Tom Dula

Remember the 60's hit Tom Dooley by The Kingston Trio?  It was a ballad about the young Thomas C. Dula who was tried (twice), found guilty both times and finally hung on May 1, 1868 for the death of Laura Foster.

Tom was born to Thomas P. and Mary Keaton Dula on Jun. 20, 1844 in Wilkes Co.  According to tales, he was as promiscuous as most young men when they reach puberty and had been known to have been intimate with Laura as well as other young women, married or single, in his neighborhood in Wilkes Co.

He enlisted in Co. K, 42d NC Infantry Regiment on Apr. 24, 1862.  Following enlistment, Tom spent Nov. 1 through Nov. 24 in the hospital at Petersburg, VA.  On Dec. 3, 1862 he was in the Episcopal Church Hospital at Williamsburg, VA and on Dec. 25, 1862 rejoined his regiment.  In Jan. and Feb., 1863 he was present with his unit but reported sick.  His rank was Musician.

He and his unit were in defense of Petersburg, VA for four months beginning Jul. 17, 1864.  He was again reported in the hospital at Richmond in Oct. 1864.  He had been admitted to the hospital on Aug. 10, 1864.

In March of 1865 he and his unit were in battle at Kinston, NC where he was captured and sent to Point Lookout in MD.  It was from there that he was paroled after signing the oath of allegiance on Jun. 11, 1865.

 Ann Foster was the illegitimate daughter of Carlotta "Lotty" Foster.  She was sometimes known as Angeline Pauline Foster and sometimes as Angeline Pauline Triplett.  Her father has never been determined.  Ann eventually married James Melton on Jun. 22, 1859 and had a daughter, Martha Jane, born c1861.  Some people contend, unto today, that Tom was the father but that has never been proven.

Laura Foster was some distant cousin to Ann.  She was the daughter of Wilson and Martha Bowman Foster, born c1843 in Caldwell Co.

Pauline Foster was a second cousin to Ann Foster Melton and had come to Caldwell Co. from Watauga to work for Ann and her husband.  She was eventually a "key witness" against Tom but described by a reporter for the New York Herald as "remarkable for nothing but debasement...".  Someone had overheard an argument between Pauline and Ann Foster Melton, apparently related to the death of Laura.  Authorities were notified and Pauline agreed to testify.

What's this to do with Coffey?  Well, Thomas P. Dula, father of Thomas C. was brother to John Dula; both sons of Bennet and Anna Stowe Dula.  John Dula married Mary Trivette and had a number of children, including Thomas Wesley, born Jan., 1837, died Feb. 16, 1924.

Thomas Wesley married Laura E. Laxton on May 19, 1856 in Caldwell Co. and, among others, had Arthur Hill Dula who married Mary Jane Coffey, the daughter of Thomas Avery and Louisa Gragg Coffey.  Arthur's sister, Mary Laura, married John Wesley Coffey, brother to Mary Jane.

To read more about Tom Dula and his trial, check out Death in North Carolina Piedmont by Francis H. Gasstevens, The History Press, Charleston, SC, 2006.  See also the Blue Ridge Country article by Sharyn McCrumb.

Wiley Franklin & Susan A. Banner Sherwood

Wiley Franklin Sherwood was a son of Rev. James Justice Lafayette and Sarah Ann Young Sherwood, born Oct. 3, 1870 in Grayson Co., VA, died Sep. 14, 1944 in Boone, Watauga Co., NC.  He is buried at Cove Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Sherwood, Watauga Co., NC.

Rev. Sherwood was born Nov. 7, 1843 in Smyth Co., VA and died Oct. 26, 1917 in Cove Creek Twp., Watauga Co., NC.  He married Sarah Ann Young, date unknown, but probably 1869-70 time frame.  Sarah was also born in VA, c1847 and died Oct. 10, 1917 in Morganton, Burke Co., NC.  Rev. Sherwood is buried at Adams Cemetery in Vilas, Watauga Co., and Sarah was removed for burial to Shouns, Johnson Co., TN.

Wiley married Susan A. Banner on Sep. 15, 1891 in Watauga Co.  She was the daughter of Newton and Sophronia Mast Banner, and was born Feb. 8, 1871 in Watauga Co., died Mar. 14, 1949 at Cove Creek and was also buried at Cove Creek Cemetery.

Sophronia Mast & Newton Banner¹

Newton Banner is alleged to have accompanied a brother to TN to enlist in the CSA but was refused enlistment because he was too small.  The Union Army accepted him after being challenged to fight his way in against a bigger man.  After the war, he met with his brother to begin the long walk back home.  Somewhere along the way the brother died, Newton took his boots and wore them while carrying his brother's body back to NC.²

Newton died Dec. 18, 1941 in Cove Creek and was buried at the Banner Elk Cemetery.  Sophronia was the daughter of Joseph H. and Clarissa P. Mast.  Her death date and burial site is not known to me.  I have not found a military record for Newton.

There were at least eight and probably 10 children born to Wiley and Susan, all apparently in Boone:

James Marshall, born Jul. 17, 1892, died Nov. 26, 1975 in Boone
Annie Virginia, born Jan. 7, 1895
Grace Bryan, born Jan 18, 1897
Sophronia Blanche, born Mar., 1899
John Banner, born Sep. 28, 1905, died Aug. 3, 1966 at Boone
Sue Irene, born Mar. 20, 1908, died Apr. 21, 1972 at Blowing Rock
Mattie Lane, born Dec. 25, 1912
Ruth Elizabeth, born Dec. 12, 1915.

There is an obvious gap of 4+ years between Sophronia and John.  Perhaps there were two additional children who did not live to be enumerated in the 1910 census.

Sue Irene is the Coffey interest.  She married Thomas Herndon Coffey, Jr. on Jun. 20, 1928 in Cove Creek.  Thomas was a son of Thomas, Sr. and his wife Annie Marilda Pendley.  Sue died Apr. 21, 1972 at Blowing Rock and was buried there at White Springs Cemetery.  I do not have a death date for Thomas, Jr.

Annie Marilda was the daughter of William Patterson and Lou Ellen Moore Pendley.  She was born May 17, 1873 in the Globe, Caldwell Co., and died at Blowing Rock on Jul. 24, 1959.  Thomas, Sr. was born Mar. 21, 1867 in Watauga Co. to Cornelius Jones and Martha Jane Gragg Coffey.  He died Mar. 16, 1946 in Boone.  They were married Nov. 19, 1900 in Watauga Co. Thomas, Sr. and Annie are buried at White Springs.

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¹Photo from Boone NC Magazine.com
²Nannie Greene, Compiler, Community and Change in the North Carolina Mountains: Oral Histories and Profiles of People from Western Watauga County, Catherine Stokes Sheppard Sarah Jean Joslin, Compilers (Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2006), Page 172.

Children of Francis Marion & Martha Jane Coffey Clark

Continuing with the information received from Jerry Dickinson

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2nd Generation

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Lola Elzora Clark married William Alexander Gragg, a son of John Riley and Nancy Elvira Taylor Gragg.  William was born on Jul. 14, 1879 in Watauga Co., and died on Jan. 3, 1974 in San Francisco, CA.  A child was Savoy Jack Carl Carlton [sic] Gragg, born Mar. 13, 1912, died Nov. 8, 1974.

Harrison Austin "Harry" married Mary Jane Cable on Jan. 5, 1906 in Pullman, Whitman Co., WA.  Mary was born in Elkmills, Carter Co., TN on Nov. 9, 1880, died in Weiser, Washington Co., ID on Oct. 12, 1954.  Children were:  Russell Burnett, born Sep. 29, 1906 in Chambers, Whitman Co., died Dec. 9, 1922; Cecil Raymond, born May 29, 1908, died Jun. 22, 1981; and an unnamed female.

David Clingman (Jerry thinks middle name may be Clinton) married but wife is unnamed.  Children were Clint, born Jun., 1920, died Jan., 1931; James McDonald, born May 23, 1924, died Sep. 12, 1980.

Millard Ray, married Nellie L. Shawgo on Jun. 1, 1913 in St. John, Washington.  Children were: Joe Edward, born Dec. 30, 1915 in St. John, died Aug. 9, 1997 in Spokane.  Joe married Evelyn Florence Marquardt on Apr. 8, 1939 in Spokane.  Evelyn was born Oct. 27, 1912 and died Jul. 15, 1998 in Eugene, OR.; Lois Nellie, born Dec. 11, 1917, died May, 1962.

