In 1970 at age 16 I started a family tree for the Bates and Watson families. There was no internet of course. The Bates line came to a dead end due to a published mistake on the name of my 4th Great grandfather. When I retired in 2005 I had lots of time to spend on the internet. I discovered that my GGGG Grandfather was Johann Nikolaus Batz 1754-1811 not a ficticious Eliakim Bates. With the help of others,I was led me back to church records from 1640 to the marriage of my 7th Great Grandparents in Germany

In 1970 at age 16 I started a family tree for the Bates and Watson families. There was no internet of course. The Bates line came to a dead end due to a published mistake on the name of my 4th Great grandfather. When I retired in 2005 I had lots of time to spend on the internet. I discovered that my GGGG Grandfather was Johann Nikolaus Batz 1754-1811 not a ficticious Eliakim Bates. With the help of others,I was led me back to church records from 1640 to the marriage of my 7th Great Grandparents in Germany