Joseph Elzie and Mary Ann Coffey Hays

Joseph's parents were Gabriel Hays, Jr. born c1792 in VA who married Martha Coffey in Adair Co., KY on Dec. 26, 1813.  Martha was the daughter of Cleveland and Jane Witherspoon Coffey.  Her date of birth and death is not known to me, but given the time of marriage, she was likely born around the same time frame as Gabriel.

Martha and Gabriel were the parents of Joseph Elzie Hays, born Dec. 6, 1822 in Russell Co., and died there on Jan. 23, 1904.

Joseph was married three times.  His first was to Sophia M. Saufley on Oct. 19, 1848 in KY.  Sophia was born c1822 in VA and died on Mar. 14, 1853 in KY.  If there were children born to this union, none survived.

On Mar 25, 1854 in Russell Co., Joseph married Mary Ann Coffey, a second cousin to his mother, Martha Coffey Hays.  Mary Ann was born Jul. 4, 1828 in Russell Co., and died there on May 24, 1869, apparently in childbirth while delivering their fourth child, Rose.  Their first three children were Sophia, born c1856 who became the wife of Judge W. S. Stone; Mary A., born c1866 and Rose L., born c1869, all in Russell Co.

Joseph's third wife was Elizabeth C. Young of Wayne Co., daughter of G. W. and Margaret Pemberton Young.  There were no children.

A biography* of Joseph, published in 1888, reveals that his father Gabriel Hays, Jr. came from VA to settle in a part of Adair Co. that is now in Russell Co.  Gabriel Hays, Sr., was a "native of Scotland" who came to the "American colonies and went into the war of Revolution, arose to the position of major, and served in that capacity until independence was achieved."

An very interesting part of this bio reads: 

"Martha (Coffey) Hays was born in Adair, now Russell County, was a daughter of Cleveland Coffey, a native of North Carolina who was an early settler in Adair, now Russell County, Ky.; he was a farmer and stock-trader, and a son of Joel Coffey, also a native of North Carolina, whose father, Joel Coffey, Sr. was of English parentage.  Joseph E. Hays is of Scotch [sic] descent on his father's side, and of English on his mother's."

Joel, father of Cleveland, was probably born in VA and was married to Martha Stepp/Stapp c 1753,  Certainly, the number of Joel Coffeys floating around between VA and KY in that timeframe makes it extremely difficult to sort them out.

The following are some random notes that I have and which I believe pertain to Joel who married Martha Stepp/Stapp:

Joel, born 1780, m Martha "Patsy"?.  They had 6 children: Nathaniel, m1 Louisa Durham, m2 Nancy Clark; Alvina (Elvira), b 1811, m Martin Wright, Mar 27, 1828.  She died Sep 7, 1869; Caroline, m Unk Summers; Martha L., m Perry M. Stacy; Francis m Jackson Jones; Henry B., m Sara Ann Isbele. Source:  Lee Robert, Nov., 1998.

Joel was b. late 1740's and d. 1789.  Married Martha in 1753. Martha was b. 1737.  Joel was son of Chesley and Jane Cleveland Coffee. Their children were Jesse Cleveland; James, Joel, Nathan, Caty, Frances Jane, Sealey, Nebuzarren, Cleveland.  Source:  Revolutionary Ancestors, 1976; Wood Coffee Will and Inventory.

Joel and Martha are mentioned in The Georgians, Genealogies of Pioneer Settlers, by J. H. Austin.

Joel's will (probate) dated 1789 Wilkes Co., NC.  Children listed as James, Joel, Cleveland, Nathan, Katy, Jane and Celia.  See North Carolina will book C, page 321.

Marvin Coffey wrote in his works that DAR has always listed Joel as born 1730, and married in 1753 to Martha Sealy, born 1737.  Nebuzaradon, their youngest son, was born in 1780 meaning that Martha would have been aged 52 at his birth.

A number of researchers have theorized that Joel married Martha Sealey who died, and he then married Martha Step.  Others have the opinion that Joel married a widow by the name of Mrs. Martha Step Sealey while another group has said that Sealey was a nickname for Celia which was the middle name of Martha.  Another thought is that Joel was born much earlier, about 1750.

Joseph is not listed in Joel's 1789 will (Wilkes Co., NC Will Book I, p260) but does appear in other researcher's works.  He could have been born to Joel's first wife and died before the will was made.  Joseph has also been reported to have gone to Kentucky quite early, and already otherwise provided for by his father thereby not making the will.  And, even if Joel had only one wife, Joseph could still have died quite young.  Marvin noted that there was a Joseph Coffey on early tax records of Adair Co., KY.

The bio paragraph cited above says that Joel (Martha Stepp) Coffey was the son of a Joel of English parents.  To me, this says the belief (among some Coffey researchers) that Joel was a son of the elusive - almost mythical - Chesley Coffey, may not be accurate. I am told that the DNA test results of some researchers who trace their lineage to this Joel are descendants of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.

