Charles William Coffey (1913-1955)

While working with Brad Jackson of Weldon, NC, a major mistake was discovered in most if not all previous issues of the Edward Coffey Project.

The error has been corrected and as the facts were explained.

As I understand the facts, they are:

Charles Mozer "Charlie" Coffey and Ethel Hill Deal had a son named Charles William Coffey, born 1913 in Caldwell Co., NC.

There were two children born in Caldwell, one year apart, and was given the same name.  The incorrect one was listed as the son of Charles and Ethel.

Their actual son was Charles William Coffey, born 23 Aug 1913 in Edgemont, Caldwell Co., and died in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC in 1955. He married twice.  First wife was Mabel Lee Parks, born 1918 and daughter of Joseph Polk Parks and Adeline Gurley.

She and Charles were married 10 Apr 1939 in Henry Co., VA and produced one child, a daughter, Mary Helen Coffey, born 20 Nov. 1939 in Rowan Co., NC.

They divorced sometime later and he married Ethel Olive Edwards. Children are not yet known.

Ethel was the daughter of David and Minnie Henson Edwards and was born 28 Oct., 1923 in Swain Co., NC. They are said to have produced several children, perhaps five, before Charles William died on 5 Mar 1955. He is buried at the now seemingly abandoned Philadelphia Lutheran (old) Cemetery at Granite Falls in Caldwell Co.  His Find A Grave (FAG) memorial is 194083408 and was recently added there by me.

After his death, Ethel married Augustus Lewis Crater, date unknown, and he is said to have adopted the Coffey children and given the Crater surname.

Augustus died 28 Mar 1975 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC and Ethel subsequently married for a third time, this time to Fred Lewis Gurley, Sr. Fred died 7 Dec., 1993 in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC and was buried at Abilene Church of Christ Cemetery in Statesville.

Ethel died 30 Nov. 1991 in Hickory at the Catawba Memorial Park.  According to her death certificate no. 050967 death was caused by "persistent sepsis and myelogenous leukemia."  Her remains were cremated at the Bass-Smith Crematory in Hickory. Disposition of ashes are unknown to me.

Her obituary as provided by Brad:

Ethel Gurley

Ethel Edwards [Coffey] Crater Gurley, 68, of Rt. 1, Marvin Street, Claremont, died Nov. 30, 1991 at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville after a period of declining health.

Born Oct. 27, 1923 in Swain County, she was the daughter of the late David and Minnie Henson Edwards.

She was a retired employee of Hickory Chair and a member of the Fifth Creek Presbyterian Church in Statesville.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles William Coffey; and her second husband, Augustus Lewis Crater in 1975.

Surviving are her husband, Fred L. Gurley, Sr.; three sons, [children believed to have been those fathered by Charles William Coffey] Charles "Rick" Crater of Newton, David Crater of Vale and Steve Crater of Columbia, S.C.; two daughters, Terry Withers of Newton, and Nancy Hoffman of Conover; three brothers, Frank Edwards of Canton, Tom Edwards of Asheville, and Jack Edwards of Swannanoa; two sisters, Mary Wilhide of Swannanoa, and Jessie Pruett of Chattanooga, Tenn.; three step-daughters; two stepsons; and 12 grand-children.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Fifth Creek Presbyterian Church in Statesville.  The Rev. W. C. Cockman and Rev. John Milholland will officiate.

The family will receive friends following the graveside service.

Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society of America, 5624 Executive Drive, Suite 100, Charlotte, N. C. 28212.

Drum Funeral Home in Conover is in charge of arrangements.

The mistaken Charles William Coffey was the son of George Wesley and Lula Jane Barlow Coffey, born 8 Jun 1914 in Caldwell Co.  He died 31 Jul 1993 and was buried at Kings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Lenoir, NC.  His wives were Virginia Pearl Kirby and Cynthia Lou Back.

Please contact me if there are additional errors.

Nancy Caroline Gragg 1837-1919

Watauga Democrat, May 27, 1920, Vol. XXXI, No. 32, Page 1, Col. 1

Mrs. Nancy Caroline Gragg

Born June 14, 1837; Fell Asleep December 28, 1919

(E. N. Joyner in Lenoir News-Topic.)

