Here are some notes which show a connection between Elijah and Austin Coates of Wilkinson MS. If Elijah is the same as the one in Barnwell, SC, then a possibility is that Austin is Elijah's son by a first wife and that Pollard Hickman Coates is Elijah's son by 2nd wife Elenor (Helena) Hickman-- that would account for why Austin was not mentioned as a grandson in John Hickman's will. The 1819 tax roll is the latest reference I've found so far to Elijah-- whether he died, or simply moved away, isn't obvious (except that there isn't a probate record for him). As can be seen from the land records, Elijah was not able to follow through to purchase any of the 3 tracts that he entered-- one was forfeited, one was assigned to William Anderson, and one was assigned to Austin. So Elijah may have simply moved on to greener pastures leaving his partially-paid-for Mississippi lands behind. ***Begin*** Land Patents in Mississippi, Washington District Tract Book Vol 26 p.95 Elijah Coates of Wilkinson Co for NE 1/4 S10 T2 R1[W] cont'g 161 12/100 ac at $2/ac; 10 Dec 1816, $322.24; paid $16.11 on 10 Dec 1816; paid $64.45 on 17 Jan 1817 1st installment; further credit 1st Class Decl No 498 3 Jul 1821; forfeited 3 Jul 1829 p.97 Elijah Coates of Wilkinson Co for W 1/2 S11 T2N R1W "Note: for this 1/2 S, see add'n vol 1, p142" p.103 Elijah Coates of Wilkinson Co assigned to William Anderson, NE 1/4 of S14 T2 R1[W] cont'g 162 21/100 ac at $2/ac; 10 Dec 1816 deposit $16.22; 17 Jan 1817 1st installment: stock $50, cash $14.85 = $64.88; further credit 1st Class, per Relinq't No 104, 24 Aug 1821; 26 Jul 1822 by cash in full and interest; patent dated 4 Sep 1824 Additional Vol 1 p142 Elijah Coates of Wilkinson Co, assigned to Austin Coates. Re- entered by Coates 28 Jun 1816, See Return No 117; W 1/2 S11 T2 R1W cont'g 322 59/100 ac at $2/ac; 26 Jan 1811 deposit $32.25; 5 Mar 1811 1st installment $129.04; 28 Jun 1816 interest due to 26 Feb 1816 $144.90; 22 Feb 1819 2nd installment and interest $191.04; 22 Feb 1819 3rd installment and interest $191.04; 4th installment and interest $191.06; Total $879.33; Patent dated 13 Dec 1819 Cert. No. 675 Wilkinson Co, MS Deed Records Bk C, p130-- Austin Coates of Wilkinson to Adam Laneheart of same, 29 Dec 1821; $800; parcel on Buffalo Crk bounded N by Austin Coates, on S and W by Benjamin Rawlins, on E by vacant lands, being SW 1/4 of S11 R1 T2 containing 161 29 1/2 /100's ac. Wilkinson Co, MS Tax Rolls 1813 Elijah Coates, 80a, 4th class, 2nd quality, 48 cts land tax, situated on Buffalo, title under United States; 1 white poll, 1 slave, Tax 1 dollar 4 3/4 cts 1818 Elijah Coats, 120a, 4th class, 2nd qual, 97 cts land tax, situated on Buffalo, title from United States; Tax 97 cts Austin Coats, 1 white poll, tax 83 cts 1819 Austin Coats, 120a, 4th class, 2nd qual, 97 1/4 cts land tax, situated on Buffalo, title from United States; 1 white poll; Tax 1 dollar, 97 1/4 cts 1820 Austin Coats, 1 white poll, 75 cts 1821 Austin Coats, 100a, 4th class, 2nd qual, 96 cts land tax, situated on Buffaloe, title from United States, 1 white poll, 1 slave; tax 2 dollars 46 cts Mississippi Census Records 1816 Territorial Census, Wilkinson Co Coats, Elijah: 2 wm over 21, 2 wf over 21, 1 wf under 21, total white 5; 1 slave; total 6 1820 State Census, Wilkinson Co Coats, Austin: 1 taxable wm, 2 free wm, 2 free wf; total [torn] 1825 State Census, Wilkinson Co (dated 12 Jan 1825) Coats, Austin: 1 taxable wm, 1 slave, 5 wm, 2 wf, 1 birth, 0 deaths ***End*** Justin M. Sanders "I shot an arrow into the air. It fell Dept. of Physics to earth I know not where." --Henry Univ. of South Alabama Wadsworth Longfellow confessing jsanders@jaguar1.usouthal.edu to a sad ignorance of ballistics.