John W. Coffey of Nelson Co., VA

A John W. Coffey, born in Jun., 1869 in Nelson Co. appeared in the Rockfish Dist., Nelson Co., VA census from 1900 through 1930*.  His named wife in each record was Ella J., born in May 1869.  I have been unable to find them in 1920.

I believe this John W. was a son of Wesley Robert and Elizabeth A. Coffey Coffey.

Through the years John W. and Ella had, as best as I can determine without the 1920 census, children: William Jasper, born Feb. 27, 1888; Donnie M., born Feb., 1890; Rodes [sic] A., born Apr., 1895; Lacy R., born Sep., 1897; Samuel P., born Apr. 1900; Lora I., born c1901; Annie R., born c1905; Rushie L., born c1908; Ruby A., born c1910; and John J., born c1912.

I have not yet been able to determine what happened to the majority of their children.  I have found William Jasper who married Lillian Marshall c1912.  Lillian was the daughter of James and Elvira (Taylor?) Marshall of the Rockfish Dist and who were neighbors of John W. and Ella Coffey in the 1900 Rockfish Dist. census.

In 1920 William Jasper and Lillian lived with her parents in the Rockfish Dist.  When he registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917, William worked as a brakeman for the C&O RR out of Charlottsville, VA.  When he was enumerated in the 1920 census he was a conductor.  The only child I have found is Walter N., born c1913.

The other John W. and Ella child I have found is Lora I., born c1901 in Nelson Co.  She married Herman Norwood Coffey on Oct. 8, 1922** in Waynesboro, VA.  Herman - he seems to have gone by Norwood at least some of the time - was a son of Nicholas A. and Viola M. Coffey Coffey.  Nicholas, John W. and Viola were all cousins, many times over.  In 1930 the Norwood and Lora were living in the Rockfish Dist. with her parents.

Drop me an e-mail if you can fill in any blanks.

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*1900 Nelson Co., Rockfish Dist., ED88, Sheet 10B, dwelling 182, family 187, Coffee [sic], John W., head, white male, born Jun., 1869, age 30, married 13 yrs., born VA, parents born VA, farmer; Ella J., wife, white female, born May 1869, age 31, married 13 yrs., mother of 6, 5 living, born VA, parents born VA; Jasper W., son, white male, born Feb. 1888, age 12, born VA; Donnie M., son, white male, born Feb., 1890. age 10; Rodes A., son, white male, born Apr., 1895, age 5, born VA; Lacy R., son, white male, born Sep. 1897, age 2, born VA; Samuel P., son, white male, born Apr., 1900 age 1 mo., born VA


1910 Nelson Co., Rockfish Dist., ED103, Sheet 17A, dwelling.family 313, Coffee [sic], John W., head, male, white, age 39, married once for 23 yrs., born VA, parents born VA, farmer; Ella J., wife, female, white, age 39, married once for 23 yrs., mother of 9, 8 living, born VA, parents born VA; Donnie M., son, male, white, age 16, single, born VA, home farm labor; Rodes H., son, male, white, age 14, single, born VA, home farm labor; Lacy R., son, male, white, age 12, born VA; Samuel P., son, male, white, age 10, born VA; Annie R., dau., female, white, age 5, born VA; Rushey L., dau., female, white, age 2, born VA


1930 Nelson Co., Rockfish Dist., ED8, Sheet 9B-10A, Afton, VA, dwelling 184, family 185, Coffey, John W., head, male, white, age 58, married at age 17, born VA, parents born VA, farming; Ella J., wife, female, white, age 59, married at age 18, born VA, parents born VA; Coffey, Norwood, s-in-law, male, white, age 28, married at age 24, born VA, parents born VA, farm worker; Lora M., dau., female, white, age 25, married at age 21, born VA; Ruby A., dau., female, white, age 20, single, born VA; Coffey, Rushie L., dau., female, white, age 20, single, born VA; John J., son, male, white, age 18, single, born VA

**Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at www.familysearch.org.