James Yates

James Yates

Male 1662 - 1733  (70 years)

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  • Name James Yates 
    Birth 4 May 1662  Walton, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 17 Jul 1684  Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Deed 1693  Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    he purchased 250 acres on southeast side of Newtown borough in Bucks County from Israel Taylor in 1693 
    Death 2 Apr 1733  Newtown, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Age 70 years 
    Person ID I18635  Base Tree
    Last Modified 25 Oct 2024 

    Father Jasper George Yates,   b. 1640, Blackburn, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F9750  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Agnes Webster,   b. 15 Aug 1668, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 31 Dec 1730, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years) 
    Marriage 1693  Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Peter Yates,   b. 1692, Newtown, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Rensselaer, New York Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Joseph Webster Yates,   b. 1694, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Nov 1761, Loudoun, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years)
     3. Agnes Yates,   b. Abt 1696, Newtown, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. Isabelle Yates,   b. 1698, Newtown, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1775, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years)
     5. James Yates,   b. 1699, Newtown, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1737, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 38 years)
     6. Sarah Webster Yates,   b. 1696, Newtown, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Dec 1783, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years)
     7. Margaret Yates,   b. 1702, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location
     8. Robert Yates,   b. 1706, Newtown, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Mar 1774 (Age 68 years)
     9. Elizabeth Yates,   b. 21 Oct 1708, Newtown, Bucks, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Jan 1804, Loudoun, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 95 years)
    Family ID F8001  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Lancashire, England, Extracted Parish Records about James Yates Tho: Yates Text: James Yates s. of Tho: Yates of Ribchester 04 May 1662 Book: Christenings. (Baptism) Collection: Lancashire: Ribchester - Parish Register, 1598-1694

      Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Name: James Yates Year: 1684 Place: Pennsylvania Source Publication Code: 2313 Primary Immigrant: Yates, James Annotation: Original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Corrected and re-transcribed in no. 7585, Roach, and no. 8370, Sheppard. Also in no. 6460, "A Partial List...." Source Bibliography: FUTHEY, JOHN SMITH, AND GILBERT COPE. "A Partial Registry of Arrivals Was Made Between the Years 1682 and 1687." In History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with Genealogical and Biographical Sketches. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881, pp. 22-24. Page: 23

      U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Name: James Yates Gender: Male Birth Year: 1663 Spouse Name: Agnes Webster Marriage Year: 1693 Marriage State: PA Number Pages: 1

      Religion: Quaker; Occupation: yeoman; Emigration: 7 Jul 1684 from Liverpool, England on the ship "Vine" and arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 17 Jul 1684.

      He was from Walton, Lancashire. James came as an indentured servant for five years for Henry Baker.

      He bought land in Bucks County about 1693. In 1728 he built a mill at Newton Creek. On 5 Mar 1729 he sold Richard Iliff of Middletown, cordwainer, a lot of ground in Newtown, containing 134 perches. Richard Iliff, on 29 Nov 1732, sold his lot of 134 perches to Henry Nelson. His will was probated August 1, 1724 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

      A descendant of James Yates stated that her great grandfather, George G. Megrail, wrote in his journal that one Yates "was employed to step the width of Pennsylvania." He also wrote that the original Yates came over with William Penn, settling in Pennsylvania.

      Historical documents prove that both these statements were indeed close to fact, as we see below. Actually William Penn came to America in 1682 on the "Welcome." James Yates came two years later on the "Vine."

      The "Vine" from Liverpool, William Pierson, Master, arrived at Philadelphia, July 17, 1684. Among the passengers were a number of settlers from Walton, Lancashire, including James Yates. "It has been published by William J. Buck in his History of Indian Walk, page 184, that James Yates, the elder, arrived at Philadelphia as an indentured servant for five years with Henry Baker, in the Vine of Liverpool, 7th month 17th, 1684.

      It is recorded in the books of Bucks Quarterly Meeting that Henry Baker and his wife Margaret, of Derby, in the county of Lancastershire, England, were granted a certificate, dated 3, 27, 1684, to Pennsylvania in America. At the marriage of Job Bunting to Rachel Baker, dau. of Henry, at the house of her father 4, 27, 1689, James Yates was one of the witnesses. At the marriage of Henry Baker to Mary Radcliff (2d wife) at his house 8, 13, 1692, James Yates was one of the witnesses. As James Yates' name is not signed as a witness at marriage while he was a young man, except the above two cases at the house of Henry Baker, there is some reason to believe that Henry Baker on Delaware was his home."

      According to the historian Samuel Smith of Burlington, N.J., James Yates walked out the purchase of land from the Indians in 1686. James Yates, Jr. was one of the three white men who participated in the Great Indian Walk of 1737. James Yates built a mill on Newtown Creek, the first in the neighborhood. In 1728 Yates sold his mill and 13 acres of land to Henry Nelson, with the right of way or water right of the race up to the dam.

