Hugh Coffey

A Google book search for Coffey found "Opinions Rendered to the State Land Board" within the book Documents of the Senate of the State of New York [short title]. It was published in 1917 by the New York State Senate.

Beginning on page 523, the article addresses the intestate death in New York City on May 3, 1881 of Hugh Coffey. His heirs included a brother, Robert Coffey, who "came to this country from Ireland and was naturalized in 1855, and died November 3, 1875, intestate, a widower, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth, his only heir-at law, who subsequently married one Rufus Lisk."

Coffeys are also mentioned on pps 30-31, 34-35.

Click on the title link for a complete read of the cited page. This is a "full view" book and available for download in PDF. The download size is 24.3 megabytes.

Albert Coffee and Lula Bell Melson

In an earlier blog I wrote about locating Lafayette Jackson Coffee,  a previously unknown son of my GGG-grandfather Lilburn Coffee and his second wife, Lucinda Sutton.  As I began to investigate Lafayette and his descendants, I located Albert Coffee and his wife Lula Bell Melson who were married in Hempstead Co., AR on Apr. 12, 1891.

The reason I believe Albert to also be a son of Lilburn and Lucinda is:

In the 1900 Texarkana, Bowie Co., Texas census I found Lucy Coffey, a widow, with her son Lafayette Coffey and a daughter, Lucretia Tipton in the household.  Lucinda (or Lucy) had been previously married to Berry Tipton and they had a daughter named Lucretia.  We already knew from Lafayette's death certificate that Lucinda Sutton was his mother.

Next door to Lucy and her children was Albert and Lula with their child, Lella (sp?), age 5.  Albert was born in Oct., 1862 in Hope, Hempstead Co. and Lula was born there in Oct., 1873.

I have been unable to find Albert and his family after 1900.  I can only surmise that they must have been deceased sometime between that year and the following 1920 census.  I do recall a cousin telling me that she remembered grandpa Coffee visiting the grave of an Albert Coffee in Bowie Co., but did not recall details.

It appears that my next step in this investigation is a visit to Bowie Co., TX.

Contact me at the above e-mail address if you have any interest in these families.

Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn

Joseph Harrison Wellborn was born c1873 in North Carolina and died there before 1920. He married Carrie Elizabeth Coffey in Caldwell County, NC in 1896 [Marriage Book 11, Page 245]. Carrie was the daughter of Thomas, a son of William Coffey and Margaret Robbins. Carrie's mother was Rachel M. Coffey, the daughter of McCaleb Coffey and Elizabeth Collett.

Carrie was born Aug. 14, 1877 in Caldwell Co., and died in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. on Mar. 22, 1951.  She is buried at Harper's Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  An accurate birth and death date for Joseph has not been found.

Children of Joseph and Carrie were:

Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900, died Dec. 30, 1978. Jennie married Thomas Hamilton (Hamp) Robbins in Caldwell Co., NC in 1920. Thomas was born Oct. 17, 1888 [death certificate], a son of Thomas Clingman and Sarah Curtis Robbins. He died Mar. 5, 1965 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co. [Death Certificate]. Their children were Mary Gwendolyn, born Sep. 7, 1920 [NC Birth Index Book 7, Page 621], died Dec. 14, 1977; Thomas Hamilton, born Sep. 11, 1922; George Welborn, born Aug. 17, 1924, died Nov. 21, 2004; and Robert Joseph, born Dec. 5, 1926.

Carl Coffey, born Aug. 6, 1902 in Wilkes Co., died May 15, 1986 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. He was married in 1921 to Lula Belle Hamby, born Oct. 18, 1898 in NC, died Dec. 8, 1933 in Lenoir. Their children were Clyde Colene, born Oct. 6, 1921; Mildred Marie, born 1923; Joseph Henry, born 1924, died 1997; Earl Russell, born Apr. 3, 1928, died Jun. 22, 1994; and an unnamed child, born and died in 1932.

Alma L., born c1906

Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990

Carrie, born Sep. 13, 1910, died Feb. 28, 1985. She married Hugh Hardin Edmisten, born Aug. 19, 1905 in Watauga Co., NC, died Aug. 16, 1963 in Lenoir. He was a son of Newton Edmiston and Alice Holshouser.

