Earle Thaddeus McGillicuddy

Cornelius Alexander "Connie Mack" McGillicuddy, Sr.  

Baseball fans of teams of the early to mid-20th century probably recognize the name.  

According to Wikipedia, Mack, Sr. was:

"Cornelius McGillicuddy, better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins, losses, and games managed, with his victory total being almost 1,000 more than any other manager."

Connie Mack was married to Margaret Hogan in 1887 and their second of three sons, Earl Thaddeus Mack was born on Feb. 1, 1890 in Worcester Co., MA.

Earle T. Mack

Earle grew up on a baseball field and in his father's clubhouse.  He wanted to be a "big league" professional baseball player but, over the years he managed to play in only a very few games. He had a mostly minor league career, both as manager and player.  Following his father's death he and another brother managed his baseball business.

While Earle was growing up, his future wife, Mary Margaret Cain was growing up in Burke Co., NC where she was born in Dec., 1890.  Her father was Corey Thomas Cain, a native of Wake Co., NC; her mother Lula Eloise Coffey, born 1866 in Caldwell Co., NC to William Elbert and Margaret Anne Kincaid Coffey.  She was the third of William and Margaret's seven children.

Earle and Mary Margaret were married on Sep. 28, 1915 in Morganton, Burke Co. and moved almost immediately to Philadelphia, the city they called "home" until 1955 when Mary passed away. I know that she was the mother of at least one child, a son, Earle T., Jr., born c1919.

Earle's obituary appeared in The Evening Star, a Washington, DC newspaper, on Feb. 6, 1967:

Earl Mack Dies, 78-Year-Old Son of Connie Mack

Upper Darby, Pa. (UPI)--Earl Mack, 78, former part owner of the Philadelphia Athletics and son of baseball's legendary Connie Mack, died Sunday at Delaware County Hospital.

Mr. Mack, the second of Connie's three sons, served with his brother, Roy, as officers of the Athletics after their father's death.  The franchise was sold in November, 1954, to Chicago financier Arnold Johnson and transferred to Kansas City.

Mr. Mack, who was around his father's clubhouse as a child, had long but undistinguished career in the minor leagues.  He played a total of five games with the Athletics in 1910, 1911 and 1914 as a catcher, third baseman and first baseman.

Following World War I, he served three seasons as player-manager at Moline, Ill., and closed his managerial career by winning the Blue Ridge League pennant with Martinsburg, W. Va.

 Margaret's obituary appeared in The Greensboro Daily News, Greensboro, NC on May. 5, 1955:

Mrs. Earl McGillicuddy

Statesville, May 4 - Mrs. Earle T. McGillicuddy, sister of Mrs. E. M. Shelton of Statesville, died yesterday at her home in Philadelphia, Pa.  Mrs. McGillicuddy was the former Mary Margaret Cain of Morganton.

She was educated at the Mary Dickson private school and the Patton High School, Morganton, and at St. Mary's and Meredith Colleges, Raleigh.  For a number of years she was organist at First Baptist Church, Morganton.  She had resided in Philadelphia since her marriage 35 years ago.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Earle T. McGillicuddy, Jr.; two grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Shelton.

A brief funeral service will be held at the Shelton residence on North Mulberry Street Friday at 1:15 p.m. with the Rev. J. S. Potter and the Rev. Robert Marshburn, officiating.  The funeral party will go from here to Morganton, where the funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church at 3 p.m. Friday.  Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Morganton.

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Lulu's Coffey lineage:

William > Gilliam/Polly Moore > William/Annie Boone > Thomas/Sarah Fields > John/Jane Graves > Edward/Ann Powell.  See also http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2013/01/lula-eloise-coffey.html

William Noah Coffey, Bigamist & Murderer

William Noah Coffey
(After arrest)

William Noah Coffey was born Dec. 10, 1874 in Collettsville, Johns River Twp., Caldwell Col, NC to Israel Boone and Catherine Emma Spainhour Coffey.  Catherine was born in NC in 1845 to Noah Spainhour and wife Elizabeth Ann Mason.  Israel was a son of Daniel Boone and Clarissa Estes Coffey.  Daniel was the son of William Coffey who married Annie Boone, daughter of Jesse and Sarah McMahan Boone.

Nothing spectacular appears to have happened in the life of William Noah to have brought him any national notoriety until 1926. In a fit of what might be described today as a "mid life crisis," he met and illegally married a 53-year old widow by the name of Hattie Hales who was described as a buyer for a department store. In 1927 he was accused of bigamy and murder of Hattie.

When he registered for the WW1 draft in 1918, he described his job as a publicly employed credit collector.  He had married Alberta Ellen Winnek, born in Massachusetts in 1877, in Kansas on Jun. 24, 1903*.  They had three children:  Douglas Fredwill Coffey, Alberta Ellen Coffey and Miriam Martin Coffey.  After her divorce from William, she and her children began using the surname Winnek.

While searching archived newspapers, I found William on the front page of the Jan. 30, 1927 edition of the Sarasota [FL] Herald-Tribune.  The article was written after he had been arrested for the murder of Hattie Hales Coffey in Lancaster, WI.  This article indicates that he eventually confessed to her murder and led authorities to the place where he had killed her, cut her body into pieces and buried them in shallow graves at various locations in a place known as "Ritter's Woods," aka "Bratton's Woods."

William Noah Coffey
 (in front of automobile)

In an attempt to find more information about William, I located the June, 2014 History and Politics blog by Dennis A. Wilson in which he described receiving a cardboard box with photos of William and various locals searching the area where he had confessed to having killed and buried Hallie.

William was convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison at Wisconsin State Prison at Waupun, Dodge Co., WI.  He died there in June, 1962 and was buried at the Waupun state cemetery.  In 1965 his remains were relocated to the Calvary Cemetery at Waupun in Fond du Lac, WI.

He was my third cousin, twice removed.

It remains difficult to determine how Alberta Ellen spelled her maiden name.  It is recorded as Minnek [sic] in the marriage record to William Coffey.  In her death record her mother's maiden name was given as Martin - explaining where Martin comes from in daughter Miriam name - but a father's name was not given.  Alberta's Find-A-Grave memorial tells us that her father was Frederick Gideon and Ellen Mary Martin Winnek [sic].

After she was divorced from William Noah Coffey and moved to Chicago, she became known as Alberta Ellen Winneck [sic] and her children's surname was also changed to Winneck.  When her son Douglas was married, the record shows that his name was Winnek and his father was William Winnek but, a marriage record has not been found for Alberta's marriage to a Winnek of any spelling and with any given name.  Perhaps she also changed the name of William N. Coffey to William Winnek to satisfy some procedural requirement for supplying a father's name.

Douglas Fredwill Winnek - Isabel White Marriage License

The Coffey family appeared in the 1910 census at Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI; 1920 in Madison, Dane Co., WI and in 1923, the city directory for Madison shows them residing at 33 N. Carroll St.  In 1930, Alberta was living in Chicago, Cook Co., IL with her two daughters. Her surname was spelled Winneck.

In 1940, Alberta resided with Douglas and his wife and children at 616 Harold in Mamaroneck, Rye Twp., Westchester Co., NY.  The surname was spelled Minnick [sic].  Douglas gave his occupation as "inventor." He died in 1999 and his remains were cremated and scattered into the Pacific off Point Cabrillo, Monterey, CA.  His Find-A-Grave memorial spells his surname Winnek.

When Douglas married for the second time in 1935, his surname was spelled Winnek.  He reported on the license application that he had been previously married and had obtained a Mexican divorce a few weeks prior to taking his second bride, Isabel White in Cuyahoga Co., OH.  That and the fact that he had two years of college training are likely reasons he was not present in the 1930 household.  He has not yet been found in 1930.

