Oops - after I re-read the email I realized that giving up "rights" could also mean that she was giving up her children but if I remember correctly the information was that she gave up her rights to an inheritance. Sorry for any confusion. Susan Susan McIntyre wrote: > In Joan Coates/Clemson's will there is only one Mary - she is the wife > of John Harris and daughter of Joan/Jean/Jane (Joan was likely a > Sissom by birth). The executor was her son John Coates. The > witnesses appear to be Samuel Hale, William Prise & John > Durborow/Durborough. > Her last husband was likely James Clemson who died in 1718 as he names > wife Joan Clemson and has witnesses - James Lloyd & Mary Harris. > Children listed are - his sons John Clemson, James Clemson, Thomas > Clemson and daughter Sophia. He names as executors - Henry Pearoe? & > son-in-law Loeury? Guest. > No documentation but my guess is that Joan Coates & James Clemson may > not have had children together but came into the union with children > from previous marriages. I have no idea where they met or married but > according to their wills they died in Philadelphia, PA. > > Seems to me I ran across some online PA documentation that a Clemson > widow gave up her "rights" to Clemson children but I have no idea if > this is the same family. > Hope this helps, > Susan > > > Charlotte Coats wrote: > >> Could this be a variation spelling of Cleminson in the US? >> >> http://www.coatsarchive.us/pacoatsanaly.htm >> >> >> CLEMSON, JOAN. City of Philadelphia. Widow. September 10, 1727/8. >> April 23, 1729. E.105. Children: Mary wife of John Harris, William >> Coates, Thomas Coates, John Coates and George Coates, Mary. >> Son-in-Law: John Harris. Exec: John Coates. Wit: Samuel Hare, >> William Prise, John Durborow. I think Mary was probably a Coates as >> well, she may be named last in the group because she was the youngest >> but married, not sure of that and could probably be the same Mary who >> married John Harris.. >> >> >> >