We continue the story of the settler Gideon Coats and his family. He never went west to the Indian Territory. He stayed in Cherokee County (now Etowah County), Alabama. His wife, Margret, went on her own and was not on the Trail of Tears. She left just before the forced removal. This caused trouble between them. A very strong, troubling separation.

This is the 1842 transcribed narrative section of the above claim by Margaret. Notice that she is now using her maiden name, Lasley. Reminder: She was married to Andrew Vann before marrying Gideon Coats. She went west to the Arkansas Territory with the children she had with Vann.

No. 37 The United States To Margaret Lasley formerly of Coosa River near Turkey Town

Margaret Lasley on oath says she furnished a white man citizen of the United States with the sum of nine hundred dollars, to purchase a certain negro boy by named of Daniel, he accordly made the purchase, he received him and had him in possession, had and owned all the other property, charged and setforth in the forgoing claim, that charges made for the different items is the prices of the first cost, except said things as she names and is name as about for herself, and which is priced at the common rate of the county, in the old Nation. That when she left for the West, in the year of 1840. She made an effort to bring, him negro boy Daniel, with her and her other property, but was opposed by a citizen a white man by the name of Gideon Cotes and she was compelled to leave the boy and all the other property setforth in this claim, after her arrival in the Arkansaws she employed a young man Citizen of the Cherokee Nation to return back to the old Nation now in the state of Alabama, to collect and bring her property that she had charge for, when he returned his information to her that he could not obtain the said property that he was prevented by the said white Gideon Cotes of bring the said property as he had it his possession. That she never has from the United States or any other source or whatever got compensation for the same or for any part thereof. Nor has she ever got any of the items above claimed. Sworn to before me 31st March 1842, W L Adams Judge I Ct Margaret Lasley X her mark ¹

The claim state she left for the West in 1840. However, she left for the West in 1838. The items are very interesting. It is a list of the personal property she left behind. Click the image to enlarge it. The items and prices let you see into the lives they lived before the removal.

Margaret sent her nephew back to Turkey’s Town to collect her property. His name is Lewis Griffin. His father is Jack Griffin, who is married to Margaret’s sister Olley Lasley. Lewis and his father, Jack, filed a claim for the loss of a horse, saddle, and bridle. This was used by Lewis to go and retrieve Margaret’s property. Jack Griffin claimed he purchased these for his son for this purpose.

No 91 The United States to Lewis Griffin resident in the old Nation Wills Valley now Lewis Creek Flint District

For one horse 7 years old line size and good form $100.00 For one saddle, bridle, martingale, & blanket $42.50 (total) $142.50

Lewis Griffin states on oath, he had and owned in the year of 1840, the horse, Saddle, Bridle, etc as charged in the above claim, that he was employed by Margaret Lasley in the year of 1840 to return back to the old Nation after her property, on his arrival in the East, he being alone in the Country where they left, and this said Gideon Cotes who has Margaret Lasley’s property in possession teles him to leave his horse and return by water, he this despondent being somewhat uneasy, alone in a distance country from home was fearful of his opposer the said Cotes that his property would be taken from him and perhaps get abused from this said Cotes or some of his friends, so he left the home with the promise from the said Coats that the horse would be returned to him in the Arkansaw, but he has never seen the horse nor pay from the United States or pay from any other scource. Sworn before me 14th April 1842 W L Adams Judge I Ct Lewis Griffin

Jack Griffin, states on oath, he purchased a Horse, Saddle, Bridle, etc which he gave one hundred fourty two and fifty cents fee, and gave the same to Lewis Griffin when he was starting to the old Nation for business for Margaret Lasley and he never retuned with said horse. Sworn before me 14th April 1842 W L Adams Judge I Ct Jack Griffin X his mark ²

Lewis Griffin the nephew of Margaret Lasley Coats, was not able to collect the property. He had to leave his horse behind and return to the Nation by water. None of Margaret’s property was returned to her. Genealogy records show that Margaret married a man by the name of Tripplett before 1851. His first name is not recorded. She died after 1851. ³

Daniel, the enslaved person. I hope you clicked on the image to enlarge it. You should have noticed that Daniel is 20 years old. No information about him can be found. It is unknown what happened to him. I will explain the enslaved people of the Coats family in a future post.

Gideon filed for divorce in 1842 in Blount County from Margaret (Peggy) Lasley. She was in the Arkansas Territory by the Removal Act of 1835 and was not present for the case.   The state of Alabama. represented her. This case closed on the docket in 1844, yet neither party was present. Alabama must not have known how to deal with a Cherokee Nation marriage. There is no written marriage notation by or from any Justice of the Peace. They waited 2 more years to close the docket with no conclusion.⁴

This is not the end of the story. More to come.

1. NARA Washington, DC, Record Group 75, Lasley file, 1842 Flint District, Book 2, # 37, Margaret Lasley ↩︎
2. Idid, #91, Lewis Griffin ↩︎
3. Cherokee Lineages: Register Report of Richard Pearis, Sr, Descendants of Richard Pearis, Sr, Generation No 3, Elizabeth Ann Wickett. page 2644 ↩︎
4. Blount County Chancery Court June Term, 1842 and June 1844, FamilySearch.com ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV