Notes:

He, his wife, Rachel, and 2 children attended the 1859 family reunion held in Randolph Co., Indiana. According to his 1880 census info, both his parents were born in South Carolina.

Dempsey married Rachel COOK in 1855. Rachel was born about 1840 in , , Indiana, USA; died after 1880 in Of Denver, Miami, IN, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John was living in Covington, Ohio during the War of 1812 according to his obituary. He and his wife were born in South Carolina according to their 1850 census record. One grandson stated he was born in North Carolina and according to another he was born in South Carolina. Of course, this confusion could have been because the part of North Carolina he was born in later became South Carolina in 1788. After his childhood the obituary states that he went into "Teaming" as profession and drove from his parents home to Charleston, South Carolina. This supports him being raised by Big John, as Big John's sons, Wright and James were also into "Teaming".

He also has one of 2 supposed decendants that have been tested for their DNA who is related to 3 other possible Big John descendants via sons William and James. The list of John's children came from one of his grandsons, John R. Coats in a handwritten document in Winchester, VA. By Sep. 5, 1822, John and Sally are living in Randolph Co., Indiana when they sold their land in Miami Co., Ohio to Benjamin Lehman. (C-2568)

John is living in Randolph Co., Indiana in the 1850 census on pg. 63, White River Twp. He was age 63, b. South Carolina. His wife was age 60, b. South Carolina. Children still living with them included Lewis age 21, Andrew age 16 and Dempsey, age 6, all born in Indiana. Living next door to him is son, Joseph Coats, age 23, b. Indiana, married to Esther, age 27, b. Ohio with 2 daughters.
On page 79 of this same census, son William Coats is listed, age 33, b. Ohio married to a Mary (age unreadable). On page 62, son Thomas W. Coats, age 42, b. Ohio with wife Mary age 43 and children. Son Gabrael is on page 64 at age 26, b. Indiana.

There is a remarkable newspaper article on a family reunion of this couple and almost all of their descendants that was dated Jun 22, 1859 in Randolph Co., Indiana. John and Sally were at the head of the table and listed as ages 71 and 70 at the time. All of their present family was sitting in order of their age of birth around them and named in this article. There is also another lovely article on a family reunion that took place sometime in the 1880's after all but Mary "Polly" had passed from this original family. Mary was 74 at the time. There were 180 family members present. It stated that John was a farmer by night and a Justice of the Peace by day, a man of "iron constitution". He and Sally had raised 12 children and lost 2 others at a young age. They were pioneers in Randolph Co., Indiana and oft encountered wild beasts and Indians in their long lives.

John married Sarah "Sally" WRIGHT on 21 Oct 1807 in Miami, Ohio, USA. Sarah (daughter of Thomas WRIGHT and Elizabeth JAY) was born in in NC or SC; died after 1836 in Winchester, Randolph, Indiana, USA; was buried in Randolph County, Indiana, United States of America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah's father was Thomas Wright who died in Randolph Co., IN in 1835 and was born in Newberry SC in the 1760's. He and his wife are verified as the parents of Sarah Wright in her marriage certificate to John Coats. She, however, is listed as being born in North Carolina in her son William's 1880 census record, but in South Carolina in several other of her children's 1880 census records.

She is often confused with a likely relative Sarah Wright who also married a John Coate/s and was the daughter of Nathan Wright and a Sarah Jay. John Coate/s is also confused because of this.

Notes:

It is highly likely that this William is the son of Big John. Big John's son William had a wife named Mary who witnessed her husband's sale of land in Newberry, SC in 1807. He is often stated to have the same children as attributed to this William and Mary who lived in Miami Co., Ohio. There is no overlap in timelines if he is the same William who was the probable son of Big John. There is also now much DNA evidence that this line goes through Big John. Three tests through William closely match a test through Big John's son James named in his will and to Wright Coate whom you'll see mentioned below. They were all said to be his sons in Summeral's early Coate research and in Randolph Co., IL books. William bought 100 acres of land in 1785 from John Wright, Jr. that adjoined Big John's land north of Newberry, South Carolina. He is likely to be the William Coats who was listed on the same page as Big John in the 1800 census records for Newberry Co., South Carolina. He and his wife were between the ages of 26 and 45. He had 2 sons under age 11, one between 10 and 16 and 4 daughters under age 11 and 1 from ten to 16 at that time. In 1799, he bought land on Beaverdam, on the waters of the Saluda from Elisha Oneal. He sold part if not all of this land in 1807 to James Brooks. Wright Coate (his brother?) was a witness to this sale. On Nov. 2, 1802, Wright Coats sold him 150 acres that adjoined his first purchase. He appears to have moved to Miami Co., Ohio by about 1807. In 1810, his "adopted" brother John (named as a brother in "The History of Miami County Ohio", p. 462) gives him guardianship of his children including a son named Henry born in 1799. I am calling John adopted, because everyone in his matching DNA group are not related to all of the other Big John Coate sons. According to "Beers History of Miami County" on Newberry Township, William and John were the 2nd and 3rd settlers of the northwest quarter of Section 30, Newberry Twp. along with son-in-law (i.e. Daniel Wright) of William Coats. Beers called it the Upper Piqua region where wars with the Indians meant that Col. John Johnston requested Captain George Buchanan to send a detail of men to protect certain public property and harvest the wheat at the beginning of the war (about 1812). William and John Coats (This could be his brother or son John who came with him to Ohio in "The History of Miami County) settled next to Michael Ingle in Stillwater. Will's son in law, Daniel Wright lived nearby at the corner of what is now Main and Wright St. in Covington, Ohio. According to that same history, they sold this land in 1822 when William and family moved to Indiana. "Pioneer Ancestors of Members of Society of Indiana Pioneers", states that William Coats who settled in Marion Co., Indiana in 1822, was born in South Carolina about 1768 before moving to Ohio and then Indiana. Specifically, "William received a patent in Miami County for the NE 1/4 of Sec. 30, Twp. 8, Range 5E (159.06 acres) on 28 Jan 1811. He and Polly sold part of that land to their son-in-law Daniel Wright 25 Oct. 1813. They sold more to James Dickey on 15 May 1820 and the rest on 20 July 1822 to James Thompson." Their son John had a section of it which he also sold in 1822. "On 16 Nov 1822, William bought 80 acres of land (E 1/2 NW 1/4 Sec. 29) in Marion County, Washington Twp. IN. (See Marion County, Indiana Records by J.E. Darlington). His son Joseph Coats also bought two parcels of land in Washington Township and his son William Coats Jr. bought 80 acres on the same day his father did in the same area." (Quotes are from John H. Coats, Email, 2004) "The History of Randolph Co., IN" says he was born in Paisley, (Scotland) and was the son of Phillip. The book was written in 1882 and would have been the kind of book being published at the time that interviewed family members (living grandchildren of William) to highlight a communities citizens. Errors were often made in these publications as family heresay was involved. In this case, someone probably was hoping that they were descendants of the wealthy Coate Thread company in Paisley, Scotland. Some of these descendants could have been the Coate's that hired a genealogist in the early 1900's to connect them to the Coats thread company family. She/he did not find any proof but in reality also gave a highly questionable genealogy for them known now as "The Old Coates Genealogy" that is riddled with errors. What I do believe is accurate from the history are the names of William and his children, all of whom would have been known by living kin at the time. The children named in this source were John, William, Joseph, Hepsy Wright, Rhoda Wrench, Hetty Harrison and ? Beanblossom. It failed to mention an Elizabeth, Sampson or Henry that I've also seen mentioned in this family. Out of these 3, I personally believe that Elizabeth is also William's child. These children's names can be verified by the following patterns. All of the spouses it mentioned are verified in marriage records for Indiana and Ohio. William moved to Miami Co., Ohio about 1807. (C-1065, 1898) He lived next to his son Joseph in the 1820 census for Miami Co., Ohio. He was listed at over age 45 in this record with one son between the age of 10 and 16 (Henry), plus two females age 16-26 (Hetty and Hepsy) in his household. His son Joseph was age 26 to 45 with two sons under age 10 and a wife age 16-26. (E) His son-in-law, Daniel Wright also lived in Newberry Twp. with a very large family within a few dozen homes of his in this census. Before William died, he and his sons, William and Joseph, purchased land in Marion Co., Indiana records in 1822. His daughter, "Hettie" apparently moved with them and married in that county in 1823. The Randolph Co., Indiana History also stated that family reunions for the family still took place in 1888 in Randolph Co. that included descendants of William's sons, William and Joseph, who had moved elsewhere (Marion and Howard Co., IN), as well as his son John who had moved to Randolph Co., Indiana. William's children are also listed the same way in Willard Heiss's and Mary Helen Pemberton's work. William Coats died by Sept. 1826 in Marion Co., IN without leaving a will. Pages 146-7 of the Inventory and Sale Book A for Marion County, IN give the appraisement and inventory by his administrators/sons, Joseph and William Coats. Buyers at the sale include Joseph Coats, William Coats and William Sr's son-in-law Daniel Wright. Some second hand sources say he died on Jan. 16, 1828 instead. The next question is how is William related to Marmaduke Coate of Newberry, SC? There is the possibility that William is the grandson of William or his brother Henry of Hunterdon Co., NJ and Newberry Co., South Carolina. We believe we know most of the descendants of Henry but have only figured out a couple of William's likely sons and grandchildren so far. By age and place he'd fit into the family through one of these two Coate's also. The supporting evidence for this later possibility is that the current day descendants of William through his son Joseph had the clear family tradition that they were related to Marmaduke Coate of SC who is the son of Henry. Their DNA testing also is within 1 point out of 36 points of a match - the closest match to Marmaduke (b. 1738) so far. What doesn't match thought is William's brother John.. current day descendants of John are not genetically related to William throwing us a curve ball. One likely theory is that William was the son of Big John, but John (William's supposed brother) was simply adopted by Big John.

