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Showing posts with label Demastus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Demastus. 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.

June 4, 2012

Joel & Nancy Coffey Campbell

In November of last year I wrote a brief blog about this family.  Since that time I have been frustrated in  attempts to figure out if Joel Campbell, enumerated in the 1850 Nelson Co., VA census as a son of Joel and Nancy Coffey Campbell was really Joseph Cabell Campbell, born c1831 in Nelson Co.  I have since decided that he is and, entering Joel as his name in 1850 was a census error.

Joel and Nancy had nine children, none of them named Joel.  This is how I now have the family configured:



First Generation

1. Joel Campbell was born circa 1790 in Virginia. Joel Campbell and Nancy Coffey were married on Sep. 8, 1817 in Lovingston, Nelson Co., VA.1 Joel and Nancy appeared in the census on Nov. 15, 1850 in Nelson Co., VA.2 Some of the children in the 1850 census may not belong to Joel and Nancy. They were not listed in birth order in the census. Nancy Coffey, daughter of Edmond Stewart Coffey and Matilda Fitzgerald, was born circa 1800 in Virginia. Nancy appeared in the census on Jul. 3, 1860 in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA.3

Joel Campbell and Nancy Coffey had the following children:

+2 i. Rachel A. Campbell, born ca 1825, Virginia; married George Washington Coffey, Nov. 20, 1842, Nelson Co. VA; died Dec. 1881, Nelson Co., VA.

3 ii. Matilda Campbell was born circa 1830 in Virginia. This may be the Matilda Campbell who married John W. Fortune. They were the parents of Martha Wyatt Coffey who married Ryland Coffey.

+4 iii. Reuben Lee Campbell, born ca 1831, Nelson Co. VA; married Mary Jane Bridge, Aug. 22, 1856, Augusta Co., VA.

5 iv. Nancy Campbell was born circa 1832 in Virginia.

+6 v. Joseph Cabell Campbell, born ca 1831, Virginia; married Violetta Bridge, ca 1850, Virginia; married Mary Frances Lunsford, Dec. 28, 1864, Augusta Co., VA; married Martha Bowling , Nov. 27, 1879, Nelson Co. VA; ; died ca 1894.

7 vi. Lilly Campbell was born circa 1833 in Virginia.

+8 vii. Henry Campbell, born ca 1834, Virginia; married Lucy Ann Everitt, Nov. 2, 1865, Nelson Co. VA.

+9 viii. Francis Vanvert Campbell, born ca 1836, Virginia; married Nancy M. H. Campbell, Mar. 29, 1860, Nelson Co, VA; died 1894, Virginia.

+10 ix. William Campbell, born ca 1841, Nelson Co. VA; married Susan Ann Mawyer, Nov. 2, 1865, Nelson Co. VA. William did not appear with this family in the 1850 census.

Second Generation

2. Rachel A. Campbell (Joel-1) was born circa 1825 in Virginia. Rachel appeared in the census on Jun. 11, 1880 in Nelson Co., VA.4 Rachel died in Nelson Co., VA in Dec. 1881 of pneumonia. Rachel A. Campbell and George Washington Coffey were married on Nov. 20, 1842 in Nelson Co. VA.5 Rachel and George appeared in the census on Sep. 14, 1860 in Nelson Co., VA.6 Rachel and George appeared in the census on Sep. 3, 1870 in Nelson Co., VA.7 George Washington Coffey, son of William Coffey and Elizabeth Giles, was born circa 1814. George died in Virginia before 1880. Rachel was a widow in that census year.

George Washington Coffey and Rachel A. Campbell had the following children:

+11 i. Letitia Coffey, born ca 1843, Nelson Co., VA; married Jesse Demastus, Dec. 25, 1862, Nelson Co., VA.

+12 ii. Ryland Coffey, born ca 1846, Nelson Co., VA; married Martha Wyatt Fortune, Jun. 20, 1867, Nelson Co., VA.

+13 iii. Sarah C. "Lila" Coffey, born ca 1852, Tye River, Nelson Co., VA; married Joseph C. Hewitt, Oct. 27, 1870, Nelson Co. VA; died Jun. 27, 1871, Meadows, Nelson Co., VA.

+14 iv. Joseph Marshall Coffey, born Jul. 18, 1854, Nelson Co., VA; married Martha Walker Demastus, Nov. 15, 1877, Nelson Co., VA; married Martha Coffey, Jun. 15, 1922, Nelson Co. VA; died Feb. 27, 1930, Lyndhurst, Augusta Co., VA.

