Frances

Did you see my post on the original thread regarding the parentage of the John Oates b 1826 who goes to Australia?

If the assumption (which seems to be an IGI best fit - and we all know how unreliable the IGI is) that the one who emigrates is John b1826 Lonan son of William Oates & Mary Beck then your next step backwards is, indeed correct - BUT as yet we are lacking in evidence as to which John emigrates. After Mary Beck dies William remarries in 1867 and the marriage gives his father as John Oats, Carpenter.