Notes:

Wright's birth date could easily have been before 1770. He is the only Wright Coats we know of in the area, and he is on one census, 1800's. In it he and his wife are between 26 and 45. They have 2 sons age ten and under, and one daughter from 10-16. According to Daphne they also probably have Mary's sister Rebecca, and mother who had been widowed that year living with them. In the year 1800, Wright Coate (and probably his wife Mary Coate) made purchases of land at Nathan Perry's estate sale in the year 1800. Nathan Perry lived very near the Chandlers and therefore near land belonging to Gentleman John Coates. Wright Coate sold land to his brother, William in 1802 in Newberry Co. The following court record applies to this Wright and several of his brothers as well as a freed slave of his father's named Jesse.LDS Film # 24219 FiledJune 19, 1818 Box 45, No. 1Daniel McMahan Decree -Bill for Injunction Judge W. ThompsonVsJohn O'NeallDaniel McMahan employed Wright Coats and Jesse Coats (a man of color) to carry two loads of cotton to Charleston and to bring back two loads of dry goods. Wright Coats and Jesse Coats did not return to Newberry when expected and Daniel McMahan became apprehensive. He set out to find Wright Coats and Jesse Coats leaving instructions with his clerk Pendleton Pope that if Wright Coats and Jesse Coats returned in his absence, not to pay them. They did return in his absence and Wright Coats received a note from Pendleton Pope for the amount he would be paid after deducting for some goods he took from the store. He said it would be inconvenient for him to return at a later date and that he would send some other person in his place to collect the money. Afterwards Jesse Coats and James Coats applied for the money due to both Wright Coates and Jesse Coats and all money owed was given to him. Jesse Coats and James Coats (brother of Wright Coats) then went to the home of William Lesley in Newberry and gave Wright Coats his portion of the payment. Wright Coates sometime afterwards sued Daniel McMahan for more payment. Daniel McMahan in turn sued Wright Coates but before the trial Wright Coates died leaving John O'Neall as his executor. Daniel McMahan had petitioned the Court to dismiss the Bill because of fraud on the part of William Coates and to have the estate of Wright Coates pay for the Court costs. Wright witnessed the sale of his brother William Coate's land in 1807 and verified that William's wife, Mary, had given her consent to the sale. Wright had his will administered in 1808 or 1809 in Newberry Co., SC with his administrators listed as Mary Coate (wife) and J. O'Neal. His will starts with the words, "In the name of God, Amen" which indicate he was not a Quaker. (C-266, 1403, C-1479, 1942)

Wright married Mary GAUNT after 1789. Mary (daughter of Israel GAUNT and Hannah SPENCER) was born on 10 Nov 1772; died on 10 Nov 1848 in , Giles, TN, USA; was buried in Old Gilbert Cemetery, Giles, TN, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Frederick COATES was born after 1790; died after 1832.
2. Susan COATE was born before 1791; died after 1808.
3. Daniel Polignac COATS was born in 1792 in , , SC, USA; died after 1870 in Of Nacogdoches, Texas, USA.

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:

This Coate's group's lineage is proven back to Henry Coate "The Elder" b. abt 1595 who was the son of Marmaduke and Marie Somner Coate of Bridgeport and Curry Rivel England via a YDNA match to a cousin in Australia. We know from our Coats YDNA group that Gentleman John is absolutely a descendant from Samuel and Mary Saunder's Coate so the theory that his father is William is still reasonable. William was after all the only other son of Samuel and Mary Saunders Coate that ended up in South Carolina near the town of Newberry. We also know that his brother, Henry's sons as recorded in Quaker records do not account for any of William's sons.

What we also know through a detailed YDNA analysis, is that his son John is Big John Coats!!!!! This evidence comes from comparing the YDNA of a descendant of Gentleman John with 4 descendants of Big John. The results show Big John is related at the 8 generation point to Gentleman John at the 97% range. Also these sets of descendants have way more YDNA in common than with anyone else in the Coats group confirming by age, place and YDNA that Big John is the son of Gentleman John. Multiple autosomal triangulations with another descendant of Big John via his son John M. also converge on this exact same deduction.

We now have good YDNA evidence that Gentleman John is the probable brother to Thomas who died in the Newberry area of SC in 1800.

We also now have an indication via autosomal DNA triangulations with Dubois descendants that this Gentleman John who died on May 6, 1803 is related to the Rachel Dubois Coate of Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, PA and to her grandfaher, Louis Dubois. What that indicates is that Gentleman John's wife or Mother was a Dubois descended from Louis Dubois! We know it can be narrowed to these 2 females as they are the only unknown females back in the distance where autosomal dna is indicating a common Dubois ancestor to Gentleman John.