There passed out, from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kelley Coffey, in the Rosborough Settlement, Avery county, on the Lord’s Day, December 28, 1919, the soul of one of “Our Fathers” most faithful daughters.  This was Mrs. Nancy Caroline Gragg.  She was the mother, and grandmother and the great-grandmother of the whole settlement.  A life like hers deserves more than a passing notice, by reason of its own quality, and as a guide-post to other way-farers.

Mrs. Gragg was born June 14, 1837, in the neighborhood of what is now Pineola.  At sixteen she was married to Madison Gragg twenty years her senior who died in November 1893.  With him she came to his home, within a few hundred yards of where she fell asleep in her 83^rd birthday.  She was the mother of thirteen children of whom four are living:  N. Madison, Mary wife of Mr. T. C. Gragg, Mrs. Norah Philyaw, and L. Carroll, all except Mrs. Philyaw in the same neighborhood of their birthplace.

She was a true and faithful member of the Baptist Church.  But she was even more than that for her Christian heart was as wide as the compass of all the churches, for she tried to follow in the footsteps of her Lord Jesus the Christ, Whose greatest distinction was that “He went about doing good.”  She gave her busy years to her children as long as they needed her, helping them to live and showing them how; she was always ready for any kind of service, as far as she knew of its need; and could go.  She was never idle.  Whatever her hands found to do, for her own support or the benefit of others, she did it with her might.  There has scarcely been a child born in all that region for many years whose coming she did not welcome with a tender skillfulness.  Everywhere she was affectionately known as “Granny Gregg.” [sic].  She was an example in all robust virtues, as well as denying herself some of the most common vices, for, among other things, she never used tobacco in any form, and she felt contempt for liquor, and for those who let them come under its slavery.  Industry was a habit with her; in one chief thing she ever rejoiced, and that was to “sow and reap.”  Every year, even the very last, she “made a garden.”  No one could keep her from it, and now some are enjoying the fruit of her planting after her spirit has fruited in the Paradise of God.

Under the burden of her years she had grown more and more feeble until last summer she had a sudden and very serious attack.  This, to the surprise of all, she survived, and was able to go around again, even to dig in her old garden at the house where she lived so many years; and it was according to the spirit and custom of her life that the day before she found rest she compelled them to put her on horseback that she might go several miles to minister to one of her friends in trouble, whom she had promised.  She returned on Sunday afternoon from this “Good Samaritan” visit, and was tired, ate a bit of lunch, laid down to rest, and went to sleep.  Yes, “asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep,: and the more blessed because it came to her wearied old body, and on the Sabbath Day, just after she had forces it in spirit to take a hard journey that she might be “going about doing good.”

She had made her home with her grandson, Mr. Kelly Coffey, who, with his wife, left nothing undone for his comfort.  Her funeral was conducted by her good friend, the Rev. Oscar Dellinger, according to the rites of her own church.

He who writes this incomplete record of her noble live regards it a sacred privilege to have known her, to have rejoiced in her cherished friendship, and to have had again and again the assurance of her prayers.  He thinks it an hour [sic] to thus bear sincere testimony to the beauty of her character, and to those who stand nearest to her in ties of blood, nor to any, could he wish a greater fortune that to find and to follow in the path she trod, of which the Book says:  “The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more until the perfect day.”

Mrs. Caroline Gragg died December 28, 1919, and her obituary written by Rev. E. N. Joyner for the Lenoir News-Topic, is as true, I believe, as could be written.  Mrs. Gragg was a daughter of John Gragg, Sr. he being a son of William Gragg, a soldier of the Revolutionary war.  Wm. Gragg, with his family, came to North Carolina soon after the Revolutionary war, and settled on John’s River, Caldwell county.  John was born in Appleton county, Va., in 1781.  He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Mayns and second to Susan Barrier.  To the first marriage were born 7 boys and one girl, Nicey, mother of ex-Sheriff W. H. Calaway, of Watauga.  To the second marriage were born seven girls and four boys, making in all nineteen children.  John Gragg, Sr., died in 1852, sitting in a chair in the house where Jack Smith now lives at Vilas.  Mrs. N. C. Gragg left surviving her two brothers and a sister, Empsie Gragg, of Watauga, W. W. Gragg of Farmington, Wash., and Mrs. Margaret D. Qualls, of Overton, Tennessee, mother of J. Lee Qualls, of Boone.  Mrs. N. C. Gragg was a twin sister of Mrs. Adeline Presnell, wife of W. W. Presnell, who died Feb. 12, 1907.  She was the aunt of the Rev. E. M. Gragg, Mrs. Will Henson and others.

by: W. W. Presnell [same source as above]

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Who Was Who?