Daughter Alberta Ellen married Albert Rosenheck.  He died in 1985, probably in NJ.  She died in 2006, also probably in NJ.  Both are buried at Lakeview Memorial Park in Cinnaminson, Burlington Co., NJ.

The last child, Miriam Martin, married twice.  According to CA marriage records, her first husband was Jacob Anton Wassenberg and they were married on Apr. 10, 1938. He died in 1950 and was buried as Andreas Anton Wassenberg at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles Co., CA.

Her second husband was William Dennis Stoltz, born 1917 in PA, married Jun. 19, 1954 in Los Angeles Co.  He died at Riverside, CA in 1997.  Miriam preceded him in 1978.  They too are buried at Green Hills.  On the certificate of marriage to Stoltz, she named her father as William Coffey and mother as Alberta Winnek.

Wm Dennis Stoltz-Miriam M. Coffey Marriage Certificate

I suspect the actual surname was some variation of Winneck. and I have recorded it as Winnek in my file for this family.

Corrections and additions welcomed.

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* "Kansas Marriages, 1840-1935", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FW21-GPB : accessed 19 December 2014), William N. Coffey and Alberta Minnek, 24 Jun 1903; citing Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, reference p 444; FHL microfilm 1,547,792.

Photos are courtesy of an used with permission of Dennis A. Wilson

Robert Shearer (1823-1895) of Watauga Co., NC

“In Memory of Robert Shearer.

“The subject of this sketch was too well known in this and adjoining counties to need eulogy from any pen to introduce his worth to family, state or church. His life so pure and gentle, yet firm and dignified, is the best encomium.

“Robert Shearer was born July 24, 1823, lived and died in Watauga county, N. C.  He professed a hope in Jesus and joined the Baptist church at Three Forks, by experience, on the first Saturday in Jan., 1853.  He ever lived a member of the church he joined till death took him away.  He lived the religion he professed; his hope was an anchor to his soul, both sure and steadfast, and entered within the vale whither Jesus the forerunner has gone. He loved the cause of his Master dearly and his interest never abated in his old days; although feeble in health ever ready he stood to do his part in everything.  He esteemed it not only a duty but a high privilege to do all he could to advance the cause of Jesus.Truly it can be said of him:

“I love thy church O God,
Her walls before thee stand,
Dear as the apple of thine eye,
Engraven on thy hand.

“For her his tears did fall,
For her his prayers ascend,
To her be given my toils and cares
Till toils and cares did end.

“He was a kind husband, father, and friend to all, and gave liberally of his means to the cause of God and humanity. One aim of his life was to fill his seat in the church which he always did unless sick, and a part of his last day on earth was spent in Three Forks church attending the funeral of Bro. Jonathan Horton.  When he came home Sunday evening from the church, he said to his family:  ‘I will be the next member of Three Forks church to go.’  And he did go that night; ate a hearty supper with his family on earth, and took his morning repast in heaven with loved ones who had gone before.

“He had been married twice – first to Myra Coffey on the 26 day of Nov. 1854.  By this marriage two children were born, Mr. M. G. Shearer now living and Jane Shearer, who died six years ago.  His wife, Myra, died Mar 39th [sic] [Mar.30], 1857 [sic] [1859].  He was again married to Martha M. Estes Feb. 18, 1860, and became the father of three more children.  One departed this life in infancy, the other two yet living, Mary F. Perkins and Myra H. Pulliam.  He struggled against the trials of life but never murmured, looking to the great reward. The battle or life is fought and bravely too, by our brother.  The victory is won.  Death came softly and silently Dec. 2nd,1895, as a servant to carry him over the river, and without a struggle he breathed his last.

“He walked so close with God that he had nothing to do but die and go home.  His death was so sudden that he had no time to tell loved ones good-bye.  He was 72 years, 4 months and 7 days old when the summons came, and found him on the borderland of heaven waiting for heaven’s game to swing open and let him in. The world had lost its charms to him. He had his business all fixed up, therefore was ready.  He had talked to death often to his family,and gave directions about his coffin and other things pertaining to his burial,which were strictly carried out by his family and friends.  He had often said he hoped he would not have to linger and suffer long here to be a burden to any one.  The Lord granted his desire.  At the usual bedtime he was bright and cheerful, retired and slept soundly for two or three hours, the awoke and said to his wife: ‘A sharp pain is hurting in my heart,’ but got up, sat by the fire an hour after taking some remedies, said he was better and would lie down again, which he did.  His wife went to the bed to see that he was well covered, wiped the perspiration from his face and asked if he was better.  ‘Yes, a little,’ he replied, and in a moment he was gone.  The chariots of God came after him, he stepped on and went home twenty minutes after twelve.

“His funeral was preached by elders J. J. L. Sherwood and E.F. Jones to a large concourse of neighbors and friends, who mourn his departure and who will miss his generous hand which was always open to the wants of all worthy objects.  Yes, ‘thon [sic] [thou] hast gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee.’

“His remains were interred in the family burial ground near his house to await the glorious resurrection, when they shall come forth fashioned like the glorious body of Jesus. ‘Asleep in Jesuus [sic], blessed sleep from which none ever wakes to weep.’

“His devoted pastor, S.”

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Myra Emeline Coffey was born Feb. 20, 1836 in NC and died in Yadkin Valley on Mar. 30, 1859.  She was a daughter of Welborn and Sarah "Sallie" Cottrell Coffey; Welborn was a son of William and Anna Boone Coffey, Sallie a daughter of William and Lucy Day Cottrell.  She, Robert (death date Dec. 2, 1895) and second wife Martha Estes are buried at the Shearer Family Cemetery at Perkinsville, Watauga Co., NC.

This tribute was published Dec. 19, 1895 in the Watauga Democrat, Boone, Watauga Co., NC, Page 2, Cols. 1 & 2; transcribed by Jack Coffee, Dec. 11-12, 2014

Rev. War Col. Benjamin Cleveland

Benjamin Cleveland

Hero of the Battle of King's Mountain

Compiled from a number of public domain sources by Doug Land

Benjamin Cleveland was born on May 26^th, 1738 in Bull Run, Prince William County, Virginia. He was the son of John Cleveland, a house-joiner, and Martha Coffee. His education was limited and he strongly disliked the constant effort of farm work. He was a hunter for several years, living irresponsibly. In 1761 he married Mary Graves and made a reluctant attempt at farming. The couple had two children, but Cleveland also had another child by a woman in Virginia.

About 1769, at the age of thirty-one, Cleveland moved to the Upper Yadkin in North Carolina with his father-in-law and family. They settled near Mulberry Fields, in Wilkes County. There he began to earn a good reputation among the locals. He still did not show any strong interest in farming, so while his father-in-law’s slaves cleared land for the new plantation he continued to hunt. He later moved to Surry County on the north side of the Yadkin River. In the early 1770’s he learned about promising land in Kentucky from his neighbor Daniel Boone and in the summer of 1772 Cleveland organized a party to search for it, but they were robbed by a band of Cherokee around Cumberland Gap and returned home due to the lack of supplies. After his return Cleveland regained his strength, gathered a party of gunmen, and daringly returned to the Cherokee area, moving from village to village to recover his possessions. This event permanently established his reputation as a strong Indian fighter.

In 1774 Cleveland sat as a justice in the Surry County court and was appointed that same year to be a juror at the superior court in Salisbury. In 1775 news of the Battle of Lexington cause the Surry court to quickly change to a safety committee. He was offered the position of ensign in the Revolutionary Army by the provincial congress, but he turned down the offer to become a captain of the Surry militia in 1776. He fought against Loyalist forces in the Wake Forest region and in the autumn 1776 he led a company in Rutherford’s campaign against the Cherokees in North and South Carolina. During the course of this campaign militia forces completely destroyed thirty-six Cherokee towns. In 1777 he served at Carter’s Fort and the Long Island of Holston, in East Tennessee while a treaty was negotiated. He was made Justice of the Peace of Wilkes County in 1778 and became a colonel in the Wilkes County militia. Cleveland also held other civil positions in the years of the Revolution. He was the commissioner of the Loyalist’s confiscated estates, supervised elections, county ranger, and in 1778-1779 he was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons, representing Wilkes County. In 1780 be became a member of the N.C. Senate for a term. He voted against tax raises and supported a bill to capture and sell slaves that had been illegally freed. Cleveland himself was a slave owner.

