1616 William Coate of Petherton was named in a petition. "The petition of the parishioners of North Petherton. The parish had been infected with the plague for two years. Great sums of money, for the relief of the poor sick people, had been expended by some of the parishioners. However some now refuse to pay the poor rate, and by their example cause others to refuse as well. Ask that a general rate may be made, to satisfy those who had expended money for relief of the sick people." [1]
1624 William Coate was named as the son of Marmaduke Coate, of Currey Rivell, in his will. John Coate and Joane Coate, "my son's children", likely the children of William, received legacies. [2] [3]
1626 (1 Charles 1) William Coate was named as the heir of Marmaduke Coate of Somerset, suggesting that he was the oldest son. The escheator's warrant recorded: "Warrant of the court of wards and liveries to the escheator of Somerset granting to William son of Marmaduke Coate deceased, formerly of Curry Rivel, yeoman, livery of his father's lands in Curry Rivel comprising a messuage, garden, orchard and 17½ a[cres] of land in Curry Rivel and common of pasture in Binditch and elsewhere (as specified)." [4] [5] [6] [7]
1631 William Coate was named as the son of Marie Coate, widow of Currey Rivell, in her will. William's four children were mentioned, but not named. [8] [9]
1642 William Coate was an official of the Anglican church at Curry Rivel. "His testibus William Coate, John Sawtell, Guardians." [10]
1655 Alice Coate, the wife of William Coate was buried the eleventh day of July in the yeare above written (1655). [11]
1657 Alice Coate, the daughter of William Coate was buried the second day of October in the yeare aforesaid (1657). [12]
1657 Elizabeth Coate, the wife of William Coate was buried the nineth day of February in the yeare aforesaid (1657). [13]
1658 The will of William Coate the Elder, yeoman of Curry Rivell, Somerset, England, was dated 26 November 1658 with probate on 8 March 1659 [14]:
In the name of God Amen The twenty and sixth day of November in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty and eight I William Coate the elder of Curry Rivell in the County of Somerset yeoman being sick in body but of good and perfect memory thanks be given to God doe make and ardaine this my last will and Testament in manner and forme followinge First I bequeath my soule to Almighty God and my body to the Christian buryall of Curryrivell Item of my worldly goods I give to the Church of Curryrivell tenn shillings Item I give to the poore of Curryrivell forty shillings to be bestowed to them by my Executor in one weeke after my death Item I give to my sonne John Coate my Syderwring my with the [?] and all implements belonging to the same the old weane[?] and old wheeles? and Putt and my second best yeate[?] with the staple and hindges and iron roape[?] the three[?] bowls thereto belonginge the second best brasse Cauldron and my brass skillet and my ? Item I give to my sonne Marmaduke Coate my best wayne and wheeles with the furniture my best yeate staple hindges board and iron roape my best dragg my best house ladder my furnace panne the best of my brass panns called the milk panns my best brass pott the bed and bedsteed which he sleeps on with the furniture throughout the Chest standing in the same Chamber and the C-cheese ?[] and all --?-- and implements of household stuff which are in the five Chambers called the Apple Seller and the blind Chamber my pewter [?] there only excepted --?-- I give to him my best halfe hogshead and five of my best barrels my brewing [?] and the f-?- thereunto belonging my Cheesewring[?] and the halfe parte of the rest of my bucketts pailes trondles[?] and tubbs Item I give to my daughter Joane Podger the bedsted called the half head bedsteed wth the bed thereon and all the furniture thereunto belonginge throughout standinge in the Chamber --?-- and my beddinge sheete and the Coffer in the half? Chamber Item I give more to my sonne Marmaduke Coate the bed and bedsteed with the furniture throughout which his men use to lye on Item I give to him alsoe fower of my pewter platters two of the best and two of the worst But my will is that his sonne Marmaduke shall have them after his decease Item more I give to my Sonne John Coate my second best ladder my --?-and the bedstead behind the doore in the kitchen Chamber. Item I give to my Sonne William Coate my bed and bedsteed withall the furniture thereunto belonginge & throughout which [?] and the [?] called [?] Item whereas my sonne Marmaduke Coate doth owe unto me Thirty and eight poundes of money I doe give to my grandchild Marmaduke Coate sonne of my sonne Marmaduke Twenty Poundes of the said money and to be put to increase[?] for him after the age of Twelve yeares until the age of one and twenty yeares and his father to be overseer for him Item I give to Marmaduke Podger Robert Podger Samuel Podger and John Podger sonnes of my daughter Joane Podger Eight poundes of lawful money to be paid equally betweene them as they shall generally accomplish the age of one and twenty yeares but if either of them happen to dye then his or their portions to be and remaine amongst the rest Item I give to my Sonne William Coates' five Children Elizabeth Mary Marmaduke Jane and William Coate Tenn poundes of lawfull money equally divided and to be paid them generally at the age of one and twenty yeares But if either of them dye his her or their portion to remaine amongst the rest Item all the rest of my goods not herein given or bequeathed of what nature quality or condicon soever I give and bequeath to William Coate my Sonne whom I do make my whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament And doe renounce all former wills But my will is that my Executor shall not remove ainye implements belonginge to the house as doares windowes beames[?] glass lattice --?-- --?-- --?-- or such like things --?-- my hand and seal The day and yeare above written: Signum William Coate Witnesses Roger Cox John Nash the mark of Jane Tynder winesses
The will was proved at London the eighth day of the month of April (March was crossed out) in the year of our Lord God according to the ? of the Church of England one thousand six hundred fifty and nine Before the judges for probate of wills and granting administrations lawfully authorized by the oath of William Coate the natural and lawful sonne of the said deceased and sole executor named in the said will to whom was remitted administration of all and singular the goods chattles and debts of the said deceased ? the said William Coate being first sworne ?? of law by virtue of a common will? and fully to administer the same.
