John Coe

JOHN4 COE (Timothy3, Timothy2, Timothy1) was born before 1750, probably in Virginia. He first appears on record in Rowan County, NC, July 25, 1763, as a witness to a transaction concerning his father's estate. He appears on record again in Rowan County, January 15, 1769, when he was fined as a constable for not appearing in court. He appears on record in Surry County, NC, August 12, 1778, when he was involved in a dispute over a tract of 200 acres of land on Forbush Creek in the southern section of the county (Surry County was separated from Rowan County in 1770). On the same date he entered 500 acres of land in Surry County on the waters of Forbushes Creek joining Logins deeded land and adjoining Giles Hudspeth's land and on the W side of Isaah Stuards land including my improvement for complement.

On November 28, 1778, he entered an additional 200 acres of land in Surry County on both sides of Sunie's Branch adjoining the claims of John Joyner and myself including the same for quantity. The following day the State of North Carolina granted him 100 acres of land located on Logan's Creek, in southern Surry County. The land joined a plantation he had already acquired, and was bounded by the plantations of Giles Hudspeth, John Joyner, John Stewart, and John Ridon. During the same period he entered two additional land warrants in Surry County, one for 100 acres of land in Surry County on Beaver Dam Creek on the waters of the Yadkin River adjoining John Brasels line. The second was a tract of 100 acres of land in Surry County on Beaver Dam Creek waters of Yadkin River adjoining William Teague's line. On April 3, 1780, he was granted an additional tract of 500 acres at the confluence of Forbush Creek and a branch of Joseph's Creek. The tract was bordered by land owned by his father-in-law Giles Hudspeth, his brother-in-law Isaiah Stewart, John Joyner, Moses Baker, a Mr. Rese, and a Mr. Logan. Timothy Coe agreed to the boundary.

On October 24, 1782, the State of North Carolina granted James Graham 200 acres of land in Surry County, stating that it was to be on a branch of Joseph's Creek . . . Logans line . . . John Coes corner . . . David Stewarts line . . . . On November 7, 1782, John Coe sold his 200 acres on Beaver Dam Creek to John and Hannah Braswell for ?45, stating it was land that had been granted to me by State. . . . He was named in the will of Marmaduke Kimbrough in August 1784. James Graham purchased 200 acres adjoining him and David Stewart on Lunies Branch, a draft of Josephs Creek, February 16, 1785. On May 18, 1789, the State of North Carolina granted Henry Speer 300 acres in southern Surry County on Josephs Creek adjoining Speer, Forbis, John Coe & Giles Hudspeth. He appears on several Surry County tax lists. He is listed in the tax return of 1774 when he and his brother Timothy were taxed on two white polls in Captain Martin Armstrong's District (now in Yadkin County). He appears in the 1782 tax list as the owner of a 1000-acre plantation, with seven white polls and eighteen black slaves. He appears on the 1784, 1785, and 1786 tax lists in Captain Moseby's District with 1000 acres of land, one white poll and one black slave. In 1789 he is listed with 1000 acres and three white polls.

He appears several times in the minutes of the Surry County Court. In the fall of 1778 he was fined ?3 for not attending the August session of court as a Talisman. On Tuesday, May 11, 1779, he was replaced as road overseer by James Blackwell. In 1780 he, Robert Forbush and 28 others were selected to serve as jurors for the August session of the Surry County Court. On February 14, 1782, he sat on a jury that tried a case involving William Hughlett and William Underwood. In 1783 he served on a jury that heard a case involving Christopher Stanton and David Gordon. On February 12, 1785, he was again seated as a member of the jury of Surry County. On February 17, 1785, he was appointed road overseer for the county, and was given authority over the roads from Matthew Brooks' Ferry to Patrick Logan's plantation. He served on a May 1785 jury that heard the case of William Boner verses William Sheppard and others. On August 9, 1785, he was selected for the grand jury, which met at Richmond. On February 17, 1786, Matthew Brooks was appointed road overseer in room of John Coe. In 1788 he was appointed by the Surry County Court to serve as a juror to view rd leading near Christian Cunrodes. Other members of the jury were Christian Lash, William Wooldridge, John Ridens, Thompson Glenn, and others. In August 1789 John Coe, Giles Hudspeth, George Hudspeth, Dudley Porter, and four others were appointed by the court as road underseers, serving under road overseer Benjamin Hudspeth.

He is listed in the 1790 census of Surry County as an adult male with a wife, three sons, six daughters, and seven black slaves. In the 1800 census he is listed as a male over 45 years old, with a wife 26~45, two sons 10~16, two daughters under 10, and five slaves.

On August 23, 1792, he witnessed the will of his brother-in-law Benjamin Hudspeth. On May 13, 1800, he sold David Joyner a 160-acre field, which joined land owned by Isaiah Coe and Samuel Gentry on Beaver Dam Creek. He received ?10 from the sale, with Jonathan and Joshua Joyner as witnesses. On October 11, 1800, the State of North Carolina granted him 100 acres of land on the south side of the Yadkin River, on Beaver Dam Creek.

He lived for a while in Rockingham County, VA. In 1803 the statement was made of him there: Timothy Coe . . . eldest son and heir was John Coe, who long since removed out of Virginia. He died in Surry County in 1805, leaving a will dated May 28, 1805, which reads as follows:

"In the name of God Amen. I John Coe being weak of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same, I do make and ordain this my last will and testament. First I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it me; and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the descretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned as for what worldly goode it hath pleased Almighty God to bless and bestow upon me I give and bequeath as follows- Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Coe, my tract of land adjoining David Joyner lying on the waters of Beaverdam Creek, one negro man Harry, two cows, one horse creature, four head of hogs, one bed and furniture, one iron pot, during her life. Item, I give and bequeath to my son William Coe ten shillings. Item, I give to Thomas Harding ten shillings. Item, I give and bequeath to my two sons John and Isaiah Coe; the land whereon I now live to be equally divided between them two; Isaiah to have the plantation and buildings. Item, I give and bequeath to David Joyners son John Joyner one hundred dollars. Item, I give to my two sons John and Isaiah Coe one horse a piece. Item, I give and bequeath to my son-in-law William Sweatt ten shillings. Item, I give and bequeath to my son John Coe one negro man Bob. And all the remainder of my negroes, and remainder of my moveable property to be equally divided between my four daughters, Nancy Joyner, Pheby Coe, Jemima and Sally Coe; for them four to have to the amount of one hundred fifty pounds then for my daughter Caty Joyner to have an equal share with them four; and at the decease of my beloved wife Elizabeth Coe the land and negro man Harry to be equally divided between my five daughters herein mentioned. And I do hereby constitute and appoint John Stewart and Joshua Joyner and John Coe (son of Isaiah Coe) whole and sole Executors of this my last will and testament; and do hereby make void all and former wills by me heretofore made or spoken. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May eighteen hundred and five. Acknowledged in the presents of us __ John Coe his John X Stewart mark John Speer Jo Joyner State of North Carolina Surry County February Session A.D. 1806. John Stewart, John Speer, and Joseph Joyner (the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of John Coe) made oath that they saw the said John Coe, sign, publish, and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that he was of sound and disposing mind and memory. Which was ordered to be recorded. Recorded accordingly M Jo Williams CC"

He married about 1775, Elizabeth Hudspeth, born 1760 in Granville County, NC, daughter of Giles and Elizabeth (Bradford) Hudspeth. She lived for nearly thirty years after her husband's death, dying in Wilson County, TN, in 1834. She first appears on record in Wilson County, January 18, 1814, when she purchased 160 acres on Spring Creek from James Davis, William Pillow and Gideon Pillow. The land was bordered by the property of Abner Pillow and John Jones, Jr., and was located near land owned by her son William.

She left a will in Wilson County, which was disputed by William Coe and Martha Sweatt, claiming that it was a fraud. John C. Lash and Isaiah Coe were named as executors of the estate. The court appointed John C. Lash as administrator. A jury was appointed to settle the estate, June 25, 1834. The results of her estate sale was recorded October 20, 1834:

On June 17, 1838, John C. Lash, executor of Elizabeth Coe deceased, sold 11 acres of her property to Francis Anderson. Anderson purchased 32 acres of the adjoining John Jones farm, October 17, 1837. Elizabeth Coe's will named her grandson William Joyner as the beneficiary of 60 acres of her farm, which Joyner sold to the same Francis Anderson, February 2, 1840. At the death of her father in 1796 Elizabeth received three Negro slaves, Willis, Harry and Bob, and one-fourth of his Surry County, NC, plantation.