New Find - Mary Kennedy Bates, wife of John Bates

While we were in Hawaii, sitting comfortably on a boat, I received an email from Texas Bill, William G. Bates. He had been corresponding with a newly found member of our family, Bill Jennings. He is a descendent of John Bates through his youngest child, David Kennedy Bates. He lives in York County and has been researching the family lately.

In the email from Texas Bill, he reported that Bill Jennings had found the first name of John Bates' second wife. In addition, we were able to learn her age, date of death, and Rebbecca Beal Bates' date of death. This information came from headstones in the 'Nelson Cemetery'.

Bill Jennings also sent an email, which had attached a document containing an article written by A.M. Grist, a resident of York County who was active in documenting cemeteries in York in the 1930's. Mr. Grist was a reporter for the Yorkville Enquirer.  He was accompanied by John Scoggins. Incidently, John SCOGGINS is the son of Thomas William SCOGGINS who married Harriet Isis BATES - daughter of David Kennedy BATES and had moved to the Laurelwood area of Rock Hill.  Thomas would have been about 65 at the time of the article.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

Turning back toward Rock Hill we came by the Duncan farm and stopped for a moment's chat with John Henry Duncan, who is perhaps the oldest citizen of that community. Mr. Duncan lived in the "Black Jacks" when there were not very many white neighbors there and few are there now who were there when he was a young man in the community.

One of our objectives [was] to see the Nelson graveyard. It is on property now owned by J. M. Whisonant, who is right much of a dairyman in that section. Formerly he was in charge of the Winthrop College farm. Unfortunately when we reached the Nelson graveyard we found but two headstones still standing. The graveyard has been plowed over and some of the stones-there were never very many-have been removed, One of the stones we found bears this inscription: "Sacred to the memory of Mary Bates, wife of John Bates. Esq., died Oct 9. 1808, in her 32nd year, . . .

The other stone, badly defaced by time and partly unreadable bears this inscription: "Rebecca Bates wife of John Bates, Esq. Died Oct. 28, 1806." It will be noted from this that John Bates, Esq. was twice married and that his two wives died just two years span; Rebecca in 1806 and Mary Bates in 1808.  (Taken from A. M. Grist's weekly column. "Just A-Rolling Along the Way." published In the Yorkville Enquirer. Dec. 6. 1931 John K. Scoggins acted as Grist's guide).

How fortunate that the two headstones remaining were John's two wives. How tragic that they both died young, and Mary not long after they were married.

Thanks to Bill Jennings for this information. Thanks, also, to Texas Bill who is so active in gathering information and making contacts. We owe much to these diligent researchers.

The Tsunami and the Rising Tide, or, My Less Than Triumphant Return

So, how about a little current history on our family? As a wee lad of 19 years old, I had the great fortune of being called to serve a mission for my church in Japan. The coolest part was that I was sent to Laie, Hawaii for two months to learn Japanese. We landed in Honolulu in late August, 1973. There were about 12 of us missionaries and a driver from Fiji. We loaded ourselves into a big navy blue van and drove up the highway past Waikiki. As a young man from southern Utah, I had never seen anything like the blue sky next to the white sand with the green coconut trees waving in the wind. I was mesmerized by the surf and the crashing waves. I vowed at that moment someday I would return.

Well, as Alisa texted to her children on March 9, 'Someday is here!" The stars somehow aligned themselves, and the two of us were off on a trip to Kauai. However, there is a little background you need to know about. When circumstances presented themselves where a cool vacation became a real possibility we first considered a return to either Hawaii or Japan, where I lived for 2 years. We have good friends in Japan, who have visited us here in the U.S. and whom we still correspond with. They are getting up in age, so we thought it would be good to go there.

We checked into airline tickets and possible accommodations. As the departure date drew closer, however, I became a little anxious about this decision. I don't know about you, but we always pray about major purchases, like houses, cars, etc. before we make them. This was more of a major purchase than I anticipated, so I suggested to Alisa that we pray about it and talk about it in the morning. I have always found it very useful to pray about something and let it sit for the night before making a major decision. Well, the next morning I did not feel good about the decision, so we 'settled' for Hawaii. We got our tickets, and soon the day of departure arrived.

We left Seattle on the morning of March 9, after a quick visit with our daughter and her family. We landed in Kauai about 9 that evening and checked into our hotel on the Coconut Beach near Kapa'a. I was so excited the next morning, that I arose in time to take pictures of the sunrise. It was awesome. We spent the day on the beaches and playing in the ocean along the east shore.

