1. OLIVER BATES was born 7 Aug. 1763 in Shelburn, Franklin co. Mass, the son of JOHN and MARTHA FOSTER BATES. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, enlisting July 1, 1778 in Capt. Prichard's Co, Col. John Creaton's Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged April 7, 1779. He enlisted July 1, 1780 served as a private in Capt. William Taylor's Company, in the Second Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Col. Badlam and was discharged Jan. 1, 1781. He was allowed his pension which was executed April 23, 1818 and at that time was 55 and living in Henderson, Jefferson County New York. ( File #S-44598)
Sometime between 1784 and 1797 he moved with his family to Vermont, between the towns of Randolf and Halifax. About 1798 he left for New York and it is believed he was in the town of Western in the 1800 Census, coming to Henderson, Jefferson County, NY about 1806 as best that can be determined at this point.
OLIVER built a log cabin in Henderson in the area now called Alexander Corners, named for the family of Jonathan S. Alexander who also came from the Halifax area to Henderson with his four sons. CYRUS and OLIVER built a stone house at Alexander Corners about the year 1820 so we assume they lived in a log cabin as did many of the settlers at that time. This fine stone house still stands today, being placed on the state and National Register of Historic Sites in 2004.
The House was a early Mormon meeting house for missionaries of the early Mormon Church and ORSON PRATT, one of the original 12 Church apostles was married to SARAH BATES, daughter of CYRUS BATES in the house. The house was an early church meeting house in 1835 and 1836. Later in her marriage SARAH burned and destroyed many of the journals and writings of ORSON PRATT, but of those that did survive, ORSON PRATT writes of his early missionary work to Sackets Harbor and the Henderson area in 1835 and latter in July of 1836 his marriage to SARAH BATES in her father's house.
At the time of OLIVER'S son's CYRUS'S death in October 1839 the local farm had 141 acres. Most of the family left the town and county, some with the Mormons before the history books were written. There are many websites that deal with the Bates family and one of the better ones is called the BatesPlace.
OLIVER BATES married 16 Sept. 1782 at Shelburne, Mass
REBECCA HART
Children, BATES: ( The last two are listed as being born in Henderson but we do not believe that that could be the case.)
Pension application for service in the Revolutionary War
NYork Roll #1357
OLIVER BATES
1 July 1778 to April 1779 Private, Massachusetts Line under Capt. Pritchard In the Army of the United States during the Revoutionary War Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of $8 per month to commence on 25 April 1818. Certificate of Pension issued: 30 June 1818 and sent to Lyman Ellis, Esq., Ellisburg, NY
Arrears to 4 Sept. 1818 – 4 months $34.66
Died 5 June 1828
Application for pension:
State of New York, Jefferson Co.
On this 25th day of April 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the judges of the Court of Common Please of the said court, personally appears Oliver Bates, aged 55 years, resident in the said district, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled, “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in he revolutionary war. That he the said Oliver Bates, enlisted in July 1st, 1778 in the state of Massachusetts in the company commanded by Captain Prichard in Col. John Graton’s Regiment of the Continental troops, that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until the 7th day of April 1779 when he was discharged from service at Croten River, State of New York and that he was in the battles of ________________________ and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said service.
Oliver Bates
Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid.
Lyman Ellis, one of the Judges of the county aforesaid.
{State of New York, Jefferson County} On the fourth day of October 1820 personally appeared in open court, being a court of record by a law of said state for the said County, Oliver Bates aged fifty eight years resident in the town of Henderson in said county, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows, As a Private in Capt. Pritchard’s company of Infantry, in the Regiment commanded by Col. Grayton of the Massachusetts line, the date of his original declaration April 25th 1818—the number of his pension certificate 1357. He also subscribed and swore as follows—And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it, as to bring myself within the pre(_____?) of an act of Congress entitled an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War, passed on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not (____?) any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed –
Schedule
1 cow, 1 calf, 2 sheep, 3 swine, 1 axe, 4 old chairs, 1 table, 1 iron pot broken, 1 five pnd kettle do, 2 iron basins, 1 tea kettle, 1 milk pan, 2 milk pans, 1 wash tub, 1 feather bed, one old saddle. He further states that he is by occupation a farmer, is in poor state of health as is also his wife Rebecca aged 58 years and that he has two daughters living with him.
Oliver Bates
Sworn to and declared on the 4th day of October, 1820 before Geo. Andrew, Clerk
I George Andrew Clerk of the County do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of said court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is forty two dollars and fifty six cents – in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on this 4th day of October 1820.
Geo Andrew, Clerk.
Note: Oliver Bates was born 7 August 1753 in Shelburne, Franklin, MA. He died 8 June 1828 in Henderson, Jefferson Co., NY. He married Rebecca Hart, daughter of Samuel Hart and Esther Eaton, on 16 September 1782 in Shelburne, Franklin, MA. Rebecca was born about 1763 in MA and died in Henderson, NY . Children: Oliver, Asa, Polly, Cyrus, Elias, Hart, Laura and Fanny.
For further information, contact:
GARY L. RHODES
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