“Sarah Jane Coates the daughter of Thomas Coates was born 18th Feb 1839” [Minter-Durham family Bible at the Virginia State Archives, Acc. 26856]

“Sarah J. Muse was born on the 18th day of Feby 1839” [Muse family Bible record, Library of Virginia Archives/Manuscripts Call Number 28056]

Orator and oratrice James Durham and Frances his wife who was Frances Coates, widow of Thomas Coates decd. That Thomas Coats died some years since intestate leaving a widow and two children namely Sarah Jane and Anne Thomas his only heirs at law. Anne Thomas Coates died an infant of tender years after the death of Thomas Coates.

Her middle name is given in the birth record of her son Samuel Thomas Muse.

1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Page 102
Dwelling 661, Household 661
Durham, James, 38, male, farmer, value of real estate $1,000, born in Virginia
Durham, Frances, 35, female, born in Virginia
Durham, Thomas, 15, male, born in Virginia
Durham, William, 13, male, born in Virginia, in school within the year
Durham, Adaline, 4, female, born in Virginia
Coates, Sarah, 14, female, born in Virginia, in school within the year

1860 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Dwelling 609, Family 593
Muse, S. W. P.?, 40, farmer, $3700 real estate, $4835 personal estate
Muse, Sarah J., 21
Muse, Thomas, 3
Muse, Jno. Richmond, 1
Carter, Lucretia, 54, house keeper
Covington, Richd, 25, laborer
All were born in Virginia

1870 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Millers Tavern Post Office
Page 145
Muse, Samuel W. Y., 50, male, white, farmer, value of real estate $1,700, value of personal estate $200, born in Virginia
Muse, Sarah J., 31, female, white, keeping house, born in Virginia
Muse, Thomas, 13, male, white, farm laborer, born in Virginia
Muse, John R., 11, male, white, farm labrorer, born in Virginia, born in Virginia
Muse, Charles H., 9, male, white, at home, born in Virginia
Muse, Lucelia A., 7, female, white, at home, born in Virginia
Muse, Willis Y., 4, male, white, at home, born in Virginia
Muse, Robert W. F., 2, male, white, at home, born in Virginia
Brockenbrough, Lucy, 16, female, mulatto, domestic servant, born in Virginia, cannot read or write

1910 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Rappahannock District, Dwelling 53, Family 53
Davis, Robert, 39, married 14 years, farmer on general farm, owned farm free of mortgage, farm schedule 48
Davis, Lucile, 44, has had 0 children
Muse, Sarah, mother in law of Robert Davis, has had 9 children, 7 of whom are living

On 5 June 1918 in the Rappahannock District of Essex County, Sarah Jane Muse died. She was female, white, windowed, born 18 February 1839, age 79 years, 3 months, 18 days, occupation “kept her own own house”, born in Essex County. Father was Thomas Coates, born in Essex County, Virginia; mother was Frances Taylor, born in Essex County, Virginia. Information provided by S. T. Muse of Upright, Virginia. Attended by physician from 30 May to 5 June, cause of death myocarditis, with mitral insufficiency. Buried on 7 June 1918 at Lebanon Church. [Certificate of Death, Commonwealth of Virginia, 14499.]

Her name is provided in the marriage record between her daughter Lucile and Robert S. Davis as well as Joseph Davis.

Birth and death dates are provided by her gravestone.