James Madison Gragg was born Jul. 1824 in Caldwell Co., to David Obediah Gragg and Elizabeth Webb.  He died in Nov., 1893.  Both he and Granny Gragg are buried at the Gragg Cemetery in Gragg, Avery Co., NC.  It was David Obediah who was the son of William Obediah Gragg, known as “Revolutionary Bill” Gragg.  His wife was Elizabeth Pulliam.  Parents of Elizabeth Webb were James Crittenden Webb, Jr. and wife Jane Hight.

N. Madison Gragg was Newton Madison, born July 1869, died 1936 in Linville, NC.  His wife was Mary Jane Crump, born 1872, died 1968 in Banner Elk, Avery Co.  Her parents were David and Mahulda Jane Clarke Crump.

Mary Gragg, wife of Thomas C. Gragg.  Mary was born in 1871 and died in 1938.  Her husband Thomas was born in 1867 and died in 1944.  He was a son of Jesse Gragg and wife Matilda Shull.  Thomas and Mary are undoubtedly related but I have not made that connection.

Nora, born in 1880, married a Philyaw but I have not yet made that connection.

L. Carroll was Leason Carroll, born 1882, died 1951.  He married Dora Belle Beane in 1900.  She was a daughter of John Locke Beane and Alice C. Philyaw, born 1882, died 1966 at Crossnore in Avery Co.  Rhona Gragg, a daughter of Leason and Dora, married Aaron Paul Blalock, son of the infamous William McKesson “Keith” Blalock.  A son, Daniel Windom Gragg married Lavinia Viola “Vinnie” Coffey in 1926.  She was a daughter of David Columbus and Julia N. Baird Coffey.  And, another son, Shelby Delon Gragg married Esslene Coffey, she being the daughter of Grover Cleveland and Cora E. Gragg Coffey.

A friend of mine, Margaret Coffey Farley, now deceased, was born in Mercer Co., WV but raised around Coffey’s Gap in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain once told me “…if you scratch a Gragg you’ll find a Coffey.”  She didn't stretch the truth. 

The Rev. Oscar C. Dellinger was a son of Martha Ann Dellinger, a daughter of Elkanna and Elizabeth Godsey Dellinger.  I do not know who his father was.  He was born in 1882 and died in 1966 at Collettsville in Caldwell Co.  He was married twice, first to Minnie Dellinger, daughter of Thomas R. and Eveline McKinney and his first cousin. She died in 1922 and he married Annie Mae Crisp in 1930.

William Kelly Coffey was a son of Thomas M. & Martha Cordelia Gragg Coffey  Martha was Granny Gragg’s child, born c1867 in her marriage to James Madison Gragg.  The wife of William Kelly was Bessie May Philyaw to whom he was married on Mar. 17, 1907 in Caldwell Co.

Granny's Find A Grave Memorial can be viewed here; her husband's memorial here.

Walter Curtis Coffey (1886-1955)

Walter was a son of Thomas Arvil and Hannah Henson Coffey, and was born on Nov. 21, 1886 in Denton Co., TX.  He and Clara V. Cops were married c1910 in OK where she was born on Dec. 6, 1890.

From 1911 to 1934 Clara gave birth in OK to at least eight children, some of which do not appear in the census record between the year said to have been born and the next census year.

Henry C., born c1911; Pearl E., born c1913; Clara, born c1920; Albert, born c1923; Mary L., born c1926; Harold E., born c1929; Wanda J., born c1930 and Barbara R., born c1934.

Walter and Clara and two of their children were in Davis, Garvin Co., OK in June, 1918 when Walter registered for the WW1 draft.   He was described as being short and stout with brown eyes and hair.  He farmed in Davis.

In 1920 the family was in Allen Twp., Murray Co., OK where Walter continued to Farm.  Clara's father was German.  They had Henry C., age 9, Pearl E., age 7, Harold E., age undetermined.  It appears to be 1/6, an unusual age that I have not seen before in any census record.

In 1930 they were still in Murray Co., but this time in Davis Twp.  Walter was a foreman on a road gang.  Children were: Clare, age 10; Albert, age 7; and Mary L., age 4 yrs., 6 mos.  Henry, Pearl and Harold were not mentioned.

