Frank: There is a web page that shows Louise Prosser Bates was Louise Snow Prosser married to F. E. Bates (it does not show his ancestry). Louise Snow Prosser was shown to be descendant of John Kenyon Prosser and Mary Wilbur and , in the previous generation, John Prosser and Ruth Larking (born ca 1773) in Richmond RI. Of course, I cannot verify these data just indicate that "it is out there." Jean

> Mrs. Louise Prosser Bates of Westerly, a highly educated woman and > descended from Tobias Saunders and Joseph Clarke and William Crumb, spent years in > research of original records in Westerly and left her papers by bequest to the > state of RI. Unfortunately they have never been printed. The following is > from her papers: "The first wife of Joseph Clarke (brother of Dr. John Clarke > who is often called the founder of Newport, RI) was a sister of Tobias > Saunders. Tobias married Mary Peckham, daughter of John Peckham and Mary Clarke, > sister of Joseph Clarke. > > Frank, The above is a quote from the Peckham genealogy. Unfortunately, this is not my Sanders line but I have tried to follow them anyway because in Indiana the Sanders line from MASS met up with this Saunders line (Tobias progenitor) from Westerly. Jean Sanders Haverhill MA

[3932.] MARCIEN JENCKES7, Luke Jenckes, Jr., and Betsey Ballou6; b. in West Wrentham, Mass., June 23, 1834; m. Amelia Marion Bates, dr. of Laban and Lydia (Comstock) Bates, Blackstone, Mass.; cer. there Oct. 24, 1860. Issue.-- 8519--1. Anna Amelia Jenckes, b. Oct. 30, 1861. 8520--2. Lawrence Bates Jenckes, b. Mar. 23, '67. Frank: It appears that Laban and Lydia Comstock Bates may be the family you are looking for? In Mendon sometimes Laban was spelled Labin Bates. Also, previous post I sent you was Laban and Olive Wheelock Bates whose son Nahum married Pearly Ballou (cf. Adin Ballou genealogy) Jean

Frank: This is copied from the Bellingham Vital Records.... (Bellingham V.R. one of the few sets available on Genealogy.library.com; I have a subscription and would be willing to look up persons in the B.V.R. , Jean) BATES (see Batte), Abigail, d. Laban and Olive, May 26, 1789 Eli, s. Laben and Olive, Sept. 19, 1769. Laban, s. Laban and Olive, Nov. 5, 1784. Liberty, s. Laben and Olive, July 16, 1775. Page 15 Nahum, s. Laban and Olive, Apr. 8, 1773. Olive [(???)], w. Laban, Apr. 12, 1750. G.R.3. Olive, d. Laban and Olive, June 23, 1779. Peter, s. Laben and Olive, June 23, 1771. Peter, s. Laban and Olive, Mar. 29, 1782. Polly, d. Laban and Olive, Nov. 8, 1791. Sarah, d. Laban (Bat[e]s) and Olive, May 1, 1777. Smith, s. Laban and Olive, Nov. 28, 1786. Smith, s. Laban and Olive, Oct. 25, 1794. BATES, Smith, s. Laban Jr. and Chloe, Jan. 30, 1805, in Pelham. BATTE (see Bates),

Frank; There was a large Bates family in Upton MA (next to Mendon) The Chief of Police when I lived there was Dan Bates. Any relation to him? I will look for Louise. Jean

I wonder if anyone knows Francis Eliot Bates or Louise Prosser Bates who would have been alive in the early 1900s? In a previous posting, I mentioned a genealogy that had been done for my grandparents as a wedding gift. Francis and Louise are the ones who did the research. I don't know if they were related to my grandparents or just friends of theirs. Also, I don't know if Francis and Louise were husband and wife or brother and sister or cousins, or what-have-you. I suspect they might have been married since the genealogy is insribed as being given as a gift by the two of them together. Anyway, just wondering. Frank

