Stories taken from copy of "Leaves From The Family Tree-Tate Family of East Tennessee."
The name Tate is baptismal in origin, meaning "son of Tate." One Nicholas Tate appears in the records of Cambridge county, England, as early as the year 1273.
Sir Robert Tate was lord mayor of Londen in 1488 and his brother, Sir John Tate, of de la Pre Abbey in the county Northampton, held the same office in 1496.
Sir William Tate, a great-grandson of Sir John Tate, of de la Pre Abbey, was a member of the British parliament for Corfe castle in 1592 and from this family have sprung many distinguished sons. Among the most notable of the name was Sir Henry Tate, trustee of the National Gallery, who presented to the British nation the famous Tate collection and picture gallery.
The Tate family of East Tennessee descends from David Tate who came to Virginia at an early date and settled in Botetourt county. An interesting account of this branch of the Tates was given in a memoir written in 1889 by Mrs. Comfort (Noe) Rich, of Grainger county, Tennessee, whose mother was Margaret Tate. This history is now printed through courtesy of Mrs. Eugene Eckel, of Morristown, Tennessee.
The following statement was made by Comfort Rich, formerly Comfort Noe, in regard to this branch of the Tate family in America:
"I am nearly eighty years old. I was born Jan. 7, 1810. I have always taken a keen interest in the history of my ancestors and I remember very distinctly much of their history as it was told to me by my mother, Margaret Noe; my uncles, and also my grandfather, David Tate, whom I remember very well. My great-grandfather's name was David Tate. He had a brother Elijah Tate, who, I have been told, died in Ireland and left a large estate worth several million dollars, but I do not know much of him. My great-grandfather, David Tate, came to America as a lieutenant in the king's service after the establishment of the colonies. His term of service expired while he was in America and he never returned to England. My great-grandmother was an Irish girl named Catherine Thornton. Her family belonged to the nobility of Ireland. She ran away from home and came to America as did many others at the same time, impelled by a spirit of adventure.
SETTLED IN VIRGINIA
"After my great-grandfather's term of service expired, he met and married her in Virginia and they settled in Botetourt county in that state. They had two children, both sons-the elder was named Edward adn the younger was named David.
"Edward Tate was 21 years old and David Tate was 18 when the Revolutionary war began. They were both drafted into the American Army to serve. I think, three months. When their time was out, Edward returned home, but David volunteered to serve during the war and was made a colonel, and served until the close of the Revolution under Gen. Greene. He was in several battles, but I cannot now remember the name of any of them."
"Shortly after David and Edward Tate joined the American army, their father (David Tate) was reported to the American authorities as being disloyal to the American cause. He was arrested and told that he must take the oath of allegiance to the colonies or he would be imprisoned. He replied that he had sworn allegiance to the king on entering service and that he could not now swear to be his enemy-that his sons were both in the American army and that he proposed to take no part in the war."
"Thereupon he was sent to prison. I think, in Botetourt County Courthouse in Virginia. Meantime a man named Hunter who was the accuser had been arrested by the British soldiers and they offered to release him if he would renounce allegiance to the colonies, which he gladly did and was released."
"David Tate languished in prison. His sons were in the army and his wife was left alone at home. She was a resolute woman and after some weeks elapsed, she mounted her horse and rode to Botetourt Courthouse. She went at once to the headquarters of the officers in command and asked for the release of her husband. Hunter was then in town and she told the officers of his ignominious conduct in swearing allegiance to the English king in order to keep out of prison. She argued strongly that her husband ought not to be held in prison on the testimony of such a man, especially in view of the fact that his two sons were in the field fighting for independence. She was given an order for her husband's release and told that she might horsewhip Hunter-which she at once proceeded to do. She gave him a sound thrashing and then drove him through the streets and out of the town, followed by a large number of soldiers, who cheered her all the while. She and her husband then returned to their home and they were not again molested that I know of.
DAVID TATE MARRIES
"After the revolution closed, David Tate, returned to his home and married Miss Comfort Knox in Botetourt County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Elijah Knox. Her mother's maiden name was Margaret Holmes. Elijah Knox and Margaret Holmes were married in Delaware, where they lived until after the birth of Comfort. They then moved to Virginia where Comfort grew up and was married to David Tate, as above stated.
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