William married Mary "Polly" JAY before 1785. Mary (daughter of William JAY, Jr. * and Elizabeth LNU) was born on 11 Jan 1777 in Newberry, South Carolina; died on 3 Mar 1822 in Of Miami, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This Mary is often stated to be the Mary who is the d. of William Jay and Elizabeth Natherson. I've seen dates where their daughter, Mary is born on Jan. 4, 1777 or Jan. 4, 1767. If the later is correct, then it's still possible that she's the one married to William Coate. William and Elizabeth Natherson Jay do have a daughter named Mary as she is in her father's will. (C-949, 1698) Mary is alive in 1807 when she witnessed the sale of her husband's land to James Brooks in Newberry District, South Carolina. She was also received on certificate from the Bush River Monthly Meeting by the Miami M.M. in 1808. She isn't in the 1820 census with her husband, but she is supposedly in deed records in 1820 and 1822 when they sell off their land in Miami Co., Ohio. This does need checked for her signature, since the 1822 date occurred in July and she supposedly died in Mar of 1822.

Notes:

Thomas has served in the Revolutionary War along with his brother Isaac, according to Isaac's Pension application in 1838. (C-1991) Descendants say that he had all of his children by his first wife, Elizabeth Jay. He moved to Indiana after marrying his second wife, Elizabeth Voss. However, treat this second marriage with caution as there is a Thomas Jay who married an Elizabeth Vice in Union Co. (SC?) and left a will there. (C-2034) Maybe the confusion comes from the fact that there are two Thomas Write's listed in the 1790 Newberry Co., SC census. They lived in the same region and could easily be related. One had 2 males over 16, 1 under 16 and 2 females. The other 1 male over 16, 2 under 16 and 4 females. They lived in the same region as John (C.) Wright had lived.

Thomas married Elizabeth JAY in 1785. Elizabeth (daughter of William JAY, Jr. * and Elizabeth LNU) was born on 16 Apr 1769 in , Orange, NC; died in Oct 1803 in , Newberry, SC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She is listed sixth in her father's will. She might be the Betty Jay who witnessed the wedding of Sarah Cook and Zimri Gaunt in the 1785 Bush River Quaker records and was listed in the family column. However, I do not know of a kin relationship at this point in time between her and Sarah Cook.

