The Coates Baronets

VICTOR COATS (1760-1822), of Snugbrooke, BALLYMACARRETT, Belfast, son of Israel Coats, of Falls Road in the same town, by his wife Grace (née Harris), carried out business as a surgeon-barber and perfumer. 

Snugbrooke shown in the middle of the drawing

Snugbrooke, or Snug Brook, was a substantial residence immediately to the north of the porter's lodge at Ormeau Park. Today that would be close to the junction of Ravenhill Road and Ormeau Embankment (I estimate in the vicinity of  Coates Row).

Mr Coats established the Coats Pottery at Ballymacarrett,

"Coats has for sale a good assortment of butter crocks and milk pans of different sizes. Also, flooring tiles of remarkable good quality, and chimney pots made to any shape."

About 1800 Mr Coats inherited a heavy engineering firm, which was to become one of the most successful in Belfast.

His son,

WILLIAM COATES JP (1796-1878), of Glentoran, Belfast, married Mary, daughter of Thomas Lindsay, and had issue,

Maurice Lindsay, of Springfield, Belfast;

Victor, of Rathmore House, Dunmurry;

DAVID LINDSAY, of whom hereafter.

The youngest son,

DAVID LINDSAY COATES JP (1840-94), of Clonallon House, Strandtown, Belfast, wedded, in 1864, Sarah, daughter of George Mulligan, and had issue,

WILLIAM FREDERICK, his heir;
Harold Vivian Edmund;
Anna Maria.

Mr Coates was succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM FREDERICK COATES JP DL (1866-1932), Lord Mayor of Belfast, 1920-22 and 1929-30, High Sheriff of Belfast, 1906, County Antrim, 1931.

Mr Coates established the stockbrokers William F Coates & Co.

He was created a baronet in 1921, designated of Haypark, City of Belfast.

Sir William espoused, in 1907, Elsie Millicent, daughter of Colonel Frederick William Gregory, and had issue,

FREDERICK GREGORY LINDSAY, his successor;
Jean Ann Dorothy.

Sir William Coates Bt (Image: Belfast City Council)

He hosted King George V and Queen Mary when they visited Belfast to open the new NI Parliament Buildings of which he was also a senator (both ex officio as Lord Mayor and as an elected member 1924-29).

The following entry was circulated in the London Gazette, 1921:-

THE KING has been graciously pleased on the occasion of the opening by His Majesty of the Parliament of Northern Ireland to signify his intention of conferring a Baronetcy of the United Kingdom on the undermentioned: — William Frederick Coates, Esq., D.L. For two years successively Lord Mayor of Belfast. Has rendered conspicuous valuable service during very anxious times.

Clonallon House was a large Victorian villa in its own grounds, between Belmont Road and Sydenham Avenue.

The main entrance was probably at Belmont Road, where there may have been a gate lodge.

Clonallon Park and Clonallon Gardens now occupy the site.

Sir William lived for a period at Glynn Park House (above), near Carrickfergus, County Antrim, which features in Dean's Gate Lodges of Ulster.

He was succeeded by his only son,

BRIGADIER SIR FREDERICK GREGORY LINDSAY COATES, 2nd Baronet (1916-94), who married, in 1940, Joan Nugent, daughter of Major-General Sir Charlton Watson Spinks, and had issue,

DAVID FREDERICK CHARLTON, his successor;
Elizabeth Sara Ann; Moira Louise.

Sir Frederick was succeeded by his only son,

SIR DAVID FREDERICK CHARLTON COATES, 3rd Baronet (1948-), of Dorchester, Dorset, who wedded, in 1973, Christine Helen, daughter of Lewis F Marshall, and had issue,

JAMES GREGORY DAVID, b 1977;
Robert Lewis Edward, b 1980.

Sir David is vice-president of the Poole Maritime Trust.

First published in July, 2010.