I have rejoined the lists after being off for sometime. Still trying to sort all the variations of Cates/Cate/Cato/Kates/Coats/Coates and other spellings in early South Carolina and determine which were the same families and which were not. Has anyone identified and/or placed a THOMAS CATES who appears to have been a Justice of the Peace in colonial South Carolina somewhere probably south west of present day Columbia about 1764? In over 30 years of research we have only traced my husband's line back to a THOMAS CATES who died in Edgefield District, South Carolina prior to April, 1794. His line of Cates lived in the Saluda County area around Cloud's Creek and the Dry Creek Meeting House and moved to Alabama before 1830. From published Colonial Deed Abstracts page 22: Book K-3, p. 158 22 & 23 July. 1764 L & R (Seems to be several variations in the lease and release deeds which follow each other in the abstracts. The earlier instrument seems to have been recorded last and contains the following statement "Before Thomas Cates, J. P. on 30 July 1764." Seller is Jacob (German Script) Taylor, planter and Magdelene, his wife of Saxegotha Township to Cornelius Brown Other deed is Book K-3, page 153 4 & 5 Aug. 1767 L & R But is recorded first. Seller is identified as Jacob (German Script) Brigales of Charleston, to Cornelius Brown, tailor of the Congaree. Selling price and acreage are different in both instruments. Land description is different but seems to be in a general area along Santee River below Saxegotha Township and between Amelia & Saxegotha, one above mouth of Beaver Creek in Berkeley Co. Any additional information or assistance in sorting out these people would be appreciated. Vivian Toole Cates, Rt. #2 Box 52-A, Alto, Texas 75925 vcates@ballistic http://www.ballistic.com/~vcates