Joseph Dale, born May 14, 1913

Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004. Blanche married first William Lee Martin, born Dec. 23, 1913, died Aug. 4, 1966 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. He was a son of Roby Sherrill and Ivalee Crisp Martin. Blanche was married second to H. C. (Bud) Andrews for whom I have no information. Blanche is buried in Wilson Memorial Park in Caldwell Co.

Obituary, The News Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC

Blanch Andrews

Blanch Gerturde Wellborn Martin Andrews, 89, of Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, died Monday, March 8, 2004, at Lenoir Healthcare Center.

She was born Nov. 19, 1914 in Caldwell County to the late Joseph and Carrie E. Coffey Wellborn. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, William Lee Martin; her second husband, (Bud) H.C. Andrews; three brothers and three sisters.

Mrs. Andrews was a homemaker was a member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Williams S. Martin, Jack O. Martin and Charles A. Martin all of Lenoir; a daughter, Mrs. Ivolee Martin McCall of Valdese; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel conducted by the Rev. Joe Parker and the Rev. Lynn Hawkins. Interment will follow in J.H. Wilson Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Jason Martin, Charles Martin, Jr., Jamie McCall, Travis Coffey, Tom Haus and Joel Coffey. Honorary pallbearers will be: Donovan Moose, Lee Moose and Will Haus.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645; or to Mt. Olivet united Methodist Church, 2032 Mulberry Creek Road, Lenoir NC 28645; or to Wellborn Historical Society, 2400 Mourgea Avenue, High Meadow Apt. 4E, Valdese, NC 28690.

Please send additions or corrections to me at the above e-mail address.

Green Co., MO Divorce Records 1947-50

The introduction to this website reports:

"This group of records contains abstracts of records of dissolution of marriage in Greene County, Missouri, for 1837 through 1950. All records include the names of the plaintiff and defendant, record book number, page number, date of final decree and an indication of who is the "innocent and injured party". Many of the records include the circumstance of the divorce, amount of support awarded and names of children affected."

Although the intro reports records beginning in 1837, I have found only 1947-50 at this link.

Click on the title link to connect to the website.

Joseph Joshua and Rosa Belle Coffey Pennell

According to his death certificate, Joseph was born Jul. 1, 1878. In 1900 he reported to the census taker that he was born in August, 1880, was 19 years old and had been married for three years. Rosa reported that she too was age 19 and was born in September, 1880. Her death certificate reports only that she was born in 1879.

Joseph was the son of John and Susan Adeline Reid Pennell. Rosa was the daughter of William Franklin and Sarah (Sally) Holsclaw Coffey. William Franklin from Alexander Co., NC and was a son of Calvin and Serena White Coffey. Joseph died on Jan. 28, 1970 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC and Rosa on Nov. 12, 1949 in Taylorsville, Alexander Co.

Their children were:

William Arthur, born Jun., 1898, married Mary Lola Earp.

[Update May 6, 2010: Mary Lola, born Aug., 1894 in Little River Twp., was the daughter of James and Jane Earp. See 1900 Little River Twp., Alexander Co., NC census]

Lola, born c1901, married Thomas M. Farrell

John Robert, born 1905

Sallie Emma, born Sep. 11, 1908, died Aug. 27, 1994. She married Glenn A. Payne, born 1905, died 1980.

Luther V., born 1910

Samuel B., born c1911

Hershell george, born Jul. 16, 1915, died Sep. 6, 2005, married Mary JoAnn Spencer

Edna Hessie, born Sep. 29, 1915, died Jan. 5, 2001. She married a James, last name unknown

Perry Conly, born Sep. 26, 1923, married Mary Lou Hubbard. Perry died on Jul. 21, 2003

Other children of John and Susan Adeline Reid Pennell were:

Mary Salina, born c1863

Susan C., born c1864

Samuel Leroy, born 1866, died Dec. 15, 1942, married Nancy M. Caldwell.

Lawson William, born 1863, married Lena Hollar, daughter of David A. and Ellen Bentley Hollar.

Lavina E., born c1871, died Nov. 6, 1963

Michel Andrew, born 1872, died Nov. 23, 1956. He married Nora Ainer Coffey, sister to Rosa who married Joseph Pennell.

