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THOMAS COULSON was born April 13 or 15, 1703, in Ashbourn, Derbyshire, England, and died August 17, 1763, at West Nottingham, Cecil County, Maryland, at the age of sixty. In about 1725 he married MARTHA WILEY (daughter of ALLEN WILEY and SARAH ADAMS) who was born in 1699 or "about 1703," and died June 17, 1775, at the age of seventy-six.
In 1730 Thomas and Martha moved from Germantown to the Friends Settlement at Nottingham, in an area then claimed as both Chester County, Pennsylvania, and Cecil County, Maryland, but now considered a part of Cecil County, Maryland. Henry J. Coulson notes that the move from Philadelphia occurred in 1718.
Thomas obtained a grant of 18-1/2 acres on the Octoraro Creek. He built a two-story brick home on the property with material, glass and hardware said to be imported from England.
Ben Foster visited the house in 1997 and gives this description of it:
The house is still standing (1997), much altered. It is a two-and-a-half story brick structure, nearly as deep as wide, facing west from a small rise. A pond lies to the north and west and the original farmland stretches west as far as the Harrisville Road. A barn and probably numerous other farm buildings stood to the northeast. The farm was intersected by the Tome Memorial Highway (Maryland Route 276); the current house number is 2516 and lies between the intersections of Thruway Drive and Liberty Grove Road with Tome Memorial Highway, on the east side.
Because the land was so fertile, the homestead and its acreage became known as "Coulson's Old Garden." Thomas raised wheat and corn on his farm.
THOMAS COULSON and MARTHA WILEY were the parents of the following children:
Att a Monthly Meeting held at East Nottingham ye 20th day of ye 3rd Mo. 1732. the Meeting being called ye Representatives all appeared excepting Bush River, and Thos Coulson from West Nottingham. William Reynolds is there fore appointed to speak to him to be att ye next Monthly Meeting to Give his Reasons for not appearing.
Other references to Thomas and his family occur in the minutes as follows:
Att our Monthly Meeting held at Nottingham 16 of 12th Month 1733-4. West Nottingham proposes Thos. Coulson for overseer in ye place of William Hanbey, who is approved of untill further order.Att our Monthly Meeting held at East Nottingham 20, of 7th Month 1735 West Nottingham Preparative Meeting informs this that Thomas Coulson an Overseer of their meeting Lately Disguised - contrary to our regulations - he is therefore put out of the service & Richard Brown & Thomas Brown are appointed to speak to him that he may prepare something in order to condemn the same & bring to the next Monthly Meeting.
At our Monthly Meeting held at East Nottingham 18, of ye 8 Mo 1735. Thomas Coulson not being at this meeting to give satisfaction Jeremiah Brown & Jacob Haines are desired to speak to him & if need be labor with him to be at next monthly meeting to condemn his deviation & to inform Richard & Thomas Brown that they are continued, with them & are expected to give an account for their not appearing at this meeting.
At our Monthly Meeting held at East Nottingham 15, of 9th Mo. 1735 Thomas Coulson appearing hath given a paper, condemning his actions, - which this meeting receives & Thomas White is appointed to read it in a First-day Meeting at East Nottingham, & John Everitt is desired to do the like at West Nottingham.
At our Monthly Meeting of East Nottingham held 17, of 11 Mo. 1740 West Nottingham Preparative Meeting proposes Thomas Coulson as an Overseer in the place of Richard Sidwell, of which this meeting approves untill further ordered.
At our Monthly Meeting held at East Nottingham 18, of 12 Mo. 1743 West Nottingham Preparative Meeting offers Jonathan Edwards as an overseer in place of Thomas Coulson, of whom this meeting approves until further order.
At our Monthly Meeting held at East Nottingham 20 of 10, Month 1753 West Nottingham Preparative meeting proposes Thomas Coulson as an Overseer in the place of Joseph Rich Jr. with which this meeting concurs.
At our Monthly Meeting held at East Nottingham 17, of 4, Month 1756. West Nottingham Preparative meeting proposes Thomas Brown in the place of Thomas Coulson for overseer, in which this meeting concurs.
