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Introduction

William Coates, as a young married man of 22 years, was found in the 1782 Spotsylvania County tax records.  He had just completed several war tours and was starting a family in post-Revolutionary Virginia shortly after the Siege of York in October 1781.  Living nearby, or possibly on the same or adjoining lands, was John Coates (names side by side in the tax records).  There were no other Coates families in Spotsylvania at this time.  This John Coates (from hence forward called John Coates the elder) was certainly the father of the Spotsylvania County Coates clan.  William had a brother (almost certainly) named John who was in Spotsylvania County in 1780 and was born in 1762.  The John Coates in the 1782 tax record was obviously more established as a male Virginia colonist – he owned 9 slaves compared to 1 slave owned by William.  The younger John is believed to have been living with the elder John Coates (as a titheable in 1782).

Coates in Virginia

Chart representing Coates families in Virginia (*some relationships are unknown)
The Coates in Virginia have proven to be a hard pedigree to track.  There were many Coates men who had the same and similar names.  They also appeared to move periodically, wreaking havoc to those of us attempting to assign these men to family groups.  There are assorted family histories online with few sources providing difficulties separating fact from fiction.  By looking at all of the information available, this chart provides us with the best look at how the Coates men were, or may have been, related.  These lines are not etched in stone and there are certainly errors.  It does, however, provide Coates researchers with the most complete observation of the Coates lines, based largely on locality connections (considering the resources available to us at this time).  There may be a point in the future where more documentation is found – either proving or disproving these associations.  Until then, this is how I see it.

Spotsylvania and Caroline County, Virginia boundaries in 1779 Virginia

John Coates the elder was born somewhere between 1720 and 1740 and more than likely closer to the dates of 1730 to 1735.  This John Coates was married to Ann at some time before 1779 (some records state Nancy “Ann” Thompkins but no proof of that connection has been discovered).  One deed even reveals his spouse as “Ann (Nancy), his wife.”  There is no evidence that Ann was the mother of the presumed John Coates sons (William and John Coates, born in 1760 and 1762) as John and Ann may have married post 1762.  John and Ann Coates were Caroline County, Virginia residents in 1779 and were there as early as 1775 (William Coates service enlistment location).  In 1779, John and Ann Coates bought two tracts of land in Spotsylvania County, Virginia (at the time, they were “of Caroline County”).  The first parcel was a 130-acre tract purchased from Ann Mathews and Ann Shackelford for 500 pounds (could these have been John Coates sisters). The second was acquired from Richard Dillard and consisted of 100 acres on the north side of the Pawpaw Swamp.  Witnesses to the first deed were Richard Dillard and Elisha Dismukes (father of Susannah Dismukes, future wife of William Coates and John Coates future son-in-law).  Richard Dillard would later sell John Coates more land that adjoined the Pawpaw Swamp land (250 acres in 1783 that adjoined the previous 100 acres. Witnesses for the 1783 deed were William Coates [19-year-old son], William Rash, and John Shackelford. Also interesting to note, John Waller was a witness for this deed, probably the same John Waller who witnessed Thomas Coates deed in 1762).


William Coates may have been the grandson of Thomas Coats.  Though we currently know very little about the William Coates line prior to 1775, the location of Coates families may provide a connection between the Coates of the 1770s and earlier potential relatives.  Only one other Coates man was known to have ties to both Spotsylvania and Caroline Counties in years prior to 1775, and that was Thomas Coats.  Thomas Coats was a resident of St. George Parish, Caroline County, Virginia in 1747.  He bought 303 acres in Spotsylvania County from Henry Goodloe on 3 May 1747.  Thomas Coats appeared to have moved to his Spotsylvania County land when he was reported on a road order with Robert Goodloe in Spotsylvania County on 3 June 1755.  Finally, Thomas Coats and his wife Elizabeth of St. George Parish, Spotsylvania County sold their 303-acre tract in Spotsylvania County to Samuel Wallen on 5 July 1763, the deed witnessed by Robert Goodloe.  No other occurrences of this Thomas Coats have been found in either county’s records.  In this hypothesized relationship, William Coates (b1760) was the son of John Coates the elder (bca1730), and John Coates the elder was the son of Thomas Coats (bca1705).  When analyzing the dates, Thomas Coats could have been the brother of John Coates.  A definite relationship has not been determined, yet.

William Coates (born 1760)


William Coates, born 15 December 1760, first appeared in records in the late fall of 1775, as a 15-year-old boy.  He enlisted in the 9th company of the 2nd Virginia Regiment under the direction of Captain Samuel Hawes.  Hawes enlisted men from Caroline County, Virginia (therefore William Coates was in Caroline County in 1775) for state service but afterwards his company was accepted to serve in the Continental army in February 1776.  The 9th company officially began service on 19 February 1776.  They left Virginia in December 1776 and joined General George Washington’s Main Army at New Jersey in 1777.  Coates’ company was involved in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown prior to settling in for a long winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  While at Valley Forge, Coates’ tour was set to end (late 1777 would have been the end of the two year tour).  General Washington urged the men leaving, those suffering and barely surviving the harsh Valley Forge winter, to reenlist for their country.  Those who chose to follow Washington and persist in light of the unforgiving conditions, like William Coates, were true patriots.  William Coates reenlisted for a term of three years.  Coates became sick after leaving Valley Forge, at Coryell’s Ferry just prior to the crossing in the Delaware River, but was back in action with two month time.  Over the next two years, Coates would serve as a private in Captain James Upshaw’s company and then William Taylor’s company of the 2nd Virginia, continuing as a regiment in  the Continental Army.  Coates was involved in further battles that included Monmouth in June 1778 and then Stony Point, New York in July 1779.

