Chapter 09: Charles Coleman, who died 1788.

Contents | F | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | A1 | A2 | A3 | A4
Previous Chapter     |     Table of Contents     |     Next Chapter

The Robert Coleman from Virginia to Texas, 1652-1965

Chapter 09:  Charles Coleman, who died 1788.

- 74 - .

     CHAPTER 9

     CHARLES COLEMAN,
     FAIRFIELD COUNTY, SC (Died 1788)
     by J. P. COLEMAN

     Charles Coleman was a brother to Robert Coleman, who died 1809.
     Robert Coleman was a witness to Charles' will, and Francis Coleman
     was his Executor.
        He married Polly Mobley, daughter of Clement Mobley and Mary Fox.
        His children were Isaiah, who was dead by 1791, and the following
     daughters:
        Nancy, who married her first cousin, Robert Roe Coleman;
        Sarah, who married her first cousin, Allen Coleman,
        (Robert and Allen being brothers), and
        Vashti, who married Reuben Manning (1772-1848). S he had a son,
     Simpson Manning (1800-1863).  Mrs. Paul J. Anderson, of Anniston, AL,
     is a descendant.
         Robert Roe Coleman and Allen Coleman are to be found in their
     appropriate chapters herein. It might be pointed out, however, that
     since the sons of Robert, who died in 1809, married the daughters of
     Charles, many Colemans are descended from both Charles and Robert.
     This is true, for example, of J. P. Coleman, the author of this
     chapter.
         In his Last Will and Testament Charles Coleman bequeathed unto
     his son lsaac Moberly, alias Coleman, "200 acres of land known by
     Welches Fork of Sandy River to him and his heirs, but if he should
     die without issue that it is my Will and desire that his Legacy be
     equally divided between his three sisters, Sarah Coleman,
     Nancy Coleman, and Vashti Coleman, or any of them that may be
     surviving."
         N003019" href="namendx_A.htm#N003019">At Page 15 of Land Deed Book N, of Fairfield County Records, we
     find that on February 5, 1791, Francis Coleman, who calls himself
     "lawful attorney for Charles Coleman" sold to John Coleman 200 acres
     in (Chester County on the South side of Sandy River on a branch
     called Welcheses Fork, land originally granted to Charles Coleman.
     David Coleman, Robert Coleman, Sr., and Robert Coleman, Jr., were
     witnesses to this instrument.
        On February 5, 1800, David Coleman, son of Robert, made oath that
     he saw the within named Francis Coleman sign this deed and that he
     also saw Robert Coleman, Sr., and Robert Coleman, Jr., subscribe
     their names to the deed.

- 75 - .





      THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY

        This instrument, beyond all reasonable doubt, again proves the
      existence of Robert, the elder, and Robert, his son, in 
      Fairfield County on February 5, 1791, and it further proves that
      Isaiah Coleman died with no heirs, and the land was thus sold in
      conformity with the directions of the will. 
        By the terms of his Will, we know that Charles Coleman was
      granted land on Beaver Creek, in Fairfield County, on October 15,
      1784. 
        At Page 279 of Land Deed Book C of Chester County, SC,
      we find the deed dated July 1, 1786, in which Solomon Peters
      sold Charles Coleman 400 acres of land on a branch of 
      Sandy River previously granted to Peters in May, 1774. 
      John Coleman was a witness to this deed. 
        As to Amelia Gwin, also mentioned in the Will, we know that one
      John Gwin was granted land in Fairfield County as early as
      December 11, 1766. He later got 100 acres on Sandy River in 1784,
      as well as 416 acres on Beaver Creek in 1787, the year before
      Charles Coleman died.  However, the exact relationship, whatever
      it may have been, between Charles Coleman and Amelia Gwin, at this
      day remains a mystery, as will later be explained. It is very
      likely that she married Charles Coleman after he made the will. 

                              WILL OF CHARLES COLEMAN

      "IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN

        I Charles Coleman of Fairfield County in the State of 
      South Carolina being at this present of sound and perfect mind
      and memory praised be Almity God and I well considering the
      uncertainty of this mortal life I do therefore make and ordayne
      this my present last will and testament in manner and form
      Following, that is to say first and principally I commend my soul
      into the hands of Almighty God, hoping through the merrits death
      and passion of my savour Jesus Christ to full pardon and
      forgiveness of all my sins and to inherrit everlasting life; and
      my body I committ to the Earth to be decently buried at the
      discression of my executor named or otherwise as providence shall
      order it.
        And as touching the disposeal of all such temporal estate as
      hath pleased God to bestow upon me I give and dispose of as
      followerth first I will that all my debts be paid and funeral
      charges be discharged. 
        ITEM  I lend unto Amelia Gwin one hundred acres of land lying in
      the county aforesaid on a branch of Beaver Creek Granted by his
      Excellency Benjamin Guerard the fifteenth day of Oct. 1784 during
      her

 - 76 - .
      


