Pages

January 29, 2006

Snow on the Roof, Fire in the Belly

Gilliam Coffey was born May 21, 1810 in North Carolina, and probably in Caldwell County. He was the third son, and third of the five known children of William and Anna (Annie) Boone Coffey.

He first married Mary (Polly) Moore in Caldwell County probably around 1835 when he was 25 and she was about 15 years old . The first child that we know about was Harvey, born c1838, and if he was their first child, then perhaps they were married a couple of years later.

After Harvey he and Polly had at least five more children: William, born c1840; Harriet, born c1844; Celia, born c1847; Adaline, born c1851, and Emma, born c1855. I have no information about their descendants, but my search continues.

Polly died in Caldwell County May 26, 1871.1 Sometime around 1888 Gilliam married Susan D. Gragg, who had previously been married to a Mr. Green. She was born April 1846 in North Carolina.2 Assuming that they were married in 1887, Susan was 41 or 42 years old, and Gilliam was at least 78 or 79. In February 1888 their only child was born, a son named Hayley.

Gilliam and Susan survived at least until the 1900 census. In addition to Hayley, Gilliam's step-son Isaac G. Green was also in the household. He was born in May, 1879 in Caldwell County.

Please e-mail me if you can add to or correct any of this information


1 Mary E. Throneburg, "Bible Records," Coffey Cousins Clearinghouse Newsletter 39 (June 1990): p10
2 1900 Census, Caldwell Co., ED23, Sheet 11B

No comments: