I am researching my BATES family and have come across information that seems to indicate my Furtherest Back Ancestor, John Bates, was born in St Marie-Le Bow. This information also indicates he and his father have the same name possibly with Sr/Jr as appropriate with the father born about 1735 in the same area. This information also indicates that these two, possibly with other family members, emigrated to the Colonies with port of call Charlestown, (present day Charleston, South Carolina), Carolinas but does not give a departure/arrival date. From information I have discovered in America (York County, South Carolina where the younger John BATES settled about 1783) I place his arrival between 1770-75. This individual has been associated with the John BATES who signed on as indentured aboard the Ship Elizabeth in London Harbor that sailed 22 Nov 1774 for Virginia however we have all but discounted this possibility because of John's seeming affluence, education, and knowle! dge of Policeman's (Law Officers in general) duties and responsibilities. I am not sure if this area, the chapel is connected to the Archbishop of Canterbury when in London, was in Kentshire during this time frame (1735-1770) or not. I no longer have an Ancestry World Wide membership and financially not able to afford to resubscribe as well. I have done lookups in the few free sites I know about but so far have not discovered anything of significance. This source also indicated the elder John BATES may have been a Barrister however he seems to be using the title Esquire for this connection which I do not believe carried that meaning in this time frame but was only a title of respect for a gentleman lacking a formal title. Is there a connection between St Marie and Kentshire in this time frame? If so, would the primary register records be part of the Cathedral's records or would they be in London? If not connected, where would the primary repository for the registry records be located? William G. BATES