What we also 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., N.J. 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 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 (his son) was adjoining his land. Other neighbors included Jacob Pemberton, John Furnas, Samuel Kelly, and Jacob Chandler (all families mentioned as adjoining land he was giving to his sons in his will). Some of these are the same persons living next to William Coats when he purchased land in Craven Co., SC in 1767. He therefore, might be the John Coats who purchased 150 acres of land on June 6, 1769 in Craven Co., South Carolina. It's possible boundary changes in the county lines could mean this land was later in Newberry, SC. That needs to be checked. (C-2306)

He was the John that was connected as furnishing sundries and supplies during the Revolutionary War in DAR records. This was revoked as lacking evidence at some point. Here is the DAR index that was listed for Gentleman John in the past. 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. These reimbursement papers from 1781-1783 indicate he did blacksmithing. These papers, therefore, likely to belong to Big John or Little John Coats as they were the only known blacksmiths in the Coate family at that time. 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 some of his grandchildren married into the Baptist faith and are buried in Bush River Baptist Cemetery. One of his great grand-daughters married into the Baptist faith, Nancy, d. of Samuel's daughter, Charlotte Steadman, also. (C-1896, 1927)In the 1790 census (p. 57), I now believe him to be the John Cotes living next to Samuel Kelly. If so, he had 3 males over 16 and 3 females in the household. This would account for he and his wife, their son James and youngest daughter, Rebecka. I'm guessing that one of his married children and spouse are also still living on his farm at that time. If this is him, he is living next to Samuel Kelly, Sr. and near his son John who looked to be newly married with a wife. They would have also lived within 40 homes of Marmaduke and Little John Coates family.

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. (James Dobbins is also on page 56.) His daughter Mary is married to George Pemberton on page 57 also. 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. Pembertons and Brooks lived somewhat near as they are on page 57 and 56. (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 or 6 Dec. 1771, 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. In the 1800 census, Gentleman John and his wife are empty nesters, living as a couple with no other children in their household.

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. Though it is possible he married a Mary Watson, 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 (who had moved to Newberry, SC) and multiple daughters who all married Watsons, sons of Thomas Watson, Sr. (C-1521)

His will written May 25, 1799 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 furniture 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 and 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 and Isaiah Pemberton's 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 and no other to be my last Will and Testament and Revoking all other wills by me made In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this 25th, Day of May 1799 --- Signed Sealed published pronounce and 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-266, 336, 614b, 633, 692, 1954, 2121)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. Note that as the son of William, he would have named one son after his father and one daughter after his step-sister Katherine.

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 possible grandfather William, or one of his brothers, but it certainly sounds like land that the original William owned.

Gentleman married Mary UNKNOWN before 1754. Mary was born before 1735; died after 1799. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

By at least 10 autsomal triangulations with Rachel Dubois of Northern Liberties and her grandfather, Louis Dubois, we know that either this Mary's last name is Dubois or Gentleman John's mother's maiden name is Dubois. I have not been able to currently find a Mary Dubois of the correct age who is unmaried who could account for this Mary to explain the dna triangulations between Dubois and Gentleman John Coate.

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)

Notes:

This William has been very elusive but much has been learned about him in the last few years and just this month, Nov. 2019. Read the following with detail.

Let's first cover what is not true. According to Park, an early letter from Ada Coats Hair, and the early 20th century "Old Coates Genealogy" done by a "professional researcher" (C-570), this William was supposedly married to Rachel Budd. They supposedly had a son name Gentleman John Coate who laid out the town of Newberry, SC and rented or sold lots there. We now know for certain that Rachel's name was NOT Budd. William who supposedly married Rachel was also NOT the son of William and Rebecca Sharp. We are absolutely certain now that he is not the son of William and Rebecca Sharp Coate because of a Hunterdon Co., NJ deed where William and Rebecca's son, Barzilla, compensates all of his sisters for the land he inherited over time when all of his brothers died without issue (without leaving descendants). (See Barzilla Coate's bio in Ancestrees.com for a transcription of this NJ deed record.)

What we can also tell for sure is that William and whomever his first wife was, were not Quakers from the point where they married. They did not marry in the Quaker church or have children listed in the Quaker records. We also know that William was not born on June 14, 1702 as this is being confused with Marmaduke and Ann Pole Coate's son William who was born on that date in Somerset Co., England.

