Robert Coe, Sr.

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Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 February 2021), memorial page for Robert Coe (26 Oct 1596–19 Sep 1689), Find a Grave Memorial no. 37494703, ; Maintained by V. Nareen Lake (contributor 46613568) Non-Cemetery Burial.
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Robert Coe was the Puritan Founder of New England in 1634. These facts were known and written of in 1910.

Born: 26 October 1596 Died: Between 20 Jun 1687 (when he acknowledged a deed) & 28 Jun 1690 (when his widow sold land on her own account).

The English surname Coe, is actually derived from an old obsolete english term for "odd or eccentric person" as the Coe Family was very goal oriented and strived for something better, it was seen as odd.

There was only 3 branches of Coes in England. Robert was of the Gestingthorpe Branch. the other surname branchs became extinct.

the Coe Family of Gestingthorpe became extensive landholders of that region before the 1400's, and so continued for the next 250 years. A few stayed landholders, but many stayed yeoman or farmers of the Copybold class.

In 1634, robert transplanted the dying name of Coe to America, where it wonderfully flourished, and became highly esteemed, producing a race of exeptional worth in all walks of life, many becoming professional, business oriented, and public servers.

GEORGE W. BUSH HAS TIES TO THE COE FAMILY

When Daniel Coe settled on Darby Creek near Milford Center, OH, in 1834, little did he realize that one day his great-great-great-grandson would be a candidate for president of the United States.

George W. Bush’s roots run deep in Union County and he has many relatives in and around the Marysville and Milford Center areas. He traces his local connections back to one of the early settlers of the county, Daniel Coe.

Coe was a well respected farmer who lived near Milford Center on the present Darby Coe Road. His farm was about a mile north of town. He is credited with building one of Union County’s first grist mills, which he began on Darby Creek in 1836. He was a staunch Presbyterian and served as elder in the church until his death in 1851.

Coe's widow Mary (Gladden) Coe moved into Marysville in 1854, leaving the care of the farm to their son Phillip. The Coe family lived by the “plain living - high thinking” philosophy that helped make the county what it is today.

Daniel Coe was born in Washington County, PA, on March 3, 1801. His father Moses Coe was an Ensign during the Revolution. The family immigrated from Boxford, England, April 10, 1634, when his great-great-great-grandfather Robert Coe boarded the ship “Francis” at Epswich Harbor, County Suffolk, and sailed for Watertown, Massachusetts.

Robert Coe was a Puritan and came to America seeking religious freedom. He could trace his English family back some nine generations to Sir John Coe, an English Knight who was a captain in the “White Company,” subject of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel of the same name. Sir John was knighted by King Edward III in 1365 for his valor at the Battle of San Gallo, Italy, May 1, 1364.

Barbara Bush is the great-granddaughter of Daniel and Mary Coe’s daughter Sarah. In 1855 Sarah Coe married John W. Robinson, a Marysville area farmer. Barbara’s grandfather Judge James E. Robinson of Union County served on the Ohio Supreme Court from January 1919 until December 1924. Judge Robinson married Lula Flickinger in Marion County, May 31, 1893.

“I was in Marysville back in the ‘60s,” Barbara said recently “and a man came up to me and told me he knew my grandfather Robinson.”

Her mother Pauline Robinson met her father at Miami University while attending school at Oxford, Ohio. Marvin Pierce was quite a man about campus at Miami. He lettered in football and baseball while working his way through school and achieving Phi Beta Kappa academic status. In 1968 he was honored as Miami’s first “M Man” for being the all around Miami man while on campus. He was later president of McCall’s Publishing Company at Rye, New York, where Barbara was born.

Death: AFT 1662 in New York

Note: Sailed fron Ipswich, England, on 10 June 1634 for New England with seventy-nine others on the sloop Francis, John Cutter, Master. He settled into Watertown and was made a freeman in 1639. He afterwards removed to Long Island and settled in Newtown. He was High Sheriff in 1669-1672....from History of Rockland County, New York, by David Cole, D.D. This reference states his wife's name was Anna.

Note: ..from NYGBR, v. X, p. 10, "The Early History of Hempstead, New York": Coe, Robert, b. in Norfolk Co., England, about 1594; liviing in 1672; 1634, from Eng., at Watertown, freeman of Mass.; 1640 at Wethersfield, deputed to treat with New Haven for Stamford; 1641-2 at Stamford, appointed a deputy for New Haven; 1653, Memb. of Convention from Newtown; 1653: signed to Goveror Stuyvesant and the States-General; 1656; interested in Jamaica; 1661, opposed to Quakers; 1665, patentee of HJamaica; 1669-72, Sheriff of Yorkshire.

