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View Tree for John Bates IJohn Bates I (b. May 23, 1598, d. March 13, 1665/66)

John Bates I was born May 23, 1598 in Kent, England, and died March 13, 1665/66 in York County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Winston on May 15, 1624 in York County, Virginia, daughter of William (Isaac) Winston and Sarah.

 Includes NotesNotes for John Bates I:
John Bates
The Immigrant [1598 - 1666]

In the early years of the 17th Century the social, political, and religious climates in England were rapidly changing.

Socially, land was passed down to the eldest son and as the agricultural customs changed so did the family farms. The population of England was growing and there was not enough acres of land available to support the whole family. Many bright young men, who had planned to live on the land as their fathers did, were suddenly changing plans and moving to the cities.

Politic and Religion were controlled by the monarchy. In 1603, following the death of Queen Elizabeth, James, son of Mary Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, was solemnly crowned at Stirling. Although King James had behaved with great lenity to the Roman Catholics in Scotland, those in England were very disappointed in their expectations of his favor. In 1605, Guy Fawkes and other Catholics motivated by religious persecution devised a conspiracy to commit terrorism. (Re: The Gunpowder Plot).

In December of 1605, a small fleet consisting of three small ships: the Susan Constant, a one hundred ton ship carrying provisions an seventy-one passengers; the Godspeed, a forty ton ship carrying provisions and fifty-two passengers; and the Discovery, a twenty ton ship carrying provisions and twenty-one passengers, moved down the Thames River, south through the Strait of Dover, east through the English Channel and then proceeded over the long route through the West Indies to America.

About four months later, on the morning of April 26th, the lookout on one of the ships sighted land in Virginia. Later that same day a landing party was sent ashore at Cape Henry for their first close look at the new land they had come to settle. Having been on board the small ships for many weeks, the new immigrants found the expanse of land, the beautiful green forest, fresh water streams, and the unspoiled landscape a beautiful sight to behold. At Cape Henry they saw their first Indians and in a small skirmish several in the party were wounded by arrows.

The next day, they split into two parties, one building a "shallop" and explored the surrounding area on foot and by boat. They found the countryside filled with wild spring flowers, all kinds of wild berries, deer, rabbits and a variety of game birds. On Sunday, April 29, 1606, a cross was set up among the sand dunes and their first church service was held. The next day the ships were moved from Cape Henry into Chesapeake Bay and to a site on Hampton Roads which they named Point Comfort. On May 13, 1607, the three ships moved up the James River to a point that would be names Jamestown Island, where they could maneuver their ships close enough to the shore to moor them to the trees on the river bank.

Over the next few weeks the men built a fort, for protection. It was built in the shape of a triangle. This fort and the adjacent areas became Jamestown settlement. The first plantations in Virginia were carved out along the James River. Much of the land was swampy with a variety of pesky insects and a lot of disease. Until 1610-1611, when tobacco was imported into Virginia from the island of Trinidad by John Rolfe, only Jamestown had proven lasting. In the fourth year, Elizabeth City was established on a permanent basis and Henrico was laid out

John Bates, who we lovingly call The Immigrant, is believed to have lived in or near the village of Canterbury in Kent County located in the south of England. We do not know his motives for leaving England, nor do we know the port he sailed from. For now, let us assume that he sailed from London.

In 1618 Sir George Yeardley acquired 1,000 acres on the south sice of the James River above Martin's Brandon and across from his Tanks Weyanoke holdings. He proceeded to establish a plantation here, which he named in honor of his wife who had been Temperance Frowerdieu known as Flowerdieu Hundred.

In 1619 it was well enough along to merit the representation in the Assembly which was performed by John Jefferson and Ensign Edward Rossingham, the latter one of Yeardley's kinsmen. Only six persons were killed here. flowerdieu Hundred was one of fewer than a dozen points that the Colony decided to hold after the onslaught.