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3d Generation

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Lola Clark Gragg's son, Savoy Jack Carl Carlton Gragg, born Mar. 13, 1912 in North Carolina, died Nov. 8, 1974 in San Jose, Santa Clara Co., CA.  He married Erla Armina Rathvon, a daughter of Lloyd Ashton and Edith Gertrude Walton Rathvon.  Erla was born Feb. 4, 1914 in Penticton, BC, Canada and died on Mar. 27, 1987 in Longview, Cowlitz Co., WA.  Children were: Jacquelynn [sic] Marie "Jackie" Gragg, born Jan. 25, 1932 in Longview, died Oct. 6, 2008 in Gig Harbor, Pierce Co., WA.  She was also known as Jackie Sorrensen.  Her husband was Stanley M. Thurman, born Sep. 26, 1923, died Jun. 30, 2001 in Bothel, King Co., WA.  They were married on Nov. 12, 1965. [Sorenson may have been a previous spouse]

Harrison's son Cecil Raymond, was born May 29, 1908 in Midvale, Washington Co., ID and died on Jun. 22, 1981.  He married Rose Erikson on Aug. 19, 1929 in Clarkston, Asotin Co., WA.  Rose was born Mar. 18, 1912 in Weston, Oneida Co., ID and died Dec. 13, 1994.  Children were: Dennis Cecil, born Feb. 25, 1930 in Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., ID, died in June 19, 1995 at Payette, Payette Co., ID.  He married Barbara Lee Adams on Mar. 6, 1952 in Winnemucca, Humboldt Co., NV.  She was born on Dec. 30, 1932 in Wendell, Gooding Co., ID and died Feb. 18, 1988 in Milton-Freewater, Umatilla Co., OR; Norman Harry, born Sep. 18, 1940 in Weiser, died Mar. 2, 1965.

The unnamed daughter, child of Harrison in previous blog, was the mother of Carol Ann Bledsoe, now Carol Ann Van Voorde.

Lois Nellie was a daughter of Millard Ray.  She was born Dec. 11, 1917 in St. John, Whitman Co., WA and died in May, 1962.  She married Lee Hemingway, born Nov. 4, 1909, died Dec. 25, 1989.  A son was Jack Edward Hemingway, born Sep. 30, 1940, died Oct., 1977 in Spokane, WA.

Daniel & Matilda Setzer Crump

While sitting home today waiting for the Doctor to tell me whether or not I have mumps - which he tells me is rare these days - I was trying to come up with a Coffey-associated family to write about.

What I typically do is scroll about in my family names until I find someone that has a long list of descendants.  When I settle on one name, I then check to see if I have enough facts to properly connect everyone.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't!  Perhaps it did this time.

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Daniel Crump is the earliest of that surname in my file.  He was born c1830 in Caldwell Co., NC and married Matilda Setzer, also born in Caldwell in c1836.  I have not found a death date or place for either, nor have I found a marriage date.  They must have married sometime in early 1850 because their first child was born Jul. 15, 1851.

That child was David who married Mary (or, Mahulda) Jane Clarke on Dec. 29, 1869 in Caldwell Co.  She was born Sep. 10, 1849 in Hudson Twp., Caldwell Co., and died in the Globe on Jan. 23, 1929.  David died on Jan. 5, 1931 in Caldwell Co.  Both are buried in the Globe but I know not exactly where.

The children of David and Mary - as I know them - were: Mary Jane, born Jul. 9, 1872 in Avery Co., died Aug. 11, 1968 in Banner Elk, Avery Co.; Theodore H. "Steve", born Jun. 15, 1881 in Caldwell and died in Lenoir on Jan. 27, 1975.  Theodore married Cansadia [sic] Coffey c1910, the daughter of Rabon Scott and Margaret E. Hollander Coffey; and Martha Etta Destimonia "Dessie" Crump who married (2d wife) David William Coffey, a son of Joseph Reubin and Martha Elizabeth Gragg Coffey.

David William and Dessie were the parents of at least seven children, all but one living to marry and raise their own families.

Jennie Decola, born Dec. 22, 1903, died Apr. 17, 1972, married William Sidney Joplin, born Mar. 7, 1903, died Jun. 28, 1974.  They lived and died in Lenoir.  I do not yet know who their children were.

Joseph Howard, born Mar. 7, 1905, died Oct. 14, 1990, married Florence Oleen Hartley, born Jun. 13, 1910, died Feb. 12, 1994.  They also lived and died in Lenoir.  Florence was the daughter of Granville Monroe and Cora Jane Tester Hartley.

Leonard Gilbert was born Feb. 10, 1907 and died Dec. 8, 1985.  He married Beulah Crump, born Jul. 26, 1919 in Buckingham Co., VA and died Jul. 26, 1998 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.

Daniel Jerome, born Mar. 19, 1909, died Mar. 20, 1983 in Boone, Watauga Co.  He married Lela L. (LNU), born c1914, died 1990.

Lewis B. is the only known child of David and Dessie no died young.  He was born Dec. 27, 1910 and died Nov. 29, 1913.

Dillard Greene, born Dec. 7, 1912 in Avery Co., and died Aug. 10, 1988.  Dillard married a distant cousin, Nancy Elizabeth Coffey, born Oct. 6, 1919, died 1989.  She was the daughter of William Carlton "Will" and Bessie Mae Townsend Coffey.

Nell Verlene was the last known child of David and Dessie.  She was born c1915 and died Jan. 12, 2010 in Burke Co., NC.  Her husband was Samuel Leroy Beck.

Her obituary:

Obituary, The News-Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, Jan. 19, 2010

Nell Beck

Nell Verleen Coffey Beck 94, of Morganton, formerly of Lenoir, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, at Carolina Rehabilitation Center.

Mrs. Beck was born in Avery County to the late David W. Coffey and Martha Dessiemona Crump Coffey. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Leroy Beck; a son, Henry M. Beck Sr.; five brothers, Howard, Dillard, Ivey, Leonard and Jerome Coffey; one sister, Jennie Coffey Joplin.

She was a homemaker and a member of Mountain Grove Baptist Church. Mrs. Beck was also a member of the Eastern Star.

Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Swenson of Colorado and Desta Ureel of Michigan; one daughter-in-law, Joann Beck of Casco Mich. She also is survived by seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Beck were Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, at 2 p.m. at Pendry's Chapel with the Rev. Randy Gibson officiating the service. Burial followed at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.

The family received friends at Pendry's Funeral Home one hour prior to the service.

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 No. 987

Elisha "Lish" and Anna Harmon Moody Coffey

I touched a bit on Elisha and Anna Coffey in the Aldridge & Coffey blog of May 1.  Elisha was a son of Joseph and Isabella Lindsay Coffey and was born c1814 and almost certainly in North Carolina.

Anna was a daughter of Edward and Frances Carter Moody and was born c1814 in NC.  She died before 1880 and probably in Watauga Co.  Elisha appeared in that county's 1880 census as a widower.

There are at least two other sons of Lish and Anna for whom I have very little information.  They were all born early enough to have been strong candidates for service during the Civil War and, may have been killed.  Those sons were Jacob, born c1838 and, DeKalb, born c1839.  Some genealogies that I have seen also names another Levi, born c1844 as their son.

I think the Elisha Coffee [sic] and wife Hannah in the 1850 Watauga Co. census is this couple.  In addition to the parents, there was Levi, age 16; De Calb [sic], age 11 and Mary Cannon, age 7.  I am not certain who Mary Cannon was, but there is at least one Cannon female (not Mary) who married into a Coffey family in Burke Co., NC.

In 1860 Watauga co., Jacob, age 21 appeared with the family.  Another child, May A. Harmon [sic] age 2, was enumerated with the family. Although named as a child of Elisha, it isn't clear to me yet that he was.

The 1870 Watauga co. census shows that May Harmon was then Mary Harmon, age 13.  Except for a black male, age 14, named John Adges [?], the only others in the household were Elisha and Ann.

As mentioned earlier, Elisha appeared as a widower in the 1880 census for Watauga Co.