Troops at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778

In late 1779, after only two years of his three-year tour, William Coates reenlisted for a third tour.  Again, he would serve the 2nd Virginia Regiment.  However, this time he joined the company of Captain William Bentley under Colonel Christian Febiger.  Later, the company marched south and arrived in South Carolina in April 1780 to reinforce Major General Nathaniel Green’s army.  He was at the Siege of Charleston and was one of the few who escaped capture by the British.  He retreated to Chesterfield Courthouse and was assigned to varying units during a tumultuous time of the war.  Coates participated in most of the battle in the Carolinas, including Guilford Courthouse (March 1781), Hobkirk’s Hill (April 1781), the Siege of Ninety Six (May-June 1781), and Eutaw Springs (September 1781).  In the last eighteen months of his service, Coates served as an orderly sergeant.  After Eutaw Springs, Coates’ company camped at Thompson’s farm on the Santee River at which time his enlistment ended and he marched north, back to his father’s home in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

American Revolutionary War soldiers prepared to fight

While William Coates was away from his home serving his country, his father John Coates the elder was setting up shop in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, probably on the Pawpaw Swamp.  John Coates the younger, who was living with his father in Spotsylvania County, had become 18 in 1780 (he was born in 24 November 1762).  Unlike his brother, he did not commit himself to years of service with the Continental Army because he was needed at home to help his father.  Starting in 1780, Virginia was pressed for militia men since the war had moved south to Virginia and the Carolinas.  John Coates the younger was drafted into militia June 1780 in Spotsylvania County by Captain Thomas Minor for a six-month tour.  He marched to Hillsborough, North Carolina and then to Rugeley’s Mill, South Carolina where his company joined the main army of General Horatio Gates and fought in Battle of Camden in August 1780.  He was discharged at Hillsborough, North Carolina after his tour expired (from his pension application).  Shortly thereafter, John Coates the younger served as a substitute militia man for William Rash (who was a witness for his father’s 1783 deed in Spotsylvania County).  This tour was for two months in Captain John Chew’s Spotsylvania County militia company during the spring 1781.  They were attached to Colonel James Meriwether’s company and constantly marched through central Virginia, pursuing and retreating from the British.  He was discharged at Chickahominy River.  Later in 1781, probably around September, he was drafted into a third tour for the duration of two months.  This time he served as a private in Captain Lewis Holladay’s Spotsylvania County militia company.  He was present at the Siege of York and the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in October 1781.  Prior to his discharge in Fredericksburg, he guarded British prisoners being transported to Winchester, Virginia.

William Coates probably arrived home from his war service in the fall of 1781 while his brother was in his third tour.  By early 1782 he was courting 16-year-old Susannah Dismukes (born circa 1765), daughter of Elisha Dismukes of Berkeley Parish in Spotsylvania County (the parish in which his father John Coates the elder lived).  They were married on 4 March 1782 in Spotsylvania County by Pastor John Waller, a Baptist minister (pension application).  They probably lived on land belonging to their parents until William Coates bought 165 acres in Spotsylvania County on 5 July 1785 from Orange County, Virginia citizens John and Susannah Carter.  According to researchers, this land was previously owned by Robert Goodloe.  This information is important as it ties William Coates to his purported grandfather Thomas Coates, who bought land from Henry Goodloe in 1747 and was a neighbor of Robert Goodloe.  That same year (1785), John Coates the elder sold two tracts of land - the 130-acre tract he had bought in 1779 to Bradley Mathews (wife was Rebecca) of Spotsylvania County (was probably the same 130 acres he purchased from Ann Mathews) and a 128-acre tract in Spotsylvania County to Benjamin Winn (1735-c1779) of Caroline County, Virginia.  William Coates was later mentioned in deed records as having land in Spotsylvania County adjoining James Warren, who was selling part of his land to Thomas Towles in 1786.  In 1787, William Coates was noted in a deed as having land that bordered William Durrett and others in Spotsylvania County.

William Coates was taxed in Spotsylvania County in 1787 and owned two slaves between the ages of 12-16, five horses, and six head of cattle.  His father John Coates the elder, still showing his elevated status, owned five slaves over 16, four slaves between 12 and 16, four horses, and 22 head of cattle.  The following year John Coates the younger was married to Frances “Fanny” Winn (possibly the daughter of Benjamin Winn) of Caroline County on 5 March in Caroline County.  They were married by Parson John Waller, the same Baptist minister that performed the wedding of his brother William Coates.  This event was only one of many that occurred in 1788 as part of a significant Coates clan transformation.  Earlier in the year, William Coates sold 176 acres in St. George Parish, Spotsylvania County to William Durrett, his neighbor.  This document confuses researchers because the deed states “William Coates and Sarah his wife.”  This was certainly a misspelling of Susannah.  Towards the end of the year, John Coates the elder sold the land he lived on in Berkeley Parish, Spotsylvania County.  