Council minutes and other sources in the 1622-24 period show the plantation as one that was probably functioning well. ... This seems to mean a yearly harvest of 9,000 pounds (of tobacco)at Frowerdieu Hundred in 1624.

... this is the year that Yeardley sold his plantation as well as his holdings across the James at Tanks Weyanoke to Captain Abraham Piercey, one of the leading merchants in the Colony. In 1624, the year of the sale, a population of sixty-three (including eleven negroes) had been listed for flowerdieu Hundred with another eighteen having died in the previous twelve months.

On March 22, 1622, the Virginia's Indians made an all out effort to drive the English out, by massacring more than 350 settlers during one terrible night, driving away their cattle and pigs and burning their buildings.

At the time of this massacre Abraham Piercy had a plantation adjacent to the Appomattox River, somewhat upstream from the James known as Piercey's Plantation. Here "at Master Abraham Pierse his plantation some five miles off the colledge people" four persons, 3 men and a boy were killed. Peircey, a prominent merchant, named to the Council in 1624, may have laid out his acres here, in lieu of his long service done the Company, as early as 1620. The holding, in May, 1625, was defined as 1,150 acres obtained by patent. A place name here Piercies Toyle Creek very likely is a result of his activity in the area.(Hatch 1957 pg. 66 )

Late in 1623 John Bates is listed as a passenger on the Southampton, a 180 ton ship, bringing provisions and 57 new settlers from England, to help re-build the shattered Virginia Colony.

After arriving, John worked for some years as an indentured servant to Abraham Piercy, owner of the plantation first know as Flowerdieu Hundred, established by George Yeardley and later known as Flowerdieu-Piercey's Hundred and finally known as Piercey's Hundred. In 1624/5 John is listed in the Muster of Mr. Abraham Piersey's Servants.

In the census of 1625, Piercey's Hundred, as the place was now called, had fifty-seven its eleven negroes (four men, two women and one child). The enumeration included twelve houses, three stores, four tobacco houses, and two boats, all of which had been bought or build by Piercey. There was a windmill too, and this, the first in the Colony, had been erected by Yeardly, it is said, in 1621. It stood on Windmill, earlier known as Tobacco, Point. ... . (Hatch 1957 pg. 71)
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In 1624, John married Elizabeth Winston, the daughter of Isaac Winston. Both John and Elizabeth were members of Church of England, Bruton Parish, York County. John wasn't a servant for long for in the 1626 Census, before his second child is born, John Bates was listed as a merchant. It is believed John and Elizabeth had six children.

1. M Child: George Bates; Birth: 1625; Place: York Co., VA; Death: 1676; Place: Bruton Parish, York Co., VA; Occupation: Plantation owner, known As George Bates Of Skemino; Religion: Church Of England Bruton Parish, Virginia; Spouse: Mary Smith; Marriage: About 1645

2. F Child: Susanna Bates; Birth: 30 Sep 1635; Place: York Co., VA; Spouse: Stephen Tarleton; Marriage: 21 May 1655; Place: York Co., VA

3. M Child: John Bates; Birth:29 Aug 1627; Place: York Co., VA; Death:20 Mar 1701; Place: Bruton Parish, York Co., VA; Spouse 1: Joice (MNU) Bates; Marriage: 25 Apr 1650; Place: York Co., Virginia; Spouse 2: Elizabeth (MNU) Bates; Marriage: 29 May 1694; Place: Bruton Parish, York Co., VA

4. F Child: Anne Bates; Birth: 1630; Place: York Co., Va; Spouse: Belbie

5. F Child: Alice (Alse) Bates; Birth: 1632; Place: York Co., VA; Death: 1677; Spouse: William Dean

6. F Child: Elizabeth Bates; Spouse: John Roads

John Frederick Dorman, an authoritative source for the early Bates, reviewed Tidewater Virginia Families by Virginia Lee Hutcheson, in The Bates Booster No. 131 dated September 1993. On page 3 of the review, referring to page 424 of the book, it was said.... "The book did not list a daughter named Susanna in his will, but perhaps he (John Bates) was not pleased with her marriage to Stephen Tarleton. Tarleton lived a very colorful life to the detriment of his reputation before marriage.

