THE MIDDLETONS OF YORK.

     It has been thought by some members of the family that Jane Middleton, wife of John Coates¹, was of titled ancestry.  But after a diligent research through books of heraldry and titled English families, I fail to find proof of any such claims.
     Middleton, however, is a very common name among titled gentry of England.  In Collins' Perrage of England, vol. 7, I find mention of one Peter Middleton, County of York; also of Thomas Middleton, of Stanted, County of Essex.
     Thomas, first Lord of Middleton, served in "six several parliaments" during the reigns of William and Mary  and Queen Anne.  By "letters patent" issued by the latter, Dec. 31, 1711, he received his title.
     This first Lord Middleton had two sons, Francis, who inherited the title, and Thomas, who had to step back into the ranks of ordinary men.  But he  seems to have been a man of more than ordinary ability, for it is recorded that he held various positions of trust, and married Elizabeth, "sole daughter and heir" to Thomas Southly, of Birdsal, County of York.  Also that he had one son who held the position of High Sheriff of Yorkshire, 1757.
     Now, it is possible that Jane Middleton was connected

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with the family of Thomas, second son of first Lord Middleton.  There was certainly much to show that she belonged to the English gentry, if not to the titled gentry.  The relics of jewels and other rare things, as mentioned in the sketch of John Coates¹, were evidence that the family, at an earlier period of their history, were in circumstances far above the ordinary.
     It may be in the future that some member of the family, of taste and means, will be moved to search family records back on the "native heath."  If so, I am sure they will find that both branches - Coates and Middletons - were of honored, if not of noble lineage.

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JOHN COATES.

     John Coates¹, was born in Yorkshire, Eng., and in early manhood was noted as a sportsman.  He kept his pack of hounds and was a Nimrod of the true English type.  He owned an interest in a valuable trotting horse, and at one of the raes bet all that he had on the fleetness of his horse.  Fortunately for his family - *he won!
     At a later period in his life his tastes changed and his interest in the fast horse was exchanged for the nucleus of a library.  The possession of books inspired him with a desire to learn their contents, and soon the careless sportsman was changed to the thoughtful student.  He came thoroughly well read and in his later years was noted as a

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     *One member of the family says he won a fortune of many pounds.

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man of scholarly tastes and acquirements.  For Shakespeare he had an excessive fondness, and his volumes of that work, still preserved, bear marks of careful reading.
     On coming to this country he brought many of his books with him, and here in the wilderness of Ohio they were looked upon as a library of no little value.  Oscar O'Brien, also a pioneer, at one of the later reunions of the family, said he often visited the Coates home, and to his boyish fancy that little library equaled in magnitude the famous Alexandrian library of ancient renown.
     In politics he was a stanch Republican and bitter in his denunciations of all despotic measures and monarchical institutions.  Living as he did to witness the long struggle between England and her American colonies, his heart went out in sympathy for the scourged, bleeding, yet triumphant sons and daughters of liberty across the sea.
     He was a great admirer of George Washington, and it is related of him that at a dinner party he drank a toast to that hero, and so offended some of his friends that he was to a certain extent socially ostracised.  He then declared that he would not live in a country where he could not honor so good a man as Washington.
     Owing to these conditions, as also to his admiration for the republican institutions established in the new world, he bade adieu to his native land and all that it held dear to him.  With his family of two sons and one daughter - John, the elder son, was married and had a wife and two children - came to America, settling first in Geneseo, New York.
     This event occurred in 1803, and thirteen years later the entire families, which then numbered four - the heads of which were John Coates, Sen., John Coates, Jun., Charles Coates, and Daniel McKay - removed to Royalton, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
     Here the subject of this sketch purchased a tract of 3,300 acres of land which he paid for, thus showing that, for that time, he was a wealthy man.  The relics of silver plate, of silk and linen garments, that were scattered about in the families of the grandchildren, bore evidence of ample means at not very remote period of the family history.
     Both children and grandchildren received a liberal donation of land as their wedding portion, and the second log house, a double one, was paid for in land.  This house stood well back from the road, near what is now known as "Walling's Corners."  It was occupied by various members of the family until well into the fifties, and in its day was considered quite an aristocratic mansion.
     Environment changed, and fashions changed, but "mine host" in the double log house continued to wear the short breeches and shoe buckles that were the style in his youth.  He lived well beyond the allotted period of three score years and ten; his wife, Jane Middleton was also spared him to a good old age.  Their remains now lie buried in the beautiful cemetery in Royalton.

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     The following communication throws further light upon the early history of the Coates family:

CLEVELAND, OHIO, April 20th, 1901.

