Dec 1952                                              Bates Family
from paper in
possession of Grace Bratney

First reunion Sept 7, 1918. Descendants of George Bates and their families met for their first reunion picnic at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Thayer in Rome, New York.

This is as far back as we know anything about the Bates family. In Ireland many years ago GEORGE BATES and SARAH NEEDHAM were married; to them were born six children. The father died there leaving his wife, Sarah Bates, with very little means to care for them. BENJAMIN, one of the sons, enlisted in the English Army service where he was QM Sgt in the 57th Inf. He served his time there, was honorably discharged. He went to the island of Ceylon, married (a native) and later died leaving wife and five children. Nothing further was ever heard of them.

Mrs. George Bates with her five remaining children, William, George, Thomas, Ann, and Sarah came to America in 1832; sailed from the city of Dublin Mar 20, 1832. They landed in Quebec, Canada, being there 7 weeks and 4 days on board ship at sea. How long they remained in Canada we do not know; they may have remained there some time, but as Mrs. Bates brother lived there by the name of NEEDHAM, they may have remained there some time. Later they came to New York State and lived in and around Lowell then called ANDOVER in 1840; the son George and two sisters Ann and Sarah went west as far as Illinois, making the trip over land and by boat on the Great Lakes. The sisters both married and remained in the West but George returned and located near Lowell with his mother working at a farming and mason work there. He married SAPHRONIA BABCOCK, bought a small farm in what is now called DIX where he lived caring for and providing a home for his mother until her death in June 4, 1854. To George and wife Saphronia were born: John, May 18, 1850. The mother lived until August of that year and on October 21, 1851, the father married Almira Loomis and to them were born 8 children:

1. Maria a. married Adam Dorn - May 29, 1883
     Adam died Nov 14, 1929.
2. Franklin G married Rena Croshaw Dec 28 1815 (sic)
3. Lucina M. - unmarried
4. Benjamin J. married Grace Campbell Feb 6, 1818 (sic),
     Died 1926.
5. John F. married Harriett Pettis March 13, 1878
     This is actually the son of George and Sophronia
6. Adeline E. married Virgil Casterton Dec 16, 1880
7. William H. married Lillian Ward April 15, 1885
8. Edward C. unmarried - died 1926 61 years of age.

To JOHN AND HATTIE were born 7 children: Walter, Arthur, Fronia, Herbert, Bertha, Frank, and Jennie. Jennie passed away in her 18th year. Walter married JULIA DEXTER she dying Sept 1914, left two children, Raymond married Marie Berthold and Grace. Herbert married MARY NOBLE children: noble, Doris Jean, Ruth, Mary Alice. BERTHA married HOWARD THAYER: children: 1. Bernard married ANNA BURTON - child Dorothy. 2. Irma 3. Irene 4. Carlton. FRANK married EMMA THRALL; three children: Gertrude, Clayton, Carolyn (married Jack Hoffman 1-13-34)

To MARY BATES AND ADAM DORN; three children: Ruth, George, Esther. Mary Bates died April 17, 1896.
          George married Prudence _____: one child, girl.
          Ruth married George Hall.

To ADELINE AND VIRGIL - three children: ETHEL married CHARLES SEYBOLD (adopted Thelma).
             Lucina R who died 1897.
             Marjorie A married Harry Knapp.

To WILLIAM AND LILLIAN 4 children:
         1. Evander married Mable Goodale born
                      Kenneth
                      Carlton
         2. Beulah unmarried
         3. Ella died young
         4. Virgil C died Nov. 1918

To FRANK AND RENA COOK one daughter Avalda.

Frank Bates died Jan 27, 1888. In 1935 was held the 18th Annual Reunion at home of Herbert Bates. Saphronia Bates died 1-27-1888. Harriett P. Bates died June 14, 1930, aged 78.

NOTE: John Howard Thayer, descendant of the people who hosted this reunion, sent me a photo of one of the Bates Reunions (he said he has several reunion photos, probably from the 1930s and 40s). Here it is:

The Thayers are in the 2nd row, the 2nd and 3rd from the right. John Howard knows no-one else in the picture!

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