| Notes |
- For much of my life, we have believed that this James living in Berkeley Co., SC was the son of Henry and Esther Willson Coate. However, six triangulations of a descendant of a James Coots of Guilford Co., NC highly suggest that he could be the son of Henry and Esther Willson Coate instead. Three of these triangulations are matching at the 6 cM mark and above which is fantastic for this time range.
So if this James is not the son of Henry and Esther, whom is he the son of? There is only one likely choice that makes sense. In fact it makes even more sense than him being the son of Henry. The James in Berkeley Co., SC, matches well as being the son of William Coate (brother of Henry) from the following patterns.
1) James is listed as a witness when Zebulon Gaunt, purchases 100 acres on the N. side of the Saluda River on Palmetto Branch in Sept. of 1764 in Berkeley Co., South Carolina. source: South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1719-1772 Vol. III, 1755-1768, Books QQ-H-3, Clara A. Langley (as copied by Charlotte Coate-Siercks). p. 369 Book H-3, p. 262, 6 and 7 Sept. 1764, Land: "Jeremiah Warrin, planter, to Zebulon Gaunt, millwright, both of Berkeley Co., for 50 pounds currency 100 a on N side Saluda River, on Palmeto Branch, bounding on all sides on vacant land; granted by Gov. William Henry Lyttelton to Jeremiah Williams (?). Witnesses: Stephen Elmore, James Coate, before Andrew Brown, 8 Oct. 1764. Recorded 25 Jan. 1768 by Fenwicke Bull, Registrar." This verifies that he was in the Berkeley Co., SC region by 1764 at the age of at least 16-21 depending upon witness laws at the time. This verifies he was born before 1752 and probably before 1748.
2) James bought 250 acres in 1768. This land was adjacent to Samuel Kelly's land (whom also is mentioned as living next to William Coate (his likely father) and Henry Coate (his uncle?) (This indicates there were at least 4 members of his household at the time according to the amount of land he could buy. Est. birthyear bef. 1743)
3) (Transcribed here by Charlotte Coats-Siercks.) "Memorial: James Cote 150 acres, A memorial exhibited by James Cote to be recd in the auditors office of a plantation or tract of land containing 150 acres situate in Berkley County on Bush Creek bounded SE on vacant land and James Coate NE and NW on John Coles land survey survey certified the 26th Dec 1771 and granted the 19th of June 1772 to the Memst? per 100 acres to commence two years from the date in witness wheof he hath hereunto set his hand the 21 August 1772. Joseph Wright D.S. del 5 Nov. 1772 to John Cole." (C-2548)
4) "James Coate to John Crumley Indenture: This Indenture made the Sixteenth day of January One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Two Between James Coate and Rebekah his wife of the County of Berkley and Province of South Carolina of the one part and John Cranles of the said County of the other part in Witnesseth that the said James Coate for and in consideration of ? of Ten Shillings Currant Money of this Province to him in hand ? will and truly had the Right whereof is hereby ? ? the said James Coate hath bargained and sold and by those present do bargain and sell unto the said John Crumley ???a tract of land containing Two hundred and fifty acres lying in the County aforesaid bounded on North East by land of Samuel Kelley southwest part by land of Joseph Cumely on all other sides by vacant land and having shape as appears by Plat original to the General Grant ???? fully appears together with ? and singular the houses existing buildings barns ?????? timber Trees Meadows Pastures fishing ponds lake ????? and appurtenances whatever there belonging or in any such appurtening and the ???? remainder and remainders rents ??? and every part and parcel thereof to have and to hold the said Plantation and tract of two hundred and fifty acres of land with every the above ? and appurtenances ? unto belonging unto the said John Crumley his heirs and assigned from the day next below the date of the date of these present for and during and unto the full end ??? year from the ?? ens? and fully to be completion and ended ?? therefor unto said Coate the Rent of one Pepper Corn on the ? day of said Term. ? shall be lawfully demand to the ? land ? that by virtue of ??? of the Start for Transfer ? unto possession the said Crumley may ? in actual possession of all and singular the premises above mentioned with every their appurtenances ? belonging and and be thereby the better enabled to ? take and Receive the possession and inheritance thereof ? is ???? his heirs granted and ? the said James Coate and Rebekah his wife in another indenture ?? to be made and dated the day ? the date hereof In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and year above written. Signed Sealed and delivered in the presents of: David Reed, Nathaniel Hannah (?), William Coate Signed: James Coate and Rebekah Coate -seal"5) This land was also adjacent to a John Coate (Likely Gentleman John's land, his brother). It makes sense, because he sold part of one of the properties shortly after he purchased the second one. It also appears that he purchased the second property adjoining his first property. He also lived on the Beaver Dam Creek area off Bush River that was near Thomas Coate, a likely brother, and possible son of William Coate too. (Note, this is a different Beaver Dam Creek than the one where Big John Coate lived located off the Saluda River, but it is the same creek where Gentleman John lived.