So, it could be that some in the 1888 biography - and who undoubtedly contributed to it - believed they were of English not Irish descent.  We know that Edward was Irish and came to America as an indentured servant and, likely come here through England.  We know that Peter Coffee, an Irishman and Edward's distant relative, came to America from an English prison.  Given that Edward may also have departed from England, seems logical to me that 100-plus year old family tales could have mistakenly told of Edward being of English descent.  Edward may have thought of himself as being English, given the Ireland-England politics of the era.

Continuing with Joseph...

The Bio tells us that his father was a "life-long invalid," and that Joseph was self-educated.  By the time he was 17 he was the deputy county surveyor, working under Hiram Rowe.  He began teaching school at age 19 and at the age of 21 was elected to the Kentucky militia as a captain and, rose the the rank of colonel.  He read law with Gen. Rice Maxey and admitted to the Kentucky bar in 1846.

Being a somewhat wealthy man and the largest slave owner in the county, he was naturally a southern sympathizer during the Civil War.  At the close of the war he returned to his law practice and was appointed "master commissioner of the Russell Circuit Court."  It did not take long for him to recoup the wealth he lost as a result of the war.

His son, Hiram was born on Dec. 7, 1858 and was educated in the law by his father.  He "was admitted to the bar at the age of seventeen years and six months."  He also taught school in Jamestown at the age of 14; spent a year in Texas and returned to KY at the age of 20.  He settled in Monticello, Wayne Co. where he practiced law and became county attorney.

He married Eva Owens, a daughter of Dr. S. R. Owens, a well known physician of the time.  They were parents of one daughter, Mary Owen Hays.  In 1882 Hiram was a candidate for Congress.  While on the stump however, he became ill and withdrew.  He died on Jan. 14, 1888 at the home of Dr. Owens.

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* W. H. Perrin, Author, Kentucky: A History of the State: Embracing a concise account of the origin and development of the Virginia Colony; its expansion westward, and the settlement of the frontier beyond the Alleghenies; the erection of Kentucky as an independent state, and its subsequent development, J. H. Battle & G. C. Kniffin, Authors, eighth edition (Lewisville, KY, & Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey and Company, 1888), Pgs 860-861.

Bennett Coffey and Sarah Ferguson

While plowing through my Edward Coffey files today I ran headlong into Enoch Jordan whose wife is either Alice "Allie" Mills or Alice "Allie" Coffey.

If Mills, then I have no idea who she belongs to.  I have touched base with a couple of Mills researchers who tell me she was Alice Coffey, a daughter of Bennett Coffey and his wife Sarah Ferguson.

Some researchers believe but cannot prove that Bennett was a son of Benjamin and Mary "Polly" Hayes Coffey.  He - Bennett - is said to have been born in 1779 in Wilkes Co., NC which fits with the speculative birth year of 1747 for Benjamin and 1760 for Polly.  They are thought to have married c1773 in North Carolina.  That year would have made Polly a brand new teenager while Benjamin would have been twice her age.

Tax lists, witness to deeds, etc., show that Bennett and Benjamin had more in common than a shared surname.  Is it coincidence that while in Wilkes Co., Benjamin and his family resided in Ferguson's District and that Bennett married a Ferguson girl?

Laurence H. Coffey, researcher of the book Thomas Coffey and His Descendants* wrote that Bennett married Sarah "Sally" Ferguson on Feb. 5, 1805 in Wilkes Co.  Marriages of Wilkes County, North Carolina, 1778-1868** by Brent Holcomb, reports that the groom was Bengiman [sic] Coffey and Benet [sic] Coffey was the bondsman.  I believe Holcomb's book inadvertently transposes the names.  In both compilations, Thomas Norman was a witness.

One would think that having married so early and fathering a number of children well before 1830 Bennett would have shown in early census records.  I made a search for him from 1787 (NC state census) through 1830 and he appears only once, and then in 1830 Hawkins Co., TN.  I did find a number of Benjamin Coffeys, and a few Bens but, only one Bennett.  It's impossible - for me anyway - to figure out if one of those might have instead been Bennett.

I know that his name appears on a document dated Feb. 9, 1812 in Hawkins Co. in which he was witness to an indenture*** involving John Claxton of Grainger Co., TN and Hezekiah Stratton of Hawkins Co.  The tract was 75 acres on War Creek.  In addition to Bennett, William Stuart and James Byrd were also witnesses.  Patrick Donihae [sic], Hezekiah Stratton and Joseph Claud [sic] [Cloud] were mentioned as owning adjacent property.

Bennie Coffey Loftin in her book Clinch Mountain, Tennessee and Beyond,**** wrote that Bennett and his sons Joel and Caswell lived near Benjamin on Big War Creek.  Bennett sold to his son Joel, 94 acres for $300 on Feb. 10, 1834.  That part of Hawkins Co. later became part of Hancock with was created in 1844.  Bennett was also involved in some sort of land dispute with Shadrach Epperson in May of 1835 ending with a judgment for Epperson in which Bennett had to pay him $121.44 for a tract of land that Bennett was then residing on.

The 1840 census for Hawkins county show only four Coffey families in the county:  Bennett, Caswell, Jesse and Jane.  I am not certain who Jane is.  She appeared there in 1830 as well, and with children.  Jesse was her neighbor in 1830 and 1840 but I have not identified him either.  He could be Bennett's son.  Caswell is believed by me to be Bennett's eldest child.  By the time of the 1850 census, Bennett was a widower and a Jesse, age 22, and Louisa Coffey, age 19, were living with him.  By 1850 Bennett was dead.****

The thought that Jane might be Jane Graves, wife of John Coffey and mother of Benjamin, briefly crossed my mind, but she died in Wilkes Co. in 1792.

In addition to Caswell, Joel and Jesse, it is speculated that William Carrol Coffey, born c1824 in Hawkins Co., and Louisa Coffey, born c1831 are his as well.  It would seem likely that we have not yet identified all of his children.  In 1830 there were seven people under the age of 20 in his household and two aged 20 to 49, which would account for him and Sally.

In all likelihood Benjamin is Bennett's father.  He may also have been named Benjamin and called Ben or Bennett to distinguish one from the other.  It would be a plus if it can be documented that Alice Coffey, wife of Enoch Jordan was also his daughter.

Tips and discussion are welcomed.

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Aug 4 Update: One important thing I left out:  Marvel Jordan was enumerated in the 1880 Rockcastle Co., KY census with his "cousin," Thomas Jefferson Coffey, Jr.  This becomes more puzzling as Thomas Jefferson's father was not Thomas Jefferson, Sr.  His parents were Ausburn and Matilda Dalton Coffey.  I need to work a bit on T.J, Jr. to see if I can gain a bit of insight as to how he might have become a cousin to Marvel.

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*Chattanooga, TN: N. Sanders, 1931, Page 85
**Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1983, Page 41
***Joyce Martin Murray, 2921 Daniel, Dallas, TX 75205, compiler, Hawkins Co. TN Deed Abstracts 1801-1819; Deed Book 3, Page 329
****Privately published by Loftin, 1984 [Hawkins Co. Deed book 14, pages 406-410]

Andrew Jackson Coffey (1833 NC - 1903 MO)

Note:  There are many Coffey men named Andrew Jackson.  Some of the below information is known to be accurate for this one, but some of it has not yet been confirmed.  Some of his wives and their children may not match up correctly. Please use with caution and contact me with any additions or corrections.

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This Andrew Jackson Coffey was a son of Cleveland and Susan Hayes Coffey, born Dec. 1, 1833 in Ashe Co., NC, died Dec. 3, 1903 in Ozark Co., MO.

He was first married on Mar. 3, 1850 to Pricilla [sic] Emeline Hayes in Rutledge, Grainger Co., TN.1  No children are known to have been born to this union.  On Sep. 1, 1851 he married Louisa Jane Hutchinson in Grainger Co.2

Louisa was born c1833 in TN and died c1871 in Ozark Co., MO.  Children credited to them were: Althela M., born Jun. 25, 1852 in TN, died Feb. 4, 1919 in Ozark Co.  She married Zachariah Maritt, born Apr. 25, 1847 in Bradley Co., TN, died Dec. 15, 1893 in Ozark Co.  They are said to have married on Oct. 2, 1866 in Ozark Co.  Althela is the only child with known descendants.  The other children by Louisa, all born in Ozark Co., were: Susan Ann, born c1856; Thomas J., born c1859; William Wesley, born c1860; James Timp, born c1862; Andrew Jackson, Jr., born Oct. 20, 1864, died Aug. 25, 1944 in Los Angeles, CA3; and Cleveland P., born c1868.4 5

Andrew's third wife was Rachel Imes of Ozark Co.6  They married c1870, probably in Ozark Co., and 11 children are credited to that union, all born in Ozark Co.:  Joseph Ambrose, born c1872; Louisa J., born c1874; Nancy Mahala, born c1876; Avarella, born c1878; Robert S., born c1879; Melissa, born c1881; John T., born Jun., 1884; Charles Green, born Apr. 16, 1885, died Sep. 3, 1913 in Pontiac, Ozark Co.; Francis, born Jan. 8, 1866; Effie Eliza, born May 4, 1888, died May 3, 1960 in Wagoner Co., OK; and Albert Alexander, born Jun. 22, 1891.

Of these, Nancy Mahala married Shadric Quick c1900 in MO and had children:  Elbert, Celess, Hettie, Bennie, Eunice and Roxie.  Avarella married Jess Harper c1898 and had children: Oma, Clyde, Arizona, Austin and Benonia.  Effie married Nathan Eber Long, born Sep, 1880, died May, 1951 in Wagoner Co., OK.  No children are known to me.

The fourth wife to Andrew was Nancy Hamilton Tannehill to whom he was married c1893.  Only one child is credited to this union:  May Onia, born Mar. 2, 1895 in Dugginsville, Ozark Co.

There was an Andrew J. Coffey in the 1890 Special Schedule - Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and Widows, etc. for Bridges, Ozark Co., MO, Page 3, SD4, ED148, Minor Civil Division Bridges Twp., MO.  It shows that he was a Private in Co., F., Phelps Mo. Infantry, and that he enlisted on Dec. 10, 1861, and was discharged May 12, 1862, having served for 5 months and 2 days.  His address at the time of the census was at Gainesville PO in Ozark Co.  He suffered from a "spinal affliction from penumonia."

Another entry on Page 4, SD4, ED148, marked "Dup" for Andrew J. Coffey in the same location as above shows that he was a 2d Lieutenant who served in Co., I, 146 MO Inf from Nov. 21, 1864 to 24 May 1865 for a total of 6 months, 3 days.  He also suffered from an "Injury of Spine."

Additional census work is needed in an attempt to find Andrew Jackson in the 1850 and 1900 record.

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1 Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.  Name: Jackson Coffee Spouse: Prescilla E Hayes Marriage Date: 30 Mar 1851 Marriage County: Grainger Marriage State: Tennessee 

2 Ibid:  Name: and J Coffey Spouse: Louiza Hutcheson Marriage Date: 1 Sep 1831 [sic] [1851] Marriage County: Grainger Marriage State: Tennessee. From Marriage Bonds and Licenses, 1835-1866, Grainger Co., Tennessee, Book 2, Billie Wyrick Kennerly, Houston, Texas, Bond Thomas J. Coffee

3 California Death Index, 1940-1997. Original electronic data: State of California. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, CA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics, 19--.  Name: COFFEY, ANDREW JACKSON Social Security #: 0 Sex: MALE Birth Date: 20 Oct 1864 Birthplace: Missouri Death Date: 25 Aug 1944 Death Place: LOS ANGELES Mother's Maiden Name: HUTCHINSON Father's Surname: COFFEY

4 1860 Ozark Co., Falling Spring PO, Page 41, dwelling/family 273, Andrew J. Coffee, age 26, white male, farmer, $200, $325, born NC; Louiza, age 27, female, white, born TN; Athela, age 8, female, white, born TN; Susan A., age 4, female, white, born MO; Thomas J., age 1, male, white, born MO

5 1870 Ozark Co., Bridges Twp., Gainesville PO, Page 5, dwelling/family 34, Coffee, A. J., age 38, male, white, farmer, $1000, $1433, born NC; Louisia [sic] Jane, age 38, female, white, keeping house, born TN; Mary A., age 24, female, white, without occupation, born MO; Susan Ann, age 13, female, white, at home, born MO; Thomas J., age 11, male, white, at home, born MO; William G., age 15, male, white, farm laborer, born MO; James F., age 8, male, white, at home, born MO; Andrew J., age 5 male, white, at home, born MO; Cleveland P., age 2, male, white, at home, born MO.  [Who is Mary?]

6 1880 Ozark Co., Bridges Twp, ED109, Page 13, dwelling 89, family 98, Coffey, A. J., white male, age 47, married, farmer, born NC, parents born NC; Rachel, white female, age 29, wife, married, keeping house, lung disease, born MO, parents born MO; James T., white male, age 16, son, born MO, father born NC, mother born TN; Cleveland P., white male, age 11, son, born MO, father born NC, mother born TN; Ambros, white male, age 8, son, born MO, father born NC, mother born TN; Loneza [?] J., white female, age 6, dau., born MO, father born NC, mother born TN; Nancy M., white female, age 5, dau., born MO, father born NC,mother born TN; Ava R., white female, age 2, dau., born MO, father born NC, mother born TN; Robert S., white male, age 1, son, born MO, father born NC, mother born TN; Imes, Mary A., white female, age 52, mother-in-law, widow, born TN, parents born VA; Imes, Nancy J., white female, age 23, sister-in-law, single, born TN, parents born TN


No. 982

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!

John C. Coffey

John C. Coffey was a son of Richardson "Richard" Coffey and his wife Orenna (var.) Coffey who married on May 3, 1860 in Grainger Co.  Richardson was a son of Benjamin Coffey and Nancy Hayes while Orenna, or Renie in some genealogies, was the daughter of Caswell Coffey and his wife Annie Jordan.

A recent e-mail exchange with a descendant of John C. Coffey, born Jul. 14, 1861, died Aug. 27, 1931, raised some questions. Some genealogies name his wife as Martha Wyatt while others name her as Martha White.

John and Martha were married about 1883.  Their first child, Evaline was born in March, 1885.

