General Notes

Married to May Cecilia MORRISSEY (d.1887) in 1870, in Sydney, NSW.

Children...
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) - Monday 10 April 1871 - Birth notices...
"On the 25th March, at her residence, Balmain, the wife of Mr. W. J. BATES, of a son." 

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) - Saturday 14 March 1885   - Article
"DIVORCE COURT.—FRIDAY.
(Before his Honor Mr. Justice WINDEYER.)
BATES V. BATES.
Mr. Browning, instructed by Mr. Richards, moved that the decree nisi made in this case on the 26th August last for
the dissolution of the marriage of Mary Cecilia Bates, the
petitioner, and William John Bates, the respondent, be
made absolute.
Decree nisi made absolute, with costs against respondent."

Evening News (Sydney, NSW) - Tue 26 Aug 1884 - A Sydney Divorce Suit.
"BATES v. BATES.
The application of Mrs. Mary Cecilia Bates, nee Morrisey, to have her marriage with William John Bates annulled, was heard before Mr. Justice Win-deyer, in the Matrimonial Causes and Divorce Court, this morning. Mr. E. J. Browning instructed by Mr. C. T. Richards appeared for the petitioner, the respondent being only represented by a photograph. The petitioner deposed that she was married in St. Mary's Cathedral in 1870, and lived with her husband till the year 1877. The respondent beat her five times, and left her without support several times, and she had to go to her sister's to live. The only fruit of the union was a son, who died in infancy. The respondent persuaded her to live with him by promises to amend his conduct ; but a final separation took place in May, 1880, since which time she had received no support from the respondent. He followed several occupations, at one time keeping a hotel in George-street ; but at length he became a billiard marker in Bowden's Hotel. On two occasions her boxes were seized for the rent of the room she occupied, and when she asked her husband for money to get them back he said he had none, and she "could do her best." On several occasions since the separation he had gone to the hotel where she was engaged as a barmaid, and called for drinks, patting down a sovereign on the counter to annoy her. When she taxed him with an intimacy with Mary Farley, a waitress in Bowden's Hotel, he admitted it, but said that he must have been under the influence of drink, and promised to reform. She and her husband went to manage the Gap Hotel at Watson's Bay, and she again saw Mary Farley, but he denied having spoken to her. When, however, he received a legacy of £300 he told her (the petitioner) that it was not for her, as he meant to give it to his "fancy woman," and he and Mary Farley have since been living together as man and wife, Mary Farley declaring herself to be Mrs. Bates. Mrs. Stephens, the only other witness, deposed that Mr. Bates and a person who called herself Elsie Bates occupied part of her house in Pyrmont, but when she discovered that the woman was not Mr. Bates's wife she got rid of them as soon as possible. His Honor said that it was unnecessary to hear more witnesses, as there was abundant evidence that he had not only illtreated but had also deserted her. He would grant a decree nisi to be made absolute this day six months. The petitioner is of ladylike and prepossessing appearance, and was dressed modestly, but neatly, in black silk, without jewellery or ornaments of any kind, and evidently felt her position, as her voice trembled, and she was much affected during the time she was in the witness box."