NATHAN DENNISON BATES, a retired
business man and owner of real estate in Preston, Conn., was born in the
adjoining town of Griswold, New London County, November 13, 1829, son of
Benjamin and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Bates. He is a descendant of Caleb Bates,
of Scituate, Mass., who removed to Kingston, R.I., in 1701, settling in
what is now Exeter. The family name was formerly Bate, the present form
having been adopted within the last hundred years.
Nichols Bates, the grandfather of Mr. Bates
of Preston, was born in Exeter about the year 1775, and died in 1845. His
wife, Susanna Wethers, who belonged to a family of French Huguenots, and
was born in 1777, survived him ten years, and died in 1855. Their children
were: Benjamin, Nichols, John, Silas, Daniel, Arnold, and three daughters,
all of whom had families. Nichols Bates, Jr., went to Ohio, where many
of his descendants now live.
Benjamin Bates, the father of Nathan D.,
was a shoemaker by trade. In 1827 he removed from Rhode Island to the town
of Griswold. He married Elizabeth Hawkins, of South Kingston, R. I., in
1817. Her ancestor, Captain Thomas Hawkin, settled in Dorchester in 1630.
He was a member of the London Artillery Company and of the Ancient and
Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, and was in charge of the big guns
at Savin Hill, Dorchester. His son, Richard Hawkins, removed from Boston
to Portsmouth, R.I. ; Christopher, the second son, settled in Kingston,
R. L; and Thomas, from whom Mrs. Bates descended, married Ann Torrey, daughter
of the Rev. Joseph Torrey, of Tower Hill, R.I. Captain William Torrey,
who came to New England in 1632 and settled at Weymouth, Mass., was for
many years a Representative to the General Court, and served as Clerk of
the house. Johnson, the historian of Massachusetts, says he was famed for
his fine penmanship. His son, the Rev. Samuel Torrey, was invited in 1686,
it is said, to the presidency of Harvard College, President Oakes having
died in 1681, and his immediate successor, John Rogers, in 1684. This honor
Mr. Torrey declined, but he was a fellow of the corporation from 1697 to
1705. He was pastor of the church at Weymouth fifty-one years, and preached
the election sermon in Boston in 1674, 1683, and 1689. He married Mary
Rawson, daughter of Sir Edward Rawson, who was Secretary of the Colony
of Massachusetts and Clerk of the Probate Court of Suffolk County. Benjamin
and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Bates had four children: Henry, a machinist and
mechanical engineer, who died in 1860, at the age of forty-two years; Nichols
B., a marine engineer, who died at Ulysses, Neb., in 1887, at the age of
sixty-seven; Hannah H., who married Isaac P. Sims, and died at sixty-three
years of age; and Nathan D., who lives in Preston. The mother died in November,
1865; and the father died in June, 1881. The eldest son was a member of
the firm of Cranston & Bates, of Norwich, manufacturers of engine boilers
and general machinery, also a member of the New London Foundry and Machine
Company. He was a fine mechanic, and inventor of and patentee on stem valves
and a bomb lance for taking whales, as well as of a new steam gauge. Naturally
an investigator, he made and owned one of the largest telescopes in the
United States, the instrument in Harvard University Observatory being then
the only larger one.
Nathan D. Bates acquired his elementary education
in the little, old brown school-house in his native district, afterward
pursuing his studies two terms in the village select school. At the age
of sixteen years he started out for himself on a tin pedler's cart, and
six months later he was employed for a short time in running a stationary
engine at Westerly, R.I. He then learned the machinist's trade, and in
1848 took the position of machinist and engineer with Cranston & Bates,
of Norwich, Conn. Four years later he became fireman of the steam ferry-boat
which carried cars across the Connecticut River; and in 1853 he went as
fireman again with his brother Nichols, then the engineer on the "Agawam,"
plying between Sag Harbor and Greenport. In June of that year he obtained
a United States license as engineer, and early in 1854 he became his brother's
successor on the "Agawam," as master engineer. During the summer he went
to Providence as engineer of an excursion steamer, the "Blackstone." After
that he was in different ways engaged in business until the breaking out
of the war, when he was appointed chief engineer of the United States Navy,
and served on the steamship "Hetsel," the "Hatteras," the monitor ”Nantucket,"
and the steamship "Dawn." From the latter he was transferred to the prize
ship "Princess Royal," which he took from Port Royal to Philadelphia. After
a short leave of absence given him on account of his state of health, he
was ordered to the Boston navy yard as chief engineer of the "Mercideti,"
in which he went to the West India Islands. His last period of service
was at the Philadelphia navy yard. He left the United States Navy in 1864,
and was variously occupied in connection with his profession, finally forming
a partnership with Elijah J. Green, under the firm name of Bates &
Co. The firm dissolved in 1871; and Mr. Bates continued in business alone
until the spring of 1878, when he retired.
He was elected Sheriff in 1877, and was in
office from 1878 until 1881, being the second Democratic Sheriff of the
county. He was made an elector, April, 1851, and was elected Constable
that year. Appointed Justice of the Peace in 1864, he served in that capacity
for eighteen years. He has been a Selectman and Trial Justice, and has
represented his town at the General Assembly. He was a County Commissioner
for three years, 1874-77, and in 1886 was appointed by Grover Cleveland
United States Marshal, which office he ably filled for four years; and
has held many other honorable positions in service of State, county, or
town. He belongs to the Sons of the American Revolution, and was Second
Lieutenant of the Fourth Rifle Company, Third Regiment, Quartermaster of
the Third Regiment, and held the rank of Major as Aide-de-camp to Major-general
James J. McCord. Mr. Bates also served in the fire department for three
years.
It was in the fall of 1854 that he married
Sarah Emily Nickerson, daughter of Thomas H. and Susan (Currin) Nickerson,
of Sag Harbor, the nuptials taking place November 15. They began domestic
life at Preston City, and, with the exception of a year at Mystic Bridge,
made that city their home until 1871. Mrs. Sarah E. Bates died August 21,
1893, at the age of fifty-eight. She left two children — Addison G. and
Katherine Browning Bates. Addison G. Bates is foreman of the sewer department
in Providence. He married Minnie H. Hille, of Harvard, la., and has two
daughters — Grace Land Laura Nickerson. Katherine Browning Bates is the
wife of John F. Bennett, of Boston, and has one son, Henry Bates Bennett,
a bright boy about twelve years old.
Mr. Bates married second, April 3, 1895,
Sophia A. Connell, of Preston, daughter of Joseph and Sophia Bromley Connell.
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 361 - 363
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