Olcott Gates (1919 - 1999)

Born 19 Mar 1919 in New York City, New York State, United States of America

Ancestors

Died 27 Jul 1999 at age 80 in Wiscasset, Lincoln, Maine, United States of America

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Biography

Olcott was born in 1919 in New York, NY. He was the son of Frederick Gates and Dorothy Olcott. He grew up in New York City, NY and Woods Hole, MA, graduating from Exeter Academy in about 1937. He did his undergraduate studies at Harvard College, and subsequently served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. In 1942, he married Jane Hooper in North River, NY. They had six children together, one who died young of influenza. Olcott earned graduate degrees in geology from the University of Colorado and John Hopkins. He taught geology at John Hopkins and the New York State University-Fredonia. He was an avid sailor. He and his wife retired to Wiscasset, Maine, where he passed away in 1999.

• A more detailed stories about Olcott can be found in the Gates family genealogy by Robert Cady Gates: George Gates of East Haddam Connecticut and some of his Descendants, 2002, Published by Robert Cady Gates; available at: Gates genealogy.

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Obituary

Journal.Maine.com, accessed at Zoominfo.com 8 June 2015.

"Olcott Gates, 1999-08-05

Olcott Gates, 80, of Wiscasset, died July 27, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Gates was a geologist and an avid sailor up to the time of his death. He worked for the Maine Geological Survey for 45 years mapping the Downeast Coast of Maine and most recently North Haven and Vinalhaven Islands. He cruised the Coast of Maine and Nova Scotia that he so dearly loved, and contributed a chapter on the geology of the Maine Coast to Roger Duncan's A Cruising Guide to the New England Coast. Born in New York City on March 19, 1919, he was the son of Dorothy Olcott Elsmith and Frederick L. Gates. He attended Exeter Academy and Harvard College. Through his wife, Jane, a geology instructor at Vassar, he became interested in geology. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard as Commander of a trawler in the North Atlantic where the rugged coast of Greenland deepened his interest in geology to a passion. After the war, he was captain of the research vessel, Atlantis, of the Oceanographic Institute in Woods Hole, Mass. Later he attended Graduate School at the University of Colorado and John's Hopkins University where he studied geology. He did field work in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and in Nevada while teaching at John's Hopkins. For two years he was a Peace Corps Administrator in Ghana, West Africa. He returned to serve as chairman of the Geology Department at New York State University in Fredonia. Mr. Gates loved the sea and sailing, a passion he passed on to his family. He loved beating to windward in a fresh breeze with the salt spray in his face. He spent his spare time designing and building small boats and making improvements to the many sailboats he owned through the years. A resident of Wiscasset for over 20 years, Mr. Gates was active in Town Meetings where he always enjoyed a good debate. He was a member of the Wiscasset Yacht Club and St. Philip's Episcopal Church. Survivors include his wife, Jane Hooper Gates of Wiscasset; his son, Frederick L. Gates of Arlington, Mass.; daughters, Catherine H. Gates and Alice Hooper Gates, both of Bath, and Elizabeth Shaw of Appleton; two sisters, Deborah Senft and Barbara Burwell of Woods Hole, Mass.; and five grandchildren, Nathaniel H. Gates, Jebb and Jannetta Shaw and Taylor and Megan Moran-Gates."

Sources

Robert Cady Gates. 2002. George Gates of East Haddam Connecticut and Some of his Descendants. Published by Robert Cady Gates, P.O. Box 7032, Hudson, FL 34674-7032. Accessed 10 June 2015 at: Gates genealogy provides information about Olcott's family, including his children.

"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJBL-TFD : accessed 25 May 2015), Oleott Gates in household of Frederick Gates, Manhattan Assembly District 15, New York, New York, United States; citing sheet 10B, family 286, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,212. Name: Oleott Gates; Gender: male; Age: 0; Marital Status: Single; Race: White; Race (Original): White; Relationship to Head of Household: Son; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son; Birth Year (Estimated): 1920; Birthplace: New York; Father's Birthplace: Minnesota; Mother's Birthplace: Michigan; Household (Role Gender Age Birthplace): Frederick Gates, Head, M, 33, married, Minnesota; parents' birthplace: f:Iowa, m:Wisconsin; Doctor, research wages; Dorothy Gates, Wife, F, 28, married; Michigan; parents' birthplace: f:NY; m: Michigan; occupation: none; Oleott Gates, Son, M, 0 (10/12), New York; parents' birthplace: f:Minn; m:Mich; Anna Bloom, Maid, F, 24, single, Wisconsin; parents' birthplace: Sweden (Swedish); maid, family, wages. Address: 140 West 58th St.; Rental

