Bates Cemetery
Bates Cemetery
Off of Bonnet St. 0.66 acres GPS Lat 42.0225104 Long. -71.9113768
This cemetery initially was on family property for family and neighbors in this northeast corner of Thompson, bordering on Massachusetts. It came under the Bates Cemetery Association in 1938 and incorporated in 1940. The area has a right of way from Bonnet St to access it.
It has about 15 surnames according to Hale’s List. There have been more burials here since then (since about 1930). Yes there are many Bates. The earliest grave is of Welcome Bates, son of John & Chloe (Fuller) Bates, age 9 mos, May 6, 1790. John Bates and wife came to this area about 1783/85. Then his parents Jacob & Molly (Clark). So they are buried here also. Other surnames in the cemetery may be Bates women who married and there are names of residents in the area (late 1700s and early 1800s if you look at early census records). Six grave stone dates of death 1800 or before and ten between 1800 and 1825. There are at least three American Revolution War Patriots and veterans of other wars since then. There are numerous field stones with no names or dates. Bates family members stayed in Thompson for several generations with many children in each generation and can be found in other cemeteries in town.
One Bates family member is Andrew Jackson Bates (1839-1915). He went off to New York City where he established a firm, A. J. Bates & Company in1866 to deal in shoes and rubbers. Then he began manufacturing shoes in Webster, MA, in 1886. Bates footware, especially boots, are still available today through Wolverine World Wide.
A cousin of Andrew Jackson Bates, Jerome Bates (1841-1926) was also involved in the A. J. Bates & Company in New York City. He and his family remained in NY and are buried in Brooklyn, NY
A son of John Bates, Alanson Bates (1772-1842) had the Fox & Hounds Tavern, a stop on the stage coach line between Providence, RI and Springfield, MA. This road appears on a 1795 map as Dudley Rd or Old Thompson Rd.
Members of a Masen or Mason family living in the area are buried here. Isaac Masen died 29 Sept 1826 after being stabbed. He intercepted a man stabbing his wife and subsequently he was stabbed. In his will he was living near Long Pond. The incident occurred in Slatersville, RI.
(Written By Mary Tomeo)
Documents:
Bates gravestones-Jacob & Molly, John & Chloe & baby Welcome, earliest stone
Bates, Andrew J.,Shoe manufacturer Info from Wikipedia