The 27th Annual Reunion of The Bates Family of Old Virginia was held o19 & 20 June 1998 on Afton Mountain on Skyline Drive in Afton, Virginia. The featured speaker was Dr. C. Ben Bates of Maryland, who is past president and current historian of our sister organization The Bates Association of Scituate, Mass.. Speech delivered by Dr. C. Ben Bates may be viewed at this BATES site http://www.halcyondays.com/bates.htm HIS SUBJECT "Why our Immigrant Bates Left England & What They Faced in America." Part I - Conditions in England Leading to the Great Migration Part II - The Voyage to America Part III - The Settling in New England and Virginia Visit this Bates Home Page for Bateses that originated in Virginia http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/union/6293 Wayne Witt Bates, Editor and Corresponding Secretary The Bates Family of Old Virginia Founded 1972