This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: William Lewis Gates Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.families.aol.com/mbexec/msg/an/BOY.2ACIB/123.133.156.1.2.1.1 Message Board Post: These are different Gates families. The William Lewis Gates from Clarke County, Alabama was the son of William Gates who came to Clarke County around 1835 from Orangeburg, SC. His dad was nammed George, and George was from Germany. There was not a Thomas in this line.