The 1940 census found the family in Garvin Co., OK, Elmore Twp.  Children in the household this time were:  Harold E., age 20; Albert C., age 18; Mary L., age 14; Wanda J., age 9 and Barbara R., age 6.

Walter died in La Harbra, Orange Co., CA on Aug. 15, 1955.*  He was 68 years old, meaning he was born in the 1886-87 timeframe.  His obituary tells us that he had been in California for the past nine years, meaning he arrived there in about 1946, apparently with his son Albert who would then have been about 23 years old.  It also tells us that he was survived by his wife Clara, and two sons, Harold E. of Whittier Ca., and Albert C. of Davis.  Also surviving were three daughters, Mrs. Roy West of OK City; Mrs. Eddie Werda of Norwalk, CA and, Mrs. Al Crappo of La Harbra.  There were nine grandchildren.  His remains were returned to Davis where he was laid to rest in the Green Hill Cemetery.  The headstone tells us that he lies next to Clara who did not die until 1983.

In looking back at my notes on Walter and his immediate ancestors, I wrote that he was married to Liddie Fulfer but, I had no additional information about her.  Later, I found an obituary dated Jun. 12, 1970 that reports the death of Liddie Dollarhide, "wife of the late Samuel E. Dollarhide; loving mother of the late Albert Coffey,..."  in San Joaquin Co., CA.  Her remains were shipped to Hatch in Dona Ana Co., NM and laid to rest in the Municipal cemetery, adjacent to those of Samuel.

I wonder what the story is about Walter and Lydia!  Did they marry or merely live together for awhile?  Was Lydia the wife of this Walter C. Coffey?  Perhaps not, but there are enough similarities that it makes me very curious.

  Jack

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*Source: California Death Index @ Rootsweb.com.  His obituary reports death on Aug. 15.

COFFEY

WALTER

CURTIS

11/21/1887

HANSON

COFFEY

M

TEXAS

LOS ANGELES(19)

08/16/1955

447-01-2646

67 yrs

Nathan E. Coffey

Nathan E. (Edward?) was born c1867 in Texas to Thomas Arvil and Hannah Henson Coffey.  On Jan. 17, 1889* he married Elizabeth "Betty" McNatt in Denton Co., the daughter of James W. and Amanda Jane "Mandy" Hammonds McNatt.  Betty was born on Feb. 17, 1869 in Benton Co., AR and died on Mar. 6, 1938 in Denton, Denton Co., TX.

She and Nathan apparently divorced, or perhaps Nathan died, before 1898.  Before that however, she gave birth to their only known child, Andrew Jackson Coffey in Aubrey, Denton Co. on Jun. 26, 1895.  Following that, Nathan disappeared into history, some genealogies reporting that he died in Indian Territory, OK, but offering no proof.

Betty married again on Aug. 26, 1898** in Denton Co. to Jeremiah Washington "Jerry" Looper.  Jerry was born on May 5, 1850 in Alabama and died Feb. 2, 1940 in Aubrey.

Prior to his marriage to Betty, Jerry had married Ellen Elizabeth "Lizzie" Kelley in Etowah Co., AL on Dec. 31, 1873***.  She was born c1859 in AL and died on May 31, 1895 in Denton Co.  In those 22 years, she gave birth to seven children:  Leonard; Dennis; Arlan Murray; Andrew J.; James W.; Bertie; and Hollie Rollin.

The only known child born to Jerry and Betty was Jerry Edward, on Aug. 16, 1899, died Apr. 8, 1971 in Denton Co.  Jerry married Vera Tennessee Coffey, a daughter of Asberry Aurelius and Louisa Elizabeth Owens Coffey, c1925 in TX.  Vera was born Jul. 9, 1905 in TX and probably in Denton Co., and died there on Aug. 28, 1986.  I know of two children, Doyce Edward, born 1926 and Kenneth Gerald, born 1930, both in Denton Co.

Jeremiah Washington "Jerry" Looper and his two wives are buried at the Belew Cemetery in Aubrey, Denton Co.  Several of his children with Elizabeth Kelly are also buried there:  Andrew J., Nov. 14, 1880 to Aug. 21, 1882; James W., born Oct. 29, 1882 died Jan. 1, 1893; and Hollie Rollin, Feb. 7, 1888, died Sep. 28, 1944. His child with Betty McNatt, Jerry Edward, died Apr. 8, 1971, and his wife Vera, died Aug. 28, 1986 in Denton are also buried at Belew.

