John BATES  (1598 - 1666)

His name first appears in the records of York County, Virginia among those
listed in the muster of Abraham Piersey, at "Piersey's Hundred" in 1624. 
He was included among the servants of Abraham Piersey and had arrived at 
the Virginia Colony in the ship "Southampton" in 1623. Through his son, 
George, he became associated with the Skimino Meeting of the Society of 
Friends (Quakers). His family would become leaders in the Quaker movement. 
Many times his home was used as the Meeting House of the Quakers in the 
early days of the Society. His will was dated 21 Sept 1666, and proved in 
the York County Court on 24 Jan 1667.

Sources:
"Tidewater Virginia Families", p.425, Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis, 1989.
"Bates, et al, of Virginia and Missouri", p.73, Onward Bates, Chicago, Ill.,
1914
"Adventurers of Purse and Person", p.101, Meyer and Dorman, Richmond, Va., 
1987.