                                             THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY

      natural life and after her decease I Give unto her son Jesse Gwin
      & his heirs &c. 
        ITEM  I give and Bequeath Unto Amelia Gwin one feather Bed, bed
      stead and furniture, one cotton wheale and cards, one linnen wheale,
      one large chest, one iron pot & skillet one half dozzen pewter
      plates and one half of my cotton and all my flax one large black sow
      & seven pigs, seven hundred wt. of killible pork, ten barrels of
      corn, her choice of two of my cows and one heifer she called own.
      I.htm#N003097">I also give unto her my little sorrel mare.  I also will that my
      manner (manor) plantation rented or leased out for four years
      after my decease and the money that may arise thereof be
      appropriated to the support of Amelia Gwin and her children at the
      discression of my executor. 
        ITEM  I give & bequeath unto my son Isaiah Moberly alias Coleman
      two hundred acres of land known by the name of Welches Fork of
      Sandy River to him and his heirs but if he should die without
      issue that it is my will and desire that his legacy be equally
      divided between his three sisters, Sarrah Coleman, Nancy Coleman
      and Vashtie Coleman or any of them that may be surviving. I also
      give unto Isaiah Moberly one sorrel colt known by the name of
      black and all black. 
        ITEM I give and bequeath unto my daughter Nancy Coleman one
      feather bed, bed stead & furniture, one linnen wheale and one
      cotton wheale and one covered trunk and my loom. 

        LASTLY it is my will and desire that after my decease that all
      the rest of my stock and horses, cattle, and hogs not before
      mentioned be collected; together with my smith's tools, one shot
      gun, two riffle guns, one feather bed, bed stead and furniture and
      the rest of my house hold goods and chattels not before named with
      all my plantation tools and utensils thereunto belonging of every
      kind whatever also ninety two acres of land adjoining my manner
      plantation and Daniel Malone may be sold to the best advantage as
      my Executor may think proper, and the debts due my estate may be
      collected as soon as possible and added to the money that may
      arise from my sale and my executor to make use of the money to the
      best advantage for the support of my four children Isaiah Moberly,
      Nancy Colman, Sarah & Vashtie Coleman, and soon either of said
      children arrives of lawful age or either of my dauters should
      marry that their be an equal division made among them of the money
      in the hands of my executor, but if either of the aforesaid four
      children should die before they arrive to the age of maturity then
      it is my desire that their legacy or legacys be divided among them
      surviving. 

- 77 - .



      THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY

        Now I do hereby constitute and ordayne FRANCIS COLEMAN my full &
      sole executor of this my last will and testament hereby making
      void all former wills &c. heretofore made and have hereunto set my
      hand & seale this 31st day of December Anno. Dom: 1787. 
                                           
                                              CHARLES COLEMAN (seal)

     Signed Seald and Delivered          Proved 12th May 1788
     in the presence of                     D. Evans C. C.
     H. W. Carson                  Recorded at Page 13 of Will Book 1
     Daniel Malone                          Fairfield County
     Robert Colman.                         South Carolina"

        Document on file in the office of the Probate Judge, Fairfield
      County, South Carolina, in file #1, Package #41. (copied May 23,
      1958). 
      "State of So. Carolina, Fairfield County
        KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that we, Francis Coleman, Robert
      Colman and William Chapman, all of the said county and state are
      held and firmly bound jointly and severally unto Richard Winn,
      Robert Winn and John Buchanan, three of the sureties of the said
      county in the full and just sum of five hundred pounds sterling to
      be paid to the said John Winn, Richard Winn and John Buchanan, or
      their successors in office, for the time being, or their certain
      attorney or assigns for which payment to be well and truly made
      we bind ourselves and each of us by himself and every of our
      heirs, executors and administrators firmly by these presents
      sealed with our seal, dated this twenty-sixth day of May in the
      year of our Lord, One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty Eight and
      in the Twelfth year of American Independence. 
        WHEREAS (obliterated), the goods and chattels, rights and
      credits of Charles Coleman, late of the County of Fairfield,
      deceased, were lately granted to Francis Coleman, now the
      condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound,
      Francis Coleman, shall well and truly administer all and
      singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of the said
      Charles Coleman, deceased, pay his debts and funeral expenses, and
      make distribution of all that shall remain and likewise in all
      things abide by the will of the said deceased and letters
      testamentary then the above obligation to be void otherwise to be
      and remain in full force and virtue. 