Levi Lafayette, who appears to be the eldest child of Elisha's, was born May 30, 1833 in Burke Co., and died Feb. 11, 1925 in Watauga Co.  He married "Tempie" Calloway, a daughter of James and Nicey Gragg Calloway, c1859 in Watauga Co.

To them were born at least seven children:

1 - Caroline Lavinia Coffey, born Mar. 6, 1860, died Feb. 13, 1923.  Caroline married her cousin David Nathaniel Coffey c1886.  David and Caroline are mentioned in several blogs.  If you are interested in more about them, search the blog archives [use search window in upper left corner and surround search term with quotes; e.g., "David Nathaniel Coffey."]  You can view a photo of David and read a bit of info about him in this blog.

2 - Joseph DeCalb Coffey, born Jan. 24, 1863 at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co., and died there on Dec. 30, 1930.  He married Lutittia [sic] F. Walters, a daughter of Johnathan and Emeline Long Walters, on Apr. 9, 1899 in Watauga Co.  Both are buried at the Byrd Cemetery in Foscoe, Watauga Co.

3 - Judith Coffey, born c1866 - no further information.

4 - Emma Coffey, born Oct. 19, 1869 in Watauga, died Jan. 3, 1938 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC.  Emma also married a cousin, William M. Coffey c1896.  William was a son of Smith W. and his wife Charity Elizabeth Redmond.

Laurence Coffey gives this name as Elizabeth Baker Redmond, indicating to me that she was probably married previous to her marriage to Smith.  However, in an e-mail to me dated Aug. 23, 2007, Carolyn Curtis wrote this:

"Elizabeth was born 6/25/1836 and died 5/20/1912. She was not married prior to her marriage to Smith Coffey on June 25, 1854 (that was her 18th Birthday). According to the Caldwell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, Volume II – January Term 1848, Elizabeth, an orphan child of 11 years of age, was bound to Lucinda Baker (that is where the Baker name originated) until age 18, at which time she was give her freedom, $6.00, a new suit of clothes, a bible and she was to be taught to read and write."


I seem to recall some speculation that Elizabeth was full or part Indian and the Redmond might have something to do with that part of her heritage.  But, that is something that I have not pursued.

Both Charity and Smith are said to be buried in a Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill.

5 - James Wesley Coffey, born May 2, 1873 in Watauga Co., died in Boone on Dec. 6, 1960.  He married Donnie Brewer c1906.  A subsequent spouse was Callie Ward, born Mar. 30, 1898, daughter of James Ward and Mary Hicks.  Callie died Aug. 25, 1975 in Boone.  They are also said to be buried in the Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill.

6 - Archie E. Coffey, born Mar 23, 1876, died Apr. 11, 1903.  He married Virginia Frances Brown on Sep. 30, 1900.  "Jennie" was a daughter of Samuel Walker and Nancy Jane Joyce Brown.  See the other Levi Lafayette Coffey blog for more.

7 - Oscar Lee Coffey, born Sep. 7, 1878, died Jul. 1, 1977 in Davidson Co., NC.  Oscar married Ollie Belle Calloway, born Mar. 10, 1886 in Watauga Co., died Apr. 23, 1943 in Boone.  She was the daughter of William Henderson Calloway and his wife Almirah M. "Myra" Johnson.  Ollie is buried at Foscoe in the Community Cemetery.  I have not located Oscar's burial site.

I would really love to know if the Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill is actually known locally by that name and where it is located.

Aldridge & Coffey

In his 1915 A History of Watauga County, North Carolina, John Preston Arthur wrote about James Aldridge who appeared in Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. c1819 and shortly married [or took up with] Betsy Calloway, an attractive daughter of one Benjamin Calloway.  The chapter in which this story appears is entitled "Some Thrice-Told Tales," so use your best judgment in deciding the accuracy of the facts cited.

Arthur wrote that James was already married and had left a wife and five children in Virginia while he hunted in North Carolina.  James persuaded Betsy to marry him and a son, Harrison Aldridge was born Dec. 15, 1821.  Six more children followed:  Jane c1824; Tempe c1825; Ellen c1828; Emeline c1835; Benjamin c1837; and Waightstill c1842.

Sometime - and probably after the birth of Waightstill - the "real wife" of James appeared in the area of Foscoe at the home of Edward Moody seeking directions to the Aldridge home.  Before day break the next morning, James was at the Moody place to buy a bushel of wheat.  He is said to have told Moody that "the cat was out of the bag at last."

Sometime between 1834 and 1836 A "fur peddler of the name of Price" had spotted Aldridge in Watauga Co.  On his return to "Big Sandy" [Kentucky, where the "real wife" had apparently relocated from Virginia] he told what he had discovered, precipitating her travel "on a fine horse" to Watauga in search of James Aldridge.

To me, this story seems a "stretch."  Given the perils of the time, a wife abandoned for some 15 years would probably have remarried within a few years, believing that her first husband had been killed.

The tale of the "real wife" is attributed by Arthur to Levi Coffey who was probably Levi Lafayette Coffey, a son of Elisha and Anna Harmon Moody Coffey.  Levi was born in Burke Co., NC c1833 and in Watauga by 1859 when he married Temperance "Tempie" Calloway, born c1844 to James and Nicey Gragg Calloway.

Anna Harmon Moody was the daughter of Edward and Frances Carter Moody. Both Edward and Frances were natives of Virginia and may have known James Aldridge prior to coming to Watauga Co.

In a footnote to this chapter, Arthur wrote:  "In his genealogical tour through Ashe in 1828, Dr. Elisha Mitchell speaks of a hunter living on the head of the Watauga River with the children of his real wife, who was then residing on the Big Sandy in Kentucky, and his own children by another woman with whom he was then living as his wife.  If this refers to James Aldridge, then Betsy Calloway had two children by him after his first wife appeared in the scene, for both Ben and Waightstill were born after 1828."*

I have not found an Aldridge in the 1840 or 1860 Watauga county census.  The 1850 census for that county enumerates Elizabeth Caloway [sic] with five children in her household:  Ellen, Emeline, Benjamin and Waightstill and William.  Within three doors of her residence was that of Harrison Aldridge.  William was not listed by Arthur as one of James' and Betsy's children.

Harrison married Jincy Clark c1845,  She was born c1827 in NC.  Harrison died on Jan. 11, 1905** in Watauga Co.  Together they raised at least nine children, one being Harrison, Jr., born Jul., 1864.  He married Mary Etta Buchanan c1886 and their son, Samuel Anthony Aldridge (1893-1966) married Lora Destomonia Coffey (1888-1967), a daughter of Joseph Reubin and Martha Elizabeth Gragg Coffey.

James Aldridge (1853-1939), another son of Harrison and Jincy, married Sarah Gragg, daughter of Johnson and Nancy Cuthbertson Gragg.  Their son, Arthur Blaine Aldridge (1884-1947) married Rosa Lee Coffey (1886-1946), a daughter of Jesse Filmore and Martha Storie Coffey.

Samuel Columbus Aldridge (1862-1941), a third son of Harrison and Jincy, married Margaret Buchanan c1884.  Their son, Horatio Acuff Aldridge (1891-1971) married Byrd Elizabeth "Birdie" Coffey on Feb. 19, 1913 in Watauga Co.

So, how does Levi Coffey relate to the Coffey women who married into the Aldridge clan?

To all three he was a double second cousin, twice removed; a fourth cousin once removed and a fifth cousin once removed.  They all descend from Edward and Ann Powell Coffey through their son John and his son Reuben who married Sarah Scott.


*According to ages given in 1850, Benjamin was born c1837 and Waightstill in c1842.  Mitchell wrote:
"In the neighborhood is a hunter who has two women living with him; to one of them he owes and to the other he graciously discharged the duties of a husband; one has 3 children, and the other one and another at hand. 'Tis a region for these irregularities. The Leather Stocking of these regions, and whom we would have had as a pilot, but that he is in the woods, has a wife living on Sandy River in Kentucky, and the children of that wife, and another woman living with him here on the Watauga."  Earlier in his writings on this topic, he wrote that he was heading for the cabin of "Leather Stocking Aldridge."  Leather Stocking seems to be a common term used in the day to describe hunters and woodsmen.


