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Showing posts with label Demasters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Demasters. Show all posts

February 13, 2014

William Benjamin and Mary F. "Molly" Demasters Coffey

I am uncertain that any Demasters family researcher has ever conclusively proven that today's more-or-less accepted spelling is correct.  Some with whom I I have exchanged information tell me that the name can be found a Demastus, Damastas, etc.  I use the spelling that I have most often found; e.g., Demasters.

Mary "Molly" Demasters was born Dec. 4, 1804 (no source) and died before 1860 (no source).  She married William Benjamin Coffey on Nov. 13, 1824¹ in Nelson Co., VA, was living in that county at the 1850 census and was a widow there in 1860.  She died Apr. 22, 1867 but, her place of burial is not known to me.  She was the daughter of John and Martha "Patsy" Moran Demasters.  According to a typewritten letter dated Oct. 10, 1934 to Mrs. Leo W. Kasehagen of Washington, D.C., (sender not identified), this couple was married on Jul. 29, 1779 in Lyndhurst, Augusta Co., VA.²

William Benjamin Coffey was born c1805, probably in Nelson Co., VA, to Edmund F. and Elizabeth Burger Coffey.  He died on Apr. 22, 1867³ in that county.  His burial site is also unknown to me.

To the union was born at least seven children:  Morris W.; Martha Ann; Edmund Franklin; Egbert; Nancy; Elizabeth and William Benjamin, Jr.

1) Morris was born Aug. 12, 1825 in Nelson Co.  His wife was a double third cousin, Mildred Annister "Milly" Coffey, a daughter of John W. and Margaret Susanna "Susan" Coffey Coffey. John W. was a son of Edmind Steward Coffey, Jr. and his wife Matilda "Tildy" Fitzgerald.   Susan's parents were Reuben G. and Nancy Giles Coffey.

Children born to Morris and Milly were Mary Ann Elizabeth (1860-1946), who married Joseph Clay Hewitt (1847-1920).  Second was Nicholas Anderson "Nick" (1861-1956) who married his several times cousin, Viola M. A. Coffey, a daughter of George Washington and Rachel A. Campbell Coffey. Next was John Walton Coffey (1866-1945) who also married his several times cousin, Sarah Henry "Sallie" Coffey, a daughter of the George Washington Coffey who married Mary Catherine "Kitty" Demasters.  Kitty was a daughter of John and Mary Ann "Polly" Coffey Demasters.  Following John Walton was Alice Sophronia "Allie" Coffey (1870-1955).  Her husband was Hugh "Hughey" Coffey (c1861-?), a brother to Sarah Henry Coffey.

2) Martha Ann "Patsy" was born c1827 in Nelson Co.  Nothing more is know.

3) Edmond Franklin (1829-1906) married twice.  His first wife was Mary Jane Camden (c1829-?).  Their children were Lucas T. (c1859-?); William Luther (1861-1890) and B. E., a son, born 1866.  This son married I. B Jackson on Fb. 3, 1892 in Wythe Co., VA.#  His second wife was Sarah Margaret Smith (c1841-?) to whom he was married on Nov. 18, 1867 in Nelson Co.±  Their children were Hugh (1869-1870); Mary Jane (c1871-?); Nora Kate (c1872-1940); Elizabeth Dora "Betty" (1873-1954), married Edell Alexander Brown (1870-1933); Cofa Lee (1875-1875); Florence Pearl (1875-1960) and Julie Ann (c1878-?)

4) Egbert, 1831-?) married Martha Monroe on Fe. 23, 1854 in Nelson Co.*  Egbert was a volunteer with Co. E., 51st Inf Regt., CSA, Nelson Co.  I know of only one child, as son George W., born 1855.

5) Nancy (c1831-?) married Peter S. Fitzgerald on Jan. 18, 1848 in Nelson Co.**  Peter and Nancy had at least three children:  James W. (1851-?); Sarah Elizabeth, (1850-?) and Napoleon D., (c1866-?).  James married Mary S. Coffey, a daughter of William W. and Sarah Jane Coffey Coffey.  William W. was a son of William who married Elizabeth Giles and Sarah was a daughter of his brother, Reuben G. Coffey who married Elizabeth's sister, Nancy Giles.  Sarah Elizabeth married Lorenzo D. Fitzgerald, a son of Moses W. and Mary Ann Coffey Fitzgerald.  I suspect Lorenzo and Sarah Elizabeth were cousins but I cannot find the parents of his mother, Mary Ann Coffey Fitzgerald.  Napoleon married Martha Elizabeth Coffey, a daughter of William David "Billy" Coffey and wife Samantha Elizabeth Campbell.

