This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/5519/BOY.2ACIB/1382 Message Board Post: A Gates Surname Project has been started at www.familytreedna.com. Participation is open to all males with the Gates surname. The original participants in the study are thought to be descendents of John Gates residing in Simpson/Rankin County, MS in the early 1800s. They are seeking to correctly identify his sons, and then identify his lineage. All Gates are welcome to participate, including other groups attempting to answer similar questions in other parts of the country/world. The Simpson County, MS courthouse burned to the ground, taking with it all records of our early Gates family. Hopefully, this Y-DNA study will help us get over this brick wall constructed from courthouse ashes!