William John GATES
William John Gates, Harry' father, is known to have been a Royal Marine Sergeant who died in 1862, aged 37. This correlates with the 1861 entry, when he was 36. When he married in 1852, however, his age is recorded as 23. Until his birth is found, his age is uncertain, but it is likely that '27' has been misread by the Registrar as '23'.
It is known that William's father was John Gates, a bricklayer. The 1861 census suggests that William was born at Bexley, Kent, which will, hopefully, enable his birth to be found.
William Gates' Royal Marine records have not survived but, fortunately, his Description Book has. That shows that he was born at Portsmouth and his service number was 2353. He was attested on 21st June 1839 as a drummer and would have been 14 or 15 years old. He had light hair, a fair complexion and grey eyes. He had no trade, as he was so young. He was 'transferred to Duty Company' on 31st December 1841. He was set off the rolls on the 16th June 1862 "DD Haslar". DD means 'Discharged Deceased", which enabled his death certificate to be found. This shows that he had suffered a fever for 19 days and died aged 37.
William did not appear in the 1851 census of Hampshire and is presumed to have been overseas at that time. He appears in the Royal Naval General Service Medal Roll which he received for service at Syria in 1840 aboard HMS Cambridge.
In 1840 a combined fleet of 32 British, 8 Austrian and 3 Turkish vessels - under the command of Admirable The Hon. Robert STOPFORD, with his flag in the Princess Charlotte, engaged in the blockade of the Syrian coast to prevent any further Egyptian advance against Turkey.
On Sept 9th the majority of the fleet anchored off Beyrout and escorted Turkish Troops and British Marines to points of vantage. Until Oct 10th, when it was occupied by the British, Beyrout was frequently bombarded.
The Ganges went on detached blockade and didn't take part in the capture of St. Jean D'Acre.
By the end of November the Egyptians had made peace and evacuated Syria.
Rachel Harding
The birth of Harry's mother, Rachel Harding, has not yet been determined. It has varied slightly from source to source;
|
| Source | Date | Age | Place of Birth | Year of Birth |
| Census | April 1851 | 21 | Greenwich | 1829-30 |
| 1st Marriage | April 1852 | 21 | | 1830-31 |
| Census | April 1861 | 29 | Greenwich | 1831-32 |
| 2nd Marriage | August 1870 | 37 | | 1832-33 |
| Census | April 1871 | 37 | Greenwich | 1833-34 |
| Census | April 1881 | 47 | Deptford | 1833-34 |
|
In conclusion, it is likely that Rachel was born between 1830 and 1832 at Greenwich. It is also known that her father was a shipwright, George, and that she possibly had a sister called Jane.
The International Genealogical Index (compiled by the Mormon Church) lists the following baptisms at St. Alphage Church, Greenwich, all being the children of George & Rachel Harding;
Eliza, ch. 17.2.1839; Jane, George and Ann Harding all ch. 9.10.1840.
The IGI also shows that a George Harding married Rachel Evans on 19.5.1824 nearby at St. Mary Church, Lewisham.
Unfortunately, there is no baptism for Rachel. Nevertheless, it is feasible that this is her family, and that they had a daughter named after the mother. Furthermore, Jane is present, and Ann - could this be the Ann who was a witness at Rachel's wedding to William Gates in 1852?
It has not been determined why three children were baptised on the same day - were they triplets or merely three children baptised at different ages on the same day? The answers will hopefully lie in the 1841 census or the original parish records.
Also to be determined is where Rachel met William Gates. Did they meet in Kent or Portsmouth? William had been born at Bexley, only a couple of miles from the then busy port of Greenwich. It is also possible that George Harding took his family to Portsmouth where work for a shipwright would be more plentiful. One such family who did that were the Ellery's - John and Thirza - from Bodmin who actually moved to Moreland Road. It was not anticipated then that William George Gates would marry the great granddaughter of John Ellery's brother who then lived in Padstow, Cornwall!
As a final note, the 1881 census shows Rachel Howe as being a widow for the second time by the age of 47. More interesting is that she is living in a house at Claxton Street with another family - Samuel and Elizabeth Marchant. This was a common practice, with many houses large enough for at least two families. This must surely be the 'Eliza Marchant' who, six years later, appears as a witness at Harry Gates' marriage to Elizabeth Howe ?
|
|