1. Event: Residences Long Milford, Suffolk Co, England
2. Note: Emigrant in Apr 1634 from Ipswich, England to New England with wife and three sons on the Francis
3. Event: Residences Ipswich, England
4. Event: Residences Boston, MA
5. Event: Residences Watertown, MA
6. Event: Residences Wethersfield, CT
7. Event: Residences Hempstead, Queens Co, NY in 1653
8. Event: Residences Newtown, Queens Co, NY in 1658

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Robert Coe, the progenitor in New England of most of the Coes in America, was born at Thorpe-Morieux, a small rural parish in Suffolk County, England and was baptized in the ancient church there on Oct. 26, 1596 as recorded in the old parish registers still preserved.

In the interest of religious liberty Robert Coe had joined the Puritan emigration to America.

Apr. 30, 1634 Robert Coe and his family embarked for New England from Ipswich aboard the ship Francis. Robert Coe aged 38, Anna Coe his wife aged 43, and children John Coe aged 8, Robert Coe aged 7, and Benjamin Coe aged 5. (See Hotten's "Original Lists" of early emigrants to America pp. 278-280.)

Sept. 3, 1634 - first mention of his name in New England - his admission as a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, showing previous admission to the church (Records of Massachusetts Bay Colony, vol. 1, p. 369.)

May 29, 1635 - left Watertown, Massachusetts and Settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut where he stayed for about 5 years.

Nov. 4, 1640 Robert Coe purchased land at Stamford Connecticut and moved there.(Colonial Records of New Haven, vol. 1, p. 45)

1644 - Faction led by Richard Denton and Robert Coe departed Connecticut and crossed the Sound to Long Island (then under the Dutch government at New Amsterdam) where a new settlement was established which was named Hempstead. A church was immediately organized of which Robert Coe is said to have been chosen an elder, and here he remained 8 years and was the magistrate of the town under the Dutch government.

In the spring of 1652 Robert Coe was the leader in the formation of another new settlement a few miles further west on Long Island at a place then known as Mespat, which had previously been settled in 1642 but had been destroyed in 1643 in an Indian attack and abandoned. (Annals of Newton pages 17-20.)

A patent was obtained from the Dutch government at New Amsterdam and the land was bought from the Indians. The proprietors immediately orgainzed a new church of which Robert Coe was an elder. The new settlement was at first called Middleburh, and later for a few months in 1664 Hastings, but in 1665 it was permanently name Newtown. (Annals of Newton, page 43.) Mr. Robert Coe remained in Newtown for 4 years and was the local magistrate during his whole period of residence. (Annals of Newtown page 418.)

In 1653 he went to Boston as the deputy of the town to invoke the protection of the Massachusetts Bay Colony against the Indians who were threatening to attack the English settlements on Long Island, and in November of the same year he was sent as a deputy to New Amsterdam to confer with the Dutch government for the common safety (Annals of Newtown pages 31-33.)

In the spring of 1656 Robert Coe was again the leader of yet another new settlement, he and his youngest son Benjamin Coe and several others having purchased of the Indians in September preceding, a large tract of land south of Newtown, and moving there, founded the town of Jamaica (in the Dutch records also called Rustdorp), by patent from the Dutch government dated Mar. 21, 1655-1656. At the first town meeting held Feb. 18, 1655-1656 a house lot was granted to Robert Coe and another to his son Benjamin Coe; also on Jan. 13, 1657-1658 is records "It is this day granted by ye town that Mr. Robert Coe and his son Benjamin shalled take up, possess, and enjoy ten acres of land apiece at ye rear of their home lots" (Records of Jamaice, vol. 1, pages 1, 5, 6.)

Robert Coe was appointed by the Dutch government in 1658 the magistrate for Jamaica and held that office until 1664.

In the autumn of 1663 the English population on Long Island revolted from the Dutch government at New Amsterdam and their allegiance to Connecticut

Following this revolution in May 1664 Robert Coe was deputy for Jamaica to the General Court at Hartford by which body he was appointed commissioner or magistrate Jamaica (Colonial Records of Conn vol 1 pp 425 - 428.)