**Arthur wrote that "Harrison, in memory of a faithful dog which saved his life from wild hogs, had that dear friend buried on a ridge above the home of his son, James A. Aldridge, and requested that the be buried there also.  His tombstone, surrounded by a substantial stone wall, records the fact that he joined the Baptist Church October 22, 1870, and died January 11, 1905."

Jasper Pink Coffey

Jasper, born Sep. 16, 1851 in Mortimer Twp., Caldwell Co., NC, died Apr. 3, 1928 in Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS, was a son of Lucinda and a previously supposed spouse, Joseph Coffey whose lineage has not been discovered.  Lucinda was the daughter of Enoch and Prudence Gragg Coffey.

Jasper Pink Coffey

Jasper married Mary Jane Minton on Apr. 21, 1873 in Boone Twp., Watauga Co., NC and by 1900 was in Geary Co., KS with his family.  They did not leave for Kansas until after Jul., 1888 (and probably not before 1900) when their seventh child of nine, Ellis La Fayette Coffey was born in Caldwell Co.  This birth is confirmed by record found in Caldwell Co. birth index, Vol. 12, Page 62.  The 1900 census for Geary Co. lists the whole family, except for eldest son George who was already married.  All of the children are shown with birth place in North Carolina.

Because no one could find the elusive Joseph, Jasper's paternity has long been suspect.  Just recently, through DNA testing of a descendant of Jasper, it has been determined that Jasper's father was an Estes.

Anyone familiar with North Carolina Coffey families knows that there has been a long relationship between these two families.  It is like some have told me: "scratch a Gragg, find a Coffey."  That could also be said for the Estes families in that state.

If the researcher looks at the 1850 census for the Johns River district in Caldwell county, the Enoch Coffey family (Lucinda was his daughter) will be found on Page 8, dwelling/family 111.  Langston Estes, age 64 is found at family 113.  Family 114 is Joseph Estes, married to Dicey with one child, Loretta age 1.

Mary Jane Minton

Could this Joseph Estes be the "Joseph Coffey" who fathered Jasper?  Probably yes!  Coincidental that Joseph Estes had the same first name as the alleged Joseph Coffey?  Probably no!

Jasper and Mary Jane's children were:

George Alexander, born 1874, died 1928, married  Grace Percy Armitage; lived in Nebraska and died in California in 1928.  Grace died there in 1958.  They had at least one son, Willard Duane, born 1903.

Jonathon Horton, born 1876, died 1961 in Norton Co., KS.  Married Maude B. Ayers and had at least two sons, Lawrence, born c1905 and Walter John, born c1912.

Malinda Lucinda, born 1878, died 1925 in Dickinson Co., KS, married James Joseph Cullen in Geary Co., KS in 1905.

James Washington, born 1881, married Mae Switzer.  They had at least two sons, Jesse and Bud.

William Finley, born 1883, died 1946 in Shwanee Co., KS.

Enoch Thomas, born 1885, died 1921 in Geary Co.

Ellis La Fayette, born 1888.  Nothing else known.

Jennie Etta, born 1890, died 1987 in Shawnee Co.  She married Harry Gutshall in 1936.

Joseph Richard, born 1893, married Mary Bell Bledso in 1932; died in 1963 in Shawnee Co.  They had at least one son, Frederick.

By birth then, all of these children and their descendants are member of the Estes clan with their only connection to the Coffey family back through Lucinda to Enoch, but the males will not have Coffey DNA.

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Photos courtesy of Ben Coffey

Albert Sampson & Mary E. Johnson Calloway

Albert was a son of Larkin and Sarah Coffey Calloway.  He was born in April, 1846, probably in Watauga Co., NC.  His death date and place is not yet known.  He married Mary E. Johnson c1868.  Mary was born Nov., 1851 and her death date and place is also yet unknown.

Albert and Mary had eight children, four sons and four daughters:

Albert Sampson Calloway Family

- William Clingman Calloway was born Jan. 26, 1870 in Watauga Co. and died Jan. 2, 1954 in that county.  He married Minerva Victori[a?] Aldridge, a daughter of James and Sallie Gragg Aldridge.  Minerva was born Nov. 24, 1874 in Watauga Co. and died there on Oct. 21, 1948.  Both she and William are buried at the Coleman cemetery in Foscoe, Watauga Co.

 - Julius Monroe Calloway, born Mar. 30, 1872 in Watauga Co. and died on Feb. 4, 1951.  He married Sabert "Sabra" Caroline Ward c1928.  Julius died on Feb. 4, 1951 in Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. and Sabert died Dec. 30, 1966 in Avery Co., NC.  After Julius died in 1951, Sabra married Joe Presnell but when she died, her children buried her at Calloway Cemetery in Foscoe with their father.

Julius and Sabra had 13 children:  May Belle, Goldie, Albert Johnson, Ivey June, Mary Sadie, Frank Wesley, William Cling, Stephen Monroe, Denver (died in infancy), Robert James (died at age 17), Norma Jean, Jimmy "J.C." Carol and Wanda Sue.

 - Sarah, born Dec., 1875

 - Ella, born May., 1882

 - Larkin Alberton, born Apr. 1, 1885 in Watauga Co., died Jan. 27, 1960 at Boone.  Larkin married his distant cousin, Nettie Louise Coffey, a daughter of Francis Richmond and Etta May Hayes Coffey.  Their children were DeEtte, born 1914; Nellie M., born 1917, died 1923; MacDonald, born 1919, died 1935 and Claude Coolidge, born 1922.

 - Lilly Jane, born 1887, died 1964, married Robert Eli Long.  I know of one child, Bruce Calloway Long, born 1912 in Watauga Co.  Lillie, and probably Robert as well, is buried at Calloway Cemetery in Foscoe.

 - Sherley Blaine, born Jan. 24, 1890.  He married Nettie G. Byers, born c1895 in NC.  They had children: Asia, born 1915; Mary Alice, born 1917; John Henry, born 1919; Della Mae, born 1921; Wanda Lee, born 1924; and Lola Bell, born 1927, all in Watauga Co.

 - Connie Dora, born Apr. 27, 1893 in Watauga Co., married Walter H. Maupin.  They are thought to have settled in Tennessee after their marriage.

In the photo are, sitting, Mary E. Johnson Calloway, Albert C Sampson Calloway, From left to right 1st row Lillie/Lula J, Connie Dora (in Marys lap), Sherley Blaine 1886 (in Sampson's lap), Larkin Alberton.  Second row left to right: Ella, Julius Monroe, Sarah, and William Clingman. The small picture in the corner under Mary is of Albert Calloway and his Aunt Lillie (the baby in Marys lap) [Photo courtesy of Wendy Calloway Lindsey, Jan., 2010].

Gideon and Martha Teague Philyaw

I have not put a lot of research effort into this family except as pertains to the marriage of several of their children to members of the Coffey family. Please contact me if you are the source for the photos or, would like to add to or correct any of this information.

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Gideon was a son of Jackson Philyaw and his wife Kate - who also may have been a Philyaw. He was born Jun. 23, 1839 in Caldwell Co. and died there on Feb. 23, 1925. He married Martha on Mar. 26, 1862 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. She was born c1845 in North Carolina and died there c1900.

The first child that I have for them was Alice, born Dec. 23, 1869 in Globe Twp., Caldwell Co., and died there on Nov. 11, 1930.  She married John L. Bean [Beane?] who was born Dec. 7, 1858 in NC and died there on Sep. 23, 1931.

Docia Malinda was born Feb. 2, 1873 and died in Lenoir on May 26, 1957.  She married George Penley.  Docia is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Globe Twp.

James Milton was born Oct. 30, 1878 and died in Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co. on May. 20, 1923.  He married Sarah Jane Coffey, a daughter of Joseph Burgess and Margaret Lagustia Gragg Coffey on Feb. 5, 1905 in Caldwell Co.  Sarah was born Apr. 24, 1881 in Caldwell Co., and died in Lenoir on Nov. 27, 1957.  Joseph Burgess was a son of Bryce Brisco and Susannah "Sookie" Gragg Coffey.  Susannah was Margaret's aunt as well as her first cousin.

Pinkney David "Pink" was born May 31 1880 and died in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC on Jun. 24, 1945.  Pink married Ilar Jane Coffey, a daughter of John Carroll and Nancy Evelyn Hartley Coffey.  Ilar Jane was born in June, 1888 and died in 1981.