After a nice seafood dinner, we went to bed early. We had a boat tour planned early the next day along the NaPali coast. Just prior to retiring, I clicked the TV remote. On CNN we saw terrifying footage of the after effects of the Tokyo earthquake. We saw buildings shake and glass plummet from skyscrapers and shatter on the streets. Next, we witnessed the horrific images of the tsunami as it swept into Sendai. Houses were flattened, business exploded as ships were driven across them. There are no words to describe the horror of watching cars full of fleeing people swept away.

Our shock was soon broken by a message across the bottom of the screen that announced that Hawaii, along with other Pacific Ocean locales, were under a tsunami warning. Before long, that was changed to a tsunami watch. The tsunami was expected to hit Kauai between 3 and 5 a.m.

Just after 10:00 p.m., a siren sounded. We were evacuated to the Kapa'a middle school. Thanks to my Christmas gift from my daughter in Seattle, we used our Garmin GPS to navigate the roads. On our way, we saw long lines of vehicles blocking lanes of the highway, waiting to fill their tanks with gas. We had a compact car and it was only 1.6 miles, so we toughed it out and drove past them. We were one of the first 10 cars to pull into the parking lot.

This is a picture of people that were evacuated. We spent the night between a covered gym/cafeteria and our car. Most sat glued to the television awaiting word of the tsunami. It hit Kauai at 5:07. A buoy in the ocean measured the wave at about 5 feet. Live cams broadcasted scenes of coastlines. There really was not much to be seen. After a half hour or so, there was some reports of minor flooding in Maui, in Hanalei, and Port Allen.

We were allowed to return to our hotel about 8 a.m. Our morning boat ride was cancelled. From the news reports, we thought this was much ado about nothing. However, we were quite surprised at what we saw. Sea level was at least 12 feet below the crest of the beach at our hotel. However, the debris line on the hotel's lawn clearly revealed that the waves had risen at least to that level. Our room was on the ground floor. It was about 3 feet higher in altitude than the height achieved by the tsunami.

This is the same beach as the one in the picture above after the tsunami. We heard another story from a lady staying at the St. Regis hotel on the north shore. She and her husband were evacuated to the 9th floor. She stood in the lobby (which is on the 9th floor) and filmed and watched the tsunami. She said the first wave was not all that big, but it was one symmetrical ripple that crashed against the shore. Then, the water abated, leaving hundreds of yards of coral exposed. After a few minutes, a much larger wave came. It was big enough that it hit the hotel, but it did not cause any damage.

After all of this we were grateful for many things. First, we were grateful that we were safe and that there was no damage. Second, we were very grateful to our Heavenly Father. We could have been on the bullet train traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto. We were going to spend the night of the 9th, and possibly the 10th, in Tokyo. No one will ever know what we would have experienced, but you know what, I am grateful that we never will. We are so thankful to our Father in Heaven, and His Son, Jesus Christ, who listen to and answers our prayers.

We are also very sad for the good people of Japan. Their country has been so devastated. We pray that they will find solace and peace, along with warmth and food. It is a real tragedy. Thankfully, the area where our friends live did not suffer extensive damage. We await the time we will be able to talk with them. We cannot know why disasters such as this earthquake and tsunami occur. We can only pray that we can learn from them and improve our lives.

By the way, the rest of our vacation was absolutely wonderful. We can't wait to return, and go to Japan, someday!

Robert Bates, son of John and Rebekah Bates

Robert Bates, born about 1791 in York, South Carolina, was the fourth of the five sons of John and Rebekah Bates. Of his five sisters, only Mary was older. Robert married his wife Catherine, in 1819. That same year, he purchased land along Fishing Creek in York County. There is a high likelihood that his wife's maiden name was Rowell, as the land transfer was witnessed by Benjamin Rowell. Robert is listed in the 1820 York County census with his wife, and a female under the age of 5. Apparently, they had a daughter.

Tragedy struck this young couple in 1821. Robert fell ill, whether from an accident or disease it is unknown. In 1821, he recorded his will, which said in part;

"I, Robert Bates, being sound of mind but weak of body, leave everything to my beloved wife, Catherine Bates, during her widowhood, but if she should marry again or die, then whatever of my estate remains, I will and bequeath to my own brothers and sisters share and share alike. Second, And I do hereby nominate and appoint my Father John Bates, Sen'r. to be the Executor of this my last will and Testament."

Shortly thereafter, Robert passed away. His will was probated 3 Dec 1821. James P. Sandifer, Milat Sturgis and John Bates, Sr., witnesses. Will Book G, p. 67. Case no. 10. York County, South Carolina.

The Children of John Bates, Esq., of York, S.C.

I'd like to step back, and write a little about John and Rebekah Bates' children, as well as the son of John and Ms. Kennedy.

John Bates and Rebekah Beall children:

John C. Bates, born about 1778. Married Edna (Edney) about 1820. Migrated to Spalding Co. Georgia about 1827. Died about 1854 in Georgia. They had 7 children.