Notes:

YDNA now clearly indicates that Big John is the son of Gentleman John through 3 of Big John's descendants. No other descendants from any other Coats in our group have as much shared DNA and such a high probality that they are father and son. By estimated ages and place, this is likely also. Check out our YDNA group at http://www.ancestrees.com/henrycoatebabt1595ydnagroup.html that indicates they have a 97% chance of being closely related within 8 generations of descendants. That's as lovely a chart as you can get for YDNA probabilities between father and son of this time period for 37 points. At last, we finally know who Big John's father is!This John who is referred to here was a Blacksmith. He starts his will with a declaration, "In the name of God, Amen", which indicates that he personally is not a Quaker. Daughter 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 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)In the 1790 census I believe he is the John Coats on page 79 in the Newberry Co., SC census. He had 2 males over 16 (he and son Wright), 2 males under 16 (John (adopted) and James), 4 females (Rachel, his wife, and daughters Rachel, Mary, & Rebecca -adopted) 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: 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 1733 and 1748. Note, that his death date turns out to be around 1809 instead. His will is transcribed and provided by John H. Coats as follows:"WILL OF JOHN COATS 31 January 1803Newberry County South CarolinaWill Book 4 pg. 11In 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 declaredhisby the above named JohnJohnCoatsCoats to be his last will andmarktestament in the presence of uswho have hereto subscribed ournames as witnesses in the presenceof the testator byIsaac KirkSamuel Cottman?Levi Longshore"You will note that in the will, John only names 2 sons, Sampson and James. Researchers believe that he actually had 4 sons and 2 or 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. Rebecca was also buried next to her sister. John also gives his "brother" William guardianship of his children several years after his wife died. However, DNA evidence show's that John's descendant's DNA is not the same as the others that descend from James, Wright, and William making it likely that John was adopted into the family. Rachel is said to be his daughter 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. 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 verifying that he is a son of Big John and this is also supported by DNA evidence. All of these children are accounted for in the 1790 and 1800 census records for this family.

Big married Rachel WRIGHT before 1768. Rachel (daughter of John C. WRIGHT, * and Rachel WELLS, Minister) was born on 10 Nov 1747 in , Prince George, MD, USA; died on 2 Sep 1790 in , , SC, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At least one source says she married first to a John Hollingsworth, but this is thought to be a mix-up that comes from misinformation in Summers book.

Notes:

He and his elder siblings were not mentioned in his father's will. (C-168b) One of his wives is occasionally listed as Mary Cothran, but this is likely a mix-up with his brother Joseph who was married to a Mary Cothran/Cochran. William Jay served under Zachary Brooks as a private in the Penn. Regiment of artillery, Continental Line, during the Revolutionary War (C-170, 1328). This information is again verified in the DAR lineage Book, Vol. 128, p.92 (c1916). However, this later source differs in a few instances. It states that William Jay was born in 1746 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and died in 1812 in Newberry Co., South Carolina. This birth date and place could be correct but the death date does not fit with William's will administered 28th Feb. 1797 in Newberry Co., South Carolina. Vickie Leimback listed that William II was born in 1744 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania (C-611)

William Jay received part of the moveable goods from George Cox's will dated 21 Dec. 1789 in Newberry, South Carolina. (C-461) In the 1790 96th District, Newberry, SC Census, William is listed with the following household members: 2-6-3, 0-0. (C-974) That probably means that his children before Charlotte were married and living on their own at that time. A William, Jr.(probably this William) was disowned by the Quakers on 6/26/1790. The reason was not given. (C-457, p.104) A William Jay along with Thomas Wright and others took an inventory of the estate of James Cox of Newberry Co., decd., dated 16 July 1794. A William Jay along with probable son William Jay, Jacob Balinger, Daniel Clary, John Allison, John Wright, Jesse Palmer and Wright Coate prepared notes on the account of the estate of William Gilliam decd. in 1795/96 in Newberry, South Carolina. (C-461)

