Prepared by Mary Helen Coats Ahrens

3543 Waldorf Drive DNA Test Kit No. 7821

Dallas, Texas 75229

214-357-0866

mhahrens@flash.net

References for Alexander Coats for DNA Testing

#1. 1840 Citizens of Texas, Vol. 1, Land Grants, by Gifford White c. 1983, Austin,

Texas. Listed on Page 50

#2. 1840 Citizens of Texas Vol 2 Tax Rolls

by Gifford White, c. 1984. Page 165, Sabine County 1280 acres

#3. Republic of Texas : Poll Lists of 1846

Alexander Coats in Rusk County, Texas

#4. Data from Land Records for Alexander Coats

Class of Grant: 2

Amount of Land: 1280 acres (Second Class Headright Certificate)

Date Conditional Certificate Issured: 16 Feb. 1836

Conditional Certificate Issued in: Bastrop County 2 town lots

Date Unconditional Certificate Issued: 5 Sept. 1843

Unconditional Certificate Issued in: Rusk County

#5. Nacogdoches – Gateway to Texas A Biographical Directory 1850 – 1880 by Carolyn Reeves Ericson, c. 1987 (Dist.. By Ericson Books 1614 Redbud Street, Nacogdoches, Texas.) Page No. 84: 1820 Census Jackson County, Alabama; 1840 Tax List, Sabine Co.; 1846 Poll Tax List Rusk Co., Texas: 1850 Census, Rusk County, Texas; 1860 Census Nacogdoches County, Texas; 1861 Tax list; 1862 tax list

#6. Alexander (aka Allen) Coats is listed on the 1850 U.S. Census for Rusk County, Texas, Nov. 4, 1850, along with his wife, Elizabeth, and their seven sons. This census shows that he was born in Kentucky , was 47 years old at this time, which would make his birth date in the year ca. 1803. This census shows Elizabeth to be 47years old, which make the year of her birth ca. 1803. Their sons as listed on the 1850 census are:

  1. William H. Coats, (22 yrs. old) b. ab. 1828 in Alabama. It is believed he have died in the Civil War in the Shreveport, La. Area. Married MaryJane Spivey
  2. Henry A. Coats (age 18) b. abt. 1832 Jackson County, Alabama. Died Aug. 27, 1900 in Rusk County, Texas (this date was given to me by his ggrandson,

3. John Wesley Coats (age 16) b. 14 Dec. 1834 In Jackson County, Alabama. Died July 13, 1914 in Mt. Enterprise, Rusk County, Texas. Married Desdemona Cogburn. They are buried in Isabel Chapel Cemetery, formerly known as Sand Hill Cemetery. He died July 13, 1914.

4. Charles Coats, (age 14) b. abt. 1836 Jackson County, Alabama Marrried Elizabeth Birdwell on August 26, 1856 in Rusk County, Texas

  1. Jehu (aka Jay), b. April 1, 1841 Nacogdoches, Republic of Texas, d. ab. 1899, Nacogdoches County, Texas, married Harriett P. Case
  2. Ruben Coats, (age 10)b. abt. 1840, Nacogdoches, Republic of Texas, married Elizabeth Scroggins

7. *Andrew Jackson (aka Jack) b. August 16, 1846, Nacogdoches County, State of Texas. Died March 3, 1903. Married Sarah L. Vardeman

Andrew Jackson (aka Jack) was my ggrandfather. He and Sarah L. Vardeman were married in Nacogdoches County, Texas October 25, 1869. Andrew Jackson (aka Jack) was my ggrandfather. He and Sarah L. Vardeman were married in Nacogdoches County, Texas October 25, 1869. He and Sarah had 10 children. They are listed on the Nacogdoches County, Texas U.S. Census. He was born August 16, 1846 and died March 3, 1903. He served in the States Army during the Civil war, and he is listed as being in Company B, 12th. Texas. Their children were:

1. Mary Augusta B. July 125, 1870; 2. *William Jackson (aka Bud)Aug. 16, 1872; 3. Anna Elizabeth b. 3-11-76; 4. Delia D., b. 1-20-1878; 5. Claude Alexander b. 1-31-1881; 6. Z. R. b. 8-27-1883; 7. Donald Leon b. May 5, 1885; 8. Norah Odes b. 7-15-1887; 9. Harriett b. 9-6-1890;10. Sarah Evelyn b. 12-26-1893

#7. Alexander (aka Allen) and his second wife, Sodusky Nall, are listed on the July 20, 1860 Nacogdoches County U.S. Census, Home #730, Family 726. A copy of their marriage license shows they were married in Rusk County, Texas, Sept. 25, 1854. Census records show them having two sons. His first wife, Elizabeth, apparently died between this date and the 1850 U.S. census.

#8. Alexander (aka Allen) Coats was in the Republic of Texas as early as_Oct. 11, 1837 because he was eligible to receive a certficate from the Republic of Texas for 1280 acres of land in Bastrop County which he received on February 18, 1838 In September of 1843 he received a headright certificate from the Republic of Texas for 640 acres of land in Rusk County. He also owned land in North Nacogdoches County near present day Camp Tonkawa

William Jackson Coats, b. March 16, 1872 in Nacogdoches County, Texas, died Nov. 21, 1936. He and his wife, Sarah Helen Scroggins are buried in Bethel Cemetery in Nacogdoches County, Texas. He married Sarah Helen Scroggins Dec.15, 1892 in Nacogdohes County, Texas. Their children are:

  1. Frank; 2. Henry; 3. Hattie B. Coats Russell; 4. Oda Charity Coats Solomon;

5. Earl Clifford; 6. Kalon; 7. John Edward; 8.*Jim Allen; 9. Bob; 10. Virgil

Their son, Jim Allen Coats, Sr. was my father. He was born August 2, 1910 and died Feb. 28, 1986. He is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in north Nacogdohes County, Texas. He married Elsie Mae Self on December 26, 1933 in Nacogdoches County, Texas. She survives him. 

Alexander died December 1863. His son John Wesley Coats in a notarized statement states that he was away without leave from his Civil War Unit because his father was ill and he "went home to bury his father." It is believed that Alexander and his two wives are buried in Old Town Cemetery in unmarked graves. (We, members of the family) are in the process of having these graves marked.)

I have registered Alexander and Elizabeth with the Daughters of The Republic of Texas.