Frances E., born 1875, died Apr. 15, 1937, married Lark Pope.

Elsie, born Mar., 1882

Readers can 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."

William Roy, Jr., and Betty Jean Coffey Johnson

William was a son of William and Eddie Kerley Johnson. Betty Jean Coffey was a daughter of James Herman (Hum) and Hildred Myrt Church Coffey.

This couple had not been married too long when they died together in an automobile accident.

Their death certificate describes the incident as a collision between an automobile and a truck near Jobs Cabin Twp. in Wilkes Co., NC. The accident caused instant death for both.

James Herman Coffey was a son of John Wesley "Happy John" and Elle Adelaide Henderson Coffey. Hildred was the daughter of Joseph Commodore and Nora Rebecca Hollifield Church.

Two Coras [Update]

Cora Sadie was Cansadia as contained in the obituary for her son Carl William Crump.



Obituary, The News-Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, Jul. 16, 2005

Carl Crump

Carl William Crump, 85, of Hwy 90, Collettsville, N.C. died Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at his residence.

He was born May 10, 1920 in Avery County, N.C. to the late Theadore Crump and Cansadia Coffey Crump. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Roy Crump; six sisters, Edna Whisenant, Analea Whisenant, Louise Philyaw, Minnie Bowen, Mamie Crump and Kate Jolly, and one grandson, Joe Walker.

Mr. Crump was a retired furniture worker, U.S. Army World War II veteran, a member of Maple Grove Baptist Church and loved to hunt and fish.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel Philyaw Crump of the home; three sons, Ralph Crump of Collettsville, N.C. , Roger Crump of Hudson, N.C. and Terry Crump of Lenoir, N.C.; three daughters, Jean Plunk of Hudson, N.C., Frances Walker of Lenoir, N.C. and Shirley Crump of Lenoir, N.C. and a sister, Margaret Phipps of Lenoir, N.C.

Funeral services will be Friday, June 17, 2005 at 2 p.m. at Pendry's Chapel with the Rev. Floyd Coffey, Rev. Brian Gragg and Rev. Boyd Coffey officiating. Burial will be at Greene Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends today, June 16, 2005 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Pendry's.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Plunk, Gerald Plunk, Norman Crump, Pat Crump, Mike Moore and Jim Whisenant. Honorary pallbearers will be: Cameron Crump, Brian Crump, Scott Walker and Greg Walker.

Memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St. NW, Lenoir, NC 28645 or online condolences may be made at www.pendrysfuneralhome.com.

Pendry's Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Thanks Carolyn!!

---

According to birth and death records, Raban Scott and Margaret Hollander Coffey gave the name Cora to two of their daughters; one Cora Sadie and the other Cora L.

Cora Sadie - who some say was nicknamed Candy - was born Oct. 28, 1885 and died Jul. 1, 1942 in the Globe Twp., Caldwell Co., NC She married Theodore H. (Steve) Crump who was born Jun. 15, 1881 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Jan. 27, 1975. He was the son of David and Mahulda Jane Clark Crump.

Cora Sadie and Steve had at least two children. Annie Lee, born Mar. 10, 1917, died Apr. 29, 1999, married Henry Ray Whisenant, who was born Sep. 21, 1914 and died Sep. 8, 1947 in Caldwell Co. The other child was Carl William born May 10, 1920 and died Jan. 14, 2005.

The 1900 Caldwell Co. census of this family lists the child born closest to the date of this Cora as Ella B. K., born Oct., 1884.

The only Cora in the family in 1900 was the following:



This Cora was born Feb. 19, 1895 in Avery Co., NC and died there on Jul. 17, 1962. She married William Roby Baldwin c1911. He was the son of Pinkney F. and Hattie Jane Bristol Baldwin and was born May 3, 1890 in Watauga Co., and died in Avery Co. on Apr. 28, 1970.