In June 1780 he helped to drive Loyalists from Ramsour’s Mills and then fought at the battle of King’s Mountain. This battle was against Major Patrick Ferguson, who was the left wing of the British army’s attack on the South. The Revolutionaries won decisively, killing Ferguson, and the battle became the turning point of the war in the South. In 1781 Cleveland was briefly captured by Loyalists but was soon rescued by his friends and brother Bob. Throughout the war Cleveland was merciless to the Loyalists that fought against him. He hanged those that he did not like, had others whipped, and allowed some to give an oath of allegiance with the promise of good future conduct. In 1779 he was indicted at the superior court of Salisbury for murdering two Loyalists, but was pardoned by the governor at the request of the General Assembly. Cleveland was not always nice to his own people either. The people around Salem complained about the militia under Cleveland who had a habit of taking things without paying for them.

At the end of the Revolution Cleveland was forced to give up his land and in 1785 Cleveland moved to the western border of South Carolina and became an associate judge in Pendleton County. He became quite overweight with the loss of his active lifestyle, and reached the weight of 450 pounds. He was forced to travel by cart as he was no longer able to ride a horse and wore only a shift in warm weather. Cleveland died in his chair in October 1806 at his plantation on Tugaloo River, in current Oconee County, S.C. A monument was erected to him on July 29^th, 1887 at Fort Madison, South Carolina and in 1841 North Carolina named a county after him.

"Of all the fierce frontiersman whose activity spread consternation among the partisans of King George in the Southern campaigns of the American Revolution, not one stood higher than Colonel Benjamin Cleveland." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 69).

Colonel Cleveland was born on May 16, 1738, in Prince William County, Virginia. His family home was on Bull Run, the same creek that later became famous during the Civil War. The family moved sixty miles west to Orange County when Cleveland was still young. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 69).

Cleveland showed a bold and forceful personality even when he was a boy. It is said that "at the early age of twelve he seized his father's gun and put to flight a party of drunken rowdies who were raising a disturbance at his home while John Cleveland, the father, was absent." The young Benjamin was not fond of farming, thinking it too tame, and instead became a good hunter. "To him the life of a hunter was a source of profit as well as pleasure, for the hides, furs, and pelts won by his rifle brought him no inconsiderable income." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. pp. 69-70).

Tradition says that Cleveland fought in the French and Indian War, where he learned how to be a soldier. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 70).

Sometime before he left Virginia, Cleveland married Mary Graves, the daughter of a wealthy gentleman. They had two sons and a daughter. Around 1769, Cleveland moved his family to North Carolina. They first settled on the shore of Roaring Creek, a tributary of the Yadkin River. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. pp. 70, 73).

In 1772, Cleveland left for Kentucky with four other men. He had heard tales of the abundant hunting from Daniel Boone himself. On the way, the party was robbed of all of their provisions, including their guns, by a party of Cherokee Indians, who demanded that the white men go back to where they had come from. The group did. Later, Cleveland returned to Cherokee territory in order to get his horse back. He was able to do so with the help of a few friendly Cherokee. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 70).

When the Revolutionary War began, Cleveland was commissioned as an ensign in the Second North Carolina Regiment. In January, 1776, he was promoted to lieutenant. In November of the same year, he became a captain. Eventually, he resigned from the Continental Line and joined the militia. He saw action at Moore's Creek and skirmished with the Cherokees until a peace treaty was worked out in July 1778. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. pp. 70-71).

In 1777, Wilkes County was formed, "chiefly through the instrumentality of Captain Cleveland, and he was made colonel of the militia forces of the new county in August 1778. In 1778 Colonel Cleveland represented Wilkes in the North Carolina House of Commons, and was State Senator therefrom in 1779." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 71).

Cleveland was kept busy throughout the rest of the war. "To tell in full of the desperate encounters in which Cleveland engaged would fill a volume. He was constantly engaged against the enemy, in 1777 serving in enemy campaigns, going on the expedition to Georgia in 1778, and returning in 1779, and afterwards marching against the Tories at Ramseur's Mill, though he did not reach that place in time for the battle" (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 71).

"'Old Round About,' as Cleveland was familiarly known (taking that sobriquet from his plantation of the same name), probably had a hand in hanging more Tories than any other man in America. Though this may be an unenviable distinction, he had to deal with about as unscrupulous a set of ruffians as ever infested any land--men who murdered peaceable inhabitants, burnt dwellings, stole horses, and committed about every other act in the catalogue of crime."(1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol V. p. 71).

The historian Dr. Lyman C. Draper wrote of Colonel Cleveland: "Cleveland was literally 'all things to all people.' By his severities he awed and intimidated not a few --restraining them from lapsing into Tory abominations; by his kindness, forbearance, and even tenderness winning over many to the glorious cause he loved so well." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 72).

Cleveland distinguished himself most in the Battle of King's Mountain on October 7, 1780. "The battle of King's Mountain was fortunately a great and overwhelming victory for the Americans; and among all the desperate fighters there engaged not one showed more personal courage than Colonel Cleveland. " (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 72).

"After the victory at King's Mountain more than thirty Tories were condemned to death, and nine were executed--the others being reprieved. The executions here alluded to were...punishments for past crimes--house-burnings, outrages against women, desertions and betrayals, assassinations of non-combatants. These measures were also in retaliation for past British cruelties--a few days before this eleven Americans having been hanged at Ninety-Six in South Carolina and many more having been accorded similar treatment at other times. Cleveland was a member of the court (or court martial) --the nature to the tribunal being of a perplexing character --which tried and condemned these Tories. The Battle of King's Mountain restored comparative order to western North Carolina, yet there was more fighting to be done, and Col. Cleveland as usual bore more than his share, serving under General Griffith Rutherford. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. pp. 72-73).

After the war, Cleveland lost his plantation, "The Round About" to "a litigant who had a better title therefor." Cleveland moved on to South Carolina, where he became an Indian fighter and then a judge after the fighting ceased. Apparently, the more sedentary lifestyle of a judge did not agree with Cleveland, for "Before he died Cleveland attained the enormous weight of four hundred and fifty pounds." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 73).

Colonel Cleveland died in Oconee County, South Carolina, in October of 1806. "By chapter 9 of the Laws of 1840-41 a county was formed out of Lincoln and Rutherford and named for Colonel Cleveland. In this act the name was misspelled Cleaveland, but by another legislative enactment --passed many years later --the error was remedied." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 73).

Bibliography

Ashe, Samuel, ed. Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. 5. Greensboro, NC: Charles L. Van Noppen, 1905.

Carnes, Mark C., and Garranty, John A., editors. American National Biography, Volume 15. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

Fiske, John, and Wilson, James Grant, editors. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 4. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1888-1889. Reprint. Detroit: Gale Research, 1968

Powell, William S., ed. Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, Volume. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1979.

Death Certificates Say The Darndest Things!

Squire Coffey, a son of Marvel and Rachel Boone Coffey, died at the age of 84 on Sep. 8, 1912 in Weaubleau, Hickory Co., MO and was buried at the Robinson Cemetery in Collins, St. Clair Co., MO.  The death certificate reports that he died of diarrhea.

The doctor who signed the death certificate was Dr. W. S. Woodford of  Weaubleau.  Across the certificate in the area where Dr. Woodford made his entry, is written:

"You will have to make the best of this diagnosis for Dr. W.S.W. is too ignorant to do better." 

That was followed by the initials W. C. G.  W. C. Gentry was the registrar.