Spotsylvania and Halifax County, Virginia borders in 1798

At this time, it is not known whether the Coates families moved in 1788 or loitered in the Spotsylvania County area for a while before leaving.  Eventually, they all appeared to move on.  Nothing is known of John Coates the elder after 1788.  He may have moved and become unable to be distinguished from the many other John Coates in Virginia at the time.  Or, he may have passed away in 1788 or shortly thereafter.  William Coates was possibly in Halifax County, Virginia in 1789 (there were two who were taxed, one was William Coates born 1749 from Essex County).  There is little doubt he was in Virginia in the 1790s (son born in 1797 Virginia).  John Coates the younger was not found in Virginia tax records of 1789 or 1790 (he stated he moved to Halifax County shortly after the war but was not there in 1789).  John Coates the younger was certainly in Spotsylvania County in 1791 (or maybe it was John Coates the elder) when he witnessed a deed for Thomas Towles (old neighbor of his brother William).  By 1798, both William Coates and his brother John Coates the younger were living in Halifax County (there was only one other Coates there, William Coates who was born in 1749 Essex County).  Also having moved to Halifax from Spotsylvania County by 1798 was William Coates father-in-law Elisha Dismukes.  William Coates and his brother John Coates the younger remained in Halifax County for the first decade of the 1800s (they were both found in the 1810 Halifax County, Virginia tax records).  William Coates lived in the southern district (William Coates born 1749 lived in the northern district with his son William Coates Jr.).  

Halifax County, Virginia to Davidson County, Tennessee

Meadville, Halifax County, Virginia is in the west central part of the county

By 1820, John Coates the younger was still living in Halifax County (specifically around Meadville) but William and Susannah Coates were in Davidson County, Tennessee living with their single son Austin M. Coats (Austin Cootes was listed is the census).  Austin Coates owned a fine house with two slaves (pension).  A John Coates was also in Davidson County (unknown relation but likely William's nephew).  Over the previous 30 years, William Coates had worked as a planter.  But, by this period of his life and at the age of 60, he was feeling the effects of time.  He was informed that just two years earlier, his country had passed legislature to allow Revolutionary War veterans to apply for and receive pensions for their service.  In May and July of 1820, Coates officially formed an application describing his service and his current personal circumstances as being old, infirm, unable to continue working as a planter, and in great need of assistance for survival.  William Coates was granted a pension and would receive $8 per month for the remainder of his life.

Davidson County, Tennessee borders in 1820

William Coates signature 19 May 1820 on pension application

In 1830, William Coates was the head of a household in Davidson County, Tennessee.  His son Austin had married his cousin Lucinda Dismukes in Sumner County in 1824 and was living in Henry County, Tennessee in 1830 (believed to be the correct Austin Coates).  Though William Coates lived in Tennessee, his immediate family remained linked to Halifax County.  At least three of his children married in Halifax County – his son Merit Coates in 1809, daughter Nancy Coates in 1822, and his son Beverly Coates on 24 September 1827.

In 1835 and 1840, William and Susannah Coates were living with son Beverly E. Coates in Davidson County, Tennessee as revealed in the 1840 Revolutionary War Pensioners census.  Beverly Coates, a cripple since birth and currently a school teacher, had married in Halifax County and lived there siring three children.  The circumstances surrounding Beverly Coates’ return to Davidson County just prior to 1835 without his family are unknown.  The 1835 census reported that William Coates was receiving $96 per year and had already received $1,324, his pension having commenced in 1821.  In 1840, William was living in Beverly Coates home, located in the 20th District of Davidson County, Tennessee.  John Coates the younger was living in Halifax County, Virginia in 1840 as head of his own household, according to the census of pensioners.

A home in Halifax County on the Staunton River, circa 1810

John Coates the younger signature from 1835 pension application

In 1835, John Coates the younger of Halifax County, Virginia applied for a Revolutionary War pension.  In his application, he stated that he did not make an application at an earlier date as no witnesses lived nearby that could provide proof of his service.  To finally establish proof, he visited men in Caroline and Spotsylvania Counties during 1834 to obtain affidavits in support of his pension application.  John Coates the younger was 73 and in very indigent circumstances – old, infirm, deficient memory, and owner of only one horse.  By 1840, John Coates the younger was still alive and living in the northern district of Halifax County.  John Coates the younger did not appear in any additional records and he therefore died between 1840 and 1850.

Davidson and Sumner County, Tennessee borders in 1840

Susannah Coates signature from her widow’s pension application in 1845

William Coates died on 6 October 1843 (or some say 1844) in Davidson County (some say Sumner County), Tennessee.  Coates was 83 years old and had lived for over 20 years receiving a pension.  His wife Susannah, no youngster herself, was nearly 80 and left without financial support.  An act of Congress passed in 1844 allowed her to apply to receive a widow’s pension.   In her current condition, Susannah was suffering from old age and bodily infirmities and was unable to attend open court to complete her pension application.  She was living in Sumner County on the line separating Sumner from Davidson and applied for the pension in Davidson County for convenience.  She was granted the pension which was nearly the same monetary compensation that William Coates had received.  The pension was received for less than a year as Susannah Coates died 17 February 1846.

Descendants of William Coates

From assorted family histories (purported to be known through a family bible), William and Susannah Coates had at least seven children (dates are from unknown family records, presumed to be a family bible).  Very little is known of these children.  What little is known will be reviewed following the several lists below:
1.      Sarah “Sallie” Coates – born ca1784
2.      Merrit Coates – born ca 1785, m26Jul1809 Halifax VA to Elizabeth B Sikes
3.      Mary “Polly” Coates – born ca1788
4.      Austin Murphy Coates – bc1790 SC, m1824 Sumner TN Lucinda Dismukes, d17May1833
5.      Nancy Coates – born ca 1794, m30Sep1822 Halifax VA to James Hill
6.      Beverly E. Coates – born ca1797 VA, m24Sep1827 Halifax VA to Elizabeth Hill, d1859
7.      Martha “Patsy” Coates – born ca1801, m1814 Halifax VA to William Nichols