Nothing more is know of child 6) Elizabeth and child 7) William Benjamin, Jr.

Many of these families have descendants.  Information on individuals is available.  The entire family, including sources, is included on the Edward Coffey Project DVD.


Sources:

¹Marriage Register, Nelson Co., VA, Part 2, Page 19, Line 20.  This marriage register names the groom as William B. Coffey and the bride as Mary F. Masters with E.F. Coffey and John Masters as security.
²Coffey Cousins' Clearinghouse Newsletter (Jefferson City, MO: Bonnie Culley, March 1996.  Winifred, dau. of John and Jane (Jean) Graves Coffee. One of their children, Martha "Patsy" Moran m. John DeMasters. John served in Rev. War and Martha drew a pension on his war record. See Issue 62, page 9 at http://tinyurl.com/qbfdt2c
³Nelson Co., VA Death Register, Page 22, line 5
#"Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRSH-G13 : accessed 25 Feb 2013), B. E. Coffy and I. B. Jackson, 03 Feb 1892; citing reference Page 8-5, FHL microfilm 34255. This child has not been found in the census record with the Edmund F. Coffey who married Mary Jane Camden.
±"Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRZR-CQS : accessed 25 Feb 2013), E. F. Coffey and Sarah M. Smith, 18 Nov 1867; citing reference p 20 ln 54, FHL microfilm 32734.
*Marriage Register, Nelson Co., VA, Part 2, Page 63, Line 11.
**"Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRZT-QPX : accessed 09 Mar 2013), Peter Fitzgerald and Nancy Coffey, 18 Jan 1848.

October 7, 2010

Peter Jordan Coffey

There were two men with this name, each born and died in Nelson Co., VA around the same time.

One was born c1836 to William W. and Sarah Jane Coffey Coffey.  William was a son of William and Elizabeth "Betsy" Giles Coffey.  Sarah Jane Coffey was the daughter of Reuben and Nancy Giles Coffey.  Because Nancy and Betsy were sisters and William and Reuben were brothers, Sarah and William were double-first cousins.

Peter Jordan was the fourth of at least nine children born to William and Sarah.  Peter's first wife was Elvira C. Wood, the daughter of George W. and Martha Ann "Patsy" Coffey Wood.  Patsy was the daughter of William Benjamin and Mary F. "Molly" Demasters Coffey.  William was a son of Edmund F. & Elizabeth Burger Coffey.  Edmund was the son of William and Elizabeth Osborne Coffey.  Edmund's sister was Jane, thought to be the mother of Jordan, the "founder" of Coffeytown at Alto in Amherst Co.

Groom's Name: Peter J. Coffey Groom's Birth Date: 1836 Groom's Birthplace: Nelson Co. Groom's Age: 23 Bride's Name: Alvira C. Wood Bride's Birth Date: 1840 Bride's Birthplace: Nelson Co. Bride's Age: 19 Marriage Date: 29 Aug 1859 Marriage Place: Rockbridge, Virginia Groom's Father's Name: Wm. W. Groom's Mother's Name: Sarah Bride's Father's Name: Geo. W. Bride's Mother's Name: Dicey Groom's Race: Groom's Marital Status: Single Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: Bride's Marital Status: Single Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M86879-0 System Origin: Virginia-EASy Source Film Number: 32734 Reference Number: pg 7 ln 27 Collection: Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940

His children by Elvira were:

Andrew Jack, born c1861.  He married Signora L. "Nora" Stinnett on Feb. 17, 1881 in Amherst Co.  I do not know when Andrew died, but his widow - naming her parents as Peter and Nancy Elizabeth Coffey - married Daniel B. Henson on Aug. 15, 1885 in Amherst Co.

Mahalia Coffey, born c1865, married W. S. Stinnett on Feb. 17, 1881 in Amherst Co.  W. S. was a brother to Signora.

Eliza Ann, born c1868, married Marian G. Stinnett on Jan. 7, 1886, a brother to Signora.

The Stinnetts were children of Benjamin R. and Lucy F. Stinnett.  I haven't found a maiden name or marriage date for Benjamin and Lucy.

