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Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts

July 25, 2015

Reuben Dalton (1752-1801)

According to a 2006 Dalton genealogy report submitted by Jean England, Reuben Dalton was the first of his line to settle in Grainger Co., TN.1 He settled in Thorn Hill in 1801 after having served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War.2 Reuben had been an Ensign in Captain Isham’s company in the Virginia State Militia.  He died prior to the passing of the law that gave veterans of that war the right to apply for a pension.

He was born in Bedford Co., VA c1752.  He arrived in “Montgomery Co., VA from Pittsylvania Co. in 1772” and bought “170 acres in the area known as Little Reed Island Creek.”  In her report, Jean tells us that Reuben was listed on Tennessee tax rolls of 1797 as owner of 200 acres but was probably still in Virginia at the time.  He sold some of the Virginia property in 1797 and the rest of it in 1801 when he relocated to Tennessee.

Reuben died in 1801 and was buried “on the Fred Davidson farm on Copper Ridge Rd. near Cedar Springs Baptist Church” in Thorn Hill.  Archie Dalton, a long time Dalton researcher, wrote to me in 2005 and reported that Reuben "is buried in the woods close to the Bluff Davidson graveyard..." near Thorn Hill.  I have been unable to locate the farm or the cemetery and, it is not clear to me how either burial site is known.

On Jan. 4, 1808 he applied for a marriage license in Grainger Co. to marry Nancy Shockley.3 Nancy was born c1757 at Pittsylvania.  Her family likely migrated along with others into Grainger Co. about the same time as Reuben.

The union between the couple produced at least nine children:  Enos; Elizabeth; Agnes Anne; William Meredith; Reuben, Jr.; Mary; Carter; Hannah Ann and Timothy.  In this paper we will try to follow Timothy, thought to have been born in 1810.4

Timothy is the first known Dalton known to me to marry into the Coffey family.  His wife was Delphia Coffey, a daughter of George Coffey and Margaret L. Rucker.  We can follow George back to Edward and Ann Powell Coffey through his father, Benjamin Coffey who married Mary “Polly” Hayes.  I will only touch on the descendants of Timothy who also married Coffeys.

Delphia and Timothy were married in Grainger Co. on Dec. 29, 1828.5 Over the next 26 years, she became the mother of at least 11 of Timothy’s children. Timothy died c1863 in Grainger Co.; neither a death record nor place of burial has been located.  In any event, Delphia, yet with young children at home, married the widower Jacob Hipshire on Mar. 23, 1863.  Jacob was age 66 years and Delphia was age 48 when they married.  There were no known children.

Jacob was a North Carolina native and son of Henry and Delphia Delamar (sic).  His first wife was Matilda Hayes, born c1810 in NC, died 1855 in Grainger Co.  Her parents were Thomas and Sarah “Sally” Rucker Hayes.  Margaret Rucker, wife of George Coffey and Sarah “Sally” were sisters, daughters of Colby and Sarah Roberts Rucker.

The 11 children of Timothy and Delphia were:  David, born c1831; George Washington, born Feb. 3, 1832, died Dec. 24, 1904;6 Manerva, born c1834; Thomas, born c1834; Ally (Ollie?), born c1837; William Nelson, born Dec 6, 1839;6 Green C., born c1840; Colby Timothy, born c1842; Hiram, born c1843; Emeline, born c1844 and Harriet, born c1854.

Son George first married Charlotte Hedrick, a daughter of John and Lucinda Hipshire Hedrick. His second wife was Sarah Ann, Charlotte’s sister. George and Charlotte’s son Lafayette, known as “Lee Fate” married Cornelia Dalton, a child of Tandy Witcher and Matilda Coffey Dalton. Lee Fate’s son James Franklin, (1880-1947), married twice, the second to Louvernie “Vernie” Coffey (1887-1978), a daughter of Lacy and Margaret Ogan Coffey. James’ first wife was Mattie Collins to whom he was married in 1903.  I know of only one child, a son Creed, born 1913.  Mattie died in 1917 at the same time as Creed; she of “pulmonary consumption,” he of “lobar pneumonia.”7 I know of no children born to James and Vernie.

Daughter Ally (Ollie?) married William Hedrick and their daughter married Eva (1895-1963) married Guy Willis Hedrick, her multiple second and third cousin.  Guy was the son of William Henry and Margaret Jane Coffey Hedrick.  Jane was the daughter of Thomas and Martha Jane Shockley Coffey.