+15 v. Viola M. A. Coffey, born 1859, Nelson Co., VA; married Nicholas A. Coffey, Jul. 24, 1882, Nelson Co., VA; died Dec. 1931, Virginia.

16 vi. William Henry Coffey was born circa 1862 in Nelson Co., VA.

4. Reuben Lee Campbell (Joel-1) was born circa 1831 in Nelson Co. VA.

Reuben Lee Campbell and Mary Jane Bridge were married on Aug. 22, 1856 in Augusta Co., VA.8 Reuben and Mary appeared in the census on Jul. 31, 1860 in Staunton (Independent City), VA.9 Reuben and Mary lived with her father in Fishersville, Augusta Co., VA on Aug. 12, 1870.10 Reuben and Mary appeared in the census on Jun. 4, 1880 in Augusta Co., VA.11 Mary Jane Bridge, daughter of James S. Bridge and Nancy Lee, was born in 1837 in Augusta Co., VA.

Reuben Lee Campbell and Mary Jane Bridge had the following children:

17 i. Charles Campbell was born circa 1857 in Virginia. 18 ii. John Campbell was born circa 1859 in Virginia. 19 iii. Nancy J. "Nannie" Campbell was born circa 1863 in Virginia. 20 iv. Angelina Campbell was born circa 1869 in Virginia. 21 v. William F. Campbell was born circa 1872 in Virginia. 22 vi. Matilda Campbell was born circa 1875 in Virginia.

6. Joseph Cabell Campbell (Joel-1) was born circa 1831 in Virginia. Joseph lived with the James Bridge family in Augusta Co., VA on Sep. 26, 1850. Joseph lived with his mother in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA on Jul. 3, 1860. Between 1861 and 1865 Joseph served in Rives' Co., Nelson Light Artillery Battery during the Civil War.12 Joseph died circa 1894.

Joseph Cabell Campbell and Violetta Bridge were married circa 1850 in Virginia. Violetta Bridge, daughter of James S. Bridge and Nancy Lee, was born circa 1833 in Augusta Co., VA.

Joseph Cabell Campbell and Violetta Bridge had the following children:

+23 i. Lawson J. Campbell, born Nov. 1851, Virginia; married Susan Mildred Truslow, Dec. 15, 1873, Nelson Co. VA; died Jan. 23, 1928, Virginia.

24 ii. Rubin Campbell was born circa 1856 in Virginia.

Joseph Cabell Campbell and Mary Frances Lunsford were married on Dec. 28, 1864 in Augusta Co., VA.15 Joseph and Mary appeared in the census on Sep. 12, 1870 in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA.16 Mary Frances Lunsford, daughter of William Lunsford and Sarah Hight, was born circa 1847 in Virginia.

Joseph Cabell Campbell and Mary Frances Lunsford had the following children:

25 i. Tinsley A. Campbell was born circa 1866 in Virginia. 26

    ii. Joseph C. Campbell was born circa 1868 in Virginia. 27

   iii. Martial Campbell was born circa 1872 in Virginia. 28 iv. Evelind Campbell was born circa 1875 in Virginia.

Joseph Cabell Campbell and Martha Bowling were married on Nov. 27, 1879 in Nelson Co. VA.13 Joseph and Martha appeared in the census on Jun. 15, 1880 in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA.14 Martha Bowling was born in 1858 in Nelson Co. VA.  There are no known children.

8. Henry Campbell (Joel-1) was born circa 1834 in Virginia. Henry Campbell and Lucy Ann Everitt were married on Nov. 2, 1865 in Nelson Co. VA.17 Lucy Ann Everitt, daughter of John Everitt and Mildred Ray Coffey, was born circa 1840 in Nelson Co, VA.

9. Francis Vanvert Campbell (Joel-1) was born circa 1836 in Virginia. Francis died in Virginia in 1894. Francis Vanvert Campbell and Nancy M. H. Campbell were married on Mar. 29, 1860 in Nelson Co, VA.18 Francis and Nancy appeared in the census on Jul. 3, 1860 in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA.19 Nancy M. H. Campbell, daughter of Francis Jefferson Campbell and Sarah Ann Grove, was born on Apr. 10, 1844 in Nelson Co, VA. Her marriage record to Francis Coffey reports her birth place as Bath Co., VA. There are no other indications that her parents were ever in that county.