Norben Lee, born c1870, married Nellie B. Camden on Jun. 11, 1891 in Nelson Co., VA.  She was the daughter of William Sydney and Letitia Black Hight Camden.  Nellie was born Jan. 12, 1869 and died Apr. 26, 1956.  Norben died on May 1, 1941.  Both are buried in the Camden Family Cemetery at Woodson in Nelson Co.  Their children were:  Frank, Connie, Annie, Nellie, Sidney, Edward, Bettie and Virginia.

Some genealogies put a son named Eldridge in this birth position.  However, I cannot independently confirm that.

Their last child was Mildred Frances, born Jan. 9, 1872, died unknown. She married twice; first to the oft married Marion Lewis "Tip" Humphries on Oc. 14, 1887 in Amherst Co.  He did not die until 1909, but there is a marriage record for her having married Jefferson Kenneth Massie on July 26, 1896 in Nelson Co.  Her children with Massie were Horace, born 1897 and Jeanette, born 1898.

Peter's second marriage was to Nancy Elizabeth Fitzgerald in Lyndhurst, Augusta Co. on Jan. 1, 1874.  Nancy was born in 1856 and died Apr 29, 1939.
Groom's Name: Peter J. Coffey Groom's Birth Date: 1838 Groom's Birthplace: Nelson Co., Va. Groom's Age: 36 Bride's Name: Nancy E. Fitzgerald Bride's Birth Date: 1856 Bride's Birthplace: Augusta Co., Va. Bride's Age: 18 Marriage Date: 01 Jan 1874 Marriage Place: Greenville, Augusta, Virginia Groom's Father's Name: Wm. W. Coffey Groom's Mother's Name: Sarah F. Coffey Bride's Father's Name: Sam'L. Fitzgerald Bride's Mother's Name: Lovella Hite Groom's Race: Groom's Marital Status: Widowed Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: Bride's Marital Status: Single Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M86847-3 System Origin: Virginia-EASy Source Film Number: 30416 Reference Number: No 3278 Collection: Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940
I do not have a confirmed death date or place for Peter or Nancy.  One genealogy that I have seen reports that Nancy died on Apr. 29, 1939.

There were at least 11 children born to this union, all in Amherst Co:
Laura, born c1877

Rose Forest, born Mar., 1878.  In the 1880 census the child was recorded as a 2-year old male.  The relationship to the head was "daughter" but, that was struck out.

Henry Loving, born Apr 16, 1882, died Nov. 27, 1951. Married Sarah "Sallie" Campbell.  Had at least one child, Lucille, born Mar. 30, 1923, died Mar. 4, 1924.  Lucille is buried at Bridge Hill cemetery in Alto [Coffeytown]m Amherst Co.

Elvira Catherine, born c1884, married Mel. [sic] Ponton on Apr. 22, 1903 in Nelson Co.

Lelia F., born May, 1887

Maggie B., born Jan., 1889

Nina Belle, born Mar., 1891

Chester Berry, born Apr., 1897.  Said to have married Ruby Monique Fitzgerald and had children:

Monnie May, born Jan. 11, 1922, died Oc. 26, 2003.  Married Woodrow D. Campbell, son of Aylett and Arminda Coffey Campbell.  He was born Apr. 24, 1916, died Jun. 25, 1976.  Arminda was a daughter of Floyd Lee Coffey through his marriage to Mrs. Mary Jane Weaver.

Swanson James, born May 27, 1923 at Montebello in Nelson Co., died Sep. 2, 2009 at Stuarts Draft in Augusta Co.  He married Magdelina Lucy "Madge" Campbell, born Jan. 13, 1924 at Montebello, died Feb. 3, 2008 at Stuarts Draft.  One known son, Fred James "Freddie", born Nov. 26, 1946 at Waynesboro, VA, died at Stuarts Draft on Aug. 9, 2008.  His parents are buried at the Mennonite Church Cemetery in Stuarts Draft; he at Augusta Memorial Park in Lyndhurst.
Van and Bernard.  No further information.

The last three children of Peter and Nancy are said to have been Minnie, Ella and Ollie.  However, I have not yet found them in any record.

Peter Jordan died before 1900. Nancy Elizabeth appeared as a widow in the Temperance, Amherst Co. census that year.  The children in the household at that time were Rosa F., born Mar., 1878; H. L., born Apr., 1882; L. F., [Lelia], born May., 1887; M. B., [Magie], born Jan., 1889; Nina, born Mar., 1891; M. A., a daughter, born Feb., 1894 and C. B., [Chester Berry] a son, born Apr., 1897. 

