Coney Weston Village Website
THE ORIGIN OF THE SURNAME GATES
Two miles north of Coney Weston is the Little Ouse River is the border between Suffolk and Norfolk. There is a bridge across the river and on the Norfolk side is a tiny hamlet called Gasthorpe. In 1066 its ancient name was Gates thorpe1. In the Iveaugh-Phillips manuscripts dated 1463 there are references to land “be twyx” the Gatys. 2
As surnames evolved from a persons trade or place of origin and the fact that Stephen Gates father's name was in some instances written as Gatys there is a strong possibility that the Gates family originated from Gasthorpe.
After 1198 and before 1346 these three names occur in Gasthorpe.
Warine De Gatesthorp3
Sir Adam De Gatesthorp3
Sir John De Gatesthorp3
1300 Massive sandstorm, Gasthorpe & Knettishall deserted
1 Thorpe: Old Norse for tiny hamlet
2 Held at at Suffolk Records office Ipswich.
3 An Essay towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk volume I Author Francis Blomefield.Year published 1805.pp 250-254.URL:http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx? compid=77113Date accessed12 July 2010
© Margaret Mason. History Recorder Coney Weston.October 2010
STEPHEN GATES
CONEY WESTON, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND
In June 1638 the ship “Diligent” sailed from Ipswich, Suffolk, England and arrived on August 10th 1638 at Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The majority on board were families from Hingham, Norfolk.
The passenger list included, Stephen Gates, of Coney Weston, his wife Anne, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. He also had a four year old son Stephen who does not appear on the passenger list although he was later baptised at Hingham Massachusetts.
Stephen and Anne settled in Hingham MA, they had four more children who were baptised at Hingham church. Later the family moved to Lancaster MA, and finally Cambridge MA.
The founders of Hingham, Massachusetts left their original homes seeking a better life, free from discipline of the High Church, many selling their possessions for a fraction of their value. Hingham, Norfolk was forced to petition Parliament for aid, claiming that the departure of it's most wealthy citizens had left the town destitute.
Highham, MA, originally called Bare Cove, grew through the efforts and determination of a handful of people to become a major port of entry, as well as a thriving fishing port.
Maternal Grandparents
Martin Wright Burial 10/4/1592 Coney Weston Suffolk
Elizabeth (unknown) Burial 29/3/1598 : :
Father
Eustace Gates Birth ? Burial 26th April 1626 Coney Weston
Married 4/3/1592 Coney Weston, Suffolk
Mother
Rose Wright Birth Feb 1566 Coney Weston
Burial 25/7/1635 Hingham, Norfolk
Children
Thomas Rose, Baptised 1593 /1609 Coney Weston
William Alice : :
Mary : :
Bridgett : Buried 20th March 1616
Simon, Mary 2 : :
Stephen Baptism Dec 1597 Coney Weston
___________
Thomas married Margaret Mylyne 24/6/1622 Hingham Norfolk England *
William married Alice Foulesam 18/1/1627 : :
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Stephen Gatys and Anne Beare * Married 5/5/1628 Hingham, Norfolk,England*
Children
Elizabeth, Mary Birth, Hingham, England *
Stephen, Simon Baptism, Hingham, Massachusetts
Thomas, Isaac, Rebecca. : : :
____________________
Stephen Gates Burial 1662 Cambridge Mass'
Anne Beare Birth 1603 England
: Burial 5/2/1682 Stow, Mass'
Coney Weston Parish records. Bury St Edmunds Records Office.
*Hingham Parish records. Norfolk Records office. (Hackford/Reepham)
