I have posed to several lists in England/Scotland/Ireland attempting to locate someone doing research into the BATES family but so far NADA. I am posting again into the Hertfordshire list attempting to trace John BATES, b: 1 Sep 1771, son of Thomas BATES (1732 -??) and Mary Field (1736 - ??). John is reported born in Willian and James is listed as Baldock. James is the son of John BATES and Mary Housely (no dates or locations given). James and Mary had to following children: Mary BATES 29 Oct 1769 Willian Married Elias EASTWAY 13 Jun 1793 Willian John BATES 1 Sep 1771 Willian James BATES Aug 1773 Tring d: bef 1777 Hertford Joseph BATES 28 Dec 1774 Duffield, Derby Sarah BATES 3 May 1776 Holy Trinity, Gosport, Hampshire James Agusta BATES 20 Apr 1777 St Thomas, Portsmouth, Hampshire Richard BATES 5 Mar 1780 St Thomas, Portsmouth, Hampshire Samuel BATES 30 Aug 1782 Kingsdare, Hampsire Elizabeth BATES 13 Jul 1783 Grandborough, Warwick d: abt 1784 Elizabeth BATES 1785 Kingsdare, Hampshire Mary and Elias immigraged to the U.S. after 1796 with two children and I am of the opinion that John BATES (1771) was with them possible as "Brother" and listed with surname EASTWAY vice BATES but have been unable to locate the ship's passenger manifest for confirmation. I am particularly interested in this because if the scenerio I am proposing is even remotely authenticated, then he is my GGGGF and tops a very long standing stone wall in my ancestry search. Can anyone verify the Hertford parts of the above? I plan on posting this on the Hampshire lists as well. Thanks and che-ers William G. BATES