At a Monthly Meeting held at East Nottingham 4, of 10, Mo. 1763. West Nottingham Preparative meeting informs that Joseph and John Coulson and Joseph Rich had some disturbance among themselves. The meeting therefore appoints William Churchman, William Haines & Thomas Brown, to inquire into the nature of the case and treat and advise them as may appear to them most necessary and best.
Thomas died on August 17, 1763, at the age of sixty-one. His is the oldest marked grave at West Nottingham Friends Burying Grounds, marked "T.C. 1763." A statement in the family Bible written by his son, Joseph, reads as follows:
On August 17, 1763 at about 6 o'clock my father Thomas Coulson departed this life in 61 year of his age, who was a good father a loving husband, universally beloved by all that knew him.
Martha died June 17, 1775, at the age of seventy-six, and is also buried at the Friends Burying Ground at West Nottingham. Her son Joseph also recorded her death in the family Bible, as follows:
The 17th day of 6th mo 1775 my aged mother Martha Coulson departed this life, 76 year of her age who was a good neighbor and a tender mother.
More information on the family can be found in the book Colora, Cecil County, Maryland, edited by Nancy B. Conrad, Sally A. McKee and Hazel E. Jenkins, copyright 1997 by the Colora Civic Association. Along with a small pencil sketch of the house as it originally is supposed to have looked, is this description (used with permission):
Research by Sally McKee
The Coulson family, one of the oldest in this area, is descended from Thomas Coulson of Hartshorne, Burton-on-Trent, Denbyshire [sic], England. In the autumn of 1703 Joseph Coulson, oldest son of Thomas, and his wife came to America and settled in the Quaker Colony at Germantown, Pa.About 1730 Thomas Coulson, son of Joseph, and his wife Martha left Germantown for the Friends settlement of West Nottingham. As this was part of Pennsylvania at the time, Thomas was granted a warrant on August 16, 1744, for 18-1/2 acres of land on the Octoraro Creek, West Nottingham, Chester County, Pa. The same year he built the old Coulson homestead with the material, glass and hardware, being imported from England. With the running of the Mason Dixon Line in 1763, this part of Chester County, Pa. became Cecil County, Md. Because of the fertility of the land, this farm was known as "Coulson's Old Garden."
In the Land Patents of Cecil County, Md., we find a 1789 patent granted to John Coulson for "Coulson's Old Garden." This patented land contained 264 acres, 245-1/2 acres more than Thomas Coulson's warrant of 18-1/2 acres.
When someone was granted a warrant, it allowed them to have a surveyor lay out a parcel of land. The surveyor then issued a certificate describing the parcel of land and often included a sketch to show the lay of the land. This certificate then allowed the person to obtain a patent which also described the tract.
The Coulson property stayed in the family until it was sold to strangers. An item in the June 2, 1894 Cecil Democrat states that Miss Margaret Hamilton purchased from the Coulson heirs for $460, subject to her lien, the property of 78 acres lying near West Nottingham Presbyterian Church. For nearly 200 years the Coulson family had owned the property.
This old Coulson property extends from the east side of Tome Highway (Route 276) near the intersection of Tome Highway with Barnes Corner and Liberty Grove Roads west to Harrisville Road. The brick home, with pillars added in later years, is across Tome Highway from J.P. Animal Supply. Today several properties make up what was once Coulson's Old Garden.
While the early Coulson family was Quaker, today we find the family buried in West Nottingham Friends Cemetery as well as West Nottingham Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Descendants of the Coulson Family are still living in the area as well as other parts of Cecil County.
In 1789 another member of the Coulson family, Joseph Coulson, was granted a patent for Coulson's Message or Coulson's Messuage. Messuage means house. This tract contained 466 acres and 114 square perches. This Joseph was probably the brother of John who patented Coulson's Old Garden the same year. As of this writing it is not known where Coulson's Messuage was located.