Here is what is true. William received 100 acres of land on the hill next to York Rd. from his father's will on Jan 8, 1723/4. He then sold his inheritance of 150 acres to William Cornwell on Feb 20, 1728, recorded 26 May 1729 in Deed Book I, p. 37, Hunterdon Co. Deeds, Flemington, N.J. In 1732, he, his brothers Samuel, John and Henry all were listed in the debt books in the estate settlement of John Severn of Trenton, NJ. He was a witness to a Quaker marriage of Jacob Garwood and Elloner (?) along with his brother Marmaduke and Marmaduke's wife Ann in that same year. Eloner had been the late servant-maid of his brother Marmaduke. (C-2571) In 1734 in the estate of John Ferguson of Trenton, there were debts due to William and Samuel Coat. (C-2152, 2304)

He then shows up in Berkeley Co., SC by 1768 when his land is adjoining or in proximity with his various possible sons, Gentleman John, James, and Thomas. He is listed as old Billy Coate's in the Annals of Newberry as having lived there somewhere between 1762 and 1796 according to an elderly resident being interviewed in the Anals. He lives on the same creek as James, Thomas and Gentleman John. We have YDNA evidence that Thomas and Gentleman John are brothers. Gentleman has by oral tradition been listed as the son of William and grandson of Samuel and Mary Saunders Coate. This aligns with YDNA and autosomal evidence also.

Notes:

It is not known with any certainty whom James Wright's father is. The group I think he is in is haplogroup I-M253, group 1 at the Wright YDNA group. That is a guestimate and not proven.

As for the current theories from research, here are the ones I have found without good support for any of them currently.

1. Tradition says that there were five Wright brothers that settled on the Eastern Shore of Maryland during the Colonial period as professed by several aged persons in THE WRIGHT ANCESTRY by Capt. Charles W. Wright, 1907.

2. Two other brothers settled in Baltimore Co, Maryland according to one of these ancients. Maryland's southern border is on the Atlantic Ocean. The additional 2 brothers that settled in Baltimore would have entered Chesapeake Bay and gone north to Baltimore. Baltimore is about 55 miles south by water from where our James Wright can first be verified as living in East Nottingham, Chester Co., PA (now of Cecil Co., MD) via the same bay that comes in from the southeastern side of Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean.

3. James's father according to Don Wright in the "Footprints Database" is John Wright of Pennsylvania. This probably refers to 13 volumes microfiched and available through Salt Lake City's library: "Footprints of Our Past : Our Ancestors and their Descendants" by Don P. Wright. He edited this publication through 1992 under that name and his main interest was researching the Wright surname.

In any case, this Wright family lived above Noris Ford on Marshy Hope Creek literally at the boundary of Maryland and Delaware. It is near 100 miles by land and across the Chesapeake Bay east of where our James Wright can be verified as living in East Nottingham (Now Cecil Co., MD.) in 1707. It is a creek that runs south into the Nanticoke River which runs into the Chesapeake Bay making it even further by water. John was a possible son of two brothers, William (b. bef. 1658 surmised from the fact that he had 5 sons who were born before he died in 1686) and a James Wright that settled in Dorchester Co., MD about 1682 above Noris Ford (Northwest Fork Ford) of Marshy
Hope Creek. That part of Dorchester Co., MD is now a part of Caroline Co., Maryland due to boundary changes. William and James possibly emigrated on the "Bristol Factor" in that same year with one of William Penn's colonies probably through Bristol, England. (C-951)

The two brothers were Quaker preachers and traveled extensively to preach to Quaker communities. Brother William died in Dorchester before June 5, 1686. He had sons William (who married Sarah Noble), Roger, Edward, Samuel and John. (This is likely the John that Don Wright's "Footprints Database" refers to. His sons Edward, Samuel and John supposedly moved west which at that point in time would have been east of the Allegheny Mountains.) His son, Roger, who lived in Dorchester and had several children including sons named Levin, William and *James.
Many of the Wrights in Maryland and Delaware descend from this William. No descendants lineages were apparently kept for James' children according to "The Wright Ancestry of Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset and Wicomico Counties, Maryland." The two brothers were known as Niccolite or Quaker Wrights because of their strict religious sect. The James Wright who came over with his brother William in 1682, might even be our James or William's grandson at a stretch might be our James.