Aug 27, 1664 New Amsterdam surrendered to an English fleet and commanded by Col Richard Nicolls who became its governor as English province the name being changed to New York On reorganization of the government by the English Long Island to the jurisdiction of New York as a county called Yorkshire. Coe was appointed judge of courts of oyer and terminer held Apr 7 and July 2 1669 and from October 1669 to September 1671 he was high sheriff of Yorkshire (Report of Historian of NY vol 1 pp and 246 also NY Civil List p 421.)

At the age of seventy five the patriarch retired from the office of high sheriff and withdrew to life appearing no further in public office.

Of the patriarch's old age but few glimpses are seen. During his active life he settled most of his estate on his three sons and in February 1674-5 when almost an octogenarian he married a third wife Jane formerly wife of John Smith and also of Edward Rouse she being nearly a score of years his junior.

On Nov 29 1678 he bought of Jonah Fordham a farm of fifty acres at Foster's Meadow in Hempstead where he settled with this bride of his old age and passed his declining days (Printed Records of Hempstead vol 1 p 441)

The following land records furnish the final mention of him On June 9 1687 Robert Coe and Jane his wife conveyed to their son John Smith late of Jamaica a house and fifty acres of land at Foster s Meadow after their decease etc June 28 1690 Know all men by these presents that since my son John Smith has been so kind as to make over above deed by bill of sale for me to sell for my comfort I the said Jane Coe of Foster s Meadow in Hempstead do give to my son John Smith of St Jonses in Kent Co upon Dover River in the Province of Penn whatever estate I may leave at my decease (Printed Records of Hempstead LI vol 8 pp 246-247) From this document it seems likely that Robert Coe died about 1689 at the advanced age of about ninety two years No record of his death or place of burial has been found and as he disposed of all his property in his lifetime there are no probate records of him.

He performed well his part in laying the foundations of a new nation.

Robert Coe married first in England about 1623 Mary who was the mother of all his children Her burial is recorded Marie Coe the wife of Robert Coe the 27th of October 1628 (Burials in Registers of Boxford) Efforts to ascertain her ancestry have been fruitless.

His second marriage is recorded in the Registers of Assington co Suffolk the parish adjoining Boxford on the south Robert Coe & Hannah Dearslay April 29th 1630 She came to New England with her husband but the time of her death is unknown Whether she were a maid or widow when she married Robert Coe does not appear.

Children of Robert and Mary Coe recorded at Boxford co Suffolk England:

• i. John born 1625 (His baptism is recorded in the Boxford registers as the Son of Robert Coe & Mary his wife the 20th of August 1625)
• ii. Robert born 1626 "Robert Coe the sonne of Robert Coe & Marie his wife was baptized the 19th of September 1626."
• iii. Mary born 1626 "Mary Coe the daughter of Robert Coe & Mary his wife was baptized the 19th of September 1626."
• iv. Benjamin born 1628 "Beniamine Coe the sonne of Robert Coe & Marie his wife was baptized the 18th of October 1628."

Source: Robert Coe, puritan: his ancestors and descendants, 1340-1910, with notices ... By Joseph Gardner Bartlett pages 71-76 http://books.google.com/books?id=NWlGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA85&dq=hempstead+...

Robert’s occupation is listed as Farmer, Magistrate, Commissioner and Sheriff. Robert Coe, son of Henry Coe, was born in 1596 in Thorpe-Morieux, Suffolk County, England. He was raised under Puritan influences and became imbued with their faith and desire for religious liberty.

Robert’s first wife was Mary (also known by Marie according to her burial records of Boxford Church, Suffolk County, England). They were married about 1623 in England. Mary had all four of Robert’s children.

On April 18, 1625, he was chosen Overseer Of Cloth and in 1629 'Questman' (the Sideman of the Boxford Church).

In 1625, Robert Coe was living in Boxford--about 8 miles south of Thorpe-Morieux. There in 1634, he met and married his 2nd wife, Anne Dearsley.

On April 30, 1634, Robert, Anne and their children, John, Robert and Benjamin, appeared in Ipswich, County Suffolk, and boarded the ship 'Francis' bound for New England. They were among the many who, desiring liberty from the prevailing religious oppression, set sail for the primitive wilderness of America to brave the hardships of pioneer life.

He was one among the some 25,000 who emigrated from England (2/3 of whom had resided in counties Essex and Suffolk) to New England between 1620 and 1643, mostly Puritans who escaped the Established Church to find religious liberty in the new land. He was the earliest immigrant of the name Coe. (Note--after the success of the Puritan revolution in 1643, emigration declined to a trickle).