Margaret Caroline "Maggie", born 1889 in Caldwell and died there on Sep. 16, 1976.  She was married to Silas Milton Coffey, a brother to Ilar Jane. on Nov. 5, 1905.  He was born Jun. 16, 1886 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., and died there on Nov. 4, 1961.  Additional information on Silas' family can be found here.

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Update: June 2, 2011

Gideon and Martha's first child was John, born in 1864, died 1930 in VA.  Their second was Columbus Iverson, born Aug. 16, 1867 in Caldwell Co., died Apr. 26, 1949.  He married Hannah Jane Hicks c1890 and had children:  Martha Elizabeth who married John Crisp; Margaret; Fred, born Sep. 20, 1897, died Nov. 24, 1970; Dan Wesley, born Dec. 21, 1899, died Jan. 22, 1981; Velma Mae, born Apr. 27, 1905, died Apr. 20, 1993.  Velma married Arvil Harden Coffey, son of George Wiley and Ida Belle Norman Coffey; and Torrence Iverson, born 1911, died Dec. 24, 1966 at Black Mountain in Buncombe Co.

Following Alice [see above], was Anna, born, c1871.  No further info.


Susan Jane, born 1872, followed Anna.  She married Edward G. Pendley on Sep. 2, 1890 in Globe, Caldwell Co.

Following Docia [see above], came Leonard D., born 1876.  He married Nora Gragg on Sep. 23, 1898 in Globe.

Roy Virgil was born after Pink.  He came along in Mar. 1885 and died Aug. 23, 1964 in Lenoir.  Roy married Mary Ann Austin, born May 1, 1886, died Sep. 8, 1954.

According to the 1900 census, Martha reported being the mother of 12 with 11 living children.  I haven't found the 12th child yet.

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Marvel Coffey

As long as I've been researching Coffee/Coffey families I've read that other researchers who are interested in the Marvel Coffey who married Rachel Boone, have concluded that he was named Asbury Marvel Coffey. As one who has taken those researchers to be accurate (for the most part), I continued the search for Marvel's father without any success.

Just recently, with thanks to Janet de la Peña and Bonnie Culley, I received a copy of the Jesse Boone will. Jesse was the father of Rachel. In his will Jesse divided his estate between Daniel Boon [sic], Israel Boon, Jonithan Boon, Marvel Coffey, Jonithan [sic] Wilson, Smith Coffey, William Gregg [sic] [Gragg], and William Coffey. The will was written on Nov. 23, 1829 and recorded in McMinn Co., TN.

Jonathan, Daniel and Israel were his sons. Smith Coffey was his son-in-law, husband of Hannah, Jesse's daughter. William Coffey was also a son-in-law, husband of Anna Boone. William "Buck" Gragg was a son-in-law, husband of Celia Boone and Marvel Coffey, a son-in-law, husband of Rachel.

Jonithan Wilson may be the John Wilson who married Rebecca Coffey. Rebecca was the daughter of John Franklin Coffey, another son of Thomas Coffey and Elizabeth Smith.

Jesse appointed Asbury M. Coffey and his son Israel as executors of his will.

It is likely that many people reading this will believe that Asbury M. Coffey was the son-in-law, Marvel. However, Asbury M. was really Asbury Madison Coffey, an attorney in McMinn county at that time and believed to be the son of Eli and Hannah Allen Coffey. Asbury Madison later achieved fame in Kansas and Missouri.

In 1830, the McMinn county census lists only two Coffeys as head of household: Asbury M. and Marvel. We know that both Marvel and Asbury Madison relocated to McMinn county, so this - in my opinion - proves that the two of the Boone will were different people.

Now, how do we determine who the father was of Marvel? I can only speculate and offer the following:

Thomas Coffey, a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey, was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Smith with whom he had six children:

Elizabeth "Betsy", born 1763, died 1850 in Indiana, married David Allen.

John Franklin, born c1765, died c1812 in Wilkes Co., NC, married Hannah Wilson. Parents of Rebecca who married John (Jonithan?) Wilson. Several of John Franklin's children married children of Reuben Coffey, another son of John and Jane Graves Coffey.

Thomas Jr. born c1767, married first Margaret Coffey (parents not yet known) and 2) Nancy Pendley. born c1800. There were two Nancy Pendleys, both married Coffey men. However, the two were born about 18 years apart. The second Nancy was born c1818 in NC and married a Marvel Coffey who was the son of James Coffey and Delilah Ferguson. This Marvel remained in NC throughout his lifetime. Thomas, Jr. and his Nancy named one son James Asbury Coffey.

James, born c1772, died c1840 in Wilkes Co., NC is the son who married Delilah Ferguson and were parents of Marvel who married Nancy Pendley. James and Delilah's other children were Thomas, Lovancy, James, Jr., Eli, Myra and Louisa.

Mary, born c1775, died c1828 in NC, married William Coffey, born c1775 in Burke Co., NC, and a son of Benjamin Coffey and Mary "Polly" Hayes. Benjamin was a brother to Thomas making Mary and William first cousins.

Thomas' last child with Elizabeth Smith was Smith Coffey, born c1776, died 1839 in Cherokee Co., NC. He married Jesse Boone's daughter, Hannah.

It is interesting to note that James and Delilah named a son Marvel, and Thomas, Jr. and wife Nancy named one son James Asbury.

It is also interesting to me that of the nine children born to Thomas Coffey and second wife, Sarah Fields, the first four were born pretty much like clock work; e.g., every two years between c1780 and c1788. The next five were also born more or less like clock work, every two years. There is a gap between Elijah - fourth child, born c1788 - and Sarah, the fifth child, born c1792, that Marvel, born c1790 would fit into pretty well.

All of this assumes, of course, that the given approximate birth years for these children are somewhat accurate.

So, let me see if I can sum this up correctly!

- James Coffey was a son of John Coffey and Jane Graves

- James and wife Elizabeth Cleveland were parents of Eli, who married Hannah Allen and were parents of Asbury Madison Coffey.

- Thomas Coffey, also a son of John Coffey and Jane Graves.

- Thomas married 1) Elizabeth Smith and were parents of Smith Coffey. Thomas married second to Sarah "Sally" Fields.

- Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Fields Coffey were parents of William Coffey who married Anna Boone.

- William Coffey, Smith Coffey and Marvel Coffey, along with Asbury Madison Coffey all involved in the Jesse Boone will.

- A gap exists between the first four and last five of Thomas and Sally Fields Coffey's children; a gap that Marvel could fit into given that birth years are somewhat accurate.

Could it then be concluded from this somewhat preponderance of evidence that Marvel Coffey was a son of Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Fields Coffey?

Your opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Murder of James Hardy Coffey

According to the book, Until He Is Dead: Capital Punishment in Western North Carolina History, by James Thomas Rusher, and published by Parkway Publishers, Boone, North Carolina, 2003, Ernest Reid Coffey was the first and only person ever convicted of first degree murder in Avery Co., NC.

He was accused of and sentenced to death for the assassination of his uncle, James Hardy Coffey. James was the younger brother of Reid's father, John Wesley Coffey. They were sons of Thomas Avery and Louisa E. Gragg Coffey.

During the evening of April 5, 1936 someone fired a single shot from a 12 gauge shotgun into the living room of the Hardy Coffey home, near Linville, NC, killing Hardy, a deputy sheriff in Linville. At the time, Linville was a resort area and Hardy was responsible for assuring the homes of absent owners were safe from thieves.

Reid Coffey, and some of his pals, were known trouble makers in the area and circumstances of the day and evening of the murder made him the prime suspect. The author's description of the law, the background and sentiment of the people of those days in North Carolina are not discussed here, but Coffey researchers should find the book to be a valuable connection for their library.

The author dissects the trial quite well, pointing out discrepancies in testimony, the appeals process and the then governor's commutation of the death sentence as well as the eventual release of Reid from prison. Intermingled in all of this are described the efforts of Reid's father to see that his son did not unfairly die for a crime of which he believed his son to be innocent.

To my knowledge, no one else was ever charged with the murder of James Hardy Coffey.

This murder was not the first tragedy to affect this family. Thomas Avery Coffey was a son of Austin and Mary A. Blalock Coffey. Before her marriage to Austin, Mary had given birth to two illegitimate children: William McKesson (Keith) Blalock in 1837, and Mary in about 1842.

