Person:James Coate (1)

Description: 3rd Great Grandfather Name: James Coate Sex: M Birth: 25 JAN 1779 in South Carolina Death: 15 JAN 1856 in Either Gibson Twp, Mercer Co or Chester, Clinton Co, Ohio Note: I believe that there is convincing evidence that James Coate/Coats was born on January 25, 1779 and was the son of "Big John" Coate(s), brother of Marmaduke and not the son of either Marmaduke and Mary Coppock Coate(s) or Stephen Coate. The results of my personal DNA tests show a direct connection to this branch of the family.

Considerable misinformation regarding James Coate has been passed on from generation to generation. For example, my grandfather's autobiography indicates that James was a veteran of the War of 1812 and "immigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania at the advanced age of 90."

This is obviously untrue because James would have had to have been a young man to serve in the War of 1812 and, assuming he was born in 1779, he would not have been 90 until about 1870.

A number of theories as to James' ancestry have been posed by researchers. One theory is that he was the son of Stephen Marmaduke Coate, one of the sons of Marmaduke Coate and Mary Jane Coppock and that Stephen married Mary West in 1801 and their marriage is "recorded" in the Hoover genealogy.

This theory is patently untrue because there is no evidence that Marmaduke and Mary Coate ever had a son named "Stephen." I recently came across research that the name "Stephen Marmaduke Coate" was fabricated by a person named Amanda Krell, an alleged descendant of Marmaduke, who tried to hoodwink her family in a hoax involving non-existent land rights in Pennsylvania that jointly belong to the Coate-Coppock family. She invented Stephen in order to tie many more in as her heirs. To cap it off, she stole the proof, the Marmaduke Coats bible.

It has been noted that James Coats, son of Big John, became involved with the death of a man named William Cox with whom he got into a fight over a fishing hole around the Saluda River, in South Carolina. Cox apparently died in the scuffle and a trial for murder took place in March, 1807 in which a man named John Turner was sentenced to the pillary and that James "fled the state" and nothing further was ever hear from him.

It is unlikely that James, son of Big John simply "disappeared." It is more likely that he fled to Pennsylvania or Ohio to escape capture. It seems that this James Coats may even have gone to great lengths to convince people he was from Pennsylvania and may, in fact, spent some time there with relatives, but is probable that he ended up in South Carolina joined his uncle, Marmaduke Coate and his extended Quaker family in Miami Count

It was either in Ohio or Pennsylvania that young James decided to become a soldier in the War of 1812. I recently came across information that indicates shows a James Coats on the roster of Ohio soldiers in War of 1812. A "James Coats" is listed as a captain in Westfall's Mounted Company. This group of soldiers was trained in Pennsylvania and assigned the task of building a fort along the Stillwater River near today's Covington, Ohio. The fort was originally named "Fort Recovery," but later became known as "Fort Rowdy." The old fortress, which has been restored as a museum, was part of Newberry Township, Ohio.

The history of Newberry County Ohio mentions William and John Coats who settled in the area with their sons. William and John were probably his brothers, sons of Big John Coate.

The children of Big John Coate and Rachel Wright of Newberry South Carolina were:

1.James Coate, b 28 Jan 1779, m Mary West 12 Nov 1801, d 15 Jan 1856 in Ohio. 2.Wright Coate, b Abt 1770, d Abt 1808 in South Carolina. 3.Rachel Coate, b Abt 1772 in Miami County, Ohio, b in Old Concord Cemetery. 4.Mary Coate, b 01 Dec 1774, d 22 Feb 1860 in Miami County, Ohio. 5.Rebecca Coate, b Abt 1785, d 5 Feb 1861 in Miami County, Ohio. 6.John Coate, b Abt 1776, d Abt 1810 in Miami County, Ohio. 7.Sampson Coate, b 17 Dec 1790, d 05 Jul 1853 in Greene County, Indiana. 8.William Coate, b Abt 1768, d. Abt 1826 in Marion County, Indiana

Between 1810 and 1816 most Miami County residents moved to township, Darke County, Ohio for a period of years during the Indian uprisings and returned to Miami County after their safety was more assured by the government.

According to census records, in 1820 James was living in Adams Twp., Darke County, Ohio. By 1830, James and his family were back in Newberry Twp., Miami County; then by 1846 they were living in Gibson Twp., Mercer County, Ohio. (There was also a James, age 66, and Mary, age 63, living in Clinton, Ohio in 1850).

Children of James Coats (b. Jan. 28, 1779) & Mary West (b. April 9, 1780). 1.John C. Coats, b. July 15, 1817 in Covington, Ohio. d. December 13, 1888, Ponca, Nebraska, age 71. 2.Joseph Coats, b. abt, 1802 3.William Coats, b. abt. 1803 4.Abigale Coats, b. Dec. 24, 1803 5.Mark Coats, b. May 27, 1806 in So. Carolina. d. 8/15/1883 in Koszta, Iowa. 6.Mary Coats, b. July 10, 1806. 7Elizabeth Coats, b. February 14, 1809. 4.Sarah Coats, b. June 11, 1812. 5.James B. Coats, b. May 19, 1825 6.Wesley Coats, b. March 2, 1829.

