Robert B. Coker (abt. 1778 - abt. 1837)

Born about 1778 in Surry, North Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Henderson) Coker — married 1800 in Laurens, Laurens, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died about 1837 at about age 59 in Laurens, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anonymous Coker [send private message]

Biography

From census records, Robert B. Coker appears to have been born between about 1775 and 1780, likely in Surry County, North Carolina.

The parentage of Robert B. Coker is currently unknown. His Y-DNA does not match descendants of Robert Coker Sr of Laurens County, South Carolina. Yet Robert B. Coker's descendants share a significant triangulated segment with this same descendant of Robert Coker Sr and other Cokers of this line from Surry County, North Carolina, and Laurens County, South Carolina. The most likely conclusion is that Robert B. Coker was the son of Hannah Coker, believed to be the daughter of Robert Coker Sr.

If true, Robert B. Coker would probably be the son of Richard Varnell of Surry County, North Carolina, who died at the Battle of Kings Mountain and left property for his "friend" Hannah's young son Robert Coker.

Robert married Elizabeth Henderson, the daughter of Charles and Edy (Montgomery) Henderson. Their children are listed in a lawsuit in Laurens County, South Carolina as follows:

26 Jun 1841 – Lawsuit in Laurens Equity District over the estate of Robert Coker.

Equity Bills 1844 No. 8

Elizabeth Coker Madison Henderson & Mahala his Wife Saxon Coker Araminta Coker Elizabeth Coker Jr. Mary Coker

vs.

Thurman Coker Stanback Coker Harper Coker Henderson Coker Elisha Freeman & Anna his Wife Thomas Henderson & Edy his Wife James Henderson & Arabella his Wife

South Carolina} Laurens Dist}

To the Chancellors of the said State -- Humbly complaining Shew unto your Honors your Oratrix Elizabeth Coker, Madison Henderson & Mahala his wife -- and Saxon Coker, Araminta Coker, Elizabeth Coker & Mary Coker, the last four of whom are minors under the age of twenty one who sue by their guardians ad Litum next [illegible] Elizabeth Coker -- that on the [blank] day of [blank] in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight-hundred and [blank] Robert Coker departed this life intestate -- being seized & possessed of a tract of land lying & being in Laurens District Containing three hundred acres more or less adjoining land of Wm Henderson, Abner Putman, Jonathan Henderson, David Shockley, Jessee Burditt & John Henderson -- with personal property -- having at his death your Oratrix Elizabeth Henderson [NOTE: this is what it says rather than Elizabeth Coker but she was Elizabeth Henderson before marriage] his widow & the following children -- Thurman Coker, Stanback Coker, Harper Coker, Henderson Coker, Thos. Henderson intermarried with Edy, Elisha Freeman & wife Anna, James Henderson and Arabella his wife, your orators and ortrix Madison Henderson & Mahala his wife, Saxon Coker, Araminta Coker, Elizabeth Coker & Mary Coker, his only Heirs and distributees -- your Oratrix Elizabeth Coker further shews unto your Honors that she administered on the personal estate of the said Robt Coker (Decd) and that all the personal estate has been sold under an order from the ordinary --

Your Oratrixes & orator further shew unto your Honors that Thurman Coker, Harper Coker, Henderson Coker, Elisha Freeman & Anna his wife, Stanback Coker, Thos. Henderson & Edy his wife, James Henderson & Arabella his wife all received advancements in land negros or other property to a large amount -- more than will be left after the payments of the debts of the estate -- and more than their distributed share taken the real estate of the said Robert into the estimate --

Your Oratrix further shews your Honors that the real estate of the said Robert Coker remains to be divided amongst his distributees -- but in as much as those above last mentioned have received in the life time of their father Robert Coker advancements more than their distributive shares

Your Oratrix's & Orator contend that they alone are entitled to the proceeds of the remainder of the real & personal estate of said intestate -- and the title of those who have received by advancements their full shares to the land should be extinguished ----

Your Oratrix's & orator further shew your Honors that the said Defendants altho they have as above stated received their full share of the real & personal estate of the said Robt. Coker (Decd) still insist that they are interested in the real estate & entitled to their shares of the same -- all which is contrary to Law & Equity & tend to the manifest injury of your Orators and Oratrix's --

In Consideration where of & as much as your Orators & Ortrix's are remediless by the [rules?] of the common law & can only have adequate relief in a Court of Equity where Matters of this Kind are properly Cognizable & relievable --

To the end therefore that the said Thurman Coker, Stanback Coker, Harper Coker, Henderson Coker, Thos. Henderson & Edy his wife, James Henderson & Arabella his wife, Elisha Freeman & Anna his wife -- (Henderson Coker & Elisha Freeman & wife -- being without the limits of this State) -- may full & perfect answers make to the matters and things herein before stated -- and particularly the property or money which each one received from Robt. Coker in his life time -- and that your Honor may by a decree of this Court have the estate of the said Robert Coker finally settled that the writ of Partition may be grant & either the lands or the proceeds of the sale there be vestd in your Orators & Oratrix's or at least that they may receive the same -- & the title of the Defendants be extinguished provided it should appear that they or any of them have received their full share or shares in the way of Advancements in the life time of the said intestate --

May it please your Honors to grant unto your Orators & Oratrix's the writ of partition to be directed to contain comissioners therein named -- to make partition & division of the real estate of the said intestate agreeable to Law & such other & further relief as the merits of the case may require --

May it also please your Honors to grant unto your Orators and Oratrix's the writ of subpoena to be directed to the Defts within this State and a [rule?] against those out of the State requiring them to answer this [?] agreeable to Law & the practice of this Court --

And they will ever pray to [cut off from here on p. 3 of the copy; p. 4 starts with a survey of the land]

[Drawing of partition showing place names of Mountain Creek and Georgia Road and bounded on land of A. Putman, James Henderson, John Henderson, J. Burditt, Jonathan Henderson, W. Henderson, D. Shockley, Armstrong, H. Hill]

South Carolina} Laurens District}

I do hereby certify the above plats to be a true Representation of the Real Estate of Robert Coker Decd as Surveyd by me this 26th June 1841

Leml G. Williams LS

South Carolina} Laurens District}

Pursuant to a writ of partition to us directed from the Court of Equity we under signd Commissioners do hereby certify [that under the?] said Court that we did go to and upon the land & premises mentioned in said writ and after being duly sworn caused the same to be Resurveyd and Subdivided into two separate Tracts (to wit)

No. 1 Represents a tract of one hundred and six acres which we have valued at four dollars and twenty five cents per acre We assign the same to Elizabeth Coker Widow of Robt Coker Deceasd, on a credit of one & two years except so much as will pay the cost No. 2 Represents a tract of one hundred & Seventy three acres which we have valued at three dollars & seventy five cents per acre We recommend to be sold on a credit of one & two Years Except so much as will pay the cost

Given under our hands This 26th June 1841

Leml G. Williams (seal) John (his H mark) Henderson (seal) R. Thomas (seal) Wm Henderson (seal) [illegible name] Commisioners

Sources

1790-1830 Census of Laurens County, South Carolina.

Will of Richard Varnell, Surry County, North Carolina. Ancestry.com. South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. South Carolina. Probate Court (Laurens County); Probate Place: Laurens, South Carolina.

Probate File for Robert B. Coker, Laurens County, South Carolina.

Equity Bills, 1844 No. 8, Laurens County, South Carolina.