COATES-L Archives

From: Linda Dudick <>
Subject: Sorting of William Coats
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 1997 10:16:51 -0400

For every Coate who has a William in the 1700's, Gary W. Coats of Portland,=
Oregon, Charlotte Coats of California and I have been batting all our=
information on William's around and coming to a consensus on how they fit. =
There are actually 17 William's that have been delineated at this time. =
Fifteen of them are below. Please take the time to carefully look this=
over, find help from it, and let us know if you can connect any unknown=
William facts below to your family. Also, if you find any errors in our=
theories, please let us know. We hope this helps. Don't be shy now. This=
could be a big break.=20

There are many William Coates born or living in the first half of the=
18th century in the colonies in these regions, so it is necessary to try to=
sort them to understand what events belong to which William. Based on=
events and places where these events occur, here are the Williams that can=
be discerned. This page has become a collaboration and exchange of=
information between Gary W. Coats of Portland, Oregon, myself and Charlotte=
Coats of California. Be aware that much of it is theory, and mistakes=
could have been made.

(1) William Cotes, b. abt 1680, who was the son of Thomas and Joan Clemson=
Coats of NJ. His siblings were John, Thomas, George and Mary. According=
to Gary W. Coats, George had a son named William, #1.1, later called Major=
William Coate, who was born abt. 1721 of Pennsylvania.

(2) William Coates, Sr., b. abt. 1695, married Mary Smith in Philadelphia,=
PA in 1706 and died there in 1749. He is the father of William Coates,=
Jr., b. about 1713 who died just after his father in 1749 in Philadelphia,=
#2.1. This William Jr. married a Mary also and had two children named=
after he and his wife. This William (III) whom we will refer to as 2.1.1=
married Margaret Norris and had ten children. He achieved the rank of=
Colonel during the Revolutionary War in the State Militia. (This info=
provided by Gary W. Coats.)

(3) William, b. abt. 1700 in (Glasgow) England to Thomas Coate. He lived=
in Charleston, SC as an adult. He had a son William, b. 1735 whom we will=
number #3.1. He was at one time a minister and could be the grandfather of=
Rev. William Coates who was married to Nancy Baker and lived in Charleston,=
SC in some of his adulthood. (C-1291, Gary Coats)

(4) William, son of Samuel and Mary Saunders Coate, b. abt. 1702 in=
Hunterdon Co., NJ. He is supposedly the husband of Rachel Ann Budd, but no=
first hand records verify this.

(5) William, son of Marmaduke and Ann Pole Coate who was born on June 14,=
1702 in England. He married Rebecca Sharp and died in 1749 in Burlington=
Co., NJ without issue (without children). He also had a younger brother=
named William who died in infancy.=20

(6) William, born before 1723 who lived in Hunterdon Co., NJ, in 1775 when=
he wrote his will and who died in 1797 in Burlington Co., NJ.

(7) William Coates, b. about 1725 who Gary Coats theorizes might be the son=
of Philip and the father of Big John Coats. This is information=
conjectured from a book by E. Tucker entitled "The History of Randolph=
County, Indiana." It does however, tend to have timing errors in it and=
other Coates Researchers highly question this "Scottish" Coate lineage.=
(C-1291)

(8) William Coates, b. 1731, d. 1781, who was known as Esquire and=
Gentleman in Charles Town, SC records. He was married to Mary Green and is=
the likely son of William of England.

(9) William Coates, b. before 1733 who fought in the French and Indian Wars=
in 1748 from lower Marion Co. (VA?).

(10) William Coates of Halifax, VA/NC, b. 1749, d. 1812, son of John.

(11) William Coates, who lived in Pasquotank Co., NC in 1769.

(12) William Coates, b. 175?, who had son, Wylie who had son Willis, b.=
1802 who married Marinda Glascock in 1844 in Davidson Co., NC.

(13) William Coates, b. Mar. 26, 1765 to Thomas and Elizabeth King Coates=
of Hunterdon Co., NJ.

(14) William Coats (b. aft. 1760) who was the son of Thomas and Sarahann=
Coats of SC.

(15) William Coates who was living in Chatham Co., GA in 1792. =20

The following information applies to the name William Coate. I have=
sorted the data usually by place, and sometimes by theory on how these=
Williams are seperated. If they seem to apply to the William lines sorted=
above, I have given them the corresponding numbers to the above list. =
There are several Williams in South Carolina, that as of yet we have not=
been able to sort. Again, thanks goes to Gary W. Coats of Oregon and=
Charlotte Coats of California for collaborations on this data.

