Jesse & Elizabeth Thompson Coffee

Looking for descendants of Jesse and Elizabeth Thompson Coffee.  Jesse was a son of Cleveland and Martha Brown Coffee, born c1812 in SC.  He married Elizabeth Feb. 2, 1935 in Macon Co., NC. Elizabeth was born c1810 in NC and except for her marriage record, nothing is known except her children.

They were parents of at least seven children, all boys!  Their names and approximate birth years were extracted from the 1850 Rabun Co., GA federal census.

1850 GA, RabunCo., Militia Dist. 509, dwelling/family 68, Jesse Coffee, age 38, married, farmer, $200, born SC; Elizabeth, age 40, female, born NC; William, age 13, born NC; Abraham, age 11, male, born NC; Cleveland, age 9, male, born NC; Andrew, age 7, male, born NC; Rufus, age 5, male, born NC; Joel, age 3, male, born NC; Allen, age 2, male, born NC

I have not found them in any subsequent census record and other searched locations have not yielded any other accurate info.

Please contact me if you are a descendant or have any helpful info on this family.

Jack

Brothers, Paul Arch & Frank Linney Coffey

Paul Arch Coffey was born to Archie E. and Virginia Frances "Jennie" Brown on Aug. 30, 1902 in Watauga Co., NC. His father died less than a year later, on Apr. 11, 1903. Two years later on October 5, 1905, his widow married Henry Boone Coffey, a son of Smith W. and Elizabeth Redmond Coffey and a very distant cousin to Archie.

See the Levi Lafayette Coffey blog for more family background information.

Paul grew up to marry Margaret Allen Linney on Dec. 6, 1926 in Watauga Co.  Together they had two sons, Paul Armfield Coffey in 1934 who married Rachel Ann Rivers in 1965.  Rachel's family was involved in the publication of the newspaper Watauga Democrat and Paul began his working career there, eventually rising to the position of Publisher.  Paul died in 2007 and Rachel in 1999.

The second son was Frank Linney Coffey, born 24 Jun 1936 and died this year on Nov. 4.

According to Frank's obituary*, he was a graduate of Watauga High School and the Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin, OH where he was described in a college's alumni paper as a baritone who sang primarily comprimario roles. He later attended the Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg, Austria.  after which he sang with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for 26 years.

Frank married Joyce A. Zaorski in Manhattan, NY in 1971. They were the parents of Paul L. Coffey who currently resides in NYC with his wife, Liz.

*Sent to me courtesy of Bradley Ingels

Ambrose Coffee, Irish Emigrant c1767

This Ambrose has often been confused with Ambrose Coffey, a son of the Rev. James and Elizabeth Cleveland Coffey.  James was the eldest son of John and Jane Graves Coffey.

A timeline produced by an unknown author, appeared in the March, 1993 issue of the Coffey Cousins' Newsletter, provided the following:

The subject Ambrose was an Irish emigrant who was sent to the Virginia Colony in c1767/68 to work for John Hough (Huff), probably in Loudon Co.

1775/76 Came to Kentucky to Herrodsburg.

1776      Kentucky Historical Society Register, Vol. 30, page 127:  "The tide of emmigration [sic] to the Madison portion of Fincastle was slow but perceptible.  Among the arrivals of 1776, who were to become permanent settlers were --- Ambrose Coffee ---"

1775/76 Was a soldier stationed at Fincastle Co. (now Kentucky) Virginia.  The specific site was most certainly Ft. Boonesboro.  By 1888 Fincastle became Ky. Co. & in 1780 it was divided into 3 counties - Jefferson, Lincoln & Fayette & became a state in 1792.  Ambrose lived in Herrodsburg.

1775/84 Lived in Boonesboro.

1779      10 Oct. Gave deposition regarding lad title at Ft. Boonesboro, Ky.

1780/83 Marriage.

1783      First child, Sarah, was born.  She married James Mcguire.

1785/87 Moved to Ruskes Settlement & stayed a year. or two.

1785       Second child, William was born.  He married Elizabeth Lacy.

1786       Signed petition for division of Lincoln Co., Ky into Mercer, Lincoln, and Madison counties.  Madison Co., Ky. was organized Aug.22, 1786.

1787       Third child, Ambrose Jr., was born.  He mar. 1st. Lucinda Day, 2nd Margaret Norman, a widow.

1789/91 Mill bought by Col. Holder.  Stayed two more yrs.