> > Frank, have you checked Cumberland, RI and all surrounding towns in RI? Have > you checked Quaker records? How about the MA towns surrounding Bellingham? > I have some resources here that I could check -- but don't have time to > "reinvent the wheel" -- let me know what has already been checked (besides the > things Jes posted today) for Sarah's birth or for a list of Laban's children, okay? > Sue >> No, I haven't had a chance to check the actual physical records of any of those sources for anything about Sarah's birth family. To check the actual records, I would have to go to the towns, something I won't be able to afford for a few years. My daughter's college expenses eat up most of what we make. I have two more years of tuition to pay and then maybe we can take a vacation to RI / MA and do some checking. Sarah has been hanging around in limbo for a long time -- I guess she won't mind being put back on the shelf for a couple of more years. I appreciate what you have posted and, no, I don't want you to reinvent the wheel, either. One time, I spent my lunch hours for five days here in Maryland researching old Quaker records for a woman who asked for my help, saying she had no information about someone. When I sent her the copies, she sent a note back saying she already had that information and couldn't I find anything new! I know how frustrating that can be. Thanks, Frank

For everyone, but especially: Jean (Jes), Sue, Jim, Susan, and Alice, Thanks to all of you for the information each of you provided in response to my question about Sarah Bates and the Bellingham records. I have printed all of your responses and I will get back to each of you off-list if I still have any questions about what you wrote. Everything seems pretty straight-forward, though. This is still the best list I belong to. Everyone is helpful. Thanks again, Frank

<quote> Laban and Lydia Comstock Bates daughter Amelia Bates born ca 1830 <unquote> Jean, Do you have other children listed for Laban and Lydia.? The only child I have for them is Isaac Comstock Bates born in 1843. Lydia's father, James Comstock, is my third great-grandfather. Frank

Norma, I looked in the Ballou Genealogy (Adin Ballou) and here are two mentions of Laban Bates: Laban and Olive Wheelock Bates son Nahum Bates married Pearley Ballou born 1778 Laban Bates is mentioned in the book as a J.P. in Bellingham Laban and Lydia Comstock Bates daughter Amelia Bates born ca 1830 --------- There are a few more "Laban" I will send you off line from the Ballou book Jean

To the Mother of this List, Aren't you also heavily involved in the "Cookie" List? Can you help with the ancestors of Hannah COOK? What family of COOKS is this? Thanks, BEtty Sullivan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Albee" <ralbee01@comcast.net> To: <MA-MENDON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:30 AM Subject: Re: [MA-MENDON] Albee, James > James Albee was probably born in Braintree, MA between 1641 and 1650; but no > record of his birth has been found. The HISTORY OF MILFORD says, "He was > undoubtedly a man of large landed possessions and social influence." No > record of his death has been found; but he was living as late as March 26, > 1717, when he executed a gift deed of land to his daughter Lydia and her > husband. He m. Medfield, MA, October 18, 1671, Hannah Cook, Daughter of > Walter and Catherine Cook. His wedding was on the same day as his brother, > John who was killed by the indians down on Hartford Ave. > > James recieved his father's land in Mendon, and returned there after King > Phillip's War. Though the date of his death is not known, he and his wife, > Hannah, deeded some land to their daughter, Lydia and her husband, Jonathan > Hayward on March 26, 1717, so it is certain he was still living at that > time. He was my 7th GGF > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Betty Sullivan" <bettysul@kewanee.com> > To: <MA-MENDON-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 10:10 AM > Subject: Re: [MA-MENDON] Albee, James > > > > Bob, > > You seem to have so much on Benjamin, so what do you know about > his > > son, James? I'm sure several on this list wou;d ;ove to hear it.Also, do > > you, or does anyone know who his wife, Hannah COOKE was? That is, from > which > > COOKE family? > > Thanks, > > Betty Sullivan > > > > > > > > ============================== > > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >

Bob, Thanks very much for your input on James. He is also my 7th ggrandfather, by the way. Betty Sullivan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Albee" <ralbee01@comcast.net> To: <MA-MENDON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:30 AM Subject: Re: [MA-MENDON] Albee, James > James Albee was probably born in Braintree, MA between 1641 and 1650; but no > record of his birth has been found. The HISTORY OF MILFORD says, "He was > undoubtedly a man of large landed possessions and social influence." No > record of his death has been found; but he was living as late as March 26, > 1717, when he executed a gift deed of land to his daughter Lydia and her > husband. He m. Medfield, MA, October 18, 1671, Hannah Cook, Daughter of > Walter and Catherine Cook. His wedding was on the same day as his brother, > John who was killed by the indians down on Hartford Ave. > > James recieved his father's land in Mendon, and returned there after King > Phillip's War. Though the date of his death is not known, he and his wife, > Hannah, deeded some land to their daughter, Lydia and her husband, Jonathan > Hayward on March 26, 1717, so it is certain he was still living at that > time. He was my 7th GGF > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Betty Sullivan" <bettysul@kewanee.com> > To: <MA-MENDON-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 10:10 AM > Subject: Re: [MA-MENDON] Albee, James > > > > Bob, > > You seem to have so much on Benjamin, so what do you know about > his > > son, James? I'm sure several on this list wou;d ;ove to hear it.Also, do > > you, or does anyone know who his wife, Hannah COOKE was? That is, from > which > > COOKE family? > > Thanks, > > Betty Sullivan > > > > > > > > ============================== > > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >

In a message dated 2/12/04 6:22:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, NLFlude@aol.com writes: > the Laban mentioned? Laban Bates

In a message dated 2/11/2004 5:55:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, SueMHR@aol.com writes: for Sarah's birth or for a list of Laban's children, Just got in on the tail end of this message. PLease tell me the last name for the Laban mentioned? I am still looking for the maiden name of James Trask's first wife, and since she named her son "Laban", I always check all Labans for a possible connection. Thanks....Norma

According to the book; "The New A to Zax" A Comprehensive Genealogical Dictionary For Genealogists and Historians, second edition by Barbara Jena Evans, Evansville Bindery, Inc., Indian, 1990, page 184: Mrs.: short for "mistress." In Colonial times, Mrs. did not necessarily mean that a woman was married. Susan

Hi Listers, Yes the Bellingham Vital Records use Mrs. as do some other towns. The Mrs. was used as a Title of respect. and also that the bride was a respectable girl and came from a good family. .. There fore I would say that Sarah BATES was her maiden name.. Many years ago I had checked this Mrs. against birth vitals and etc. on those I could find and the Mrs. proved to be their maiden name. (not widows) Using the Bellingham Vitals I would certainly,have no qualms, in this case, to use Bates as her maiden name. IF it was my ancestor unless someone could prove me wrong.. Now if it said Mrs in the Mendon Vitals..that would need further proof. Hope this helps a little. The Town Hall does have the original copies of VR's.. However PR 1.. Wright's Diary has been missing from the Town Hall, for years . It was presumed stolen, many years ago. Alice alicep@rcn.com Message from Massachusetts

In a message dated 2/11/2004 11:38:36 AM Pacific Standard Time, j.b.bullock@comcast.net writes: It got me curious about Bellingham, so I checked their marriage records and found that "Mrs." was used for almost all of the brides who married from 1740 to 1798. Note that I just checked the first two surnames--Adams and Albee. (See the list below.) I agree that there could be some strange way of recording marriages in the Bellingham records for that period. However, that does not mean we can assume that ALL who were recorded as "Mrs" were not previously married. Undoubtedly, some of them WERE previously married. Therefore, some other record will need to be found to prove Sarah "Bates" parentage. I am suspicious in her case because her maiden name was not known at the time of her death. I think further digging will be necessary to sort this out. Frank, have you checked Cumberland, RI and all surrounding towns in RI? Have you checked Quaker records? How about the MA towns surrounding Bellingham? I have some resources here that I could check -- but don't have time to "reinvent the wheel" -- let me know what has already been checked (besides the things Jes posted today) for Sarah's birth or for a list of Laban's children, okay? Sue Susan M. Hillier Roe Seal Beach, CA SueMHR@aol.com "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, 1901-1978

