My name is Jean THOMAS BAKER and I connect to the BATES family through my great-grandmother, Mary Ann BATES, who married Seth THOMAS. We have traced our line back to the BATES line which has been mentioned lately on this list. Our line goes backwards in this manner, Mary Ann, William,John William, John, John, Comfort, Caleb, Joseph, Clement, James, John, Andrew, John - I hope this posting is not against any rules of the list. I just wanted to give an idea of why I have joined. JEAN