1791      Moved to Spencer Creek.

1792/1809 Moved to Slate Creek.

1793      Fourth Child, Ailsey, born.  She married Elijah Brown.

1795      Sept. 17, Daniel Williams & wife, Violet (Couch), of Clark Co., Ky. to Ambrose Coffey of same --- for ten pounds --- 20 acrs [sic] on Spencer's Creek, being part of Edward Williams' 400 acres pre-emptioned [sic] and adjoining same. (Daniel and Ambrose were Jim Sparks'* 3rd G-Grandfathers.)

17 Aug 1797     Fifth child, Rebecca Jane, born.  She mar. Wm. S. Lykins.

2 Jan 1799         Ambrose Coffee, deposed, at a spring near Joel Estill's fence, that "about 17 or 18" years ago, he, Ambrose Coffee had camped near this spelling. (1781/82)

1799     Sixth child, Elijah, born.  He mar. 1st Margaret Patrick 2nd Elizabeth Bowen.

1801     Seventh child, Raleigh, born.  He mar. Annis Anne Anderson.

1803     Eighth child, Jesse, Born.

21 Nov 1809  Kentucky Historical Society Register, Vol. 30, p136.  One of the most noted cases (of land disputes) was that of Green Clay vs. Henry Banta.... The depositions taken embrace the name of nearly all the early prominant [sic] settlers of the county.  The positions of the various localities named called into requisition the knowledge of such old hunters, fort builders and Indian scouts, including --- Ambrose Coffee...

1809     In his deposition in the Clay/Banta land dispute, Ambrose Coffee deposed that he first became acquainted with Muddy Creek in the year 1777 as he had come to Kentucky in 1776.  He claimed he had been sold to John Huff/Hough for passage money to America from over the "High Seas."  Ambrose Coffee was referred to as that "Irish Convict" from Ireland in other dispositions in the Clay/Banta dispute.

1810     Census of Montgomery County, Kentucky.

             363 Coffee, Ambrose  1M under 10  1 F 10-26 1 M 16-26  2 F 16-26 1 M over 45  1 F over 45

1820     Death in Montgomery County, Kentucky

Footnote 1:  The above Ambrose Coffee, is in no way to be confused with the Ambrose Coffee [sic] who came later to Kentucky from North Carolina.  They are two separate individuals and as far as cam [sic] be ascertained had no immediate relationship.  Our Ambrose Coffee, having come directly from Ireland to Kentucky [sic] spelled the mane [sic] Coffee, whereas the other often used Coffey/Coffy as the spelling.**

Footnote 2:  County changes in Kentucky during the 1700 and 1800's.

1772...Virginia Colony created Fincastle County which included all of Kentucky.

1774...James Harrod settled Harrodsburg.

1775...Boonesboro, Marison County settled.

1776...All of Kentucky designated as Kentucky County, VA.

1780---Kentucky County, VA. was divided into 3 counties--Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln.

1790...There were nine counties---Mason..1789; Bourbon...1786; Woodford..1789; Fayette..1780; Madison..1786; Jefferson..1780; Mercer..1786; Nelson..1785; and Lincoln..1780

1792...Kentucky became a state.

* No idea who Jim Sparks is/was of date this timeline was created.  Punctuation, spacing, etc. is not consistent in the original.  Reproduced here as close to original as possible. I have made no effort to verify the accuracy of this information..

Through the magic of DNA, Edward researchers know this Ambrose was not related to Edward.

Colby & Sarah Roberts Rucker

In 1927 Edyth Johns Rucker Whitley put together a rather comprehensive account of the Ruckers in American. By her own admission, Edyth did not set out to provide "a complete history of the family" before they began to arrive on the shores of this country.*

She emphatically states that the origin of the Ruckers was "no doubt a very historical family" and was German. She descended into a short description of when the family originated when a "Sir Knight crusader, John Von Rucker, was granted in 1096 AD¹ a coat-of-arms, dating from the first Crusade."

This book is available to read and download at Ancestry.com.  I will borrow only slightly from it in this outline of the family and their intermarriage with the Coffey and Dalton families of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. I have not relied on it entirely for Colby's descendants; instead I have relied on several contemporaries who have assisted me over the years while I researched my own Coffee/y ancestry.

