Booker and Hannah Ann Dalton Shockley

Booker was born c1795 in Pittsylvania Co., VA. He married Hannah Ann Dalton, a daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Shockley Dalton, on Dec. 22, 1819 in Grainger Co., TN. There is likely a relationship between Booker and Elizabeth but I have not yet found it.

Hannah was born c1802 in Grainger Co. and died there in 1880. Booker died prior to the 1870 census, and probably in Grainger Co.

I have found six children for them, most of which married Coffeys.

First born was Rebecca, born Oct., 1820 and died Aug. 11, 1890. She married Elijah Coffey, a son of George and Margaret L. Rucker Coffey, on Jan. 11, 1840 in Grainger Co. Elijah was born Feb. 23, 1819, probably in Grainger Co., and died there on Jul. 13, 1890. Rebecca and Elijah were parents of at least 10 children:

Austin, born c1840, died before 1880; married Elvira Wolfe Jan. 8, 1856 in Grainger Co. Elvira was the daughter of William and Maleta (Lette) Hipsher. I have one child for them: Martha Emeline, born c1856.

Millie, born c1841

Mira, born c1843

George, born Feb. 24, 1847 in TN, died in Grainger Co., c1946. George married Martha M. Johnson, born Apr. 27, 1846, died Jun. 4, 1922 in Grainger Co. Their children were James H., born Dec. 22, 1871, died Nov. 7, 1907; Samuel B., born Feb. 25, 1873, died Jun. 28, 1961; John Henry, born Aug. 2, 1874, died Oct. 10, 1920; Hattie M., born c1878, died Aug. 31, 1945; Pleasant (Ples), born Aug. 2, 1879; Elijah, born abt Dec. 1884; and Cordelia (Cordie), born Feb. 1887.

Ambrose, born c1851 in TN, married Louisa Blake, born c1854 in TN. The children that I have for them are: Mary, born c1870; Martha Matilda, born c1873; and Simeon, born Dec., 1879.

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Update: Mar 1, 2013:  Ambrose was born in Nov., 1846 in Grainger Co., TN and died in Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN on Dec. 18, 1915.  He and Louisa Blake, born Oct., 1850 in TN, were married on Sep. 12, 1869 in Grainger Co.[1].  I haven't found a death date/place for Louisa.  Ambrose is buried at Liberty Hill Methodist Church Cemetery at Morristown, Hamblen Co.

Their children numbered at least eight:  Mary, born c1870; Matilda, born 1872, died 1930, married William Henry Coffey, son of Collins and Nancy "Hulda" Wolfe on Sep. 14, 1895 in Hamblen Co.  Their closest blood relationship was 3rd cousin.  Third child was Henry, 1878; Simeon, 1879; Arthur, 1884; Columbus, 1886; John Littleton, 1896, died 1964 in Buncombe Co., NC.  He married Dora Meadows on Feb. 23, 1919 in Hamblen Co.  I have no birth/death info for Dora.  The last child was Frank, born 1896.

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Samuel (Sam), born Jun., 1855 in TN, died Aug. 20, 1910 in Hamblen Co., TN. Married Martha Wolfe, a daughter of Henry and Elvira Coffey Wolfe, on Dec. 25, 1876 in Grainger Co. I have found only two children: Henry (Pat), born Oct. 18, 1878, died Dec. 3, 1964; and Elijah, born Apr. 1881. Sam later married Mary Hipshire, born Mar. 2, 1869 in TN, died Dec. 29, 1921 in Hamblen Co. I have found nine children for them: Evey, born Aug., 1890; James Archie, born Oct. 22, 1892; Ralph, born Aug. 28, 1895; Daniel (Dan), born c1898; Angie, born c1899; Arkie, born c1901; Lucy, born c1904; Rosie, born c1906; and Myrtle, born c1908.

Martha E., born c1857

Lacy, born Mar. 30, 1861, married first to Elizabeth LNU; married second to Margaret Ogan who died in 1942.

Elijah Jr., born Jan. 4, 1864 in Grainger Co. and, died there on May 14, 1923. He married Rosa Shockley, a daughter of Enos (or, Enoch) Shockley and Mahalia Coffey. Rosa was born Nov. 29, 1864 in Grainger Co. and, died in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., on jan. 26, 1952. Their children were Lillie M., born Dec. 25, 1885, died Oct. 23, 1923; Etta, born c1890, died Jul. 31, 1969; Lula, born Feb. 4, 1892, died May 4, 1951; James Oscar, born Mar. 20, 1894, died May 31, 1949; and Walter Preston, born Feb. 17, 1908, died Sep. 14, 1984.

Martin, born c1866

Second born was Enos (Enoch?), born Jan. 1, 1822 in Grainger Co. and, died there on Jul. 4, 1901. He married Mahalia Coffey on Jan. 21, 1846 in Grainger Co. She was born Oct. 20, 1827 in Grainger Co., and died there on Jul. 10, 1900. She was the daughter of George and Margaret L. Rucker Coffey.

I have 11 children for them:

Perry Wilson, born Jan. 13, 1847, died Nov. 5, 1923, married Harriet A. LNU.

Alice (Ally), born Oct. 24, 1848 in Grainger Co. and, died there on Aug. 12, 1909. She married Perry Harville. I have one child for them: Lemuel Harville.

Martha Louise, born c1851

William Gilbert, born Dec. 2, 1852 in Grainger Co., and died Mar. 13, 1901. He married Sarah P. Dalton on Jul. 24, 1872 in Grainger Co. I have found three children: Minnie, born c1875; Loretta, born Nov. 11, 1877, died Aug. 13, 1906; and Hattie, born Apr. 1880.

John, born May 22, 1855, died Jul. 28, 1875

Malinda (Matilda?), born Apr. 6, 1856, died Mar. 12, 1922

Harriet, born Sep, 13, 1859, died Jul. 9, 1940

Cornelia, born May 15, 1863, died Oct. 8, 1887

Rosa, born Nov. 29, 1864, died Jan. 26, 1952, married Elijah Coffey, Jr.

Hannah Elizabeth, born c1868

Lucinda, born Dec. 13, 1869, died Dec. 18, 1887

Third born was Ephraim who married Lucretia Hipsher

Fourth born was Thomas who married Perlina Wolfe

Fifth born was Winright who married Martha Emaline (Emily) Coffey on Feb. 20, 1851 in Grainger Co. Winright was born c1827 in TN; Martha c1831.

Their children were:

Martha Jane, born Dec. 2, 1852, died Aug. 30, 1930. She married Thomas Coffey, born Dec. 7, 1852 in Grainger Co. and, died there on Jan. 3, 1925. He was a son of William Ira Coffey and Sarah Jane Hipshire.

George Winright, born Dec. 2, 1852 (apparently a twin to Martha), died Mar. 13, 1901. He married Harriet Harville, a daughter of R. W. and Mary Harville.

Wyatt, born c1855

Mahala, born c1858

William Berry, born Aug. 2, 1862, died Jan. 15, 1910. He married Eliza Jane Coffey on Jun. 5, 1885 in Grainger Co. Eliza was the daughter of Thomas Nelson and Cornelia Coffey Coffey. Eliza was born Sep. 8, 1868 and died Dec. 6, 1927 in Mooresburg, Hawkins Co., TN.

Rutha, born c1865

Jincey, born May, 1864. She married Rev. Berry Wisdom Lafette (Lafayette?) Coffey, a son of William Wesley and Gelina E. Shouse Coffey. Berry Wisdom was born Oct. 15, 1857 in Grainger Co., and died in TN on Jan. 1, 1936.

Elizabeth (Betsy), born c1869 in TN, died May 11, 1911 in Grainger Co. She married Pleasant Dalton c1888 in TN. He was the son of Hiram and Catherine Howerton Dalton. Pleasant later married Viola Coffey, a daughter of Thomas and Martha Jane Shockley Coffey.

The last child that I have for Booker and Hannah is William, born Mar. 12, 1833 in TN and, died in Grainger Co. on Oct. 22, 1871. He married Louisa Jane Coffey on Mar. 21, 1851 in Grainger Co. She was born Jul. 27, 1833 and died Jun. 1, 1910 in Grainger Co. Louisa Jane was also married to Berry Dalton.

These families tended to marry back and forth into each of the same families. Care must be taken when compiling them. This is especially true since many were given the same names. I believe the above to be mostly accurate and, would appreciate comments adding to or correcting any of it. I also have additional descendant as well as ancestral information for most of these families.

I can be reached at the e-mail address on the right.


[1] index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XD92-K5M : accessed 01 Mar 2013), Ambrose Coffee and Louis Blake, 12 Sep 1869.

Henley Clay Coffey (1891-1922)

Henley Clay Coffey was a son of John Alfred and Cynthia P. Monk Coffey. He was born Oct. 12, 1891 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN and died there on Nov. 13, 1922.

He married Etta C. Reece, probably in Tennessee around 1910. Etta was born in Dec., 1893 and died Mar. 17, 1982 in Hamblen Co., TN.

When Henley registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917 in Claiborne Co., TN, he gave his age as 26 years, born Oct., 12, 1891. He was a self-employed farmer in Claiborne Co., and was married with four children. He described himself as being of medium build with gray eyes and black hair.

He and Etta were found in Claiborne Co. in the Feb., 1920 census.

1920 Claiborne Co., Dist. 1, ED20, Sheet 19A, dwelling 313, family 315, Coffee [sic], Henly C., head, male, white, age 28, married, born TN, father born TN, mother born unk.; Etta, wife, female, white, age 26, married, born TN, parents born TN; Morgan, son, male, white, age 7, born TN, parents born TN; Clayton, son, male, white, age 6, born TN, parents born TN; Caywood, son, male, white, age 4 yrs, 10 mos., born TN, parents born TN; Alice, dau., female, white, age 3 yrs, 1 mos., born TN, parents born TN; unnamed dau., female, white, age 1 mo., born TN, parents born TN

Although Etta did not die until 1982 I have been unable to find her in the 1930 census record.

Their children were:

Morgan David, born c1913, married Lucy McGinnis, a daughter of Edward Jackson and Dora Coffey McGinnis. Dora was a daughter of Thomas Coffey and Martha Simmerman (Cinnemon?), and was born Nov. 19, 1882 and died Jun. 26, 1963.

Clayton, born c1914, married Bonnie Kate McGinnis. Bonnie is likely of some relation to Edward Jackson, but a link has not been found. Sh was born Mar. 3, 1922 in Grainger Co., and died Feb. 16, 2007 in Hamblen Co.

Her obituary:

COFFEY, BONNIE KATE, age 83, of Morristown, passed away Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System. She was of the Baptist faith and was a member of Beech Grove Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, David Juette and Flossie McGinnis, husband, Clayton (Poodle) Coffey, brothers, Porter McGinnis, Sam McGinnis and Robert (Bob) McGinnis, sister-in-law, Trula McGinnis, nephew David (Pete) McGinnis, great-nephew, Robbie Moore, great niece Danielle June McGinnis. She was a loving aunt to nieces and nephews, Linda Collins and husband Raymond, Kathy Rucker and husband, Claiborne, Cindy Hazeltine and husband Jack, Scotty McGinnis, Portia Russell, Debbie Welch and husband Jerry, Jabo McGinnis and wife, Linda, Rick McGinnis and wife, Cindy, Pam Beeler, Peanut McGinnis and wife Lori, Priscilla McGinnis and T.J. Whitt, Jane McGinnis, Robert (Bo) McGinnis and wife Crystal, Andy McGinnis and wife Jean, sister-in –laws, June McGinnis, Billie Faye Satterfield, several great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, at Stubblefield Funeral Home with the Rev. Delmer Welch and Rev. Bobby Helton. Interment will follow at Hamblen memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Sunday, from 6-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Family will receive friends after the services at Statem Gap Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Arrangements by Stubblefield Funeral Home in Morristown.

