Samuel Robert "Rock" Tate was born May 24 1730 in Londonderry, Ulster, Ireland. He was called "Old Rock" because of his frequent reference to the Rocks of Magellan.
He married c1752 Elizabeth Caldwell, born Nov 29 1733 in Derry County, Ireland. [Elizabeth's brother Robert Caldwell, born c1748, came to America in 1798. He married in Ireland, Elizabeth Snell who died Apr 27 1823, buried at Quaker Meadows Cemetery, Morganton, Burke County NC] Elizabeth and Robert were children of Robert and Mary Wilson Caldwell. The Tate family were members of the Parish of Dunbo, Derry, Ireland.
Samuel Tate was a ship builder, as was his father, and came to America in his own vessel, and landed in Philadelphia in 1763, after several voyages back to Ireland, they landed Dec 13 1763 Lancaster County, PA. They removed to Adams County [PA], later they settled in Shippensburg, Cumberland County PA. It is said they lived shortly in Augusta County, VA.
Samuel Tate served as a private with Ensign Charles Mitchell's party in 1778, Westmoreland County, PA.
After the Revolution in 1785-1787 Samuel Tate, his wife and 4 of their sons: David, Hugh, John and William Tate migrated to near Morganton, Burke County NC where they were communicants of the Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church.
"Sacred to he memory of Samuel Tate Sr., born May 24 1730 Derry, Ireland, and departed this life on the 23rd March 1813 in his 83rd year."
"Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth Tate amiable consort of Samuel Tate Sr who was born in Derry Ireland, Nov 29 1733 and died on Jan 8 1818 in her 85th year."
They rest side by side in the old McDowell, now Quaker Meadows Cemetery near Morganton, Burke Co, NC.
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