Edyth tells us that Colby Rucker was a son of Peter and Sarah Rucker of Culpepper Co., VA. She found no exact date of marriage for Peter and Sarah but speculated that it "must have been about 1759." In 1775 Peter sold his land in Virginia and relocated with Sarah and his children to Mississippi. Through an investigative process Edyth speculates that although no official record has been found that provides Sarah's maiden name, she pretty much convinces researchers that her name was Sarah Cowherd, a daughter of Colby Cowherd whose property adjoined the Ruckers in Culpepper Co.

Colby Rucker was born Oct. 10, 1760 and died on Jan. 20, 1852 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., TN and was buried there at the Rucker Cemetery. He married Sarah Roberts** c1784 and she died c1844, but we do not know where or, the location of her burial.

They had at least eight children; seven of which are believed born in Wilkes Co., and the last in Grainger Co., TN.

The first was Elizabeth. An un-sourced contribution to Coffey Cousins' tells us that she was born  born Jan. 6, 1787 and died Mar. 22, 1855.  She married John Coffey, a son of Benjamin and Polly Hayes Coffey on Mar. 1, 1804 in Wilkes Co.  It is said that 12 children were born to the union but likely there were only ten.  We have no data on two of them:  Jesse T. and George.

The others were Ausburn (var.) who was born on Jan. 11, 1805 and died on Dec. 30, 1876 in Grainger Co. He was married c1830 to Matilda "Tildy" Dalton, a daughter of Enos and Rebecca Williams Dalton. Tildy was born Jan. 30, 1799 in Grayson Co., VA and died in Rockcastle Co., KY on Jan. 30, 1899. Ausburn is buried at the Rucker Cemetery in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., while Tilda died in Rockcastle Co. and was buried in Roundstone, KY at the Scaffold Cane Cemetery. Thirteen children.

Colby, born Aug. 23, 1806 in Wilkes Co., died in Estill Co., KY on Jun. 17, 1888. He was married to Mary Ann "Polly" Adams on May 22, 1830 in Grainger Co., TN. She was born Oct. 6, 1807 in VA, died Sep. 26, 1887 in Estill Co. Both buried at Garrett Cemetery in Jinks, Estill Co. Ten children.

Benjamin, born Feb. 8, 1808 in Wilkes Co., died May 8, 1867 in Rockcastle Co. He married Nancy Hayes c1872 in Hawkins Co., TN.  Nancy was born Jul. 23, 1802 in NC and died in Rockcastle Co. on Feb. 14, 1874.  Both are buried at the Maret Cemetery in Wildie, Rockcastle Co. Ten children

Elizabeth Coffey Whitsett Hayes
Photo via S. Phelps

Elizabeth was born Oct. 14, 1810 in TN and died in Cass Co., MO on Aug. 30, 1883. Her first husband was Nathan P. Whitsett to whom she was married on Dec. 1, 1839. He died in Jan., 1842 in Grainger Co. and she then married her first cousin, George W. Hayes, a son of Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Rucker Hayes. Sally was the daughter of Colby and Sarah Roberts. The marriage occurred on Feb. 23, 1845 in Grainger Co. Both George and Elizabeth are buried at Pleasant Hill in Cass County's Union Baptist Church Cemetery. At least five children.

Nancy, born Jan. 12, 1811 in Grainger Co., died Nov. 20, 1896 in Rockcastle Co.  She never married and in the 1860 census she was enumerated as "insane."  She is buried at the Thomas Jefferson Coffey cemetery near Lake Linville in Rockcastle Co.

John Jackson, born Jan. 12, 1812 in Hancock Co., TN, died Oct. 15, 1877 in Rockcastle Co. His spouse was Elsie Nash, born 1810 in TN and died in Grainger Co. on Jan. 7, 1867. They were married Jul. 7, 1839 in Grainger Co. He is buried at Maret Cemetery in Wildie; she at the Condry Cemetery in Thorn Hill. Elsie was a daughter of Thomas and Dicy Mallicoat Nash. They also had a son named Marvel Nash who married Louisa Wells. Their daughter, Sarah Nash later married Wiley Coffey, son of Ausburn and Tildy Dalton Coffey. A son, Parrot Leon Nash also married Martha Matilda Coffey, a daughter of Wiley and Sarah Nash Coffey. John Jackson and Elsie had seven children.