Caywood, born Dec. 27, 1915, died Apr. 7, 1940

Alice, born about Jan., 1917, married Rev. George Estle Hopson

Pauline, born about Dec., 1922, died Dec. 29, 1990 in Bean Station, Grainger Co., TN. She married Clarence Coffman.

Her obituary:

Pauline Coffey Coffman, 68, of Bean Station, died Saturday, Dec 29, 1990 at Columbia Health Care. She was the daughter of the late Henley and Ettie Reece Coffey; the widow of the late Clarence Coffman and the mother of the late Gillis Coffman. She was a member of Long Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include her son, G. Howard Coffman of Spring Hill; sister, Mrs. Jewell Reece of Tazewell; brother, Clayton Coffey of Morristown; grandchildren, Ricky, Pamela and Vicky Coffman and Kimberly Rutherford. Services were 1 p.m. today at Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Rutledge with the Rev. Andy Smith and Brother Shelby Mone officiating. Burial was in Dalton Cemetery.

Amos - no further information.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.

Zebulon Vance and Mary Josephine Wright Dalton

Zebulon Vance (Zeb) Dalton, born Aug., 1860 in North Carolina, is thought to be a son of Bradley and Dicey A. Dalton of Rutherford Co., NC. He married Mary Josephine Wright c1894 in North Carolina, a daughter of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright. Zeb died Jan. 23, 1927 in Mobscott, Raleigh Co., WVa.

Given his age (39) at the time of marriage to Mary, Zeb was apparently married at least once before. In the 1900 census, the first in which he and Mary would appear as a family, Mary reported that she and Zeb had been married for six years and, that she was the mother of five children but only four were living.

The eldest child in the 1900 household was Corah* [sic], age 11, born 1888. Mary was still married to Tilmon Gragg at that time. Other children in the 1900 household was Clyde V., born May, 1895 and, Nola Frenise [sic], born Aug. 7, 1903. I have not yet determined the location of Mary's other three children in 1900.

Mary was born Oct. 18, 1867 in Kelsey**, Watauga Co., NC, near Coffey's Gap and died Jan. 31, 1944, also in Mobscott. She and Zeb are buried at the Sunset Memorial Park in Beckley, Raleigh Co., WVa.

Prior to her marriage to Zeb, Mary had married Tilmon Monroe Gragg on Mar. 3, 1888 in Caldwell Co. Tilmon was born Feb. 1858 in Caldwell Co., and died Dec. 12, 1928 in Camden Co., NC. he was a son of Edmond and Indiana Isabelle Gragg Gragg.

Their children were: William Henderson, born Jan. 14, 1884, died Oct. 28, 1946, married Mary Etta Coffey, a daughter of George Washington (Wash) and Matilda (Tilda) Coffey Coffey. The second child was Rhett, born May, 1886; the third Alverdia, born Mar., 1893.

After Zeb's death, Mary married Ed Foster. There are no known children from this union. I have not yet been able to find additional information about Ed.

Henderson, Mary's son by Tilmon Gragg, fathered at least 10 children by Mary Etta Coffey and, will be the subject of a future blog.

Please contact me with additions and/or corrections at the e-mail address below.





*I have just learned that Corah [Cora] was actually the daughter of Mary and Tilmon.

**The old home-store sat beside what is now the Collins Road and NC Hwy 221, the old Foscoe Road. Some locals referred to that area as Coffey's Gap. Mary's parents, Thomas and Margaret Coffey Wright, later sold the place to William Washington Collins, a native of Georgia.

William Tarrance and Susan Rucker Coffey

William was previously mentioned in the blog on his parents, William Lemmie and Caroline Hopson Coffey.

William was born Jul. 26, 1893 in Washburn, Grainger Co., TN and died Jul. 16, 1946. He married Susan Maude Melissa Rucker on Sep. 7, 1919 in Washburn. Susan was born Oct. 9, 1897 in Grainger Co., the daughter of Claiborne and Mary Majors Rucker. Susan died May 11, 1991.

When William registered for the WW1 draft on Jan. 5, 1917, he was described as being tall and slender with dark brown hair and eyes. He confirmed his birthdate in this record, and reported that he was born "near Idol," TN. He was a farmer and still unmarried.

In 1920 he and Maude were living together in Grainger Co., and William was a farmer. By 1930 he had left TN and was living in Pontiac, MI with his brother James Nelson. James was a metal worker in an automobile factory while William (called Torrence in the census) was a truck driver for an automobile factory. That same year, Susan was residing in Grainger Co. with her children, Lillian, Alta, Kathleen and Wancida [sp]. Susan's brother Samuel and his wife Sarah were also residents in the household. William and Susan's last (known to me) child was Delta Lucille, born c1932 in Grainger Co.

Lillian, born c1921, married Elvin Lester Harrell, born c1918, died Feb. 28, 1994 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co.

Alta, born c1923, married Conley Hubert Coffman on Dec. 21, 1945 in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN. Conley died Feb. 13, 1984. Alta died on Aug. 4, 2007 in Washburn. Her obituary appeared in the Morristown Citizen Tribune on Aug. 6, 2007.

Kathleen, born about Dec. 1925, married Landon Crow Rucker on Jan. 19, 1942 in TN. Landon died May 14, 2006 in Grainger Co.

Landon C. "Crow" Rucker died May 14, 2006, Grainger Co., TN. He was a Deacon at Bridgeport Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Rucker was preceded in death by: Parents Landon and Clara (Coffman) Rucker; his wife, Kathleen (Coffey) Rucler; two sons, David Rucker and Dil Ray Rucker and wife Bonnie; two daughters, Anita Harrell and husband Clifton, and Kathy Coffey and husband Stanley all of Thorn Hill; brothers, Earl Rucker and Wayne Rucker and wife Evelyn of Morristown; sister, Mary Ratcliff of Knoxville, and sister-in-law, Edith Rucker of Corryton. Burial in McGinnis Harrell cemetery.1

Wancida, born about Jan., 1928 - no information.

Delta Lucille, born c1932, married James Leonard Dalton Jun. 6, 1950 in Grainger Co. He was a son of Joseph Thomas and Martha Hayes Dalton, born 1931 and died 1999 in Grainger Co. James served in Korea with the 82 Airborne Division.2 Their children are Charles Odell, Kathy, James Leonard, Jr., Dixie and Dana Lynn.

Please send additions and/or corrections to me at the e-mail address below.



Sources

1 Coffey Cousins' Newsletter, Dec., 2006, Issue 103, Page 7, submitted by Archie Dalton
2 Descendants of J. Hiram Dalton by Archie Dalton, Jul. 26, 2007

William Lemmie and Caroline Hopson Coffey

William was a son of John Jackson "Stumpy" Coffey, Jr. and wife Darcus Elizabeth Parris. He was born Mar. 22, 1872 in Grainger Co., TN and died Dec. 21, 1932 in Washburn, Grainger Co. He married Caroline Hopson, a daughter of Jesse and Julia Ritter Hopson in Oct., 1892 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co. Caroline was born May 1, 1875 in Thorn Hill and died Aug. 28, 1956 in Pontiac, Oakland Co., MI.
There were at least six children born to this marriage:

William Tarrance, born Jul. 26, 1893 in Washburn, and died Jul 16, 1946, place unknown. He married Susan Maude Melissa Rucker, born Oct. 9, 1897 in Idol, Grainger Co. to Claiborn and Mary Majors Rucker, on Sep. 7, 1919 in Washburn. Their children, all born in Grainger Co., were: Lillian, born c1921; Alta, born c1923, married Conley Hubert Coffman; Kathleen, born Dec., 1925, married Landon Crow Rucker; Wancida, born Jan., 1928; and Delta Lucille, born c1932, married James Leonard Dalton on Jun. 6, 1950 in Grainger Co. James was a son of Joseph Thomas and Martha Hayes Dalton.

Maude Delia, born Jul. 31, 1895 in Washburn. She married Henry A. Presnell on Oct. 16, 1920 in Monroe Co., MI. Their children were Hilda, born c1922 in MI; Alma, born c1924 in KY; Ellen, born c1925 in TN; Dewey S., born c1927 in TN; and Leona, born c1928 in MI. Although both claimed to still be married, the 1930 Grainger Co. census shows Maude and her children residing in the household with her parents, and Henry residing alone elsewhere in the county. Maude could have been visiting her parents.

Parlin John, born Jun. 10, 1898 in Idol, married Maude Wolfenbarger on Jun. 20, 1918 in Washburn. Maude was born c1900 in Idol and died in Dec., 1946 in Michigan. I know of two children: Ethel, born c1922 and Norma.

Amanda Elizabeth, born Sep. 22, 1902 in Idol, married William Frank Breeding on Jun. 29, 1919 in Washburn. William was born May 10, 1897 in Thorn Hill and died Jan. 10, 1976, place unknown. Their children, all born in Michigan, were William Harvey, born Apr. 15, 1921; Wiley Grover, born Nov. 2, 1922; Buford Frank, born May 27, 1927; Clifford Jesse, born Mar. 20, 1933; and Delbert Nelson, born May 15, 1935.

James Nelson, born May 6, 1906 in Idol, died Feb. 6, 1988 in Bean Station, Grainger Co. He married Joycie Clara Dalton, a daughter of William Jasper "Jape" and Cynthia Ann Jordan Dalton. She was born Dec. 21, 1907 in Washburn, and died Jul. 11, 1993 in Bean Station. The marriage was recorded on Feb. 14, 1926 in Washburn. Their children were: Vernon Clare, a dau., born Aug. 21, 1926 in TN; Leland Clarence, born Oct. 6, 1927 in TN and died Nov. 24, 1999 in Hamblen Co., TN; Lela Elizabeth, born Sep. 25, 1929 in Oakland Co., MI; Lemmie Elmer, born Dec. 14, 1931, married Ida Jo. Waddell; Gladys Imogene, born Jan. 6, 1934, died Apr. 6, 1984 in Jefferson Co., TN; Reva Marie, born May 28, 1936, died May 23, 2000; Raymond William, born Aug. 24, 1940.

The last child, known to me, was Julia Isabell, born Jan. 28, 1912 in Washburn. She married Carter Emmitt Smith on Jun. 14, 1920 in Luttrell, Grainger Co. Carter was born Sep. 14, 1911 in Claiborn Co. Their children were: Donald, born Jun. 28, 1931 in MI, and died Feb. 12, 1951 in Korea; Dorothy, born Jun. 28, 1931; Hazel Ruth, born Oct. 11, 1933; and Paris Leland, born May 25, 1940.

Arthur A. & Gatie Ramsey Coffey

Arthur, born Nov. 25, 1876 in Rockcastle Co., KY, was the first child and son of Lee and Isabelle Hiatt [var.] Coffey. Lee was a son of Thomas Jefferson and Perlina Hayes Coffey. Arthur married Gatie [sic] Ramsey on Jan. 28, 1897 in Rockcastle Co.

Gatie is said to have been a daughter of Joseph Love and Martha Jane Bryant Ramsey., born in May, 1881. The 1870 census names only one child, Elly [sic], born c1896 in Rockcastle Co. In 1880 Ella was still the only child in the household. There isn't a census record for 1890, and according to marriage records, Gatie was married by 1897, therefore there is not a way to verify by census that she was born to Joseph and Martha.

After Martha died in 1895, Joseph married Galathia Jane Coffey on Feb. 28, 1898 in Rockcastle Co. Galathia was the second daughter and fourth child born to James Madison and Lydia Ann Wolfe Coffey. She was born in Oct. 1865 and died Jun. 24, 1939 in Madison Co., KY. James was a son of Ausburn and Tildy Dalton Coffey.

There was one known child born to this marriage, a daughter named Janie Lydia Ramsey, born Apr. 8, 1899 in Rockcastle Co., and died there on Apr. 12, 1998. Her headstone stands in the Berea Cemetery, Madison Co. She apparently never married.

The Rockcastle Co. census of 1900 shows Joseph and Galathia in the household with Ella Baker, Joseph's daughter by Mary Jane Bryant.

Children all born in Rockcastle Co. to Arthur A. and Gatie Ramsey Coffey were:

Ella Mae, born Apr. 24, 1898, died Dec. 29, 1983

William Mat, born Nov. 26, 1899, died Sep. 6, 1975. He married Anna Lee Adams on Sep. 28, 1924 in Kenton Co., KY. They were parents of twins, Dorothy and Doris, born Aug. 6, 1927. He and Anna are buried in the Elmwood Cemetery at Mt. Vernon in Rockcastle Co.

Bud, or "Little Buddy", born Apr. 1, 1902, died Apr. 8, 1902. He was buried in the Hiatt Cemetery in Renfro Valley, Rockcastle Co.

Anna Wright, born Apr. 12, 1903, died Mar. 16, 1984.

Robert Lee, born Jul. 7, 1905, died Jul. 8, 1985 in Rockcastle Co. He married Sallie Minerva Livesay, born Nov. 17, 1905, died Jan. 12, 1997. Both are buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Brodhead in Rockcastle Co.

Arthur Earl, born Mar. 16, 1907, died Jul. 14, 2000. He married Norma Nollen Beck on Feb. 4, 1934.

Colonel Ramsey, born Apr. 26, 1911, died Jan. 8, 1912. He is buried in the Hiatt Cemetery in Renfro Valley.

Pearl Givens, born Nov. 15, 1912, married Thelma Lillian Green on Feb. 11, 1940.

Jesse James, born Sep. 17, 1915, married Katherine L. Croddy on Mar. 21, 1935.

Edna Ruth, born Dec. 8, 1917, died Oct. 11, 1919.

Bradford Lewis, born Jul. 30, 1922, died Apr. 23, 1996. He married Blanche Marie Snipes on Dec. 13, 1947. Blanche was born Jan. 20, 1927 in Dayton, Campbell Co., KY and died Jul. 14, 2007 in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, LA. Both are buried in the Elmwood Cemetery at Mt. Vernon, Rockcastle Co.

This obituary appeared in The Shreveport Times, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, LA on Jul. 16, 2007:

SHREVEPORT, LA - Blanche Marie Coffey died July 14, 2007 at Willis-Knighton Pierremont Hospital in Shreveport, LA. She was born January 20, 1927 in Dayton, Kentucky, the daughter of Ruth Snipe Schmolt and Robert Lee Snipe. She was the beloved wife of Bradford Lewis Coffey. She served faithfully in gospel ministry with her husband for 45 years.

Blanche's family will receive friends Monday, July 16, 2007 at Rose-Neath Southside Chapel from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Survivors include four daughters, Patricia Boswell and husband Gary of Shreveport, Louisiana, Deborah Baker of Memphis, Tennessee, Rebecca Brenner and husband John of Tacoma, Washington, and Martha Harris of Enid, Oklahoma; one sister Mary Carroll of Hamilton, Ohio; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends. Her husband and two infant sons preceded her in death.

Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. on July 19, 2007 at Elmwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. The services will be under the direction of Dowell-Martin Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky.Memorials may be made to the building fund of Westview Christian Church of Shreveport, Louisiana. Rose-Neath Funeral Home.

Update 8/20/07: A reader has notified me that there was another child born to Arthur and Gatie: Vearl Hyatt Coffey, b.23 May 1909, Renfro Valley, Rockcastle, Kentucky d.12 Sep 1972 Married Lou Ceil Cross on 15 Jun 1933.

William Franklin Coffey

The subject of this rather blurry photograph is William Franklin Coffey. It was enlarged from a smaller print and I was unable to remove sufficient shadow to reveal more than the lower half of his face.

William was born Mar. 14, 1882 (probably in TN) to John Cleveland (Boney John) and Margaret Jane Wolfe. He died Aug. 28, 1950 in Grainger Co. William married Nancy Leoda White, born to Thomas Jefferson and Susan Isabell Dalton White on Mar. 20, 1893, on Sep. 6, 1912 in Grainger Co. Nancy died in Grainger Co. on Jan. 12, 1977

"Boney John" was a son of William Wesley and Gelina E. Shouse Coffey. John was born Nov. 4, 1859 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., and died there on Jun. 2, 1936. Margaret Jane was born Jul. 29, 1863 in Hancock Co. to William and Maleta Hipsher Wolfe. She died Sep. 8, 1935 in Thorn Hill. They were married on Jan. 7, 1880, probably in Grainger Co.

