Hi Tim, I've had a look for any reference to Robert COATES in the Monumental Inscriptions that I have from North Yorkshire (Barningham, Kirkby Ravensworth, Melsonby and Hutton Magna): there are several dozen references to COATES, but no Robert. I started typing them out last weekend, before I realised how many there were. So here are the Barningham ones. There are about another dozen at Kirkby Ravensworth - if you'd like them, I'll type them next weekend! Barningham Monumental Inscriptions: 50 In loving memory of William HUTCHINSON who d 13 Oct 1875 aged 67yrs. Also Martha his wife who d 5 Oct 1880 aged 71yrs & of Joseph *COATES who d 12 Mar 1878 aged 72yrs Also Mary wife of W.B.SELLERS & dau of the above W & M HUTCHINSON who d 1 Jan 1892 aged 61yrs. (I can't find what the * is for!) 125 In loving memory of George Robson COATES bn 16 Jul 1844 d 17 Jul 1889. Also of Margaret COATES bn 13 Feb 1842 d 26 Apr 1887. Also of George Robson Ernest son of the above who d 18 Feb 1907 at Meeteetse Wyoming USA aged 32 yrs. 1 line text 128 This stone is placed here by Augustus Sussey MILBANK Esq in affectionate remembrance of John & William COATES as well as a record of the long and faithful service in Mr. MILBANK's household. John COATES d 4 Sep 1885 aged 48yrs William COATES d 26 Oct 1883 aged 40yrs. 129 Sacred to the memory of John COATES of Park House, Barningham who d 4 Feb 1867 aged 77yrs & of Isabella his wife who d 4 Jul 1863 aged 53yrs. Also Thomas their son who d 26 Aug 1865 aged 26yrs. Also Isaac their son who d 21 Jul 1866 aged 30yrs & of Isabella thier only dau who d 23 Apr 1867 aged 21yrs. 132 Cross. In memory of Charlie W.H.COATES bn 18 May 1872 d 29 Sep 1877. Evelyn A.M.COATES bn 8 Apr 1876 d 16 Apr 1878 Frederick Joseph bn 31 Mar 1882 d 27 Nov 1882 Ella Rowena COATES bn 31 Jan 1874 d 15 Jan 1908 133 Cross. In loving memory of William COATES of Hawsteads, Barningham bn 31 May 1843 d 26 Oct 1883. Also of Sarah his dearly beloved wife bn 14 May 1874 d 22 Mar 1903 235 In memory of James MANNING of no 3 Falcon St London d 5 Mar 1856 aged 32. Reverse. To the affecionate memory of Jane Grainger COATES wife of Thomas G COATES, school master who in return for the great share of happiness he enjoyed during their union caused this stone to be erected as a tribute of respect and affection to her departed worth. She d at Aldbrough 20 Apr 1826 in 38th yr of her age. The blameless life, the artless tenderness and quiet death are remembered only to add value to the loss and deepen the sorrow for what cannot be recalled. The real worth of virtue ne'er is known, till it vanished from our eyes and gone. Also Thomas Grainger COATES d 2 Nov 1854 aged 74. Sarah his wife d 16 Oct 1863 aged 73. 328 Cross. In loving memory of Martha the loved wife of Isaac COATES bn Aug 1827 at rest 7 Feb 1904. Isaac COATES bn 26 Feb 1821 d 17 Mar 1918. At Melsonby, there is one: 18. In memory of Hugh COATES d Apr 3 1873 aged 79yrs also Mary his wife d Sep 9 1871 aged 79yrs -------their son -------st 1833 ---ars Rosemary, Northumberland UK Rosemary's Family History - or at least a little bit of it! http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rprobert/index.htm In message of 30 Oct you wrote: > I was wondering if SKS/Miracle Worker could help me with my 'wall' that I > have been at for over a year now. I have my COATES line going back to a > Robert COATES. I do not know where or when he was born but it almost > certainly is somewhere within North Yorkshire (probably between or near to > the A1 / A19) and circa the 1770's to 1780's. From the Quarter Sessions > Division of Gilling East in the North Riding of Yorkshire (from MicroFilm at > the Archives in Northallerton) he may have been an Innkeeper in Smeaton > (Great Smeaton I assume ?) between 1793 and 1808.