The Coffey's loved their cousins!

John and Elizabeth Rucker Coffey's daughter, Sarah Lucinda, born c1822 in Grainger Co., married William E. (or H.) Coffey on Mar. 21, 1840.  William was the son of George and Margaret Rucker Coffey.  Margaret Rucker and Sarah's mother, Elizabeth Rucker were sisters and, John and George Coffey were brothers.  So, Sarah and William were double first cousins!  Sarah and William had seven children.

Margaret Elizabeth Coffey, born Feb. 28, 1823, probably in Grainger Co., married Isaac Bullen on May 9, 1844 in that county.  He was born Apr. 23, 1802 in TN and died in Rockcastle Co. on Nov. 28, 1896.  Margaret also died in Rockcastle Co.  Margaret was Isaac's second wife.  His first wife was Mary Dotson to whom he was married on Nov. 3, 1829 in Grainger Co.  They had five children, one of which (Hannah) married Elias Henry "Eli" Coffey in 1851 Grainger Co.  He was another son of Ausburn and Tildy Dalton Coffey.  Both Margaret and Isaac are buried at the Thomas Jefferson Coffey Cemetery.  Mary Dotson is buried at the Dotson Cemetery in Grainger Co.

Catherine Coffey, born Apr. 29, 1827 in TN, died Sep. 27, 1914 in Howell Co., MO.  She married a Mr. Sweet in Cass Co., MO.  We know that Catherine is buried at the Langston Cemetery in West Plains, Howell Co. MO, but no clues yet on Mr. Sweet.

William M. Coffey, born Oct. 31, 1828 in TN is the last known child of John and Elizabeth Rucker Coffey.  He married Ellen Nash on Jun. 10, 1849 in Rutledge, Grainger Co.  He died on Aug. 9, 1893 in that county; she on Jan. 19,1884.  Unfortunately, I have not yet found where they are buried.

---

2/16/2015 Update:

The following is from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application made for the Colby's children.  His pension was denied as no proof existed that he actually served:

United States Department of Interior***

Bureau of Pensions

Rev. and 1812 Wars.         Washington, Nov. 6, 1925

Section R-9061

In response to your letter [presumed to be Whitley] of the second instant, I have the honor to advise you, that from the records of this Bureau it appears that Colby, or Colley Rucker was born October 10, 1760, place not stated.  During the Revolution he lived with his parents, whose names are not on record, on the Mississippi River, near Natchez.  He married soon after the Revolution in Wilkes County, North Carolina, date not given, Sarah Roberts.  He died in Grainger County, Tennessee, January 20, 1852.  His wife died about eight years before he died.  In 1852, their surviving children were:

Mrs. Margaret Coffee, aged sixty-five years.

Mrs. Elizabeth Coffee, aged sixty-seven years.

William Rucker, aged sixty-three years.

Mrs. Sarah Hayes, aged sixty-one years.

Mrs. Nancy Pain or Payne, aged fifty-eight years.

Mrs. Delphia Dalton, aged fifty-six years.

John Rucker, aged fifty-four years.

Mrs. Jane Hayes, aged fifty-one years.

On December 27, 1852, William Hays, or Hayes, soldier's administrator, a resident of Rockcastle County, Kentucky, applied for pension in behalf of the surviving children.  He was also soldier's son-in-law, but it is not stated which daughter was his wife.

It is stated that Colby, or Colley Rucker, enlisted in 1778, or 1770 and served under Captain Alston and Colonel Blunt, ranging up and down the Mississippi River near Natchez, for eighteen months.  After this, while going to North Carolina, he was captured by the British and confined in Savannah between four and six months, before he escaped.

He then went to Wilkes County, North Carolina, where he enlisted and served for three months under Captain John Keyes and Colonel Benjamin Harrald and Colonel Charles McDowell against the Cherokees.  Dates of service not given.

The claim was not allowed as soldier did not render six months service, in an embodied military corps as required by the pension laws.

Very truly yours,

Winfield Scott, Commissioner

---

Sources:

¹ The People's Crusade; see http://tinyurl.com/l6b244m

*Neither do I plan to create here a complete descendant list of children and other descendants of Colby.  I will however, be glad to discuss and provide information, including sources, to any researcher who would like to know more about this very large family.