Even less is known of John Coates the younger and his wife Fanny Winn (not sure about how long she lived and whether John Coates the younger married any additional times).  The short list includes the following names:
1.      Possibly Samuel Coates – bc1789, m1811 Nancy Medley in Halifax Co (he was not a known member of either of the other Coates families at the time)
2.      John Coates – bc1796 Virginia, mc1822 Halifax Co to Sarah “Sally” Yeates or Yates, daughter of John Yeates of Halifax Co, d1861
3.      Edward B. Coates – bc1800 Halifax Co, m1831 Halifax Co to Wilmot C. Hall, d1855 Halifax Co

Some researchers have superimposed William Coates (born 1760) with William Coates (born 1749).  This confusion is expected due to their similar age, origins, and affiliation with Halifax County.  The evidence that separates these two men are a) William Coates (born 1760) pension application, which reveals his association with Spotsylvania County, and b) a 1790 deed in Essex County in which William Coates (born 1749) of Halifax County sells land he received from his father Samuel Coates 1780 Essex County will.  The children of William Coates (born 1749) of Halifax County are often confused with the children of William (born 1760) and John Coates the younger (born 1762).  Children of all three men married in Halifax County.  There were several additional Coates (not included as children of William, William, and John) married in Halifax County during the early 1800s but these are mostly grandchildren of William Coates (born 1749).  The children of William Coates (born 1749), according to his will of 1812, were:
1.      William Coates – (many researchers put Polly Crews  as his wife-m1801 in Halifax Co, but she is certainly the wife of a different William Coates who originally came from Essex Co) may have m1818 Sarah Moorefield and/or m1824 Nancy Shipp
2.      John Coates – mbefore1812 probably Polly Nichols in Halifax Co
3.      Elizabeth “Betsy” Coates – bca1779-1782 (some say Richmond, VA), m1800 James Franklin in Halifax Co, d22Oct1832 Halifax Co
4.      Richard Coates – m1794 Polly (Branham) Halifax Co, d1820-1830 (oldest son was Peyton Coates m1816)
5.      Guilford Coates – m1805 Nancy Hankla or Hankley in Halifax Co, d1812-1820
6.      Nancy Coates – m1791 Champness “Champ” Seymour in Halifax Co
7.      Sarah “Sally” Coates – b1770-1775, m 1793 Stephen Huddleston Halifax Co, dbef1805
8.      Lucy Coates – mentioned in father’s 1812 will as “Lucy Coates” with children, dbef1812


Austin Murphy Coates (born circa 1792), son of William Coates (born 1760)

Austin Coates was born about 1792.  Family legend reports his place of birth as Richland County, South Carolina (though this was probably a different Austin M. Coats as there is no evidence his father was in South Carolina).  He was a soldier in the War of 1812, 4th Regt, VA militia, Greenhill’s Company.  Austin lived in Davidson County as early as 1820 and as a 28-year-old bachelor, he owned a fine home and two slaves.  He took care of his aging parents who at the time were unable to care for themselves.  According to his father’s pension application, Austin was set to move to Virginia at the end of 1820 (as so many of his siblings seem to have done).  However, in 1824, Austin Coates married his cousin Lucinda Towns Dismukes, the 18-year-old daughter of Daniel Dismukes, in Sumner County, Tennessee.  They may have been in Henry County, Tennessee in 1830.  Austin Coates died 17 May 1833 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi.   His wife remarried to William Hutchinson in Sumner County, Tennessee in 1836 (Sumner Co TN marriage records) There were several Austin M. Coats and all eventually lived in Mississippi.  Separating the three has proven to be a difficult task and therefore little more is known of Austin M. Coates, son of William Coates.

Beverly E. Coates (born 1797), son of William Coates (born 1760)

Beverly E. Coates was born in Virginia (from the 1850 census) in 1797 (family bible, unknown location) and was known to have been disabled.  Legend says he was crippled from birth but the certainty of this information in not known.  He was also reportedly educated by the future President Andrew Jackson in Davidson County, Tennessee (Jackson was a successful lawyer and judge but nearly went bankrupt in 1804.  It was then he bought the Hermitage in Davidson County, Tennessee and focused on operating a general store, tavern, and horseracing course until the War of 1812).  Although disabled and without the use of his legs, Beverly Coates achieved many normal life accomplishments.  In 1827, Beverly Coates was married in Halifax County, Virginia to Elizabeth Hill.  From this marriage, he fathered three children in Halifax County.  His days of fatherhood were short-lived and at some point around 1835 he removed to Davidson County, Tennessee to help take care of his aging parents.  His wife moved to Franklin County, Alabama after 1835, lived near Willis Chandler Jr., and remarried to William R. Hooker before 1840.  Beverly Coates’ oldest daughter named a son Beverly E. after her father, who she likely never saw again after her mother moved them south.