                                                FR COLMAN
                                                ROBERT COLMAN
                                                WILLIAM CHAPMAN

      Sealed and delivered in the presence of John Winn."

 - 78 - .
      





                                             THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY

        In Package #41 of File #1, Office of the Probate Judge,
      Fairfield County, South Carolina, is found the inventory of the
      Estate of Charles Coleman, deceased, as "sold by Francis Coleman."

        "June 1, 1788.

        One set of Blacksmith tools
        One set of gun tools
        One rifle gun
        One beehive
        One beehive
        One beehive
        One feather bed
        One rifle gun
        One grindstone
        One sifter
        One dutch oven
        One iron pot
        One bare shear plow
        One ditto
        One cutting knife
        One steel trap
        One black horse
        One bay horse
        One dish and six plates
        One dictionary
        One sorrel mare and filley
        One sorrel horse
        One cow and calf and heifer
        One cow and calf
        One cow and calf
        Seven head of young cattle
        One white gelding
        One shotgun
        One rifle barrel
        30 head of hogs
        One cow and calf
        One saddle

        The estate was appraised by Robert Colman, John Guin, and
      William Chapman."

- 79 - .






      THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY

        From the contents of the will it may be seen that the deceased
      had a special interest in Amelia Gwin (which might also have
      properly been spelled Guin), as he made special provision for her.
      The longtime, highly experienced, and well versed genealogist of
      the Coleman-Feaster- Moberly Family Association, Mr. Donald B.
      Clayton, of Birmingham, Alabama, has given intensive study to the
      exact identity of Amelia Gwin, but he has been unable to solve the
      mystery with documentary evidence.  The will itself specifically
      identifies Jesse Gwin as Amelia's son. 
        On October 13, 1810 (Fairfield Deed Book 2, Page 298), Jesse
      Coleman conveyed to Thomas Means land granted to Charles Coleman
      in 1784 and devised in his will to "Milly" , now Milly Lemly.  So,
      the son referred to as Jesse Gwin in 1787 had come to be called
      Jesse Coleman by 1810. The Last Will and Testament of this Jesse
      Coleman, dated July 27, 1839 is to be found at Page 226 of Book A
      of the Wills of Marengo County, Alabama. In this instrument he
      names his wife, Elizabeth, and sons, Nathanial, Isaiah, and
      William, as well as daughters, Sarah and Vashti. Charles Coleman
      had a son, Isaiah, as his Will shows, as well as daughters who
      were named Sarah and Vashti. 
        In the History of Bolivar County, Mississippi, compiled by Mrs. 
      Florence Warfield Sillers (1948) Page 439, is found the biography
      of Moses W. Coleman. lt is there stated that he was the seventh of
      eleven children born to Franklin J. and Lucinda Adams Coleman, and
      stating that Franklin's parents were Jesse and Elizabeth Jordan
      Coleman, "South Carolinaians; who moved to Alabama where they
      spent their last days." In this work by Mrs. Sillers there follows
      this significant statement, "The Coleman's were of English and
      Welch ancestry." Of course, this ties in with the statement in
      Mrs. Jennie I. Coleman's Little Black Book that the Coleman's
      came from Wales. 
        I am very much intrigued by the fact that the Bolivar County
      History, above referred to, states that Jesse Coleman's wife was a
      Jordon. This more nearly ties in with the big family of Jordans
      who went with the Nansemond Coleman's to Edgecombe County, North
      Carolina. Both the Jordons and the Colemans of Nansemond were
      very prominent in Edgecombe County History from about 1745 to
      1800. There were plenty of Charles, Roberts and Moseses in this
      family as will be seen in the Appendix. 
        I draw the rather inescapable conclusion from many items such as
      this that the Robert Coleman who owned land South of the
      Appomattox in 1652, the Robert Coleman of Isle of Wight, and the
      Robert Coleman of Nansemond were very closely related to each
      other, and that this was

 - 80 - .
      

      THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY

      recognized and kept alive by similar family names for over a
      hundred years. The same line of reasoning, of which  could quote
      multitudinous examples, indicates that they were also related to
      Robert Coleman of Mobjack Bay, Gloucester County, the ancestor of so
      many Virginia Colemans described by Honorable S. Bernard Coleman in
      his excellent work to be found at the Virginia State Library. 

                                                
- 81 - .


 


Previous Chapter     |     Table of Contents     |     Next Chapter

Contents | F | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | A1 | A2 | A3 | A4