Margaret Rebecca Greene

Margaret was a daughter of David and Catherine E. Smith Greene, born Jul. 3, 1857 in Caldwell Co.  She married Smith Coffey, a son of Isaac and Sarah "Sally" Estes Coffey on Aug. 14, 1872 in Caldwell Co.*

Smith had first married Martha Smith in 1868** and had one son, Charlie, born c1874.

Rebecca and Smith were the parents of at least eight children:  Katherine who married Rev. W. Roseboro Beach; Mary who married Joseph Alexander Smith; Martha who married Horace Sudderth; Henry who married Thursa Elmira "Mira" Sudderth who later married James William Coffey, son of William Luther and Mary Ann Barlow Coffey; Margaret who married Duffy Benson; Thomas Jefferson who married Bessie Beach; George Greene who married Ella Anne Barnett; and Clara who married Jay Luther Barlow.

Annual Report

Smith apparently died before 1906 because on Sep. 19th of that year Rebecca married Burton N. Lanier at Kings Creek in Caldwell Co.***  It is unclear what happened to Burton because in 1910 Rabecca [sic] Lanier and her daughter Clara were enumerated at Kings Creek without Burton.¹  By 1920, enumerated as Myra R., she was once again using the Coffey surname.  She was a widow then and ran a retail grocery business which she operated through at least 1930.²

When Smith died, Rebecca was left with minor children Thomas, Greene and Clara.  She was required to report annually her expenses in support of the children.

Margaret Rebecca died on Dec. 11, 1938 at Kings Creek and was buried at Kings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

As always, corrections and additions are welcomed.

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*North Carolina County Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org).  Groom's Name: Smith Coffey Groom's Birth Date: Groom's Birthplace: Groom's Age: Bride's Name: Rebecca Greene Bride's Birth Date: Bride's Birthplace: Bride's Age: Marriage Date: 14 Aug 1872 Marriage Place: Caldwell, North Carolina Groom's Father's Name: Lic Isaac Coffey Groom's Mother's Name: Bride's Father's Name: Bride's Mother's Name: Groom's Race: Groom's Marital Status: Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: Bride's Marital Status: Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M74468-7 System Origin: North Carolina-EASy Source Film Number: 590345 Reference Number: bk 3 


**Ancestry.com. North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA.  Name: Smith Coffey Gender: Male Spouse: Martha Smith Spouse Gender: Female Marriage Date: 12 Jan 1868 Marriage County: Caldwell Marriage State: North Carolina Source Vendor: FHL microfilm # ????? Source: Record of this marriage may be found at the Family Notes: Smith Coffey married Martha Smith on Jan 12, 1868 in Caldwell, NC


***North Carolina County Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org).  groom's name:Burton N. Lanier groom's birth date:1850 groom's birthplace: groom's age:56 bride's name:M. R. Coffey bride's birth date:1858 bride's birthplace: bride's age:48 marriage date:19 Sep 1906 marriage place:Kings River [sic] [Creek], Caldwell, North Carolina groom's father's name:Edmund Lanier groom's mother's name:Susanna Lanier bride's father's name:David Greene bride's mother's name:Mrs. David Greene groom's race:White groom's marital status: groom's previous wife's name: bride's race:White bride's marital status: bride's previous husband's name: indexing project (batch) number:M74462-1 system origin:North Carolina-EASy source film number:590348 reference number:


¹1910 NC, Caldwell Co., Kings Creek Twp., ED56, Sheet 4B, dwelling/family 50, Lanier, Rabecca [sic], head, female, white, age 52, married this time for 4 yrs., born NC, parents born NC; Coffey, Clara, dau., female, white, age 14, single, born NC, parents born NC, farm laborer


²1920 Caldwell Co., Kings Creek Twp., ED64, Sheet 9B, Pennell Road, dwelling/family 170, Coffey, Myra [sic] R., head, female, white, age 62, widow, born NC, parents born NC, retail merchant, groceries; 1930 NC, Caldwell Co., Kings Creek Twp., ED 14-6, Sheet 4B, dwelling 64, family 65, Coffey, Rebecca, head, female, white, age 73, widow, married at age 14, born NC, parents born NC, retail merchant, groceries

Samuel Marion & Sarah Emma Conover Coffey

Samuel was a son of Golson Wilson and Mary C. Allen Coffey.  These families have been placed in the mythical Chesley Coffey line, primarily based on the very early research by others.  I became interested in Sam when I found the record of his Feb. 19, 1905 marriage to Sarah Emma Conover, a daughter of William Conover and Sarah Stapp.