1900 census:

This particular family is a little difficult to read on the census page that I consulted.  However, it seems pretty clear that the couple had been married 17 years (i.e., married in 1883), that their eldest child was born in March 1885, and that Martha was born in August, 1861.

1900 Grainger Co., Dist. 10, ED25, Sheet 1B, dwelling/family 17, Coffey, John, head, white male, born Jul. 1861, age 38, married 17 yrs., born TN, parents born TN, farmer; Martha, wife, white female, born Aug., 1861, age 38, married 17 yrs., mother of 8, 7 living, born TN, parents born TN; Em(?)aline, dau., white male [sic], born Mar 1885 (?), age 15 (?), born TN; James Monroe, son, male, white, Jan. 1888, age 12, born TN; Coria [sic], dau., white female, born 1890, July, age 9, born TN; E?aline, dau., white female, born 1892, Aug., age 7, born TN; Charles, son, male, white, born 1895, May, age 5, born TN; Orrena [sic], dau., white female, born 1897, Dec., age 2, born TN; William Brownlo [sic], son, white female [sic], born 1900, Mar (?), age 2 mos., born TN

There was only one Martha Wyatt in the 1870 Grainger Co. census, and she resided in Bean Station.  She was 22 years old meaning that she was born c1848.  There were none in 1880 Grainger Co.  This appears to eliminate her as a potential wife for John C. Coffey.

There was a Martha White of the correct age (age 9, born 1861) in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co in the 1870 census.  She was the daughter of Peter White and his wife Mary.  Others in the household with Peter were: John, age 21; William, age 19; Meredith, age 17; Bettie Ann, age 15, and Wiley, age 13.

We know that Orenna, or Renie, married the Rev. John W. White, born Apr. 23, 1843, on Sep. 24, 1871 in Grainger Co., some six years following the death of Richardson.  Richardson is said to have died that year from wounds received while serving with the 12th TN Cav. Regiment. *

The 1880 census of Grainger Co. shows the family thusly:

1880 Grainger Co., ED102, 10th Civil Dist., Page 15, dwelling/family 137, White, John W., white male, age 33, married, farmer, born TN, parents born NC; Lorena [sic], M., white female, age 34, wife, married, keep house, born TN, parents born TN; John C., white male, age 18, son, single, laborer, born TN, parents born TN; Margaret, white female, age 7, daughter, single, born TN, parents born TN; Willey [sic] P., white male, age 4, son, single, born TN, parents born TN

We can deduce that John C., age 18 (born 1861), was not a White because John W. White and Renie had not been married long enough to have a son his age.  We know that she did have a son with Richardson who was born in 1861.  I think it safe to say that in the 1880 census, he was John C. Coffey.

Next door to John W. and his family that same year is the family of Peter White and two of his children, Wiley and Martha J., age 18.  So, it's safe to assume that Martha and John C. Coffey knew each other.  The only thing that we do not know is when they were married.  It must have been sometime around 1883 or 1884 because their first child was born in 1885 (see 1900 above).

Based on all this, it appears that John C. Coffey married Martha White and not Martha Wyatt.

Hopefully, this has been presented in a somewhat cogent manner.  If not, drop me an e-mail at the above address.

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*I've looked for info on this Regiment, but haven't been successful.  He doesn't appear in any of the scant info that I have found on the 12th.

William Brownloe Coffey

The following family information and photographs are courtesy of Barbara Hutchinson, Bradenton, FL

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William Brownloe Coffey was a son of John C. & Martha Wyatt Coffey.  John was a son of Richardson, and he a son of Benjamin and Nancy Hayes Coffey.  William was born on March 7, 1900 at Bean Station in Grainger Co., TN and died in Mooresburg, Hawkins Co., TN on Mar. 31, 1977.  He is buried at Meadow Branch Cemetery in Bean Station.

His wife, Mary "Mollie" Young, a daughter of George and Sarah "Sallie" Lee Young, was born March 14, 1905 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN and died in Middletown, Butler Co., OH on Feb. 19, 1944.  She is buried at Woodhill Cemetery in Franklin, Warren Co., OH.

I do not have a marriage date for William and Mollie, but probably around 1918 to 1919.

Together they had six children:

Walter Chandler, born 1920 in Thorn Hill, died Sep. 28, 2001 at Johnson City in Washington Co., TN.  He is buried at Coffey Ridge Cemetery in Unicoi, Unicoi Co., TN.

Cecil G. - no information

John Henry, born 1924 in Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN, died Mar. 1, 2008 in Grainger Co.  He is buried at the First Independent Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Bean Station.  His wife was Susie Howerton.

Martha Vioma "Oma" - no information.

Addie Viola "Rick", born May 25, 1925 in Thorn Hill, died Jun. 2, 1989 in Franklin, Warren Co., OH.  She married Ralph Hatfield and had two children, Paul and Ruth.  "Rick" is buried at Franklin, Warren Co., OH in the Woodhill Cemetery.

