James Coates (1815 – 1 July 1854) was a prominent pioneer settler of Auckland, New Zealand. He was also a senior official within the administration of the newly-established colony of New Zealand, following the proclamation of sovereignty by William Hobson (on behalf of the British Crown) and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

Coates served in various roles, including as sheriff of the colony, magistrate, chief clerk in the Office of the Colonial Secretary, first clerk of the clerk of the executive and legislative councils, first clerk of the Auckland Provincial Council and, for five weeks prior to his death, as the first Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

From Jamaica to New Zealand, marriage and settling in Auckland

Coates was born in Montego Bay Jamaica in 1815, the second son of John and Mary Coates, plantation owners. "COATES, SIR JAMES HUGH BUCHANAN (1851–1935)", Dictionary of New Zealand Biography 1940, volume 1, Editor Guy Scholefield, page 165 The New Zealand Herald, 26 April 1881, page 4 He is described as being "liberal minded", with a "tall, slim, gentlemanly demeanor, and no want of office ability". Auckland Star, 5 November 1881, page 1 Coates practiced law in Jamaica1839 Jamaica Almanac: Attorneys at law and worked within the government of the British West IndiesLetter Sarah Anne Coates to Sir Donald McLean 30 Jan 1872 before leaving to settle in New Zealand.

On 2 March 1840 Coates arrived in Australia, having sailed from Bristol on the ship Chelydra.The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 March 1840, page 2 The Colonist newspaper reported rumours that Coates was related to Governor Sir George Gipps, and that Gipps had appointed Coates as the Colonial Secretary for New Zealand.The Colonist, 13 May 1840, page 2 Coates denied both rumours, stating that he had not had the honour of meeting the governor until after his (Coates') arrival in Australia.The Colonist, 16 May 1840, page 2The Australian, 14 May 1840, page 2

At 25 years of age, in July 1840, Coates arrived in New Zealand on the ship Chelydra.NZ Advertiser & Bay of Islands Gazette, 2 July 1840, page 4 Evening Post, 8 July 1922, page 11Shipping Intelligence Extracts Also arriving from England via Sydney on the Chelydra that day was Sarah Anne Bendall (1819–1892Auckland Council, St Stephens Cemetery Records) who subsequently became Mrs Coates in the second recorded wedding in Auckland.The Early History of New Zealand, page 547 The wedding took place in the drawing room at Government House on 24 June 1841, with the bride being given away by William Hobson, the Governor of New Zealand. The New Zealand Herald 18 June 1892, page 5 After the wedding one of Hobson's five children was christened, with the newly married couple serving as godparents. The New Zealand Herald, 24 December 1892, supplement page 1 These ceremonies were then followed by Auckland's first ball. The New Zealand Herald, 25 June 1897, supplement page 1Reminiscences of Auckland in 1841 and 1842The New Zealand Government Gazette (Kororareka), issue 19, 15 July 1841 (Quoting issue 1 of the New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette)

Coates was a signatory (as witness) to both the original Waitangi Sheet of the Treaty of Waitangi (on 5 August 1840)NZ History, Russell signing, 5 August 1840 and the deed recording the purchase from Maori in 1840, by George Clarke on behalf of the British Crown, of the 3000 acres on which central Auckland now stands.From Tamaki-Makaurau-Rau to Auckland: A History of Auckland, RCJ Stone, page 261 On 19 April 1841, in the first public land auction in what was to become Auckland City, Coates purchased two of the initial 119 sections put up for sale. Then in the first sale of suburban and country land on 1 September 1841, he purchased a small farm (12 acres) in partnership with captain William Cornwallis Symonds.New Zealand Gazette,14 July 1841, page 14New Zealand Gazette, 6 October 1841, page 77

Career

Coates' career in New Zealand began on 12 July 1840 when he was appointed as a clerk (third class) in the office of the colonial secretary, reporting to the Colonial Secretary Willoughby Shortland through the Chief Clerk James Stuart Freeman. On 16 November 1840 Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson appointed Coates as his private secretary, a role which had previously been performed by Freeman as chief clerk.Blue Book of Statistics, 1840

On 3 May 1841 Coates relinquished his role as private secretary when Hobson (now governor, rather than lieutenant-governor, as Queen Victoria had by this time decreed New Zealand to be a separate colony from New South Wales, and had appointed Hobson as governor) appointed Coates as the first clerk of the executive and legislative councils.New Zealand Government Gazette, 7 July 1841, Supplement (B), page 3The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 27 July 1841, page 2 Hobson also appointed Coates as one of a small number of "Magistrates of the Territory of New Zealand" (Justice of the Peace)The New Zealand Government Gazette (Kororareka), issue 13, 13 May 1841 On 1 July 1841 Coates was appointed by Hobson to be the "Sheriff of the Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies".New Zealand Government Gazette, 7 July 1841, page 1Australasian Chronicle, 17 August 1841, page 3 From 10 January 1842New Zealand Government Gazette, 12 January 1842, page 1 until his resignation effective on 23 September 1843,New Zealand Government Gazette, 22 September 1843, page 242 Coates was sheriff of the Central District of New Ulster (Auckland district). On 7 March 1842, as Sheriff of Auckland, Coates was required to oversee the first capital punishment in New Zealand. He held the roles of magistrate and sheriff at the same time as the position of clerk of councils.Blue Book of Statistics, 1841 & 1842

