A person of consequence.
Barton House large and storied. 'RuaRua'. Rose fancier, arts patron. State
gallery holds one of his portraits in oils. Brought 30,000 pounds from England.
Family settled near Keith, Emu Springs. (Note from George Richards)
Charles James COATES
Obituary (don't
know which newspaper)
The late MR. C. J. COATES.
By the death, at his residence, North Adelaide,
on Wednesday, October 9, Mr Charles James Coates, the Secretary of the Royal
Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia, the citizens and
colonists generally will miss a figure long familiar to them. Though for many
years incapacitated owing to affliction from taking a very active part in public
movements, the deceased gentleman was always at his post in connection with the
chief Agricultural Society of the colony, and at election times he was ever to
be found engaged in counting the voting papers for the District of North
Adelaide in his capacity of Returning-Officer. Mr. Coates was born on January
6, 1820, at Stanton Court,
Stanton Drew, Somersetshire, England,
and was therefore in his seventieth year at the time of his death.
His birthplace, situated
about seven miles from Bath and Bristol, is an old moated residence, which has
been for many generations, and still is, the home of the head of the family;
and is noteworthy for its park, called Stony Cross, having three circles of
Druidical stones, with the usual rocking stone. Mr. Coates was educated in
Helstone's Academy, in Alveston, Gloucestershire, and subsequently in a College
in Oldesloe Holsetn, Germany. In this connection it is
worthy of notice that he was well known in the colony as an excellent German
scholar. After his collegiate studies Mr. Coates travelled for a considerable
time on the Continent collecting art treasures, of which he was all his life a
connoisseur. Of the works of the old masters particularly he was considered an
eminent judge. Before he left England
for Australia
he had a famous art collection, which he, however, was compelled to part with
owing to reverses in business.
About the time he reached
his majority, Mr. Coates was elected a member of the London Stock Exchange,
where he transacted a very extensive business institutions north of London, particularly the Leeds and West Riding Bank and
leading railway speculators, among others for Hudson, the great railway king,
and Waddington, of Leeds. Four years later -
1845 - Mr. Coates was a prominent stockbroker himself and a wealthy man. When
however the memorable railway financial disaster came he had to unfortunately
share in the losses, and was left a comparatively poor man.
With his wife - a
granddaughter of Mr. J. R. Wilson, of Newcastle-on-Tyne
- and family Mr. Coates left England
in 1850 and came to Adelaide.
Entering business as an agriculturalist he was tolerably successful, and then
he went into squatting pursuits, leasing, in 1854, 400 square miles of country
in the Ninety Mile Desert which has so recently come so prominently before
public notice. Mr. Coates was the first to settle in this part of the colony on
what has since become known as Emu Flat. About Emu Flat and MountMonster
he occupied a large area of good territory, and formed stations and sunk wells.
But his ventures here also proved unsuccessful, and selling out he returned to Adelaide, where he went
into business as a broker and agent. He was one of those who originated the
first expedition to the Northern
Territory in search of gold. He was appointed Secretary
of the Agricultural society in March, 1868, and held that office in a most
creditable manner up to the time of his decease, working up the Society from an
almost insolvent state to its present satisfactory position. Though pretty
fully employed in this capacity his energetic disposition enabled him to devote
considerable time to the management of numerous Companies. Many years ago he
had the reputation of being the Secretary of more Mining Companies in Adelaide than any other
person. So thoroughly conversant with the details of the practical management
of such an important organisation as the Agricultural Society, and endowed with
considerable administrative ability, no person could have more ably performed
the onerous duties devolving upon him. But of recent years he was unable to
undertake all the clerical work himself, and was assisted by one of his
daughters (Miss Phillis Coates). During the whole of the time he occupied the
Secretaryship Mr Coates enjoyed the full confidence of the members of the
Society, and they will one and all regret the loss of so estimable and
honourable a servant, whose word was his bond, and whose help was invaluable.
Even up to Saturday last he was at his office in Register Chambers, but being
seized with an attack of rigidity of the muscles, which affected his throat, he
was afterwards obliged to remain home, and he was also suffering from a serious
attack of bronchitis. He grew worse, and died on Wednesday morning. The
deceased had for many years been a victim of rheumatic gout, and the wonder was
how one so advanced in years could accomplish the work he managed to get
through. Some years ago Mr. Coates was Secretary of the South Australian Jockey
Club, and for several years up to the time of his death he was Returning Officer
for the electoral district of North Adelaide, official liquidator of Companies,
and Secretary of the Adelaide
and Hindmarsh Tramway Company.
The late Mr. Coates was
highly respected, genial in disposition, and possessed of many qualities which
induced people to regard him as a worthy citizen. The removal of so valuable a
man will be greatly regretted. It is worthy of notice, too, that Mr. Coates
took a special pride in the cultivation of ferns, and as a result he had one of
the finest ferneries in the colony.
The deceased in his last
illness was attended by Dr. Jay. He leaves a widow and three sons and three
daughters, some of whom are married.
Information from Judy
Vowles nee Steer, written in 1914.
STANTON COURT
Soon after the Conquest a
considerable part of the parish Stanton
was in possession of a family who are said to have taken their name from the
place. The first recorded member of this family to reside there, was Roger de
Stanton followed by William who was succeeded by Hugh de Stanton. In the reign
of Henry II Robert de Stanton held two Knights fees in the Parish. Next
mentioned Geofrey de Stanton who held large possessions in the neighbourhood.
The member of the family bore appellation of Drew or Drew de Stanton and gave
the place the second half of its name. In 1339 Walter Drew held half the
Knights fee in Stanton.