Mary Bates, born in 1780 in Maryland. Married Robert Ellis on 11 Sep 1807 in York, S.C. This was his second marriage. They had two children. Date of death unknown, but she was living in York County in 1830. William G. Bates reports she died about 1853 in York County.

Zachariah Bates, born about 1781. Married Lavina around 1819 in York, S.C. Died in Arkansas before 1872. They had 8 children.

Thomas A. Bates, born about 1784 in New Acquisition, Craven, (later York Co.) S.C. He enlisted in the War of 1812. Thomas never married. He lived with his single sister Elizabeth in 1850 in York Co. He died about 1862.

Robert Bates, born about 1791 in York, S.C. Died in 1821.

Alenna Rene Bates, or Allie, was born 1 May 1794 on the Main Fork of Fishing Creek, York, S.C. She married Richard Lawson Reeves in 1814 in Odgen, York County. They had 8 children. She died on 16 Feb 1887 in Milam, Sabine County, Texas.

Twins Dicey and Isis were born in 1799 in York County, S.C. Dicey married Robert Chambers around 1816. They migrated to Georgia. She died before 1883.

Isis never married. She stayed on the homestead with her father until he died. John left Isis the homestead, because "all her sisters had left." It was through the probate of Isis' will in 1872 that we learned the names of her living brothers and sisters.

Elizabeth, or Betsey, was born around 1800 on Main Fork of Fishing Creek, York County, South Carolina. She never married, but lived on a farm nearby with her brother Thomas A. She died in York County about 1857.

Allen Bates was born 23 Oct 1803 on the Main Fork of Fishing Creek, York County, S.C. He married Letitia, Lettie, White in 1827 in DeKalb County, Georgia. They had 13 children.

John Bates and Miss Kennedy Child:

David Kennedy Bates, born in 1809, in York, S.C. He married Mary Elizabeth McHood around 1830 in York Co. He died about 1870, and was buried there. They had 7 children.

Oady Bates, son of Thomas J. and Flora Bates

Oady Bates was the third son of Thomas Jefferson and Flora Snow Bates. He was born in Sebastian County, Arkansas, on 27 Sep 1901. He is on the far left in the picture above, with brothers Bon, on the right, and Monte. This picture was taken after the family had moved, by train, from Arkansas to Oregon. Oady was about 4 years old in the picture.

After his father died in 1911, Oady eventually ended up living with his half-brother, James Ragan Bates, in Riddle, Douglas County, Oregon. James was the son of Thomas J. and Susan Pearson Bates. James ran a farm near Riddle. Oady worked on the farm with him. This is a picture of Oady on a horse, with Ralph, Byron and Emery.



Tragedy struck when Oady was 18 years old. The details from this incident can be found in the Douglas County Court Records. Ethel Mae Kinkade sent me the transcript of the inquest, along with an article from the May 11, 1920, Roseburg Review. I have added a bit from a letter that Monte sent to my father, James W. Bates, much later.

Oady entered into an trade agreement with Arthur Thompson. Oady owned a horse, which he traded to Mr. Thompson for a Holstein cow. Mr. Thompson reported that he was assured the horse was in good condition. However, after the trade, he was disappointing with the horse. Failing to reach an agreement to return the horse for the cow, he took the horse back and tied it in the field. The following is an excerpt from the newspaper describing testimony given in the inquest.

Roseburg Review, May 25, 1920.

MURDER TRIAL IN PROGRESS TODAY

Arthur Thompson Puts Up Pleas for Self Defense For Killing Odie Bates.

THE TESTIMONY TAKEN

Both the Prosecution and Defense Examine Witnesses in Case Which is Being Heard Before a Large Crowd in Local Court.

With the courtroom crowded, the trial of Arthur James Thompson of Riddle, accused of the murder of Odie Bates, also of that place, progressed rapidly today. The jury completed late yesterday and after brief opening statements the prosecution opened its testimony.

The story as brought out on the witness stand briefly is that Thompson and Bates negotiated a trade, a horse being exchanged by the latter for the former's cow. Both men were employed on the same section gang and agreed upon the trade while at work. The horse was represented, it was said as a good animal and one which would be of value to Mr. Thompson on his small farm. After the trade was completed Thompson found the horse to be in poor condition and decided to return it. Witnesses testified that Thompson endeavored to obtain a return of the cow but failing to do this went to the Bates home and took the cow out of the pasture, leaving the horse in its place. As he was leading the cow away, Odie Bates rushed from the house, climbed the fence and endeavored to stop him from taking the cow away. They engaged in an altercation in which Bates is said to have attacked Thompson. The latter pulled out a knife and stabbed his opponent under the heart with fatal results. Bates was not killed immediately but walked back to where his uncle, Jim Bates, was standing and died while on his way to the house.

