Charlotte; I'm quite aware that all the names in a bible record may not be directly descended from the original bible owner. However, if they were cousins, and their descendents test, they should match if they are of the male line. I'm actively trying to recruit Coats testers. Results to date. 1. Michael Coats, son of the Coats who's obit was in the Sikeston, Mo. paper. He is a Vice President of the Union which represents Union Pacific employees. He is know as a "trouble shooter", and when an accident occurs, (mostly in Texas) he is sent to help investigate. He lives in Columbia, Mo. and has an unlisted number. I called him after his dad's death, and he was still so broken up he couldn't talk. Now his number is unlisted. I do know where he lives in Columbia, though. One of my Coats cousins lives there, and is married to a retired Interpol Agent. I wornder if he would do a little investigation. 2. William Coats, yep, here another William sits. A reporter for the St. Louis Post Dispatch. I called him, but he said he is from New York State, and uninterested in our work. I e-mailed him later, and he was rude enough not to return the e-mail. His loss. 3. Dan Coats of Indiana. The former Senator is now the Ambassador to Germany. My son lives in DC, and I'm working on finding out how to contact him again. I have a reply from him on US Senate letterhead which says he knows nothing. I'm starting to wonder if some of these Coatses are trying to distance themselve from the Coats name. I wonder why? John