'Isn't it hard looking far back??'
Not sure if you are aware of
Men in Armour for Gloucestershire in 1608.
This is an on-line database containing information on occupation, stature and age for nearly 20,000 men in Gloucestershire UK. 'Thus, it contains a fairly complete list of all the men from the ages of 16 to 60 in Gloucestershire in 1608 and is particularly useful for tracing ancestors in the early 17th century
This can be found on
Coaley.net (and under the Heading: LOCAL HISTORY)
https://coaley.netTo search: Just put in the the surname: COA - as COATES and other surnames has variations.
The only ones I can see are residing in
CHEDWORTH (CHELTENHAM)
Richard COATES husbandman A20 lower stature. trained
William COATS husbandman A20 middle stature
Robert COATS husbandman A20 lower stature
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If you then click on the Help Page on the above website
This gives you a guide to the above
A20 - Shows the age of that man to be about twenty
lower stature - shows that man to be of a lower stature fit to serve with a caliver
middle stature - shows that man to be of a middle stature fit to make a musketeer
Husbandman : means a person who cultivates the land; a farmer
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So, three young COATS/COATES in Chedworth, Cheltenham and can't see any more in other places.
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Also on the Coaley : Under the Heading : Local History - is the Gloucestershire Population tables (every ten years from 1801 to 1901) again very useful to see how big a village/town etc. was.
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Checked the Forest of Dean Website for Gloucestershire Marriage Allegations and Marriage Bonds
There are 14
COTES/COATES/COATS listed for Chedworth - the early 1637 for a Thomas COATES.
There is on Men in Amour for Gloucestershire
Cirencester (Instrope Street)
Gilbert
COTES mason A40 Middle stature
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Forest of Dean Website: Gloucestershire Marriage Allegations etc : do have 4 COTES in Chedworth/Chadworth (?assume transcription error for the spelling of Chedworth - or how it was spelt then)
Gabriel - 1666
Richard - 1684 *
Alice - 1684
Sarah - 1711
(so there seems to be at least 3 variations of the surname)
Another option is to take a DNA test and upload your results on the website.
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* 19 December 1684
Richard COTES aged 30 - residence: Chadworth
Alice COATES aged 39 - residence: Chadworth
By Licence
He signs
Memorands: Bondsman: Philip GLOVER, Cumton Abdale, he marks
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BISLEY Glos. was known for Broadweaving in the 18th century.
According to the populations tables on Coaley.net
in 1801
Brockworth was 1,957 acres and a population of 350 (seems agricultural area)
Bisley was 7,927 acres and a population of 4,227 (more industry)
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Checking on Gloucestershire Will Index (Just Google: Gloucestershire Genelogical Database)
There is
1735 COATES Thomas - Parish Bisley : Inventories (occupation Broadweaver)
1735 COATES Thomas - Parish Bisley: Wills (occupation Broadweaver)