By 1835, Beverly Coates was a well-respected teacher at a school in Goodlettsville near the border of Sumner and Davidson counties.  A student’s reminiscence allows us to learn more about Beverly Coates (From the unfinished autobiography of George Bradford (b1825) in Sumner Co TN archives in Gallatin TN) –

“But I remember (the top line of the next page was cut off in the copying) Beverly E. Coats. I know not from what cause, to a size not exceeding early boyhood, and were wholly useless for every purpose. His body other hand was of a size equalling that of a powerful man, and in it and in his arms he had great strength. His locomotion was performed by throwing one of his little legs across the other, placing the supporting limb straight before him and then supporting himself upon both his hands on the floor or ground propel himself forward. He walked on his hands. He knew nothing except "according to rule," and had no incentive to study among his pupils except the fear of long beech switches coming down on the idle and the dull, driven by his nervous arm. ____ I passed rapidly through spelling & reading and was soon put to Latin. I do not know how far I was carried in that study, but probably not farther than Historae Sacrae--probably into Vivi Romoe. His system of teaching was old-fashioned--he was man of the long past. Modern improvements had not penetrated into Sumner County. From him I learned to read well, because, as I have since supposed, I couldn't help it, and to spell correctly. Under his severe discipline too, I committed to memory many rules in Arithmetic and Grammar, about which, though I could repeat them glibly, I knew as much as a parrot would, yet which stood me in good ____ long after under other systems, and the awakened power to reason. His errors however were not his own, but those who taught him--he gave back again what he had received. I owe him a debt of gratitude. He is an honest, upright and good many. May he long live to enjoy that competency which many years of honest toil enabled him to gather together and invest in the neyhbourhood(sic) of the home of his childhood.”

As a resident of Davidson County, Tennessee, Beverly Coats bought two tracts of land in Sumner County, Tennessee during 1835 and 1836.  On 10 August 1835, Beverly Coates paid $310 to John Lay of Sumner County for a tract of unknown size and location.  The next year, he paid $800 to Absalom Joiner of Sumner County for a tract in Sumner County located on the waters of Madison Creek adjoining his cousin William Miller Dismukes, son of Paul, son of Elisha.  This William M. Dismukes lived at Hendersonville, Davidson County, Tennessee.  According to Beverly Coates’ mother’s pension application, in 1845 he was living on the Davidson County and Sumner County line, probably actually in Sumner County.  After his mother’s death in 1846, he continued to live in Sumner County, Tennessee (1850 Sumner County census).  With his parents deceased and in light of his disability and advancing age, Beverly Coates removed from Tennessee to Cedartown, Polk County, Georgia, located in the northwest area of that state.  He was purportedly living with his cousin, through the Dismukes line, named Whitehead.  This was probably Beverly E. Whitehead and no actual relationship has been established.  Coates died in 1859 in Cedartown, Georgia.

The children of Beverly E. Coates and his wife Elizabeth Hill were:
1.      Frances Adeline Coats – bc1828 Halifax Co, VA, mc1845 Calvin M. Hooker (her stepfather’s younger brother) AL or MS, dafter1870 – children Thomas N., Beverly E., Luella, James H., Elizabeth, Georgia Ann, Roxana, and Walter L.
2.      James E. Coats – bc1830 Halifax Co, VA, alive in 1855 Chickasaw Co, MS, missing afterwards
3.      Delphia Jane Coats – b1834 Halifax Co, VA, m1 Coyle c1850, m2 Erastus Chandler c1852, m3 William D. Cousins, d1890 Clay Co, MS

Beverly Coates’ children had younger half brothers and sisters from their mother’s second marriage to William R. Hooker.  These children grew up in Mississippi and then Texas.  Their names were Willis Richard Hooker, Sarah “Sallie” Hooker, Lewis W. Hooker, and Elizabeth “Bettie” Hooker.

John Coates (born circa 1796), son of John Coates the younger (born 1762)
John Coates was also known as John Dabney Coates.  He was born between 1796 and 1801 in Virginia.  On 24 December 1822, he married Sarah “Sally” Roberta Yates or Yeates in Halifax County, Virginia.  Sally Yates was born 17 February 1805 in Halifax County, the daughter of Revolutionary War veteran John H. Yates and Elizabeth Chandler.  John and Sally had at least four children: John Edwards (born 1828), Sarah Elizabeth (born c1832), Martha (born c1835), Mildred (born c1837).  In 1840, John and Sally were living in Edmonson County, Kentucky, by 1850, they were in Christian County, Kentucky, and then in 1860, they were in Edmonson County, Kentucky.   John Dabney Coates died 19 April 1861 and was buried at Baltimore Cemetery in Graves County, Kentucky.  Sally Coates died 9 July 1879.  A descendant attempted to join the DAR using the Revolutionary service of John Coates the younger (born 1762).  She wrote the government and requested John Coates pension application in 1919, stating that John Coates of Halifax County (born 1762) was her great grandfather.  In actuality, this John Coates was her great great grandfather.


Edward B. Coates (born circa 1800), son of John Coates the younger (born 1762)

Edward B. Coates was commonly known to have been the son of John Coates the younger (born 1762).  He was born about 1800 (from the 1850 census) and likely grew up in Halifax County.  On 25 April 1831, he married Wilmot Catherine Hall in Halifax County, Virginia.  They had ten known children: John P. Coates, Thomas J. Coates, Sarah T. Coates, Mary H. Coates, Elizabeth T. Coates, Mildred C. Coates, Martha A. Coates, Susan C. Coates, Edward J. Coates, and Benjamin J. Coates.  Edward died in Halifax County on 7 May 1855 from dyspepsia.

