William Montgomery Gage (1696 - 1753)

Born 4 Jun 1696 in Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Hannah Makepeace (Davis) Gage — married 1723 in Freetown, MA

Descendants

Died 6 Jul 1753 at age 57 in Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Loren Fay [send private message] and Jeanie Roberts [send private message]

Biography

William Montgomery Gage (Gaige) was born on 4 Jun 1696 in Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay Colony. His parents are not yet known. Daniel Gage and Martha Burbank lived in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts; Thomas Gaige and Mercy Clinton lived in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts.

William Gage was the schoolmaster at Freetown in 1725 and 1730, and was a school teacher as early as 1721.^[1]

He married Hannah Davis on 27 Jan 1723 in Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts.

Children:

1. William Montgomery Jr. b. 10 Oct 1725; m. Mercy Huddlestone of Dartmouth 6 May 1748
2. John, b. 5 Nov 1726
3. Thomas, b 13 Mar 1729; m. Chloe Huddlestone of Dartmouth
4. Susannah, b. 8 Aug 1731; m. Abial Davis of Freetown, Massachusetts 12 Jan 1753; died 6 Nov 1799
5. Joseph, b. 3 May 1734
6. Hannah, b. 7 Sept 1736
7. Remembrance b. 20 Sept 1738
8. Sylvester, b. 27 May 1741
9. David, b. 15 July 1744
10. Elizabeth, b. 2 March 1747^[2]

William died on 6 Jul 1753 in Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts.

The Family of William Gage of Freetown, Mass.

The Rev. Mr. Gage in a printed letter, released to members of the Gage family in 1915 had this to say concerning William Gage: ^[3]

“William Gage first appears in 1721 as the schoolmaster of Freetown, Mass., Bristol County, and as there was a Thomas Gage in the same town at the same time, they may have been brothers. William was apparently a Quaker, and with his sons William, John, Thomas, Joseph, Remembrance, Sylvester and David, left New England and sought a new home in Dutchess County, where Quakerism was well established. From here, the sons scattered in various directions, William (1725) with his sons went into Vermont, John (1726) and Thomas (1729) apparently left for the Vermont frontier; as yet no record of their families has been found. Joseph (1734:1811) with his sons lived in Washington, Dutchess County, N.Y. Remembrance (1738:1828) moved to Duanesburg N.Y. with his sons. David (1744:1802) remained in Dutchess County and had four sons, Samuel, Nathan, William and Jaboz. Nothing is known at present concerning Sylvester (1741) but he apparently remained in Dutchess County. Several branches of the family migrated with other Quakers, settling in Western New York and Pennsylvania.”

In a genealogy of the Makepeace family, it is stated that William Makepeace 2/16/1679 purchased a large tract of land on Taunton river. He is mentioned in the deed as being an inhabitant on the Freeman’s lot at Taunton River and the further statement is made in the book that those deeds are found in the Plymouth Colony records in the book of deeds.

William Gage, born, place unknown, probably on or before 6/4/1696 and died at Freetown Mass. 7/6/1753.

As William was witness to a deed on 6/4/1717 when it is presumed he was 21 years of age, he must have been born on or before 6/4/1696. If he was a son of Thomas, his father would probably have been born by 1675 or thereabouts.

He married: Hannah Davis. She was born about 1695, daughter of William and Mary (Makepeace) Davis of Freetown, Mass. She died 1754.

In volume 20 New England Historical and Genealogical Register, pages 212 to 216 under the heading of “The posterity of William Davis of Freetown, Mass” it states that Hannah Davis, the daughter of William Davis and Mary Makepeace, their 12th child married William Gaige of Freetown, Mass.

Mary Makepeace, mother of Hannah Davis (wife of William Gage) was the daughter of William Makepeace of Freetown and his wife Ann Johnson. William and Ann were married 5/23/1661. William Makepeace was a son of Thomas Makepeace and his wife Elizabeth Mellowes. Thomas made his first appearance in a book called: “Transcript of Boston records” His will was dated in 1637. He died in January or February 1667. His will was dated 6/30/1666 and is shown in Dorchester town records. William also had brothers Thomas and Joseph and sisters Hannah, Mary, Hester or Ester, and Waitewhile.

Volume 48 page 438 New England Historical and Genealogical Register: “The name Will Gaige appears on a muster roll of Captain Robert Temple’s company, Colonel Thomas Westerbrook, serviced in Main June 26, 1722 to Dec. 10, 1722.

In a history of Bristol County, Mass. (Hurd) it states that in 1725 William Gaige was employed to teach school for one year for 32 Pounds and to board himself. In 1730 to teach for 40 Pounds. Volume 20 New England Historical and Genealogical Register page 414 similar information is shown.

Children – all born in Freetown, Mass.

3030 William, born 10/10/1725 3031 John, 11/5/1726 3032 Thomas, 3/13/1728-29 3033 Joseph, 5/14/1734 3034 Remembrance, 9/20/1738 3035 Sylvester, 5/27/1741 3036 David, 7/15/1744

Also Susannah, 8/8/1731 M: 12/1/1753 Abiel Davis of Dutchess County Hannah, 9/7/1736 Elizabeth, 3/2/1746

Sources

1. ↑ Peirce, Ebenezer W. The Posterity of William Davis, of Freetown. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. 20:214. Boston: NEHGS, 1886
2. ↑ The Vermont Gages
3. ↑ Gage Families of America So designated by the Rev. Walker Miller Gage, compiler in his Gage Families of America, First edition 1922.