Hi, just trying to see if anyone has connections or has info relating to my 6 x great grandfather Joseph Bates who lived in Waterford City from early 1700's to 1752. He had a son William Bates who was mayor of Waterford in 1772. Joseph had property in John Street going by a deed dated 1740. I'm not sure if Joseph came to Waterford from perhaps England, or whether he was born in Ireland. In the deed of 1740 he was described as "Gent". I'm also keen to find out who Joseph's wife was (mother of William). Joseph married a second time to "Hellina Walliett" in "Holy Trinity Within, Waterford City" (rootsireland.ie) in 1740. William was likely born before this marriage which is why I believe it was Joseph's second marriage. But who was his first wife ? I have a potential marriage to a Martha Lewis in 1729 (St Catherine Dublin) but it's hard to say if that's the one. In saying that, I did find a grave of a Martha Bates in the Abbeylands graveyard across the river from Waterford (died 1737).
I guess my priority would be to find out where Joseph came from and who his parents were?
Geoff