Son Colby Timothy (1842-1908) married Letitia Wolfe (1842-1904), a daughter of Moses and Catherine Wolfe Wolfe.  Their son Greenberry (1868-1942) married Lula May Coffey (1869-1948).  Lula was a daughter of Austin and Elizabeth Dalton Coffey.  Austin descends from Edward through his father Elijah Coffey who married Rebecca Shockley.  Elizabeth Dalton was a daughter of Colby John and Elizabeth McGinnis Dalton.  Colby goes back to Reuben through his father William Meredith Dalton who married Delphia Rucker, the daughter of Colby and Sarah Roberts Rucker.

The death date and place of burial for Timothy and Delphia is unknown. The death dates for many of the children are known and some of their burial sites are also known.  However, more research is required to confirm and verify.

Corrections and additions welcomed.



1 Jean England, Thorn Hill, TN, compiler, Dalton Ancestors, an attachment to e-mail from the author  to Jack Coffee:, Sep. 25, 2006. Most of the early information about Reuben is credited to Jean.
2 A monument to his memory has been placed at the Mount Pleasant Methodist Church in Thorn Hill.
3 "Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8YZ-WJ2 : accessed 24 January 2015), Reubin Daulton and Nancy Shockley, 04 Jan 1808; citing Grainger, Grainger, Tennessee, reference ; FHL microfilm 968,583.
4 Birth dates and locations for all of the children are inconsistent.  Some dates are prior to Reuben and Nancy’s marriage; some in Virginia and some in Grainger Co. He may have been previously married.
5 "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VNDC-3SC : accessed 05 6Mar 2013), Timothy Dalton and Delpha Coffer, 1828.
6 Betty White Martin, "Descendants of Timothy Dalton". Grainger Co., TN, Jul. 18, 2005
7 "Tennessee Death Records, 1914-1955", index and images, FamilySearch.org

November 1, 2011

Zachariah & Margaret E. Hailey Coffey

Zachariah was born in March, 1850 to Wayett Wesley (c1820-1859) and Nancy Coffey Coffey.  Wayett [sic] was a son of William and Betsy Giles Coffey;  Nancy's parents are unknown to me.

These Coffeys were mainly Augusta Co., VA families.

Margaret E. Hailey was born in Mar., 1860 to William W. & Mary Hardbarger Coffey.  She married Zachariah on Dec. 23, 1877 in Lyndhurst, Augusta Co., VA.  To them were born at least five children, two of which died in infancy and unnamed.  Their first child was Rosana, born c1879 in VA.  Second was Minerva, born Apr., 1881 followed by Eugene Bartley, born May, 1883, died Oct. 27, 1946 in Stuarts Draft, VA.

Eugene married Hurcy [sic] Lee Brooks c1906 in VA.  Hurcy was a daughter of Joshua Cyrus & Alice Elizabeth (or, Susan?) Forbes Brooks.  She was born in Augusta Co. in Mar. of 1887 and died at Stuarts Draft on Aug. 29, 1954.  Eugene died on Oct. 27, 1846.  Both he and Hurcy are buried at the Mennonite Church Cemetery in Stuarts Draft.
Obituary, Waynesboro News Virginian, Sep. 1, 1954
Mrs. Hersey Lee Coffey, 69, died at 4 p.m. yesterday at her home near Stuarts Draft, after a long illness.
She was born Oct. 14, 1884, in Augusta County, daughter of the late Joshua and Alice Elizabeth Forbus Brooks. She was a member of Rankin Methodist Chapel.
Mrs. Coffey was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Bartley Coffey on Oct. 27, 1946. Survivors include three sons, Alfred, Elmer, and Phy all of Stuarts Draft; four daughters, Mrs. Lloyd Stinnett, Mrs. Guy England, Miss Minnie Coffey and Miss Hersey Ellen Coffey, all of Stuarts Draft; 11 grandchildren; two brothers, Sandy Brooks and Carl Brooks, both of Stuarts Draft; four sisters, Mrs. Nellie McCray of Waynesboro, Mrs. Otho Humphreys of Stuarts Draft, Mrs. Floyd Young of West Virginia and Mrs. Levi Fitzgerald of Crozet.
The body will remain at Etter Funeral Home and be placed in the Valley View Mennonite Church near Stuarts Draft, tomorrow at 1 p.m. Funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. by the Rev. E. B. White, assisted by the Rev. Jason Weaver, with interment in the church cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be William Tillman, Harry Hailey, Lyle Hailey, Lawrence Dameron, Ollie Fretwell and Walter Pannell.
This union produced at least seven children:  Willa Bell, Margaret R., Alfred Cyrus, Elmer Franklin, Minnie Lee, Fie Landon and Hurcy Ellen.

