803 James was described as a yeoman of Buxted in Sussex when together with his wife Dorothy they leased for the term of their lives a messuage, farm and 27 acres of land called Lephams Bridge in Buxted, and 3 acres of land called Pick Gate Field at Five Ash Down in Maresfield Parish that was actually only a few hundred yards from Lephams Bridge, from John Gold, a brewer of Southampton, his wife Ann and eldest son James.[7]

It seems that James and Dorothy probably lived at Lephams Bridge for 10 years until on 26 October 1813 James, now describing himself as a gentleman of Buxted, and his trustee Daniel Harvey purchase 8 Sun Street in the parish of St John sub Castro, Lewes, Sussex from Amon Wilds, George Wille, Charles Wille and their trustee Thomas Woollgar.[8] Then two months later when he made his will on 18 December 1813 James described himself as a yeoman late of Buxted but now of Lewes. When David Muddle, brother of John Muddle who had married James' niece Mary Gates, was granted administration of his late wife's estate on 10 August 1814, James, described as a yeoman of Lewes, was one of those bond in £200 to see the estate properly administered.[9]

James died in the parish of St John sub Castro in Lewes, presumably at 8 Sun Street, at the age of 79, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St John sub Castro on 21 July 1816. James had made his will 2½ years before his death and it was proved by the Archdeaconry of Lewes on 18 March 1817, eight months after his death. In this will James left his wife Dorothy, for her use during her life, his messuage or tenement with barn, buildings, farm and lands of 30 acres in Buxted lately in his own occupation and called Late Sisleys, this is thought to be Lephams Bridge and Pick Gate Field by another name that James and Dorothy held by lease for their lives. James also left his wife, for her use during her life, his freehold messuage or tenement with garden in St John sub Castro, Lewes then in his own occupation; this would be 8 Sun Street. And from his personal estate James left his wife £400, all his silver plate, linen and best bed. The rest of his personal estate consisting of household goods, farming equipment, live stock, corn, straw etc. James left to his trustees, Daniel Harvey, hatter of Cliffe near Lewes, and Harry Verrall, maltster of Southover near Lewes, for them to convert to money and invest, and then pay the annual interest thereof to his wife Dorothy during her life. After Dorothy’s death the two properties left to her were to pass to his trustees, Daniel Harvey and Harry Verrall, and they were to sell them and use the proceeds together with the residue of his personal estate to pay the following legacies: To his nephew James Gates of Buxted and his great-nephew Thomas Gates of Lewes £50 each. The rest of the money was to be split into eight equal parts and bequeathed as follows: one part to the children of Elizabeth Gooding the daughter of his late brother John Gates; two parts to the children of his late nephew Thomas Gates, son of his late brother Thomas Gates; one part to his nephew John Gates, son of his late brother Thomas Gates; two parts to the children of his late nephew William Gates, son of his late brother Thomas Gates; one part to his niece Mary Muddle, wife of John Muddle of Buxted; and one part to his nephew James Gates of Buxted. James made his wife Dorothy and his two trustees, Daniel Harvey and Harry Verrall, the executors of his will.[10]

At the Court of the Manor of Framfield held on 25 June 1817 it was recorded that James Gates had died holding certain customary freehold lands at High Hurstwood that were late Woodgate's and before Austen's on which he paid yearly rent of 8d to the Lady of the Manor. A Heriot was due but as James Gates had no living beast nothing could be seized. For a relief one year's rent of 8d was due but as no person was present to pay the beadle was ordered to distrain for the same.[11] It has not as yet been possible to identify this land which does not seem to be mentioned in his will.

Dorothy lived for 9½ years after her husband’s death and died in the parish of St John sub Castro in Lewes, presumably at 8 Sun Street, at the age of 88, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St John sub Castro on 6 February 1826. Dorothy had made her will on 24 November 1821 and it was proved by the Archdeaconry of Lewes on 17 February 1826. In this will Dorothy left to James Gates the elder of Buxted, shoemaker, all her articles and utensils usually kept in or belonging to her washhouse and cellar, together with the stove and fender in her kitchen chamber. To her cousins John Geal and Richard Taylor, Lucy wife of Daniel Harvey, and her friend Frederick Boore she left numerous other household and personal items, and she made John Geal and Frederick Boore her executors.[12]

Four months after Dorothy’s death on 17 June 1826 Daniel Harvey and Harry Verrall, the trustees of Dorothy’s late husband, sold 8 Sun Street, as they were required to due in his will, to Frederick and Charles Boore.[13]

 

Thomas and Catherine’s seventh child was Joseph Gates who was born at Ripe in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 1 March 1740. When he was 29 years old Joseph married 17-year-old Mary Paine at the Parish Church of All Saints in Herstmonceux, Sussex on 19 April 1769 by licence. Joseph was then a farmer living at Chalvington in Sussex and Mary was living at Herstmonceux. Mary was the daughter of Richard and Mary Paine; she had been born at Herstmonceux and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints in Herstmonceux on 21 February 1752.

Joseph and Mary initially lived at Chalvington where their first child was born in 1770. They then moved about 20 miles west to Washington in Sussex where their other three children were born in 1771, 1773 and 1775. The first of these children died in 1772 when only a year old, and the last died in 1775 when only about 3 months old. Joseph’s father had probably been living with them at Chalvington and then moved with them to Washington because he died at Washington in early 1772 at the age of 74.

It seems that they lived at Washington for four years while Joseph worked a farm with an annual rentable value £65 on which he paid the land tax. They then moved on and by early 1782 they were living in Hartfield, Sussex where the parish authorities must have considered the family might became a charge on the parish and had Joseph examined on 6 April 1782 by two Justices of the Peace, G Courthop and William Board, as to where Joseph’s place of legal settlement was, and Joseph was recorded as saying on oath that:[14]

… about eight or nine years since he resided in the parish of Washington in the said County where he used a Farm of sixty five pounds a year for four years and was taxed for the same. And this Examinant saith that he hath not since done any Act to gain a Settlement.