Primarily, I am wondering if there was a divorce between Nathan and Betty McNatt and, if so, when.  Did he survive to remarry and have additional children?  When and where did he die and where is he buried?

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*Texas Marriages, 1837-1973, www.familysearch.org
**Texas Marriages, 1814-1909 & 1966-2002, www.familysearch.org [Texas source:  Texas Marriages, 1851-1900]
***Early American Marriages: Alabama, 1800-1920, Dodd, Jordan R., Name: J W Looper Spouse: Ellen Kelly Marriage Date: 31 Dec 1873 County: Etowah State: Alabama Performed By Title: Minister of Gospel Performed by Name: J W Trotter Source information: Jordan Dodd, Liahona Research

Dr. Edmond Aurelius Coffey

Edmond Aurelius Coffey was a son of Lewis and Elizabeth Cleveland Coffey, born Mar. 3, 1810 in North Carolina, died Aug. 28, 1895 in Aubrey, Denton Co., TX.  He is buried at Belew Cemetery in Aubrey.*

He married Dianah Bagby c1830, probably in NC where she was born on Jan. 27, 1811 to Edmond and Nancy Ann Martin Bagby.  Dianah died in 1889 in Etowah Co., AL and was buried at Union No. 3 Baptist Church Cemetery at Ballplay, Etowah Co.

Many researchers believe the family first settled in Gwinnett Co., GA where their 12 children were born.  The 1840 census for that county does show an Edmon Coffee with 2 males under 5; 1 male, age 5 to 9; 1 male, 30-39; 1 female under 5; 2 females, age 5-9; and 1 female, age 20-29.  The census also counted 8 slaves at the residence.

Census records for 1850 and 1860 show the family residing in Cherokee Co., GA.  In 1870 they were in Etowah Co and, 1880 in Blount Co.  Sometime shortly after Dianah's death, Dr. Coffey relocated to Denton Co., TX, perhaps to join number seven son, Aurelius (1842-1918) who was in the Denton Co. census of 1880 and 1900 and who died there in 1918.

There were twelve children born to Edmond and Dianah:

Their first was Edmund Bagby, born Jan. 1, 1831, died before 1870 in AL.  He married Melissa Jane Sewell, born c1831 in GA.  Their marriage was between 1850 when Melissa was living with her widowed mother in Cherokee Co., AL, and 1854 when their first child Frances was born.  Their other children were:  Sarah Malinda, born 1856 in Cherokee Co., died Sep. 4, 1918 in Blount Co., AL; Lydia Jane, born 1858 in St. Claire Co., AL, died Jan. 8, 1926 in Etowah; and Rachel B., born c1859.  There may have been others; these are all I know of.

Second born was Elizabeth Ann on Aug. 27, 1832, died Aug. 8, 1877 in AL.  She married Elisha Trimble Walker c1854 and had at least seven children:  Nancy; Josephine, Benjamin; Webster; Aurelius; Martha and Elizabeth.

Next was Loany who married William Woodard. She was born 1835, died Jan. 12, 1894 in Chepultepec, Blount Co.   Her children were Dianah, born 1854; Jesse T., born c1857; Edmund, born c1859; and William M., Jr., born 1862, died 1930.

Benjamin L., born May 3, 1836, death date unknown. He married Lucy Shields, born c1852 in GA.  Their children were Elizabeth, Edmond John; Nancy Walker; and Asberry Aurelius.  Probably others that I have not yet located.  Asberry Aurelius died in Denton Co., TX in 1951.

Sarah Caroline followed c1838.  She married John W. Tidmore, born in AL c1846.

Webster Gilbert was born Jun. 20, 1840 and died in Etowah Co. in 1911.  He married Louise Evaline Tidmore, possibly brother to John, c1865.  She was born Jan. 22, 1845 in AL and died in Etowah Co. in 1935.  They were the parents of 12:  James Henry; John Adams; William Thomas; Anna Elizabeth; Webster Gernagin; Edmond Columbus; Buddy J. [who probably died an infant]; Minnie Luella; Martha Jane; Nancy Victoria; Jesse L.; Mary Evergreen; Grover Cleveland; and General.

