COATE, John (Gentleman ) ^{1 2 3 4}

  General Notes:

First of all, it is not known with certainty, that Gentleman John is the son of William and Rachel Ann Budd Coate. It is consistently passed down that way in family tradition which is a rare thing in this family. It is also now proven with certainty via DNA testing that Gentleman John Coates is a relative of Marmaduke Coate, also of Newberry Co., South Carolina, though off by 2 points at 37 markers. It is an exact match at 25 points.

What we do know about John is that he has the title Gentleman in some of the late public documents in the Carolinas. He was probably born between 1730 and 1740. He might possibly be the John Coate who along with wife Mary, moved from Chesterfield M.M. to Kingwood M.M. on 13,1,1763 and then returned to Chesterfield M.M. on 11,12,1766. (C-46) Here is what Summers book says about him: "John Coats died about 1803, his will being dated May 25, 1799. He left widow, Mary, and children Samuel, John, William, James, Mary Pemberton, Katy Casselle, and Rebecca."

We know that John Coate owned land on Mathias Branch on Bush Creek from his will. Kathleen Woodrow believes that Mathias Branch is a creek that runs closely into the junction of Reedy Creek and Big Beaverdam Creek before it flows into Bush River a mile north of the town of Newberry. However, it should be noted that no deed has been found for his purchase of land. A 400 acre tract purchased in 1772 is attributed to him, but it's location has been determined to be multiple miles northwest of the town of Newberry, with neighbors that don't connect to any of the neighbors of his in a 1773 plat map included next or in his will of 1803.

A plat map survey done for Christian Kinslar in Mar. of 1773 on Bush River shows that John Coate was adjoining his land. Other neighbors included Jacob Pemberton, John Furnas, Samuel Kelly, and Jacob Chandler. Some of these are the same persons living next to William Coats when he purchased land in Craven Co., OH in 1767. He therefore, might be the John Coats who purchased 150 acres of land on June 6, 1769 in Craven Co., South Carolina. (C-2306) It also is significant to note that these gentleman are the same persons or likely fathers of the same persons that are neighbors of a 1797, 28 acre purchase by a John Coate on Beaver Dam Creek just north of Newberry. I personally suspect that the 28 acre purchase belonged to Gentleman John's son John as he would have been a young man in the market at that time, he bought land next to his probable brother, Samuel's and based upon the common neighbors of his father in Kinslar's plat map, I'd say he likely lived very close to his father, Gentleman John. (C-1774, 2116) If this is an accurate theory, then the son of Gentleman John was selling that 28 acres of land in 1830. He was called John, Sr. in the deed and his son John, Jr. were both selling the 28 acres in Newberry while having a residence in Laurens District, South Carolina.

He is the John that was connected as furnishing sundries and supplies during the Revolutionary War. However, these reimbursement papers from 1781-1783 indicate he did blacksmithing.... that was a surprise as Big John and Little John Coats were the only known blacksmiths in the Coate family. Here is the DAR index that seems to apply to him. COATS , John, Birth SC Circa 1740, Rank PS (Public Service), Service SC, Death SC 3 , Jun 1803, Patriot Pensioned No, Widow Pensioned No, Children Pensioned No, Heirs Pensioned No, Spouse (1) Mary X (C-614c, 1889, EL-Coate) He apparently was delisted as a Revolutionary War supporter in about 1998 because no one could prove for sure that he was the John Coate who was a Revolutionary War soldier.

He or his son John is probably the John who was disowned by the Quaker church at the Oct 28, 1780 Bush River MM, South Carolina. His family isn't even included in Medlin's [UL:Quaker Families:UL]. It should be noted however, that the William who is connected as John's son, signs his own will like a Quaker would have. At least one of his great grand-daughters married into the Baptist faith, Nancy, d. of Samuel's daughter, Charlotte Steadman. (C-1896, 1927)

In both the 1790 (p. 77) and 1800 census, Gentleman John and his wife are empty nesters, living as a couple with no other children in their household. I have determined that this census applies to him for the following reasons. His neighbors in the 1790 census records match his neighbors in the following land transactions. He is listed as a neighbor along with James Dobbins on Matthias Branch of Bush River in Aug of 1770. When he witnesses Joseiah Pemberton's purchase of land on Dec 5, 1771 on Mathews Creek on Bush River, his neighbors are Robert Evans, and John Brooks. (see below) When he deeds 3 of his sons property in 1803 before his death, the properties bounded on lands owned by Samuel Compton (Kampton), Rebekah Evans, Welk Furnas and Samuel Kelly. All the persons mentioned in these records are neighbors or have the same surnames of persons living near him in the 1790 census. One of these deed records is listed below. (C-559, 1549, 2232) p. 247 Book Z-3, pp. 271-275, 5 & 6 Dec. 1771, L&R: James Walker Moore (his mark), blacksmith, & Haverilla (her mark) his wife, to Joseiah Pemberton, planter, both of Berkeley Co., for 400 pounds currency, 250 a. on Mathews Creek, a branch of Bush River, bounding NW & NE on Robert Evans; NE on John Brooks; other sides on vacant land; granted Moore 24 Aug 1720 by Lt. Gov. William Bull (Sec. Book F.F.F., p. 131). Witnesses: John Thomas, John Coate, James Daugherty. Before Thomas Wadlington, J.P. Recorded 10 Nov. 1772 by Henry Rugeley, Register.

