Andrew J. and Rebecca Campbell Coffey

I received e-mail on Dec. 5, 2009 from Paul Hill in Suffolk, Virginia in which he corrected an error.

Paul wrote that Andrew "...actually died in Lynchburg and his son H.D. had him shipped via train to Arrington Station, Nelson County and then by wagon to the H.B. Coffey cemetery on their old homeplace."

Paul also passed this along:

"Andrew J. Coffey was conscripted into the Confederate Army but deserted when Robert E. Lee entered Maryland before the battle of Antietam in September 1862. He went to Philadelphia and enlisted with the Union and fought the Confederacy for three years before being sent to N. Dakota in 1865 to fight Sioux and Cheyenne Indians. He was discharged in Iowa in 1865 and sent home to live amongst his kin all of whom fought for the south!"

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Andrew J. (Jackson?) Coffey was born in Oct., 1836 in Nelson Co., VA. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Henry Benjamin Coffey and his wife Mary (Polly) Campbell.

In addition to Andrew, Henry and Polly were parents of Nancy Jane, born 1843, married her first cousin, Joseph C. Coffey, Jr.; and Benjamin Franklin, born 1847, died 1926, married Elizabeth Fitzgerald. Elizabeth was the daughter of Moses and Mary Ann (Polly) Coffey. Elizabeth Fitzgerald and Ben were likely cousins, but I have not yet made a connection between her mother and other Coffey families in that area of Virginia.

Andrew married Rebecca Feb. 5, 1861 in Nelson Co.1 Rebecca was born in Virginia c1841. She is very likely some relation to Henry's wife, Polly, but again, no connection has been made.

The couple lived their early life together in Nelson Co. They were married there and resided in the county until after 1880 when they relocated to Louisa Co., and later, in 1910, to Campbell Co. Andrew died in Nelson Co. in 1911 and was buried there in the Henry B. Coffey Family cemetery.

I have not yet found Rebecca's death date. At the time of the Feb., 1920 census, she was 79 yrs. old, and residing in the Brookville Dist., Campbell Co., VA. In the household with her then was Bessie Campbell, a grand-daughter, and Shelby H. Coffey, a grand-son.

The children of Andrew and Rebecca were:

Henry Davis, born Nov., 1861, died Sep. 6, 1947. He married Lydia Susan A. Campbell. She was born c1868 in Virginia and died Oct. 24, 1918 in Lynchburg, Campbell Co. Their children were: Leonard, Pearl, Ray, Lester, Clyde, Raymond and Shelby.

Minettei E., (Lettie) born c1867 in Nelson Co., married G. L. Campbell, born c1872, on Jan. 8, 1890. His parents were Francis Jefferson and Catherine Stover Campbell. I do not have any children for them.

Francis Marion, born c1869 in Nelson Co., died Mar. 26, 1956. He married Emma D. Campbell, born c1874, died Jan. 12, 1942. I do not have any children or them.

Mary M., born Oct. 12, 1871, Nelson Co., died Dec. 8, 1893, in Nelson Co. She married Joseph T. Campbell Jan. 22, 1885 in Nelson Co. He was born c1874 but date of death is not known. He is buried in the Henry B. Coffey Family Cemetery in Nelson Co.2

Arthur T., born Dec., 1873 in Nelson Co., married Essie Fitzgerald Jan. 27, 1895 in Nelson Co. Their children were Clement D., Warren L., Eugene K., and Luther. There may have been others. Luther is said to be buried in the Martin L. Fitzgerald Family Cemetery in Nelson Co.3

Edgar R., born 1874 in Nelson Co., married c1900 to a lady named Lucy, born c1880 in Virginia. No other information.

Charles C., born c1877 in Nelson Co., married c1909 to a lady named Mae, born c1891 in Virginia. No other information.

Annie L., born Sep., 1879. No other information.



Horace Justin, born Feb. 27, 1882 in Nelson Co., died Feb. 18, 1953 in Goochland Co., VA. He married Maggie M. Haden, born Jan. 6, 1882, died Dec. 17, 1961 in Goochland Co. Their children were: Adell Hallie, born Jan, 6, 1905, died Oct. 2, 1977; Virginia Rebecca, born Feb. 20, 1908; Jackson Nelson., born Oct. 26, 1909, died Apr. 15, 1976; Horace, Jr., born May 1, 1911; Teddie Rosevelt, born Oct. 4, 1912; Wilber Haden, born Nov. 22, 1913*; Madge, born Oct. 6, 1918; and Helen, born Jan. 27, 1920. Horace and Maggie are buried in the Sandy Hook Cemetery in Goochland Co.**


Gracy, born c1888. This may not be a child of this family. She is not found in any census record.

I have some additional information on this family. Please contact me with additions and corrections, or to get more information.

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Update: Sep. 13, 2010

Reader Denise Risch recently forwarded this  scan of a page from a Bible that belonged to her great aunt Madge. The first five names are in one hand while six through eight are in another.  The entry for child nine was likely made by a third hand.

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Sources:
1 Marriage Reg, Nelson Co.; 5 Feb 1861, A. J. Coffey, age 24 yrs., to Rebecca Campbell, age 20 yrs.; parents of groom: Henry B. and Mary Coffey; parents of bride: Jesse C. and Polly Campbell
2 White Rock Rd. on left going towards Rt. 56, just before Evergreen Church, enclosed in a stone wall. [Description from Rootsweb]
3 This cemetery can be reached from Rt. 56 turn onto Fork Mt. Road, go about a mile take a right onto a logging road, 4X4 a must from here, go more than a mile around the mountain, when you can look across the mountain range and see directly into the head of Crabtree Falls you are close to this cemetery. Very well maintained and fenced, about 1/2 mile from Snead Cemetery. [Description from Rootsweb]
US Census Records

*Wilber had a twin that died at birth. 

**The name of this cemetery is questionable (12/01/2009)