Thomas Coulson left a large estate of at least two "plantations" on the Octoraro Creek, as well as one in York County, Pennsylvania, and one in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His will, of record in Chester County, Pennsylvania, reads as follows:
TO ALL PERSONS WHOME THESE CONCERN KNOW YE that I Thomas Coulson of the Township of West Nottingham in the County of Chester and Province of Pennsylvania being at the signing and sealing hereof of sound Memory and well Disposing mind and calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing I must Dye do ordain make Constitute and Publish this my Last will and Testament in the following Manner Viz Imprimis it is my will that my Funeral charges and just debts may be paid and Discharged with Convenient speed after my decease and decent Interment.Secondly, I leave and bequeath to my beloved Wife Martha Coulson the one-third Part of all my Personal that is clear or Exclusive of what legacys is hereinafter given to and amongst my Children to her and her heirs forever. I leave and Give to my said wife the one third Part of the Rents of all my Plantation in West Nottingham whereon I now dwell near Friends Meeting House during the time of her Widowhood only and also I leave to my said Widow free Privilege and Liberty to live and Remain in my now present dwelling as long as she remains a Widow if it so best Please her Near Friends Meeting House.
Thirdly I give and Bequeath to my son John Coulson all my said Plantation whereon I now Live Paying to my said wife during her widowhood her third as before. Given and allowing her the Privilege as aforesaid in the house. I also give to my said son John Coulson all the Utensils of Husbandry on said Place and two horses and two cows and half my Joyners Tools all to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Fourthly I give to my two sons Thomas Coulson and William Coulson all my Plantation in West Nottingham Lying on the East side of and Joyning to Octorara Creek Containing two hundred acres more or less to be divided betwixt them as follows viz: to begin at a stone Wall thence along the old Ditch that Parts the old Meadow from the new thence north twenty five degrees East twenty nine perches to a marked white oak by the Road side Near the Meadow spring thence North two hundred Perches to said Octorara Creek thence the Courses of said creek to sd. Thomas Coulsons line by the Mill from thence to the Beginning the west side or part to be my said son Thomas Coulson wherein he is now Building a Grist Mill and the East Part of said Division to be my said son William Coulson each to have their part according to said division line be it more or less to them their heirs and assigns forever. I a lso give to my said son Thomas Coulson all my smiths Tools and five pounds in Cash Currency of said Province.
Fifthly I Confirm to my Eldest son Joseph Coulson the Plantation in York County which I have already given him whereon he now lives and also five Pounds Currency of said Province to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Sixthly I confirm to my son Samuel Coulson all my Plantation in little Britain Lancaster County already given to him and also five pounds currency of said Province to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Seventhly I confirm to my Eldest Daughter Sarah Rich all those goods I have already given her and also give five Pounds Currency of said Province to her heirs and assigns Forever.
Eighthly I give to my son Isaac Coulson the sum of five Pounds Current Money of said Province to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Ninthly I Give and Bequeath to my youngest Daughter Elizabeth Coulson her heirs & Assigns the sum of Sixty Pounds Currency of said Province either to be paid to her or put out on Interest by my Executors hereafter named for her support or to pay to her use three pounds per year till it is paid as they shall judge most to her advantage. Also I give to my said Daughter Elizabeth my Negroe woman Joan to attend upon and take care of her during her Natural life.
Tenthly I give and Bequeath the one-half part of the Remainder of my Personal Estate to be Equally divided amongst my eight children before named to every one of their equal share to be divided to them their heirs and assigns forever and it is my will the Remaining half part of my said Personal Estate shall remain in the hand of my said son Thomas Coulson for the further and Better support of my said daughter Elizabeth Coulson during her Natural Life and after then to be wholly to his my said son's use forever.
Eleventhly and lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint my beloved wife Martha to be my Executrix and also my said son Thomas Coulson to be my Executor of this my last will and Testament hereby Revoking disannuling and making void all other Wills by me heretofore made and all Legacies and Executors confirming this and this only to be my last will and Testament. In Witness whereto I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of January Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and Sixty one 1761.
Signed Sealed Published, pronounced and declared by the said Thomas Coulson to be his last Will & Testament in the Presence of us the subscribers we believing him at the time to be of sound and well Disposing mind.
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Chester August 30, 1763 THEN personally appeared William Allen and Joseph Brown and on their solemn affirmation, according to Law did solemnly & sincerely declare affirm and say that they were personally present and did see and hear Thomas Coulson the Testator within named Sign Seal Publish Pronounce and declare the within writing as and for his last will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of a sound and well disposing mind and memory to the best of their understandings.
