Peyton and family lived in Rutherford Co., Tennessee in 1830, sometime before 1840 they moved to Bedford Co., Tennessee.
"Peyton Henry Coats was buried beside his second wife on his farm on the Shelbyville-Murfreesboro Turnpike. The gravesite is marked by native stone and there is no inscription. He owned 212 acres of farmland on what is now the Shelbyville-Murfreesboro Turnpike 3 1/2 miles north of Shelbyville, Tennessee."
Margaret Lipscomb

Peyton H. Coats will was probated on November 13, 1879 in Bedford Co., Tennessee.


Civil District No. 6, Bedford County Tennessee Census, 12th day of Nov. 1850
Census Roll 869, Page 134
Dwelling no. 34, Family no. 34

Peyton H. Coats 48 M Farmer $3000 Virginia
Elizabeth 43 F Virginia
Rawleigh W. 20 M Tenn
Sarah 18 F Tenn


JUNE 15, 1860 SHELBYVILLE, BEDFORD COOUNTY, TENNESSEE CENSUS

F038-28 COATS - Wstrn Div., Dist. #6, PO Shelbyville, Tennessee, June 15, 1860- 291/ 268
Peter (Peyton) 65 M W Farmer 6000 4500 Va
Elizabeth 65 F W Va
David ELKINS 40 M W Va
Jack NICHOLAS 17 M W Laborer Tn



"This indenture made and entered into the 17th day of August A.D, 1835 between Thomas G. Polk of the County of Rowan and State of North Carolina of the one part and Peyton C. Coats of the County of Bedford and State of Tennessee of the other part Witnesseth that said Thomas G. Polk for and in consideration of the sum of eight hundred and twenty dollars to him in hand paid by the said Coats the acceptance thereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted bargained sold and conveyed and by these presents doth grant bargain sell and convey unto the said Coats his heirs and assigns for the sum aforesaid on the waters of Henricono creek being part of a 1940 acre survey deeded by William Polk to said Thomas G. Polk and grounded as follows to wit beginning on the walnut end white oak in the north boundary line of said 1940 acre survey sold to Sam'l Britain thence south 178 poles to a walnut and red and of ? poles to an Elm and Walnut in the west boundary of said 1940 acre survey thence with the said western boundary 180 poles to a stake the north west corner of said 1940 acre survey thence with the northern boundary line of said 1940 acre survey to the beginning containing by estimation two hundred and thirty four acres and three quarters be the same more or less to have and to hold said tract of land with the appurtenances to him the said Coats his heirs and assigns forever and the said Polk for himself his heirs executors and administrators alone as the warranty and defend the tittle of said land to him the"

This is also an incomplete copy...and ends here
Deed Book "EE" page 360-



Coats, William, "Will written on Dec. 2, 1812", (Halifax Co., VA).

"Will of William Coats, Halifax Co.
VA. 1812

I, William Coats of Halifax County, being of possession of my memory and senses: but advanced in age and in a low state of health, do make and proclaim this my last will and testament in manner and form following, to wit.

First, It is my Will and I do hereby appoint my son, William Coats and my son-in-law, James Franklin, trustees to hold in trust for the benefit of my son John and his wife and children; during the life of my said son, John and his wife the following slaves: Gilbert, Peg and the increase. Also that part of my land on the south side of the creek, above the road adjoining Wm. Royalls land, including a small part of the low ground on the north side of the said creek, as the road runs from the ford to a turnip patch, thence from said turnip patch to Royalls fence on said creek, including the whole of the low ground. And after the death of my said son John and his wife, my will and desire is that the property so put in trust should be equally divided amongst all his children to them and their heirs forever.

Second. I do hereby appoint my son William and my son in law James Franklin trustees to hold in trust for the benefit of my son Richard and his children, during the life of my son Richard; one Negro boy named Anthony, also that part of my land purchased of William Royalls and known by the name of Murphy's tract, except the low grounds from the clearing by the Wimberts plant patch up to the court house road. And after said land and Negro so put in trust to be equally divided between all my son Richard's children, except his oldest son Peyton, to them and their heirs forever.

Third. My will is that all the remainder of my land and the following slaves to wit. Billy, Cato, Cloe, Wenney, Lucy, and Sam also two yoke oxen and cart be equally divided between my sons William and Guilford to them and their heirs forever.

Fourth. I do hereby appoint my son William, and my son in law James Franklin trustees to hold in trust for the benefit of my daughter, Nancy Seymore and her children, the following slaves, to wit; Jinny and her children Pheobe, Suckey and Herbert and all increase and their increases in trust as long as my daughter, Nancy Seymore and her husband Champ Seymore shall both live. And if my said daughter, Nancy dies before her husband it is my will that my son, William and son in law Franklin do hold in trust the last mentioned four slaves and increase and their increases until the death of the said Champ Seymore. And that after his death the said slaves and increase and their increases be equally divided among all the children of my daughter, Nancy Seymore. And if the aforesaid Champ Seymore shall die before my daughter Nancy Seymore, it is my will that during her lifetime and widowhood, she should have the benefit of the four last mentioned slaves and increase for the support of herself and her children. And at her death the said slaves and increases be equally divided among all her children to them and their heirs forever.

