| Notes |
- According to Sion's children's census records, Sion was born in Virginia. This Sion is often listed as being born in 1742. However, the Sion in Kershaw Co. in the census records through 1820 is consistently given with a birth date of between 1756 and 1774, making him a generation older than is often stated. This is supported by the fact that he called for the education of his 3 youngest children (like their older siblings) in his will in 1830. If he had been born in 1742, he would be 88 and have youngsters in the house. That's not nearly as likely as if he was in his 60's. He, therefore, does not fit with the parents, etc, also stated for him. It is Beverly Burton's theory that he is the son of Joseph. That is the one verified person in the Orangeburgh area at the time that is the right age to be his father. He is in the Kershaw Co., SC census records as being the right age in the right place where his possible siblings lived. In the 1820 census, he lived within a dozen houses or so of his possible brothers, Joseph, Lemuel and David. Sion is in the following county court records in Kershaw Co., SC: 1785, purchases land in Camden District; 1790, Belton Vs. Sion Coats; 8/7/1794 Grand Jury; 1795, Witnesses James Perry's Deed; 5/7/1798, Appraiser of Estate of John Dixon; 8/9/1799 Grand Jury. In the 1820 census for Kershaw Co., SC, his household consists of 2 males under age 10, 1 between 10 and 15, and he is above age 45. There are 3 females under age 10, 1 from 10-15, and his wife is between the ages of 26 and 44. Note that one of the sons ages does not match his cemetery stone's birth date according to this census record. To me this suggests that son John's birthdate on his cemetery stone was a little too early and not accurately known. Sion is said to have married two Perry sisters, but according to thorough first hand research by James Fort of Canada, this isn't so. Sarah, sister to Mary Perry, married a Jesse Tillman instead. All that we know for certain at this point is that Sion's first wife was Mary Perry and his second wife was named Sarah with an unknown surname. It should also be noted, that some of his children attributed to him through his first wife, Mary Perry, are more likely children of his second wife by their ages. This is assuming that Mary died before 1801 as is indicated by various researchers. (C-2398, E) Sion and the Perry's are often connected in the records. Sion was a witness to several wills involving Perrys: James Perry of Kershaw Co., SC, Josiah Pery in 1812, James Perry Jr. and Benj. Perry. (C-1796, 1948, E) Sion lived near the Present Lancaster, Chester, York county lines in Flattop section on road that runs "from Liberty Hill to Camden". He is listed in a platt map dated 1826 in Kershaw County bounded by Benjamin and James Long's properties. He left a will in 1830 which was probated in 1832. He left land to all of his sons and many slaves to most all his sons and daughters. His estate must have been of some substance. His wife was named as Sarah. The named children in his will in the order of naming were sons: Sion, Gideon, John, and daughters: Betsey Coates, Jincey Revell, Mary Coates, Rebecca Coates, and Polly Flanigan. His will does not support the fact that he had a son James even though some have connected him with a son James. He provides for the education of his 3 youngest children to be equivalent to what all the rest of his children have been provided with, but does not state which ones they were. He states in his will that his wife Sarah may take care of "her children" as she sees best. This implies that Sarah might have children by another marriage. For some reason, there was a lawsuit about the probate of his estate. After it was settled, Sion, Gideon, Sarah and her infant son Josiah-? all moved to Alabama. (C-2200, 2201) Lastly, I suspect that Sion was married 3 times, first to Mary Perry who died before the 1800 census, 2nd to an Unknown person by whom he had 3 sons and two daughters and then finally Sarah named in his will by whom he had Josiah Coates in the late 1820's. However, this family still does not all fit. We know the sons' ages from cemetery stones, but two of them would have been born between 1800 and 1810. He only has one son listed as being born between those years... and two daughters. In the 1820, the years don't quite match up again. This family is therefore still a puzzlement.
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1756 - 1830 (74 years)
[9] 