William was the eldest of 12 children born to "Boney John" and Margaret. Children born to him and Nancy were:

Velva, born c1914, married Cornelius E. Dalton on Sep. 4, 1930. Cornelius was born Dec. 3, 1893 in Grainger Co., and died there on Mar. 22, 1964. Dates for Velva are unknown. They were parents of 10 children: Edna, Bernice, Kermit, Ray Von, Coy L., Mary Ruth, Jeanette, Gary Wayne, Elora, and Leoda. Leoda, born Jan. 7, 1953, married John Wayne Shortridge.

John Thomas, born Mar. 19, 1915 in (probably) Grainger Co., died Aug. 29, 1990. He married 1) Ethel Raines, 2) Mageline Gamble.

Ida Belle, born 1917 in (probably) Grainger Co., and died Sep. 23, 1995. She married Chester Atkins and was the mother of 11 children: Evelyn Jean, Joyce Ann, Buddy, Billy, Hugh Gardner, John Henry, William Frank, Joe Steve, Virginia Sue, Sarah Ruth, and Carylon.

Charles Jeff (Charlie), born c1919 in Tennessee, married Lena Artimus King on Nov. 28, 1938 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN. They were parents of six: Betty Louise, Janie Lynn, Charles Douglas, Judy Saundra, Arnold Joe, and Karl Dennis.

Linda M., born Nov. 12, 1921, died Oct. 9, 1927.

Jessie Willard (Jess), born c1925, died Apr. 4, 1993. Jess married Margie Harville.


Please contact me at the e-mail address below with additions and/or corrections.


Thanks to Jean England of Talbot, TN for much of this family information.

John Wilkerson Coffey (Update 11-24-07)

The problem that I have had in placing John Wilkerson Coffey into the proper family has likely been solved with an e-mail received yesterday from John Coffey of Raleigh, NC.

This is what John wrote:

"I do still want to quibble about your placement of John Wilkerson Coffey in the family of William Coffey Jr. and Margaret Robbins Coffey. For one, John Wilkerson is listed in the family Bible record of William Coffey Jr., which lists the children beginning with Elbert (b. 3 Jan 1837). According to that same Bible record William and Margaret were married 2 Jan 1836—well after the presumed 1830/31 birth date of John Wilkerson. Another, tangential piece of evidence is a letter written by John W[ilkerson] Coffey to Elijah Coffey during the Civil War in which John reports that “I was at your fathers to day & they was all well.” This indicates to me a close but not father-son relationship.

"What makes more sense is that John Wilkerson is a half-brother to William. After the death of Mary (Polly) Coffey ca. 1828, William Sr. marries ca. 1830 another Margaret Robbins—the aunt of the Margaret Robbins who married William Jr. By this union two children are born: John Wilkerson (b. ca. 1831) and Nancy E. (b. 13 Aug 1832). The widow Margaret and her two children are enumerated in the 1850 census as neighbors of William Jr. Jack Hawkins ( CaldHeritMus@aol.com) has done much to unravel the Robbins-Coffey confusion."

"John Wilkerson Coffey appears to have been regarded almost as an older brother by William Jr.’s son Elijah. He was, after all, far closer to Elijah’s generation than that of his half-brother William, Jr. During the Civil War, John Wilkerson apparently remained at home while Elijah and his brothers joined the Confederate army. John Wilkerson sent Elijah the lyrics for patriotic ballads and on at least one intriguing occasion advised Elijah on the legal limitations of habeas corpus protection in cases of desertion or harboring deserters. And it is well to note that John Wilkerson named his first son Elijah and Elijah named his first son John W[illiam]—my great-grandfather and namesake."

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The Caldwell County, North Carolina Register of Deeds website lists an 1855 marriage record for John William Coffey to Linsey Robbins. Although not found in any census with his family, I believe he was a son of William (Jr.) and Margaret Robbins Coffey.

John was born c1830 in North Carolina and Mary Lindsey Robbins was born c1823 in Wilkes Co., NC. They had a son named Elijah M. Coffey, born Sep. 28, 1856, died Mar. 2, 1933.

Elijah married Caroline Amanda (Carrie) Dobbins, born Apr. 25, 1862, died Nov. 12, 1951. Elijah and Carrie had at least six children:

John Hilliard, born 1882, died 1958
Julia Ann, born 1888, died 1971
James Franklin, born Jun. 14, 1891, died 1965
Margaretta Elizabeth, born Aug. 29, 1894, death date unknown
Joseph Dobbins, born 1896, died 1972
Mary Lindsay, born 1898, died 1977

It appears that the child Mary Lindsay was named for Elijah's mother. Joseph was apparently named for his mother's family. Carrie was the daughter of Eber and Minerva McCall Dobbins. Eber Dobbins was born c1818 in New Jersey; Minerva was born c1834 in North Carolina.

James Franklin Coffey was born in Buffalo Cove, Caldwell Co., and married Margaret E. LNU c1917 in North Carolina. It is believed that Margaret was Margaret Elizabeth and called Bessie. The birth records for one of their children names the mother as Bessie Coffey.

Their known children were:

Wallace E., born about Sep., 1917 in Caldwell Co.
Millard Lafayette, born 1922, also in Caldwell Co.

It appears that Joseph Dobbins Coffey married Nellie Blanche Robbins in 1922, Caldwell Co. I believe that Nellie was the daughter of Thomas S. and Mary L. McGuire Robbins, and that she was sister to Caroline Amanda (Carrie) Dobbins. This means of course, that Joseph Dobbins married his mother's sister.

Joseph and Nellie had at least nine children, two of which were born and died unnamed in 1931. Two other named children were born and died in the same year. One was Howard Dalton, born and died in 1927, and Margaret Evaline, born and died in 1934.

