The Will of Robert Coates
In his will of 27 January 1817, Robert Coates (1773-1817) made cash bequests to his wife and two daughters and stipulated that his estate be divided equally among his six sons when son Hood turned 21 (Will Book A or viewable online) The estate papers in Will Book A (but not online) include a Property Plan dated 20 Jan 1825, when Hood came of age, which shows how Robert's land was divided among his sons. By this date, only 5 sons shared in the property: Thomas, Robert, Hood, John, and Joseph. The plan says the properties are in Amherst but it mentions the Marsh at Amherst Point near Bliss's Island, Crawford Hill, Plaster Rocks, and Sunken Creak as landmarks. The Marsh at Amherst Point is clearly marked on the A. F. Church 1873 Map and is quite a distance west of the Experimental Farm. It's reasonable to suppose that the Robert Coates (1802-1875) who inherited share number 1, passed his property on to his eldest son Robert Coates (1823-1909) who was married to Isabel B. Shipley and appears on the 1871 census and the 1873 A. F. Church Map in a location roughly across the road and tracks from where the Experimental Farm is located today.
Hood Coates received share 5 which was at Crawford's Hill. A History of West Amherst written by L. Boomer about 1906 indicates that Crawford's Hill is now known as Coates Road. Coates Road is close to where the Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary is located today.
A further clue to the location of Robert's properties was discovered by accident when I came across a great map attached to a grant issued in 1830 to Cyrus and William McCulley. This map is viewable online at Family Search (Grant Book O, p. 91. Film #008632288 Image 302.). This map also mentions the Sunken Creek and shows property belonging to the "heirs of Robert Coats". This property would be further east than Crawford's Hill, somewhere north of Smith Road.
Hood Coates received share 5 which was at Crawford's Hill. A History of West Amherst written by L. Boomer about 1906 indicates that Crawford's Hill is now known as Coates Road. Coates Road is close to where the Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary is located today.
A further clue to the location of Robert's properties was discovered by accident when I came across a great map attached to a grant issued in 1830 to Cyrus and William McCulley. This map is viewable online at Family Search (Grant Book O, p. 91. Film #008632288 Image 302.). This map also mentions the Sunken Creek and shows property belonging to the "heirs of Robert Coats". This property would be further east than Crawford's Hill, somewhere north of Smith Road.
Sources:
Will Book A is available on CD for purchase online at the Cumberland County Genealogical Society website. Includes will and estate papers, including a map of Robert's properties.
Nova Scotia Probate Records at Family Search. Estate Files 1764-1938, no 518-558 (CD). Images 49-59. Use arrow keys to browse through the files.
Will Book A is available on CD for purchase online at the Cumberland County Genealogical Society website. Includes will and estate papers, including a map of Robert's properties.
Nova Scotia Probate Records at Family Search. Estate Files 1764-1938, no 518-558 (CD). Images 49-59. Use arrow keys to browse through the files.