Book Progress Report

Well, we have finished the research and verifying facts. The developmental writing is done! The next step is to edit the manuscript. I am doing the first round myself to catch as many errors as possible and to rewrite any awkward sections. Then, it will go to another editor and on to several proofreaders.  

When the text is as clean and concise as possible, it will go to Jenny for the insertion of photos. Then, I will format the book for 8" X 11.5" print size and upload it to Createspace for publishing. 

We are getting close. Wish us luck!

Indy (Endy) Bates Barfield

Indy (Endy) Bates Barfield was born in 1890. She is the daughter of Sarah Elizabeth Ward-Bates (Big Granny) and Thomas F. Bates. Indy married Petty Barfield in 1904 at the Cobb County Courthouse and left for Vernon Texas. Free from the poverty level of her family's rural farm life, she only returned to Georgia one time. However, she kept in touch with  her Georgia family sharing glimpses of her life with letters and pictures to her mother.  In this picture, found in Lillie Bates (wife of Lem Bates) personal belongings after her death, Indy wanted her mother to see her new $35 pearl necklace.  Looks like she did quite well for herself.

Three Generations Descending from Thomas F. Bates

Sarah Elizabeth Ward Bates (Big Granny) is the wife of Thomas F. Bates (son of Charlton and Nancy Bates). Here, she is pictured with her daughter-in-law Lillie (Grandma) Bates, who is the mother of the children shown: Cora, J.B. (Jay), and Mary Bates (circa 1914).

Roany (Roena) Bates and Elisha Smallwood

Roany Bates was the daughter of Charlton and Nancy Bates. Her name on the 1880 census was Roena but she was also known as Roany or Gennie Bates (September 27 1845—February 16, 1900). Roany is listed as living with her parents, Charlton and Nancy Bates, in the Mount Yonah District of White County, GA in the 1860 census. Her family lived next to Elisha Smallwood’s family. Roany married Elisha “Bud” Smallwood, Jr. (January 22, 1843–May 8, 1914), who was the brother of her sister Martha’s husband, William (b. 1844). Elisha’s father was Elisha Smallwood, Sr., who was born in 1826 in Habersham County and died prior to 1900, and Mary Clark, who was born around 1825 and died between 1855 and 1860. 

Nancy Smallwood and her husband Mark Czar Whitlock

In the 1880 census, Roany and Elisha Smallwood enrolled the following children:  • George Washington Smallwood (May 15, 1866–April 27, 1927) • William Alexander Smallwood nicknamed Uncle Aleck (June 28, 1870–August 17, 1923) married Charity Olivia Walden, known as Aunt Arleevy. • Nancy Jane Smallwood (1873-1948)


George Washington Smallwood and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Walden

 Featured in the photos here are George Washington Smallwood and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Walden (Nov. 1, 1862–June 16, 1921). Nancy Jane Smallwood and her husband Mack Cazer Whitlock (1881-1951).

Indiana Ward Wilson

Indiana Ward Wilson (Oct. 27, 1868–Nov. 9, 1969)

The first born daughter of David and Nancy Ward was Indiana (India) Ward. She was the sister of our Big Granny, Sarah Elizabeth Ward Bates, and Marion F. Bates. Indiana was born October 27, 1868. Her death certificate misspelled her name as Indinaner Wilson and incorrectly reports her death at age 94 on November 9, 1960). Obviously, based on her birth year, she would have been 92 in 1960. She is buried at Oakgrove Baptist church in Panthersville, Georgia. Her death certificate also incorrectly listed her father as Marion. Marion was her brother. Indiana married Cicero M. Wilson (1864–1895).

Cicero M. Wilson (1864-1895)

Cicero M. Wilson (1864-1895) married Indiana (India) Ward, the daughter of David and Nancy Ward. Indiana was the sister of our Big Granny, Sarah Elizabeth Ward Bates, and Marion F. Bates. Cicero was killed at age 31.

Jack Turner and Cora Bates Tirplets

David "Jack" Turner and Cora Bates-Turner's made the news as the first triplets born in 1945.

Indiana Ward Wilson

Indiana Ward Wilson (October 27, 1868–November 9, 1960) and her granddaughter, Obera. Indiana is the daughter of David and Nancy (Martin) Ward and the sister of  Sarah Elizabeth Ward Bates (known as Big Granny to her grandchildren).

Old Grogan Homeplace owned by Charlie and Granny Leevy

Leavy Grogan  (Granny Leavy) and Charlie owned the large farm known as the Old Grogan Homeplace on Wiley Bridge and Cox Roads. Charlie died young and left Leavy with seven small children to raise. She had to sell off parcels of the farm until it was completely gone.

 Charlie Grogan

Dr. T.J. Vansant of Woodstock, Georgia (c. 1940-50)

Dr. T.J. Vansant and his wife Birdie came to Woodstock about 1910. He was the only doctor in town. During the 1940s and 1950s, he delivered babies for the Bates family and made house calls throughout the county. We had no phones, but he always came when he was summoned in person.

Reverend Herbert Brown and Wife Opal

Pastor of Sunlight Baptist Church (1949-65) Reverend Herbert Brown and his wife Opal and their grandson while visiting with Grandma Lillie Bates and her daughter Ethel (Deedle) Bates.

Bethel (Buster) Bates

The Bethel (Buster) Bates children Barbara, Floyd, Thomas and Gene.

Lemuel Harris Bates and Lillie Margaret Smith Bates

Lem (Pap) and Lillie Margaret Smith Bates (Grandma Lillie)

New Home Baptist Church, Holbrook

Old Preacher Holbrook was the pastor of New Home Baptist Church in Georgia in the 1940s. Shown here: Jetty Pruitt and Nita Pruitt and others after baptizing.

If you recognize others in this photo, please leave a comment below.

Mary Bates and Frances Pruitt, Georgia Family

Three generations descending from Mary Bates and her husband Frances Pruitt. Shown here are Frances, Amos, and Stanley Pruitt.

Viola Pruitt and Johnny Smith

Viola Pruitt Smith with her husband Johnny Smith, who was Lillie Smith Bates' brother. Lillie, Johnny and their many siblings were born in the late 1800s and early 1900s to Savannah Bates and Alexander Newton Smith. They are all mentioned in our book, Angels Among Us.

Mary Lizzie and Jessie Suggs

Mary Lizzie and Jessie Suggs at Dee Waters Grave 1948. The old schoolhouse at New Home Baptist Church is in the background.

Woodstock Elementary in the 1930s

 Amos Pruitt's class at Woodstock Elementary in the 1930s. Do you know any of these kids?

Yvonne Mauldin (Perry) and Jenny's daughter Jane at Sunlight Church Homecoming in 1964.

Martha Bates Jackson Family

 Doris Jackson Mauldin is Yvonne Perry's mother. Yvonne is the coauthor of the family genealogy, Oh, Come Angel Band ~ The History of the Georgia Family Descending from Charlton and Nancy Bates. 

Twins Doris and Dorothy Jackson with their elder brother Edmond Jackson. Their mother is Martha Louella Bates (photo below) and their father is Fred A. Jackson.

Martha Bates Jackson

Alex and Savannah Bates Smith

Alexander Newton Smith with his wife and Savannah Bates Smith.

Sarah Bates, Daughter of Jay and Lois (Sims) Bates

Sarah Bates is the daughter of Jay and Lois (Sims) Bates. This photo is her 1950 graduating class at Mt. View School in Cobb County, Georgia.

Lois Sims Bates with daughter Sarah and Vada Bates Grogan

Sarah Elizabeth Ward Bates

Sarah Elizabeth Ward Bates  was known to her grandchildren as Big Granny. Her husband was Tom F. Bates of Cherokee County, Georgia.

Elijah Smallwood and Roany Bates

Roany Bates Smallwood's husband Elijah and a relative. Roany is the daughter of Charlton and Nancy Bates.

Help from the Ancestors in Spirit

My cousin Jenny and I have been working on our Bates family ancestry for nearly a year now. What a huge undertaking this has been. Hours and hours of research, interviewing family members, visiting graveyards, collecting photos, writing text, and editing and formatting. we are still not done!

I believe that everything we do is supported by beings of love and light. Many times those beings are our "deceased" loved ones who are on the other side of this veil of reality. And, on this genealogy project our ancestors (angels, as Jenny calls them) have been a tremendous blessing. There were times when we searched and searched for a person, unable to find them or any evidence to prove of our hunches. Jenny and I would call upon our loved ones for answers, and they have come through time and time again. We are still missing the parents of two key members of our lineage, but I do believe that in due time their story will come forth.

So, I'm wondering if anyone reading this has had an experience where you asked for help from your ancestors and they showed up with answers. Please leave a comment and share your story.

Sarah Elizabeth Ward Bates and Lillian Margaret Bates

Sarah Elizabeth Ward Bates is the one our family referred to as Big Granny. She is the second-born child of David Ward and Nancy Martin-Ward. Here she is standing above Lillian Margaret Bates, the wife of Lemuel Harris Bates, whom we called Grandma Lillie.

 

Welcome to Charlton and Nancy Bates Ancestry Blog

I've started this blog in order to have a place where the entire Bates family can gather online and contribute information about our ancestry. Starting with our earliest proven ancestors, Charlton and Nancy Bates, Jenny Meadows-Sauls and Yvonne Mauldin Perry (both descended from Charlton and Nancy) are about to publish and release a book about the Bates family genealogy. It will include personal stories and photos as shared by cousins and other relatives in many states.

We invite you to share your stories and help us trace and document the line back even farther. Feel free to post comments. If you have a lot of information to share and would like to be an administrator for this blog, please let us know.