When she and Austin married, Austin raised the children as his own. During the Civil War Keith fancied himself a Yankee and made plans to help the Union cause. He and his wife, Malinda Pritchard joined the Confederate army - she disguised as a young boy - and both hoped to defect to the Union side whenever their CSA unit was near or engaged with a unit from the Union side.

According to history however, their CSA unit was sent to an area of NC where action was limited. Malinda was discovered to be a female when during a skirmish she was shot in the shoulder. She was discharged and a month later Keith was discharged. He is said to have undressed and rolled around in poison ivy. The result was that he became so sick the CSA had to let him go home.

Upon his return home, he and some of his henchmen began to transport Union recruits through the Confederate lines. Between August, 1864 and February, 1865 Blalock's gang became responsible for a reign of terror that resulted in many deaths, including his own uncle William Coffey, brother to Austin. Elisha Coffey, Keith's cousin and probable son of Joseph and Isabella Lindsay Coffey, is said to have been a member of Keith's "bushwacker" gang.

As that war is often described, it was really brother against brother, father against son.

Click on the title to read an earlier blog about James Hardy Coffey.

Gilliam & Susan Gragg Coffey

Gilliam was a son of William and Anna Boone Coffey. He was born May 21, 1810 in NC and died on Jan. 8, 1910 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC. He married first Mary "Polly" Moore on Jan. 2, 1832 in Caldwell Co.

Mary died on May. 26, 1871 in Caldwell Co. She was the mother of at least six children:

Harvey N., born Dec. 16, 1837, died Aug. 10, 1912. He married Jane Cochran, born Dec. 20, 1848, died Feb. 11, 1911. Both are buried in the Job Moore Cemetery in the Globe, Caldwell Co.

William Elbert, born 1839 in Caldwell Co., married Margaret Anne Kincaid on Feb. 6, 18 60 in Burke Co., NC. Margaret was born in 1837 and died on Dec. 22, 1921 in Morganton, Burke Co.

Harriet E., born Sep. 5, 1843, died Dec. 12, 1937. Harriet married James B. Blain on Oct. 7, 1866 in Caldwell Co. He as born May 1, 1844 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., and died May 24, 1929 in Carter Co., TN. Harried was born Sep. 6, 1843 in Cedar Valley and died Dec. 12, 1937 in Elizabethton, Carter Co., TN. Both are buried in Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery at Keeneburg, Carter Co., TN

Celia Adeline, born c1847 of whom no further information.

Cordelia Adaline, born Jan. 10, 1853, died Jul. 9, 1918. She married John Boone Gragg on Dec. 17, 1877. He was born Feb. 15, 1856 in Caldwell Co., and died May 23, 1937 in the Globe. Both are buried at Job Moore.

Emma, born c1855, of whom no further information.

Gilliam married second to Susan D. (Susie) Gragg, a daughter of Jesse and Malinda Mast Gragg on June 4, 1882 in Caldwell Co. Susan had been twice before married: first to Patterson H. Moore on Sep. 6, 1866, and second to Isaac Green on Dec. 8, 1877. The only known child that survived this union was Hillie Horton, born Jul. 31, 1887, died Mar. 30, 1963.

Hillie marrie Bessie* McLean in 1908, Caldwell Co., and had at least four children: Unnamed son born and died May 16-17, 1921; James Harding, born and died Aug. 3, 1922; Fred Oral, born Mar. 16, 1924 and Ora Lee, born Feb. 27, 1927. Ora married Earl Greene in 1946, Caldwell Co.  Hillie died Mar. 30, 1963 in Collettsville, Caldwell Co., and was buried there in the Shoemake Cemetery.

The photo shows Hillie and his parents c1920. Please contact me if you contributed or know the source of the photo.

Please contact me to add to or to correct any of this information.

*I've seen another genealogy that names her Susie or Susan McLean

Samuel Anthony & Lora Destimonia Coffey Aldridge

Lora, a daughter of Joseph Reubin and Martha Elizabeth Gragg Coffey, was born Mar. 3, 1888 in the state of North Carolina.  She died Jun. 12, 1967 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., and was buried in the Hibriten Baptist Church Cemetery at Lenoir.

Samuel was born Feb. 22, 1893 in Watauga Co. to Harrison and Mary Etta Buchanan Aldridge.  He died Mar. 16, 1966 at Lower Creek in Caldwell Co.  Harrison was a son of Harrison, Sr., and Jincy Clark Aldridge.

He and Lora were married in 1915 in Caldwell Co.  He is buried at the Aldridge Family Cemetery in Watauga Co.

Together, he and Lora had at least eight children:

Howard Glenn, born Sep. 13, 1916 in Watauga Co., and died Jun. 6, 1995 in Catawba Co.

Murphy Lail, born 1918 in Watauga Co., and died 1997 in Caldwell Co.

Edith Flo, born Jan. 24, 1920 in Watauga Co., and died Dec. 11, 1995 in Newton, Catawba Co.  She married Roy Alvin Lowman, born Feb. 2, 1919 in Burke Co., and died May 6, 1982 in Catawba Co.

Audrey Claire, born Sep. 8, 1921

Darrell Claude, born Jul. 28, 1923

Gerald Guy, born Jan. 9, 1926 in Watauga Co., and died Jun. 5, 2005 in Morganton, Burke Co.

Lyle Byard, born Feb. 20, 1928

Ula Dade, born Aug. 14, 1931 in Watauga Co., and died May 25, 1997 in Catawba Co.  She married Billy Jackson Hewitt on Dec. 23, 1949 in York Co., SC and are the parents of several children.

Another of Harrison and Jincy's sons, James A., was born Feb. 1, 1853 in Caldwell Co., died Dec. 20, 1939 in North Carolina.  He married on Jun. 6, 1874 Sarah Gragg, a daughter of Johnson P. and Nancy Jane Cuthbertson Gragg.  James and Sarah's son, Arthur Blaine Aldridge, born Jun. 16, 1884, died Jun. 11, 1947, married Rosa Lee Coffey, a daughter of Jesse Filmore and Martha E. (Mattie) Story Coffey.  Both Arthur and Rosa Lee died and are buried in Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA.

Harrison and Jincy's daughter, Sarah Jane Aldridge married Baird Simeon Gragg, a son of Johnson P. and Nancy Jane Cuthbertson Gragg.

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

Roy Lee Coffey

The Jul 15, 2008 on-line edition of the Watauga Democrat, Watauga Co., NC, included the obituary for Roy Lee Coffey who died Jul. 13, 2008.

Roy was the son of Frederick Abner and Mary Octavia Loudermelt Coffey, and was born Feb. 16, 1926 in Caldwell Co., NC.

Frederick was the son of George Washington, Jr. and Tempy S. Calloway Coffey, and was born Jan. 18, 1902 in Caldwell Co. He died Apr. 6, 1930 in Banner Elk, Avery Co., NC. Frederick and Mary Octavia were married May 15, 1922 in Carter Co., TN. She was born Oct. 9, 1903 in Avery Co. to Finley T. and Mary Clark Loudermelt, and died Mar. 31, 1977 in Boone, Watauga Co.

Roy's siblings, as I know them:

George, born 1922

Everette, born Oct. 12, 1927, married Elizabeth Antonio Lentz, a daughter of William Council and Martha Elizabeth Suddreth Lentz. Elizabeth was born Apr. 28, 1932 in Caldwell Co., and died Apr. 27, 2003 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.

Viola, born May 14, 1929, married Arnold (Red) Church. He was born Dec. 20, 1916 in Watauga Co., and died Feb. 15, 1968 in Raleigh, Wake Co., NC. Arnold was the son of Manuel and Elizabeth Hodges Church.

Another son of George and Tempy was Paris Coffey, born c1906. He married Anna Dellinger on May 24, 1930 in Watauga Co. Anna was the daughter of Reuben and Maude Rebecca Coffey Dellinger. Maude was born Feb. 6, 1891 in Caldwell Co. to William Pinkney and Nancy Caroline Gragg Coffey.

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

Aaron Roosevelt Coffey

Aaron Roosevelt Coffey was born Oct. 25, 1907 in Rufus, Caldwell Co., NC to Henry Kelly (Caleb) and second wife, Julia Emma Stansberry Coffey.  Henry was the son of James Asbury and Chainey Gragg Coffey.

