"Ancestrees"

Big John COATE ^{1 2 3 4}

  General Notes:

Some possible descendants of Big John through his likely son William are showing a DNA match to my Marmaduke Coate (1738-1822), though we differ by 1 point at 37 markers. That means we have an 87% likelyhood of being related within 8 generations.

In some sources, this John Coate is called Little John, the Blacksmith. This is an error as Little John Coate in his probate dated 1802 was married to Susannah and had son Henry and was named Little John.

This John who is referred to here was also a Blacksmith. He starts his will with a declaration, "In the name of God, Amen", which indicates that he personally is not a Quaker. Rachel is listed in one of the "laying downs" in the Bush River Monthly Meeting. However, when she marries Thomas Wilkinson Furnas in 1792, he was disowned for marrying out of unity (a wife who wasn't a Quaker). Daughter Mary is the only one that appears to have been a Quaker as she was married in the same monthly meeting. (C-1838)

His wife, Rachel's family were Quaker and lived in the Wateree MM district of Camden, Kershaw Co., SC from 1764 onward. This area literally became the Bush River MM area which her parent's family helped establish. It is highly likely that Rachel and her husband married in this region and settled down on Beaverdam Creek. (C-1920, see bio on John C. Wright also.)

Big John bought 150 acres on July 4 1769 in Craven Co. on the Saluda River at Beaver Dam Creek. (He probably began this purchase process on May 6, 1766.) His neighbors included Charles Nicks, Isaac Cook (brother-in-law), Thomas Brooks, Calib Gilbert, Peter Hakins and George Heaworth (later). (C-692, 947) He was apparently the only John Coat that lived on this Beaverdam Creek. (There are two other Beaverdam Creeks: Big Beaverdam Creek that flows west and a little north of this and flows into Little River above Mudlick Creek and one that flows into Bush River) C-1552, 1554) This is the same area where many of the children of John Wright Sr. (the father of his wife Rachel) lived. He sold this land in 1787. (C-2075) A deed transcribed by John H. Coate of Michigan in which John purchased four acres from brother-in-law, Isaac Cook follows: (C-1925) "Know all men by these present that I Isaac Cook of Newberry County and State of South Carolina am held and firmly bound unto John Coats of the same place in the R___ sum of twenty pounds Sterling which payment will and truly to be maid I ____ myself and my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns ____ by this ______ sealed with my seal and dated this Eleventh day of February 1788 anno domino one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight. The conditions of the obligation is such that if the above boundin Isaac Cook his heirs Executors Administrators or assigns shall make or cause to be maid unto the (aforesaid) John Coats his heirs or assigns good sufficient lawful title to a certain tract of land containing four acres situated in the county and State aforesaid on the waters of the Beaverdam, a branch of Saluda River _______sixteen(?) perches on Richard Tompsons land and forty perches on the said John Coats' ___ land then the above obligation to be void or else to remain in full force and virtue in ??????? the land. Isaac Cook hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year _____ above written" The will was witnessed by a John (Jay) and Mary Coate. John then proceeded to assign the 4 acres to Jesse Coats (Negro), his slave. He gave Jesse his freedom in 1795. (Newberry Co. Deed Book C, p. 499)

John Coate's supposed sons mostly settled on land adjacent to their fathers. Big John and Rachel sold land to (son) Wright Coates on Sept. 24, 1795. (C-909) This Big John is listed as B. John or Big John in his land deeds and legal documents as demonstrated by John H. Coate of Michigan. (C-633)

In Newberry Ct. records, dated Sep. Term, 1790 it was ordered that Big John Coats be "appointed overseer instead of Tho's Black & command the same hands for the lease & release (of land) from Henry Coats to Robert Gilliam Esq'r proved on a dedimus directed to Burk County in the State of Georgia & ordered to be recorded." (C-1528) There relationship is not yet known.

In the 1790 census I believe he is the John Coats on page 79. He had 2 males over 16 (he and son Wright), 2 males under 16 (John and James), 4 females (Rachel, his wife, and daughters Rachel, Mary, & Rebecca) and a slave in his household. The reasons why I think this is him, is because it fits his possible children, he is living off from other Coats in the census and persons surrounding him are some of his father-in-law's children. Big John originally got some of his land from his father-in-law and had neighbors that were some of his wife's siblings. Case in point: Brother-in-law, John Wright sold his land to John Thompson in 1785. John Thompson is living in the same area as this John Coats. Sister-in-law Susannah was married to Isaac Hollingsworth. Isaac is living in that region. Brother-in-law's Thomas Write and Nathan Write are also listed in that same region. Big John had one slave which he freed in 1795, and this John's household has one slave in 1790. In this census, his neighbors include several Gallbreaths' including the John and James Gallbreath who sold parts of the original William's 1766 land purchase. The Gallbreaths sold the land in 1800 and abt. 1804. The land the Gallbreath's sold is located on the north of Bush River, which is not adjacent to where Big John lived. Locating all the places where the Gallbreaths owned land in 1800 would be useful to picture this. Did the Gallbreaths live near Big John in 1790, but also own land about 3 miles east where William's original land was located in 1800?