The births of our James and Mary Wright are recorded with the Niccolite Births (Quaker Record Abstracts) in the Hall of Records at Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co., MD supporting this theory. Their particular group was known as the "Northwest Fork River Niccolite Friends." Of course, if one of these James is our James, it still doesn't tell us who his father is. It might be helpful to note that Dorchester Co., MD is 110 miles south from where we can verify that James Wright first lived which was East Nottingham, Chester Co., PA (Now in Cecil Co., Maryland) via the Chesapeake Bay. They and several generations of their descendants worshipped at the Niccolite Quaker Meeting House Branch near Federalsburg, Maryland and at Piney Grove Monthly after it moved locations.

Of all the theories I'm seeing presented, this one is the one with the greatest hope of including our James' ancestors and I will be studying it with a relish. "The Wright Ancestry of Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset and Wicomico Counties, Maryland" is currently available as a free Ebook on Google Books by the way. *It should be noted if this theory ends up being correct, Naomi Wright is supposed to have been a sister to the above brothers. She lived in Sussex Co., Delaware and married Joseph Atkins shortly after their 2nd declaration of intention to marry on Mar. 30, 1699. (C-258, 259)

However, there was at least one Naomi Wright whom is not the sister of William and James but the daughter of Arthur and Abigall Wright in Dorchester Co., Maryland at the time that possibly is this Naomi Wright. In 19 July 1679, An Account of Arthur Wright's estate is recorded, with payments to 147 people. Abigall Wright is listed as administratrix. (MD Accounts and Inventories Lib. 6 fol. 187) On 29 September 1679, Abigail Wright of Dorchester County, widow, gave to her children, Grace Wright, Absalom Wright, Edward Williams, Arthur Wright and Naomi Wright: Livestock. Witnesses Wm. Stephens, Thomas Taylor, William Smithson Acknowledged September 29, 1679. (Dorchester Land Record 4 old 6)*It should also be noted that I'm simply not finding persons whom are tracing their lineages back through anyone but William's son William whom married Sarah Noble - and their dating estimates are really throwing this lineage off.3. A very common ancestral line in public member trees at Ancestry says James was born in Chester Co., PA and was the son of Thomas Wright and Elizabeth Chittenden.

4. Also often stated is that he is the son of John and Martha Wright of Connecticut and John was the son of the above Thomas Wright and Elizabeth Chittenden. A well researched Wright descendant has Thomas and Elizabeth Chittenden Wright listing totally different children and places of birth at http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~legends/wright.html. They descend through an unrelated Connecticut branch of Wrights that go back through Essex Co, England. Y-DNA supports the fact that the Thomas Wright and Elizabeth Chittenden group descends from the Essex Co., England group. It's a very clear match to that grouping with a haplo group of E-M78 and YDNA shows that match. https://www.familytreedna.com/public/wright/default.aspx?section=yresults4.

5. A book referred to as the "Wright Briscoe Pioneers" believed James's father to be one of three brothers, Joshua, Thomas or Samuel who came from Yorkshire, England to New Jersey in 1677. These were sons of Robert Wright and Alice Lawtie of East Riding, Yorkshire, England. We can rule out Joshua Wright and his wife, Elizabeth Empson. Their son was: Richard Wright 1651.

A clue to this family is where they lived. James and his wife died in Frederick Co., Virginia. People from Pennsylvania and Maryland had first settled it sometime between 1738 and 1743. All we know for certain is that they were there before 1759. From East Nottingham (Chester Co., PA, now Cecil Co., MD) they would possibly have come down the Chesapeake Bay to the Potomac River and then taken the old "Indian Trail" down the Opequon Creek basin 35 miles to the newly formed Frederick Co., Virginia. This trail later became known as the "Great Valley Road". It was a common route of passage for early migrantion into Frederick Co., VA.

James married Mary BOWATER or DAVIS, * on 26 Feb 1707 in East Nottingham, Chester, PA, USA. Mary (daughter of John BOWATER, * and Mary MAUNDER) was born on 2 Dec 1689 in London, City of London, Greater London, England; died before 6 Mar 1764 in , Frederick, Virginia, USA; was buried before 6 Mar 1764 in Clear Brook, Frederick County, Virginia, United States of America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

We now know with certainty that Mary was a Bowater and not a Davis by maiden name. The often printed theory and incongruous lineage that she was Mary Davis in as reputable a source as Farmer, has now effectively been disproven by Stewart Baldwin in "The American Genealogist", July/Oct. 1997 issue. She was a Bowater based on multiple pieces of evidence. Mary Wright's birth date is listed in Feb. 12, 1689 in Hopewell Quaker records. This is off by a 10 days from being Mary Bowater's actual birth date in English records if the 1689 date is interpreted as 1688/1689.