Fifth. I bequeath to my daughter, Betsy (Elizabeth) Franklin and to her children the following slaves. To wit; Millie, Henry, Merriah, and Randolph and their increases from the present time.

Sixth. It is my will that the remainder of my estate, of every sort and description, be sold at twelve months credit and out of the money arising there from; the sum of twenty pounds be given to each of the children of my daughter, Lucy Coats. And that such of the said children that are of age shall receive at the said legacy of twenty pounds as soon as it can be collected. And the rest of the said children receive the said legacy as they respectfully come of age. It is also my will that out of the money arising from the aforesaid sale, that the sum of twenty pounds between six each of the children of my deceased daughter, Sally (Sarah) Huddleston. And that the said legacy be delivered to them as they respectfully come of age. And it is my will that if more money should arise from the aforesaid sale than will be sufficient to pay the legacy of my daughters Lucy and Sally's children, it is my will that the surplus be equally divided among the said children of my two deceased daughters.

Seventh. It is my will that the slaves bequeathed to my sons William and Guilford and to my daughter Betsy (Elizabeth) be valued by two good men, such as shall be chosen by the parties. And that each shall pay to the other in proportion to the valuation of the slaves so divided so as to make the three lots of Negroes of equal value.

Lastly I nominate and appoint my son William and my son in law James Franklin executors, to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others. In Testimony I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of December 1812 signed and acknowledged in the presents of Armistead Barksdale Ephriam Crewz Benjamin Hunt at a court held for Halifax County, the Twenty Eighth Day of December 1812, the within written last will and testament of William Coats deceased, was exhibited in court and proved by the oaths of three witnesses thereunto subscribed and ordered to be recorded. And the motion of William Coats and James Franklin the executors therein named. Who made oath according to law. Certificated is granted them for obtaining thereof in due form they giving security wherefrom they together with William Rice, Elyert Hunt and Thomas Hunt to their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond and the penalty of fifteen thousand dollars, conditioned according to law."

William was possibly the father of an additional daughter not named in his will. I state this because there is a marriage record for a Milly Coates on Apr. 28, 1788 in Halifax Co., VA to Robert Stawfield. All the other marrriages for Coates of this time period in Halifax Co., VA were William's children. However, it should be noted that Milly is more likely to have been a slave of William, as William does bequeth a slave named Millie to his daughter Betsy in his will.

William COATS
Born: 17 Sep 1749
Marriage: Unknown
Died: Dec 1812, , Halifax Co., VA, USA, at age 63


Richard H. COATES
Born: , Halifax Co., VA
Died: After 1840, , Rockingham Co., NC, USA

When he married in 1794 in Halifax Co., VA, his name was spelled Coates as well as was the surname of his bride. He settled in Rockinghan Co., NC, where he and his wife can be found in the 1840 census.

Peyton COATES
Born: Cir 1794
Died: Nov 1880, , Bedford Co., TN, USA, at age 86

• Married: 20 NOV 1816 in Halifax Co., Virginia ³

1. Presley Daniel COATS b: 23 OCT 1817 in Halifax Co., Virginia
2. Martha COATS b: ABT 1820 in Virginia
3. Mary Ann COATS b: 12 DEC 1822 in Staunton, Augusta Co., Virginia
4. Peyton Henry COATS , Jr. b: ABT 1824 in Tennessee

• Married: 31 AUG 1825 in Rutherford Co., Tennessee ⁴
• Married: 5 SEP 1825 in Rutherford Co., Tennessee ³
• Event: Justice of the Peace in J. Higgins

1. Peyton Henry COATS , Jr. b: 21 OCT 1827 in Tennessee
2. Rawleigh W. COATS b: 1 JAN 1829 in Tennessee
3. Sarah Barnes COATS b: 1832 in Tennessee
4. Unknown COATS b: UNKNOWN

• Married: 5 MAY 1870 in Bedford Co., Tennessee ³
• Married: 4 MAY 1870 in Bedford Co., Tennessee ⁵

1. Title: Haley Genealogy Chart compiled by Jo Buck Jones, Ft. Worth, Texas 76118, April 1965
   Repository:
   Media: Book
2. Title: 1850 Bedford County Tennessee Census
3. Title: Margaret Lipscomb, e-mail: lipscomb@optonline.net
   Repository:
   Media: Book
4. Title: Rutherford County Tennessee Marriage Book,
5. Title: Bedford County Tennessee Court Records, Microfilm No. 0476043 - 0476047