Aurelius, born Mar. 9, 1842, died Jan. 7, 1918 in Denton Co., TX.  His wife was Grace Penelope Hodges, born Oct. 4, 1844 in AL, died shortly after her husband, on Jun. 1, 1918 in Aubrey.  Their children were:  Wm Riley; Edmund Harrison; James Madison; Francis; Kathryn; Bertha Maurine; Cora and Tommy.  The first four were born in AL, perhaps Etowah Co.; the last four in Denton Co., TX.

Child number 8 was Thomas Arvil, born Jun. 30, 1843, died Mar. 9, 1917 in Pontotoc Co., OK.  His wife was Hannah Henson, born in AL c1845, died Aug., 1914 in Pontotoc Co.  Their children were:  Nathan; Mary D., Thomas; Henry Gilbert; Mettie Ellen; James Martin; John Thomas; Aurelius; and Walter Curtis.

James Madison was next.  He was born Jun. 4, 1845, died in 1922, perhaps in TX.  His wife was Elizabeth Susan Caddell, born 1847 in AL.  They married in Etowah Co. in 1867.  Chidren:  Lewis Edmond; Lemuel A; Basil C; Amanda Evergreen; Aurelius; one unnamed son (1878-1879); Mallie Jane; Laura Valera; James R.; Barbara Elizabeth; and Dessie Victoria.

Eliza Jane, born 1847, died 1915.  She married John Boone McKinney on Sep. 19, 1868 in Etowah Co.  He was born c1847 and died c1884.  Children were:  John Thomas; Edmond James; William Webster; Benjamin Aurelius; Dinah Elizabeth; Samuel Washington; and Lorena Martha Creacy Evergreen [sic].

No. 11 was Martha, born 1850, died c1920.  Her husband was Perry E. Daily, born 1853 in AL.  They were married Aug. 4, 1872 in Blount Co., AL.  Children:  Edmond; Mary; Ellen, and William.

The last child born to Edmond and Dianah was Chaney Evergreen on Dec. 28, 1852.  No other info has been found and, she likely died in infancy.

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*Gloria B. Mayfield Project Mgr, "Cemeteries of Denton County Texas", database, Cemeteries of Texas, Cemeteries of Denton County Texas (http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/etx/denton/listdenton.html).

More information about this family and their descendants is available on the Edward Coffey Project DVD.

Spottswood Dandridge & Martha Jane Whiteside Gilbert

I find Spottswood most often referred to by his initials S. D. or, as Dandridge.  He did appear in some census records as Spottswood.  He was born Apr. 15, 1841 in Amherst Co., VA and married Martha Jane Whiteside there on Nov. 5, 1863.  Martha was born Nov. 18, 1841, probably in Amherst Co., and died there on Dec. 10, 1891.  Both are buried at Oronoco, Amherst Co. in the Church of the Brethren Cemetery.

There were at least 11 children born to their union, three of which married into the Jordan Coffey* family.  All of their children were born in Amherst Co.

The first child I have for them is Pency, born Jan. 12, 1865, died Mar. 31, 1893 in Amherst Co.  She married Edward Jackson Henson on Jul. 11, 1886 and had at least five children in the seven years before she died.  She is also buried at Oronoco.

Nancy was next, born c1867.  No further information.

Ginetta, born c1868, married C. M. Bradley on Oct. 29, 1896 in Amherst Co.  No further information.

Charles Dandridge, the fourth child and first son, was born Oct. 10, 1869 and died Jan. 31, 1954 in Amherst Co.  He married Lutie Virginia Coffey on Oct. 16, 1895 in Amherst Co.  I know of one child; Gracie M., born Jul. 1898.  Lutie was the daughter of John Jack Coffey, Jr. and, his wife Patricia F. "Patra" Tyler.  John Jack, Sr. was a son of Jordan and Elizabeth Rippetoe Coffey of "Coffeytown" in Amherst Co.

Mary Jane was born Feb. 20, 1871 and died Nov. 18, 1914.  She married Edmund F. "Ned" Coffey on Jun. 16, 1894 in Amherst Co.  Ned was a son of James and Sophia Coffey Coffey.  James was a son of William "Billy" Coffey and his wife Sally Crawford.  Billy was also a son of Jordan and Elizabeth.  Sophia was a daughter of Schylar Coffey**, another son of Jordan and his wife Betsey Hamilton.

Lucy Catherine was born in Sep., 1872 and married Leslie Austin Robertson, a son of James A. and Mary D. Robertson on Jun. 1, 1898 in Amherst Co.  They had at least one child, a daughter Mary E., born May, 1899 in Nelson Co., VA.