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Squire was married to Drucilla Parker in MO c1854.  She was the daughter of Henry and Martha Roberson Parker and was born in TN on Dec. 18, 1833 and died in MO on Aug. 20, 1901.  She too is buried at Robinson cemetery in Collins.

The likely had more children, but I have found only six:

Matilda Jane, born Ar. 16, 1854 in Maries Co., MO, died Sep. 1, 1929 in Union Twp., Pulaski Co., MO.  Her spouse was James Moss, the informant listed on Squire's death certificate.  James was the son of Edward and Mary Roberson Moss, and was born May 23, 1851 in MO, died May 24, 1914 in Dixon, Pulaski Co.  He and Matilda were married May 23, 1851 in Maries Co.  Both are buried at the Dixon cemetery.  Their children were:

Ada Alfreda, born Feb. 2, 1872 in Maries Co., died Apr. 21, 1948 in Waynesville, Pulaski Co.  Ada married George Edward Murphy c1891.  He was born Dec. 9,1871 in Vienna, Maries Co., to John Henry and Mary Dickinson Murphy.  He died Dec. 28, 1949 in Lebanon, Laclede Co., MO.  Both are buried at Dixon.  I have their children as Ethel, Gertrude and Evelyn.

Emmit, born Sep., 1879, married May 20, 1936 in Phelps Co., MO to Nelle Draper.  She was born Oct. 14, 1876 in Burlington, Coffey Co., KS and died Dec. 3, 1957 in Rolla, Phelps Co.  She is buried at Dixon.  Emmit is like buried there as well; I just haven't found him yet.

Jesse Moore, born Aug., 1883, died Mar. 8, 1949 in Alton, Madison Co., IL.  He married Clara F. Dunlop, born Feb., 1885 in KS to George W. and Anna B. Shriver Dunlop.  Jesse is buried at Dixon.

Jesse's obituary, Granite City, Madison Co., IL Press Record, Mar. 10, 1949

Jesse M. Moss, 66, of 2137 Madison Avenue, well-known local sportsman and restaurant owner who developed and introduced his own barbecue sauce in the Quad-Cities, was buried at Dixon, Mo, this afternoon following services at a funeral home there.  Moss passed away at 1:30 am Tuesday at an Alton hospital following a short illness.  He had retired two years ago after operating a restaurant at the Madison Avenue address for 25 years.  Moss, who was an active hunter and fisherman, held the patent on Old Kentucky Famous Reheating Sauce, which was sold over a wide area.  He retained the patent and the product went off the market after his retirement.  A native of Dixon, MO, Moss had been a resident of Granite City for the past 48 years.  His only survivors are his wife, Mrs. Clara Dunlap Moss and a brother, Emmet, of Rolla, Mo.

Information about the remaining children of Squire and Drucilla is available on request.

Jack

William and Annie Boone Coffey at Rufus Cemetery in Caldwell Co., NC

William was a son of Thomas and Sarah Fields Coffey, born Nov. 29, 1782 in Wilkes Co., NC and died there on May 15, 1839.  That part of Wilkes Co. later became part of Caldwell Co.  Anna "Annie" Boone was a daughter of Jese and Sarah McMahan Boone, born Jul. 26, 1785 in Burke Co., died Jan. 16, 1876 in Caldwell Co.  Both are buried at the Rufus Baptist Church cemetery in Lenoir, Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co

In fact, a number of William and Anna's descendants are buried at Rufus.  At first examination of this cemetery, most appear to be from son Wilborn, born May 14, 1807 in Burke Co., died in Caldwell Nov. 27, 1897; and from son Calvin, born Sep. 30, 1819, died Apr. 2, 1847, also in Caldwell Co..

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Harriet Minerva Moore, wife of James Altimon Bradshaw, and daughter of Jesse Richmond Moore and Charlotte Caroline Coffey, born Oct. 7, 1878, died Jan. 22, 1970.  Charlotte Caroline was a daughter of Wilborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey and a granddaughter of William and Annie, marking Harriet a great-granddaughter.

Thelma Erin Bradshaw, daughter of James Altimon and Harriet Minerva Moore Bradshaw, born Mar. 31, 1911 in Caldwell Co., died Apr. 4, 1969.  Thelma was a great great granddaughter of William and Annie.

Beulah Evelyn, daughter of Robert Finley Coffey and Crettie May Rich and, wife of George Wesley Nichols.  She was born Aug. 22, 1923, Caldwell Co., died Sep. 8, 2009 at Lenoir.  Beulah was a first cousin to William, 5x removed.

Bruce Glen, son of Julius Pinkney and Louise Ann Edwards Coffey and, husband of Amy Moore.  He was born Dec. 24, 1908 in Caldwell Co., died Sep. 2, 1971 at Lenoir.  Julius was a great grandson of William and Annie, making Bruce a great great grandson.  Amy was the daughter of Wiley Hill and Ellen Hodges Moore.  She was born Apr. 12, 1910 in Caldwell Co., died Jan. 25, 1987.

Mabel Marie, wife of Forrest Moore Green and daughter of Bruce Glen and Amy Moore Coffey.  She was born Nov. 21, 1937 in Caldwell Co. and died there on Jul. 10, 2002.  She was a great great great grand daughter of William and Annie.  Forrest Moore Greene, a son of W. Buster and Wilma Victoria. Moore Greene. Forest was a third great grandson of William and Annie.  He was born Feb. 14, 1937 in Caldwell Co. and died there on Aug. 23, 1999.

Calvin, son of William and Annie, husband of Mary Greene.  He was born Sep. 30, 1819 in NC and died Apr. 2, 1847 in Caldwell Co.  Mary, parents unknown, was born Feb. 2, 1820 in NC and died Jun. 23, 1871 in Caldwell Co.

Wilborn, son of William and Annie, husband of Sarah "Sallie" Cottrell, born May 14, 1807 in Burke Co., died Nov. 27, 1897 in Caldwell Co.  Sallie was the daughter of William and Lucy Day Cottrell, born May 1, 1812 in Wilkes Co., died Mar. 25, 1894 in Caldwell Co.

William Rufus, son of Wilborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey and, husband of Harriet E. Moore.  He was born Nov. 17, 1832 in Caldwell Co., died Dec. 7, 1902.  He was a grandson of William and Anna.  Harriet was born May 3, 1835 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 2, 1918.  Harriet was a daughter of David and Sarah Caroline Moore Moore, born May 3, 1835 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 2, 1918.

Charlotte Caroline, wife of Jesse Richmond Moore, daughter of Wilborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey, born Dec. 2, 1851 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 18, 1944 in Caldwell.  She was a grand daughter of William and Annie.  Jesse was a son of David and Sarah Caroline Moore Moore.  He was born Mar. 16, 1849 in Caldwell Co., died there on Sep. 13, 1921.

Stella Victoria Gragg, wife of Lawrence Hill Moore, was a daughter of John Boone Gragg and Cordelia Adaline Coffey.  Cordelia was a grand daughter of William and Annie, making Stella a great grand daughter.  Stella was born Jul. 10, 1882 in Caldwell Co., died Aug. 30, 1943.  Lawrence Hill was a great grandson of William and Annie.  He was the son of Jesse Richmond and Charlotte Caroline Coffey Moore.

Wilma Victoria Moore, daughter of Lawrence Hill and Stella Victoria Gragg Moore and wife of W. (Willie or William) Buster Greene, was born Apr. 15, 1909 and died Feb. 14, 2004.  She was a double great granddaughter of William and Annie.

Sarah Ellen was a daughter of Jesse Richmond and Charlotte Caroline Coffey Moore and a great grand daughter of William and Annie. She was the wife of Adolphus Monroe Mast, son of John Allen Mast and Martha Elizabeth Moore.  He was born Jul. 22, 1865 in Watauga Co., and died in Caldwell Co. on Dec. 20, 1923.