Probably arriving at Boston, after a voyage of about 10 weeks, he immediately went to Watertown, a suburb of Boston, and was admitted as a Freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. (A Freeman was entitled to be a citizen, entitled to vote and to hold public office).

After living less than a year at Watertown, he joined a group who migrated to Wethersfield, Connecticut, to found a new 'plantation' there. After about 5 years farming there, he moved to Stamfield, Connecticut in 1641, being one of the founders of that 'plantation', and in 1644 moved, again, to Hempstead, Long Island, New York, where he became Magistrate under the Dutch government of the New York colony. After 8 more years, in 1652 he moved to Newtown, eight miles west of Hempstead, on land that was bought from the Indians, and then moved (with his youngest son, Benjamin) to the area south of Newtown to found the town of Jamaica (then called 'Rustdorp'), which land was also bought from the Indians. In 1658, he was appointed Magistrate of that town by the Dutch government.

In 1663, the English settlers in the Dutch colony revolted, which afterwards was named New York and came under the jurisdiction of the English Connecticut colony. Robert Coe became the Commissioner (or Magistrate) of Jamaica, responding to the government of Connecticut. After Long Island was returned to the jurisdiction of New York, becoming a county called 'Yorkshire', he held other offices and retired in 1671, at age 75, after holding the office of High Sheriff.

In 1675, he married his 3rd wife, Jane Rouse, at 79 years of age (she was almost 10 years younger). He died at about 92 years of age in Jamaica around 1689. No record of his death and burial exist.

"....we see in him a fine example of the Puritan of his day; a man of vigorous physique, restless energy, strict integrity, strong convictions, and great force of character; and these characteristics have remained impressed on his descendants for generations."

His life, in more detail, can be read about in 'Robert Coe, Puritan, His Ancestors and Descendants', J. G. Bartlett, pp. 68-77.

Source: http://www.staleyhistory.com/biography/b15_01_1_1m.html

1856 [Robert Coe] & 1857 [Mary __] have other descendants, such as:

Robert Coe m. Mary ----

.Robert Coe m. Hannah Mitchell

.John Coe m. Mary Howley 

.Abigail Coe m. John Guthrie
|.Sarah Guthrie m. Reuben Murray
| .Aurora Murray m. Isaac Jerome
| .Leonard Walter Jerome m. Clarissa Hall (see 5044 & 5045, below)
| .Jennie Jerome m. Lord Randolph Spencer-Churchill
| .Sir WINSTON LEONARD SPENCER-CHURCHILL (1874-1965), UK Prime Minister
Source: http://worldroots.com/brigitte/famous/g/georgbushanc1946a.htm

IMMIGRANT, 1634

FREEMAN, 1634

OVERSEER OF CLOTH

ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF WETHERSFIELD, CT, 1635

ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF HEMPSTEAD, LONG ISLAND

SHERIFF, 1669-72

Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=43686000

Baptized at Thorpe-Morieux, Suffolk, 26 Oct 1596, son of Henry & Mary (Vincent) Coe. Came from Boxford, Suffolk,to Massachusetts Bay in 1634 on the "Francis." With Robert, age 38, on the ship, "Francis" were his second wife, Hannah age 43, and children: John 8, Robert 7, Benjamin 5 (all children of his first wife, Mary). In the record at the Custom House in Ipswich, the family surname is spelled "Cooe". First settled in Watertown, he was admitted freeman of Massachusetts Bay Colony on September 3, 1634. He moved to Wetherfield in 1635, Stamford in 1641, Hempstead in 1644, Newtown in 1652, Jamaica in 1656, & Hempstead again by 1687. Died between 20 Jun 1687 (when he acknowledged a deed & 28 Jun 1690 (when his widow sold land on her own account). Married (1) by 1625, Mary ____. She was buried at Boxford, Suffolk, 27 Oct 1628. (2) in Assington, Suffolk, 29 Apr 1630, Hannah Dearslay. (3) soon after 15 Feb 1674 Jane (____) (Smith) Rouse, widow of Barthalomew Smith & Edward Rouse. At Boxford, he was chosen "questman" of the Boxford church and his occupation was overseer of cloth. Robert Coe (Coo) was appointed magistrate for Jamaica by the Dutch government in 1658. After the overthrow of the Dutch by the British, he was appointed deputy for Jamaica to the General Court at Hartford which also appointed him commissioner or magistrate. He was the Judge of courts held April 7 and July 2 of 1669, and from October 1669 to September 1671 he was high-sheriff of Yorkshire (the name of New York after it was taken by the British).