Research Notes:
We have assumed that William Coate, with will dated 1658, is the same as William Coate, named as a son in the wills of Marmaduke and Marie Coate. The wills of William Coate and Marmaduke Coate named John and Joane Coate as children of William Coate and as grandchildren of Marmaduke Coate. The wills of William Coate and Marie Coate both indicated that William Coate had four children. All three wills were executed in Curry Rivel.
Alternatively, William Coate might have moved to North Petherton and died there. William Coate was buried in 1653 and Joane Coate, daughter of Willi Coate, was buried in 1639, both in North Petherton. [15]
1638 William Coate and Elizabeth Combstocke were married on April 11, 1638, at Curry Rivell. [16]
[1] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, Somerset Heritage Centre (South West Heritage Trust), Ilchester sessions. JPs. North Petherton., Q\SPET/1/94, [UKNationalArchives].
[2] Edward Alexander Fry, ed., Calendar of Wills and Administrations in the Court of the Archdeacon of Taunton (Parts I and II, wills only), 1537-1799 (London: British Record Society 45, 1912), 152, part II, figure 12, 1624, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[3] Ernest S. Parks, M. H. Pemberton, and Gary W. Coats, The Ancestors and Descendants of Marmaduke Coate of South Carolina and Ohio (Gahanna, Ohio: Linda Coate Dudick, 1994), 140, [FHLBook], [FHL Library].
[4] UK Somerset Archives, quoted, [Somerset_Archives].
[5] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, C 142/625/29, Chancery, not seen, [UKNationalArchives].
[6] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, Ward and Liveries 7/74/20, not seen, [UKNationalArchives].
[7] Edward Alexander Fry, "On the Inquisitiones Post Mortem for Somerset from Henry VII to Charles I (1485-1649)," Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society 47 (1901), 26, Catalogue lists both a Chancery entry and a Ward and Liveries entry, [HathiTrust].
[8] Edward Alexander Fry, ed., Calendar of Wills and Administrations in the Court of the Archdeacon of Taunton (Parts I and II, wills only), 1537-1799 (London: British Record Society 45, 1912), 152, part II, figure 36, 1631, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[9] Ernest S. Parks, M. H. Pemberton, and Gary W. Coats, The Ancestors and Descendants of Marmaduke Coate of South Carolina and Ohio (Gahanna, Ohio: Linda Coate Dudick, 1994), 140, [FHLBook], [FHL Library].
[10] W. P. W. Phillimore, D. M. Ross, Somerset parish registers. Marriages, Vol 3 (London: Phillimore's Parish Register Series, Vol. 23, 1901), 123, [HathiTrust].
[11] Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Somerset Parish Records, 1628-1720; Reference Number: D\P\cur.r/2/1/1, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[12] Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Somerset Parish Records, 1628-1720; Reference Number: D\P\cur.r/2/1/1, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[13] Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Somerset Parish Records, 1628-1720; Reference Number: D\P\cur.r/2/1/1, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[14] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, PROB 11/288/14, I welcome help transcribing this will, [UKNationalArchives].
[15] Ernest S. Parks, M. H. Pemberton, and Gary W. Coats, The Ancestors and Descendants of Marmaduke Coate of South Carolina and Ohio (Gahanna, Ohio: Linda Coate Dudick, 1994), 29, [FHLBook], [FHL Library].
[16] E. Dwelly, ed., transcribed by Arthur J. Jewers, Dwelly's Parish Records, Vol. 1, Bishop's Transcripts at Wells, Parishes A-H, (1913), 376, [HathiTrust].