Their other children were:

James Ward, born 1925, died 1991
Robert Earl, born 1929, died 1983
Betty Ruth, born May 23, 1932, died Mar. 31, 2005
J. D. Devon (Toby), born 1939, died 1985
Carl Gabriel, born Dec. 26, 1941, died 1996

Other children of John Wilkerson (William?) and Mary Lindsey Robbins Coffey were:

Margaret, born c1859
Jethro, born c1861
James, born c1864
Julia, born c1869

Please contact me at the e-mail address below with additions and/or corrections.

Henry (Pat) Coffey

Henry (Pat) Coffey was born Oct. 18, 1878 in Grainger Co., TN, a son of Samuel (Sam) and Martha Wolfe Coffey. Henry died Dec. 3, 1964 in Grainger Co.

He was first married to Dossie Allen and fathered at least three children:

- Everett (Elbert), born Jan. 4, 1901, died Dec. 28, 1974. Everett married Levia Lois Dalton on Jul. 3, 1925 in Grainger Co. Their son Thea married Stella May Coffey, daughter of Nathaniel and Pearlie Dalton Coffey.

- Milan Coffey, born May 2, 1903, died Nov. 10, 1919

- Martha May Coffey, born Sep. 22, 1905, died Jun., 1969

Henry married second to Emeline McDaniel c1908 in Grainger Co. Emeline was born Feb. 13, 1890 in TN and died Mar. 20, 1920 in Grainger Co. Their children were:

- Effie, born c1910

- John W., born Aug., 1915, married Mary Tennessee White. I know of one child, a son, Billy Samuel, born c1939, died Nov. 28, 2005.

- Mary Lee, born Sep 17, 1917, died May 30, 1989 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., NC. She married Carl Dalton, born Nov. 7, 1912, died Jan. 24, 1964 in Rutledge, Grainger Co., TN

Henry's third wife was Cornelia (Nelia) Harville who he married Dec. 24, 1925 in Grainger Co. I have no other information about this union.

Please e-mail additions and corrections.

Jesse and Fannie (Coffey) Walker

The following is a continuation of the Families of Kimble County [Texas] blog.

Jesse and Fannie (Coffey) Walker
by Mary Ellen Walker Thornton

In 1896, Jess Allen Walker, son of Seth B. and Sarah Walker, decided to quit working on the Schreiner Ranch and purchase his own land. Born Jan. 31, 1869, Jess had made numerous trail drives to Dodge City, St. Joseph and Chicago. Interviewed in 1941 by J. Evetts Haley, author of Charles Schreiner General Merchandise, Jess stated: "The hardest day's work I ever did in my life was quit working for the Schreiners." With their backing, he bought a section of land in the White Bluff Community in Kimble County. On Sep. 1, 1897, he married Fannie Josephine Coffey, a descendant of the first permanent white settler in Concho Co. The Coffey ancestry has been traced for ten generations and has been published in several historical papers. The late Dr. D. D. Tidwell of Waco was particularly instrumental in collecting the Coffey family history.

Fannie was the daughter of John Wright Coffey and Mary Brown Coffey and the granddaughter of Richard Coffey and Sarah Greathouse Coffey who came to Parker County from Georgia in 1855 and settled in Concho Co. in 1862. John Wright Coffey and his family also owned land and lived in the White Bluff Community.

Two children Hattie Adline (b. April 7, 1905) and John William (b. June 17, 1909) were born to Jess and Fannie while they lived at White Bluff.

Fannie's Bible contains the following information: "Fannie Walker and Jess Walker were baptized June 7, 1908 by Bro. P. D. Swift and were both sanctified and joined the Congregational Methodist Church under Br. J. W. Taylor's preaching, Sept. 20, 1909."

The Walkers sold their land at White Bluff and purchased land near London. Two more children, Radie May (b. Mar 27, 1913) and Charlie George (b. Nov. 8, 1916) were born. Fannie died Nov. 12, 1920 and is buried in the Little Saline Cemetery. Jess later married Ethel Ford Parker, a widow with four children. Jess died June 17, 1953 and Ethel was killed in a train accident near San Angelo in 1958. Both are buried at Little Saline.

Hattie married Robert Lee Dodd Sept. 9, 1923 and they lived in Kimble Co. until she died in Sept. 1947. Robert died in 1975 and they are both buried in Saline Cemetery. They had no children.

John married Minnie Elizabeth Jacoby in Junction on Nov. 25, 1932. They lived near Junction for several years before moving to Hext and later near London, where Minnie still lives. [as of Sept. 1996] John died Dec. 4, 1970 and is also buried at Saline. They had one son, Charles William (Cracker) who with his wife, Elleen, live in Bossier City, LA. Cracker has four children living in or near Austin.

Charley, the youngest son of Jess and Fannie, married Augusta Leigh Hull at the First Presbyterian Church, Kerrville, on Oct. 9, 1938. Augusta is the daughter of Melvin Custer Hull and Mary Matilda Apelt Hull, who were Kimble Co. residents. Charley and Augusta purchased the Jess Walker homeplace near London and lived there until they moved to Fredericksburg in Sept., 1962. They have 3 children: Mary Ellen (b. Mar. 9, 1942), George Allen (b. Oct. 21, 1947), and John Lee (b. Sept. 6, 1953). Mary Ellen married Dr. Joe Frank Thornton & they had 1 son, Robert, & live in Houston. George married Pamela Pratt Walker & they have 1 daughter, Elizabeth & live in Colorado City. Dr. John Walker D.D.S. married Regina Brown and lives in Houston. Charley & Augusta still live in Fredericksburg. Radie the youngest daughter of Jesse & Fannie Walker, married Jack Ryan. Jack is dead & is buried in California. They have 1 son, Jack Dalton, who with his wife, Linda & 2 children live in Santa Ana, CA. Radie is in a hursing home in Santa Ana.