6) This land purchase totals 400 acres, suggesting that there were at least 7 persons in his household by 1771. Let's use this info to estimate his age. He was at least 21 when he purchased land in 1768, meaning that he was born before 1747. However, he also likely had at least 5 children by 1771. Let's approximate that they were born every two years after he was age 21. This would add an average of 10 years to his age and estimate his birth date at before 1737. This is exactly the time period in which the James who was a son of William could have been born.
7) When James sold some of his land in 1772, his wife's name was Rebecah. His witness to the 1772 sale was William Coate (likely father living near him). 7) The only James we know of that was married to a Rebekah, had his estate settled in Newberry, SC in 1807. Only two relationships are named in the administration when they pay money to their father's estate. The named daughters were Nancy Coate who died unmarried shortly after her father and her money (127.06) went back into the estate and Mary Coate, named wife of Joseph Hall who placed $140.00 back into it. There was a long list of debts to be paid. A John Coate witnessed the administration, and both a John Coate (theorized son of James) and Jesse Coate (a son of James?, a son of Thomas who would be a likely nephew or a son of Marmaduke who would be a cousin) were amongst persons who made one purchase each in the sale of the estate. Some abstracts of the deed also state a Sarah Kendall made purchases, but this is interpreted as Sam. Kendall in the abstract copy I have. Other persons buying items at his estate sale were Rebecah Coate (his wife); George Clark; James Stanton?; William, Thomas, Jessica and Matt? Gary; William Black; Stephen McGraw; Josiah Williams; Robert Floyd; Isaac Cannon; George McKetrick; Charity Crow; and John and Thomas Cole.
"This Indenture made the Sixteenth day of January one thousand Seven hundred and seventy two Release James Coate of the County of Berkley of the one part and Province of South Carolina and John Crumley of the said County of the other part whereas in and by certain grant bearing date May fourth One thousand Seven hundred (penciled in is 1771) seventy one under the hand of the Honorable William Bull, Esq. Said governments commissioner in chief in and for the Province of South Carolina and the great seal of the Province for the purpose appointed ? and grant unto James Coate a Plantation or tract of land containing two Hundred fifty acres situate and lying in Berkley County bounded northeast by land ? Samuel Kelley southwest by land of Joseph Curry all other sides by vacant land and has such shape and form and marks as witness by a Plat thereof annexed to the original grant and duly recorded in the ? of ? of the said Province reference being ? to had may more fully appear ? this Indenture Witnesseth that the said James Coate and Rebakah his wife ? in consideration of the sum of three hundred fifty pounds to him in hand paid by the said John Crumley at and ? the sealing and delivery of the presents the ? whereof hereto being ? ? and to be sully contented and paid hand granted bargained sold and promises released conveyed and confirmed and by these present do grant bargain sell ? release convey and confirm unto the said John Crumley in his ? possession now being by ? bargain and sell to hi thereof woods for now whole year ? of the statute for Transferring of lands into possession to his heirs and assigns for ever all the said plantation or tract of land ? houses out houses existing buildings barns stables yards ? orchard woods meadows timber trees meadow pastures ponds lakes fishing ways waters ? paths ? of liberties privileges profits ? and eighty ? and appurtenances whatsoever there unto belonging or in every wise appertaining and the possession and release and ?? beginning rents ? and profits thereof and of every part and parcel thereof and all ? state right title interest use trust possession ? ? benefit claim and demand whatsoever of him ? said James Coate and Rebecah his wife