1) A William Cotes witnessed the will of William Say, Shopkeeper, in=
Philadelphia on 7/27/1711. This William is the son of Thomas and Joan=
Coats named in his mother's, Joan Clemson's will dated Sep. 10, 1727 in=
Philadelphia. His siblings were Mary Harris, Thomas, John and George. =
(C-1006) (Note that his mother married a Clemson after the death of Thomas=
Coats).

1) The George Coate's, brother to above William, witnessed the will of=
William Say, shopkeeper in Philadelphia on Aug. 3, 1713. George wrote his=
will on May 31, 1736 in Philadelphia. He names son William, #1.1, and=
brother John in his will. Probated May 31, 1736. (C-1006) According to=
Gary W. Coats, this George Coate's is thought to be born about 1685 and his=
son William (#1.1), born about 1721, married Martha (Davis) and became=
Major William Coate in the state militia. Major William Coate had a son=
George.

1) A payment was made to George Cote in the 1750 estate settlement of Jonas=
Keene of Salem Co., NJ. This is a likely son of the above William or his=
brothers, children of Joan Cotes Clemson.

1.1?) A William Coats was granted 650 acres of land on Poke Swamp in=
Berkley Co., SC on Dec. 1, 1772. (C-910, 912)

1.1?) A William Coats was granted 800 acres of land in Berkley Co., SC on=
Edisto River on Jul 26, 1774. (C-910, 912)

1?) Three William Coates lived in Philadelphia, PA in a listing of=
inhabitants dated 1745. Gary Coats states they were descendants of Thomas=
and Joan Cote (Clemson). They include William, b. ca 1670, d. 1 Apr. 1749;=
William, b. ca 1713, d. Mar. 1749 and William b. May 13, 1741 and d. Apr.=
28, 1802. (This last one might not have been the 3rd William listed as an=
inhabitant of Philadelphia in 1745. If not, we still need to account for=
one more William. (C-1052, 1291)=20

?) A William Coates, who was an indentured servant, lived in Philadelphia=
Co., PA, in 1772. He is likely the William who was on the port of entry=
lists for Pennsylvania in 1772. (C-739, 1292)

1?) William Coate was disowned by the Quaker Church in Philadelphia MM, PA.=
(C-598) (There is a branch of Coats who were Baptist in South Carolina=
that could be his descendants. They include William, Mary, Mary, Rebekka,=
James, Henry and Thomas.) (C-598a, 1291)

1?) A William Coats was a Revolutionary Soldier from PA. (C-1071)

2.1?) There was a William Coates who was in the Tithable records for Amelia=
Co., VA, between Deep and Flat Cr. between 1736-1771. (Narragansett=
Historical Register) (C-1047)

6) A bond of William Coat was listed in the estate of Edw. Rockhill of=
Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ in 1748. =20

6) A William Coats and Mary Marsh were administrators of David Marsh of=
Hunterdon Co., NJ in 1770. (C-1,p.167) This is probably the same William=
who made his will in that county in 1775 and who died there about 1797 when=
it was probated. (See paragraph below pertaining to our William's death=
date.)

6) A William lived in Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey when he wrote the=
will in 1775. He names beloved sons Joseph, William and Walter Cotes, and=
daughters, Sarah, Hannah, Mary all seemingly of age. His executors were=
his son Josef and son-in-law John McPar(s)on. In 1775 if these children=
were all 20 or older and they were born over a period of at least 12 years=
then he would have been having children by or before 1743. This would make=
his birthdate before 1723. Due to his actual death date being in 1797, he=
is more likely a grandson of one of Samuel's sons that stayed in Hunterdon=
Co., NJ as he would have been about age 95 if he were his son. This William=
was also not a Quaker as he started his will by saying "In the Name of God,=
Amen," a method not used by Quakers. (C-554, 593)=20

6.1) A William Coats who married Leanah Low in Hunterdon Co., NJ on Sept.=
13, 1781. He is possibly the son of the William who wrote his will and=
listed son William in 1775 in Hunterdon Co., NJ. (C-153,543)

13) A William Coates was born about 1765 to Thomas and Elizabeth King in=
Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., NJ, decendants of Moses and Susannah Weldon.=
William was not a common name in this line. (C-1091)

13) A William Coats moved from Kingswood MM, Hunterdon Co., NJ to Buckingham=
on certificate dated 13/11/1785 or 13/11/1788. He declared his intentions=
to marry a Mary Price (formerly Coate) on that same day. (C-46b)

13?) A William, between ages 21 and 45, lived in Philadelphia Co., PA in the=
1800 census records.

5) A Wm. Coat of Burlington, NJ was listed as a bondsman in the Estate of=
Ab. Porter of Gloucester Co., NJ in 1748. (C-1p.167)=20

5.1) A William is mentioned in the inventory of the estate of Robert=
Hartshorne of Burlington on Jun 27, 1752. (This probably refers to William=
and Rebecca Sharp's son William.)

