There has been a lot of talk the last few days about the Cate/Cates. I thought I would add my line and see if it ties in or anyone has any info. The first few generations, I have not been fully able to verify. They were given to me by a cousin without any sources. I am still working on them. Generation 1 William Abraham Cate - born before 1846 and died after 1669 (possibly England for both). He married Margaret Agnes (--?--). Two known sons: Robert Ezra Cate and Richard Nehemiah Cate. Generation 2 Robert Ezra Cate born 1667 and died after 9 April 1728 in Surry County, Virginia. He married Ann A. (--?--). She was born abt 1672 and died after February 1729. They had 6 sons: Capt. Robert Cate, William Cate, Thomas Cate Sr., Benjamin Cate, John Cate, and Richard Cate. Generation 3 Capt. Robert Cate born abt. 1700 in Virginia and died after 5 Nov 1765 & by March 1767 in Orange County, North Carolina. He married Elizabeth Wyatt. They had 6 children: Thomas Cate, John Cates, Richard Cates, Sarah Cates, Joseph Cates, and Barnard Cates. Generation 4 (this is where I have most proven from) Thomas Cate born about 1730 and died abt 1817 in Newberry County, South Carolina. He married Elizabeth Fussell. They had 10 children: Thomas K. Cates, Robert Cates, Elizabeth Cates, Aaron Cates, Mary Cates, Isaiah Cates, Ezra Cates, Jehu Cates, Susannah Cate, and Nancy Ann Cate. Generation 5 Isaiah Cates born abt 1769 in Orange County, North Carolina and died Before 7 July 1806 in South Carolina. He married Jane O'Daniel on 10 Feb 1794 in Orange County, North Carolina. She was born abt 1767 and died 21 Oct 1850 in Orange County, North Carolina. Note: I have always seen that she died in Orange County, but she was enumerated on the 1850 census in the home of her daughter Susan in Lewis County, Tennessee. It is possible that she returned home after the census and died that year. Generation 6 Susanna "Susan" Cates born 1805 in South Carolina and died 15 May 1875 in Maury County, Tennessee. She married Sandy Duke who was born between 1801 and 1810 and died before 1850 in Maury County, Tennessee. Sandy Duke is a complete mystery to me almost. I have always heard things about him, and know that the city of Sandy Hook in Maury County was supposed to have been named after him. As to what his name really was I have no idea. I think he came from Orange County to Maury County, but cannot tie him to any other Dukes. My best theory is that his real name was William Alexander Duke and they called him Sandy, but I can't prove that. That theory is based on the fact that a grandson (William Alexander Lindsey) was said through family tradition to be named after a grandfather. He is the most likely one. I also know that Sandy was sometimes a nickname for Alexander. The other part of the theory is that Sandy & Susan had one son and they named him William. Thier children were: 1) Nancy M. Duke who married David W. Johnson 2) Elizabeth A. Duke 3) Martha Jane Duke who married John S. Lindsey (my 3rd Great Grandparents) 4) William G. Duke who married Nancy McFall 5) Mary E. Duke who married Anderson N. Gibson 6) Sarah Adeline Duke who married Perrin M. Wright Jr. All these families lived in the Lewis County & Maury County areas of Tennessee and still have many descendants here. They lived in neighborhoods with many other families who came from Orange County: the Craigs, the Pickards, the Stockards, the Williams, the Lindseys, etc.