** Was Sarah's surname Roberts or Robins?  According to the website "Robins [Ro-Bynes] Robbins - Clan?" Colby Rucker married Sarah Robins, daughter of John Robins, Jr., and Margaret Strother.

See the wewbsite  http://jimrobins.cherokee-online.com/robins.php as source of following information:

Children of John Robins, Jr. and Margaret Strother:

William Robins, born c. 1745 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died c. 1774 in Orange Cty., Virginia. He was married c. 1766 to Ann Foster, born c. 1744, died 14 June 1833.

Capt. Thomas Robins, born c. 1748 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died bef. 1824 Coffey Cty., Tennessee. He was married on the 24 December 1775 to Mary Foster, she was born abt 1747, died 4 December 1807 in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina.

NOTE: Check this link for a surname history for the Foster line: Foster Link

[http://www.fmoran.com/foster.html]

John Robins, born c. 1750 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died (?) in Franklin Cty., Tennessee. He married Elizabeth Dogan in c. 1771 in Orange Cty., Virginia.

NOTE: Check this link for a surname history for the Jones line

[http://www.fmoran.com/wilkes/jones.html]

Reuben Robins, born bet. 1750-1755 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died in 1833 in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina. He was married on the 29 April 1782 in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina to Jane Turner, born c. 1760-70, died c. 1850-60

Mary Robins, born c. 1760 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died (?) in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina. She married Joseph Roberts c. 1781.

Ann Robins, born (?) in Orange Cty., Virginia. She married James Sartin c. 1786.

Lucy Robins, born bet. 1755-60 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died bef. 1787 in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina. She married (Benjamin) Brown

Sarah Robins, born (?). She married Colby Rucker c. 1786.

***Microfilm publication M804 (Washington, D.C.: NARA, ), M804, Pension No. R.9061.

Wallace Lee Coffey (1917-2000)

Wallace Lee Coffey

Wallace, a member of America's "greatest generation," was born to Charles I. and Mary Ann Hendricks Coffey in Owen Co., IN on Aug. 12, 1917.

Charles Iomer Coffey was a son of the Rev. Cyrus V. and Elizabeth Ella Brown Coffey, both of whom were born and raised in Indiana.  Charles' parents were Jason, a native of North Carolina and Rachel Corder, an Indiana native.

Jason's father was Larkin Coffey (1800 Wilkes Co., NC-Jan. 12, 1881 Owen Co., IN); his mother Catherine H. Wilson (1802 Wilkes Co.-1857 Owen Co.), both natives of Wilkes Co., NC.  After their marriage in that county in 1826, they moved west, and in 1841 were found on the tax rolls in Morgan Co., IN.1

Jason was born in 1829 and accompanied his parents to Indiana where he married Rachel, born 1832 in that state, on Mar. 17, 1853.2

Cyrus and Elizabeth Ella Brown Coffey were parents of at least nine:  Orpha May; Charles Iomen; Flora Rachel; Ada Florence; Jason Ray; Nellie Mabel; Mary Esther; Wendell Holmes and Charlotte Virgie.

Charles Iomer and Mary Ann had at least seven children:  Edna May; Stella Murl; Dorothy M; Bernice L; Wallace Lee; Arthur E. and Verlin M.

Coffey-Klar Marriage Record

Having been born near the end of WW1, Wallace Lee missed an opportunity to serve his country.  Not so in WW2.  He apparently had a normal farm life in Indiana until he enlisted in the US Army at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN on Feb. 26, 1944.  He may have received his basic military training at Fort Ben and later that year was sent as an infantry soldier to Germany to fight NAZIs.  Unfortunately, he was captured shortly after his arrival.  He was taken prisoner on Oct. 14, 1944 and assigned to Stalag VII A at Moosburg, in Bavaria.  This prison was originally built to hold about 10,000 prisoners but, source reports at least 80,000 allied troops were held there by the end of the war.

Wallace was repatriated on Feb. 21, 1945 and the war in Europe was over some two months later.  He returned to Indiana where on Dec. 24, 1948 he married Minnie M. Klar in Spencer Co., IN.3   His memorial at Find-A-Grave reports that he was married once prior to Minnie but does not give her name.  A 1940 census entry for Clay Co., IN shows Wallace Coffey, age 22, married to Ruth, age 29 and one son, Edward Lee Coffey, born Apr. 20, 1937 in Owen Co.  Edward married a lady named Phyllis A. c1957.  She was born on Jan. 2, 1940 and died on Dec. 3, 2007.  Edward preceded her in death on Jul. 20, 1979.  Both died in Indiana and are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.