Ruth Mast, daughter of Adolphus and Sarah, was born Dec. 24, 1898 in Caldwell Co. and died on Oct. 28, 1973.  Ruth was a second great granddaughter of William and Annie.

Addie Caroline Moore, daughter of Lawrence Hill and Stella Victoria Gragg Moore, and the wife of Waitsel Coy Greene.  Addie was second great granddaughter of William and Annie.  I have not yet found info on Waitsel except that he was born Feb. 8, 1909.

Lex Wilburn Mast, Jr., son of Lex, Sr. and Annie Lenoir Greene Mast, was born Apr. 14, 1944 in Caldwell Co. and died Sep. 6, 1974.  He was a third great grandson of William and Annie.

Dermont Richmond Moore, a son of Lawrence Hill and Stella Victoria Gragg Moore, was born Apr. 12, 1917 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Jun. 2, 2003.  He was a second great grandson of William and Annie.

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The Rufus Cemetery is located off the Mulberry Creek Road but, it appears from Google Maps that the entrance to it is located on the Boone Fork Park Road.  Geo Coordinates for that entrance are: Latitude: 36° 0' 0.74" N, Longitude: 81° 38' 26.51" W.  Click on the "Show on Google Maps" below and the link will take you to a very good satellite view of the area.

Show on Google Maps

Hopefully, I've made the correct kinship calculations. Please let me know of any errors.

William & Anna "Annie" Boone Coffey

William was one of the sons of Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Fields Coffey.  He was the second of 10 children born to that couple and the first of eight sons.  Bible records provided in 1990 by Mary E. Thornburg, tells us that William was born "November 29th in the year of our Lord 1782," and died May 22, 1839 in Wilkes Co., NC.  He was buried there at the Rufus Baptist Church Cemetery in the Mulberry Community, now part of Caldwell Co. (Lat: 36.00080, Lon: -81.64390).

Mary's Bible records tell us that William married Annie Boone on Oct. 16, 1804 in Boone, Watauga Co., the daughter of Jesse Boone and his wife Sarah McMahan.  Annie appears to be the sixth of at least eight children born to Jesse and Sarah.  She was born Jul. 26, 1785 in Burke Co. and died in Caldwell on Jan. 16, 1876.  She is also buried at the Rufus cemetery.

At least six children were born to William and Annie, the first being Daniel Boone Coffey, born Nov. 12, 1805 in Burke Co., died Jan. 21, 1862 in Caldwell Co.  Daniel married Clarissa Estes on Sep. 11, 1834.  She was born Jul. 18, 1817 in Burke Co., died Jul. 17, 1884, probably in Caldwell Co.  They were parents of at least nine children:  1) Emily who married her first cousin (once removed) Charles Lewis Coffey, a son of McCaleb and Elizabeth "Betsy" Collett Coffey; 2) Drury Dobbins who married Harriet Elizabeth Collett on Aug. 25, 1859; 3) Martha Ellen who married Elijah L. Moore on Oct. 12, 1858 in Caldwell Co.; 4) Sophronia Tate who married Henry Clay Coffey, brother to Charles Lewis; 5) Jonah, born May 9, 1843 in Caldwell Co.  He may have died in infancy; 6) Israel Boone, born Apr. 19, 1845 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 10, 1920 in Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS, married Catherine Emma Spainhour of North Carolina on Sep. 19, 1867 in Caldwell Co. 7) Julia, born Aug. 3, 1847; 8) Hezekiah, born 1852; 9) Celia, born Nov. 7, 1855, died Apr. 15, 1858.

Second born to William and Annie was Wilborn on May 14, 1807 in  Burke Co.  He married Sarah "Sallie" Cottrell on Jan. 2, 1832 in Caldwell Co.  Sallie was born May 1, 1812 in Wilkes Co. and died in Caldwell Co. on Mar. 25, 1894.  Wilborn died on Nov. 27, 1897.  Both are buried at the Rufus cemetery.  They were parents of at least eight children:  1) William Rufus, who married Harriet E. Moore on Dec. 4, 1856; 2) Thomas Milton, born c1835, died Aug. 12, 1863 on the Gettysburg battlefield; 3) Myra Emeline, born c1836, died before 1860; 4) James Grayson, born 1839, died Aug. 24, 1863 at the Union POW camp, Davis Island, New York Harbor, NY; 5) Minerva Jane, born Dec. 20, 1844, died Oct. 10,1934 and who married the Rev. John H. Nelson, born May 19, 1841 in Caldwell Co., died May 22, 1915; 6) John Calvin, born Apr. 30, 1848 in Caldwell Co., died in Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co. on Feb. 27, 1930.  He married Nancy Caroline Tuttle, born Jan. 10,1854 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 10, 1939 at Lenoir, Caldwell Co.; 7) Finley Patterson, born Apr. 30, 1848 in Mulberry Twp., died in Lenoir on Apr. 13, 1937.  His wife was Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Tuttle, born Sep. 11, 1851 in Caldwell Co, died Apr. 20, 1931 in Lenoir.  Nancy Caroline and Mary Elizabeth Tuttle were sisters, daughters of Robert G. & Lucinda Puett Tuttle. 8) Charlotte Caroline, born Dec. 2, 1851 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 18, 1944.  She married Jesse Richmond Moore on Oct. 21, 1869 in Caldwell Co.  He was born Mar. 16, 1849 in Globe Twp., Caldwell Co. and died in the Mulberry Twp. on Sep. 13, 1921

William and Annie's third was Gilliam, born May 21, 1810, died Jan. 8,1910 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co.  He married Mary "Polly" Moore on Jan. 2, 1832.  She was born c1820 in Burke Co. and died in Caldwell Co. on May 26, 1871.  They were parents of at least six:  1) Harvey N., born 1837, died 1912, married Jane Cochran; 2) William Elbert, born 1839, died 1912 at Morganton, Burke Co.  His wife was Margaret Anne Kinkaid, born 1837 in Burke Co., died Dec. 22, 1921 in Morganton.  Margaret had a child after William died and whose father is not known to me.  She and William Elbert had at least six children:  Mary, William Alvin, Lula Eloise; Annie Jane, Harvey Macan, and Maggie Lee. 3) Harriet E., born Sep. 6, 1843 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., died Dec. 12, 1937 in Elizabethton, Carter Co., TN.  Harriet's spouse was James Brown Blair to whom she was married on Oct. 7, 1866 in Caldwell Co.  James was born in Cedar Valley on May 1, 1844 and died in Carter Co. on May 24, 1920.  They had at least eight children:  Henry Lee, Gilliam Colbert, Harvey, John Caldwell, Job W., Mary E., Hatibel, and Lillie M. 4) Celia Adeline, born c1847, died before 1910.  Her husband was John Wesley Estes and they were married on Dec. 2, 1868 in Caldwell Co.  Their children were at least eight:  Benjamin G., Albert Lafayette, Horace Herndon; John C., Victor Scotland, Emma E., Homer Roy, and May C.  This family left NC sometime after 1880 and journeyed west to Iowa where Emma was born and then to Idaho where May was born.  5) Cordelia Adaline, born Jan. 10, 1853, died Jul. 9,1918.  She married John Boone Gragg on Dec. 17,1 877 in Caldwell Co.  He was born Feb. 15, 1856 in Caldwell Co., and died in Globe Twp., on May 23, 1937.  Both are buried at the Job Moore cemetery in the Globe.  Their children were at least seven:  William Hardie, Charlie, Stella Victoria, John Vernon, Laurance Dillard, Mamie, and Horace Milton.  Child 6) was Emma, born c1855.  Unfortunately, nothing else has been found for her.