MY DEAR COUSIN:
     My wife was discovered a fragmentary manuscript among some old documents which may be interesting to you.  It was written in 1861, and is in the handwriting of my brother, John.  It contains considerable information respecting the Coates family with which we are connected.  From a perusal of it I learn that John Coates, our great-grandfather, was a well-educated, well-to-do, horse-racing, fox-hunting Yorkshire farmer.  That he had three brothers, Thomas, George and Ricahrd.  Thomas came to America prior to 1800, and in crossing a river near Baltimore, Md., was drowned.  This record discloses nothing concerning his parents except that his father was likewise a Yorkshire farmer.  Nor does the manuscript disclose anything concerning his collateral kindred except as above stated.  I also learn from this manuscript with respect to our great-grandfather that he was a man of very democratic tastes and habits, and entertained very liberal views on religious subjects.  He came to this country with his wife, Jane, and two sons, John and Charles, about the year 1802.
     Our great-grandfather also had a daughter, Catherine  Whether she came from England with her parents or was born in this country does not appear.  His son, John, who was our grandfather, was married at the time he left England, and preceded his wife, Ann Coates, nee Best, and his two young children, John and Eleanor.  His wife and the

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two children came on without escort about two years later.  The manuscript referred to states that greag-grandfather and grandfather first settled on the east bank of the Genesee river, near Geneseo, now the county seat of Livingston county, N. Y., on 320 acres of partially improved land, with framed house and orchard, the house being the first framed house and orchard, the house being the first framed house west of Canandagua, the lumber for it having been brought thirty miles over an Indian trail.
     In 1816, our great-grandfather traded his New York farm with Gideon Granger in exchange for 3,400 acres of wild land in Royalton township and $1,000 in money.  Our great-grandfather, his wife, children and grandchildren all came to Royalton in 1816.  At this time the family consisted of our great-grandfather, his wife, his two sons, John and Charles, and his daughter, Catherine.  The family of our grandfather, John Coates, consisted of his wife, Ann, and his children, John, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, James, Jane, Margaret and Thomas.  Another child, Catherine, the first white child born in Royalton township, was born May 5th, 1818.  Charles Coates, son of our great-grandfather, was also married at the time of the family settlement in Royalton and had two children, one of them a son named Thomas.  The name of the other child and the name of the woman to whom he was married, my record does not disclose.  Catherine, the daughter of our great-grandfather, married a Scotchman of the name of Daniel McKay and had three of four children at the time of the settlement in Royalton, but of them my record does not speak further, except to state that McKay subsequently removed from

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Royalton to Independence, in which last named township he died.  We all know pretty well the history of our grand-father and his descendants, and I presume you have collected information respecting the descendants of his brother, Charles, and his sister, Catherine.
     Personally I have a general knowledge concerning the descendants of Charles Coates, but have very meager information touching the family of Catherine McKay.  In the manuscript to which I have alluded, I find this record of the Coates family, which my brother states was copied from the "Bible of John Coates, who was married to Ann Best at Klirkhaving near Yarm, Yorkshire, England, Apr. 22nd, 1800."

DEAR FRIEND:
     We received your letter with pleasure and surprise, with one endorsed from my sister Longhead about ten days

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ago, and believe me we have done nothing but talk about you and our friends ever since.  As you have been kind enough to write me, I anticipate writing a pretty crowded letter to you and will think myself happy in a future correspondence with you.  I am glad you have had the spirit to leave your native country.  With industry, your business will support you like gentlemen here.  The only danger is you will live too well, therefore be on your guard against luxury and dissipation for fear they should steal upon you imperceptibly by degrees (excuse this freedom).
     I'm afraid if things do not take a different turn with England your poor mother will have a trouble to get away.  Do write me as soon as she arrives and let me know what number of my old acquaintances are living, who are dead and how they are doing, the prices of provisions, &c.  You known in England I endeavored to support the liberties and the cause of the People.  You known and have felt what it is to be one of the People.  You known and have felt what it is to be one of the People in England, let me beg of you not to desert their cause in America.  Consider you have got into a Priest-ridden state; preserve your politics free from Toryism and aristocracy.  I love my native country dearly, and the poor, oppressed people in it I pity and love, but there must be judgment hanging over the yead of the government.  It must fall.  Its own weight must bring it down (the national debt).  Napoleon never can conquer the United States.  We shall never be under France.  These are British prognostications to set up their own party to bring us under them again.  Beg pardon, hope this first will be enough.  Will now give you some little description

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of this western country.  We have a rich soil, but are far from market, produce low and money scarce.  Wild farms here can be bought for two and three dollars per acre; sometimes farms with considerable improvements for five or six dollars in money.  There is a large settlement of English people in this neighborhood, chiefly form Northumberland.  Their industry has made them perfectly independent.  Industrious farmers of small capital or farmers' servants may acquire independence sooner in this Western World than any other part of the States.  I bought rather too much land at first.  Hope I'll get through with it.  Have been at Philadelphia once with my cattle myself, 300 miles.  We have another market now springing up which I hope is going to be a capital one- raising and manufacturing hemp.  It is 14 dollars a hundred now at our store and likely to be higher.  I have let two little farms out of 250 dollars per year, cash.  Have three good houses upon my farm and have bargained for another.  Can pay for such things mostly in produce and our flats are in great demand at present for the growing of hemp.  We are all well and have enjoyed good health.  John has a large family - five children.  O how we should like to see your mother, poor Fanny.  My wife and all our family sends our sincere love to you all.
     I remain sincerely your friend and well-wisher,

END OF THIS CHAPTER

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