Sarah Emma was born Dec. 4, 1882 in Adair Co. and lived there her entire life. She died on Apr. 23, 1933 in the White Oak Pct. of Montpelier.  Her photo, obituary and other vitals can be found at Find-A-Grave, contributed by someone identified as "BC."  Sarah was mother to five children with Sam:  Mary L., (c1907-?); Bascom Edgar (Aug. 21, 1910-Feb. 1986); William Goshen (Nov. 27, 1912-?); Joe Pink (Jun. 23, 1921-?) and Philetus Everett (Nov. 11, 1925-?).*

Sam does not appear to have remarried after Sarah's death.  He died on Sep. 19, 1959 and was buried in the same Conover family cemetery as Sarah at Gentrys Mill in Adair Co.

Conover-Coffey Marriage Record

While looking for Sarah's parents birth, marriage and death dates, I found a marriage record for William Conover, age 32 to Mary E. Coffey, age 37 in Adair Co. on Oct. 18, 1888.  This William does not appear to be Sarah's father but, is likely some relation to her.  Right now, I would really like to find out who Mary's parents were.  If you know, drop me an e-mail.

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*1930 US Fed. Census, White Oak Pct., Adair Co.:  1930 Adair Co., White Oak dist., ED 1-4, Sheet 1B, Middle Jamestown Road, dwelling/family 11, Coffey, Samuel M., head, male, white, age 49, married at age 25, born KY, parents born KY, farmer; Sarah E., wife, female, white, age 47, married at age 22, born KY, parents born KY; Mary E., dau., female, white, age 23, single, born KY, seamstress; Bascom E., son, male, white, age 19, single, born KY, farm laborer; William G., son, male, white, age 17, single, born KY, farm laborer; Joe P., son, male, white, age 8, born KY; Philetus E., son, male, white, age 4 yrs., 4 mos., born KY

James & Elizabeth "Betsy" Coffey Bridge

Descendants of Jordan Coffey know that Jane Coffey, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Osborne Coffey, is considered by many to be the mother of Jordan*.  His father is known through DNA testing of descendants to have been a Taliaferro.

Some, interested only in Jane do not realize that she had a younger sister, Elizabeth, born c1775 in either Amherst or Nelson Co., VA who married James Bridge.  James' birth date is not known but speculatively it was c1775.  He and Elizabeth were married on Sep. 15, 1795 in Amherst Co.

My research shows their first child, William, wasn't born until 1801 in Nelson Co.  There were probably some born earlier but I have found no record.  William died on Mar. 22, 1879 in Back Creek, Augusta Co.  Nothing is known by me of his life between birth and death.

Edmond C., born c1802 was next.  He married Martha W. Tyler of Apr. 29, 1824 in Amherst Co.  Like William, I know nothing of his life with Martha.

Elizabeth was third born c1805.  She married Spotswood Padgett on Nov. 24, 1824 in Amherst Co. and together they were parents to at least seven children:  Frances Jane, c1826; Elizabeth, c1828; Reuben Beverly, b1829; James, c1833; Catharine, c1837; Mary A., c1839 and, Martha W., c1844.

Elizabeth married Leonard S. S. Farnsworth, a son of Nathaniel and Pamela Simonder [sic] Farnsworth, on Jul. 3, 1856.

Reuben Beverly married Minerva J. Rankin, a daughter of John B. and Elizabeth Sheets Rankin, on Aug. 30, 1854 in Augusta Co.

James S. followed Elizabeth in 1808.  He married Nancy Lee on Jun. 27, 1832 in Nelson Co.  Nancy was born in VA in 1803 and died at Back Creek Augusta Co. on Aug. 6, 1855.  James died Nov. 28, 1870 in Augusta C.  Their children were Violetta, born c1833; Alexander, c1834; Mary Jane, c1837; Jefferson, born c1839 and Jesse Richardson, born May 30, 1844.

Violetta married Joseph Cabell Campbell, a son of Francis Jefferson Campbell II and his wife, Nancy Coffey.  Nancy was a daughter of Edmond S. and Nancy Barnett Coffey.  Joseph and Violetta were parents of at least two children:  Lawson J., born Nov. 1851, died Jan. 23, 1928.  Lawson married Susan Mildred Truslow on Dec. 15, 1873 in Nelson Co.  