"New York, State Census, 1925," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSCW-4C2 : accessed 25 May 2015), Alcott Gates, Pelham, A.D. 01, E.D. 05, Westchester, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1925," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing state population census schedules, 1925, p. 2, line 36, New York State Archives, Albany. Name: Alcott Gates; Gender: male; Age: 6; Nationality: United States; Race: White; Relationship to Head of Household: son; Birth Year (Estimated): 1919; House Number: 1370; Page: 2; Line Number: 36. Address: 1370 Roosevelt Ave. Other household members: Frederick L Gates, head, w, m, 38, US, cit, doctor scientific research, wages; Dorothy O Gates, wife, w, f, 33, US, cit; Alcott Gates, son, w, m, 8, US, cit, school; Barbara Gates, daughter, w, f, 4, US, cit; Frederick F Gates, son, w, m, 2, US, cit; Dorothy Gates, daughter, w, f, 0 (330 days), US, cit; Helen Snitzner, servant, w, f, 23, Germany, alien, housemaker; wages, Greta Junke, servant, w, f, 42, Germany, alien, nurse, wages. Census Date: 1 June 1925.

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQG1-CYD : accessed 25 May 2015), Olcott Gates in household of Frederick L Gates, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0066, sheet 24A, family 438, line 27, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 917; FHL microfilm 2,340,652. Name: Olcott Gates; Gender: male; Age: 11; Marital Status: single; Race: White; Race (Original): White; Relationship to Head of Household: son; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): son; Birth Year (Estimated): 1919; Birthplace: New York; Father's Birthplace: Minnesota; Mother's Birthplace: Michigan; Household (Role Gender Age Birthplace): Frederick L Gates, Head, M, 43, married, marriage age: 30; Minnesota; parents' birthplace: f:NY; m:Wisconsin; Research, college, own account, employed, veteran, World War; Dorothy O Gates, Wife, F, 39, married, marriage age: 26; Michigan; parents' birthplace: Michigan; Olcott Gates, Son, M, 11, New York; parents' birthplace: f:Minn; m:Mich; Barbara Gates, Daughter, F, 9, New York; parents' birthplace: f:Minn; m:Mich; F Taylor Gates, Son, M, 7, New York; parents' birthplace: f:Minn; m:Mich; Dorothy Gates, Daughter, F, 5, New York; parents' birthplace: f:Minn; m:Mich; Deborah Gates, Daughter, F, 3 (3+10/12), New York; parents' birthplace: f:Minn; m:Mich; Bertha J Jakobsen, Nurse, F, 29, single, Massachusetts; parents' birthplace: Norway; nurse, private family; wages; employed; Penelope Mcdonnell, Waitress, F, 25, single, Ireland; parents' birthplace: Ireland; Immigration yr: 1923, pending citizenship application; waitress, private family, wages, employed; Bridget Faherty, Cook, F, 27, single, Ireland; parents' birthplace: Ireland; Immigration yr: 1923, pending citizenship application; cook, private family, wages, employed. Address: 31 Fayreweather Street. Rental, $250. with radio. All read/write/speak English.

"Massachusetts, Boston Passenger Lists, 1891-1943," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:23NS-G4V : accessed 25 May 2015), Olcott Gates, 1937; citing Immigration, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States, NARA microfilm publication T843 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,715,684. Name: Olcott Gates; Event Type: Immigration; Event Date: 1937; Event Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; Gender: Male; Age: 18; Birth Year (Estimated): 1919; Birthplace: United States; Ship Name: De Grasse. From Southampton, England, 15 Sep 1937 arriving Boston, MA, 23 Sept 1937. Traveling together: Residence: 544 E. 86th St. NYC, NY; Dorothy Elsmith, 45, f, married, Birth: Cokesbery, NJ, 7 Jul 1934, (??), passport no. 194481, issued, Wash, 18 May 1935 to 18 May 1939; Dorothy Gates, 13, f, single, Birth: NYC, NY, 27 Jun 1924; Barbara Gates, 16, f, single, Birth: NYC, NY, 17 Jan 1921; Frederick T. Gates, 14, m, single, Birth: NYC, NY, 22 Sep 1923; Olcott Gates, 18, m, single, Birth: NYC, NY, 19 Mar 1919. All on same passport. Note: not clear why Dorothy Elsmith's birth info is so confused -- it is very clearly typed in.

