History of Thomas George Bates
HISTORY OF THOMAS GEORGE BATES (1) (annotated by Kendall Bates)
I was born in Maxstock, Warwickshire, England on June 12, 1862, and lived there with my parents until the age of four years [i.e., until 1866]. My parents joined the Church [of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints] about that time (2) and emigrated to America. We crossed the ocean on a wind vessel (3). We were six weeks at sea (4). We crossed the plains by ox team (5). Two families occupied the wagon we rode in. My mother was sick most of the time and had to ride. The rest of the family walked. The family consisted of my parents [Joseph Bates and Mariah Ridden Bates] and three sisters [Harriet Elizabeth Bates, born 1848, Mary Maria (Polly) Bates, born 1850, and Emma Bates, born 1858]. I can remember seeing my sisters hanging to the back of the wagon while fording rivers, then they had to walk all day in their wet clothes. We finally arrived in Salt Lake City in 1866 (6). [After our arrival, in Salt Lake City, Utah, we] went to Tooele, Utah with a friend, George Cramer [sic should be “Craner”], who emigrated at an earlier date.
2. T.I.B. Index Card to End. House Temple Records No 6696, Book 1, Page 285 for Joseph Bates, born 10 May 1821 in Mackstock, Warwick, Eng., whose father is Geo. Bates, and whose mother is Mary Wilkinson, and who married Maria Redding is shown as being baptized in 1846. This would seem to indicate a much earlier date of conversion than this history appears to suggest. 3. The vessel that brought the family to the new world was apparently the Arkwright, which sailed from Liverpool on May 30, 1866. [Ship passenger list (Film 298.431 (block) page 10, 30 May 1866) shows Joseph Bates, Harriet, Mary, Emma, Thomas] The Arkwright carried a company of 450. The ecclesiastical leader of the company was J.C. Wixom. They landed in New York City. Mormon Emmigration 1840-1869 (1963). A life sketch of Thomas George Bates’s oldest sibling, Harriet Bates Dunn, by her granddaughter confirms that the family crossed the ocean on the Arkwright, and provides the additional details: (a) that the company was the 137th company of immigrants; that the ship(?) captained by Daniel P. Culkin; (b) that the company had 450 immigrants; that the ecclesiastical authorities in charge of the company were Elder Justin C. Wisom [sic] who was assisted by Elders Harry Luff, and Hyrum P. Folsum. Because these details are correct, it is believed (the following footnote to the contrary notwithstanding) that it is correct that the family crossed the ocean on the Arkwright. According to that history, the company left on 30 May 1866 and arrived in New York 6 Jul 1866. 4. According to the life sketch of Harriet Bates Dunn the actual dates of commencement and completion of the voyage on the Arkwright were 30 May 1866 to 6 Jul 1866. 5. The records of an immigration company led by William Willis (which departed from Wyoming, Nebraska 12 Aug 1865) included “Joseph Bates and wife.” If this is the same Joseph Bates, however, they could not have been on the Arkwright, which did not sail from Liverpool, England until May 30, 1866. For the reasons set forth in the preceding footnote, it is believed that this record must have involved different Joseph Bates. 6. Arrival of the family in Utah in 1866 is confirmed by the life sketches of both Harriet Bates Dunn and Emma Bates Hiss. 7. According to the Life Sketch of Emma Bates Hiss Mariah Reading Bates died soon after they arrived in Utah. After Joseph Bates remarried Thomas left to live with friends (the Colemans) and stayed there in Tooele for several years.
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