Additions and corrections welcomed!

^Jack

1Charles Blanchard, Editor, Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey & Co. Publishers, 1884), Page 502.

2Ancestry.com. Indiana Marriage Records Index, 1845-1920. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Original Data: Works Progress Administration. Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940., Marriage Book 3, Page 20. [This source does not provide county where marriage was celebrated]

3"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959" index and images,  FamilySearch  (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXRR-14M: accessed 30 Aug 2014), Wallace L Coffey and Minnie M Watkins, 24 Dec 1948; citing Daviess County; FHL microfilm 001939654.

William Coffey and the Whitecaps!

The St. Louis Republic, November 03, 1901

William Coffey Is Again In Jail

This Time a Young Woman Prefers a Charge of Assault, Which He Denies

Before Courts Ten Years

First Gained Notoriety for His Prosecution of Whitecaps*, Who Beat Himself and Wife Unmercifully

William Coffey
from St. Louis Republic article

Evansville, Ind., Nov. 2, -- William Coffey of whitecap fame is again in jail at Jasper, having been arrested a few days ago at a small station on the Southern road near Huntingburg, on a charge of attempted assault, preferred by Miss Ella Smith of Ireland.

It is said that to try all the cases in which Coffey has been plaintiff or defendant would take a continuous session of court for a solid year.

Coffey first came into prominence when he as whipped by whitecaps in December, 1890.  He was living with his wife, Mary, in a little log hut near Ellsworth, sixteen miles east of here, near the Crawford County line.

Just what the whitecaps had against him will never be known, as no one would own up to being one of the crowd.

About midnight on December 4, 1890, while he was at home asleep with his wife and 4-years-old girl, a noise of running men was heard, and his door was broken in by a cross-tie.  A dozen masked men rushed into the room and, without allowing him to dress, dragged him out into the cold night.  He was taken about 200 feet from the house and tied to a tree, after being blindfolded.  His shirt was stripped off his back, and the leader, whom Coffey always maintained was John H. Brown, a prominent and well-to-do farmer of the neighborhood, gave the order for “No. 1” to proceed.

Beaten by Whitecaps.

“No. 1” stepped forward, picked up a strong hickory with, and gave Coffey five vigorous blows on the back.  Coffey claimed that “No. 1: was Thomas Higfill.  “No. 1,: at the command of the leader, was followed by “No. 2.” “No. 3,” “No. 4” and “No. 5,” who each gave him five hard lashes as “No. 1” had done.  Not a word was spoken by anyone except the leader.  No names were spoken, each member being designated by number.  About twenty-five were present, all disguised and masked.  Coffey did not pretend to know all the crowd, but insisted that “No. 2: was Henry Sutton and “No 3” William Highfill.  Among others he

claimed to recognize were James Ellis, Levi Ellis, Levi Jacobs and John and Wesley Kellams.  All these were prominent and well-respected men.

At the January term of court Judge Oscar M. Welborn gave pointed instructions to the Grand Jury and directed them to return bills against all the whitecappers if any evidence could be secured against them.  Both Coffey and his wife appeared before the Grand Jury and identified each of the suspected men and several others, but the Grand Jury refused to return any bills.

Again Beaten.

During the following spring and summer there were numerous whitecap outrages along the Dubois and Crawford County line, about twenty people being whipped. Excitement was at fever heat.  Coffey publicly announced that he would give the gang $10 if they would come back and try to whip him again.  In August, 1891, both he and his wife were taken out of bed, stripped, tired to trees and given a fearful beating.  The whitecaps told Coffey that they wanted the $10 that he had promised, and that if he did not keep his mouth shut this was only half what he would get next time.  They then mounted their horses and left a top speed, going toward Birdseye.

Coffey and his wife made their way to his mother’s house, a quarter of a mile distant, where Coffey fell fainting in her door from loss of blood.  His life was despaired of for more than three weeks.  He finally recovered and he and his wife appeared before the September Grand Jury and testified that the same men whipped him who had whipped him the year before.  Though Judge Welborn gave charge after charge and time and again sent them back to their rooms, the jurors refused to return any whitecap indictments.  John H. Brown, whom Coffey identified as leader, was foreman of the Grand Jury.  They did, however, return two or three bills against Coffey for provoke [sic] and assault and battery.