William Coates (born 1760) revolutionary war service records

Continental Establishment, 2nd Virginia Regiment, private
Date                Company                     Regiment                     Pay                  Notes
May 1777        Saml Haws                  Alex Spotswood         $6.67
June 1777        Saml Haws                  Alex Spotswood
July 1777         Saml Haws                  Alex Spotswood
Aug 1777        Saml Haws                  Alex Spotswood
Oct 1777         Saml Haws                  Christian Febiger
Dec 1777         James Upshaw                        “                                              on furlough
Jan 1778          James Upshaw                        “                                             
Feb 1778         Wood Jones                            “                                              on furlough
Mar 1778         Wood Jones                            “                                             
Apr 1778         James Upshaw                        “                                              due $6.48
June 1778        James Upshaw                        “                                              sick at Coryell’s Ferry
            In the same month, 7 sick at Valley Forge, 2 sick at Corryells Ferry, 1 at Prince Town
            Washington marched to Coryell’s Ferry after Valley Forge to cross the Delaware River
July 1778         James Upshaw                        “                                              sick at Coryell’s Ferry
Aug 1778        James Upshaw                        “                                              pay $20 for 3 months
                                                                                                                        Omitted June & July
Sept 1778        Wm Taylor                              “
            On list as private in Wm Taylor Co, present 9 Sep 1778, enlisted 2 Dec 1777 for 3 yrs
Oct 1778         Wm Taylor                              “
Nov 1778        Wm Taylor                              “
Dec 1778         Wm Taylor                              “                                             
            Roll dated 13 Jan 1779 Middle Brook, enlist 28 Dec 1778 for term war
            On furlough Jan 1778
Mar 1779         Wm Taylor                              “                                              pay $26.67-4 months
Apr 1779         Wm Taylor                              “
May 1779        Wm Taylor                              “
Jun 1779          Wm Taylor                              “
July 1779         Wm Taylor                              “                                             
Aug 1779        Wm Taylor                              “                                              pay +$5 subsistence
Sep 1779         Wm Taylor                              “                                              pay +$10 subsistence
Oct 1779         Wm Taylor                              “                                              pay +$10 subsistence
Nov 1779        Wm Taylor                              “                                              pay +$10 subsistence

2nd Virginia Regiment Movement
Feb 1776         9th company of 2nd Virginia Regiment formed, raised in Caroline Co, VA
Dec 1776         ordered to join Washington’s main army in New Jersey
Feb 1777         Daniel Woodford brigadier Gerneral and Alex Spotswood to colonel
                        Marched to Baltimore to be equipped
                        Marched to Maryland’s western shore to suppress Loyalists
                        Marched to Philadelphia for clothing
                        Joined Main Army as part of Weedon’s Brigade in Nathaniel Greene’s division
Aug 1777        Marched with Washington to Head of Elk, Maryland to counter British
Sep 1777         held off British advance at close of Battle of Brandywine
Oct 1777         Fighting in Battle of Germantown, Spotswood retired
Dec 1777         Arrived at Valley Forge
Jun 1778          Left Valley Forge, to Coryell’s Ferry, Battle of Monmouth
Sep 1778         At White Plains, NY, consolidated with 6th VA regiment
                        Colonel Febiger retained position
Jan 1779          137 men were fighting for “duration of war” which was unusually high
                        Captain William Taylor of the 4th copany
Dec 1779         consolidated with 3rd Virginia Regiment, assigned to Southern Department
                        Urgent need to conter new British threat
May 1780        Siege of Charleston, 2nd regiment captured,
Some stragglers made it to Chesterfield CH
                        Christian Febiger in charge there, placed in 18-month tours under Smauel Hawes
                        Fought with Nathaniel Greene’s army in Carolinas at Battle of Guilford CH, siege
                        Of Ninety Six, Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill, and Battle of Eutaw Springs
July 1780         Colonel Febiger took 2nd regiment and participated in capture of Stony Point
Mar 1781         Battle of Guilford CH
Apr 1781         Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill
May 1781        Siege of Ninety Six, lasted into June

Sep 1781         Battle of Eutaw Springs

Pension Application of William Coates (born 1760) W10675 ½ & Susannah Coates f21VA

The District of West Tennessee
On this 19th day of May 1820, before me the Subscriber, a Judge of the Courts of the United States for the Districts of East & West Tennessee personally appeared William Coates aged fifty-nine years, resident in the County of Davidson in said District, who, being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in Order to obtain the provision made by the late Act of Congress, entitled, An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary War: That he the said William Coates enlisted for two years, and the next enlistment for three years and during the War, that first enlistment in the fall of the year 1775 in the State of Virginia in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Hawes in the 2nd Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. Spotswood [Alexander Spotswood] in the line of the State of Virginia or the Continental establishment. That he continued to serve both of his said terms faithfully and that he was discharged after the battle of the Eutaw Springs [September 8, 1781], that he was in the Battles of Germantown [October 7, 1777], Brandywine [September 11, 1777], Monmouth [June 28, 1778], at the taking of Stony Point [July 16, 1779], and many other battles, that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support & that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said Service.
S/ Wm. Coates

I Certify that William Coates was a Soldier in Captain Samuel Hows [sic Samuel Hawes] company of the 2nd Virginia Regiment in the Continental establishment and that he served three years in the said Regiment which was the term of his enlistment and that at this time he is old, poor & infirm and that he stands in need of the aid of his Country for support.
S/ Tho. Overton [Thomas Overton] Late Captain in the Continental Army of the United States
[Attested May 19, 1820]