Be it Remembered that on the thirtieth day of August Anna Dom 1763 the last will and Testament of Thomas Coulson deceased was proved in due form of law and Letters Testamentary were granted to Martha Coulson and Thomas Coulson Sole Executors therein named who were Solemnly Affirmed well and truly to administer and bring in an inventory of the deceased's Estate into the Registers office at Chester on or before the first day of October next and to render a true and just account of their administration in a year or when Legally Required. Given under the seal of said office.
According to most sources, MARGARET COULSON was born in 1705 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died March 3, 1788, in West Nottingham, Cecil County, Maryland, at the age of eighty-three. On March 16, 1731, at West Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania, she married JOHN COPPOCK (the son of AARON COPPOCK and MIRIAM SHORT)(see their marriage certificate below), who was born July 1, 1709, in Upper Chichester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and died May 18, 1789, in Mongoguisie, Maryland, at the age of seventy-nine.
Margaret and John were great-great grandparents of EDWIN COPPOCK and BARCLAY COPPOCK, two of John Brown's Harper's Ferry Raiders. See later generations for more information on these two.
MARGARET COULSON and JOHN COPPOCK were the parents of the following children:
WHEREAS John Coppock son of Aaron Coppock of the Township of East Nottingham in ye County of Chester & Province of Pennsylvania, deceased, AND Margaret Coulson daughter of Joseph Coulson & Martha his wife, of Germantown, in ye County of Philadelphia, & Province afore said, Having declared their Intentions of Marriage, with each other. Before several Monthly Meetings of ye Christian People called Quakers, in Nottingham afore said, & having consent of those concerned, their said proposal of Marriage, after Deliberate ConSideration: They appearing clear of all others, were approved of by ye said Meeting. THERE therefore may Certify, whom it may consern yet for the full accomplishing their said Intention this Sixteenth Day of the first month usually called March, in ye Year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred & thirty one. They ye said John Coppock & Margaret Coulson, appeared in a public meeting of ye said people and others, for yet purpose assembled att their Public Meeting Place in West Nottingham in ye County afore said, AND ye sd. John Coppock taking ye sd. Margaret Coulson by ye hand, Did in solemn manner, openly declare he took her to be his wife, promising through the Lords assistance to be unto her a loving and faithfull Husband untill it should please the Lord by Death to separate them.
AND then and there in ye said assembly ye sd. Margaret Coulson, Did in like manner Declare yet she took him the sd. John Coppock to be her Husband, promising through the Lords assistance to be unto him a loving and faithfull wife, untill it should please the Lord by Death to Separate them.
MOREOVER ye the said John Coppock & Margaret Coulson (she according to ye custom of marriage assumeing the name of her Husband's sir name) did as a further Confirmation thereof then and there to these presents set their hands as Husband and Wife,
and we being present at yet Solemnization of ye said marriage & Subscription of ye said marriage as witnesses hereto also subscribed our names the day and year above written.
Thos. Hughes, John Piggott, Charity Beeson, Miriam Coppock, Jeremiah Brown, Messer Brown, Hannah White, Thos. Coulson, Joshua Brown, Henry Reynolds, Mary Hanbey, Martha Coulson, Jno. Beckett, Wm. Howell, Hannah Reynolds, Jno. White, Jno. Jarmymile, John ffincher, Eliza. Everitt, Mary White, Willm. Kinsey, Richd. Brown, Anne Beeson, Joel Bailey, Jno. Beckett, Jno. Churchman, Patience Brown, Lydia Gregg, John Bath, Joseph Beeson, Mary Haines, Miriam Jones, John David, Jacob Haines, Eliza. Hewes, Eliza. Delany, John Rich, Shos. Brown, Mary King, Margt. Richards, Edw. Beeson, William Reynolds, Margt. King, Sarah Wiley, Jonth. Reeves, Hannah Kinsey, Sarah Powell, Elling Brown, David Gregg, Rachel Brown, John Robinson, Rachel Reynolds, William Wiley, Mary Williams
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