Willis, the second son, was born May, 1874 and married Bessie M. Inge on May 25, 1903 in Buena Vista, VA.  No further information.

The next two children, also sons, were Henry, born Jul., 1876 and Eddie, born c1878.  No further information.

Ruth Davis was child number 10, born Sep., 1879.  "Ruthie" married William Luther Green on Jan. 13, 1904 in Rockbridge Co., VA.  No further information.

Bertha Lillian was the last child and was the third to marry a Coffey.  She was born c1886 and married Irvin C. Coffey, born Sep., 1878 in Amherst Co.  He was the son of William Henry "Cripple Henry" Coffey and his wife, Virginia F. "Jenny" Lawman.  William Henry was a son of John Jack, Sr. and his wife Betsey Duff.

I continue to work on this family as time allows.  Drop an e-mail or add a comment to amend any of this information.

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Update:  Something didn't look right so I went back over census records for this family:

1870 children: Pensie, age 6; Nancy, age 4; and Harry, 8 mos.

1880 children: Pencie, age 14; Nancy, age 13; Genetta, age 12; Charles, age 11; Marie (Mary), age 10; Lucie, age 8; Willis, age 7; Henry, age 4; Eddie, age 2; and Ruth, 8 mos.

1900 children: Lucie, age 17; Willis, age 26 and Henry, age 24.

So, Lucy in 1880 married in 1898.  Who is the 17 yr-old Lucie in 1900?  Ruth married in 1904.  Why isn't she in the family home in 1900?

Harry, age 8 mos., in 1870 apparently did not survive to 1880 and, Eddie, age 2, apparently did not survive until 1900.

There was a child, Bertha, born in Oct., 1885.  That would have put six years between her birth and that of Ruth in 1879 and leaves room for the second Lucie who, according to 1900 census was born in Sep., 1882.

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*DNA testing has shown that Jordan was not a Coffey but was a child of (probably) Jane Coffey, and an unknown Taliaferro (Toliver) male.  Jane was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Osborne Coffey.
**Schylar, Nelson and Henry F. may not have been natural sons of Jordan.  Some believe they were more or less orphans taken in by Jordan and Betsey.  They are the only children of Jordan for which no specific listing of their parents has been found.

Peter Jordan Coffey

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

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

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

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

His children by Elvira were:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peter's second marriage was to Nancy Elizabeth Fitzgerald in Lyndhurst, Augusta Co. on Jan. 1, 1874.  Nancy was born in 1856 and died Apr 29, 1939.

Groom's Name: Peter J. Coffey Groom's Birth Date: 1838 Groom's Birthplace: Nelson Co., Va. Groom's Age: 36 Bride's Name: Nancy E. Fitzgerald Bride's Birth Date: 1856 Bride's Birthplace: Augusta Co., Va. Bride's Age: 18 Marriage Date: 01 Jan 1874 Marriage Place: Greenville, Augusta, Virginia Groom's Father's Name: Wm. W. Coffey Groom's Mother's Name: Sarah F. Coffey Bride's Father's Name: Sam'L. Fitzgerald Bride's Mother's Name: Lovella Hite Groom's Race: Groom's Marital Status: Widowed Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: Bride's Marital Status: Single Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M86847-3 System Origin: Virginia-EASy Source Film Number: 30416 Reference Number: No 3278 Collection: Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940

I do not have a confirmed death date or place for Peter or Nancy.  One genealogy that I have seen reports that Nancy died on Apr. 29, 1939.

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

Laura, born c1877

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

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

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

Lelia F., born May, 1887

Maggie B., born Jan., 1889

Nina Belle, born Mar., 1891

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

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

Swanson James, born May 27, 1923 at Montebello in Nelson Co., died Sep. 2, 2009 at Stuarts Draft in Augusta Co.  He married Magdelina Lucy "Madge" Campbell, born Jan. 13, 1924 at Montebello, died Feb. 3, 2008 at Stuarts Draft.  One known son, Fred James "Freddie", born Nov. 26, 1946 at Waynesboro, VA, died at Stuarts Draft on Aug. 9, 2008.  His parents are buried at the Mennonite Church Cemetery in Stuarts Draft; he at Augusta Memorial Park in Lyndhurst.

Van and Bernard.  No further information.

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

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

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

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

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