Their children were:

Iona Beatrice, born Feb. 7, 1914
Clarence, born c1916
Carlos William, born Feb. 19, 1919
Harrison, born c1921
Virginia Mae, born May 11, 1924, died Feb. 21, 1998
Mal, born c1925
Trixie, born c1926
Herbert Hoover, born c1928

Lafayette Jackson Coffey

This death certificate is a tad bit difficult to read. It is for Lafayette Jackson Coffey who died in Angelina Co., TX on Jun. 10, 1950. According to the document, he was born Sep. 13, 1866 in Hope, [Hempstead Co.] AR to Lilburn Jackson and Lucindi [sic] Sutton Coffey. The informant was George J. Coffey, likely a son.

I have previously written about my GGG-grandfather, Lilburn Coffee. He brought his family from TN to Hempstead Co., AR and settled in the Hope area in about 1850. His first wife, Sarah Hannah Taylor died in March, 1860 and, in 1861 he married Lucinda Sutton. Lilburn died c1877 and I have been unable to find Lucinda in the 1880 census. She was alive however, because in 1883 she asked the county that her father William Sutton be designated a pauper and paid the sum of $10 per month.

I suspect that this Lilburn Jackson, father of Lafayette, is a previously unknown son of my ancestor Lilburn. If he is, he would likely be with his mother in the 1880 census, but neither of them can be found. Neither Lilburn Jackson nor his son Lafayette Jackson has been found in any census through the 1930 enumeration.

A death record has been found for George Jackson Coffey who died in Angelina Co., TX on Jun. 3, 1991. He is likely the George J. Coffey who was the informant on Lafayette's death certificate, and he has also not been found in any census record.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you have any information on any of these Coffey families.

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.

James Monroe and Flora Coffey Baldwin

James Monroe Baldwin

Death Certificate for J. M. Baldwin

James Monroe Baldwin was brother to William Roby. He was born May 13, 1885 in Watauga Co., and died Dec. 19, 1949 in Irenton, Lincoln Co., NC. He married Flora Coffey (date not known, but probably c1910); a daughter of Eldelano (Lano) and Mary E. Austin Coffey. Flora was born in Apr., 1894 in Caldwell Co. A death date for her has not been found. James is buried in the Iron Station Cemetery in Lincoln Co.


Their children were:

Hellen, born May, 1912
Florence, born May 13, 1914
Lottie, born Jun. 6, 1916
James, born 1930
Unnamed male, born and died Oct. 20, 1931. His death certificate gives his burial site as "at house."

"Lano" Coffey was born in NC in 1857 and died May 27, 1927 at Wilsons Creek in Avery Co., NC. According to The Collettsville Historical Society, he is buried at the Sam Coffey Cemetery in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. The burial site on his death certificate is unreadable. Mary, a daughter of Samuel Monroe and Mariah Reed Austin, was born Jun. 14, 1857 in Watauga Co., and died Sep. 19, 1934 at Wilsons Creek. Her death certificate gives the burial site as New Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery at Carys Flat, Avery Co.

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

William Roby and Cora Sadie Coffey Baldwin

William Roby Baldwin was a son of Pinkney F. and Hattie Jane Bristol Baldwin. He was born May 3, 1890 in Watauga Co., NC, and died Apr. 28, 1970 in Crossnore, Avery Co., NC. Cora was the daughter of Raban Scott and Margaret E. Hollander Coffey. She was born Feb. 19, 1895 in Avery Co., and died Jul. 17, 1962 in Linville, Avery Co. She and William married c1911 in NC. Both are buried at Carys Flat in Gragg, Avery Co., NC.








Pinkney Baldwin was born Dec. 16, 1861 in NC and died Jan. 26, 1938 in Watauga Co., NC. Hattie Jane Bristol was born in May, 1865. I have not found a death record for her. Pink is buried at White Springs Cemetery at Blowing Rock in Watauga Co., NC.

Raban Scott Coffey was born Apr. 15, 1853 in NC and died Jun. 16, 1933 in Gragg, Wilson Creek Twp., Avery Co. Margaret E. Hollander was born Jun. 4, 1857 in NC and died Mar. 26, 1933 in NC. They are both buried at New Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery at Carys Flat.

Cordie and William had at least eight children:

Iona Beatrice, born Feb. 7, 1914
Clarence, born c1916
Carlos William, born Feb. 19, 1919
Harrison, born c1921
Virginia Mae, born May 11, 1924, died Feb. 21, 1998
Mal, born c1925
Trixie, born c1926
Herbert Hoover, born c1928

---

Pinkney & Jane Bristol Baldwin

Update Jun 15, 2010 - Hattie Jane Bristol Baldwin was born in May, 1865 and died Jul 21, 1941 in Banner Elk, Avery Co.  She is buried adjacent to and shares a headstone with her husband, Pinkney.

