Jeremiah Bothwell married Sarah Bates.
Her mother was Sarah Needham, who married George Bates.
We know virtually nothing about the Needhams.
Sarah Bates's daughter, Jennie Bothwell Bratney, wrote down some things she remembered about her mother's family.
"My grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Bates, and children came to America in year 1832. Landed at Quebec, Canada, May 28, being 7 weeks and 4 days at sea.
The children’s names as follows: George, William, Thomas, Annie, Sarah.
George Bates, Senior, was born at Wexford in county same name, Ireland. Died at that place. Maiden name of his mother, Mary Whitmore.
William Needham, Grandfather of my mother (Sarah Bates) died Arklow, Ireland. His wife’s name, before marriage, Annie Hill.
Mrs. Sarah Bates and children settled near Rome, Oneida County, N.Y., where she died. Also William, George, and Thomas are buried near that place.
Anne married a Mr. Green, removed to Chicago and died at that place. Milliner.
Valentine Needham, a brother of Sarah Bates, Senior, was taken off a ship and forced to stay on Prince Edward Island. In course of time became very wealthy.
Sarah Bates was married on June 30th 1845 in Upper Canada to Jeremiah Bothwell."
There was another Bates son, Benjamin, who joined the British Army in 1825. One of the letters his mother wrote looking for information about him, was postmarked "New London, Can. 1853."
That's it.
Cousin Linda Nielsen did most of the work on the Needhams - she found Valentine living in Prince Edward Island, and we have since learned more about him and his family. (There's a wonderful website for PEI, with tons of info.)
William Neeham and Annie Hill
Sarah Needham Bates 1769-1854
Valentine Needham 1783-1865 - Ireland - Prince Edward Island, Canada
His children
I recently found another couple possible Needham siblings, living not far from Sarah Needham Bates in New York. Pretty much all I have about them is census and cemetery listings.
Hannah Needham Armour - Elizabeth Acton
If these two are siblings, then Sarah's family looks like this:
William Needham - Annie Hill
Sarah b 1769
Elizabeth b 1782
Valentine b 1783
Hannah b 1788
That seems like quite a gap between Sarah and the rest - I have never been happy with Sarah's birth date, but that's what the documents I have show. But there is room for more children, no?
I have recently been wondering about the connection to London, Canada - not only did Sarah Bates get married there in 1845, but her mother, Sarah Needham Bates, was there in 1853, at least for a visit. I looked for Bothwell families and Bates families - and there are some of both - but there might have been a Needham connection instead (or as well). Unfortunately there are a LOT of Needhams in Canada, and most of them seem to have come from Ireland! But I am almost certain (say 60-75%) that William is Sarah Needham's brother.
Needhams in London
William
William's children:
Elizabeth, Ann, Jane, Richard, Mary Ann, Hannah, Julia, Joseph, Cephas, Thomas
Other Needhams:
William (1821 US), Thomas (1823 US), Richard (1829 Ont), Charles (1851 England)
In addition, there is another Needham - Richard - who appeared on the 1820 census in Madison County, New York, right next door to possible sister Elizabeth. I have found no trace of him after that, but if Elizabeth is indeed a sister, then it is reasonable to suppose Richard might have been a brother (suppostitions on top of suppositions!). If so, the Needham family would look like this:
William Needham - Annie Hill
Sarah b 1769
William b 1778
Richard b 1775-1794
Elizabeth b 1782
Valentine b 1783
Hannah b 1788
But this is ALL supposition!
Back to: Bates Home Page
Lee's Genes Home Page
questions, comments, additions, corrections?
contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
Page last updated 8 April 2011