Martha Jean "Marty", born Jul. 27, 1929 in Harlan Co., KY, died Dec. 5, 1989 at Bellefontaine, Logan Co., OH.  She is buried in the Rushsylvania cemetery in Logan Co.  "Marty" married John M. "Hank" Sloan.

More on this family in a later blog.

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.

Bessie Maude Coffey

Bessie was a daughter of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey. She was born in Nov., 1885 and in North Carolina, probably Caldwell Co. She died Feb. 28, 1972 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.

Bessie married John Hill Lee in Caldwell Co. in 1907. Census records from 1910 to 1930 show them as residents of first, Patterson Twp., then 20 years in Mulberry Twp.

There were at least five children born to John and Bessie:

Rose Helen, born Jun. 12, 1909, died Mar. 28, 1995. She married Hal Pettigrew Presnell, a son of Jefferson Pettigrew and Ella Gertrude Tuttle Presnell. They had at least one child, Linda Jean, born Feb. 5, 1942.

Horace Randolph, born Mar. 10, 1912, died Sep. 23, 1997.

Walton Hill, born Apr. 29, 1914, died Nov. 8, 2003. Walton married Hazel Hayes and, they were the parents of at least two sons: Clarence (Toney), born Feb. 27, 1945, died Apr. 24, 2004; and Douglas.

Edith C., born 1916, died 2002

Robert, born c1922

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

Stewart Blaine Hayes (1891-1980)

Stewart Blaine Hayes was born Mar., 1891 in Watauga Co., and died May 21, 1980 in Boone, Watauga Co. He was a son of John Edward and Celia Alice Trivette Hayes.

He married Esther Cornelia Coffey, a daughter of Thomas Carlton and Martha Ellen Cook Coffey on Dec. 24, 1911 in Watauga Co. Esther was born Dec. 9, 1891 in Blue Ridge Twp., Watauga Co., and died Feb. 1, 1936 in Watauga C.

Thirteen children were born to this union:

Carl Marion, born Nov. 15, 1912, died Jun. 21, 1979. He married Emma Jane Coffey on Oct. 6, 1934. Emma, a daughter of Walter Gwyn and Julia Hayes Coffey, was born Apr. 4, 1915 and died Jul. 15, 1988.
Wilma Roxanna, born c1914
Lucy Faye, born Sep. 4, 1915
Stella Mae, born Mar. 31, 1917
Ray Donald, born Nov. 5, 1918
Gladys Isabell, born Nov. 4, 1920
Thomas Blaine, born Jul. 26, 1922. He married Mildred Coffey, a daughter of William Jefferson and Elsie Mae Hodges Coffey. She was born May 16, 1919.
Vera Alice, born Jul. 10, 1924
Doyce, born Mar. 15, 1926
Snow Ellen, born Jan. 31, 1928
Addie Verlee, born Jan. 9, 1930
John Edward, born Nov. 2, 1931
Unnamed, born Nov. 28, 1934

Following Esther's death in 1936, Stewart married Vergie Moody Danner, a widow with twelve children of her own.

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

DVM George Hamilton Hayes

George Hamilton Hayes, born Jan. 5, 1868 in Watauga Co., NC, married Rosa Ethel (Rosie) Coffey on Aug. 4, 1909 in that county. Rosie was the daughter of Thomas Carlton and Martha Ellen Cook Coffey. She died in Watuga Co. on Jan. 2, 1940. George died there on Aug. 23, 1953.

Before his marriage to Rosie, he was married to Mollie Moody in 1879. Together they had two children: Roby Harvey, born Nov. 25, 1890, and Thomas W., born May 23, 1893. Molly died in Watauga County in 1906.

Six children were born to the union with Rosie:

Texie Verlee, born Sep. 6, 1910
Joseph Ransom, born Sep. 10, 1912, died Feb. 13, 2005
Doris Perry, born Jun. 3, 1915
William Arthur, born Feb. 17, 1918
Glenn Lawrence, born Mar. 18, 1920
Julia Helena, born Jan. 12, 1928

Following Rosie's death in 1940, George married Alice Taylor. There are no known children from this union.

In 1907 George became a Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine and was the first man to be licensed to practice veterinarian medicine in Watauga Co. where he practiced for 45 years.

Thomas Carlton, born Jan. 1, 1853 in North Carolina, died Dec. 17, 1915, was the son of Jesse Calton and Nancy Raines Coffey. He and Martha Ellen Cook were married Nov. 14, 1875 in Watauga Co. Martha was born Jul. 3, 1858 in North Carolina and died Mar. 25, 1939 in Watauga Co. She was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Elrod Cook.

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

William Coffey, Jr. (1812-1893)

Update Apr. 29, 2012

After writing yesterday's update I decided to re-review my notes on this family.  In that file I discovered an e-mail received sometime ago from John W. Coffey of Raleigh, NC pertaining to an earlier assertion that I made stating that John Wilkerson Coffey was a son of William Coffey, Jr.

