Benjamin Bates (1761 - 1839)

Born 20 Jul 1761 in Gloucester County, New Jersey, British Colonial America

Husband of Ann (Edwards) Bates — married 24 Apr 1819 in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States

Died 10 Sep 1839 at age 78 in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States

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Biography

Benjamin Bates is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A208572.

Private Benjamin Bates served with Gloucester County Militia, New Jersey Militia during the American Revolution.

Benjamin Bates was born 20 Jul 1761 in Gloucester County, New Jersey. He passed away in 1839.

BATES, BENJAMIN

Ancestor #: A208572

Service: NEW JERSEY

Rank(s): PRIVATE

Birth: 7-20-1761 GLOUCESTER CO NEW JERSEY

Death: ANTE 9-10-1839 GLOUCESTER CO NEW JERSEY

Pension Number: *S2361 Service Source: *S2361

Service Description: 1) CAPTS JOHN WOODS, JOHN DAVIS, COL ELLIS :RESIDENCE: 1) County: GLOUCESTER CO - State: NEW JERSEY.

SPOUSE: 1) ANN EDWARDS.^[1]

From: Crime and Justice, Loyalists, Politics During the War (1775-1783), The War Years (1775-1783) June 10, 2021; LOYALIST “BANDITTI” OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY; [11] The most notorious leaders of these gangs were John Bacon, William Giberson and Joseph Mulliner^[2][3][4]

From: "The Other Loyalists" Ordinary People, Royalism, and the Revolution in the Middle Colonies, 1763 - 1787 published 2009 :Page 59 [1] Patriots in frontier counties such as Monmouth were in a vise grip between forces operating out of British held New York and "intestine enemies," such as Joseph Mulliner, William Giberson Jr., and John Bacon, who operated from "skulking places" in the state's southeastern pinelands.

From: The History of Egg Harbor Township, Early History of EHT and Atlantic County by Alfred M. Heston Absegami: Annals of Eyren Haven and Atlantic City 1609 to 1904 - Volume 1 and 2 Published 1904. Chapter: "Revolutionary Reminiscence"

Near the close of the Revolution some of the troops captured at the surrender of Cornwallis, who were cantoned in Virginia, escaped in small parties, and by concealing themselves in the woods by day and traveling by night, with the assistance of guides and friends whom they found on their way, finally reached Egg Harbor, whence they sailed for New York. To prevent this Captain John Davis was sent with a company of men to Egg Harbor. On one occasion his lieutenant, Benjamin Bates, with Richard Powell, a private, called at a house where it was understood two refugees were lodging over night. Bates and Powell reached the house shortly after daybreak and found two girls building a fire in the kitchen. They inquired if there were any persons in the house besides the family, and were told that “two men from up in the country” were asleep in one of the rooms. Bates directed the girls to show them where they were, and in doing so they passed through a room separating the kitchen from the bedroom. Two pistols were seen lying on a table in this room. Knocking on the door, Bates was at first refused admission, but finding him determined to enter, the two refugees opened the door and surrendered. They refused to tell their names, but were afterwards identified as William Giberson and Henry Lane, refugee lieutenants, the former a notorious rascal, who had committed many outrages and killed one or two patriots in cold blood. On their way to Davis’s headquarters, Giberson called Bates’ attention to something he pretended to see at a distance, and while Bates was looking in that direction, Giberson started to run in another, and being a very fast runner made his escape, Bates, however, firing several shots after him. Captain Davis directed Bates to recapture Giberson the next night, if possible. Accordingly, he went to the same house. While in the act of opening the door, Bates heard the click of a gun, and turning around he saw Giberson aiming at him from behind a tree. He quickly dropped on his knees and the ball passed through the crown of his hat. Giberson started to run, but was pursued by Bates, whose first shot took effect. Although badly wounded in the leg, Giberson succeeded in reaching a swamp, but was soon captured and taken to Burlington jail, whither Lane had previously been taken by Private Powell. Giberson had a sister who bore a striking resemblance to him, both in face and form. This sister obtained permission to visit him in prison, and while there they exchanged clothes. The brother left the jail in women’s attire, and the jailer, completely deceived, helped him into the wagon. He went to New York, joined the British army, and while with them went to Nova Scotia. Previous to his capture, as recorded above, Giberson had an exciting experience at Tuckerton. It is related that one day a lad was gunning in Tuckerton Bay, where he was surprised by the appearance of Giberson and his gang in a boat. They made the boy a prisoner and took from him his fowling piece. They then ordered him to pilot them to Tuckerton landing. Reaching what was called “scow landing”. They moored the boat and went to the tavern recently built by Daniel Falkenburg, the first inn keeper in Little Egg Harbor. As soon as the refugees reached the tavern they indulged in a drunken revel. Some of the residents sent a messenger to Mannahawkin, where there was a company of militia, and informed them of the presence of the refugees in Tuckerton. A squad of soldiers marched toward the place to capture or disperse the revelers, but a Tory informed the outlaws of their coming, and about the time the militia reached Tuckerton the refugees fled to the landing. The militia marched down Green Street toward the landing, and as they came near the creek, the refugees poured the contents of their heavily charged guns into the ranks of the militia with such fury and precision that the latter were forced to retreat, followed by the outlaws, who pursued them to West Creek. Seeing the retreating militia on the opposite side of the creek, Giberson and his victorious band returned to Tuckerton to go aboard their boat. When they reached the landing the boat some distance off. In their absence two of their comrades, who were too drunk to join in the pursuit, had become sober enough to unmoor the boat and were paddling the craft down the creek, shouting as their companions came in sight, “we are the boys to hold the boat”. The returning outlaws, mistaking them for their enemies, ran along the creek in pursuit. They fired at and killed both of the men before discovering that they were of their own gang. After this the refugees returned to the tavern and finished their debauch. Before leaving Tuckerton, Giberson hunted up the boy from whom he had taken the gun, returned it to him and also presented him with a Spanish dollar. After the close of the Revolution, Giberson returned to Egg Harbor and settled down to a more peaceful and honorable occupation.

Sources

1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/), "Record of Benjamin Bates", Ancestor # A208572.
2. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/?s=William+Giberson
3. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/06/loyalist-banditti-of-monmouth-county-new-jersey-jacob-fagan-and-lewis-fenton/
4. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/09/captain-john-bacon-the-last-of-the-jersey-pine-robbers/

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