Jane Gates (bef. 1820 - 1888)

Born before 1820 in Maryland, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 6 Jan 1888 after age 68 in Cumberland, Allegany, Maryland, United States

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Biography

Jane Gates, "Estimable Woman"

Jane Gates is a part of US Black heritage.

Jane Gates, midwife, formerly enslaved. Seeing her obituary was the inspiration for her Gr Gr Grandson, Dr Henry Louis Gates', genealogical interest.^[1]

Jane was born into slavery in about 1813 or 1819^[2] and is believed to have been owned by Samuel Brady. He had a farm called the "Brady Farm" near Cresaptown in Allegany County, Maryland where Jane lived.^[3][4]

She had five children: Laura, Alice, Clara, Henry and Edward.^[5] However, their father is not known. Family lore says her owner, Samuel Brady, was the father of her children, but DNA tests have conclusively proven this to be untrue.^[3]

She and her children were among the nearly four million African-Americans freed from slavery at the conclusion of the Civil War. Just over five years later—at the 1870 federal census—she was recorded as 51 years old, a laundress and nurse, and owning real estate valued at $1,400. She was living with her children Alice (age 22) and Edward (12), and two grandchildren David (9) and Jennie (5). Jane was described as mulatto and unable to read or write.^[2]

The source of her wealth is a mystery—the family legend is that her former owner gave her $1,400 to buy an eight-room house, in a largely white neighborhood, at 515 Greene Street in Cumberland, Maryland.^[3] The house was transferred to Jane by Richard Bender and his wife by a deed dated 31 August 1871.^[5] Jane was also the first African-American woman in Allegany County to have a bank account.^[6] These facts are quite remarkable, especially considering that Jane has spent much of her life in slavery.^[7]

At the 1880 census, she was living with her extended family in Greene Street, Cumberland. She is recorded as age 51, widowed and a nurse. Living with her were her son Henry, two grandchildren, and her daughter Alice and her family. Her daughter Laura's family were recorded in the next household and her son Edward lived with his family further along Greene Street.^[8]

She died on 6 January 1888. The The Sunday Civilian reported:

"Aunt" Jane Gates, a well-known and estimable colored woman, died at her residence on Green street, aged 75 years.

A more detailed obituary in the Cumberland Daily Times reported:

Death of "Aunt Jane Gates." Last night at 11 o'clock "Aunt Jane Gates," colored, a family servant of the Stover's died in the 75th year of her age. She has lived for a long time on Green street where her death occurred. Her remains will be interred at Rose Hill cemetery to-morrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. Services will be held at her residence on Green Street.

Jane was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland next to her son Edward and his wife.^[9]

Jane left a will dated 15 November 1887. She gave her house to her daughter Laura Hamilton. She left her parlor furniture, parlor carpet, bedstead and bedding to her granddaughter May Mitchell. She directed that the residue of her estate be equally divided between her children Henry Gates, Edward Gates, Alice Burns and Clara Jackson.^[5] Her will is transcribed here. Probate was granted to her son, Henry, the sole executor of her will.

Jane's home on Greene Street still remains in the Gates family, and is recognized by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture. It is also eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Research Notes

In 1873, Jane was involved in a legal dispute with her son-in-law Pero Mitchell, which resulted in Pero being ordered to pay Jane $81.10, plus interest and legal costs. See The Mountain City Times, 19 Apr 1873: "Circuit Court—The following cases on the appeal docket were decided Wednesday ... No. 21.—Pero Mitchell vs. Jane Gates. Judgment for appellee for $81.10—interest and costs. No. 22.—Jane Gates vs Pero Mitchell. Judgment for costs".

Census

June 1880 Census

Sources

1. ↑ Gates, Henry Louis, Dr., interview, WikiTree 2021 Challenge Livecast, 3 February, 2021.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MNSP-3JN : accessed 7 November 2015), Janet Gates, Maryland, United States; citing p. 61, family 445, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,065.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Henry Louis Gates Jr, The Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Reader, Hachette UK, 2012, Part 1: Family Matters.
4. ↑ A slave on the Brady Farm: "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV8T-G75 : 15 February 2020), MM9.1.1/MV8T-G79:, 1850.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} "Maryland Probate Estate and Guardianship Files, 1796-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKJV-1B7 : 27 November 2020), Jane, 06 Feb 1888; citing Allegany, county courts, Maryland.
6. ↑ "Jane Gates - a historical matriarch"; Western Maryland's Historical Library, Allegany County, Maryland.
7. ↑ Television - "Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. On DNA Testing And Finding His Own Roots"; 21 Jan 2019, Terry Gross Interviewer.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN3R-X2F : 15 August 2017), Jane Gates, Cumberland, Allegany, Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district ED 6, sheet 128C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,493.
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (Find A Grave: Memorial #128568032 : accessed 04 February 2021), memorial page for Jane Gates (1820–6 Jan 1888), Find a Grave Memorial no. 128568032, citing Rose Hill Cemetery, Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland, USA ; Maintained by Dee Ferris (contributor 46912575) .

See also:

• Jane Gates Heritage House Facebook Page