The fourth child of William and Annie was Celia, Jun. 29, 1813 in Burke Co., died in Wilkes Co. on Jul. 12, 1899.  She married Hezekiah Curtis, a son of Samuel and Susanna Cottrell Curtis, on Dec. 26, 1833 in Wilkes Co.  Hezekiah was born May 16, 1810 in Wilkes Co., and died there on Jan. 20, 1901.  Both are buried at Mountain Park Cemetery in Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co.  Their children were Darcus, Judson, Larkin Junius, Julia, Finley Patterson, Caroline L., and Martha Gertrude.

The fifth and last child born to William and Annie was Calvin on Sep. 30, 1819.  He died Apr. 2, 1847 after a short marriage to Mary Greene in about 1839-40.  Four children were born to Calvin and Mary:  Harrison, Alexander, William and Patterson Vance.  William also died on the battlefield at Gettysburg.

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This is quite a long blog and I hope that I have not made it too complicated to follow.  Many of these folks have been written about in previous blogs.  Use the search window in the sidebar to look for them.  To assure accuracy, place "quotation marks" around the name your are searching for.  All of these, plus all of their known (to me) ancestors and descendants are present on the Edward Coffey Project DVD.  Readers can also use the "Search Also For" links at the bottom of each blog.

Henry and Sarah A. Coffey Steele

Sarah A. Coffey was born to Leland and Myra Coffey.  Myra's maiden name is said to have been Day.  Sarah's exact birth date given in some genealogies as Apr. 27,1834 in Burke Co., NC has not been confirmed by me.  She is known to have married Henry Steele on Dec. 16, 1866 in Caldwell Co., NC.*

The only known child born to Sarah and Henry was John Finley, born May 26, 1867 in Caldwell Co., died Oct. 14, 1958 in Roxboro, Person Co., NC.**

Sarah died c1869 and was buried at the Thompson-Steel Family Cemetery† in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.

John Finley married Martha E. Whitener, a daughter of Sidney M. and Eliza Elvira Haas‡ Whitener on Mar. 9,1892 in Lower Creek Twp., Caldwell Co.  Martha died Aug. 20, 1947 in Roxboro.  The only child that I am aware of was Henry W., born in Oct.,1899 at Little River.

Henry remarried sometime after Sarah's death but I have not followed the line.  Henry does appear in the  1900 census at Lower Creek  with his wife Mary, and were the parents of the head of the household, James D. Steele.

Leland Coffey was a son of Smith and Hannah Boone Coffey.  Smith was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Smith Coffey‡

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*North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org).

**Death Certificate for John Finley Steele, death certificate No. 28190 (14 October 1958), Bureau of Vital Statistics, North Carolina State Board of Health, Caldwell Co., NC and familysearch.org


†I believe this cemetery is more commonly referred to by locals as the Steel Family Cemetery.  Correction requested.


‡Sidney and Eliza were married 8 Mar. 1860 in Caldwell Co.  However, the bride's maiden name was given as Lee.  Could be a name from a previous marriage or, a mistake/omission by the clerk who issued the license. This family is mentioned in the Laurence H. Coffey compilation of Thomas Coffey and His Descendants (Chattanooga, TN; N. Sanders, pub.)

Caveat Emptor

I have been forwarded a few extracts from a book by Jim White who I believe lives in Missouri.  The book is ostensibly about the Boone family but contains some undocumented Coffey family lineage.

The author writes that Edward Coffey Sr. was the son of John Coffey, born in 1611, in Dublin, Leinster, Ireland, and died in 1674 in Essex Co., VA at age 63.  Instead of the usual Mary Joliffee or Rebecca Ireland spouse, author White names a new spouse for John:  Mary Julian, a daughter of William.

In another place, the author reports that descendants of Edward have ignored his eldest son and heir apparent, Edward Coffey, Jr. who White states was one full year older than his brother John who married Jane Graves.

Mr. White also seems to have ignored them.

The author also seems to have mixed descendants of Peter Coffee and Edward Coffey when he writes - without evidence except for the "sheer number of [Coffey] records in South Carolina" - that Edward Jr.'s wife, Grace Cleveland, moved from Caroline Co., VA to Charleston, SC.  He further states that other Coffey/Coffee families, all descendants of the North Carolina branch, moved to SC some 15 years after Grace and began using Coffee as their surname. 

One reason that Edward, Jr.'s children have been somewhat ignored is that no proof of who they were has ever been found.  Marvin Coffey speculated that Cleveland, husband of Elizabeth Coffey, residing in Orange and Albemarle counties from 1762 to 1774 is one of his sons.

Benjamin, born in VA in 1763, in the Burke Co., NC census from 1790 to 1850 (Caldwell Co. in 1850) was possibly a son.  Marvin pointed out that Grace would be been closing in on age 50 when Benjamin was born and that was somewhat late for a woman of that era to have been giving birth.

The possibility exists that other thus far unconnected Coffeys of the period could be Edward, Jr.'s children; e.g., James in the 1785 Botetourt Co. census; William in 1781-1785 Montgomery Co., VA and William of 1783 to 1797 Buckingham Co., VA.  The possibility is equally likely that they were sons of Peter.

Another possible son of Edward, Jr. was Jesse, found in Wilkes Co. from 1779-1786.  There was also an Isaac in Wilkes Co. from 1782-1796.  Jesse could be the one found in South Carolina in the 1790 and 1800 census.  He named his sons Cleveland, Edward, Joel, Elijah, Elisha and John.  All of these are common names among the descendants of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey so Jesse could be an Edward, Jr. son.

Mr. White offers no bibliography for his book.  He does post a warning on his website however, that readers should first consider his reasons for omitting it:

I'll try to summarize his "top three" reasons:

 - It is his opinion "that family historians need to provoke their own research."  By not providing sources, the author hopes to promote his book as a guide and, "not become the source of data, in and of itself."

 - When he states that an event is "documented" in his book, such as a marriage for some couple and a place is given, the reader should go to the place given to locate the record.

 - His "final point" states that owners of personal documents, with whom he consulted, did not want their names and personal contact information shared with others.  Makes one wonder how Mr. White came to meet them!?

To be fair, I have not read more of this book that the extracts sent to me for review.  I have looked at his website, and that of his publisher and Mr. White appears to be a prolific "author" with probably a dozen or more books, none of which will likely be on my list of books buys this Christmas season.

Whether Mr. White desires it or not, his book may become a "source of data...," and one more publication with probably well meaning but unsourced and often incorrect data.

Ernest Irven Coffey Ahnentafel

Generation 1

1. Ernest Irven COFFEY: born Mar. 13, 1888 in Missouri; died Sep. 23, 1955 in Clayton, St. Louis Co., MO.

Generation 2

2. Squire Jackson COFFEY: born Nov. 1851 in Missouri; married Oct. 2, 1876 in Maries Co., MO; died May 20, 1926 in Lawton, Comanche Co., OK.

3. Sarah F. GIBSON: born Jul. 3, 1858 in Missouri; died Feb. 16, 1944.

Generation 3

4. Irvin S. COFFEY: born ca 1822 in Kentucky; married Nov. 3, 1842 in Jackson, Osage Co., MO.

5. Nancy HUGHES: born Feb. 7, 1826 in Osage Co., MO; died abt 1860 in Maries Co., MO.

Generation 4

8. Marvel COFFEY: born ca 1790; married Feb. 2, 1813 in Burke Co., NC; died before Aug. 17, 1840 in Gasconade Co., MO.

9. Rachel BOONE: born 1793 in Burke Co., NC.

10. John HUGHES: born Oct. 6, 1780 in Virginia; married c1803 in Burke Co., NC; died c1856 in Sacramento Co., CA.

11. Jane BILYEU: born May 22, 1785 in North Carolina; died Oct. 8, 1845 in Osage Co., MO.

Generation 5

16. Thomas COFFEY: born Mar. 7, 1742 in Essex Co., VA; married 1778/9; died Apr. 1825 in Wilkes Co., NC.

17. Sarah "Sally" FIELDS: born c1750 in Virginia; died Nov. 21, 1828 in Wilkes Co., NC.

18. Jesse BOONE: born c1748 in York Co., PA; married 1772; died Dec. 11, 1829 in McMinn Co., TN.

19. Sarah MCMAHAN: born c1750 in Rowan Co., NC; died 1830 in McMinn Co., TN.

Generation 6

32. John COFFEY: born bet 1699 and 1700 in Essex Co., VA; married c1728 in Virginia; died bet Jan. 1775 and Feb. 1775 in Albemarle Co., VA.