There is a gap of about six years between the birth of Nina and Chester where Minnie, Ella and Ollie could have been born and perhaps die in infancy.  I do not yet know!

--

The other Peter J. Coffey was born in April, 1840 at Massies Mill, Nelson Co. to Benjamin J. and Candis W. Coffey Coffey.  Benjamin's parents haven't been identified yet, but may be William and Betsy Giles Coffey.  Candis was one of three daughters born to Nancy Coffey, another sibling of Jane, Jordan's mother, without benefit of marriage.

This Peter was a member of Co. B, 52d Infantry Regiment, Virginia.  He enlisted on Jul. 10, 1861 at Fairfield in Rockbridge Co.  On Sep. 28, 1861 he the 2d Rockbridge Light Artillery Regiment.  He apparently never married and lived with his parents at Massies Mill, Nelson Co. through the 1870 and 1880 census and then as a single man living alone in the 1900 Lovingston, Nelson Co. census.  He is said to have died in Sep., 1925.

January 11, 2006

David Garland Coffey (1857-??)

David Garland Coffey was born Nov., 1857 in Nelson Co., VA, the son of William and Mary C. Ramsey Coffey. He was the third of nine children born to the union of William and Mary, who were married1 on Jan. 3, 1853 in Nelson Co. The only other child of William that we know anything about now is Jesse Milton, born c1858. More about him in a later report.

David Garland married Peter Alice Demasters (var.), daughter of Peter and Mary (Polly) Monroe Demasters. Peter Alice was born in Nelson Co., VA in Feb., 18622, and died Mar. 31, 19382 in that county.

David and Peter Alice had at least nine children. In the 1900 Nelson Co., VA census3 Alice reported that she was the mother of 8 children, and that 8 were living. However, only 7 children were enumerated in the family that year. Those were: William Peter, Ana B., Ellis, Johnnie, George, Nelson and Lena. Missing was Woody, thought to have been born c1887, and Massie, who was born after the census was enumerated.

The only child of David for whom we have any descendant information is Nelson Lee Coffey, born Feb. 20, 1896 in Nelson Co., and died Dec. 20, 19292 in Augusta Co., VA. He married Lucy Margaret Mutherspaw c1911-12. She was born c1898 in Rockbridge Co., VA, and died in 19472 in Staunton Co., VA.

Together, they had 7 children: Odie James, born Jun. 27, 1913, died Oct. 27, 19744; Anna Mae, born Nov. 7, 1919, died Apr. 12, 19712; Clyde, born c1921; Linwood, born Feb. 9,, 1924, died Apr., 19824; Charles Lee, born Sep. 10, 1926, died Nov. 23, 20022,4; Frank, dates unknown; and Ida Belle, born c1930.

When Nelson died in 1929, some of the children went to an orphanage. Anna Mae, Linwood and Ida Belle were sent to the "Oakdale Home" in Augusta Co. They are found there in the 19305 census, enumerated as "inmates" and "farm laborers" in a household headed by Oliver Robertson. Oliver's wife Carrie was listed as the county probation officer.

Linwood died in April 1982 at Alexandria, Fairfax Co., VA.4 Odie James died at Staunton, VA on Oct. 27, 1974.4
Charles Lee Coffey
Little is known about the children with the exception of Charles Lee. He married Mabel Cornelia Benson in Jan., 1946, and died on Nov. 23, 2002 in Stuarts Draft, Augusta Co., VA.2 From that union 6 children were born: Mae Cornelia, Jean Carol, Constance Lee2, Charles Lee, Jr., Anthony Frank, and Barbara Ellen.

Researchers seeking the Nelson Lee Coffey family, or those wishing to make corrections and/or additions may write to me.

Additional information concerning other descendants of David Garland Coffey would be welcomed.












1 Nelson Co. marriage records: License date: 3 Jan 1852, marriage date Jan. 1853 (day not
given); security not given
2 Connie Coffey Dorsey, Fairfield, VA, e-mail to Jack Coffee, Dec. 2004-Jan. 2005
3 1900 Nelson Co., Massies Mill, ED86, Sheet 11B, dwelling/family 164
4 Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File
5 1930 Augusta Co., Riverheads, ED14, Oakdale Home