THOMAS GATES was born 7 May 1776 in Henniker, Merrimack, N.H. to ISAAC GATES and MARY WHEELER.
His wife was PATTY or LUCY PLUMLY born 27 Aug 1776 in Keene, Cheshire, NH. Her parents were JOHN PLUMLY and SUSANNAH CLAYTON. THOMAS and his wife were married 15 Dec 1796 in Acworth, Sullivan, NH.
He lived in Acworth, Sullivan, NH from at least 1797 to 1799 where LUCINDA was born 19 Sep. 1797 and SALLY was born 31 Jul 1799. He was in Marlboro, Cheshire, NH in 1800, or at least one of his sons, JOHN, was born there 15 Dec, 1800. BETSY was born 8 Mar. 1803 in Acworth, and then THOMAS was born there on 13 Aug. 1807. Then he lived in St. Johnsbury, Caledonia, Ver. from 1807 to 1816. The last six of his eleven children were born there: PATTY on 10 Aug. 1807; ALMIRA and MARIA on 9 Feb, 1810; JACOB on 9 Mar 1811; LUCY on 7 Jun 1813; and CYNTHIA on 19 Dec 1816.
He was in Kirtland, Geauga, Ohio as he and his wife relocated from Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, to Kirtland, Ohio, soon after they joined the Mormon Church and it moved to that area. In 1834, as a member of "Zion's Camp," Thomas went with Joseph Smith to Jackson, County, Missouri, but returned with him to Kirtland where, in February 1835, he was appointed a member of the Second Quorum of Seventies. See Orson Whitney's History of Utah, Vol. I. On 7 March 1835 he received many blessings for his efforts in building the Kirtland Temple. On 17 Aug 1835 the Doctrine and Covenants was presented to the general assembly. Due to the crowds, several men were assigned as presidents of the day. THOMAS was chosen as one of these men to keep order in the assembly. THOMAS bore record of the Doctrine and Covenants acknowledged it as scripture in the church in front of the congregation. THOMAS also made a covenant to help move the saints from Missouri on 29 Jan. 1839 in Farr West. THOMAS was selected from the high priests quorum to go on a mission, to take his family and stay until a temple was built. He presided over the branch there. THOMAS was an original member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and ordained by JOSEPH SMITH, SIDNEY RIGDON, and OLIVER COWDERY.
THOMAS settled in Nauvoo and was active in the construction of the Nauvoo temple. His wife died 18 Sep 1845 in Nauvoo. He was able to receive his endowments there 17 Dec. 1845.
In 1846, he accompanied his daughter LUCINDA, and her husband, ERASTUS BINGHAM, to the camp at Swift River in Iowa, north of Winter Quarters. On 8 August 1846, THOMAS and ERASTUS were both named High Councilors to GEORGE MILLER, who presided over the saints in that location (See An Enduring Legacy, Vol. I.) THOMAS, age 75, traveled to Utah in 1847 in the second group that arrived in the valley on 19 Sep 1847.
He died 22 Jun 1851 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
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