Thompson went on to his home and did not know that he had killed Bates until he was placed under arrest. He was indicted by the grand jury on a charge of second degree murder ...

... Mr. and Mrs. Jim Bates and Mrs. Tom Sims were witnesses of the fight and all testified that Bates struck first. Mrs. Sims saying that Thompson was knocked down once. An intervening rose bush hid the battlers from the sight at the time the stabbing took place and no details of this were given.

During the trial, Thompson took the stand. He said he agreed to trade the cow for the horse if it was not balky. The prosecutor asked him how he came to know the horse was balky. Thompson reported that "she stopped going up a little hill with with me. Uhlam told me that he had seen her balk and Mrs. Nichols said she would do to drive but not to pull a load.

The following is Thompson's testimony.

Question - Did you have any words before this stabbing took place?
Thompson - I talked to him and he would not do anything down here.
Q - How came you to resort to force?
T - He saw me on the road and came the other way and headed me off. I told him to go back and tried to keep him off of me with my knife. He knocked my hat off and when he when he started to hit me again I made a pass at his arm and he was closer than I thought he was.
Q - Did he hit you first?
T - Yes, He knocked my hat off.
Q - Did it hurt you?
T - It blinded me- made me a little blind.
Q - You had your knife open?
T - When he cursed me I opened my knife.
Q - Was that before or after you opened your knife?
T - He cursed me before and after both.
Q - Did you know there was a legal way of getting the cow?
T - I did not know whether there was or not.

Mrs. Sims testified that she was about 50 yards from Thompson when the altercation took place. There was a fence and a rosebush between them. She testified that Oady jumped the fence and said "this is my cow." The next thing she heard was Oady say, "I'm stuck." Mrs. Sims ran to him and she asked what kind of knife it was. Oady said it was a pocket knife. She reported that Thompson left leading the cow. Oady died 15 minutes later.

The rest of the story comes from a letter from Monte, Oady's brother, sent to my father.

Bleeding badly, Oady stumbled home. Monte screamed for help when he saw him coming. Jim's wife, Victoria Parrish Bates, ran to his aid. Oady fell into his arms and died moments later.

The Roseburg News-Review, on May 27, 1920, reported the following:

"Arthur James Thompson was last night acquitted of the charge of murder, and his plea of self-defense sustained by the jury, which deliberated only a few moments."

This was another moment of tragedy for the family. James was the only one left of TJ's first family. TJ had died, and Flora suffered greatly from Oady's death.

Thanks, again, to Ethel Mae for providing copies of the newspaper articles and the inquest.

TJ and Flora Bates Family Pictures

Here are some more pictures of TJ and Flora's children. These were provided by Ethel Mae Kinkade, daughter of Emery:


Monte Bates, Sr. circa 1920



Emery Bates when 22 years old



Emery and the twins

Bates - Snow Get Together

On September 18, 2010, several members of the Bates and Snow families met in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Ethel Mae Kinkade, a descendant of John Bates of York, SC, through his grandson, Thomas Jefferson Bates, and her sister, Flora Ann Bates, and cousin, Marti Bates Cohen. They left Oregon on a Family History fact finding trip. They really wanted to meet our relatives in Arkansas. Ethel Mae, Texas Bill, and I have all been corresponding with Larrie Owen via email and over the phone. Ethel Mae was hoping to meet up with Larrie and see if they could piece a few things together.

About 12 relatives met at Creekmore Park at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. I have posted a few pictures:

This is a picture Flora Ann Bates, Ethel Mae Bates Kinkade, and Marti Bates Cohen.

Bates /Snow Get Together, Creekmore Park, Fort Smith, AR; Julie Beam (desd. of John C. Bates), Terri Lovell (John C. Bates, dec.), and Larrie Owen (d. of Robert E. Bates).

Marti Bates Cohen (TJ Bates), Ruth Sweeten (Julie's mother), and Norma Owen (Larrie's wife).

Juanita's mother, Juanita Moreton Harris, Sandi Robison, Vic Neve, Ronnie Moreton, Norma Jean Moreton Neve, and Denny Moreton (Flora Snow relatives).

Larrie Owen and Ethel Mae Kinkade In Witcherville, AR, on Sept. 16, 2010. Thomas Jefferson Bates & Flora Ethel Snow married in Witcherville on Oct. 12, 1893.


Valley View Church near Greenwood, AR. Robert Ellis Bates donated the land for the church. John C. Bates is buried on the south side of the church where the old homestead is. His grave is the only one with a headstone. Other graves are marked with rocks.

Robert Ellis Bates old homestead. The land is now owned by the Plunkett family.