At long last, I have connected our Nelson Bates to Daniel Bates and Maria Obitts of Lorain Co, OH and each ancestor back to the parents of Edward of Weymouth. Because so many of you have contacted me over the past two years while I've made this search, I want to share the descendancy, as follows. Please let me know if you have corrections or additions, are related anywhere along the way, or would like further information. Patti Bates PattiBtaes@aol.com Our Bates Descendancy Edmund Bates, b. 1579/80, Boston, Lincolnshire, England m. Elizabeth Leveret 3 Sept 1592, Lincolnshire, England Edward Bates, b. 26 Nov 1606, Boston, Lincolnshire, England Emigrated from England to Boston, MA on the ship "Griffin" in 1636 m. Susanna ? abt 1636, Weymouth MA Edward Bates II, b. 10 Dec 1655, Weymouth, Norfolk, MA m. Elizabeth Shaw 26 Feb 1675, Weymouth, MA Benjamin Bates, b 1701, Weymouth, MA m. Rebecca Eager 6 Dec 1726, Abington, Plymouth, MA Moses Bates, b. 23 Dec 1740, Abington MA m. Hannah Norton 28 Nov 1761, Abington, MA William Bates, b. 3 Mar 1764, Abington, Plymouth, MA m. (1) Sally Snow (2) Sarah Wood, abt 1799, Cummington, Hampshire, MA Francis Bates, b. 28 June 1800, Cummington, MA m. Maria Obitts 16 Jun 1820 Nelson A. Bates, b. 1 Mar 1831, Jefferson Co, NY m. Serepta Parrish 17 June 1852, Wellington, Lorain Co, OH William Pitt Bates, 19 Apr 1871, Lagrange, Lorain Co, OH m. (1) Lydia Robbins 14 Dec 1899, Floral, Cowley Co, KS (2) Frank Delmar Bates, b. 11 Mar 1891, Floral, Cowley Co, KS m. Lucile Undine Nowlin 24 Dec 1919, Dallas, TX Frank Nowlin Bates of Fountain Valley, CA