Here is what John wrote:

Dear Jack,

I am full of admiration for your online descendancy [sic] of the Coffey family. I do still want to quibble about your placement of John Wilkerson Coffey in the family of William Coffey Jr. and Margaret Robbins Coffey. For one, John Wilkerson is not listed in the family Bible record of William Coffey Jr., which lists the children beginning with Elbert (b. 3 Jan 1837).

According to that same Bible record William and Margaret were married 2 Jan 1836—well after the presumed 1830/31 birth date of John Wilkerson. Another, tangential piece of evidence is a letter written by John W[ilkerson] Coffey to Elijah Coffey during the Civil War in which John reports that “I was at your fathers to day & they was all well.” This indicates to me a close but not father-son relationship.

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

(CaldHeritMus@aol.com <mailto:CaldHeritMus@aol.com>) has done much to unravel the Robbins-Coffey confusion.

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

I have long since moved John Wilkerson to make him a son of William, Sr. and second wife, Margaret Robbins.  However, I did not follow up on an important part of John's e-mail; e.g., that William Jr's wife, Margaret Robbins was a niece of William Sr's wife of the same name.  It also gives me a marriage date for William Jr. of Jan. 2, 1836.

Update Apr. 28, 2012

All Coffey researchers know that keeping all of the William Coffey men straight is a chore!

This William Coffey, Sr. a son of Benjamin and Mary Hayes Coffey, is said to have married twice. His first wife was his first cousin, Mary Coffey, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Smith Coffey. Thomas was brother to Benjamin Coffey, who married Mary Hayes, and they were William, Sr.'s parents.

Wm. & Mary Coffey Marriage Record

William, Sr. married Mary Coffey on July. 3, 1796 in Wilkes Co., NC, as evidenced by their marriage license. I have four children born to this union: Austin, born c1800, married Sarah Hawkins on Aug. 24, 1822 in Wilkes Co.; Elizabeth, born c1805, died c1836, married Sarah's brother, Samuel Hawkins on Dec. 14, 1825 in Wilkes Co.; Elijah, born c1807, married Elizabeth "Betsy" Robbins on June 1, 1831 in Wilkes Co.; and, William, Jr. who married Margaret Robbins, sister to Betsy, both daughters of Thomas and Mary Morphew Robbins.

Wm. & Margaret Robbins

Mary Coffey is said to have died c1828 and William, Sr. then married Margaret Robbins in 1829. This Margaret was born c1798. Margaret gave birth to at least two children, John Wilkerson, born c1831 and, Nancy E., born Aug. 13, 1832. John Wilkerson married Mary Lindsey Robbins, another daughter of Thomas and Mary Morphew Robbins. That marriage took place of Nov. 11, 1856 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co.

Nancy married J. Melvin Hawkins on Nov. 20, 1855 in Caldwell Co. and were parents of at least three:  Calvin, Luther and John.

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Update Jan. 25, 2015

William, Jr., a son of William and Mary (Polly) Coffey Coffey, was born May 5, 1812, probably in Caldwell Co., NC. He married Margaret Robbins, daughter of Thomas and Mary Morphew Robbins on Jan. 2, 1836* in Caldwell Co. Margaret was born c1816 in North Carolina, died Apr. 26, 1882. William died May 8, 1893 in Patterson, Caldwell Co.

There were at least 11 children born to William and Margaret:

- Elbert, born c1837, who married Eliza Powell in 1860.  Parents of at least one child, Monroe.  Elbert died at Big Creek Gap in Campbell Co., TN in 1863.   [COFFEY, Elbert, Private (Company E) Born in Caldwell County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Caldwell County at age 25, July 5 1862. Reported present in January – April 1863. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN, May 15, 1863 of disease. See: http://www.footnote.com/page/1037/confederate_grave_yard_found_in/#entry1930]

- Elijah, born c1839, married Mary Ann Nelson at had children John W., who married Frances Little; Hattie, who married Alexander J. Stewart; Lee T., who married Isis O. Winfree; George N., who married Clara Keane, and Mary E.

- Larkin, born 1840 Buffalo Creek in Wilkes Co., enlisted in Co., A, 22 NC Inf Regt. on Mar. 19, 1862, captured and later died in 1864 at Point Lookout, St. Mary's Co., MD.

- Bartlett, born c1842, married Mrs. Mary Messick and had children Thomas, born c1876, and married Mary Linglefelt; Bynum Nelson, born Oct. 14, 1880, married Eva M. Crisp; and Ada who married Robert Woods.