If Hannah Cook/Cooke was born ca 1652, wasn't she the daughter of Walter and Experience, not Catherine? In Torrey's 3rd supplement and the Reg. 128:154, it states Walter and Catherine were married bef 1674 in Mendon. And, Walter and Experience were married by 1648. Do I need to update my information? Norma

-----Original Message----- From: Frank Comstock [mailto:ri1654@earthlink.net] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:58 AM To: MA-MENDON-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [MA-MENDON] Bellingham Records - Sarah Bates . . . Here's the mystery: When I posted a similar query some time ago, Susan Roe responded with information from what I think was a transcribed and printed record of Bellingham Vital Records, that Benjamin Hall of Cumberland RI and Mrs. Sarah Bates filed an intention of marriage at Bellingham on Jan 22, 1797. As Susan correctly pointed out, the reference to Mrs. Sarah Bates indicates she was probably a widow at the time, which could mean her maiden name was not Bates. . . . -------------------------- Sue's rule of thumb usually holds true, that if the title "Mrs." is used in a woman's marriage record, it would indicate that she had previously been married. I have come across exceptions to this, one place being in the records of Bristol, Bristol Co., MA (now RI) where the title was used with almost all of the brides' names in the time period around the 1750's. It may have been as a title of respect or could have been used to indicate that the bride was of age. It got me curious about Bellingham, so I checked their marriage records and found that "Mrs." was used for almost all of the brides who married from 1740 to 1798. Note that I just checked the first two surnames--Adams and Albee. (See the list below.) There were 21 marriages but only two of the brides were not referred to either as Mrs. or as a widow. I think it's safe to assume that not all 19 of the others were widows. Bellingham records in the mid to late 1700's seem to be one of those exceptions where the title of Mrs. did not indicate a previous marriage. ADAMS, Abigail, Mrs., and Moses Daniels, int. Dec. 14, 1766. Amos and Mrs. Abigal Thayer, int. Nov. 8, 1779. Caleb and Meletiah Holbrook, wid., int. Mar. 31, 1799. Hipzibah, Mrs., of Medway, and Stephen Metcalf, int. Apr. 16, 1757. Levi and Mrs. Olive Gould, int. Oct. 20, 1797. Obadiah and Sarah Partridge, int. June 23, 1744. <<<<<<<< Olive, Mrs., and David Daniels, int. Dec. 31, 1770. Olive [int. adds Mrs.] and John Clark, July 15, 1798. Samuel and Mrs. Chloe Legg, Aug. 14, 1777. Silas and Mrs. Mary Parker, int. July 10, 1768. Silas and Mrs. Olive Mason [int. wid., omits Mrs.], Aug. 20, 1794. ALBEE Abigail, Mrs., of Mendon, and Seth Hall, May 28, 1737. Abner of Mendon, and Mrs. Cate Penniman, int. Aug. 20, 1774. Alpheus of Milford, and Mrs. Susannah Phillips, Mar. 31, 1796. Beulah, Mrs., and Joseph Ellexander, int. Jan. 15, 1797. Deborah, Mrs., of Mendon, and Daniel Bullard, int. Oct. 16, 1774. Elizabeth, wid., and Ellixander Kelley, int. Feb. 2, 1797. John of Medway, and Huldah Thayer [int. adds wid.], May 9, 1799. Sarah [int. adds wid.] and Samuel Penniman, Sept. 19, 1799. Thomas of Mendon, and Jemima Thomson, int. June 2, 1750. <<<<<< Zurial of Mendon, and Mrs. Anna Penniman, int. Jan. 12, 1776. Jim Bullock Littleton, CO

In a message dated 2/11/2004 9:10:35 AM Pacific Standard Time, Jespane@cs.com writes: New England Families Genealogical and Memorial: Third Series, Volume I This source is well known to be loaded with errors -- I definitely wouldn't use it for proof of anything. You need to keep looking for actual proof. Sue Susan M. Hillier Roe Seal Beach, CA SueMHR@aol.com "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, 1901-1978