When Robert FitzRoy took office as governor in late 1843 he appointed (with effect from 15 January 1844) Coates, together with the newly appointed Colonial Secretary, Andrew Sinclair, and Registrar of Deeds, Robert Appleyard Fitzgerald, as "Commissioners, pro tempore, to examine the public accounts of the colony".New Zealand Government Gazette, 20 January 1844, page 15 Coates performed this role for about a year, without additional pay, while continuing to hold the position of clerk of councils.Blue Book of Statistics, 1845 and 1846

Governor George Grey appointed Coates as chief clerk in the office of the colonial secretary on 1 March 1846. After this appointment Coates relinquished his position as clerk of councils for a period, but was reappointed to it again on 1 October 1848, while still retaining the position of chief clerk.Blue Book of Statistics, 1845,1847 & New Ulster 1848 He continued to hold the positions of Chief Clerk and Clerk of councils until 1853, occasionally acting as colonial secretary when Andrew Sinclair was absent. When the Auckland Provincial Council met for the first time in October 1853, Coates became its first clerk.Auckland Provincial Government Gazette, 2 February 1854, page 23, (resolution re Coates pay as Clerk of the Council)Daily Southern Cross, 21 October 1853, page 2Daily Southern Cross, 28 October 1853, page 2New Zealander, 22 February 1854, page 3

First Clerk of the House of Representatives

Coates was the acting Clerk of the House of Representatives when it assembled for the first time on 24 May 1854. His permanent appointment was proposed by Samuel Revans, who said that "No man could be found in the country so well qualified for it as Mr Coates".New Zealander, 31 May 1854, page 2 After some debate about whether it was appropriate for the House to appoint its Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms, it was decided that the Administrator of the Government (Robert Wynyard, who was head of the Executive branch of government from January 1854 to September 1855, following the end of George Grey's first term as governor and prior to the arrival of Governor Thomas Gore Browne) should be asked to make appointments to these positions.Daily Southern Cross, 20 June 1854, page 3Lyttelton Times, 15 June 1854, page 5Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1854, Session I, 16 June 1854Letter from Speaker Clifford to Wynyard, Officer Administering the Government, 16 June 1854, Archives NZ record R23523528 The Speaker Charles Clifford subsequently recommended the appointment of Coates for the position of Clerk of the House, stating "I have the honour to recommend Mr Coates for the office of Clerk, that Gentleman having already proved his great efficiency".Letter from Speaker Clifford to Colonial Secretary, 19 June 1854, Archives NZ record R23523528

Although Coats was only Clerk of the House of Representatives for five weeks, and died before his appointment was published in the Government Gazette, he oversaw the development of the House's first Standing Orders, which were adopted by the House on 9 June 1854.Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1854, Session I, 9 June 1854The standing Rules and Orders of the House of Representatives

Following Coates' death the House resolved that "200 pounds be appropriated as a donation to the widow and children of Mr James Coates, Clerk of the House of Representatives"Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1854, Session II, 14 September 1854Letter from Speaker Clifford to Wynyard, Officer Administering the Government, 14 September 1854, Archives NZ record R23523528Supplementary Estimates, 13 September 1854Parliamentary Debates 1854, pages 423 & 424 (this was a significant donation, being almost a year's salary).

Children

Coates' firstborn William Hobson Coates, born in 1842, was the first child to be entered into the baptism register at Auckland's first church St Paul's. Governor Hobson and Lady Hobson were his godparents. The New Zealand Herald,16 June 1894, supplement page 1The Early History of New Zealand, Errata page WH Coates was an ensignNew Zealander, 26 December 1863, page 1 in the Auckland Militia and the 1st Regiment of Waikato Militia.New Zealander, 13 January 1865, page 5 He died on 16 March 1879, aged 36, The New Zealand Herald 17 March 1879, page 2 and is buried in St Stephens Cemetery Auckland., Auckland Libraries Cemetery Records

Coates' second child Lavinia Coates, born 1844, was president of the Victoria LeagueAdvertisements, Evening Post, 7 August 1914, page 2 and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her services in connection with the First World War. The New Zealand Herald, 16 March 1918, page 8 For several years she acted as chaperone and companion to Minnie Horton, daughter of The New Zealand Herald proprietor Alfred George Horton. She toured England and the Continent with the Hortons during the 1890s. For a brief period in 1896 she served as aide to Sir George Grey.Auckland Council Library record ID: GLAST COA.1 Lavinia never married. She died in 1929 and is buried at Purewa Cemetery, Auckland. The New Zealand Herald, 16 September 1929, page 14

Coates' third child Georgiana Sophia, born 1846, married Canon Charles Moseley Nelson,The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Auckland Provincial District) who was the Vicar of St Paul's Church, Auckland for 38 years. Auckland Star 30 November 1875, page 2 The National Library of New Zealand holds a sketch by Charles Heaphy which depicts Rev Nelson proposing to Georgiana ("Sophy") at the Freemason's picnic.National Library of NZ, Ref: A-147-015 Georgiana was president of the Ladies' Benevolent Society for 30 years, one of the founders of the SPCA, the Parnell Orphans' Home, and the Plunket Society. She was also a vice-president of the Girls' Friendly Society and an active member of the Mothers' Union. The New Zealand Herald, 10 October 1919, page 8 She died on 9 October 1919 and is buried in St Stephens Cemetery Auckland., Auckland Libraries Cemetery Records