Now, here some evidence to consider:

James Coats' oldest daughter, Abigale married a man named Abraham Mott and they show up in the 1860 census living in Gibson Township, Mercer County, Ohio. In this census, Abigail shows her place of birth as South Carolina. In addition, living in the same household is probably her mother, Mary, age 76. (Remember that her husband, James, died in 1856). Mary also shows her place of birth as South Carolina.

By 1860, John C. Coats, age 44 year, shows up living in Honey Creek, Iowa. Next door to him is Mark Coats, age 55, who shows his birthplace as South Carolina. (Remember that Mark and Abigail were the only two children of James and Mary born in South Carolina. There rest were younger and were born in Ohio).

Finally, in 1880, John C. Coats, age 64, is living in Ionia, Dixon County, Nebraska and in the census he states that both his father and mother were born in South Carolina.

Based on the above, I can only conclude that James Coate/Coats, father of John C. Coats, was the son of Big John Coate and Rachel Wright of South Carolina and is the same James Coats who fled South Carolina in 1807 after being accused of being involved in the murder of William Cox.

Of note is the fact that at the time of the alleged murder of William Cox, James was already married to Mary West and they would have already had two children, Mark and Abigale.

Guy H. Coates ______________________________________________________________________ ____________ Time Line regarding possible locations of homes of James Coats

1820

Adams Township, Darke County, Ohio. Abraham Mott and Abigail Coats ( James's sister) were married April 15, 1824 in Darke County, Ohio. This confirms that the family was living in Darke County during the 1820s. Where was the family homestead ? It might be near Mott cemetery or where George Coats later resided in Secton 29, Township 9 North Range 4 East in Adams Township.

1830

Both the Motts and the Coats families are shown owning land just west of Covington, Ohio in Miami County Newberry Township, Section 27, Township 9 North, Range 4 East. This land is just south a Branford, near the county line with Darke County. Highway 36 runs directly through this property. Mark Coats ( John's C Coats' brother ) also owned land in this area. This appears certain to be the Coats/Mott homestead for many years. John C. Coats married Fanny Rudy in 1838 in Miami County, so the family was in this area at this time. .

1840

Census records show Mark & John Coats still in Newberry Township, near Covington. both the Coats and Motts living in Newton, Twp., Miami County, Ohio.

1850

John C Coats, Fanny & family now show up in Gibson Township, Mercer County, Ohio. ( Gibson Twp, Mercer County were formed from northern part of Darke about 1848). The Motts are also in Gibson Township by now.

1850

Clinton County, Ohio, Chester Township. This is interesting ! ( Census shows a 66 year old James and 63 year old Mary Coats living at the residence of a blacksmith named Seaseney (sp?), probably in Wilmington, Ohio. Both are from So. Carolina. Could this be our James and Mary ? If so, James would have been born in 1783 and Mary in 1786. Some researchers believe that James died in 1856. If this is our James, he might be buried near Wilmington, Ohio. He is not buried in Clinton Memorial Gardens, which is the largest cemetery in Wilmington.

1856

John C Coats and his brother Mark are now in Iowa County, Iowa. ( Records indicate they moved here in 1854).

1860

John C. Coats and his brother Mark and his family are now in Iowa. The Mott's stay behind in Ohio. Family records indicate they moved there in 1854.

1860

Census show Mary Coats, age 76, living in Mercer County, Gibson Twp with her daughter and son-in-law, Abraham and Abigale Mott. Their land is located as follows: 79 acres, N/W quarter of N/W Sec 27 Township 15N Range 1 East. Highway 49 passed through this property between Fox Road and Jenkins Road.

Interestingly, there was 200 acres nearby owned by Thomas and Francis West, Sec. 25, T 15 N, R 1 E. Relatives of Mary ?

1870

John C Coats & sons Mark & Abe move to Dixon County, Nebraska, along with cousins Cary Coats & his family. John settles in Ionia, Mark & Abe settle in the town of Ponca. John's brother, Mark, stay in Iowa.

Father: Big John Coate b: 1745 in Philadelphia, PA Mother: Rachel Wright b: 10 NOV 1747 in Prince George, Maryland

Marriage 1 Mary West b: 9 APR 1780 in South Carolina Married: 12 NOV 1801 in Newberry, SC Children

John C Coats b: 15 JUL 1817 in Covington, Miami County, Ohio
Abigail Coats b: 24 SEP 1803 in South Carolina
Mark Coats b: 10 JUL 1806 in South Carolina
Elizabeth Coats b: 14 FEB 1809 in Miami County, Ohio
Sarah Coats b: 11 JUN 1812 in Miami County, Ohio
James B Coats b: 19 MAY 1825 in Miami County, Ohio
Wesley Coats b: 2 MAR 1813 in Miami County, Ohio
William T Coats b: 1833 in Miami County, Ohio
Joseph P Coats b: 20 OCT 1834 in Miami County, Ohio