Hi Listers, My great grandfather RICHARD BATES "emigrated" from Leicestershire to Derbyshire in 1867 after his 18 year old first wife died during the birth of my grandfather, Charles. Richard blamed Charles for the demise of his wife, dumped the lad on his maternal grandmother and disappeared. He was later found in Chesterfield working on the Midland Railway and with a new wife, ETHELDRA [Wright] and six children. It is the descendants of this new family I am seeking. RICHARD BATES b.1847 Mountsorrel, Lei. d. 18 June 1891 Whittington ETHELDRA [Wright] b. 1849/50 Newbold DBY. d. June¼ 1940 Chesterfield. Children, all born in Whittington: ELIZA born c.1874 JOSEPH ARTHUR born 19.2.1878 EDGAR born 1882 FRANK born 1884 GERTRUDE born 1886 ETHEL born 11.12.1890 There is also a small possibility that there could a JOHN C. born about December 1878 or January 1879. Could the "C" in John C. stand for Charles, after his first son? Would anyone who knows of, or can relate to, the above family, please contact me Off-List. Many thanks for your time in reading the above. Harvey Bates Adelaide, Sth. Australia. A volunteer for: THE LEICESTERSHIRE LOOK-UP EXCHANGE http://uk.geocities.com/leicslookup/