Yorkshire, England
Whitpain, Montgomery (was Philadelphia) County, Pennsylvania
Coulston is also spelled Caulson, Caulston, Coleson, Collisen, Collsen,
Collson, Coulstone, Coleston,
Colson,
Coulson, and
Coulstone.
The Society of Friends (Quakers)began in England in the 1650s, when they broke away from the Puritans. Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn, as a safe place for Friends to live and practice their faith.
Lush forests in Colonial America allowed settlers to build wooden homes.
Estate inventories give us a glance into the home life of Colonial Americans through their possesions.
William and Elizabeth Coulston married in the last decade of the 17th Century in Yorkshire, England. William was born in Yorkshire, England about 1675.
William married his second wife, Ann, about 1700 and they made the voyage to America about that time. They settled in Whitpain Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. It was Montgomery County at that time. They were Quakers.
David Meredith and William Coulston are appointed to Inspect into his Clearness and Conversation and make report thereof the Next Ming
According to the minutes of the Gwynedd Meeting on December 22, 1714-15, William Coulston was overseer.
August 29, 1717
John Humphrey, William Coulstone, Thomas Pugh and George Lewis are Appointed to Attend the Service of the Next Quarterly Meeting in Philadelphia – And to report that Love and Unity is Continued amongst Friends. Meeting Attended and Discipline put into Practice.
In 1720 William witnessed the marriage of David and Ruth Jones.
David Jones of Plymouth married Ruth Dickinson daughter of William of Plymouth,
2 April (2 mo.) 1720 at Plymouth Meeting.
Witnesses:. Hugh Jones, William Kook, Tho Colly, Job Pugh, Jno David, David Meredith, Tho David, Owen Owens, Isaac Morris, Ben Dickinson, Phebe Dickinson, Gwen David, John Cadwalader, William Coulstone, John Rees, Thomas Pugh, Rowland Ellis Jr., Ellis Robt, David Harry, Robt Evan, Abram Cox, Mary Boyer, Mary Jones, Ellin Meredith, Eliza Robert, Edith Dawes, Grace Eastburne, Ellin Evans, Mary Owen, Lydia Harry, Mary Harmar, Eliza Potts, Mary Robert, Jane David, Martha Cox, John Shiers, Sarah Shiers, William Dickinson, David Davies, Sarah Davis, Joshua Dickinson, Daniel Potts, David Meredith, John Moore, Arthur Jones, Rebecka Cadwalader, Mary [ ? ], Sarah Dawes, John Moore, Cadwalader Evans.
William married the widow, Mary Davis, on January 15, 1721/22.
1st-mo. 15, 1721-2. William Coulston of Whitpain, Philadelphia co., widower, and Mary Davies, of the same place, widow. At Plymouth meeting-house. Witnesses, Henry Williams, John Coulston, Abraham Davies, Elizabeth Davies and 33 others.
Mary and William had a daughter, Susan Coulston.
In 1724 William and Mary witnessed the marriage of Charles and Mary Crusey.
8th-mo. 15, 1724. Charles Crusey, of Whitpain, Philadelphia county and Mary Davies, daughter of Wm., of the same place (deceased). At Plymouth meeting-house.
Witnesses, William and Mary Coulston, Rees Nanna, David Meredith, Abraham Dawes, Evan Thomas, Wm. Trotter and 25 others.
William wrote his will in Whitpain on May 10, 1726. In it he named his wife, Mary, and his children: Sarah, Henry, Eliza Nana, Anne Jones, Grace Eastbourn, John Barnabas, Hannah and William.
William died in January, 1727/28 in
Montgomery (then Philadelphia) County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in Plymouth Friends Meeting Cemetery.
His will was probated in February, 1728. His sons, William and John were the executors.
Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania was founded in 1698 by Welsh Quakers. The township split into Lower and Upper Gwynedd in 1891.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
Europeans who made the voyage to America faced a difficult journey of several months.
Pennsylvania is one of the 13 original states and was originally founded in 1681 as a result of a royal land grant to William Penn, the son of the state's namesake.
Phila wills: 1724 - 1802. William Coulston Yeoman, Witpan. Co of Phila.
Will dtd 5 m 10, 1726/7. Probated Feb 1728. Rec will bk E, No 112 p 100.
Names: Wife, Mary, ch: Sarah, Henry, Eliza Nana, Anne Jones, Grace Eastbourn,
John, Barnabas, Hannah & William.
Execd William & John Coulston.
