From Bates/Iske

Biography of Elder (or Deacon) Edward Bates, the Emigrant

            Edward Bate settled as a freeman in Weymouth, Massachusetts in 1637.  He was a Deputy of the General Court from 1639-42 and again in 1660, and Commissioner of Marriages on June 2, 1641.  He held the office of townsman in 1643.  On February 3, 1651/52, he was an Elder of the Weymouth church.  He was an Elder of the church at Weymouth for more than thirty years.  This was an important position at that time.  According to the Cambridge platform, it was the duty of the ruling elder “to open and shut the doors of God’s House (officially) by admission, ordination, excommunication and restoring; to call the church together; to prepare matters in private for public church meetings; to moderate church meetings; to be leaders and guides in church actions; to see that none of the church live without a calling; to prevent and heal offenses in life or church doctrine; to feed the flock, visit the sick, and pray with them when sick and at other times.”

            A large landowner, he had a part interest in a corn mill and a saw mill.  When his October 22, 1682, will was proved on July 22, 1686, after his death on March 25 of that year, the inventory for his estate amounted to £657, 15s (657 pounds, 15 shillings).[1]  In 2002, an English pound (£) is worth about $1.50 American.  Thus, using today’s exchange rates, he was “worth” about $1,000 when he died – perhaps in 1686 a small fortune were it calculated in today’s money.  Of course, since Elder Edward Bate died 90 years before the Revolutionary War, there was no “exchange rate” from English pounds to American dollars at that time.

            Mrs. Iske’s report states he was appointed June 6, 1639, to be chairman of a board to end small business in Weymouth and was reappointed to the same office May 10, 1643.  Mrs. Iske also notes that he took an active part in the business of the General Court is evident from the fact of his being selected as one of their number both June 6, 1639, and May 13, 1640, to make a levy or tax upon the several towns, then composing the colony of Massachusetts.[2]   January 28, 1640-41, he with two others was appointed to determine between Henry Waltham, merchant, and Wealthia, wife of Thomas Richards, deceased, of Weymouth.  December 10, 1611, he with two others was appointed to view the way at Braintree and certify to the next General Court.  He is then called “Goodman Bates”.  He was also reappointed June 14, 1642, to view the same way, which is now called Commercial street.  January 1668, “Elder Baitts, Deacon Dyer of Weymouth and Capt. Foster of Dorchester were appointed by the court to hear the matter in difference between the town of Braintree and Mrs. Anna Thompson and make a return of it to the court.”  Mrs. Anna was the widow of Rev. William Thompson, pastor of the church in Braintree.

            He was also chosen on various important committees during his long life as the records of the town of Weymouth show.  Mrs. Iske reported that we have no record of his marriage, but that at his death he mentioned his beloved wife Susanna, whose maiden name or the date of her birth were unknown.  However, today we know that he married Susanna Putnam on January 26, 1632, at Drayton Beauchamp, Buckinghamshire, England.[3]

            They had eight children, three sons and five daughters (Prudence, Susanna, Increase, John, Mary, Anna, Edward and Jehoshabeath), although only some of their births are recorded . . . .  Increase, born December 28, 1641 resided in Weymouth on a part of the old homestead.  He had nine children by wife Mary [Whitmarsh] and died Feb. 20, 1717, aged 76 years.

            Per Mrs. Iske’s report, Elder Edward Bate resided at the time of his death near the spot now occupied by the Weymouth Iron Works.  His body was buried in the cemetery at Burying Hill and a gravestone erected which is still standing and bears the following inscription:  “Here Lyeth Buried ye body of Elder Edward Bate aged 81 years departed this life ye 25 day of March 1686.”[4]