In his will dated Jan. 7, 1797, he listed all of his adult children by his first wife, and only one child by his second wife Margaret, who was Susana. He specifically makes bequeaths to his "beloved daughters and sons namely Mary, Sarah, William, David, James, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Layton, Ann, Deboror (and) ... Susana one shilling sterling. The rest, John, Charles, Tabitha and Isaac seemed to be lumped in as the children of Margaret. They are not named. She is simply given the rest of the money to "rase her children". Joseph Reagin, John and Benjamin Coppock were witnesses. The executors were John Jay and David Jay, Sen. (C-832, 867) His elder children received more than their one shilling sterling, however, as per court record filed in August 1797.

"The State of South Carolina Ninety Six District--I ...Jas Mayson one of the Judges of Newberry County do hereby certify unto all whome it may Concern that Margaret Jay the widow of the within Named William Jay Des. did this day appear before me and upon being privatly and serparetly Examined by me did declare that She do freely volunterily and without any Compulsion dred or feare of any person or persons whomsoever renouce release and forever relinquish unto the within named William Jay his heirs and assigns all her Intrust and Estate and also all her rite and clame of dower of in or to all and Singualer the promises within menchened and released Given under my hand and seal this fist day of August--1797 Jas. Mayson J.N.Co (Judge Newberry County)". (C-833, 2109) The sale of his estate had many asundry items sold often to his brothers, possible sons, son-in-laws, etc. It was certified by George Arnold, James Mills, and Isaac Hollingsworth. (C-837)

William married Elizabeth LNU est 1760 in , Tioga, Pennsylvania, USA. Elizabeth was born on 14 Oct 1742 in Winchester, Frederick Co., Virginia, USA; died on 4 Mar 1777 in Edgefield, Newberry Co., South Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

I will be using DNA to prove or disprove Elisabeth's surname as there are many reasons to believe it is incorrect.

Some lineages give Elizabeth's surname as Layton. There is no proof as yet for this. The surname might have come from a guess because William Jay had a son named Layton. An Indiana branch of the family believed her surname was Natherson. However, if it's correct that William's 2nd wife was Mary Cochran, Layton was not the son of Elizabeth and that further dispells the myth that Elizabeth's surname was Layton. (C-685, 949, 2109)

As for Natherson, that also is a misrepresentation according to the Jay Family Association: "Many family history enthusiasts reference the Natherson surname when making postings discussing the family of William Jay Jr. and his first wife Elizabeth. They state that Elizabeth's maiden surname was Natherson. There have even been rumors of a "Natherson Bible". After much research the Board of the Jay Family Association has concluded this is likely a dubious reference for the following reasons:1. The Natherson surname does not exist on any US census records prior to 1870. Those appearing in that census list Prussia as a family birth origin.2. The Natherson surname does not exist and is not present in any Orange, Frederick or Fairfax Co. VA records of any kind. This was the Jay family residence from roughly 1734-1751.3. The Natherson surname does not exist and is not present in any Orange, Caswell or Person Co. NC records of any kind. This was the Jay family residence from roughly 1751-1774.4. The Natherson surname does not exist or is not present in any Newberry, Edgefield or Abbeville SC records of any kind. This was the Jay family residence from roughly 1774-1818.5. The Natherson surname does not exist on any colonial records indexed on Ancestry.com.6. ALL other "allied" family surnames connected to the Jay family. Pugh, Wright, Elleman, Anderson, Coppock, Coate, Satterfield, Morrow, Reagin, Patty, Mills, etc proliferate the deed, court, marriage, probate, Quaker and other records in ALL of the above locations. There is an Anderson Family Bible in existence which has been transcribed and notarized. A transcription is in the possession of the Jay Family Association. Perhaps the Natherson surname was a reader's corruption of the Anderson or some other surname and the confusion began at that point. However, until visual documentary evidence of the "Natherson" surname is presented, the Jay Family Association does not accept it as connected to the Jay family and do not believe the Natherson surname existed in the US prior to 1860. Vince King Immediate Past-President Jay Family Association www.jayfamily.org"

Notes:

Much information can be gleaned about this family from a book by Algie I. Newlin entitled CHARITY COOK, A LIBERATED WOMAN, (Friends United Press, 1981). It is a biography of their daughter, Charity Cook, written and researched by a history professor.