Aaron married Nellie Bell Critcher c1928 in North Carolina and died by suicide on Aug. 29, 1951.  He was buried in the John Critcher Cemetery in Boone, Watauga Co., NC on Aug. 30, 1951.  Nellie was born c1910 but I have not yet determined who her parents were.  She likely remarried after the death of Aaron.


I have one child for them:  Nellie Louise, born Mar. 22, 1929.

Aaron was buried in the John Critcher Cemetery in Boone. 

Jack Coffey

Today's on-line edition of the News-Topic in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, announced the death of Jack Coffey, age 87 of that city.  He passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at Blowing Rock.

Jack was the son of Monroe and Dovie Jane Clark Coffey.  Monroe was the son of Thomas M. and Martha Cordelia Gragg Coffey.  He was born Jan. 26, 1883 in Avery Co., and died Nov. 3, 1955 in Caldwell Co.  He and Dovie were married in Caldwell Co. in 1910.

Jack was married to Sadie Alice Huffman, born Feb. 3, 1923 in NC, died Oct. 10, 1984 in Winston-Salem.  She was the daughter of James Granville, a son of James and Betty Roberts Huffman,  and Grace Genelia Austin, a daughter of Harvie Austin and Alice G. Poarch [sic].

Dovie, born c1890 in NC, was the daughter of William Harvey and Martha L. Coffey Clark.

Martha Coffey and Thomas M. were first cousins.

The children of Monroe and Dovie are:

Ruby, born Jul 28, 1911 in Avery Co., and died Sep. 1, 1967 in Lenoir.  She married Oscar Frye.

Ruth, born Feb. 10, 1913 in Avery Co., and died Feb. 5, 2008 in Caldwell Co.  Her first husband was Jay Greene; her second was George Pappas.

Ruth's obituary, The News-Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, Feb. 7, 2008

Ruth Pappas

Ruth Coffey Pappas, 94, of Morganton, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008 at Grace Hospital.

Mrs. Pappas was born Feb. 10, 1913 in Caldwell County to the late Monroe and Dovie Clark Coffey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Jay Greene and second husband, George Pappas; a daughter, Mary Lou Williams; a son, Nolan Greene; two brothers, Bruce and Clyde Coffey and a sister, Ruby Frye.

Mrs. Pappas was a loving grandmother and well respected as a beautician. She was of Methodist faith.

Survivors include a brother, Jack Coffey of Collettsville; three sisters, Nell Mize of Georgia, Blanche Garren of Lenoir and Louise Steele of Lenoir; nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Friday, Feb. 8, 2008 from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at Pendry's Funeral Home. Burial will be at a later date.

The funeral service will follow at 7:30 p.m. with the Rev. Terry Adams officiating.

The family requests memorials to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, PO Box 1029, Valdese, NC 28690.

Condolences may be placed online at www.mem.com.

Pendry's Funeral Home and Crematory, Lenoir, N.C. is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sarah Nell Coffey, born Jan. 21, 1919 in Caldwell Co., married a Mr. Mize.

The fourth child of Monroe and Dovie was Jack.

Blanche, born 1923 in Caldwell Co., married Bill Garren.

Martha Louise, born 1925 in Caldwell Co., married Robert Haywood Steele, Jr.  He was born Oct. 6, 1920 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co., and died Apr. 30, 2003.  He is buried at the Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Kings Creek, Caldwell Co.

The last child of Clyde and Dovie was Clyde Hedrick, born May 26, 1928 in Wilsons Creek, Avery Co.  He died Apr. 1, 2001 in Guilford Co..  He was married in 1956 to Rebecca Jeanette Estes, a daughter of Fredrick Caleb and Annie Rader Estes.  She was born in Caldwell Co. in 1928.  Clyde was a veteran of the Korean War and is also buried at the Blue Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery.

Click on the title link to read Jack's obituary.

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

Levi Lafayette Coffey

Levi Lafayette Coffey was a son of Elisha and Anna Harmon Moody Coffey. He was born May 30, 1833 in Burke Co., NC and died Feb. 11, 1925 in Watauga Co., NC. At the time of death he was a retired farmer.

Temperance (Tempie) Calloway was the daughter of James and Nicey Gragg Calloway, and was born c1844 in North Carolina, and died there in c1890. She and Levi were married c1859.

In 1860 they were in the Valle Crucis district of Watauga Co. With them was their first child, Lavina, age 5 months. They remained in Watauga county through the 1880 census. Tempie apparently died sometime between June 7, 1880 and Jan. 1, 1882 when Levi married his distant cousin, Mary Ella Coffey.

Children of Levi and Tempie were:

Caroline Lavinia, born Mar. 6, 1860 in Watauga Co., died Feb. 13, 1923. She married David Nathaniel Coffey, a son of Austin Coffey and Mary A. Blalock.

Joseph DeKalb, born 1863 in Watauga Co., and died there on Jan. 24, 1939. He married Letitia Walters on Apr. 9, 1899 in Watauga Co. She was born Sep., 1879 in North Carolina and died in Watauga Co. in 1960. Joseph apparently had a wife before Letitia, but she is yet unidentified.

Judith, born c1866 - no further information.

Emma, born Oct. 19, 1869 in Watauga Co., and died in Hickory, Catawba Co. on Jan. 3, 1938. She married William M. Coffey, a son of Smith W. and Charity Elizabeth Redmond.

James Wesley, born May 2, 1873 in Watauga Co., and died Dec. 6, 1960 in Boone, Watauga Co. He married Callie Ward, a daughter of James Ward and Mary Hicks. Callie was born Mar. 30, 1898 in Watauga Co., and died there on Aug. 25, 1975. James had also been previously married to Donnie Brewer. She was the daughter of Marvel Brower, and was born Dec. 15, 1883 in Watauga Co., and died there on Jun. 22, 1924.

Archie E., born c1875 in North Carolina and died there on Apr. 11, 1903. He married Virginia Frances (Jennie) Brown on Sep. 30, 1900 in Watauga Co. She was the daughter of Samuel Walker and Nancy Jane Joyce Brown. Jennie died Jul. 1, 1962 in Taylorsville in Alexander Co., NC. Virginia had been previously married to Leroy Starnes, and after the death of Archie, she married Henry Boone Coffey, a son of Smith and Charity.

[Note: A reader has reported that Leroy Starnes was Jennie's third husband]





A child of Jennie and Archie was Paul Arch Coffey, born Aug. 30, 1902, and died Mar. 25, 1957. He married Margaret Allen Linney on Dec. 6, 1926 in Watauga Co. She was born Apr. 27, 1906 in Boone and died there on un. 10, 1994. Their son, Paul Armfield Coffey married Rachel Ann Rivers, a daughter
of Robert Campbell and Bonnie Jean Lewis Rivers. Rachel's grandfather acquired the Watauga Democrat in 1889, a year after it was founded. Rachel took over the paper in 1975 after the death of her father and sold it in 1999.



Oscar Lee, born Sep. 7, 1878 in North Carolina and died Jul 1, 1977 in Davidson Co., NC. He married Ollie Belle Calloway, a daughter of William Henderson and Almirah M. Johnson Calloway. Ollie was born Mar. 10, 1886 in Watauga Co., and died on Apr. 23, 1943 in North Carolina.

More information is available on the children and their descendants.

According to her death certificate, Mary Ella Coffey was born in 1865 in North Carolina and died on Mar. 27, 1949 at Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. She was the daughter of Smith W. and Charity Elizabeth Baker* Redmond Coffey. She is buried in the Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill.

The only child that I have for them is Henry Oliver Coffey, born Jul. 25, 1889. Henry married Zettie Chloe Honeycutt on Mar. 23, 1913 in Watauga Co. She was the daughter of Luke Jackson Honeycutt and Lithia Rotenberry. Luke was born in Alexander Co. in 1860 and died at Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. on Jul 4, 1939. Lithia was born in Mt. Airy, Surry Co., NC in 1860 and died at Shulls Mill on Oct. 7, 1930. Zettie was sister to Ada who married Lee Nelson Coffey, a son of Smith and Charity.