"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQTJ-8PW : accessed 25 May 2015), Olcott Gates in household of Leonard Elsmith, Assembly District 16, Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31-1452, sheet 62B, family 167, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 2658. Name: Olcott Gates; Gender: Male; Age: 21; Marital Status: Single; Race (Original): White; Race: White; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son; Relationship to Head of Household: Son; Birthplace: Massachusetts; Birth Year (Estimated): 1919; Last Place of Residence: Same Place. Household (Role Gender Age Birthplace): Leonard Elsmith, Head, M, 48, married, educ:c-6; Minnesota; employed, music teacher, own practice, 18 hrs/32 wks; own account, $2500, other income; Additional data: Parents' birthplace: Minnesota; Language spoken in home in childhood: English; Soc Sec Number?: No; Usual occupation: music teacher, own practice, own account;Dorothy Elsmith, Wife, F, 48, married, Educ: C-5; Michigan; housework, never worked; no other income; Berta Rhinedorf, Lodger, F, 52, married?, educ:H-4; Minnesota; employed; music teacher, own practice, own account, 18 hrs, 32 wks; $3600, no other income; Olcott Gates, Son, M, 21, single, educ:c-2; at school, Massachusetts; Barbara Gates, Daughter, F, 19, single, educ:H-4; at school, Massachusetts; Taylor Gates, Son, M, 17, single, educ: H-3; at school, Massachusetts; Dorothy Gates, Daughter, F, 15, single, educ: H-2; at school, Massachusetts; Deborah Gates, Daughter, F, 13, single, educ:8; at school, Massachusetts. Address: 86th Street. Rented, $250, not a farm. Everyone was in same place in 1935. No other income for children.

New York Times (New York, NY), 6 Jan 1942. Ancestry.com, Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, & Death Announcements, 1851-2003. Accessed 8 Jun 2015. "Miss Jane Hooper Married. North River, N.Y., Jan. 6--Miss Jane Hooper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cyrus Hooper of North River, was married this afternoon to Ensign Olcott Gates, U.S.C.G., son of Mrs. Leonard Elsmith of Woods Hole, Mass., and New York, and the late Dr. Frederick L. Gates. The ceremony was performed in the presence of the two families at Big Shanty, the Hooper home at North River, by the Rev. Robert Wood Nicholson, rector of the Church of the Messiah of Woods Hole."

The Warrensburg News (Warrensburg, NY), 8 Jan 1942, p. 4. Accessed at www.fultonhistory.com 9 Jun 2015. "Hymeneal. Gates - Hooper. Miss Jane Hooper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cyrus Hooper of North River, was married this afternoon to Ensign Olcott Gates, U.S.C.G., son of Mrs. Leonard Elsmith of Woods Hole, Mass., and New York City, and the late Dr. Frederick L. Gates, were married Tuesday afternoon. The ceremony was performed in the presence of the immediate families at 'Big Shanty', the Hooper home at North River, by the Rev. Robert Wood Nicholson, rector of the Church of the Messiah at Woods Hole. The bride was given in marriage by her father. Attending the bridal couple were Mrs. Charles Henry Tibbits, sister of the bride, matron of honor, and Frederick Taylor Gates, brother of the bridegroom, best man. Mrs. Gates is a graduate of Vassar College and received her master's degree at the University of Rochester. She was assistant in Geology last year at Vassar. Ensign Gates prepared at Exeter and is a graduate of Harvard University."

"United States National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel Files, 1954-1970," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KLWS-L1Q : accessed 25 May 2015), Olcott Gates, Colorado, United States, Dec 1953; citing 1954 National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel, 622629, National Archives at College Park, Maryland. Name: Olcott Gates; Event Type: Residence; Event Date: Dec 1953; Event Place: Colorado, United States; Gender: Male; Nationality: USA; Education Level: Master'S Degree; Birth Year: 1919; Employer: Federal Government, Including Armed Forces; Military Status: Not On Active Duty; Society Name: American Geological Institute; Educational Major: Geology; Year Obtained Degree: 1950; Institution Granting Degree: Colorado University of - Boulder, CO; Colorado University of - Medical School - Denver, CO.

"United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KGCS-ZFC : accessed 25 May 2015), Olcatt Gates, Residence, Bath, Maine, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information. Name: Olcatt Gates; Also Known As: Olcott A Gates; Residence Date: 30 Dec 2000; Residence Place: Bath, Maine, United States; Birth Date: 19 Mar 1919; Phone Number: (207) 882-6436; Phone Number Recorded Date: 01 Jan 2002; Address: 1026 Middle St, Bath, Maine 04530; Address Date: 30 Dec 2000; 2nd Address: 640 PO Box, Wiscasset, Maine 04578; 2nd Address Date: 01 Apr 1997-01 Aug 1997; 3rd Address: 234 PO Box, Wiscasset, Maine 04578; 3rd Address Date: 01 Mar 1987-25 May 2007; Possible Relatives: C Gates, Catherine G Lindvall Iv, Jane Hooper Gates, Nathaniel H Gates; Record Number: 27633845.

"United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JYWH-5WP : accessed 25 May 2015), Olcott Gates, 27 Jul 1999; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing). Age: 80; Given Name: Olcott; Surname: Gates; Birth Date: 19 Mar 1919; State: Maryland; Last Place of Residence: Lincoln, Maine; Previous Residence Postal Code: 04578; Event Date: 27 Jul 1999.

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