COAT, Henry ^{1 2}

  General Notes:

DNA evidence has grouped this Henry as a direct relative of this familial line that descends from John of co. Somerset, England.

Henry and his wife probably weren't Quakers. Henry named one of his sons, Marshall after a Baptist minister. There is a Henry Coats who was a member of the Bush River Baptist Church. A journal of the Bush River Baptist Church dated 6/13/1801 show 8 persons were received by experience: Henry Coat, Thomas Pitts, Caleb Pitts, Benjamin Butler, Nancy Pitts, Catherine Peeks, John Williams and Hannah Case. His wife Mary Coat was received one month later. Henry was probably excommunicated in Mar. of 1806. "2/8/1806 The brethern appointed to cite Henry Coat report that they delivered the message to him but that he did not attend. He was therefore excluded from fellowship for drunkeness and refusing to hear the church." I'm theorizing that it's this Henry Coat. There are many Pitt relatives of his first wife, Molly Pitts who were members of the Bush River Baptist Church. (C-1858, 2553)

His family fits with the only Henry Coate in the area in 1790, with 1 male over age 16, 1 under age 16 and 3 females. By 1800, there are 3 Henry's in the area again. He is highly likely to be the Henry Coat in the 1800 Newberry census records with 2 sons and 2 daughters age ten and under, with he and his wife being ages 26-45. It's the only one that fits a family with his known children in it. The birth dates of the children as researched by Nancy Coats father, fit these census records also. (C-1933)

It is possible that Henry purchased 350 acres of land on Goose Pond Creek in July or Oct. of 1771 in what was Craven County. He sold it to Robert Gilliam in Feb. of 1790. It is sold after Henry Coate, father of Marmaduke, James and John, has died in 1784, and eliminates the oldest Henry in the area as the seller of the land. An even more interesting pattern emerges from this land transaction. In Newberry Court Minutes, p. 141, September Term 1790, ordered that Big John Coats be appointed overseer instead of Tho's Black & command the same hands. A lease & release 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. (p. 132) March 1790 On motion of Robert Gilliam Esq're ordered that a dedimus potestum be granted him directed to justice in the State of Georgia to examine William Camel on oath if he saw Henry Coats sign seal and deliver a Lease & release to said Gilliam & whether he was a subscribing witness thereto." The fact that Big John Coate's is named his overseer in this document, might indicate that they are relatives. p. 76 Sept'r court 1788 Same plaintiff (John Musgrove) against Henry Coats defendant, petition & summons, nonsuite as above.(C-947)

Another deed highly likely to apply to this Henry as he is the only one known to be married to a Mary in this time frame in this area. It is transcribed by Charlotte Coats as follows: "This indenture made the ? 6 or 16 day of October in the Nineteenth year of American Independence and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and Ninety four between Henry Coate of Newberry County Ninety District and state of South Carolina and Mary his wife of the one part and Francis Atkin of the county aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Henry Coate and Mary his wife for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen pounds good and lawfull money of the state aforesaid ? paid by the aforesaid Francis Atkin the receipt thereof whereby acknowledged, hath granted bargained and sold and by these present doth bargain sell alien eliease ? confirm unto the said Francis Atkins by ? of a bargain and sale to him thereof made for and whole land by indenture of sale bearing date ? day next before the day of the ? these presents and by force of the ? being ? into possessed and to his heirs and assigns for ever a plantation or tract of land containing fifty seven acres situated, lying and being in the county aforesaid on the waters of Scotch Creek a branch of Bush River bounding by lines ? W and NW by Benjamin Atkins land, NW and NE by Francis Atkins, NE by Josiah Scotts, SE by William Jinkins, NW by Little John Coats having said shape ? and marks as in ? by a plat unto the grant thereof is annexed which said ? dated the thirteenth day of October one thousand seven hundrend and ninety three and ? by his Excellency William ? in and ? S. Carolinas and the great seal of the same hereunto affixed to have and to hold unto the said Francis Atkins the said plantation or tract of land containing fifty seven acres as aforesaid with ??, rents, issues and profits thereof and ? and singular the premises ??" The interesting part about this land transaction is that he was living next to Little John Coate. A relationship to Little John is highly likely as Family DNA testing for the Coates line says that Marmaduke Coates (Little John's brother) and this Henry have the exact same male Coate ancestor at some point in time. (Also note that Francis who is known to be an Atkins in the area, does not have the t crossed in the orginal deed... it looks like an L instead).

