Son of Clement Bates & Betsey Burgess.

Article from the Old Colony Memorial Newspaper
Saturday Morning, Jan. 19, 1850

DISTRESSING CALAMITY
On Saturday last, 12th, a most painful event occurred in this town, by which four
lives were sacrificed. Three lads, Barnabas Churchill Jr., Franklin Leach,and Charles
Bates, had gone to Billington Sea, to spend the afternoon, in fishing and skating. Young
Churchill, while skating, broke through the ice, and was precipitated into the water. His
young companions, rushing to his assistance, also fell in and their united cries for help
brought Mr. Asa Cook to their aid. The ice proving insufficient to bear the weight
of Mr. Cook, he also fell through; but while in the water, by the most strenuous exertions, he
succeeded in rescuing Leach from his critical position, and by main force,threw him on the
surface of the ice. Leach was much exhausted, and hardly able to walk, but finally reached
the shore, and gave the alarm. Mr. George Raymond, Jr., who chanced to be
near, At this time, hastened to the relief of Mr. Cook, and the lads and in the endeavor to
save them. Plunged beneath the treacherous ice, and soon sank with the others. They all
perished together, before further assistance could reach them.
Proper means were used for the recovery of the bodies, and they were all brought to
town on Saturday evening. By this fearful calamity our community has
been shrouded in gloom during the past week, and the circumstances attending it have not
only produced a general shock to the feelings of our citizens, but have awakened an extensive
sympathy for the bereaved families connected with the deceased.
The lads who met, in this sudden manner, their early fate, were both much beloved in their
circle of friends, and gave promise of future usefulness. Young Bates we are informed, stood
at the head of the High School, and bore the reputation of an excellent scholar.
Mr Cook had been a resident among us but a short time. He was 28 years of age, and much
esteemed in the community. He leaves a family to bewail his loss. Mr. Raymond was 45 years
old, and a native townsman, and also leaves a family. He was a printer by profession and was
well known as such in Boston and New York. He has often assisted in this office, and his
removal has elicted not only much grief, but a general expression of respect for his character
and worth.
(Note: I did not include the last two paragraphs of this newspaper article.)

Billington Sea:
Shortly after the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, on January 1, 1621, Francis Billington (1606-1684) climbed a tree located on top of a high hill. He saw a large body of water in the midst of a thick forest. On January 8th he and one of the ship's mates went to see the lake. After walking about 1.5 miles to the south and west and probably following the brook they came upon two lakes separated by a narrow strip of land. One was a small clear lake, now known as "Little Pond" and a much larger lake now known as "Billington Sea". In the large lake there were two islands, one containing about two acres and the other very small. There were two peninsulas that protruded into the lake, one on the northern side and the other on the southern side. They almost divide the east and west basins but are interconnected by a shallow narrow channel. They found that the lakes had fine fresh water and were full of perch, pickerel, loon, and wood ducks. They also found seven or eight Indian houses that had not been inhabited for some time. Having but one musket between them they explored the area very, very cautiously.
For a century after its discovery was known as "Fresh Lake" and was later named after Francis Billington, its discoverer. It was probably called a sea because Billington thought he had discovered an arm of the sea, or possibly because in Europe many lakes are called See's or Zee's.