The Manor of Stanton Drew subsequently passed to the Choke family. In the
middle of the 15th century Robert Choke granted to Richard Choke and his wife
Joan, a small holding in Stanton.
Another deed dated 1415 records that the same Richard Choke [sic] of Bristol granted to
Richard Choke another property in the Parish including a fulling mill. A
dispute between Richard Choke and John Botoler relating to the right and title
of Choke to the Manor, ended in a lawsuit which terminated in favour of Chove
(a lawyer). Choke afterwards became Chief Justice of Common Pleas.
He died in the reign of
Richard IInd. He was buried in LongAshtonChurch,
where there is a monument to his memory. His Grandson succeeded to the Manor of
Stanton Drew and in 1507 conveyed it to Giles, Lord Daubany. From the Daubanys
it passed to Sir John Cooper Bart, who was also Lord of Stanton Wick. He died
in 1631 and was succeeded by his son Antony Ashley Cooper. From the Coopers ,
the Manor passed into the hands of Peter Coates, in whose family it has
remained to the present time (1914), J. Eaton Coates being the present owner
and occupier of Stanton Court.
The present Manor House of
Stanton Drew known as Stanton
Court, gives the impression of being erected early
in the Georgian period. It is unknown who built it, neither are there any
records except the usual indecipherable deeds, but there is no doubt that a
house of much larger dimensions existed in early times on the same site.
Collinson in his history mentions the Manor House of Stanton Drew as being an
old and venerable building which was formerly embattled and regularly
fortified. The window of the boudoir over the main entrance on the West side of
the house, probably dates from the 15th century.
The Coates family resided
for many generations in the Manor House. A. Samuel Baker great great Grand
father of J. Eaton Coates was the high Sheriff in 1777.
Document written 1968,
unknown author.
STANTON COURT MANOR
Stanton Court was mentioned as a Manor at the
time of the Norman Conquest (1066) when Roger de Stanton owned it. In 1339
Walter Drew possessed it and he gave the name to Standtone (Stone-Town) - Today
we know it as Stanton Drew.
In the middle of the 15th century
the Choke family lived at the Manor, and one of them, Richard Choke, became
Lord Chief Justice of England
in 1507. His grandson, Lord Daubery, lived there. He sold the Manor to Sir John
Cooper (Bart) of Chew Magna. It was his grandson, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper,
who sold Stanton Court
to Peter Coates in 1703.
The present court is not
the original. The old Manor was battlemented and was fortified but Peter Coates
pulled it down and built the present house on the old foundations. The Coates
family lived in the Court until 1937 (nearly 200 years). There is a very old
bread oven in the thickness of the kitchen wall and a small one for 'raising
the dough'. The ovens were occasionally used by the monks. In the present newer
buildings, the Georgian period (1758) there is a genuine Adam fireplace (Adam
fireplaces are hand carved and very valuable). The Adam brothers worked in
great detail. There is also a wine cellar and wine storage room.
Court Farm was part of the
Court Buildings. On the door the date 1753 is shown in studs. Thus relating the
Georgian rebuilding to the Court. (Bath and Clifton were also built
at this time).
Coates.
The last of the great
families with 200 years of continued association with Stanton Drew Court have memorials in
Stanton Drew Church. Peter Coates' memorial is on the north wall of the Coates'
chapel. Died March 9th 1791 aged 64 years. Mary Coates September 25th aged 78
years. Miss Martha Coates donated money to be used as a charity for the poor of
the village, which now is worth about 4 Pounds a year and buys toys and coal
for old people.
Original written 20 years
ago. 10th October, 1988.
LORDS OF THE MANOR OF
STANTON (DREW) (Document
- unknown source )
1. TOVI - Who was sheriff
of Somerset
during Edward the Confessor's reign.
2. ROGER - Was given the
Manor by William the Conqueror. Roger family took the name of de Stanton and
one of his sons named Drogg or Dru (1225) was the reason why Drew was added to
the Stanton to distinguish it from the other Stantons in the County.
The de Stantons held it until 1408 when it passed to:-
3. THE EARL OF SAILSBURY.
4. RICHARD CHOKE - In 1446.
Richard, who was probably born in the village and who later became Kings
Justice of the Common, obtained the Lordship after a lawsuit with John Boteker
who held the Manor of Belluton. (Richard Choke's tomb is in LongAshtonChurch)
5. JOHN CHOKE - Who
conveyed his share in 1506 to:-
6. LORD DAUBNEY and his
family who passed it into the possession of:-
7. SIR JOHN COOPER - who
left it to his son in 1631.
8. ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER -
Anthony was minor aged 9 and his estate got into great trouble as he was a Ward
of Court and, because of this, the Manor was sold to the Coates at about this
time - 1630s.
9. THE COATES FAMILY - who
sold the Court in 1926. It is not known who is the present Lord of the Manor.
BIOSA Vol 1, page 289:- COATES Charles Jas par: Charles and
Sarah nee ANDERSON b: 6.1.1820 Stanton Drew SOM ENG d: 9.10.1889 Nth Adelaide
SA bd: Nth Rd SA arr: 1851 HARPLEY occ: Stockbroker, Grazier, Accountant res:
Mt Monster, Tintinara, Keith and others rel: C/E m: 27.12.1841 LND ENG
Issabella Jane nee WILSON par: John Rawling and Mary Ann b: 5.3.1819 Stratho
Castle d: 8.5.1893 Stepney SA ch: Chas Elwood 1843-84.