Around 1725, he and his family moved to the northern part of Maryland, Prince Georges Co., MD possibly living at Goose Creek MM, Cecil Co., MD first. Rachel's family lived in Prince George's County and they probably met there. John's only wife was Rachel Wells. Some sources list a second wife named Susannah but this has been disproven. The first half of John and Rachel's children were born in Prince George's County Maryland according to Newlin's book: [UL:Charity Cook, A Liberated Woman:UL].

John's family moved from 1733-35 to Frederick Co., VA and became members of the Friends Hopewell Monthly Meeting according to Lewis Wright. (C-588, 610) Possibly the confusion here comes from the changing names of territories. They lived near Monacacy River a few miles south of Frederick which could have been Prince George's Co., Maryland at the time, but is now known as Frederick Co., Maryland. The marriage records of John and Rachel Wells Wright can not be located, and it is thought by some that they were burned with the Hopewell meeting records. Marriage is therefore approximated as 1737, a year before their first child's birth.

Both John and Rachel were appointed overseers of their respective male and female Monthly Meetings in Monocacy in 1745. They were charter members of the Fairfax MM.

Rachel Wells Wright is a very interesting person of her own right. She was a Quaker minister. This involved travel and stamina on her part. She was a very sturdy woman attested by the trials she endured plus the fact that she had three of her children in just a two year period.

What is even more astounding is that during this same two year period, John and Rachel Wright with 7 young children, William through John Jr. moved to the Cane Creek frontier, soon to become Orange County, North Carolina, which was over a distance of 300 miles. They received their letter to go to what was then Carvers Creek MM on 29-5-1749. They were charter members of of Cane Creek Monthly Meeting in Alamance Co., North Carolina when it was established 10m-1751. (C-575) Six more children were born to them in the Cane Creek area. All thirteen are listed in the Cane Creek records.

John and Rachel often lived in new, rather unsecured settlement areas. It appears that they moved near Camden, Kershaw Co., South Carolina in 1761/1762 to the Wateree Meeting in Camden, South Carolina, later to become the Bush River Monthly Meeting area that they helped establish. (C-250) He sought a land patent for land on Beaverdam on Sep 17, 1769 with an addition joining it in 1786. Parts of both of this land he granted to his son in law Big John. Later, Big John and Rachel then sold it to their son, Wright Coate.

According to Lewis Wright, John was a Ship Captain by trade. (C-610, 615) However, in his will, he bequeathed his shoemaking tools. Medlin's "Quaker Families of South Carolina and Georgia also states that John was a shoemaker by trade. He never tended to live on the ocean either, so I'd say the Ship Captain must apply to some other John Wright. (C-265, 866) John was also a member of the first and second Provincial Congress of S.C. (C-588)

At an ederly age, he lived with his daughter, Susannah. He used to walk to and from the Quaker meetings. The family reunion in 1908 recalled that his daughter prevailed on him to take her horse on one occasion. When the meeting was over, he walked home. When he got there she asked him where the horse was and he replied "Dad, me Sue, I forgot her."

According to this same family reunion provided by Julia Henry, it states that he and his wife had seven sons and ten daughters, 4 of whom apparently aren't in the Quaker records. He attended his grand-daughter, Sarah Cook's wedding in 1785.