9) A William Coates was listed as a second Lieutenant in lower Marion county=
in 1747/8 protecting their freedom against Britain in the French-American=
War. (Marion Co. could be a part of South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee,=
Kentucky, Ohio or Virginia (now W.V). My theory is that is was part of=
Virginia at the time, as that was the inhabited state in 1747. If anyone=
knows if this is correct or incorrect, please let me know. This William=
might be the same William living in Charleston, SC in the 1760's who was=
listed as Captain at the time. (See 1.1)

10) A William Coats, b. Sept. 17, 1749 of mostly Halifax, VA (Note that the=
Roanoke River runs between this and Halifax, NC) and died Dec. 28, 1812. =
His father was John Coats. His children were William, John, Elizabeth,=
Richard, Guilford, Nancy, Diez and Sarah Sally. (C-996)

10) A William Coats received one pound, ten shillings, eight pence from the=
Board of Auditors, Halifax District, NC on Nov. 4, 1782 for a Revolutionary=
War Payment. (C-1086)

10) A William Coats lived in District 13, Halifax Co., NC in a 1786 state=
census. (C-739)

11) A William James Coats lived in Pasquotank Co., NC in 1769. (C-739) A=
Wilson W. Coats, likely relative, was also engaged in a military unit in=
Pasquotank Co., NC. (C-1284)

12) A William, born circa 175?, had a son Wylie. Wylie had a son Willis=
born in 1802 who married Marinda Glascock in 1844 in Davidson Co, NC.=
(C-1095)

4) A William Coate preceded Henry (his probable brother) to North Carolina,=
living in Rowan Co. by 1754.

4) A William Coats was appointed Commissioner on July 12, 1754 in the room=
of Edward Hughes Esqr. for the Roads in the fork of the Yadkin., Rowan Co.,=
NC. (C-936) He replaced a very prominent citizen in this position. This=
tells us that he probably had prominance, owned land and was at least 21=
years of age. (C-2014)

4) A court case entitled, "Mary Dughart" vs. William Coats, Troner?" in=
Rowan Co., NC on July 23, 1756. The verdict was guilty. No details of the=
case are known. (C-936)

4) A court case in Rowan Co., NC on Oct. 21, 1756 discharged William Coats=
from being committed for having 2 horses in his custody, the property of=
whom was unknown. Some of the same judges whom he served under as juror=
dismissed this case. (C-2014)

4) A William Coate had jury duty on Oct. 22, 1756 in Rowan County, in the=
case John Parker vs. James Berry. He was a juror on July 22, 1757; Oct. 20,=
1759 (or 1762); and April 22-23, 1762 respectively. He and two other=
jurors, John Jones and Jeremiah Green later moved to Bush River MM, SC. =
He was also a juror under the same judges in these cases, Jno. Hanby, Ed=
Hughs, and Wm. Buse. (C-936, 943)

4) A William is listed as a taxable person from Rowan County in 1759.=
(C-353) This William supposedly sold his land in Rowan County in 1762 after=
he had moved onto Newberry Co., SC. He is the William in the New Garden MM,=
Guilford Co., NC minutes as having moved to Bush River, SC before 1762.=
This connection between the William in Rowan and SC is reinforced by=
information from L.E.Jones dated Feb. 1984. She also stated that this=
William was probably the husband of Rachel Ann Budd. (C-199,253c,552,573) =
Note: - In a deed dated 1760 in Salisbury, Rowan County, Samuel Bryan=
bought land from Granville on the south side of the Yadkin River below the=
mouth of Coats Branch. The deed was proved in Sept. of 1761. Note that=
there was also a James Coats that married Robena Ryle in Rowan County in=
1759. Either James or William could have owned the Coate/Cote land refered=
to called Coats branch in this deed. Also note that there were no other=
Coate marriages in Rowan until after 1793. (C-936, 938, 969)

4) William Coate lived between Spring Field and Bush River in South Carolina=
before 1762 according to John Belton Oneal in "The Annals of Newberry". =
This William Coate's was called Billy Coates by an oldtime visiting son of=
a John Jones. (C-930)

4) Judge O'Neall in the "Annals of Newberry" states ,"Certain it is that=
William Coate lived and must have died in Newberry Co., between 1762-1796."=
=20

4?) A William obtained 800? acres on Aug. 5, 1766 in Newberry Co., SC on=
Scotts Creek, Bush River. (C-692, 912) In SC, land could be purchased on=
a headright system, 100 acres for the head of household and 50 acres for=
each additional adult or child including servants and slaves. William=
would have had a family of 14 to purchse 800 acres. Family tradition=
usually lists the William and Rachel Ann Budd Coate family with 13 members,=
but sometimes a daughter Susanne is listed and sometimes a son Thomas is=
listed. If he had both, that would account for a 14 person headright. =
However, the timing is off for it to be William and Rachel, because it=
appears that William sold the land in 1813, and he would be much too aged=
to have the children he had at the dates commonly suggested.

