William Bates (Quaker) facts for kids

William Bates (who passed away on November 8, 1700) was an important early settler in New Jersey. He was a member of a religious group called the Quakers. In 1682, William Bates and other Quakers moved from Ireland to an area that is now Camden County, New Jersey. There, they started a new place called Newton Colony. This was the third English settlement in the western part of New Jersey, known as West New Jersey. William Bates was also the first English-speaking person to settle in what is now Oaklyn, New Jersey.

Life in Ireland

In 1670, William Bates lived in County Wicklow, Ireland. He had a family there, including five children: Jeremiah, Joseph, Abigail, William, and Sarah. The Bates family attended Quaker religious meetings in the town of Wicklow.

Before 1674, the area of West Jersey was divided into five large sections. Each section was called a Tenth. These five Tenths stretched from a place called Assunpink Creek down to the Cohansey River. They all faced the Delaware River to the west.

On April 12, 1677, a group of Irish Quakers, who were like owners or "Proprietors," gained the rights to the Third Tenth. This area went from Pennsauken Creek to Big Timber Creek. Because of these Irish owners and early settlers, this part was known as the Irish Tenth.

William Bates, who was a carpenter from County Wicklow, received land rights from these Irish Proprietors. Four people from Dublin also received land rights: Joseph Slight, Thomas Thackara, Robert Turner, and Robert Zane. They knew how much land they would get, but they would choose the exact spot after they arrived.

Journey to the Irish Tenth

On September 19, 1681, William Bates and a small group of people left Dublin, Ireland. They sailed on a ship called Ye Owners Adventure. The ship's captain was Thomas Lurtin.

After a long journey, they reached the Delaware Capes on November 18. Their final stop was Salem. They spent the winter there in a new settlement called Fenwick's Colony. This colony was started in 1675 by English Quakers led by John Fenwick.

During that winter, the five land owners, including William Bates, traveled up the Delaware River to the Irish Tenth. Robert Zane, who had been living in Fenwick's Colony, joined them. They focused on the western part of the territory. This area was bordered by the Delaware River to the east, Pennsauken Creek to the north, and Big Timber Creek to the south.

All of them chose to claim land along the middle branch of Newton Creek. This creek had three branches and flowed into the Delaware River. William Bates claimed 250 acres of land on the south side of the creek. This area is now part of Oaklyn. The others claimed five pieces of land next to each other, totaling 1600 acres. These lands were on the north side of the creek, in what is now Collingswood.

Life in Newton Colony

After moving to Newton Colony, all of William Bates's children got married:

• Jeremiah married Mary Spicer.
• Joseph married Mercy Clement in 1701.
• Abigail married Joseph Fearne in 1687.
• William reportedly married a Native American woman.
• Sarah married Simeon Ellis in 1692.