She and Lawson had a number of children, one of which married Grace M. Coffey, daughter of Andrew Jackson and Rebecca Campbell Coffey.  His name was Grover Cleveland Campbell, born Aug. 18, 1886, died Apr. 16, 1955 in Lynchburg, VA.  He and Grace were married on Dec. 25, 1904 in Nelson Co.

Jesse Odom followed James S.  He was born in 1810 and died on Sep. 2, 1859 at Back Creek.  I know nothing of his life between those dates.

Mary Ann was the last of James and Elizabeth's children.  She was born c1815 and married Nicholas Demastus, a son of John and Martha "Patsy" Moran Demastus.  Nicholas was born of Feb. 18, 1788 and married Mary Ann on Jan. 23, 1837 in Lyndhurst, Augusta Co.

There are a lot of unknowns for James and Elizabeth; e.g., when and where were they born, who were his parents and, when/where did they die?

*James Bridge provided the surety bond when Jordan married Elizabeth Rippetoe in 1803.

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Sources:  Amherst Co. Marriage Records, 1763-1821; Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940; Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1902; US Federal Census, 1850-1880; Dodd, Jordan R., et al.. Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850

James Granville & Lois Ann Dancy Coffey

James was the eldest child of Marvel and Nancy E. Pendley Coffey.  Marvel was a son of James and Delilah Ferguson Coffey.

James is said to have been born on Jul. 4, 1845 in North Carolina and to have died on Feb. 19, 1915 in McDowell Co., WV.  I have not yet been able to confirm either date.

He married Lois Ann Dancy, a daughter of Neal and Rilda Cox Dancy, natives of Ashe Co., NC.  Lois was born Dec. 19, 1858 in that county and died on Sep. 28,1938 in Welch, McDowell Co., WV.  Her death certificate reports cause of death as hypostatic pneumonia.  Lois is buried at the Premier Cemetery in Premier, Welch Co., WV.  In 1920 Lois was a widow in McDowell Co., more of less confirming that James died after he appeared last in the 1910 census.

James and Lois had at least nine children, the eldest three born in NC, the others in WV.

Alice E., born Jul. 23, 1881 in Asheville, Buncombe Co., married William S. Taylor on Nov. 19,1894 in Mercer Co. William was a native of GA, born there c1868.  At least 10 children were born to this union:  Laura A., c1899; Cora E., c1901; Luther, c1903; James A., born c1906; Mary B., born c1909; William, Jr., born c1912; Daisy V., born c1914; Elizabeth M., born c1917; Charley F., born c1919 and, Evaline B., born c1924.  I have not found death date and burial sites for William and Alice.

Daniel Alexander, born Jun. 4, 1882, Ashe Co., NC, died Jun. 19,1960 in Welch, McDowell Co.  Daniel married Belle Bunn c1907 in WV.  She was a daughter of John P. and Mary J. "Mollie" Havens Bunn, born Apr. 17, 1892 in Pulaski Co., VA, died Nov. 13, 1984 in Ravenna, Portage Co., OH.  Their children were:  James G. P., born c Jul 1909 in WV, married a lady by the name of Mary A. c1929 in McDowell Co.  Howard Clinton, Feb. 25, 1911-Mar 23,1992; Clarence E., Sep. 14, 1914-Dec. 13, 1983; Bessie C., c1917; Albert Preston, Jun. 22, 1919-Nov. 11, 1994 in Jefferson Co., WV.  Albert married Lyda Louvernia Stumbo, daughter of Christopher Columbus and Minnie Ramsey Stumbo.  Lyda was born Mar 31, 1921 in Yukon, McDowell Co., and died in Ranson, Jefferson Co., WV on Apr. 29, 2010.  Hazel was next, born c1922; Effie A., born c1925 and Hellen M., born c1928.

Mary E., born Feb., 1883 in NC, married J. E. Ferguson on Dec. 20, 1905 in Coalwood, McDowell Co.  Mr. Ferguson was a native of Smyth Co., VA, having been born there c1876.

James Henry, born Mar. 20, 1889 in WV, died Jul. 6, 1958 in Welch, McDowell Co.  He married Hattie Pearl Woods.  A marriage date has not been found.  Hattie was born Apr. 20, 1892 in KY and died in Laurel Co., KY on Jan. 22, 1973.  Their children were Myrtle, born c1915, Beatrice I., Mar. 4, 1918 in WV-Nov. 24, 1971 in KY; Clifford L., born Apr. 4, 1920 in WV, died Feb. 1, 1984 in KY; and Rev. William Kelcie Coffey, born Jul. 14, 1923, died Jul. 6, 1997 in Laurel Co., KY.  Rev. Coffey married Gloria Edna Rogers and were parents of at least one child, James Roger, born Oct. 27, 1948 in Yukon, died in Corbin, Whitley Co., KY on Apr. 20, 2008.

George Lee, born Jun. 24, 1891 in Welch, died in Columbus, Franklin Co., OH on Jun. 17, 1961.  His wife was Elizabeth Mae Steele, born Mar. 21, 1903 in Ashland, Boyd Co., KY.  She died on Aug. 8, 1968 in Wilmington, New Castle Co., DE.  Children were Helen Kathleen, Raymond Scott and Charles L.

Elizabeth Jane, born Apr. 29, 1895 in WV, died Apr. 23, 1939 in Big Creek Dist., McDowell Co.  She married a Mr. Branhorn.

William Luther, born Apr. 29, 1895 in WV, died Jul. 27, 1977 in WV.  Married Lillian Banfield, born Jul. 28, 1909 in Williamson, Mingo Co., WV, died in Cherry Run, Morgan Co., WV in Sep., 1973.  They had at least one child, a son named Donald, born c1932 in WV.

Charles Earnest, born Apr. 17, 1897 in Freeman, Mercer Co., WV, died in Beckley, Raleigh Co., WV on Oct. 1, 1923.  His spouse was Lockie Quesenbury, born c1902 in VA.  They married on Jul. 28, 1921 in Coalwood, McDowell Co.

The last child born to James and Lois was Jesse Franklin on Jan. 18, 1900 in WV.  He married Virgie Sizemore on Jan. 4, 1923 in McDowell Co.  She was born c1905 in Wyoming Co., WV.  Their children were Charles, born c1924; James, born c1926; and Sidney A., born c1928.  There was also a stillborn male child on May 15, 1940 in North Welch, McDowell Co.

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Additions and corrections welcomed. Sources available on request.

Larkin & Sibby Wyatt Coffey

Larkin Coffey was a son of Thomas and Nancy Barlow Coffey, born c1832 in Wilkes Co., NC.  He married Sibby Wyatt on Nov. 28, 1853 in Wilkes Co. and died in TN in 1863. Some sources report that he died from complications of measles while others report he died of diptheria, while serving with the CSA in La Follette, Campbell Co., TN.  I have not found any proof to substantiate this, however.

What is known is that he and Sibby Wyatt, a daughter of Solomon and Polly Wyatt, were parents of at least four children:  Gilliam Wyatt, Sarah Lou Ellen, John Nelson and Mary Ann.

Gilliam, born in North Carolina - probably Caldwell Co. - in Mar., 1854, married Sarah Jane Isenhower (var.) on Jan. 10, 1875 in Caldwell Co.  Sarah, the daughter of Joseph who later became Gilliam's step-father, was born in NC in Jan., 1854 and died in Okanogan Co., WA in 1928.  Gilliam died there in 1913.

Their children, all born in NC, were:

Candes L., born May 1877, married Lee L. Cook c1897.  Lee was born in Apr., 1871 in NC.

Sidney G. S., born c1878

Etta Cordelia "Cordie," born Feb., 1880

Martha J., born Mar., 1882

William Larkin, born Jun., 1884, died Jun. 11, 1968 in Omak, Okanogan Co., WA.  William married Emma J. Lingle c1907 in NC.  She was a daughter of J. Monroe and Frances J. Sullivan Lingle.  She and William were parents of Ethel M, born NC; Edna Y., born c1912 in WA; John Albert, born Jun. 29, 1915 in WA, died in Okanogan Co. on Oct. 14, 2003; and James Edward, born Dec. 17, 1919 in WA, died Jul. 3, 1998 in Okanogan Co.  James Edward married Ellen J. Dinger in Spokane, WA in 1947.  They had at least one child, John Allen Coffey, born Dec. 8, 1951 in Okanogan and died there on Aug. 7, 1980.

Joseph Monroe, born Feb. 23, 1887 at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co., NC, died in Okanogan on Jun. 5, 1958.

Minnie Lee, born Jul. 31, 1890 at Blowing Rock in Watauga Co., NC, died Dec. 2, 1972 at Peteros, Okanogan Co.  She married first to Charles Martin Harrell on Jun 30, 1911 in Okanogan Co.  Two children are known: Leda Ruby and Doris Jane.  Charles died in 1917 and Minnie married George Walter Brownlee on Feb. 16, 1919 in Okanogan Co.  He was a son of Andrew Brownlee and was born Jan. 17, 1875 in IL, died in Okanogan Co. in 1962.  Their children were at least two:  John Charles, born Jul. 16, 1924, died Sep. 11, 2003 at Wenatchee, Chelan Co., WA and, Grace, born c1928 in Okanogan Co.

The last child born to Gilliam and Sarah was Ethel, born Oct., 1894 in NC.

The second child born to Larkin and Sibby was Sarah Lou Ellen on Nov. 8, 1856 in Caldwell Co.  She married John M. Stamey, a son of Daniel and Catherine Stamey, on Jan. 4, 1874 in Caldwell Co.  John was born in Cherokee Co., NC on Jan. 9, 1846 and died in Catawba Co. on Sep. 4, 1934.  Sarah died in Catawba Co. on Jun. 24, 1947.

Third born was John Nelson "Nels" on Aug. 7, 1858 in Caldwell Co.  John Married Laura Ann Henley, a daughter of Henry and Loanna "Loany" Greene, on Sep. 23, 1881 in Watauga Co.  John died on Dec. 10, 1932 in Blowing Rock, NC; Laura died there on Jun. 2, 1936.  This couple had at least nine children, all of which married and have descendants.  The family is too large to write about here but I will in a future blog.  In the meantime, any reader wanting information about "Nels" and Laura Ann, can drop an e-mail with the request.

The last child of Larkin and Sibby was Mary Ann, born Mar. 27, 1859 in Caldwell Co., died there on Nov. 24, 1944.  She married William Alexander West, a son of Hiram and Juliatha [sic] Haas West, born Jan. 18, 1856 in Caldwell Co.  William died Jan. 26, 1919 at the State Hospital in Morganton, Burke Co., NC after breaking a hip.  He and Mary Ann had at least three children:  Dora A., born Jun., 1885, married Adolphus Price on Apr. 21, 1907 in Lenoir; Willard Newton, born Apr. 18, 1888, died Jan. 9, 1969 at Black Mountain in Buncombe Co., NC.  Willard married Emma Andrews on Dec. 26, 1915 in Lenoir.  Third and last child was Georgia, born Aug., 1890.

Following Larkin's death, Sibby Wyatt Coffey married Joseph Isenhour on Nov. 14, 1875 in NC.  They had at least one child, Solomon Tilden Isenhour, born Nov. 30, 1876, died Dec. 26, 1950 in Blowing Rock.  Solomon married Ruth Callie Moody c1895 and they had at least one child, a son Franklin Albert Isenhour, born in Watauga Co. on Dec. 11, 1898.  As mentioned above, it was Sibby's son Gilliam Coffey who married Sarah Jane Isenhour, Joseph's daughter by his first wife, Lettie.

Clifton Connard Coffey (1876-1957)

Updated: 5/30/2014

Clifton Connard Coffey was a son of John and Rosanna Jane "Roxie" Nash Coffey.  He was their second son and child born in year 1876 and was born on Nov. 27.  Their first born was Lampkin, in Jan., 1876.

Clifton married Myrtle A. Martin on Apr. 30, 1911 in East Bend, Yadkin Co., NC.  Myrtle was a daughter of Wesley Alexander and Flora Anna Poindexter Martin and was born in Aug., 1891.

A little bit of info about the Martin and Poindexter families:  

Wesley was born on May 18,1862 in Yadkin Co., the son of Bennett R. and Martha Millner Truelove Martin.  Wesley died on Dec. 3, 1947 in East Bend; Flora on Jun. 18,1958 in Yadkinville, Yadkin Co.  He and Flora were married on Apr. 16, 1885 in East Bend.

Bennet and Martha were married on Jan. 10, 1856 in Yadkin Co.  

Flora Anna Poindexter was a daughter of John A and Paulina Allen Poindexter, born on Dec. 25, 1879 in Yadkin Co.  John and Paulina were married in Yadkin Co. on Oct. 28, 1868.  

Children of Clifton and Myrtle, all born in VA, were:

Gates (?), born c1913; Lynn A. (male), c1914; Nell L., c1916; Edythe, c1918; Dr. Everett Lee, c1922; Janice I., c1925 and Lewis G., c1927.

Dr. Everett Lee Coffey married Janice Mundy and had at least one child, a son named Clifton Lee, born Aug. 21, 1955, died May 28, 2008 at Hardy in Bedford Co., VA.

Corrections and/or additions welcomed.

Jack

WW1Draft Registration for Clifton Connerd/Conard  Coffey