Confederate Soldiers of Caldwell [Co., NC]

The following is from Annals of Caldwell County, W. W. Scott, Lenoir, NC, 1930, Chapter 10, page 28:

Fifty-Eighth Regiment

Colonel - John B. Palmer, of Mitchell.

Lieutenant-Colonels - Edmund Kirby, of Virginia, killed at Chickamauga in 1863; Thomas J. Dula, of Caldwell, resigned Aug. 29, 1864; S. M. Silver, Thaddeus M. Coleman.

Majors - T. J. Dula (Caldwell), wounded at Chickamauga, promoted to lieutenant-colonel Aug. 14, 1864; A. T. Stuart (Caldwell), killed at Jonesboro, Ga.; S. M. Silver; G. W. F. Harper (Caldwell), promoted in November, 1864 from captain of Co. H.

Surgeons - W. A. Collett, of Burke; W. H. Harris.

Sergeant-Major - D. D. Coffey, of Caldwell

Quartermaster Sergeant - John E. Medearis, of Caldwell.

Drum Majors - H. Estes and J. Caldwell Blair, both of Caldwell

Company E, of Caldwell

Captains - A. T. Stuart, Thomas J. Coffey.

Lieutenants - J. B. Marler, T. J. Coffey, W. E. Coffey (dropped).

Company H, of Caldwell

Captains - T. J. Dula; G. W. F. Harper, wounded at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864; Larkin W. Gilbert.

Lieutenants - W. W. Lenoir, promoted to captain in 37th regiment July, 1862; G. W. F. Harper, E. M. Hedrick, A. D. Lingle, L. A. Page, killed in 1864 at Dalton, Ga.; L. W. Gilbert, promoted to captain.

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Thomas J. Coffey was Thomas Jefferson Coffey, son of McCaleb and Elizabeth Collett Coffey. He was born 1828, died 1901.

Thomas Jefferson Coffey was born in 1828 near Patterson, in present-day Caldwell county. Before the war, he was a schoolteacher in Valle Crucis, North Carolina and later a merchant in Eastern Tennessee. When the war started, he enlisted, at age 33, as a private in Company E of the 58th North Carolina. Later he was promoted to 2nd and then 1st lieutenant as well as assistant quartermaster of the regiment. In this tintype he holds a Whitney of C. S. manufactured Spiller & Burr revolver. His sword, although covered in gilt paint, resembles a type manufactured in Richmond. Coffey was hospitalized at Charlotte on March 14, 1865 with phthisis, which is a wasting away of the body, usually caused by tuberculosis. He was furloughed on the same date. He returned to Tennessee and joined his brother in business. Before his death he and his brother entered into an agreement that whichever survived the other should carry on the firm business as long as he thought fit, and then divide the property. Coffey died in 1901.

D. D. Coffey was Drury Dobbins Coffey, son of Daniel Boone and Clarissa Estes Coffey. He was born Apr. 23, 1838 in Burke Co., NC and died 1913 in Caldwell Co., NC. He was husband to Harriet Elizabeth Collett who was born Nov. 25, 1840, and died Jan. 13, 1921. Harriet was undoubtedly descended from Charles Collett "of the family for whom Collettsville was named, it having been changed to its present name from the name of John's River Store. He was clearly of Huguenot stock, the name Collett being a well-known French name current at this day." [Annals of Caldwell Co.]

W. E. Coffey is probably William Elbert Coffey, born c1840 in Caldwell Co., married Maggie Kincaid. William was the son of Gilliam and Mary (Polly) Moore Coffey.

Please contact me if anyone has more detailed information on William or Drury.

Grainger County Tennessee Families

A number of researchers I know have pooled their resources via e-mail to discuss and update information about their ancestors in Grainger County. Ancestoral names primarily include Coffee/y, Dalton, Wolfe, Shockley, Rucker, and Hayes. Other surnames are discussed as they arise. Photographs are also shared!

My purpose in participating is to add and update information in the Edward Coffey/Ann Powell descendants report that I maintain at the Coffey Cousins' Clearinghouse website.

The problem with such a list is that it tends to grow. For me, I find it increasingly difficult to remain concentrated on each participant, and the information they provide. The information sometimes becomes extremely confusing as lines cross. Of course, it remains clear in the mind of the person submitting it because they are intimately familiar with the data. But, for others it tends to blur after awhile.

But, the information exchange is extremely important, and I like the format. If you have ever participated in the various Coffee/Coffey forums on Genealogy.com or Ancestry.com, you have no doubt noticed that just about the time you find an interesting post, the participants switch to private e-mail (or, they change and fail to update their e-mail address), and you never see any more of their information. By setting up your own informal mailing list, and keeping it limited to 10-15 people interested in the same family lines, a lot of information can be exchanged in a short period of time.

I find myself having to do more than just concentrate on what information is being exchanged. One of the first things I do is jump to the census record to verify children, ages, birth places, etc., hoping to at least provide future researchers with some confidence that the information is accurate as I know it.

Not all of the information that has been, or ever will be posted to the Coffey Cousins' website will be completely accurate. I post what is sent to me by others with the disclaimer that I have not personally documented the information, and it is not guaranteed to be accurate. For the most part, sources are provided. Users of the data are encouraged to complete their own research, and contact the source - if a person with contact information has been listed. Naturally, I would like to receive any updated information so changes on the Coffey Cousins' website can be corrected.

I guess what I am attempting to do with the Edward and Ann Powell document, is to start a public discussion, the goal being to update the information with the most accurate data available at the time. I would also like to do the same thing with the Peter Coffey family. It appears however, that Edward left more descendants who research, and share information, than Peter did.

What I would eventually like to do is start an on-line discussion, available to everyone, with defined "categories." That will require more thought! If any readers have suggestions please contact me.