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Maternal
Lineage: Sally7, Richard6, Daniel5, Moses4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1
  GAGE, c.1620-1852
Related Families:  Knight | Smith | Elithorpe | Nelson | Jones | Boynton | Jenkins
Migration: England>Yarmouth, MA>Rowley, MA>Beverly, MA>Mendon, MA>Milford, MA>Hubbardston, MA>
Shelbourn, VT>Missisquoi Co., QUE>St. Lawrence Co., NY

        (1)  Thomas Gage, born about 1620 in England, died before 17 July 1695 in Yarmouth, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts; married before 1648 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, Johanna, born about 1727 of Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of William C. Knight.  Parents of:
 
 
 

        (2)  Thomas Gage, born 1656 in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts, died in Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Canada, when he was struck by a cannonball fired through his tent; married in 1677 in Rowley, Sarah, born December 1654, died 7 December 1694 in Beverly, Essex co., Massachusetts.  Parents of:
 
 
 

        (3)  Thomas Gage, born 2 November 1678 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts, died after 1742; married 10 December 1697 in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts, Mary Smith, born 6 October 1678, daughter of Samuel Smith and Mary Elithorpe.  Parents of:
 
 
 

        (4)  Moses Gage, born 26 March 1705 in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts, died 2 October 1774 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; married 13 January 1730/1731 in Mendon, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Sarah Nelson, born 27 February 1706/1707, died 18 September 1791.  Moses was one of the signers of the peptition to the General Court on 25 November 1741 seeking creation of a new precinct from part of Mendon Township, called Easterly Precinct.  The new area became the present-day Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  They were both buried in the Old Burying Ground of Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  When that cemetery was closed, they were reburied in Vernon Grove Cemetery, Milford.
 


Moses Gage and Sarah Nelson's graves
in Vernon Grove Cemetery, Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
In Memory of
Mrs. Sary wife of
Mr. Moses Gage
whoe died Sept. 18
1791 in 84th year of her age

Princess this clay must be your bed,
In spite of all your Tow'rs:
The tall, the wife, the revrend,
Must lie as low as ours.
Here is buryd the
Body of Mr. Moses
Gage who died Oct.
the 2nd 1774 in 
69th year of his age.

Hark from the tombs a doleful sound,
My ears attend the cry,
Ye living men come view ye ground,
Where you must shortly lie.

Children:

  1. Moses, born 1732 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 24 June 1802 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; married 17 February 1758 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; Mary Boynton., buried in Vernon Grove Cemetery next to Moses' parents  Their marriage was performed by Rev. Amariah Frost.  Moses inherited the homestead of his father, afterwards known as the Amasa Leland place.  Mary became a member of the Congregational Church of Milford on 30 March 1760 and had all their children baptized there, but Moses did not join unitl he was on his death-bed on 11 June 1802.
  2. Daniel, mentioned below
  3. Molly, born 18 november 1737 in Mendon, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 20 May 1819 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; married 23 August 1764 in Mendon, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Phineas Davis. They are both buried in Vernon Grove Cemetery, Milford, behind her parents.

 
 
 

        (5)  Daniel Gage, born 1 June 1734 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 18 April 1810 in Hubbardston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; married 1 January 1756 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Priscilla Jones, born 21 July 1738 in Hull, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, died 18 May 1809 in Hubbardston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  They were married by the Rev. Amariah Frost.  Daniel and Priscilla were recieved as members of the Congregational Church of Milford on 3 April 1768, and probably had their residence on the North Purchase.  The family emigrated to Hubbardstown, Worcester Co., soon after the birth of son Moses, where they were noted as still living on 8 April 1784.  Daniel served as a private from Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War.

Children:

  1. Daniel, born 15 December 1756 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 18 April 1810; married 6 May 1781 in Spencer, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Sarah Newton.  They were residents of Hubbardston.
  2. Asa, born 22 July 1758 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 26 January 1837 in Hanover, Chautauqua Co., New York; married 6 march 1781 in Westminster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Mary "Polly" Bolton.  Asa enlisted at age 16 and served throughout the Revolutionary War.  Enlistment papers for Col. Grout's Regt. when he was 21 years old describe him as 5ft. 9in. and of dark complexion.  He applied for a war pension 10 April 1818 in Windham Co., Vermont.
  3. Melatiah "Millie", born 7 March 1761 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; married 4 February 1789 in Spencer, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Ezra Livermore.
  4. Lydia, born 15 August 1763 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 17 may 1810; married first Andrew Jackson; married second Zebor Simonds; married third Abel Harrington.
  5. Nathaniel, born 10 September 1765 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 2 December 1854; married first Lydia Boynton; married second Nancy Bard.
  6. Elisabeth, born 4 May 1768 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 5 October 1803; married 21 January 1789 in Hubbardston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
  7. Nathan, born 1 April 1770 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 28 May 1849; married first about 1799 Persis Boynton; married second Betsey Boynton.
  8. Nabby, born 1 April 1770 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 5 May 1770
  9. Richard, mentioned below
  10. Abraham, born 2 May 1775 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 5 March 1844; married 27 December 1798 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, Mary Boynton.  Their first children were born in Hubbardston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and later they had children in Vermont.  Thier last child was born in New York.  their migration trail suggests they moved along with his brother Richard Gage.  Abraham went on to French Creek Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, and then on to LaGrange County, Indiana, where his will, dated 11 May 1843, was witnessed by William Eastlic and Leonard Hall.
  11. Moses, born 15 April in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 30 November 1851; married 3 August 1800 in Westminster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Nancy Bard.

 
 
 

        (6)  Richard Gage, born 23 December 1772 in Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 15 June 1850.  He married 20 January 1794, Sarah "Sally" Boynton, born 2 July 1770, Milford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 15 June 1815.  Upon his death, a short biographical death notice was published in the Ontario, Canada, newspaper "Christian Guardian" in the December 14 issue:

"Richard Gage was born in 1772 at Mendon, Mass., and moved with his family to Templeton with his family during the Revolution.  On 20 January 1794 he married Sarah Boynton, and they settled at Hubbardston, Mass.  In 1799, they moved to Shelbourn, [Franklin Co., Vermont], and then in 1805 to Canada.  Richard was licensed to preach on the Dunham Circuit in 1810.  He lost his wife in 1815, and in 1817, he married Catherine Johnson of St. Armand, a Baptist.  His death occurred 15 June 1850; predeceased by 8 children, one of whom, his eldest son, was drowned in 1808; survived by his wife and 12 children."
                                                                                   -- Dec. 4, 1850 p.32, O.

        The obituary shows that Richard was an ordained minister, since it was common for their clergy to ride "circuits," travelling by horseback to preach to several communities in a region, his his burial record shows that he served the Methodist Church.  The place they lived in Canada was Stanbridge, in the "Eastern Townships," (a.k.a. "Cantons d'l'Est") in Mississquoi Co., Quebec, where his descendants also lived.  It is said that he eventually died in Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., New York, where some of his children settled, but his burial was in Stanton Cemetery, Stanbridge East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec.
        The farm that RIchard established in Stanbridge East was in the continuous possession of his descendats until the mid-1990s.
        If the tally of his children is correct as noted in the obituary, then two more children remain to be discovered.  In the Stanton Cemetery in Missisquoi Co., there is a small tombstone near those of Richard and his second wife Catherine for an unnamed infant who died 16 July 1818.  She may be one of the missing two children.
        Richard made two will's; the first will made in 1844 was not final, but said essentially the same thing as the last one, and bears his signature.  He was buried 15 June 1850 in Stanton Cemetery, Stanbridge East, Missisquoi County. In 1808, his son Abel drowned in Furnace Creek, which runs alongside the cemetery, and Abel's was the first burial in that yard. Both of Richard's wives and several of his children are buried with him.


The eastern entrance to Stanbridge East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, showing a bridge over Furnace Creek
in the foreground, Stanton Cemetery in the background, and the road to Dunham to the right.

Children of Richard Gage and Sarah Boynton:

  1. Abel, born 24 August 1794 in Hubbardstown, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, drowned in Furnace Creek in 1808 and was the first person buried in Stanton Cemetery, Stanbridge East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada..
  2. Sarah "Sally", born 30 June 1796, Hubbardston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 22 June 1852, town of Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., New York; married 14 November 1813 in Frelighsburg, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada, Elias Jenkins, born 10 May 1791 in Bradford, Orange Co., Vermont.  They are both buried in Jenkins Neighborhood Cemetery, Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., New York.
  3. Rhoda, born 11 May 1798 in Hubbardston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; married John Holden.
  4. Roxey "Roxa", born 11 May 1798 in Hubbardston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
  5. Abigail, born 7 September 1800; married Artemus/Arkmas Holden.
  6. Richard, born about 1802, probably in Shelbourn, Franklin Co., Vermont, died 15 April 1814 in Quebec, Canada, buried in Stanton Cemetery, Stanbridge East, Missisquoi Co., New York.
  7. Luman, born 13 June 1805 in Shelbourn, Franklin Co., Vermont, died 8 February 1856 in Pearceton, Quebec, Canada; married 21 March 1830 Sarah Fordyce, born 14 November 1807 in Quebec, died 20 November 1877.  Parents of:
    1. Moses Minor Gage, born 3 October 1831
    2. Lydia Gage, born about 1832
    3. Sarah Gage, born about 1833
    4. Azubah Gage, born 6 April 1837 in Stanbridge, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada, died in Brome Co., Quebec; married 5 March 1870 in Frelighsburg, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Anson Bird Vernal, born 28 May 1836 in Swanton, Franklin Co., Vermont, died in Brome Co., Quebec.  He was a farmer who came in to Canada about 1859.  He was baptized on 8 August 1880 by the Methodist minister at Knowlton, Quebec.
    5. Allen B. Gage, born about 1838
    6. Mary J. Gage, born about 1840
    7. Lucy Gage, born about 1842
    8. Abel E. Gage, born about 1845
    9. Prudence A. Gage, born about 1849 in Stanbridge, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada.
  8. Lydia, born 3 December 1807; married Jason H. Jennison.
  9. Elizabeth "Betsey", born 10 February 1810 in Stanbridge East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada; married 26 October 1826 in St. Armand East, Mississiquoi Co., Quebec, Canada, Lyman Jenkins.
  10. John, born about January 1812 in Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada, died 12 April 1812, buried in Stanton Cemetery, Stanbridge East, Missisquoi Co., New York.
  11. Abel, born 27 August 1813 in Mississquoi Co., Quebec, Canada, died 13 December 1878 in St. Lawrence Co, New York; his first wife died sometime before 16 December 1849; he married second on 31 January 1850 Harriet J. Chittenden.  Abel lived in Fort Jackson, and in Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York.  He was enumerated as a resident of Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., in 1860.  A letter he wrote in 1849 to his father in Canada was published the 1991 newsletter "Across the Border."
Children of Richard Gage and Catherine Johnson (all born in Stanbridge East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada):
  1. unnamed infant, died 16 July 1818, buried in Stanton Cemetery, Stanbrdige East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec.
  2. Hannah, born 10 July 1819.
  3. Richard, born 14 April 1821; married Mary Ann Bradford.  They lived in Plymouth, DePere, and Shawano, Wisconsin.
  4. John, born 1 May 1823; married Hannah Boomhower.  He was sole executor of his father's will.  Parents of:
    1. John, born 1863 in Stanbridge East; married Mary.  Parents of:
      1. Arthur J., born 1891 in Stanbridge East, died May 1983 in Stanbridge East; married 1917 Lena Beck, died August 1983.  They are memorialized by a stained-glass window in the Stanbridge East United Church dedicated to their memory.  Parents of:
        1. Wesley Gage, born 1919, died 1998; married Louise Howland.  Parents of:
          1. Floyd Gage, recent owner of Richard's original farm in Stanbridge East.
  5. Catherine, born 2 March 1825.
  6. Daniel, born 13 August 1827.
  7. Priscilla, born about December 1829, died 6 May 1855, age 25 years and six months, buried with her siblings and parents in Stanton Cemetery, Stanbrdige East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec.
  8. Nathaniel
  9. Ruby, born about November 1833, died 16 August 1839, age 5 years, nine months, 24 days, is tentatively identified as a daughter of Richard and Catherine, since she is buried with them and their other children in Stanton Cemetery, Stanbrdige East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, though she was not mentioned in Richard's will.

Stanton Cemetery, Stanbridge East, Missisquoi Co., Quebec 
Gage Family Plot in 2005

 
Richard & Sarah Gage in 2005

 

Sarah "Sally" Boynton, 1770-1815
Richard Gage, 1772-1850
Black-and-white photos above by P. Tarassoff, 1998; Courtesy of Ann Tarassoff, 1999.