He wrote his will on 9/17/1789. He named his wife, his deceased son, Joseph and Joseph's son, John; John and his son; Jesse; Nathan and his son William; his son-in-law, Isaac Hollingsworth which he left his shoe-maker tools, cow and calf; Joab Brooks, son of James Brooks; Joseph Cook, his grandson and son of Isaac Cook; William Hollingsworth, grandson and son of Isaac Hollingsworth; son-in-law Isaac Cook and Isaac's daughter Rachel. The witnesses were Isaac Hollingsworth, John Coate and Charity Cook. His Executor was his son Joseph Wright. His will was written in Newberry Co., South Carolina. (C-866, 2082)

His death was about 1790. He was living with his son-in-law, Isaac Hollingsworth's family, in the 1790 census. Before he died, he supposedly gathered all of his descendants which numbered 144 persons at the time. (C-945)

John married Rachel WELLS, Minister about 1737 in Hopewell M.M., Frederick, VA, USA. Rachel (daughter of Joseph WELLS and Rachel MARSH) was born on 3 May 1720 in All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel, MD, USA; was christened on 12 Jul 1721 in Davidsonville, Anne Arundel, MD, US; died on 23 Dec 1771 in Bush River, Newberry County, South Carolina, USA; was buried in Newberry, Newberry County, South Carolina, United States of America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

CD-100 says that Rachel's mother is named Rachel. This apparently comes from a Quaker baptismal record dated 12 July 1721 at All Hallow's, listing her father as Joseph Wells and his wife Rachel. In the Southern Friend, V. XVI, 1994, Richard Kelly states that the entry in the All Hallow's book was in error and they simply repeated daughter Rachel's name by accident. He also finds error with the date of birth listed for her in Quaker records as occurring on 3(May)/27/1720. This would have been before Joseph and Margaret were married. (C-575)

The Cane Creek Quaker record states she was the d. of Margaret Swanson and Joseph Wells, but this could be explained by the fact that she had only known Margaret as her mother, and gave her name without being concerned for the genealogy of it. This record was made sometime after 1758 which was 38 years after Rachel's birth. (C-1553, D.J. Rowe)

In any case, Rachel was born while her father, Joseph Wells, was farming land in Anne Arundel Co. belonging to his brother's stepson. The Cane Creek Monthly Meeting record was also in error in stating that she was born in Prince George, Maryland.

Rachel was a fairly well noted frontier Quaker minister before the American Revolution. She became a Quaker when she married. This is significant. Her parents moved into the faith several years after her marriage. She would not have been baptized Quaker and this where the controversy lies in Quaker Records. The Quaker Baptismal record would have been created after she was an adult and is therefore not first hand information. It is entirely possible that her mother was Margaret Swanson instead. She came from radical Puritan and Catholic stock who sought religious freedom in the tolerant Maryland under Lord Baltimore. Several of her ancestors were of armorial families in England. (C-575, p. 35)

Rachel and her husband moved to Orange County, North Carolina from the Monacy Meeting, Prince George Co., Maryland about 1749. They helped found the Cane Creek Meeting in Orange Co., North Carolina. She with Abigail Overton Pike and several others rode on horseback to the Little River Quarterly Meeting in Peruimans in 1751 to seek permission for Cane Creek's Monthly Meeting status. This was granted by them on the sixth month, 31st day of 1751. Cane Creek held their first monthly meeting on the tenth month of 1751 wherein fifteen certificates of removal were submitted. (C-1663)

She was the center of a major controversy in this region during the movement known as the Regulators. She committed the offense of defending her daughter, Charity, against false charges of "carnal knowledge" with Jehu Stuart". She later apologized and this was accepted by her Quaker Meeting until she applied to remove to Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1763. Some of the members doubted the sincerity of her apology and thought her certificate should not be granted. She was then disowned by the church. A principle, outspoken well known liberal Quaker of the time, Hermon Husband, was caught up in the feud defending her. Due to his violent reaction, he was disowned in 1763 and moved north back to Pennsylvania with his family after the decision was appealed to the Quarterly and Yearly Meetings where only his disownment was not reversed in Feb. of 1764. Rachel was granted her removal at the 1764 yearly meeting. (C-575)

The Cane Creek meeting back in North Carolina mentions her kindly at her death 23 12m 1771, aged about 52 years as "a friend of the Ministry, wife of John, one of the first beginners of a meeting at Bush River." (C-646, 966)