COATES
The Coates family began with the parents of Stephen Coates, who were slaves in Maryland. In the census there are various spellings of the last name,Coates, such as Coats and Coat. According to the 1870 and 1900 Census data Stephen and his parents,whose identity are unknown, were born in Maryland. Stephen was born in May of 1835. The date of Stephen's arrival along with how he arrived to Pointe Coupee Parish is also undetermined, whether he and his parents came together as slaves or if he was sold separately.
It can be surmised that he believed in his freedom because he fought during the Civil War in the 92nd Regiment, United States Colored Infantry (First Brigade, First Division US Colored Troops, District of Morganza, LA.). The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 making a monumental milestone in the history of African Americans. African Americans were now free, and could leave the plantations. Many migrated to various towns and cities across the United States, while some left the United States. But Stephen Coates returned to Pointe Coupee Parish worked as a farmer and later became the postman, riding on horseback to deliver the mail in "The Spillway," known as “Brownview. “ Brownview was located south of Morganza, a Post Office was established on February 6, 1915. There is a little dispute as to his ability to read, some say he used the horse to guide him in delivering the mail. Others say, he could read, but during that era, blacks did not want whites to know they could read for fear of reprisal.
In 1866 at the age of 31 Stephen Coates married Angeline Johnson a 27y/o female from Raccioni. From the 1900 Census, it is listed that she was born in Mississippi and her parents were born in Virginia. There is no indication as to when she came to Louisiana, but it is assumed that she came as a slave. It can also be assumed that she was an enterprising, independent woman and worked as a maid and in the field. As many families during that era, they had a large family, that consisted of Stephen (1872/75), Simon, Willie(1887), Eddie (1889), Lizzie, Annette (1874), Ada(1880), Mary (1/1883), and Melinda. They reared their grandchildren, Eva and Andrew Locket(t). In the 1900 Census, Eddie, their son is listed as 12 y/o, their grandchildren, Eva 7y/o her brother, Andrew is 4y/o. Their mother, Annette age 26 is listed as living in a separate household as married to George Locket(t) age 28 (whose mother’s birth place was Louisiana and his father’s birth place wasTennessee. This couple had another daughter, Mable.
The Coates are surmised to have been hard workers, thrifty with their money because in 1918, Angeline, purchased 25 acres “with all the building and improvements situated in the 4th ward of the Parish of Pointe Coupee, Louisiana … bounded on the North or Upper side by Henry Robinson; on the East or front by the Mississippi River; on the South or lower side by P. O. Bourgeois and on the West or rear by Estate of Ed. Lacour." This property was purchased from the estates of Dr. Dennison Stocking and Mrs. Eugenia T. Stocking. Angeline being a woman ahead of her time purchased this property in her own name as "feminine sole," as separate property, with her husband present and with his signature waiving all claims to the property. The property was purchased in 1918 for $1500, paying “ $1000 cash in hand” “ and the balance in installments of $125 each year payable on or before September 16th 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922 respectively. The property was paid in full in 1922. Angeline died 9/20/1925 of stomach cancer, her age is listed as 80 on the death certificate. What a foresight she had for creating wealth through property ownership because now her heirs receive oil royalty from the property she purchased.
Lula Ashford said she and her mother were living in Houston and she was attending Crawford Elementary School, when her grandmother died. Her mother returned to Pointe Coupee to take care of her father, Eddie Coates. Eddie Coates’ daughter, Joyce Coates Caldwell, says her father, Eddie Coates,described his father as "very tight with his money." He kept large sums under his mattress and when people told him he needed to put it away. He put some of it in the stock market, when the stock market crashed October 24, 1929, known as “Black Thursday,” he took to bed with depression and died two months later, December 17, 1929 of mitral insufficiency his age is listed as 90 on the death certificate. The depression is probably true because on the death certificate the doctor says he last saw him on the 10th of October.
During this era many of the African Americans lived in a settlement, called “The Spillway,” - Brownview they were sharecroppers, owned rooming houses, grew their food, and sewed their clothes. The census called this area Ward 4, where many congregated after they were freed. In 1925 typhoid fever broke out in the area, homes were quarantined, and some people died. On May 24, 1927, the Atchafalaya levee broke forcing many of the residents in the spillway to relocate within Morganza to continue working as sharecroppers. A few individuals were able to purchase property.
CHILDREN AND THEIR MATES
1). Annette (1874) - George Lockett (1872), Pleasant, Lite
2). Stephen (1875) - Catherine (1874)
3). Ada (1880) - Lewis
4). Mary (1883) - Walker Harris (1868)
5). Simon
6). Lizzie - Barnes
7). Melinda - Lockett
8). Willie (WIlliam) (1887) - Lucy
9). Eddie (1889-1960) - Minnie Farlow (1907-1998)
The Coates family began with the parents of Stephen Coates, who were slaves in Maryland. In the census there are various spellings of the last name,Coates, such as Coats and Coat. According to the 1870 and 1900 Census data Stephen and his parents,whose identity are unknown, were born in Maryland. Stephen was born in May of 1835. The date of Stephen's arrival along with how he arrived to Pointe Coupee Parish is also undetermined, whether he and his parents came together as slaves or if he was sold separately.