In the 1800 census on pg. 70, he is the John who has one under age 10 (Sampson), one male between ten and 16 (John Jr.), one male between 16 and 26 (James), himself (over 45), 1 female between ten and 16 (Rebecca), one unknown female between 16 and 26 and Rachel his wife (over 45) plus one other free person in the family (his freed slave).

According to Summer's Book: "Old John Coate died about 1802-1803, bequeathed estate to widow, Rachel, and children James and Sampson. Wright Coate made his will on Nov. 18, 1808, and died in the same year. He left widow, Mary, and children Frederick, Daniel, and Susan. Exr John Belton O'neall." The fact that he is the only John referred to as "Old" in a list of several John Coates who died in a similar time range.... this John's birth date is likely to be before all the others guestimated to be between 1735 and 1748.....

His will is transcribed and provided by John H. Coats as follows:

"WILL OF JOHN COATS 31 January 1803
Newberry County South Carolina
Will Book 4 pg. 11

In the name of God Amen. I John Coats of Newberry District in the State of South Carolina being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Rachal all my moveable and personal estate. Second I give and devise my land as follows first I give to my son James that part of my land the north east side of the publick road or the road nearly the line, the Division line to begin at the road on William Coats's line thence along the road to a crook in it thence to continue so as to come nearby a field and include the said field, thence a strait line so as to strike the line near the said publick road, with the appurtenances thereunto belonging to him and his heirs and assigns forever. Secondly I give and devise all the residue of my land where on the house stands the southwest side of said road and division line to my son Sampson and his heirs and assigns forever with the appurtenances thereunto belonging except such privileges as are herby reserved for my wife as follows. I give my wife Rachal privilege or income of my land and houses or buildings that I gave my son Sampson until he comes to be of age and afterwards my said wife shall have privilege of the said house and garden during her natural life and lastly I hereby appoint my said wife Rachal to be my executrix to execute this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirty first day of January in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and three.

Signed sealed and declaredhis
by the above named JohnJohnCoats
Coats to be his last will andmark
testament in the presence of us
who have hereto subscribed our
names as witnesses in the presence
of the testator by

Isaac Kirk
Samuel Cottman?
Levi Longshore"

You will note that in the will, John only names 2 sons, Sampson and James. Researchers believe that he actually had 5 sons and 3 daughters for the following reasons. They had a daughter Mary, whose marriage they witnessed in the parent witness position. Grandchildren of Mary's knew that she had a sister Rebecca and a brother John. Rebecca cared for John's children when they moved to Ohio after John's wife had died. However, DNA evidence show's that John's descendant's DNA is not the same as the others and matches DNA from the possible descendants of Robert Coates of Lynn, Massachusetts. This difference cannot be explained at this time. We are simply not certain who Big John's sons truly were. Rebecca was also buried next to her sister. Rachel is said to be his daughter also because she moved to Ohio with her sister, Mary's family, and their families are buried together. William is thought to be Big John's son because Big John and Rachel witnessed William's purchase of land from his likely brother, Wright Coates, as a young man. William's land is also mentioned in Big John's will as existing next to land he bequeaths to one of his sons. John also gives his "brother" William guardianship of his children several years after his wife died. William's descendants do have DNA that is only different by 1 point out of 37 to Marmaduke Coate's DNA grouping. Wright is listed as the brother of James in an equity record for South Carolina suggesting that he is the 4th son of Big John. All of these children are accounted for in the 1790 and 1800 census records for this family.

There are several beliefs about Big John's parentage published in various sources. 1) Relatives of the Mary Pearson Greenlee who had family tree information to pass on about our Marmaduke Coate, believe that her ancestor "Big John" Coate was a son of Henry and Esther Willson Coate. DNA evidence shows that Big John's possible sons, William and James, have the same DNA as Marmaduke's line making this theory possible, though at 37 points we differ by one point. That means that we have an 87% chance of having a common Coats ancestor in 8 generations. 2) Gary W. Coats of Oregon gives his possible parentage as Peter Coats through a supposed Scottish Coate line coming down to William and Mary (Jones) Coate (Theory from "The History of Randolph Co, IN.) This has now been disproved by DNA evidence. 3) Park and Collins give Moses of Chester Co., PA as the possible ancestor of "Big John". However, Moses Coates children and grandchildren seem to be well researched and no John Coate of correct age and spouse are amongst them. Since this line might still be related genetically to the Marmaduke Coate line, it is still possible. (AND) 4) He is the son of Marmaduke and Sarah Mathis Coate, born in 1748 and grandson of Samuel and Mary Saunders Coate. This one would also explain current DNA matches. (C-1029, 1528, 633) ⁵

  Noted events in his life were:

• census 1800, 1800, , Newberry, SC, USA.

• Will, 1/31/1803, , Newberry, SC, USA.

• Probate, 8/7/1809, , Newberry, SC, USA.

John married Rachel WRIGHT, daughter of John (C.?) WRIGHT and Rachel WELLS, before 1768. (Rachel WRIGHT was born on 11/10/1747 in , Prince George, MD, USA ⁶ and died after 9/2/1790 in , , SC, USA ⁷.)