Of the 2 Johns listed as living amongst these correct neighbors, one is the empty nester who is over age 45 in the 1800 census and the other has a very large family with 2 more sons and one more daughter than Gentleman John had. The second John with the large family is listed as John Senior. He is living next to the empty nester, John Coate... and is Gentleman John's son who is verified as having a large family from his 1826 divorce papers. John Senior's land transactions also verifies that he was living amongst the same neighbors as his father in Newberry.

Lastly, we know that the empty nester is Gentleman John because he also lives very near his son Samuel in the 1790 census.

John Coate's wife's surname is still unknown. Parks suggested that it might be Mary McQueston from a 1769 marriage record in North Carolina. However, this entire family named John Coots and Mary McQuiston, stayed and raised children in NC and Tennesee in Presbyterian Church records, so that theory has been proven to be incorrect. (C-1898) Another theory is that she is Mary Watson based upon a deed record dated Jun 7, 1774, but I see no certain connection because we've figured out who each of the persons in that deed are. A James Coate died in 1794 in GA, leaving heirs that included his wife Mary, his son John, and multiple daughters who all married Watsons, sons of Thomas Watson, Sr. (C-1521)

In his will written May 25, 1799, he names wife Mary; Sons: Samuel, John, William and James plus daughters Mary Pemberton, Cathy Cassells and Rebekah Coats. Other names in his will/adminstration included Khristian Kinsler, William Kinsler, William Copton, Samuel Compton, Rebekah Evans, Isaiah Pemberton and Samuel Kelly. (C-266,614b, 1954) He lived on a Matthieses (or Matthews) branch off the Bush River when he wrote his will. (C-633) In his will, he divided 300 acres of land between his sons, John, William and James. He died on May 6, 1803. (C-692) His children were not listed as minors at the writing of his will in 1799. Two of his daughters were married by that point. (C-879, 886) All the children's birth dates I have estimated from information in the will, from information on his possible son Samuel's daughter, Nancy, and from census records.

His will is transcribed as follows: In the Name of God Amen (This verifies that he is not a Quaker at his death as it is a form of oath taking) ---- I John Coate of the County of Newberry and State of South Carolina being in my perfect mind memory and Understanding and Calling to mind the Mortality of my body and Knowing that it is appointed for Man Once to die, do Make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament (VIZ). I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Mary Coats all my Household & Kitchen furiture of what every kind there May be during her natural life and at her death to be Disposed off as she may think proper, for her Support & Maintainace - Item. I give and bequeth unto my son Samuel Coats One Shillng Sterling and no more to him his heirs forever ---- Item. I give and bequeth unto my Son John Coats One Tract of land lying on waters of Bush River Joining lands of William Comptons, and running on Samuel Comptons, Rebekah Evans's & Isaiah Pembertons lines to the Corner from thence across to Chandlers line it being a part of a Tract of Three Hundred Ac of land to him his heirs and assigns forever. ---Item I give and bequeath unto my son William Coats a plantation or Tract of land Joining lands of Samuel Kelley beginning at Mathiases Creek from thence running upon Chandlers line from thence up the line to where it intersects the line to be run between my sons John Coats and William Coats, being a part of aforeseaid Tract of Three Hundred Acres, with my Waggon and all my working and farming Utensils to him his heirs & Assigns forever --- Item I give and bequeath unto my son James Coats one other plantation or Tract of land lying on the East Side of Mathhieses Creek beginning on Isaiah Pembertons line and running to Wilk Furnaises line from thence on Isaiah Pembertons line down to Matthew's Creek thence up the said Creek to the beginning to him his heirs and assigns forever --- Item I give and bequeath unto my three Daughters Namely Mary Pemberton Caty Cassels and Rebekah Coats One Shilling Sterling and no more. and lastly I Do hereby Nominate appoint my Sons James Coats, John Coats and William Coats my Executors to this My last Will & Testatment Ratifying and Confirming this & no other to be my last Will & Testament and Revoking all other wills by me made In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hadn and Seal this 25th, Day of May 1799 --- Signed Sealed published pronounce & Declared to be the last Will and Testament of the said John Coate in the presence of Edward Thweatt Geo. Powel - Fred. Nance John Coate (Seal) Recorded in Will Book "D" Page 57. Proved June 6th, 1803. Test. Samuel Lindsey, O.N.D. (Recording Date Not Available). Box No. 26- Pkg No 55-- Est No. 613. (C-336, 2121)

An interesting pattern appears with the land he deeded his sons on his deathbed in 1803. Gentleman John's son William in his will dated 1816, gives land to his family that is described in a way that could match the original William of 1766's land in Newberry Co., South Carolina. It is listed as adjoining "old Golden's" land which was true of William of 1766's land. When he was given land by his father's will dated 1799, the land was described as being next to Samuel Kelly's land. Again, this was another neighbor of the original William. In other words, the William who died ca 1822 could have owned land of his grandfather. We are not sure if he received it from his father John, his grandfather William, or his brother James, but it certainly sounds like land that the original William owned. ^{5 6}

  Noted events in his life were:

• Will, May 25, 1799, , Newberry, SC, USA.

• Probate, Jun 6, 1803, , Newberry, SC, USA.

John married Mary UNKNOWN before 1754. (Mary UNKNOWN died after 1799.)

  Marriage Notes:

Gentleman John's oldest son Samuel, is highly likely to have been born before 1768 and he was in the deed records for 96th District, on Beaverdam Creek as living next to Gentleman John. A plat was drawn in that year indicating his land's adjacency to John Coate's land: #0009-008-0022-00212-02. (C-1774)