It can be surmised that he believed in his freedom because he fought during the Civil War in the 92nd Regiment, United States Colored Infantry (First Brigade, First Division US Colored Troops, District of Morganza, LA.). The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 making a monumental milestone in the history of African Americans. African Americans were now free, and could leave the plantations. Many migrated to various towns and cities across the United States, while some left the United States. But Stephen Coates returned to Pointe Coupee Parish worked as a farmer and later became the postman, riding on horseback to deliver the mail in "The Spillway," known as “Brownview. “ Brownview was located south of Morganza, a Post Office was established on February 6, 1915. There is a little dispute as to his ability to read, some say he used the horse to guide him in delivering the mail. Others say, he could read, but during that era, blacks did not want whites to know they could read for fear of reprisal.
In 1866 at the age of 31 Stephen Coates married Angeline Johnson a 27y/o female from Raccioni. From the 1900 Census, it is listed that she was born in Mississippi and her parents were born in Virginia. There is no indication as to when she came to Louisiana, but it is assumed that she came as a slave. It can also be assumed that she was an enterprising, independent woman and worked as a maid and in the field. As many families during that era, they had a large family, that consisted of Stephen (1872/75), Simon, Willie(1887), Eddie (1889), Lizzie, Annette (1874), Ada(1880), Mary (1/1883), and Melinda. They reared their grandchildren, Eva and Andrew Locket(t). In the 1900 Census, Eddie, their son is listed as 12 y/o, their grandchildren, Eva 7y/o her brother, Andrew is 4y/o. Their mother, Annette age 26 is listed as living in a separate household as married to George Locket(t) age 28 (whose mother’s birth place was Louisiana and his father’s birth place wasTennessee. This couple had another daughter, Mable.
The Coates are surmised to have been hard workers, thrifty with their money because in 1918, Angeline, purchased 25 acres “with all the building and improvements situated in the 4th ward of the Parish of Pointe Coupee, Louisiana … bounded on the North or Upper side by Henry Robinson; on the East or front by the Mississippi River; on the South or lower side by P. O. Bourgeois and on the West or rear by Estate of Ed. Lacour." This property was purchased from the estates of Dr. Dennison Stocking and Mrs. Eugenia T. Stocking. Angeline being a woman ahead of her time purchased this property in her own name as "feminine sole," as separate property, with her husband present and with his signature waiving all claims to the property. The property was purchased in 1918 for $1500, paying “ $1000 cash in hand” “ and the balance in installments of $125 each year payable on or before September 16th 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922 respectively. The property was paid in full in 1922. Angeline died 9/20/1925 of stomach cancer, her age is listed as 80 on the death certificate. What a foresight she had for creating wealth through property ownership because now her heirs receive oil royalty from the property she purchased.
Lula Ashford said she and her mother were living in Houston and she was attending Crawford Elementary School, when her grandmother died. Her mother returned to Pointe Coupee to take care of her father, Eddie Coates. Eddie Coates’ daughter, Joyce Coates Caldwell, says her father, Eddie Coates,described his father as "very tight with his money." He kept large sums under his mattress and when people told him he needed to put it away. He put some of it in the stock market, when the stock market crashed October 24, 1929, known as “Black Thursday,” he took to bed with depression and died two months later, December 17, 1929 of mitral insufficiency his age is listed as 90 on the death certificate. The depression is probably true because on the death certificate the doctor says he last saw him on the 10th of October.
During this era many of the African Americans lived in a settlement, called “The Spillway,” - Brownview they were sharecroppers, owned rooming houses, grew their food, and sewed their clothes. The census called this area Ward 4, where many congregated after they were freed. In 1925 typhoid fever broke out in the area, homes were quarantined, and some people died. On May 24, 1927, the Atchafalaya levee broke forcing many of the residents in the spillway to relocate within Morganza to continue working as sharecroppers. A few individuals were able to purchase property.
CHILDREN AND THEIR MATES
1). Annette (1874) - George Lockett (1872), Pleasant, Lite
2). Stephen (1875) - Catherine (1874)
3). Ada (1880) - Lewis
4). Mary (1883) - Walker Harris (1868)
5). Simon
6). Lizzie - Barnes
7). Melinda - Lockett
8). Willie (WIlliam) (1887) - Lucy
9). Eddie (1889-1960) - Minnie Farlow (1907-1998)