Willa Bell was born Jun. 30, 1908 at Stuarts Draft and died Feb. 5, 2001.  Her husband was Lloyd Lewis Stinnett, born Apr. 28, 1908, died Mar. 23, 1983.  Both are buried at the Mennonite Church Cemetery at Stuarts Draft.
Obituary, The Daily News Leader, Staunton, VA, Feb. 7, 2001
STUARTS DRAFT- Willa Bell Stinnett, 92, of 63 Vance Lane, died Monday (Feb. 5, 2001) at her residence.
She was born July 30, 1908, at Stuarts Draft, a daughter of Eugene Bartley and Hurcy Brooks Coffey.
She was a homemaker and a member of Stuarts Draft Mennonite Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lloyd Lewis Stinnett; and a son, Bobby Stinnett.
Survivors include two daughters, Eunice Rachel Stinnett and Martha Elizabeth Stinnett, both of Stuarts Draft; a son and daughter-in-law, Orvin K. and Dawn Stinnett of Stuarts Draft; a daughter-in-law, Audrey Stinnett of Stuarts Draft; seven grandchildren, Rodney Stinnett, Regina Ott, Beth Campbell, Jennifer Eavers, and Jonathan, Amanda and Darrick Stinnett; and three great-grandchildren, Josh and Lindsey Ott and Isaac Campbell.
A service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Stuarts Draft Mennonite Church by the Revs. Terry Miller and Charles Ramsey. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be John Ott, Tim Campbell, Dave Harris, Maynard Weaver, Jerrel Suter, Eddie Burkholder, Billy and Grover Coffey.
Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Wallace, Tommy Fretwell, Larry Hepler, Frankie Robertson and friends attending the service.
The family will receive friends from 7-9 tonight at Reynolds Funeral Service of Stuarts Draft.
Margaret R. was born Dec. 14, 1909 and died Jan. 15, 1994.  Her spouse wasa Guy P. England, born Nov. 11, 1910, died Sep. 19, 1985.  They too are buried at the Mennonite Cemetery in Stuarts Draft.

Alfred Cyrus, born May 17, 1913, died Sep. 28, 1979.  Alfred married Tressia M. Fretwell, a daughter of William & Myrtle Fretwell, born Jun. 2, 1919, died Dec. 11, 1985.  Both are buried at the Rankin United Methodist Church Cemetery in Sherando, Augusta Co., VA.  Their children were Julia Marie Coffey Losh (1937-2009); Emily Jane Coffey Hepler (1939-2009), Annia Belle (1941-2004); Scottie Ray (1946-2003), Joyce, Becky and Billy.  Annia Belle married a Mr. Latsko.  She died on Jul. 8, 2004 and was buried at Rankin.  Scottie Ray married Mary Sue Fitzgerald, daughter of William Homer and Ruby Lee Vance Fitzgerald.  She was born Mar. 23, 1949 in Waynesboro, VA and died Oct. 30, 2011.  Both are buried at Rankin.
Obituary, Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Home, Stuarts Draft, VA, Nov. 1, 2011
Mary Sue (Fitzgerald) Coffey, 62, of Augusta County, passed away early Sunday, October 30, 2011 at Augusta Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Born March 23, 1949 in Waynesboro, she was the daughter of the late William Homer and Ruby Lee (Vance) Fitzgerald.
Mrs. Coffey retired from Hollister in Stuarts Draft. She also worked for Augusta County as a special ed driver.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by husband, Scottie Ray Coffey; brother, John M. Fitzgerald; sister, Judith Quick.
Survivors include her children, Stacey Moreau and husband Andrew of Crofton, MD and Nick Coffey and wife Jennifer of Lyndhurst; grandchildren, Katie, Brodie, Josie and Emmie Moreau and Isaac, Asher and Noah Coffey; siblings, Betty Eckard and husband Richard, Henry Fitzgerald and wife Dottie and Patsy Lunsford and husband Byron.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at the Stuarts Draft Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes, 1870 Stuarts Draft Highway, with Pastor Matthew Coiner and Charles Ramsey officiating. Burial will follow at Rankin Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Nick Coffey, Andrew Moreau, Ricky Mutherspaw, Jerry Hite, Mike Elliott and Jim Addie.
Honorary pallbearers will be retired and current employees of Hollister and Augusta County.
There will be no formal viewing or visitation at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Stuarts Draft Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 260, Stuarts Draft, VA 24477.
Arrangements under the direction of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes Stuarts Draft Chapel, Stuarts Draft, VA.