I've been a reader of this list for a couple of years, and never have worked up the gumption to post on Pollard Hickman Coates, but since there seem to be a few others who might be interested, I'll toss out my few scraps of information. Pollard Hickman Coates (13 May 1794, SC - 5 Apr 1845, Holmes Co, MS) was the son of Elenor (or Helena) Hickman Coates and (presumably) Elijah Coates. Elijah, in turn, may be the son of a Joseph Coates. I'll present my evidence, such as it is, from latest to earliest. First, there is no doubt that Pollard Coates and sister Emilia Coates were grandchildren of John Hickman of Orange and Barnwell Cos, SC-- he mentions them in his will, along with a daughter, Helena Coates (see below). One thing to note is that John Hickman probably did not personally write the will, since he signed by mark (also the codicil). *** Notes of will of John Hickman, Orange Co Barnwell County, SC, Will Book A, pp128-131 1. debts paid 2. to grandson Pollard Coats, land (20-30 acres) 3. to granddau Emilia Coats, 50 ac 4. to son Thomas, 80 ac 5. dau Rebecca Wroten, 100 ac 6. dau Sarah, cattle, hogs, and 100 ac 7. grandson Henry Tylar, 25 ac 8. son John, guns, tools, cattle, hogs, remainder of 640 ac tract 9. wife Elizabeth, use of John's land during her lifetime 10. Charles Hickman, Helena Coats, Nancy Glover, and Elizabeth Tylar have already recieved their portion, they receive 5 shillings each. 11. son John and wife Elizabeth to be exec's signed 13 Oct 1799 John his X mark Hickman witnesses: Peter Glover, Abner his X mark Glover, Gasper Trotte Codicil: the 75 ac bequeathed to Henry Tylar (dec'd) is bequeathed instead to dau Elizabeth Tylar signed 17 Aug 1802 John his X mark Hickman witnesses: Gasper Trotte, James Daniel, Henry Rotten Gasper Trotte swore attesting to signatures on will and codicil and signed in presence of James Danield and Henry Wrotten, 15 Nov 1811 *** Next, also in Barnwell, we have a deed from Elijah Coates and wife Elenor to Wm Barr, Book B, page 324, dated 3 Aug 1801, for 167 ac on S. Edisto River, recorded 2 Jan 1806. This deed is also signed by mark (if I remember correctly). Elijah Coates is mentioned in the SC Comindex of State Land Grants in relation to a grant to William Blitchendon (a Blitchendon married one of the Hickmans) dated 15 Feb 1803. Elijah Coates appears in the 1800 Census, of Orange Co, SC, with one male under 10 and one 26-45, and 2 females under ten, one 10-16, and one 26-45. A Sion Coates also appears on this same census. In the 1790 Census, a Joseph Coates appears adjacent to John Hickman in Orangeburg District, p102. There's only 1 (over 16) and 2 females. This Joseph *could* be the later Elijah, I suppose, with the 2nd female being the daughter who would be over 10 in 1800. A "Josee" Coates is mentioned in the SC Comindex on the Coates Family Archive receiving a state grant in Orange of 540 ac (Book 18, page 298) dated 5 Mar 1787. That is about as far as it goes. The Hickmans may have come from Currituck Co, NC-- an unreferenced family group sheet on them, claims John Hickman's wife was Elizabeth Bright-- from the Brights of Currituck and Dare Co, NC. Whether Joseph/Elijah Coates came from the same area, or just met up with the Hickmans in Orange/Barnwell, SC is unknown. Last comment-- Pollard H. Coates was in the Mississippi Territory by 1813 when he served in the War of 1812. Also there about the same time, but in a slightly different area was Austin Coates-- his family uses Pollard and Elijah for a couple of children-- a tantalizing clue for what it's worth. 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.