Sorry, someday I get it right, and stop sending off half finished postings. Anyhooooo. I had written << BATES -- I have them from England & from Ireland, so far. In my search for those elusive BATES ancestors, I ran across an interesting statement, regarding our family. >> In D.P. Robbins' Century Review of Maury Co, Tenn, 1807-1907, he states that our Jesse (Grandson of James Bates who married Elizabeth TUBB) married a Malinda BATES. Malinda is dau of John BATES. All are of VA and of German descent. I do not know that this means the John BATES family is of German descent or all of them are of German descent. Is anyone out there researching these lines, or do you have BATES' of German descent in your lines. If so, was the name always BATES or was it BAATZ, BOTTZ, BOTTS, BETZ, BATZ? We had assumed mainly that our BATES was English/Irish. We have been hung up on James BATES/Elizabeth TUBB for years. Now, there is this little piece of inviting information that has been overlooked for 20 years. Hmmmmm? Anyone? Marlene in OK [email protected]