10. William Campbell (Joel-1) was born circa 1841 in Nelson Co. VA. William was not included in the 1850 census.

William Campbell and Susan Ann Mawyer were married on Nov. 2, 1865 in Nelson Co. VA.20 Susan Ann Mawyer, daughter of C. Mawyer and M. A. , was born circa 1850 in Albemarle Co., VA.


This family is still a bit suspect and will continue to be reviewed and altered until it is accurate.  Corrections are welcomed!

Sources

1. Marriage Register, Nelson Co., VA - Part 1 is from Marriage Register, Book No. 2, 1854 - 1926 and and only includes entries for Coffey surnames thru 1899. See the files located at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/nelson/vitals/marr0001.txt, Part 2, Page 10, Line 27. License Date: 29 Aug 1817, Marriage Date: 8 Sep 1817, Security: Edmund Coffey. 


2. United States Federal Census. Original data: United States Federal Census for year cited:. 1850 Nelson Co., Page 560, dwelling/family 915, Joel Campbell, age 60, male, farmer, $700, born VA; Nancy, age 40, female, born VA; Joel, age 22, male, born VA; Lilly, age 17, female, born VA; Nancy, age 18, female, born VA; Rachel, age 25, female, born VA; Matilda, age 20, female, born VA; Reuben, age 18, male, born VA; Henry, age 16, male, born VA; Francis, age 14, male, born VA. 


3. United States Federal Census. 1860 VA, Nelson Co., Massies Mill, Page 33, dwelling/family 243, Nancy Campbell, age 61, female, $70, $125, born VA; Joseph C., age 29, male, farming, born VA; Henry, age 26, male, born VA; William, age 23, male, born VA. 


4. United States Federal Census. 1880 Nelson Co., ED113, Page 13, dwelling/family 103, Coffey, Rachael [sic] white female, age 59, widow, farmer, born VA, parents born VA; Violetta, white female, age 19, dau., single, at school, born VA, parents born VA. 


5. Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org), index entries derived from copies of originals housed in various repositories throughout Virginia. groom's name: Washington Coffey groom's birth date: groom's birthplace: groom's age: bride's name: Rhoda [sic] Campbell bride's birth date: bride's birthplace: bride's age: marriage date:20 Nov 1842 marriage place:Nelson County, Virginia groom's father's name: 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:M86879-0 system origin:Virginia-EASy source film number:32734 reference number:p 44. 


6. United States Federal Census. 1860 Nelson Co., Massies Mill, Page 143, dwelling/family 1025, Washington Coffey, age 45, male, farmer, $__, $170, born Nelson Co.; Rachel, age 35, female, born Nelson Co; Meartetia(?), age 17, female, born Nelson Co;, Rila [sic], age 12, male, born Nelson Co;, Laula [sic], age 9, female, born Nelson Co; Joseph, age 7, male, born Nelson Co; Latetia, age 5, female, born Nelson Co. This family apparently missed the 1850 census. 


7. United States Federal Census. 1870 Nelson Co., Dist. 2, Massies Mill Twp., Lovingston PO, Page 71, dwelling 555, dwelling 583, Coffey, Geo. Washington, age 56, male, white, farmer, $273, $200, born VA; Rachel, age 49, female, white, keeping house, born VA; Lalla Kite [sic], age 17, female, white, at home, born VA; Joseph, age 13, male, white farm laborer, born VA; Violet, age 11, female, white, at home, born VA; William Henry, age 8, male, white, at home, born VA. 


8. Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at www.familysearch.org. Groom's Name: Reuben Campbell Groom's Birth Date: 1831 Groom's Birthplace: Nelson Co., Va. Groom's Age: 25 Bride's Name: Mary Jane Bridge Bride's Birth Date: 1837 Bride's Birthplace: Augusta Co., Va. Bride's Age: 19 Marriage Date: 22 Aug 1856 Marriage Place: Augusta, Virginia Groom's Father's Name: Joseph Campbell Groom's Mother's Name: Nancy Coffey Bride's Father's Name: James Bridge Bride's Mother's Name: Nancy Lee 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: M86847- System Origin: Virginia-EASy Source Film Number: 30416 Reference Number: No. 340 Collection: Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940. 


9. United States Federal Census. 1860 Augusta Co., 1st Dist., Staunton PO, Page 122, dwelling 720, family 738, Reuben Campbell, age 26, male, born VA; Mary J., age 23, female, born VA; Charles, age 3, male, born VA; John, age 10 mos., born VA. A neighbor was Mildred J. Bridge, age 40, a matron with eight children in the household. Another was the James Bridge family, apparently a widower and age 57 with six children in the household. James appears to be the same James as Mary's father. Two farms away was the Morris Coffey family with wife Milly and child Mary Ann E., age 6 mos. Also in the household was Susan Lewis, age 25, who was enumerated as a servant. 


10. United States Federal Census. 1870 Augusta Co., South River Twp., Fishersville PO, page 31, dwelling 212, family 215, Bridge, James, Sr., age 62, male, white, farmer, $400, $100, born VA; Campbell, Reuben, age 35, male, white, farmer, born VA; Mary Jane, age 34, female, white, keeping house, born VA; Charles, age 13, male, white, age home, born VA; John, age 10, male, white, at home, born VA; Nanny J., age 7, female, white, born VA; Angelina, age 1, female, white, born VA. 


11. United States Federal Census. 1880 Augusta Co., South River Dist., ED21, Page 9, dwelling/family 58, Campbell, Reuben, white male, age 48, married, farmer, born VA, parents born VA; Mary J., white female, age 40, wife, keeps house, born VA, parents born VA; John T., white male, age 18, son, works on farm, born VA; Nancy, white female, age 13, dau., at home, bornVA; Wm. F., white male, age 8, son, born VA; Matilda, white female, age 5, dau., born VA. 


12. US Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, National Park Service, database on-line at www.itp.nps.gov/cwss/. Name: Joseph C Campbell Residence: Massies Mill, Virginia Rank at enlistment: Private State Served: Virginia Survived the War?: Yes Service Record: Enlisted in Company Rives', Virginia Nelson Light Artillery Battery. Description: height: 5 ft. 11 in., dark complexion, grey eyes, dark hair. Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records The Virginia Regimental Histories Series. 


13. Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at www.familysearch.org. groom's name: J. C. Campbell groom's birth date:1832 groom's birthplace: Nelson Co. groom's age:47 bride's name: Martha Bowling bride's birth date:1858 bride's birthplace:Nelson Co. bride's age: 21 marriage date:27 Nov 1879 marriage place: Nelson County, Virginia groom's father's name: Joel groom's mother's name:Nancy bride's father's name: Edmond S. bride's mother's name:Matilda (Incorrect! They were groom's grandparents.) groom's race: White groom's marital status: Widowed groom's previous wife's name: bride's race: White 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:p42 ln89 . 


14. United States Federal Census. 1880 VA, Massies Mill, ED114, Page No. 30-31, dwelling/family 280, Campbell, Jocepl [sic], white male, age 48, farming, born VA, parents born VA; Marthie, white female, age 21, wife, married, keeping house, born VA, parents born VA; Tinsley, white male, age 13, son, single, farm hand, born VA; William, white male, age 12, son, single, farm hand, born VA; Martial, white male, age 8, son, single, born VA; Evelind, white female, age 5, dau., single, born VA; Henderson, Cate, white female, age 19, boarder, born VA, parents born VA. None of the children in the Campbell household at this census were Martha's. John J. Coffey was a boarder in the Jeremiah Falls/Fawls household, just a few farms away from the Campbell farm. 


15. Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at www.familysearch.org. groom's name: Joseph C. Campbell groom's birth date:1829 groom's birthplace:Nelson Co., Va. groom's age:35 bride's name:Mary Frances Lunsford bride's birth date:1845 bride's birthplace: Nelson Co., Va. bride's age:19 marriage date: 28 Dec 1864 marriage place:Augusta, Virginia groom's father's name: Joel Campbell groom's mother's name: Nancy Coffin [sic] [Coffey] bride's father's name: William Lunsford bride's mother's name: Sarah Hight 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. 1545. In 1870, Mary Francis gave her age as 23 yrs., indicating a birth year of 1847. 


16. United States Federal Census. 1870 Nelson Co., Massies Mill Twp., Lovingston PO, Page 94, dwelling 722, family 761, Campbell, Joseph C., age 40, male, white, farm laborer, $500, born VA; Francis [sic], age 23, female, white, keeping house, born VA; Rubin, age 18, male, white, farm laborer, born VA; Lawson, age 14, male, white, farm laborer, born VA; Tinsley A., age 3, male, white, born VA; Joseph C., age 2, male, white, born VA; Henderson, Catharine, age 12, female, white, house servant, born VA. 


17. Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at www.familysearch.org, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRZ5-Z43 : accessed 4 June 2012), Lucy Ann Everett, 1865. groom's name: Hy [sic] Campbell groom's birth date:1837 groom's birthplace:Nelson Co., Va. groom's age: 28 bride's name: Lucy Ann Everett bride's birth date:1840 bride's birthplace: Nelson Co., Va. bride's age: 25 marriage date: 26 Oct 1865 marriage place: Nelson County, Virginia groom's father's name: Joel groom's mother's name: Nancy bride's father's name:Jno. bride's mother's name:Mildred 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:p 14 ln 56. 


18. Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at www.familysearch.org, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRZT-NMJ : accessed 4 June 2012), Nancy H. M. Campbell, 1860. groom's name: Francis Campbell groom's birth date: groom's birthplace: groom's age: bride's name: Nancy H. M. Campbell bride's birth date: bride's birthplace: bride's age: marriage date: 29 Mar 1860 marriage place:Nelson County, Virginia groom's father's name: groom's mother's name: bride's father's name: bride's mother's name: groom's race: groom's marital status:Unknown 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:p 75.  Another record from the same source reads: groom's name:F. Campbell groom's birth date: 1841 groom's birthplace: Nelson Co. groom's age:19 bride's name:N. H. M. Campbell bride's birth date: 1844 bride's birthplace: Bath Co. bride's age:16 marriage date: 29 Mar 1860 marriage place: Nelson County, Virginia groom's father's name: Joel groom's mother's name:Mary bride's father's name: Francis bride's mother's name:Sarah 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 8 ln 18 . 


19. United States Federal Census. 1860 VA, Nelson Co., Massies Mill, Page 33, dwelling/family 244, Francis Campbell, age 22, male, born VA; Amanda, age 17, female, born VA. 20. Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at www.familysearch.org. groom's name: Wm. Campbell groom's birth date: 1841 groom's birthplace: Nelson Co. groom's age: 24 bride's name: Susan Ann Mawyer bride's birth date: 1850 bride's birthplace: Albemarle bride's age: 15 marriage date: 02 Nov 1865 marriage place: Nelson County, Virginia groom's father's name: Joel groom's mother's name: Nancy bride's father's name: Childres bride's mother's name: Margaret 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: p 14 ln 60.

February 14, 2012

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.


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

August 20, 2010

Peter Hilman & Mary Susan Tyree Coffey

Peter was born in Virginia, probably in Nelson Co., in 1865 to George Washington and Mary Catherine Demastus Coffey. Mary Catherine was a daughter of John and Mary Ann Coffey Demastus. herself a daughter of Edmund F. & Elizabeth Burger Coffey. Edmund was a son of William and Elizabeth Osborne Coffey who were also parents of Jane Coffey, the mother of Jordan (Taliaferro) Coffey.

Peter Hilman Coffey Headstone
Peter married Mary Susan Tyree, born Aug., 1873, probably in Virginia, and believed to have died in 1949. Peter died in Nelson Co. in 1942 and was buried at Demastus Family Cemetery near Tyro in Nelson Co.

Peter and Mary had at least six children:

Alvin Reynolds, born May 24, 1894 in Nelson Co., died Sep. 2, 1956 in VA.  Alvin married Fannie Demastus, a daughter of Luke and Anna Bell Coffey Demastus c1920.  Fannie was born Aug. 19, 1900 in Nelson Co., and died May 19, 1952.  Both are buried at the Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery, Stuarts Draft, Augusta Co., VA.  Their children were Oakley, Betty Celene and DeWitt Malcolm.  DeWitt married Helen Marie Maupin, born Aug. 9, 1930 in Waynesboro, Augusta Co., VA, died Aug. 9, 2006 in Charlotesville Co., VA.  Helen is buried at Augusta Memorial Park in Waynesboro.  DeWitt's burial site is unknown, but probably also at Augusta Memorial.  Alvin and Fannie in addition to being man and wife were related nine different ways, from first cousin once removed to fourth cousin, one removed.

Annie Coffey, born Sep. 16, 1901 at Massies Mill in Nelson Co., died Jan. 13, 1986 at Sanford in Seminole Co., FL.  She married Jacob Coffey, a son of John James and Lucy Ann Demastus Coffey.  Both are buried at Calvary United Methodist.  I do not have a list of their children.  Annie and Jacob were related eight different ways beginning with third cousin and ending at fifth cousin.

