Hi Alice and all, Below is what I have on Joseph BATES and Martha CHILSON. I have made some notes on what I found today, based on Alice's clues, about Joseph's possible first marriage to Sarah HAYWARD. Assuming this is all one Joseph BATES, I would say we do have proof of a first marriage and some children by that marriage, including Micah/Michael. See below. Sue 1. JOSEPH1 BATES He married MARTHA CHILSON 8 April 1779 in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: (1) New England Historic Genealogical Society, Mendon, MA, Vital Records to 1850, (1920), page 268., (2) New England Historic Genealogical Society, Milford, MA, Vital Records to 1850, (1917), page 214, Taken from a church record, church formerly in Mendon.), daughter of JOSEPH CHILSON and MERCY SHUTTLEWORTH. She was born 13 April 1746 in Bellingham, Norfolk, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Bellingham, MA to 1850, (1904), page 21.), and died 13 August 1824 in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 449, This record says Martha BATES widow of _____; I am assuming it is the death of this Martha BATES.). Children of JOSEPH BATES and MARTHA CHILSON are: i. REBECCA2 BATES, b. 18 December (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 28, Entry says b. 18 Dec 17[torn].); m. SIMON T. BICKNELL, 28 February 1828, Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 245, Simon T. Bicknell of Milford.). ii. JOSEPH BATES, b. 4 September 1779, Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 27.). iii. BENJAMIN BATES, b. 6 December 1780, Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 27.); m. RHODA KILLEY, 23 February 1806, Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 244.). iv. JOSHUA BATES, b. 20 March 1782, Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 27.). v. JOHN BATES, b. 15 June 1784, Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 27.); d. 16 June 1784, Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 449.). vi. JEDEDIAH BATES, b. 10 July 1786, Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts (Source: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Mendon, MA, to 1850, (1920), page 27.). Notes for JOSEPH BATES: Mendon VRs show two children born to Joseph Bates and Sarah: Clark b. 21 Oct 1771 Hannah b. 20 Apr 1776 Alice Palladini says Sarah was Sarah HAYWARD. There is no marriage of Joseph BATES and Sarah in Mendon. However, the Bellingham VRs show a marriage intention for Joseph BATES and Mrs. Sarah HAYWARD on 15 Oct 1762. Joseph and Sarah had the following children born in Bellingham: Isaac b. 28 Feb1763 Martha b. 20 Dec 1764 Micah b. 13 May 1769 Alice also has a record that seems to suggest that Joseph BATES had a son named Michael. I find a Michael BATES m. Chloe ATTWELL of Attleboro, intention filed Mendon 18 Jan 1793. I would say he would have belong to the first wife Sarah in order to be married by 1793. And I would further suggest that he is the "Micah" shown in the birth records above. Neither Bellingham nor Mendon VRs show Joseph BATES' birth. A search a little further afield will be needed. Compiled by Susan M. Hillier Roe Seal Beach, CA SueMHR@aol.com