4?) A William was granted 200 acres of land in Craven Co. on Nov. 24, 1767=
on the north side of Bush River.

4?) A William Coates had as his executor John Coates in an administration in=
the Carolinas dated 1774. (C-997)

?) A William Cote (Coates) of the Ninety Sixth District purchased 100 acres=
from John (Desc.) and Jemima Wright in Newberry Co., SC on Nov. 2, 1785. =
The deed for this land was not filed until July 4, 1803. (C-908, 912)

14?) A William Coate of Newberry bought 116 acres from Abijah or Elisha=
O'neal on Sept. 18, 1799. His neighbors included Wm. Cote, John Coats, and=
William O'neal. Witnesses were William Oneal, John Oneal, and Abijah=
Oneal. (C-903) His possible parents are Thomas and Sarahann Coats of SC as=
theorized by Gary W. Coats of Oregon. (C-1292)

3) A William Coates (b. ca. 1700) of Great Britain and Charleston, SC=
listed as the recently deceased son of Thomas Coates of Glasgow, England in=
appointment of attorney to recover William's estate on March 26, 1753. He=
is listed as a "sometimes minister".=20

3 or 4) A William Coats purchased 650 acres of land on Poke Swamp on Dec.=
1, 1772 in Berkley Co., SC.

3.1) A William, b. about 1735 and died in 1784 in Camden Dist., Newberry=
Co., SC named wife Frances (sometimes listed as Mary Frances) and children,=
Ann Starkes, Prisilla, Barton, Wilson, William (underage, b. 1765=
[C-1060]) and Benjamin (underage) in that order in his will. A Netty=
(Notley) Coates witnessed it. William and Frances married in 1757 in S.C. =
(C-598e) His 200 acres of land was sold on Kings Creek on the south side=
of the Enoree River to John Turner (Furnas), Sr. dated April 16, 1791. The=
deed is filed in Newberry County Records. His will is supposedly filed in=
Kershaw Co., SC. (C-1284) According to some descendants, he is the son=
of William, Sr. (#3 above) who died in Charleston, SC in 1753. William,=
Jr's siblings were James (1737-1817?), Notley (1740?-1806), David (1750?-)=
and sister, Eliaha (1739?- ? who was married to James Gore). (C-998, 1068)=
=20

8) An Esq. William married Mary Green on Nov. 17, 1757 in Charleston, SC.=
(C-419f) This William was born 1731 and died 1781 at age 50. A William Sr.=
who never lived in the American colonies, is listed as the father of this=
William in a 1761 Charles Town, SC, Power of Attorney document. (C-692,=
1282) At least three of William and Mary's children were George b.1763 and=
baptised in St. Phillip's Parish, Thomas (abt.1765), and Elizabeth (abt.=
1767). (C-1069) This William had a daughter-in-law, (wife of son Thomas)=
named Catherine Coats who also had a large estate, was in courthouse=
records often and left a will. (C-419f&g, 1292) William was known as both=
Gentleman and Esquire in the Charleston, SC records. We know this to be=
true, because Gentleman William and his wife Mary Green jointly purchased=
842 acres in Colleton Co., SC in 1760. About six months later, he is=
called William Coates, Esq. as he and wife Mary sell 155 of these same 842=
acres to a John McQueen. All records that apply to Gentleman or Esquire=
William in Charlestown, SC records apply to him. He purchased a sloop=
named "The Happy Swain" in Charleston on July 16, 1760. In 1761, he=
empowered an attorney to sell his share of the estate he had been given by=
his father, William in his will. He is likely the William Coates, Esq. who=
purchased 800 acres on Edisto River in Berkely Co., SC on July 26, 1774. =
He was appointed to a commision for the Port of Charles town and referring=
to this position, he made his will in 1781. His wife and children had=
died by the writing of his will at his age of 50. They all were buried in=
St. Phillip's Church Yard. (C-1283, 1286, 1287, 1290-1292) =20

15) A William Coates lived in Chatham Co., GA in the 1792 Tax lists.

<center> LINDA COATE DUDICK =20
=20

You can view my entire genealogy database

at my HOMEPAGE site: http://www.ancestory.com

Note my new E-mail address:

</center>

This thread:

• Sorting of William Coats by Linda Dudick <>