Elwood C. Coffey
Ethel Coffey, born Jun. 29, 1903 in Nelson Co., died Nov. 25, 1971 at Waynesboro.  She married Andrew Coffey, born Jan. 2, 1899, died Aug. 24, 1972 at Waynesboro.  Andrew was a brother to Jacob who married Annie.  Both are buried at Augusta Memorial.  Their children were Andrew, Jr., born Jul 5, 1927, died July 16, 1927 and Elwood C. "Jimmy", born Apr. 23, 1937, died Sep. 28, 2008 at Charlottesville.  Andrew is buried at the Demastus Cemetery near Tyro; Elwood is buried at Augusta Memorial.  Andrew and Annie had the same kinship as Jacob and Annie.

Headstone for Harold, Sr.
Harold Bernard Coffey, Sr. was born Nov. 9, 1909 at Massies Mill and died Aug. 14, 1974 at Waynesboro.  He married Rosey Arline Claytor, born Jun. 13, 1913, died Sep. 13, 1966.  Both are buried at Augusta Memorial  Harold was a veteran of WW2, having enlisted on Nov. 13, 1942 at Fort Belvoir, VA.  I know of one child, Harold, Jr., born Aug. 7, 1942, died May 26, 1996 at Waynesboro.  Jr. is also buried at Augusta Memorial.  Harold, Jr. died of a heart attack at home.  He was a City of Waynesboro policeman.

Dewey Love Coffey,born May 1, 1912, died May 9, 1988.  He married Jessie Jane Ray on Jan. 31, 1931.  Both are buried at Augusta Memorial.  I know of one child, Janet Grey, born Dec. 19, 1933 at Augusta Co., died Aug. 8, 1999 at Fishersville in Augusta Co.  She too is buried at Augusta Memorial in Waynesborn.

Woodrow Wilson Coffey, born May 9, 1916 in Love, Augusta Co., died Oct. 30, 2006 at Fishersville.  He married Eva Virginia Chittum, born Apr. 4, 1917 in Rockbridge Co., VA, died Feb. 21, 1965 in Augusta Co.  Both are buried at Augusta Memorial.  Their children were Paul Allen, Clarene Arthur, born May 12, 1936, died Aug. 24, 2009 in Concord, Cabarrus Co., NC; Mary and Kathleen.



There is another Peter Hilman Coffey (1939-1999) buried at Augusta Memorial and is likely a descendant of this Peter Hilman and Mary Tyree Coffey. If you can connect his for me, please drop an e-mail.

Contact me to add to or correct any of this information.

Click on the Chicken Hollow link below to find general area of Demastus Cemetery.

August 23, 2009

A case of two Kelleys

In my records - which translates to The Edward Coffey Project - I had Killey "Kill" Massey Coffey as a son of Peter William and Mattie A. Demastus Coffey.  That was an error.  Killey - real name Kelley - was really a son of Henry Lee and Mildred Ann "Millie" Campbell Coffey.

That Kelley was born on Apr. 1, 1901 and died on Jul. 9, 1970 in Nelson Co.  He married Lena Gaynell Fitzgerald.  She was born May 18, 1905 in Whiterock, Nelson Co., VA and died in VA on Jan. 22, 1997,

Both are buried at Mountain Top Christian Church Cemetery in Nelson Co.  This church is located off the Blue Ridge Pkwy at the Love Road.  If you use a GPS, the coordinates are 37° 52' 56.00" N and 79° 0' 57.00" W.

I discovered the Kelley Massey error while searching for other Coffeys in Staunton, VA and stumbled over the headstone for Kelley Elwood Coffey.  A little research showed that Kelley Elwood was the son of Peter William.

Kelley Elwood was born Jul. 17, 1903 in Augusta Co., VA and died Feb. 17, 1977 in Staunton.  He married Ada Lavell Hyden, born Feb. 8, 1903, died Jan. 31, 1971. 

To add a bit of confusion to this, there are two headstones for Kelley Elwood in the Sherando Methodist Church Cemetery at Staunton.  He shares one with Ada but his death date is not engraved.  He shares another with  Blanche Hyden and it is engraved with his death date.


I am thinking perhaps the two Hyden girls were related, but were not sisters.  If you can provide a connection, drop an e-mail to me at the above address or, leave a comment here.







Headstone photos courtesy JLB and FindAGrave.com

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