Children of Joseph and Hannah Coates

On Friday last, the 30th November, a jury was empannelled at the house of Mr. Francis Jackson, in Cockfield, before William Trotter, Esq., coroner [ . . . ] on view of the body of Mrs. Margaret Flowers, aged 84 years. On the previous morning, the husband of deceased left the latter in bed and made on the fire and got breakfast ready. On going to the bedside he found deceased unable to speak, and on calling in a neighbour she died immediately. She had been very weak and infirm for some time, and appeared quite worn out. Verdict—Died from natural causes.

CALEB COATES, who was no doubt named after CALEB STANSFIELD one of his mother's family, was a great sufferer from the Overend Gurney calamity, but saved sufficient from the wreck to live his days out comfortably. In a long letter from him, in the present writer's possession, dated Cockfield 25/2/1842 signed CALEB COATES, he addresses "My Dear Cousin" WILLIAM ROBSON of Darlington by the latter of whom this and another letter were presented to his second cousin, the present writer. He encloses "for thy inspection two marriage certificates, one of my Grandfather and one Father's" and "my wife unites with me in kind love to you all and am Thy affectionate Cousin." CALEB COATES encloses a pedigree of his family commencing with GEORGE AND ELIZABETH COATES the Lynesack patriarchs. Another letter to the same dated 27/12/1842 gives still further particulars.

In a letter from WILLIAM HANSON, ESQ. of "Southend" Middlesbro' dated 13 November, 1897, addressed to the present writer he gives some details of CALEB COATES. He says that CALEB COATES retired from his business at Cockfield and lived many years at Staindrop, where he died; his wife died a few years later, having had no issue. "My father JOHN HANSON of Staindrop, who died there in 1885, and CALEB COATES were great friends. He was a most genial charming man and many a Sunday night have I enjoyed a pipe with him and listened to his folk-lore stories. In the Churchwardens accounts of Cockfield 1831-32 we find "Paid CALEB COATES for 1 bundle of Laths 2s. 6d."

CALEB COATES resided at No. 1 West Terrace, Staindrop, where in 1898, resided his great nephew JEREMIAH DIXON, who obliged the present writer with an interesting correspondence.

CALEB COATES died at Staindrop, 25 May, 1871, aged 84, and was interred in Cockfield Church yard; he was the last of the old Quaker race of COATES, and not unworthy of their name and fame.