As an orphaned young woman, Mary Bowater was received on certificate from England to live near her brother, Thomas in the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting records dated 28 4th month 1706. This is the only time she is mentioned in this country under her maiden name. She (as Mary Wright) and her husband, James Wright, sign their names to the Quaker marriage "certificate" in the close relatives right hand column of her sister, Elizabeth Bowater's marriage to William Pusey on the 5th day of the 9th month, 1707. James Wright would not even have been a relative of this couple unless his wife was a Bowater related to Elizabeth when this marriage took place. Later marriage records of Mary and James Wright's children include many Bowater relatives as witnesses and do not include any Davis relatives. Mary and James Wright were also listed in the relatives column for her brother, Thomas Bowater's daughter's marriage. Lastly, they have a grandson named Bowater. Stewart Baldwin's case that Mary is a Bowater is actually one of the finest pieces of genealogical analysis I've seen. Mary was a Bowater and NOT a DAVIS. (C-999)

Her will is as follows: "I, Mary Wright, of Frederick County in the Colony of Virginia, being aged and sickly but of a sound and well disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and testament hereby revoking and disanulling all other wills that have heretofore been made or done by me. First, my will is that my body be decently buried and that all my just debts and funeral charges that I leave to be defrayed at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. Secondly, I give and bequeath and demise to the proper use and behalf of him the said Thomas Wright his heirs and assigns forever. Thirdly, I give and bequeath all and singular of my wearing apparel unto my seven daughters, vis., Mary, Hannah, Martha, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah, Lidia to be equally divided among them. Fourthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Pickering, one brass mortar. Fifthly, I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Wright all and singular of my stock and household goods. I also will that what money remains after my decease, from the land sold on Middlefork is to be equally divided among my ten children, vis. James, Isaac, Mary Hannah, Martha, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah, Lydia and John. Lastly, I ordain and constitute my well beloved daughter, Mary Ballinger, Jesse Pugh and William Pickering sole executors of this my last will and testament as witness my hand and seal this 5th day of the 8th month, 1760. Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the said Mary Wright to be her last will and testament in presence of us. Signed: Mary Wright Witness: Elizabeth Powell, Elinor Rogers, Susanna Bevin. (This was proved March 6, 1764 in Frederick Co., VA) (C-696)

Notes:

Joseph apparently had a twin sister named Sarah. Joseph Wells was living in Anne Arundel Co., MD. on Dec. 8, 1726. He paid taxes on the Mattapony Hundred of Prince George's Co. (now Frederick Co., MD). He had moved to the Monocacy Valley in west Prince George's Co. by 1742. His name is on a petition that sought the establishment of All Saints Parish from Prince George's Co in 1742. He bought land named "Boyling Springs", which was forty acres surveyed June 12, 1743. In November of that year, he was made constable of the Monocacy Hundred. He had 2 known wives and possibly 3. Rachel is the wife in question. She is only listed in one place as the mother of his daughter Rachel. There is a fairly strong theory out there that Rachel was simply a repetitive error on the person in the Quaker records later listing her as Rachel's mother in a Quaker record written after Joseph had become a Quaker. His wife Margaret was received in membership on 11/29/1745 and he on 2/29/1746.

They removed to North Carolina around 1750 after they sold "Boyling Spring", on Tuscorrah Creek near the mouth of the Monquescy. His certificate of removal to Carver's Creek MM, Bladen, NC was dated Jun 25, 1750. He and his wife were charter members of Cane Creek Monthly Meeting that was estabalished Oct. 7, 1751. Joseph gave his son Joseph 269 acres of land in Orange County, North Carolina on June 13, 1752. He sold another 137.5 acres of land to John Marshall in Sept. 1752. In that same year, Margaret stops appearing in Quaker Records when her husband Joseph and some children are in it. This could suggest that she had passed on in 1752 or earlier. (C-575)

Joseph married Rachel MARSH in 1719 in MarylandD USA. Rachel (daughter of Thomas MARSH and Mary TRUMBULL) was born in in Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; was christened on 7 Jan 1825 in Tottington, Lancashire, England; died after 1721 in Westminster Parish, Ann Arundel, MD, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is not known with any certainty if this Rachel ever was real or a wife of Joseph. The only evidence we have is a christening record made after the fact listing Joseph's daughter, Rachel's christening that lists her mother as Rachel. There have been no records found of any marriage between a Joseph and a Rachel and his daughter is listed as the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Wells in her marriage record.