33. Jane GRAVES: born c1708 in Essex Co., VA; died 1792 in Wilkes Co., NC.

34. Richard FIELDS: born c1727 in Virginia; married; died c1764 in Virginia.

35. Elizabeth MURREL: born c1723 in Virginia; died Sep. 14, 1830 in Virginia.

Generation 7

64. Edward COFFEY: born c1670 in Ireland; married 1700 in Essex Co., VA; died cNov. 20, 1716 in Essex Co., VA.

65. Anne POWELL: born bet 1683 and 1685 in Essex Co., VA; died bet Oct. 1744 and Dec. 1744 in Essex Co., VA.

66. John GRAVES: married.

67. Hannah  .

Generation 8

130. Thomas POWELL: married c1665.

131. Mary PLACE: born bet 1648 and 1649 in Virginia; died Dec. 1710 in Richmond Co., VA.





No. 984

Squire Coffey in Missouri

The reader question on the previous blog prompted me to do a bit of digging into the Squire Coffey men of Missouri.

I have found three with that name in Maries Co. and they are all related to Squire Coffey, born 1803 in Burke Co., NC, died after 1840 in Cherokee Co., NC.  I'll call him Squire 1.  He was a son of Smith Coffey and Hannah Boone.

Squire 2, the first in Maries Co. was a son of Marvel Coffey and Rachel Boone.  He was born in TN in 1828 and died 1912 in Hickory Co., MO.  He married Drucilla Parker and had children: Matilda, William D. B.; John R., Mary E., Martha E.; and Malinda J. 

Smith Coffey and Marvel Coffey were half-brothers, sons of Thomas Coffey; Smith by first wife, Elizabeth Smith and Marvel by second wife, Sarah Fields. Rachel and Hannah Boone were sisters, daughters of Jesse Boone who was a son of Israel, a brother to Daniel.

Squire 3 was Squire Jackson and, a son of Irvin S. and Nancy Hughes Coffey.  Irvin was a son of Marvel and Rachel.  Squire Jackson was born c1853 and married Sarah F. Gibson in 1876, Maries Co.  Their children known to me were Carnie Ellis and, Earnest J.

Squire 4 was also Squire Jackson and a son of John M. and Susan A. Vanderpool Coffey.  John M. was a son of Irvin and Nancy Hughes Coffey.  This Squire Jackson married Clara Della Eads on Sep. 29, 1901 in Maries Co.  Two of their children were Leslie H. and James C.

Squire 2 through 4 were double-first cousins to Squire 1, with 50 years separating the youngest from the oldest.







No. 983

Albert G. & Elizabeth F. Goodhue Coffey

There was an e-mail in my in-box this morning from a Coffey researcher and correspondent of a few years back.  She is researching this family line and has Coffey information but was concerned that she did not know Elizabeth's parents.

Elizabeth F. Goodhue was born c1835 in Wayne Co., KY and died in that county c1865.  She was the daughter of James Goodhue of New Hampshire and Jane Morris of Cumberland Co., KY.1  Elizabeth's spouse Albert, was born c1825 in Wayne Co. to George W. and Nancy (LNU) Coffey and died sometime after 1893 in Pawnee, Indian Territory, OK.

In 1850 Albert was a constable in Russell Co. and roomed in a home just doors away from the widow Jane Goodhue and her daughters, Mumzella Malvina and Elizabeth.  Mumzella married Isaac G. Scholl c1860 in KY.  He was a native of Merry Oaks in Barren Co., KY.  Her children, all born in Russell Co., were Isadora, born c1862; Dr. Joel B., born Mar 1868; Asa H., born c1869 and Luther F., born Oct., 1872.  Joel, a physician, married Nancy (LNU) c1897 and in the 1900 census had one child, a daughter named "Baby" born Apr., 1898 in Russell Co.

Albert and Elizabeth were parents of at least five children:

Amanda M., born Aug. 19, 1852 in Jamestown, Russell Co., and died after 1920.  She married John McKnight Grider on Dec. 14, 1870 in Russell Co.  They had at least two chidren, Lizzie, born c1872 and Virgil M., born Mar. 6, 1874.  John was born Jun. 19, 1852 in Monroe, Hart Co., KY.  According to my correspondent, Amanda probably died in North Dakota.  I do not have death/burial information of John.

Second child of Albert was Robert B., born Jun. 16, 1855 in Jamestown.  No further info.

Third was an infant, born May 15, 1857, died Jun. 15 of that year.

Fourth was a son, Liston Pancoast, born Feb. 7, 1860, and is said to have died on Dec. 15, 1930 in Paris, Lamar Co., TX.  Liston married Jennie Louise Morris c1885 in Wayne Co.  She was the daughter of Elijah P. M. and Nancy C. Coffey Morris, born Nov. 20, 1861 in Wayne Co., died Feb. 20, 1958 in Antlers, Pushmataha Co., OK.  Jennie is buried at the Odd Fellows cemetery in Antlers.  I have not yet discovered Liston's burial site.

Their children were: 

Edith, born Mar. 5, 1891 in Wayne Co., died Nov. 26, 1959 in Antlers.  She married John J. Ledford c1914.  He was born c1876 in Bucktown, Hardin Co., TN.. Their children were Lenore, James Morris and Kenneth Thurman.

Ruth, born Sep. 22, 1895 in Pawnee, IT, OK, died Aug 28, 1939 in Paris, TX.  She married Walter Henry Baker on Nov. 8, 1920 in Idabel, McCurtin Co., OK.  He was born Oct. 20, 1894 in Ardmore, Carter Co., OK and died in Guthrie, Local Co., OK on Feb. 22, 1988.  Ruth and Walter had at least two children:  Kathryn, born 1921 and Gwendolyn, born 1922, both in Healdton, Carter Co.  Kathryn is said to have died on Jul. 22, 2001 in Fargo, Cass Co., ND. 

George Leighton, born Jul. 12, 1899 in Pawnee, died Jul. 18, 1927 in Muskogee Co., OK.  He married Vida Valerian Russell on Nov. 8, 1920 in Idabel.  Vida was born Jan. 5, 1902 in Bodcaw, Nevada Co., AR and died Sep. 26, 1968 in Santee, San Diego Co., CA.  Their children were:  George, Jr.; Bessie Jeanne and Vida Lucille.

Their last known child was James, apparently a "surprise baby," born c1915.  No further info.

The fifth child of Albert and Elizabeth was Thomas V., born 1863.  No further info
 has been found.

Elizabeth's sister, Mumzella Malvina was born Dec., 1830 in Russell Co. and, married Isaac G. Scholl.  The Russell Co. history revealed this:

"Isaac G. Scholl was born in Merry Oaks in Barren County, Kentucky, and moved to Jamestown in October 1850.  He followed his aunt, Sally (Hodge) Satterfield, and her husband Archabald Satterfield, who had come to this area from Scottsville, Allen County, Kentucky, in 1822.  Isaac Scholl served as jailer of Russell County for many years after being appointed to the position in August of 1853.  He was also the town marshal and a blacksmith.  During the Civil War, Isaac was a 3rd lieutenant in the 94th Regiment, 2nd Battalion of the Russell County Militia.  Isaac's grandfather, Abraham Scholl, had been a Revolutionary War soldier.  Abraham was in the Battle of Blue Licks in northern Kentucky when Daniel Boone's son, Israel, was killed."