On 15 Sept, 1655 John Bates patented 50 acres of land lying "at the Middle Plantation butting easterly upon the Old paile (palisado)," which he had purchased from George Lake."
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The York County records of 4 May 1660 contains this entry: "John Bates, of Middleton Parish in this county, and ancient inhabitant of the colony, being sixty two years of age and thereby disabled to work as formerly is discharged from ye cointrey and county leaves by this court for the future."

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The will of John Bates "The Immigrant" YORK COUNTY, VIRGINIA Book 3, p 165:

In the name of God Amen I John Bates of the County of Yorke in Middletowne parish being very sicke and weake yet in perfect memorie doe here make my last will and testament.

FIRST I comitt my soule to my Creator and Redeemer, Next my body to the earth to be buried in Christian burial at ye disposing of my wifeand for my other worldly Estate as followeth.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Anne Bellbee one pide ccowe called Primrose to be delivered after my decease.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my sonne George Bates one cowe called Souarkin to be delivered after my decease.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my daughter Alse Deane one twoyear old heifer called Marigold to be delivered after my decease.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto John Bates my youngest sonne one cowe called Cole and one two year old heifer called Stone and one cowe calfe to be delivered him after my decease, and likewise one feather bed, bowlster and likewise I give all my land which I now hold by pattent unto my said sonne John Bates, likewise I give unto my sonne John Bates one younge sowe with pigge to be delivered after my decease.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth Bates all my other estate moveable not moveable and wikewise my will is that my wife shall enjoy my land during her life. Furthermore I make my wife Elizabeth Bates my whole sole Executrix of what estate I have not bequeathed to my children, and I doe appoint my oldest sonne George Bates my overseer of this my last will and testament to see it performed, as witness my hand this 21st of September 1666.

The mark of John (X) Bates

Teste: George Bates, his mark
Robert Cobbs

Furthermore I the said John Bates do bequeath my wife Elizabeth three barrells and halfe of corn to be at her disposing. I doe give and bequeath to my sonne George Bates my best hatt and Cloth Coat and breeches. I doe give and bequeath to my sonne John Bates one hogshead of tobacco and one young horse, my son in respect thereof to pay all my debts in ye general.

The Mark of John (X) Bates

Teste: William Winston,
George Bates,
William Deane

The will and Codicill annext proved in Court Jan'y 24th 1667 by William Winston, George Bates, and William Deane and Recorded. L.J. Baskerville Clk. Cur.

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References:

1) The First Seventeen Years - Virginia, 1607-1624, written by: Charles E. Hatch, Jr., Originally Published 1957 - Reprinted for Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1993, 1994.

2) ADVENTURES OF PURSE AND PERSON - Virginia - 1607 - 1624/5 - Revised and Edited by Virginia M. Meyer (1974- 1981), John Frederick Dorman, F.A.S.G. (1981-1987) - Published by Order of First Families of Virginia, 1607-1624/5, third edition, 1987

3) Colonial Virginia - Its People and ustoms. Virginia.Stanard, M. N., page 47


More About John Bates I and Elizabeth Winston:
Marriage: May 15, 1624, York County, Virginia.

Children of John Bates I and Elizabeth Winston are:
  1. Elizabeth Bates, d. date unknown.
  2. +George Bates, b. May 23, 1625, Burton Parish, York County, Virginia, d. Bef. April 24, 1677, Skimeno, York County, Virginia14.
  3. John Bates, b. August 29, 1627, York County, Virginia, d. March 20, 1700/01, Bruton Parish, York County, Virginia.
  4. Anne Bates, b. Abt. 1630, York County, Virginia, d. date unknown.
  5. Alyse Bates, b. Abt. 1632, York County, Virginia, d. Abt. 1677.
  6. Susanna Bates, b. September 30, 1635, York County, Virginia, d. date unknown.
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