District of West Tennessee
On this the 26th day of July 1820 personally appeared in open court in the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Davidson County in the State of Tennessee it being a court of record, William Coates, aged fifty nine years and seven months, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th of March 1818, and the 1st of May 1820. That he the said William Coates enlisted for the term of two years, the first time in the fall of 1775; in the State of Virginia, in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Hawes in the regiment commanded by Colonel Alexander Spottswood in the line of the State of Virginia on the continental establishment; that before the first enlistment was quite expired, he enlisted again for the term of three years, in the State of Pennsylvania at Valley Forge Camp in the company of the said Captain Samuel Hawes in the regiment commanded by the said Colonel Alexander Spottswood in the line of the State of Virginia in the continental establishment; that after serving about two years of the second enlistment he enlisted again for a term during the war in the company of Captain William Bentley in the regiment commanded by Colonel Christian Phebegger [Christian Febiger] in the line of the State of Virginia in the continental establishment, which last enlistment also took place in Pennsylvania at Valley Forge Camp; that he continued to serve in said camp until the fall of 1781, having before that period exchanged his last term of enlistment with an eighteen months man, when he was discharged from said service at Thompson's Farm in the State of South Carolina. That he was in the battles of Brandy Wine [Brandywine], the taking of Stoney Point, in the battle of Guilford [March 15, 1781], in the battle of Campden [Camden, probably a reference to the battle known as the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill, April 25, 1781], in the siege of Ninety Six [May 22-June 19, 1781], and in the battle of the Eutaw Springs, and that he has no other evidence, now in his power, of said service except his own oath. And in pursuance of the act of the 1st of May 1820 I the said William Coates do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner dispersed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the following schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed-- that is to say not one article of property either real or personal in the world. My occupation has been that of a planter, which I am now unable through age and infirmity to pursue any longer. My family consists of myself and wife, and we subsist at present upon the bounty of our son, Austin Coates, who has no family of his own, who is the owner of two slaves and a fine house, but who is about to leave this State and fix his residence in Virginia this coming fall. I was an orderly sergeant for the last eighteen months of my servitude.
S/ William Coates
Sworn to and declared on the 26th day of July 1820, before us Thomas Claiborne, Thomas Edmiston & R.C. Foster justices of said court of pleas and quarter sessions of Davidson County Tennessee in open court it being a court of record. As declared by statute of the State of Tennessee 26th day of July 1820

State of Tennessee, Davidson County
On this the 8th day of November 1845 personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace, Mrs. Susannah Coates formerly Susannah Dismukes, a resident of Tennessee in the County of Sumner aged Eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed the 17th of June 1844 entitled an act to continue the pensions of certain widows-that she is the widow of William Coates, who was a pensioner and drew at the agency at Nashville Tennessee at the rate of ninety six dollars per annum until his death which occurred on the sixth day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty four.---She further declares that she was married to the said William Coates in Spottsylvania County [Spotsylvania County], State of Virginia by a parson named John Waller on the 4th day of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, and furthermore that the cause of making her declaration out of the county wherein she resides is that the dividing line between the counties of Sumner wherein she now lives and Davidson is in a very short distance and that all business she may have to transact in relation to a pension will be more convenient in Davidson County. The distance to Nashville Davidson County being nearer than it is to Gallatin the County seat of Sumner. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written.
S/ Susannah Coats
Before me E P Connell Justice of the Peace For said county. I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Mrs. Susannah Coates for the last twenty years and that from old age and bodily infirmities she is unable to attend in open court, and that she still continues to be the widow of William Coates.
S/ E.P. Connell

Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $8 per month commencing May 19, 1820 for service as a

Sergeant in the Virginia Continental line. His widow was pensioned in a like amount.

Pension Application of John Coates the younger (born 1762) S10131

Halifax County State of Virginia } SS.
On this 25 day of November 1835 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of the County aforesaid now sitting John Coates sr a resident of said County and state aged 73 years the 24 day of the present instance who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of  Congress passed June 7 1832. That he was drafted for a six months tour of duty in the County of Spotsylvania in the state aforesaid (in which County he then resided) in June in the year 1780 and marched on the 10 day of the aforesaid month from the aforesaid County of Spottsylvania in a company of Malitia commanded by Capt. [Thomas] Minor of said County of Spottsylvania: we marched from the aforesaid County of Spottsylvania to Richmond where we remained several days and drew our arms. From thence we marched through Petersburg – thence to Hillsborough in the state of North Carolina. and at Hillsborough Capt Holiday [sic: John Holladay; see note below] took command of our company and there we were attached to the second Regiment commanded by Col. George Stubblefield, Lt. Col. [Joseph] Spencer and Major [William] Mosby and the said Regt together with several others remained at Hillsborough several days. From Hillsborough we marched under Genl. [Edward] Stevens to Rutldges Mills [sic: Rugeley’s Mill] in the state of South Carolina at which place we joined the main army under General [Horatio] Gates the evening before the battle near Camden in the state of South Carolina which said Battle took place on the 16 day of August 1780 and I fought as a soldier in said battle and the said Capt. Holiday was killed in said battle and our second Lieutenant John Chew lost one of his arms in said battle and he was taken a prisoner and the aforesaid Lieut. Col. Spencer was also taken a prisoner. And from the aforesaid Battle-ground we returned to the river Pedee [sic: Pee Dee] where we remained several days and from whence we marched back to Hillsborough where we remained about two or three weeks. From thence we were marched off in the aforesaid state of N.C. probably about 50 miles and stationed in an old field (the County I do not recollect) three or four weeks and we were occasionally marched from place to place in the adjacent country for a considerable time and at length we were marched back to Hillsborough where we delivered up our arms and were discharged. And our company at that time was commanded by Lieutenant Lewis Holaday [Lewis Holladay] under the aforesaid Col Stubblefield and General Stephens. The second tour of duty I performed was a two months tour I was a substitute for William Rash of the aforesaid county of Spottsylvania in the spring of 1781 and took the said Rashes place in Capt Chews company (commonly called little John Chew) in the county of Hanover near Dandridges mills: and our company was attached to Col. Mearaweather’s [sic: James Meriwether’s] Regt and Major Hardaman [sic: Hardiman] commanded as a Major in said Regt and we never remained long at a place we spent our time in marching – from place to place some times in pursuit of the enemy and sometimes retreating and at length we were stationed in the woods on the river Chickahominy where we were discharged. The third tour I was drafted as a private in the said Capt Lewis Holadays company from the aforesd County of Spottsylvania for a two months tour which I performed faithfully. I was at the siege of york [28 Sep - 19 Oct 1781] and the surrender of Lord Cornwallace [sic: Cornwallis] the 19 of Octo 1781. and was one of the guard who guarded some of the prisoners from york to winchester and we gave up our arms when we returned to Fredericksburg at which place I was discharged. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid John Coates Sr.