Photo courtesy of James Baldwin 

Jasper Pink and Mary Jane Minton Coffey

Jasper Pink and Mary Jane Minton Coffey



Ben Coffey is looking for his ancestors. He descends from Jasper Pink and Mary Jane Minton Coffey. Jasper's death certificate reveals that he was a son of Joseph and Lucinda Coffey Coffey. The only problem seems to be that there was not a Joseph Coffey around at the time of Jasper's conception.

The problem is compounded by the fact that Ben's DNA markers match those of an Estes. There was a Joseph Estes residing in the area not far from the Johns River area where Lucinda and her family resided in Caldwell Co.

Lucinda was born c1832 to Enoch and Prudence Gragg Coffey. Enoch was a son of Joseph and Isabella Lindsay Coffey. Joseph was a grandson of John Coffey and Jane Graves through their son Reuben Coffey and his wife,Sarah Scott. Enoch and Prudence likely had more than one child, but so far only Lucinda has been found.

Joseph Coffey, father of Enoch, is thought to have died in 1835, but he could have died much later. It is possible that the Joseph Coffey who died in 1849, and whose estate was handled by Enoch, was Enoch's father.

Jasper and Mary Jane left North Carolina sometime after their marriage on Aug. 21, 1873 in Boone Twp., Watauga Co.* I have not found them in the 1880 census record. All nine of their children were born in Caldwell Co., the last on Mar. 8, 1893. So, sometime between that date and Jun. 7, 1900 they left North Carolina and moved to Geary Co., KS where they appeared in the Jun. 7 census of that year. Ben writes that soon after Jasper and Mary Jane moved to Kansas, Joseph Estes also relocated there.

In 1910 the family was still living in Geary Co. I have not found them in 1920, but on Apr. 3, 1928 they were residing at 1221 Monroe St. in Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS. It was on that date that Jasper Pink died due to "mitral insufficiency." His death certificates reveals that he was buried at Junction City in Geary Co.

Mary Jane lived until Oct. 6, 1925 and died on that date in Macon Co., MO. She is also buried at Junction City.

Jasper and Mary's children were:

George Alexander, born May 27, 1874, died Dec. 28, 1928. George married Grace Percy Armitage on Aug. 21, 1900. George and Grace both died in San Bernardino Co., CA.

Jonathon Horton, born Mar. 30, 1876 in Lenoir, died Oct. 21, 1961 in Norton Co., KS. He married Maude B. Ayers on May 14, 1903 in Junction City, Geary Co., KS. Maude was born Jan. 25, 1885 in Oklahoma and died Oct. 10, 1969.

Malinda Lucinda, born Jul. 26, 1878 in Lenoir, died Nov. 1, 1925 in Chapman, Dickinson Co., KS. She married James Joseph Cullen on Aug. 16, 1905 in Junction City.

James Washington, born Feb. 26, 1881 in Lenoir, married Mae Switzer.

William Finley, born Apr. 17, 1883 in Lenoir, died Sep. 13, 1946 in Rossville, Shawnee Co., KS.

Enoch Thomas, born May 31, 1885 in Lenoir, died Apr. 15, 1921 in Junction City.

Ellis LaFayette, born Jul. 3, 1888 in Lenoir.

Jennie Etta, born Dec. 27, 1890 in Caldwell Co., and died Sep. 8, 1987 in Rossville, Shawnee Co. She married Harry Gutshall on Oct. 11, 1936.

Joseph Richard, born Mar. 8, 1893 in Lenoir, died in Jun., 1963 at Rossville, Shawnee Co. He married Mary Bell Bledso on Nov. 23, 1932.

Drop me e-mail at the above address if you would like to contact Ben, or to add to or correct any of this information.

















*Marriage Register of Watauga County, North Carolina 1873-1954 (Boone, Watauga Co., NC: Dept. of Hist., Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC, 1995)

Photos are courtesy of Ben Coffey