Children of Henry and Zettie were:

Unnamed female, born and died on Dec. 28, 1913

Henry Clay, born Mar. 31, 1916

Mary Helen, born Jan. 30, 1918

Litha Louise, born Jan. 24, 1920

Ruth Odena, born Nov. 25, 1921, died Aug. 27, 1931

Betty Lee, born Jul 26, 1927

Drop me a note at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information. I will also be happy to provide more information on this famiy to anyone who needs it.




*Laurence Coffey gives this name as Elizabeth Baker Redmond, indicating that she was probably married previous to her marriage to Smith. However, in an e-mail dated Aug. 23, 2007, a family researcher wrote this to me:

"Elizabeth was born 6/25/1836 and died 5/20/1912. She was not married prior to her marriage to Smith Coffey on June 25, 1854 (that was her 18th Birthday). According to the Caldwell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, Volume II – January Term 1848, Elizabeth, an orphan child of 11 years of age, was bound to Lucinda Baker (that is where the Baker name originated) until age 18, at which time she was give[n] her freedom, $6.00, a new suit of clothes, a bible and she was to be taught to read and write."

Another reader has recently informed me that "She was also a Cherokee. We never learned her Native-American name. "Chariety" which is from her headstone) is the only nickname we know of. (Sounds a lot like Cherokee) Redmond or Redman could refer to "a red Man" (Indian) this , of course, is family speculation. She needed a Surname for marriage."

McDonald Stephen and Hazel Evelyn Blalock Johnson

This entry could easily have been named "All in the Family."

McDonald (Don) Johnson and Hazel Blalock were distant cousins. Don was the son of McCrourie Cromwell and Myra Angeline Coffey Johnson while Hazel was the daughter of Columbus Filmore and Theodocia Coffey Blalock.

Don was born Apr. 14, 1908 in Watauga Co., and died on Jun. 23, 1972. He is buried at the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Watauga Co. Hazel was born Dec. 8, 1912 in North Carolina* and died on Apr. 6, 1984. She too is buried at Boone Fork. I do not have a marriage date for them. Hazel was apparently the second wife of Don. His first wife was Caroline (Carrie) Hawthorn.

I have not found any children born to Caroline. Don and Hazel had at least three children, all born after 1930, who cannot appear here due to privacy concerns.

Columbus Filmore (Lum) Blalock was a son of the infamous William McKesson (Keith) Blalock and his wife, Sarah Malinda Pritchard. "Keith," as some may recall, was the Union sympathizer who ran rampant through some parts of western North Carolina during the Civil War. His mother, Mary Blalock, married Austin Coffey and brought "Keith" and another child, a daughter also named Mary, to the union. Austin raised both children as his own.

Austin was somewhat of a Union sympathizer as well, which put him somewhat on the "outs" with his brothers, McCaleb, William and Reuben who were staunch Confederates. This caused some consternation within the family, and William was eventually slain by a man named Perkins on the orders of "Keith."

Nice guy, huh!?

Theodocia, Lum's wife, was the daughter of Thomas Avery and Louisa E. Gragg Coffey. Thomas was the son of Austin and Mary, and a half-brother to "Keith." "Docia" was Lum's third wife. He first married Emma McNeely followed by Esther Caldonia (Donia) Calloway. Children by Esther were Lilac, Fuchsia, Violet and George. With all those colorful names for the girls, it seems that they should have tagged George with "Red", "Blue" or "Green" for a nickname. Give the parents credit however, for not giving the girls the almost obligatory names of Sarah, Mary or Elizabeth!

Esther later married George Banner and had a daughter which they named Esther. Theodocia was also married twice. Her last husband was Luther Farthing who died in Watauga Co. on Jul. 2, 1934.

Myra Angeline Coffey, mother of McDonald Stephen Johnson, was born Mar. 9, 1871 in Watauga Co., and died there on May 14, 1938. She was the daughter of Jesse Patterson and Phoebe Matilda Curtis. Phoebe was sister to Louisa Adeline Curtis who married Jesse's brother, William Clayton Coffey, Jr. It was William Clayton, Sr. who was killed by "Keith" Blalock's men.

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

*Some researchers report that Hazel was born in Oregon and only came back to North Carolina after her father died in Oregon in 1925. The 1920 census for Bend, Deschutes Co., OR for the family has Hazel born in North Carolina. No other birth record has been found to confirm that she was born in either place.

Levi Joseph and Agnes Georgia Gragg Coffey

Levi was a son of Columbus Alexander and Mary Alice Woodruff Coffey. He was born Jun. 4, 1917 in NC. His date of death is not known to me, but he shares an un-dated headstone with his wife in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Watauga Co.

According to Marriage Register of Watauga County, North Carolina 1873-1954 (Boone, Watauga Co., NC: Dept. of Hist., Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC, 1995), Levi married Agnes on Sep. 21, 1940 in that county.

Agnes was born Jul. 12, 1924 in Avery Co. to Bill and Margaret Woodruff Gragg. She died Apr. 17, 1994 in Blowing Rock.

Her obituary:

Georgia Gragg Coffey, 69, of Route 1, Blowing Rock, died Sunday, Apr 17, 1994, at the residence.

She was born July 12, 1924, in Avery County to the late Bill and Margaret Woodruff Gragg.

Mrs. Coffey was a homemaker.

Surviving are her husband, Levi Coffey of the home; three sons, Bruce Coffey and Eugene Coffey, both of Lenoir and Larry Coffey of Joyceton; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

The funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday at Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church with the Revs. Murray Coffey and Wade Church officiating. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Boone Fork Cemetery.

The family will receive friends tonight from 7 until 8:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

Their son Floyd Bruce Coffey was born Nov. 1, 1942 in Caldwell Co., and died Dec. 14, 2004 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.


His obituary:

Obituary, Hampton Funeral Service, Boone, Watauga Co., NC

Floyd Bruce Coffey
(November 1, 1942 - December 14, 2004)

Mr. Floyd Bruce Coffey, age 62, of 124-A Wayside Place, Lenoir, died Tuesday morning, December 14, 2004, at his home.

Mr. Coffey is survived by his wife, Helen Pearson Coffey of the home; four daughters, Barbara McCloud of Hudson, Gloria Creasy and husband Steve and Angela Dellinger both of Morganton, and Wanda Marley of Lenoir; three sons, Allen Coffey and wife Misty of Morganton, Albert Coffey and wife Patricia and Wayne Coffey and wife Danielle both of Lenoir; his father, Levi Coffey of Blowing Rock; two brothers, Eugene Coffey and wife Anita and Larry Coffey and wife Doris both of Hudson. Sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survives. He was preceded in death by his mother, Georgia Gragg Coffey.

Funeral services for Mr. Floyd Bruce Coffey will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock at Boone Fork Baptist Church. Officiating will be Reverend Darryl Miller and Reverend Dewey Bristol. Burial will follow in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends, Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:30 at the funeral home.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address is you can establish a link between Levi's mother, Mary Alice Woodruff, and Agnes' mother, Margaret Woodruff.


Headstone photo courtesy of Connie Coffey Dorsey

The Edward Coffey Project (Update 2)

This project is active again on the Coffey Cousins' website.

I have not included photographs or sources in this upload. Rather than ask for a CD, a few "researchers" have been spending hours downloading thousands of pages. They are not only stealing my work, and the work of those that have contributed to the project, but are also monopolizing my server, effectively denying access to others. I am certain that they will continue to download the file, but at least it will not take them hours to do it because they will not be able to download the documentation.

A CD containing all of the information that I have compiled on Edward and his descendants is available. The CD will include photographs, obituaries, complete source citations (when available), and other family and/or individual facts. It represents several years of personal research plus the time and effort of everyone who has contributed their family information to assure an accurate as possible picture of the family.

Besides 7000+ Coffeys, the compilation contains such surnames Campbell, Dalton, Fitzgerald, Gragg, Hayes, Wolfe, Shockley, and others. The CD will also now contain the descendants of Jordan Coffey.

I have attempted to remove everyone from the CD who was born after 1930 and for whom I have no death information. Please contact me ASAP should you find yourself, or your immediate family (father, mother, siblings, spouses and their children) in this compilation, and would like to have them removed.

The CD is free. I now charge $10.00 for postage and materials. It can be ordered from me, Jack Coffee, 110 Lydia Road, St. Joseph, LA 71366. CDs are burned when an order is received thereby assuring every CD is the most up to date available.