Henry is a witness to the will of Samuel Hughens in 1807 in Newberry Co., South Carolina. Samuel was the father-in-law to Henry's daughter, Edney Coats.

He is in the following Davenport records for Newberry Co., South Carolina. "19 Nov 1813 - Probate Estate of Elizabeth Davenport, late of Newberry County, Decd. Account of Public Sale of Estate included buyers Ephraim Davenport, Ruthy Davenport, Willis Davenport, Daniel Stewart, John Stewart, Moses Gibson, George Gibson, Caleb Gilbert, Henry Coate, Thomas Peterson, Tythe Lewis, John Cleland, Andrew Toland, Francis Higgins, Thomas Reeder, James Murdock, Joseph Reagin, Daniel Scott, Thomas Waters, Jacob Crosswhite, John West, Andrew Maxwell, James Stephens, and John Thomas Gilbert. (Newberry County, SC, Estates, Box 6, Pkg.1)

7 Nov 1815 - Probate Estate of Isaac Davenport, late of Newberry County, Decd. Buyers are Public Sale of Estate included Eva Davenport, Jonathan Davenport, Willoughby Davenport, Francis Davenport, William Davenport, Ephraim Davenport, Willis Davenport, Edna Davenport, George Duncan, Charles Neal, Robert Golding, Edward Stephens, William Gary, John Gooch, James Gibson, Robert Caldwell, Capt. William Burton, David Reese, Benjamin Butler, John Wallace, Mannassah Mann, James Stephens, David James, William Plunkett, Jr., Abner Atkins, Peter Atkins, Henry Coate, Thomas Scott, William Waldrop, William Pitts, Aron Burton, William Adams, Elizabeth Cox, Samuel Beeks. John McFarland, Joseph Stewart, Capt. John Floyd, John Kelly. Slaves purchased by Joseph Davenport, Henry Burton, John Burton, Joshua Marbut, Levi Longshore, and Cary McClure. (Newberry County, SC, Estates, Box 357, Pkg. 66)"

There is an administration record from Newberry Co., SC for a Henry Coate's Sr. administered from July 15, 1817-1820. He had an extensive estate but left with no will. The estate was divided amongst his widow, Sarah Waldrop and children, Edney Ewing/Hughens, John (minor), J(ehue), Mary (minor), Elizabeth (minor), Marshal (minor), and Henry Coate (minor). John Pitts was the administrator. Witnesses were Levi and Nathan Pitts. Henry Pitts (brother to Henry's wife, Molly Pitts) was listed as John Coate's guardian. (C-881,886) This administration coupled with the administration for Henry's father in law, Henry Pitts in 1818 that only lists 4 of Henry's children as the children of Molly Pitts Coate, indicate that Henry was married twice. Molly's children as named in their grandfather, Henry's will, were: Sarah, Edney, Jehu and John. John was still a minor at the time of Henry's administration and he was the only one of his minor children for which a guardian was found in 1818. Apparently, Henry naturally expected his second unnamed wife to take care of his other four minor children. On 12/10/1821, the four youngest children, Hannah's and Henry's children also were placed under the guardianship of John Johnston. (C-1600, 2135E, 2612)

This Henry Coates might have a son or brother Willie. Henry and Willie sold land to Joseph Toland in Newberry Co. on Nov. 1, 1785. The deed was not filed until 1804. Willie sold land in Newberry Co., SC in 1790, 1816, 1820 and 1823. (C-890)

²

  Noted events in his life were:

• Probate, Jun 28, 1817, , Newberry, SC, USA.

Henry married Mary "Molly" PITTS, daughter of Henry PITTS and Mary DRUDGEON, before 1784. (Mary "Molly" PITTS was born in 1759 and died in 1802-1809 ⁴.)

Henry next married Hannah UNKNOWN after 1804.