Area One for Additional Future Research

The first suggested area is the final determination of the British father of Robert Coleman as discussed in Volume 1, Chapter 1.  Richard Coleman (# 1.) – (born in 1593 Suffolk, England, died in 1650) is generally accepted by genealogists to be the father of four sons named Robert, Thomas, Nicholas and William Coleman, who immigrated to Virginia. 

The author has not, however, uncovered documents which prove this connection between Richard and the four sons, Robert (# 1.1), Thomas (# 1.2), Nicholas (# 1.3) and William Coleman (# 1.4).

Governor James P. Coleman in his book, The Robert Coleman Family from Virginia To Texas 1652 – 1965, identifies the four brothers who immigrated to Virginia as William, Robert, Thomas and Nicholas.  The Honorable James P. Coleman was elected Governor of Mississippi in 1955 and is a well-respected genealogist.

As previously mentioned Governor Coleman states in his book, “The author has found many printed references, from many sources of family traditions that Thomas Coleman, William Coleman, and Nicholas  Coleman came to Virginia “together” and were brothers.  It is understood that Nicholas Coleman later migrated to Pennsylvania.  It is altogether reasonable to suppose that they came to join Robert Coleman, Sr., who was there by 1652, and equally reasonable to suppose that all four were brothers”.

While the DNA analysis presented in this book confirms a connection to only one of the four brothers (Robert) the author defers to the judgment of Governor Coleman on the relationship of Thomas, William and Nicholas.  Their presence in Virginia has been confirmed by Charles City County Court Orders 1655-1658.

The final documentation that Richard Coleman (born in 1593 Suffolk, England, died in 1650) is the father of William, Robert, Thomas and Nicholas, all present in Charles City County, Virginia, remains to be accomplished.

Area Two for Additional Future Research

The older William Coleman (# 1.4) detailed in Volume 1, Chapter 3 of this book was probably born in the 1630s, given that he first appears in Virginia in 1656. Some genealogists believe that he was born in Wales, England.  The location of his birth in Wales has not been proven and thus, requires further research.

His date of death is not known.  The author concludes that he most likely died by 1720 given a life expectancy of eighty years.

Little is known of him, except that was settled by 1656 on the south side of the James River, in Charles City County, which became Prince George County in 1703, per Order Book, page 50. 

The next mention after 1656 of William Coleman in the court documents was in 1704 at which time William Coleman is shown in the Prince George County 1704 quit rent roll, where Robert Coleman’s son, William Coleman, Jr. (# 1.1.4) also appears for the first time. 

The author believes that additional research is needed to further document the 48 year period between 1656 and 1704 for additional references on William Coleman and to further differentiate the documentation between Robert Coleman’s brother and Robert Coleman’s son, both named William.

Area Three for Additional Future Research

The third area of suggested future research can be found also in Volume 1, Chapter 1 and relates to the discovery of a common antecedent of the Nansemond County Coleman family and the Charles City County Coleman family. 

For more on the Nansemond County Coleman family, refer to the e-book, Descendants of Robert Coleman of Nansemond County Virginia, 1684-1930, by Wesley D. Coleman of Friendswood, Texas.

Area Four for Additional Future Research 

The fourth area of suggested future research can be found in Volume 1, Chapter 10, concerning the marriage(s) of Peter Coleman. Jr. (# 1.1.4.7.3) – (1740 – 1800).

The will of Peter Coleman, Jr., dated 12 May 1800, was filed in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on 17 May 1800. The will names his wife Sarah.  The will is on file as CR 028.901, Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Additional details on the will of Peter Coleman, Jr., can be found in Volume 2, Appendix 18 of this book.      

The will does not give Sarah’s last name.  It could be possible to conclude, however,  that due to (1) the large number of Thompson’s involved in the probate of Peter’s will; (2) the name of Peter’s youngest son being Thompson Jonas Coleman, (3) Peter Coleman’s first cousin John Coleman witnessed a deed on 29 August 1758 for Thomas Bell of Surry County, Virginia, the husband of Mary Thompson, daughter of Samuel Thompson and Sarah Edwards – Mary Thompson was the sister of Peter Coleman’s then future wife, Sarah, and (4) Sarah being an often given name to Thompson daughters, that the last name of Peter’s wife was Thompson.

If Sarah Thompson was the wife of Peter Coleman, Jr., it should be noted that the record indicates that in December 1781 Sarah had not yet married Peter Coleman, Jr., since Sarah’s mother referred, in her will of 12 December 1781, to her daughter as, “Sarah, relict of the late Jacob Williams”.

Thus, it is likely that Sarah Thompson Coleman was not married to Peter until after 1781.

Based on the estimated marriage date to Sarah Thompson being after 1781 and the 1791 census data, it appears that some of Peter’s children were born prior to 1775, perhaps to a previous wife of Peter Coleman.  No record, however, substantiates this belief.

While the above facts build a circumstantial case, a marriage bond between Peter Coleman, Jr., and Sarah Thompson has not been found.  There is no record of it either in the Amelia County, Virginia, records or the Warren County, North Carolina records.

There is, however, an undated Marriage Bond on file in the courthouse concerning another woman.  Salley Jones of Warren County is shown as the bride,  Jesse Bell is recorded as a co-signer and M. Duke Johnson Clerk of Court as Witness.  Jesse Bell is thought to be born in 1772 and thus, could not have signed the marriage bond before 1790.  Jesse was married on 4 December 1798.  Jesse’s signatures on both marriage bonds match. Marma Duke Johnson signed the bond as Clerk of Court, Warren County, North Carolina.  Marma Duke became Clerk of Court on July 21, 1779, and served until 1812.

Since the name “Sarah” and “Salley” are often used interchangeably it is possible that Salley Jones is the “Sarah” named in Peter’s will.

Further investigation into the marriage(s) of Peter Coleman, Jr. (1740 – 1800) is also a suggested area for future research.