The amended declaration of John Coates Sr in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made
by the act of Congress passed June the 7 1832, who states upon Oath that he is utterly unable to furnish the War Department with a more accurate account of his Revolutionary Services relative to the periods lengths and grade of each time of service with the names of Officers than that given in the former declaration bearing date the 25 day of November 1835, a copy of which is herewith inclosed. He is considerably advanced in Years and his Memory very deficient to what it was in the early part of his life and he regrets very much indeed that he is unable to furnish the information above alluded to. The reason he did not make an earlier application to the War Department he removed shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war from the County of Spottsylvania in which he resided in the time of the Revolutionary War to the County of Halifax in which he now resides and did not know of any person by whom he could prove his services until a considerable time after the passage of the pension law, of the 7 June 1832. He received information in the aforesaid County of Halifax (from a Gentleman from Spottsylvania) that Thomas Cason and William Cason were then living whose affidavits are also herewith inclosed and after receiving the information aforesaid as soon as circumstances would permit Viz in November 1834. he visited the said Thomas Cason who then resided in the County of Caroline and William Cason who then resided in the County of Spottsylvania and he obtained their affidavits. But on his return to the County of Halifax he was informed that the affidavit of William Cason was not in due form, and he posponed the retaking of the said affidavit of William Cason untill November 1835. He was compeled to make his visit at a leisure time of the year as it respected ploughing &c as he was at that time and remains to be the owner of only one horse he is in very indigent circumstances old and infirm. The distance from his residence to that of his witnesses is about 150 miles Consequently in making the two trips he traveled about 600 miles: And after completing his testamony and making his declaration before the County Court of Halifax he requested his agent Mel Sprague not to forward his papers by mail that he prefered that his papers should be presented by his Agent in person, and as such they were not presented to the War Department untill very recently.
Subscribed to this 10 of August 1836. [signed] John Coates Sr

Spotsylvania County State of Virginia to wit }
I William Cason an old revolutionary Soldier of the county aforesaid do hereby certify that John Coates (now a citizen of the county of Halifax and State aforesaid) an old revolutionary Soldier marched with me in a tour of duty of six months in a company of Malitia the 10th day of June 1780 from the aforesaid county of Spotsylvania which said company was commanded by Capt. Minor of the aforesaid county of Spotsylvania; we continued together in the aforesaid company and march together to Hillsborough North Carolina at which place Capt. John Holladay took command of our company and we were marched from Hillsborough by the said Capt. Holladay under Genl. Stevens to Rutledge’s Mills at which place we joined the main Army under Gen’l Gates the evening before the Battle near Camden in the State of S. C. which said Battle took place on the 16th day of August 1780; And then said Coates and myself were in said Battle; and I was taken a Prisoner in said Battle; consequently we were parted; and I saw the said Coates no more until I returned home which was after the expiration of the six months term of him the said Coats and from the frequent conversations which I have with said Coats after my return home before and immediately after the end of the revolutionary War I have no doubt but what he the said Coats did serve out the balance of the said six months faithfully and was honourably discharged.

Given under my hand this sixth of Feb.[?] 1835 [signed] William Cason 

Assorted Additional Records

·         Son Beverly E. Coats was born in 1797 (a Coats family bible listing the name of all siblings)
·         Son Beverly Coats was living in Davidson Co TN in 1835 and taking care of his father William Coats (have not seen a source but many have stated this and it may be in William’s pension file)
·         Son Beverly E. Coats lived in the middle district (20th civil district) of Davidson Co, TN in 1840 and took care of his father William who was 80 years old (1840 Davidson CO, TN pension list)
·         May have been in Halifax County VA in 1810, there was no census in that county
·         William Coats brothers-in-law Dismukes were in VA 1810 but in Sumner/Davidson Co TN in 1820
·         1820 Davidson County TN p 17 Austin M Cootes m>45, f>45, 2m26-45, 6 slaves (Austin was son 26-45 and parents were the older members, lived next door to George Dismukes, Wm’s bro-in-law)
·         1830 Halifax County, VA census Beverley Coats m20-30 f20-30 m<5 f<5 ms10-24 ms36-55 2fs<10 fs10-24, page 379 (father William Coats/Coots in Sumner/Davidson Co TN 1830 – have not seen)
·         1840 Davidson County TN census Beverly E. Coats m40-50 m80-90 f80-90 f50-60 f20-30 f15-20 (William and Susannah Coates living in this household with son Beverly) (could be a widowed sister with older children) (no Beverly in Halifax Co VA)

·         1850 Sumner County, TN census Beverly Coats 53, born Virginia, occupation teacher, single living alone, six slaves, page 252, district 8 (father and mother had both died in 1840s)
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