 

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Last updated 1 September 2005

 

Richard Gage's First Will
(not final)


 
Letter from Abel Gage to father Richard Gage:

 
Stockholm, December 16th, 1849
Dear Father and Friends:

        Feeling anxious to hear from you, and presuming a few lines from me might be interesting, I venture to write a little.  I took the stage at Franklin Monday morning (as I intended when at your house) reached Burlington at 7 o'clock evening.  Could not find my mode of conveyance to Uncle Gage's that night so started on foot.  There had just been a heavy rain, the night was dark, the roads a regular mortar bed, so I made but slow progress as you might well suppose.  I got to Jason's about ten o'clock mud to my knees and really exhausted with fatigue, found the Friends much as I had expected, from what I had heard, Lydia sit up near half the time, she said her cough was not so bad as it had been, her strength wasted slowly but constantly, the rest of the Friends were about the same as when Catherine left.
        Tuesday afternoon made three visits and got back to Jason's at night.  Wednesday closed my visit there (it was a pleasant and ___ visit) and after dinner stared for Burlington made two visits on the way, got there in time for the evening boat, reached Plattsburg at 12 o'clock, paid 25 cents for lodgeing and a bed as soft as a board, the stage left before day which brought relief to my poor bones.  The stage was an open wagon, the morning cold, the ground froze hard, yet it (was?) a change of position and wa sbetter than no way.  Getting along, got to Malone in the evening; Paid 25 cents for lodgeing againstarted at precisely 3 o'clcok, reached Stockholm at ten o'clcok (Friday), I was ___ home to dinner, and was not a little tired but a good deal, was gone from home 11 days, had a short but good visit, found things at home as well as could be expected.  I think the journey was no injury to me in the long run, since I got home my appetite has been good, and my health is somewhat improved.  I still live alone and a___ my own work, week before that was butchering week with me I got a woman to help me a few days.  I killed but two hogs this year, sold one and salted one.  The one I sold weighed 416 pounds, the other was not weighed, but I think if I eat alone in one year I shan't do much else.
    Br. Elias and Sally Jenkins health is rather better than it was in the fall, it is a general time of health here at present.  We have had very interesting meetings here for a few weeks several have professed to experience religion.  Noah Jenkins is one _ong in number he seems to be very faithful and substantial for boy.  I pray the Lord to carry on the good work untill all shall be brought into the fold of Christ.  The work progresses slow but steady without special excitement or extra mean of Grace.  We have from two to three prayer meetings a week.  Preaching once in two weeks.  The Lord seems to hear the prayers of his Children for the revival of his work.  Pray that it may continue.
        I must soon close my letter.  I trust you will remember me in my lonely dwelling.  Language cannot express nor pen paint the sorrows I feel for a single day; my earthly comfort is gone.  I am lonely beyond description, I can say in the language of the poet I would not live always, I ask not to stay, Where storm after storm rises dark oer my way.
        Please write to me on reseving this, you may direct your letters to Stockholm East, as I have more or less letters that come to theat Office I am under the necessity of going there for them, it will be better for me to have all come to one office even if I do have to go further for them.  Give all my love to all enquiring friends,

I remain your affectionate son,
Abel Gage.

* "Jason's" probably refers to Abel's sister Lydia's husband, Jason H. Jennison.
*Sallywas Abel's sister.  She marriedElias Jenkins who was the brother of their sister Elizabeth's husband, Lyman Jenkins.
[Published in ACROSS THE BORDER Vol. III no. 4, Summer 1991]

Richard Gage's Burial Record, 15 June 1850
Catherine Gage's Marriage Record, 20 June 1850


 

GAGES of St. Lawrence County, NY
who were likely related to the Richard Gage Family
          Elijah B. Gage, died after 17 October 1853 when he made his will and before 19 April 1854 when it was proved in Norfolk, St. Lawrence Co., New York; married Mary B. Sackrider, relative of Christian Sackrider who was witness to Elijah's will.
          The will named Elijah and Mary's children, a Mr. Sylvanus Gage who was made guardian to the couple's minor children, and Elijah's sister Lucy Gage.  She was either unmarried or a widow when her brother made his will, since he granted her "a home in my family as long as the family reside on my now home farm in Norfolk, and is to have suitable board, lodging and firewood for one year and a half after my decease."  Elijah ordered his executors to sell his  "Stockholm farm" and his "home farm in Norfolk".
           Considering Elijah's age (based on the date of death), and the proximity of his residences to Abel and Sally Gage, both children of Richard and Sarah Gage who moved to Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., New York, Elijah and his sister Lucy may tentatively be identified as close relatives, pending further evidence.
    Children:
    1. Hannah
    2. Margaret
    3. Delia S.
    4. Alden
    5. Charles