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Update, Aug. 17, 2011

Albert was married a second time and then to Matilda D. Grider c1865 in [perhaps] Clinton Co., KY but, more likely in Russell Co. because Matilda was born there c1832.  She also appeared there in the 1850 census with her parents, James and Ann Grider.

Some genealogies that I have viewed reports that Matilda first married Vespusian T. Bristow c1851 in Russell Co.  He apparently died before 1860 because she later married William Marlow and moved to Missouri.  The Marlow's appeared in the 1860 census of Miles Point, Carroll Co., MO.2

William was apparently dead by 1865 when Matilda married Albert.  They appeared in the 18703 Jamestown, Russell Co., KY census with two Marlow children: Hiram B., age 9 ["deaf and dumb"] and, Mary W., age 7, both born in MO.

Albert died in 1903 [some genealogies report his death in Oklahoma] and was buried in the Eddy Cemetery at  McLennan Co., TX.  His three sons with Matilda, George Fred, Joseph Frank and James C. are also buried at Eddy.4

An unresolved issue is the report in the1870 and 1880 census record of Albert's birth in Alabama.

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1 Russell County Historical Society, Russell County, Kentucky: History and Families (Nashville, TN: Turner Publishing Co., 1996), Page 19.
2 1860 Carroll Co., Sugar Tree Bottom Twp., Miles Point PO, Sheet 13, dwelling 1019, family 6 [sic], William Marlow, age 48, male, farmer, $8000, $3295, born KY; Matilda, age 25, female, born KY; Saml Marlow, age 22, male, laborer, born KY; John Marlow, age 18, male, born KY; Allice D., age 14, female, born KY; Wm., age 12, male, born KY; Geo., age 10, male, born KY; Malchum [sic] D., age 3, male, birth not given
3 1870 Russell Co., Jamestown PO, Pct. 1, Page 11, dwelling/family 74, Coffey, Albert G., age 45, male, white, farmer, $5000, $2000, born AL; Matilda D., age 36, female, white, keeping house, born KY; Amanda M., age 17, female, white, born KY; Robert B., age 14, male, white, born KY; Liston P., age 10, male, white, born KY; Thomas V., age 6, male, white, born KY; George F., age 4, male, white, born KY; Joseph F., age 11 mos., male, white, born KY; Marlow, Hiram B., age 9, male, white, born Missourie [sic], dumb; Marlow, Mary W., age 7, female, white, born Missourie 
4 His entry on Find A Grave incorrectly places this cemetery in Falls Co., TX

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!

Gilliam & Susan Gragg Coffey

Gilliam was a son of William and Anna Boone Coffey. He was born May 21, 1810 in NC and died on Jan. 8, 1910 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC. He married first Mary "Polly" Moore on Jan. 2, 1832 in Caldwell Co.

Mary died on May. 26, 1871 in Caldwell Co. She was the mother of at least six children:

Harvey N., born Dec. 16, 1837, died Aug. 10, 1912. He married Jane Cochran, born Dec. 20, 1848, died Feb. 11, 1911. Both are buried in the Job Moore Cemetery in the Globe, Caldwell Co.

William Elbert, born 1839 in Caldwell Co., married Margaret Anne Kincaid on Feb. 6, 18 60 in Burke Co., NC. Margaret was born in 1837 and died on Dec. 22, 1921 in Morganton, Burke Co.

Harriet E., born Sep. 5, 1843, died Dec. 12, 1937. Harriet married James B. Blain on Oct. 7, 1866 in Caldwell Co. He as born May 1, 1844 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., and died May 24, 1929 in Carter Co., TN. Harried was born Sep. 6, 1843 in Cedar Valley and died Dec. 12, 1937 in Elizabethton, Carter Co., TN. Both are buried in Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery at Keeneburg, Carter Co., TN

Celia Adeline, born c1847 of whom no further information.

Cordelia Adaline, born Jan. 10, 1853, died Jul. 9, 1918. She married John Boone Gragg on Dec. 17, 1877. He was born Feb. 15, 1856 in Caldwell Co., and died May 23, 1937 in the Globe. Both are buried at Job Moore.

Emma, born c1855, of whom no further information.

Gilliam married second to Susan D. (Susie) Gragg, a daughter of Jesse and Malinda Mast Gragg on June 4, 1882 in Caldwell Co. Susan had been twice before married: first to Patterson H. Moore on Sep. 6, 1866, and second to Isaac Green on Dec. 8, 1877. The only known child that survived this union was Hillie Horton, born Jul. 31, 1887, died Mar. 30, 1963.

Hillie marrie Bessie* McLean in 1908, Caldwell Co., and had at least four children: Unnamed son born and died May 16-17, 1921; James Harding, born and died Aug. 3, 1922; Fred Oral, born Mar. 16, 1924 and Ora Lee, born Feb. 27, 1927. Ora married Earl Greene in 1946, Caldwell Co.  Hillie died Mar. 30, 1963 in Collettsville, Caldwell Co., and was buried there in the Shoemake Cemetery.

The photo shows Hillie and his parents c1920. Please contact me if you contributed or know the source of the photo.

Please contact me to add to or to correct any of this information.

*I've seen another genealogy that names her Susie or Susan McLean

James Brown & Harriet E. Coffey Blair (Update)

This photo was sent to me by Gail Hewett, a descendant of James and Harriet.  It is in remarkably good condition.  The young man in the photo is Fredrick Blair, their grandson and son of Gilliam Colbert "Cub" Blair.  According to Gail, James and Harriet raised Fredrick after his mother died.

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Harriet Coffey was the daughter of Gilliam and Mary (Polly) Moore Coffey.  Gilliam was a son of William and Anna (Annie) Boone Coffey who descends from Edward and Ann Powell through their son John and his son Thomas Coffey who married Sarah (Sally) Fields.  Thomas was a brother to Reuben Coffey who married Martha (Polly) Dowell.

In her note accompanying the photo, Gail wrote that Polly Moore may be the daughter or Job and Susan Stone Moore.  Job was known to minister to boys at the Globe Academy.  Gail thought that Polly may have been Cherokee, taken in by Job to help care for the boys, and perhaps to save her from the "Trail of Tears."  Her daughter, Harriet, appears to me to have the quaint and beautiful features of a Native American woman.  In this photograph, taken c1908, she is still a very attractive woman, and must have been a real beauty in her younger years.

Harriet was born Sep. 6, 1843 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., NC and died Dec. 12, 1937 in Elizabethton, Carter Co., TN.  She is buried at Harmony Baptist Church Cemeter in Keeneburg, Carter Co.  James Blair was born in May 1845 in Caldwell Co.  We're working on it, but do not yet know when and where he died or, where he is buried.

Their children were:

Henry Lee, born c1869

Gilliam Colbert "Cub", born Jul. 15, 1870, died Dec. 9, 1934.  He is buried at the Concord Church Cemetery in Bostic, Rutherford Co., TN

Harvey, born c1873

John C., born Jan., 1875

Job W., born c1878

Mary E., born Dec., 1881

Hatibel, birth unknown

Lillie M., born May, 1887

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

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Hi Jack,


James Brown Blair was born May 1, 1844 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., N.C. He served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Was captured and held prisoner at Rock Island Il. until the end of the war. He and Harriet Coffey were married Oct. 7, 1866. He died May 24, 1929 in Carter Co. Tn. He and Harriet are buried at Harmony Baptist Church in Keeneburg Tn. ( just outside of Elizabethton). He was the son of Colbert and Mary (Polly) Barnes Blair.

Harriet E. Coffey Blair was born Sept. 6,1843 in Caldwell Co. N.C. She died July 19, 1937, and is buried next to James in Harmony Baptist Church cemetery in Keeneburg , Carter Co., Tn.

If I can help you any further just let me know.

Another Coffey Cousin,

Gail