of in to or out of the ?? every the appurtenances there unto belonging ? released and conveyed unto said John Crumley is heirs and assigns forever to the ??? the said Crumley his heirs and assigns ? said James Coate and Rebekah his wife ??? their heirs executors administrators and assigns forever ? and agree to and with the said John Crumley his heirs assigns and ? from following ?????? (a lot of the question marks are old legalize for deeds...) said ? and his wife ? and until the execution of these presents ? do ????? of and in all the said plantation and tract of two hundred and fifty acres of land with the rights ? and appurtenances without any manner ??? whatsoever to ? changed or ditimine the same and ? that the said John Caumley his heirs and assigns shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter peaceably and quietly ? hold ? occupy possession enjoy the said Plantation or tract of with every the premises and appurtenances there ? belonging without any manner of trouble hindrance ? interruptions or ? of him the said James Coate and Rebecah his wife or their heirs or assigns and of all and every ? person or persons whatsoever and lastly the said James Coate and Rebeca his wife for themselves their heirs executors admins and assigns the said plantation or tract of two hundred and fifty acres of land with the premises unto the said John Crumley his heirs and assigns against him the said James Coate Rebeca his wife their heirs and assigns and all and every other person or persons ? and ? warrant and forever defend by those presents in ? whereof we have here unto set our hands and seals the day and year first above written signed sealed and delivere in the presents of: David Reed, Nathaniel Haworth, William Coate Signed: James Coate, Rebekah Coate - Seal Rec'd of John Crumley the full contents of the consideration ? within mentioned this 16 day of January Anno Dom. 1772....signed: James Coate Wit: David Reed, Nathaniel Haworth South Carolina Newberry County ?? that on the 20th day of ? in the year of our Lord 1791 personally appeared Nathaniel Haworth one of the subscribing witnesses to the contents of the ???? affirmed that the said James Coate and Rebeca his wife sign and acknowledged the within lease and release as their ??for the purpose ? mentioned and ??? the said James Coate sign and acknowledge the ??? the said David Reed and William Coate subscribing names as witnesses to the same with himself satisfied ?? mo the day and year above written: Meur Babb J.P. Signed: Nathaniel Haworth ? True record of the original lease and release this 4 day of February 1795 Source:
8) There was a note mentioned from James Coate to John Coate on Feb. 10, 1806 for $50.00. John Coate is again a witness to the 1814 sale of land that Rebekah Coate and her second husband William Dillon were selling at that time. I theorize that this John, still living in Berkeley Co. in 1814, and witnessing both events, was the son of James and Rebekah Coats. Jesse Coate might be his son also, but he could be the son of (brother) Thomas Coate named Jesse that lived near Thomas Coate's land off the Bush River or possibly the son of his uncle Marmaduke.
9) He is likely the James who joined the Bush River Baptist Church on Aug 25, 1802. His wife, Rebecca Coat joined the following month on Sept 4, 1802. The Baptist records don't often state a husband wife relationship, so this is literally an assumption of marriage on my part in these Bush River Baptist records. They lived near the Baptist Church. There was also a William, a Mary and a Henry Coate who were listed as members that could be their children. It's also possible that William and Henry were accounted for by the father and uncle of James instead. (C-1858, 2553)
I believe he is the James Coate whose estate was probated starting on Jan. 13, 1807 in Newberry, SC and will state why below. His widow Rebekah relinquished the administration of his estate unto Stephen McCraw (a neighbor and possible relative). (C-1579)
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Aft 1731 - 1806 (~ 74 years)
