Jeb Colton Bates (born February 1, 2012) is the nineteenth child and ninth son of Gil Bates and Kelly Bates.
He is the brother of Zachary Bates, Michaela Keilen, Erin Paine, Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, Alyssa Webster, Tori Smith, Trace Bates, Carlin Stewart, Josie Balka, Katie Clark, Jackson Bates, Warden Bates, Isaiah Bates, Addallee Bates, Ellie Bates, Callie-Anna Bates, and Judson Bates.
Early life
Jeb as a baby
Jeb Colton Bates was born at 4:04 a.m. on February 1, 2012, at Physicians Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Gil Bates and Kelly Bates. He was the couple's nineteenth and final child.
Jeb weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces, and was 20 inches long. He arrived at 36 weeks gestation after his mother went into labor at a routine doctor's visit. The doctor felt it was necessary to deliver him after seeing extra fluid and a drop in heart rate on the ultrasound. She was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during his pregnancy. Jeb was in the NICU until February 7, 2012, due to ingesting a lot of fluid and having difficulty transitioning after a very quick descent through the birth canal. "You would think with your 19th child, you wouldn't get excited and nervous," his father said shortly after his birth. "But I was as nervous with this baby as I was with our first." His name means "beloved friend of Coal Town".
Along with his siblings, Jeb is being homeschooled. He and his siblings are being raised as active participants of Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles, and regularly attend the yearly Advanced Training Institute conferences in Big Sandy, Texas.
Jeb is said to be fearless and full of energy. As the youngest of nineteen children, most of his family feels that he is spoiled.
Career
Television
Jeb appeared on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting many times as a child. His birth was featured on the special "The Bates Family: And Baby Makes 19".
In 2012, TLC aired one season of the show United Bates of America, which focused on Jeb's family. His birth was featured on the episode "Love Times 21".
In 2015, UpTV began airing a similar show, Bringing Up Bates. Jeb was regularly featured on both shows.
Wedding involvement
Jeb was a ring bearer at his sister Tori's wedding to Bobby Smith on December 16, 2017.
He was a ring bearer at his sister Josie's wedding to Kelton Balka on October 5, 2018.
He was a ring bearer at his sister Carlin's wedding to Evan Stewart on May 25, 2019.
He was a ring bearer at his brother Trace's wedding to Lydia Romeike on October 1, 2022.