So it seems Joseph and his family had gained legal settlement at Washington by renting and paying tax on a high enough valued property, but there is no indication of where they may have been living between leaving Washington and arriving in Hartfield.

When her mother died in 1801 Mary received, according to the terms of her father’s will, one fifth of the residue of her father’s estate. Joseph’s death and burial have not been found, but Mary was probably living with either the family of her daughter Mary Muddle or her son James Gates at Buxted in Sussex when she died at Buxted, at the age of 62, and was buried in the Churchyard of St Margaret the Queen at Buxted on 9 October 1814.

 

Joseph and Mary’s eldest child was Mary Gates who was born at Chalvington in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Bartholomew in Chalvington on 13 March 1770. Soon after her birth Mary moved with her parents to Washington in Sussex and then by 1782 she was living with them at Hartfield in Sussex. When she was 20 years old and living in Buxted, Sussex Mary married 25-year-old John Muddle at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 7 April 1790. Mary and John had probably met when Mary was visiting her father's brother James Gates and his wife Dorothy, who lived at Chillies in High Hurstwood, just a few hundred yards up the road from where John and his parents lived and farmed at Browns Nest and Greystones. See ‘John & Mary Muddle’s Family’ in the 'Buxted Muddles' for the rest of their lives and details of their family.

 

Joseph and Mary’s second child was Elizabeth Gates who was born at Washington in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul in the adjacent parish of Ashington, Sussex on 22 April 1771. Elizabeth died at Washington when only 1 year old and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Ashington on 21 May 1772.

 

Joseph and Mary’s third child was James Gates who was born at Washington in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul in the adjacent parish of Ashington, Sussex on 25 May 1773. When he was 21 years old James married 18-year-old Ann Hide at the Parish Church of St Clement in Hastings, Sussex on 11 August 1794. James was then living at Hollington in Sussex and Ann in St Clement’s Parish, Hastings. Ann was the daughter of John and Margaret Hide; she had been born at Hastings and baptised at the Parish Church of St Clement in Hastings on 9 June 1776. James and Ann lived at Buxted in Sussex where they had five children born between 1803 and 1811. When his uncle James Gates made his will on 18 December 1813 he described James as a cordwainer of Buxted. Then nearly 7 years after the birth of their last child Ann died at Buxted, at the age of 41, and was buried in the Churchyard of St Margaret the Queen at Buxted on 14 December 1817. When his aunt Dorothy Gates made her will on 21 November 1821 she described James as a shoemaker of Buxted.

Seven years after Ann’s death James, at the age of 51, married 52-year-old widow Elizabeth Hope, whose maiden name was Coleman, at St John the Baptist Church in Southover, Lewes, Sussex on 27 December 1824. They were both then living in St John the Baptist Parish, Southover. Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Mary Coleman; she had been born at Waldron in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints in Waldron on 21 February 1772. (The parish register has the impossible date of 31 February which is assumed to be an error for 21 February as it comes between entries for 19 February and 15 March.) When she was 22 years old Elizabeth had married Stephen Hope at Mayfield on 14 November 1794 and he had died at Waldron in 1821.

When his aunt Dorothy Gates died in 1826 James inherited £50 that had been left to him in the will of Dorothy’s late husband James Gates together with one eighth of the residue of his uncle’s estate. Also in her own will Dorothy left James all her articles and utensils usually kept in or belonging to her washhouse and cellar, together with the stove and fender in her kitchen chamber.

In the census of 6 June 1841 James and Elizabeth were living at Westgates Cottage in Waldron where James was working as a shoemaker. Living with them were 25-year-old glover Frances Hope and 15-year-old female servant Caroline Hope, who were possibly Elizabeth’s granddaughters, and 19-year-old farm labourer Isaac Fuller, who was probably a lodger. James died at Waldron, at the age of 74, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Waldron on 3 October 1847. Then in the census of 30 March 1851 Elizabeth, describing herself as a shoemaker’s widow, was living with the family of her son Stephen Hope at Geers Town in Waldron. Elizabeth died at Waldron, at the age of nearly 81 (not 79 as given on her burial record), and she was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints in Waldron on 11 January 1853.

 

James and Ann’s eldest child was Richard Gates who was born at Buxted in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 12 November 1803, after having been previously privately baptised on 6 September 1803.

 

James and Ann’s second child was James Gates who was born at Buxted in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 7 September 1806.

 

James and Ann’s third child was Henry Gates who was born at Buxted in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 27 December 1807.

 

James and Ann’s fourth child was Lilliess Gates who was born at Buxted in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 7 May 1809.

 

James and Ann’s fifth child was Mary Hide Gates who was born at Buxted in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 13 January 1811.

 

Joseph and Mary’s fourth child was Ann Gates who was born at Washington in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul in the adjacent parish of Ashington, Sussex on 20 March 1775. Ann died at Washington when only about 3 months old and she was buried in the Churchyard of St Peter & St Paul at Ashington on 25 June 1775.

 

Thomas and Catherine’s eighth child was Elizabeth Gates who was born at Ripe in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Ripe on 25 December 1742. Elizabeth died at Ripe when she was about 8 months old, and she was buried in the Churchyard of St John the Baptist at Ripe on 13 August 1743.

 

Thomas and Mary’s third child was Lucy Gates who was born at Penhurst in Sussex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel in Penhurst on 30 December 1705. When she was 23 years old Lucy married William Heath at the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin in Battle, Sussex on 16 November 1729 by licence. They were both then living in Penhurst.

Copyright © Derek Miller 2011-2014

Last updated 15 August 2014