- Cornelius, born Jul. 27, 1844, died Jun. 2, 1906, married Ailsy Elizabeth Greenfield, born Sep. 7, 1850, died Jun. 11, 1928, on Feb. 20, 1868 in Caldwell Co. They had at least seven children: William Larkin, born c1869, married Alice Selma Setzer; Elbert Finley, born c1872; Martha Louisa, born c1874, married Roy Abernathy; John O., born c1876; Mary E., born c1879, married Larkin Pressnell; Annie, born Aug. 22, 1881, died Sep. 14, 1946 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., married Jesse Steele Johnson, born Jan. 24, 1881, died Sep, 12, 1965 in Lenoir; and George, who married Nellie Taylor.

- Elizabeth, born c1846, married James Robbins and had children: William who married Ellen Edmisten; Larkin who married Mary Coffey [see above] and had children: Marguerite, Ida, Mary, James, John, Rufus, Nancy, Alice and Lawrence.

- Thomas, born Aug. 1849, married Rachel M. Coffey Oct. 18, 1871 in Caldwell Co. Rachel was born Apr. 1850 in North Carolina and was a daughter of McCaleb and Elizabeth Collett Coffey. They had children: DDS Louis McWill, born Apr. 27, 1874, married Annie Pernell; James Larkin, born Nov. 1875 in North Carolina and married Rachel E. Robbins c1896 in North Carolina. They had children Frances Amelia, born May 23, 1897; Collett Columbus, born Nov. 30, 1898; and Clarence Pickens, born Apr. 24, 1906.

- Mary, born c1851, married Larkin Robbins in 1877, son of Thomas Robbins and Holly Day. Parents of at least nine children:  Margaret, Martha, James, Mary, John, Rufus, Nancy, Rena Alice, and Lawrence.

- Sarah, born 1853, died 1854.

- William M., born 1855, died 1932 at Lincoln Co., NC.  Married Martha Jane Sharpe in 1878, Yadkin Valley.  They were parents of at least nine children:  Mildren, Richard, James, Jesse, Annie, Bessie, Bertha, Gertrude and Ruth.

- Margaret, born 1858, died 1930, married Thomas C. Coffey, son of Smith W. and Elizabeth Redmond Coffey. Thomas was born c1859 in Caldwell Co. They had at least four children: Lula V., born Jul. 1883. Her husband is unknown, but is said to have had two children: Collis H., born c1905, and Jessie M., born c1912. Second child was Finley Houck, born Aug. 22, 1886, married Effie R. [last name unknown] about 1909. They had at least eight children: Blanche V., born c1911; Vilas L., born c1915; Ruby Irene, born Sep., 1917; Clyde F., born c1921; M. Coline, born c1923; Lloyd T., born c1926; Lois E., born c1926, and Ernest E., born c1928. Third child was Jesse C., born Dec. 1890 who married Ruby M. Hawkins c1912 in North Carolina. They had at least two children: Ruth J., born c1920, and Jesse A., born c1927. Fourth child wasa Margaret, born Aug., 1893.

More information is available.

This has been a difficult family for me to understand.  There are probably still some errors or misunderstandings reflected here.  Please contact me with corrections or additions.

*John W. Coffey, PDF, Descendants of William Coffey, Jan., 2015, citing the William Coffey Family Bible Record.  Two dates given for marriage: 2 Jan 1836 and 2 Jun 1836.  Given that first child was born 3 Jan 1837, the earlier date appears to be more accurate.

Coffey - Hayes Genealogy

May 25, 2015: A note from Kathy Dupree tells me this site is no longer active except the cemetery photos and "Hayes in the Wars" which are.

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A website, titled The Descendants of George & Sarah Dyer-Hayes is hosted by the "Hayes Cousins Group." The group says that it represents twelve known generations of the George and Sarah-Dyer Hayes family in America. They have provided the lineage of seven of the 8 known grandchildren of George and Sarah, and claim that they are all the proven children of Thomas Hayes, Sr., son of George and Sarah. They also present the lineage of John Hayes, son of George and Sarah, as well as the second family of Sarah Dyer-Hayes Edmindson.

This group does indeed provide an abundance of genealogical information. It took several hours to page through and absorb the magnitude of their work!

There are pages of cemetery photographs and headstones for most of the Hayes and Coffey families that intermarried. Headstone photographs are good quality for the most part, but some are unreadable. Also included are a few photos of headstones for those who have not yet been linked to their line of research. Each photo of a known connection has a descendant line included. That is very useful in determining which John or James is buried in a given cemetery.

After reaching the bottom of the page, click on the Table of Contents link. Here is a page of active links to Tennessee and Western North Carolina cemeteries (with photos of headstones), and family photographs.

I have no particular interest in the Hayes line except as it connects to the Mills family where the latter has intermarried with the Coffeys. One child of the William Mills - Sarah Ellis family, Mary Judah "Polly" Mills married George Hayes, Sr. They were married on May 14, 1785 in Wilkes Co., NC (Marriage Records, Wilkes Co., Marriage Bonds, p114). Mary Judah's brother John married Alley Coffey, daughter of Ambrose and Millie Moore Coffey.

Visit the George and Sarah Dyer Hayes family page