      On the 14th day of the second month, 1693, Israel Taylor of Bucks County sold 250 acres in Newtown to James Yates, also of Bucks County, for 15 pounds, 10 shillings. The deed was witnessed by Thos. Brock, Ephraim Jackson, Andrew Heath, and Wm. Biles Jr. Receipt of the money was acknowledged the same day, which receipt was witnessed by Wm. Beakes and Jonathan Scaife. This deed is the earliest land transaction involving James Yates in Bucks County. It is likely that James was married in or around the year 1693, since some of his children were born before 1700.

      On the 4th day of the 4th month, 1702, James Yates of Newtown, husbandman, sold 28 acres of the above land to Daniel Done. This land was located next to Thomas Constable and was on Newtown Creek. The consideration was 21 pounds, which was substantially more than James had paid for the entire 250 acres in 1693. The deed was signed, indicating that James could write his name, and was witnessed by James Heaton and John Cutler. James Yates appointed John Cutler, attorney, to deliver the deed in open court.

      Some years later, on 18 Jan 1713, James Yates and Agnes his wife again sold a portion of the original tract purchased from Israel Taylor. James was still residing in Newtown and was listed as a Yeoman. This time 22 acres were deeded to Daniel Doan for 16 pounds, 10 shillings, and the land was located in Newtown, next to Henry Nelson. The deed was witnessed by Ezra Croasdale, David Jackson, and Samuel Hillborn.

      It appears from the deed records that James Yates subdivided his land and sold it in lots of any quantity wanted for improvement. Thus homes and businesses of Newtown sprang up on the original James Yates property.

      On 5 Mar 1729 James Yates sold Richard Iliff, of Middletown, cordwainer, a lot of ground containing 134 perches. The remaining land owned by James Yates was left to his wife and to his sons Peter and Robert when he died. The will of Arthur Searle of Middletown, dated 6-20-1737 mentions land in Newtown conveyed to him by Agnes Yates.

      The early will books of Bucks County contain numerous references to the Yates family. James Yates and Agnes Yates witnessed the will of Stephen Twining of Newtown, 12 mo. 20, 1719/20. John Webster of Falls Township, Bucks County, in his will of 13 Dec 1720, mentions kinsman James Yates and Agnes his wife and their children. Peter Webster, in his will dated 1 Aug 1724, mentioned his grandson Joseph Yates and the rest of the children of his daughter Agnes Yates.

      When he made his will on 31 Dec 1730, James Yates was still residing in Newtown Township, Bucks Co., Pa., no doubt on the same land he had purchased in 1693. In the will he considered himself a "Yeoman" and signed his name to the document. He left his wearing apparel to be equally divided among his sons, Joseph, James, and Peter. To his daughters Sarah, Agnes, and Isabell he left ten shillings each. To his daughter Margaret he gave his satchel, and to his daughter Elizabeth he left twenty shillings. James left all his lands and tenements to his wife Agnes, to be enjoyed by her during her widowhood.

      After her death or remarriage, the land was to pass to his sons Peter and Robert. Executors of the will were the wife Agnes and son Joseph. The will was witnessed by Margaret Thornton, Jno. Frohock, and Joseph Thornton. On the 2nd of April 1733, the will of James Yates was proved by the solemn affirmation of Joseph Thornton and by the oath of Margaret Thornton. Previous to making his will James Yates had deeded a portion of his land to his son James Yates, Jr., and had apparently given Joseph Yates his share in the same manner. On 29 Jan 1736/7 James Yates, Jr. of Newtown sold to Samuel Carey 29 1/2 acres, part of 70 1/2 acres granted to James Yates, Jr. from James Yates the elder by deed dated 13 Oct 1729. This land was in Newtown, and next to John Walley, Agnes Yates, Nathaniel Dunham, and the Joseph Yates land.

      It appears that the wife, Agnes Yates, was deceased by 1 Jan 1736, for on that date Peter and Robert Yates sold a portion of the land inherited from their father (details under Robert Yates). Peter and Robert were to inherit the land only after the death or remarriage of the widow.

      During the time when James Yates flourished in Bucks County, he witnessed several marriage certificates for members of the Middletown Monthly Meeting of Friends. His name appeared as witness on 28-2-1697, and the name of Agnes Yates appeared on 29-3-1702. No other indication has been found that James Yates was a member of the Society of Friends. Clearly, however, several members of his family were active members.

      On 9-14-1764 Agnes Yates witnessed the will of Joseph Kinsey of Buckingham. If the widow of James were dead by this time, it is possible that this Agnes Yates was the unmarried daughter. Agnes Yates "Junr." was witnessing marriage certificates in the Middletown Monthly Meeting as early as 1713 and as late as 1728. Thus the younger Agnes Yates would have been still unmarried in her thirties.

      In the 1790 census of Pennsylvania there were listed only three heads of families named Yates. Of these, Joseph Yates, and Joseph Yates, Jr., both of Oxford Township, Philadelphia County, may have been descendants of James Yates, Sr. Joseph Yates (son of James) had a son Joseph Yates, who was still alive in 1761, but who apparently did not remove to Virginia with his father [source: Family Tree of William A. Yates - wyates@montana.com 2 Aug 2002].


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