Alleged Whitecaps Tried.

During all this time the newspapers all over the country were urging the prosecution of the whitecappers and were wanting to know why it was not done.  As soon as court was over Coffey was sent for by Deputy Prosecutor Richard M. Milburn and affidavits were made against all the parties whom Coffey claimed to recognize.

All were arrested and demanded a change from Judge Welborn.  This was granted and Thomas Duncan of Princeton was appointed special Judge to try the cases.  The first case to be tried was that of John H. Brown.  The trial lasted a week.  More than fifty witnesses testified that Coffey’s reputation for truth was bad.

After being out twenty-four hours the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, fixing Brown’s punishment at two years in the penitentiary.  Brown escaped and has never been seen in the county since.  He is said to be in Texas.

The next cases to be tried were those of Thomas Highfil [sic] and his son, William.  Each occupied a week.  Thomas was found not guilty and William was given two years in State Prison.  He served his time and is now living in the eastern part of this county.  Henry Sutton pleaded illness and his case was continued.

It is now seen that the back of the defense was broken and that unless something desperate was done that all of the defendants would go to the Penitentiary, as there were three cases against each defendant, two for whipping Coffey and one for whipping his wife.

Charged with Perjury.

A change of venue was granted and the cases sent to Pike County.  At this state of the game, it is said one of the accused men offered Coffey $7,000 is he would make an affidavit that he had nothing to do with the whipping and was not present.  Coffey agreed to this.  The money was to be placed in a hollow oak tree and as soon as he had signed the affidavits he was to go and get the money.  However, when he signed the papers and went to look for the money he found nothing bu some strips of brown paper.

Shortly afterwards, Sutton’s case was called and these affidavits introduced in evidence.  Sutton was acquitted and the prosecution in disgust quashed the remaining cases.

Coffey was indicted for perjury, but escaped.  He wandered around and was arrested at Vincennes for stealing a turkey and sent to the penitentiary for a year.  Upon the expiration of his sentence he was arrested on an old charge of perjury at Petersburg.  The jury, after hearing the evidence for a week, were out for three days and failed to agree.  After this the case was continued a time or two and, after Coffey had been in jail for nearly a year, he was released by the Judge on his own bond.  The officers hoped he would leave and never come back for trial, but on the first day of the next court he was on hand.  After an attempt to get the witnesses, the case was nolled. [sic]

Trouble With His Wife.

Coffee [sic] had three cases for damages against each of the parties charged with taking part in whitecapping him, but never recovered anything.  He and his wife separated, and he was arrested on the charge of sending a letter containing obscene matter through the mails to her.  He was taken to Evansville and lodged in jail, and after an examination by Commissioner Wartmen was bound over to the United States District Court at Indianapolis and sent to the Marion County jail to await trial.  After laying in jail for about three months he was found not guilty.  Returning to Dubois County, he had his wife arrested on the change of kidnapping and sued her for divorce.  She beat him in both cases.  A second application for divorce was more successful, but he was prohibited from marrying again for two years.  Notwithstanding this order he married again inside of ten days.  He was arrested for contempt of court, but beat the case on a technicality.

Since then he has figured in two or three cases of some sort at every term of court.  He is about 35 years old, is a hard worker and can do as much manual labor in a day as any man in the county.  A few nights ago Miss Ella Smith of Ireland claims he broke into her room where she was sleeping with some younger brothers and sisters and attempted to assault her.  An outcry from the children, however, frightened him and he fled.  Her father and mother were both away and this was about midnight.  She swore out a warrant against him.  He is now in jail awaiting trial on this charge and denies that he is guilty.

*Whitecaps were also known as Night Riders

Please write if you know who William's parents were!

  Jack

James Wesley & Sarah Elizabeth Coffey Redwine

Charlie, Essie Dee and George Redwine

Both James and Sarah had been previously married prior to their own union on Jul. 12, 1897 in Grayson Co., TX.  James' previous wife or wives are not yet known; Sarah is thought to have been briefly married to a Mr. Brown.  The TX marriage record for her and James names her as Sarah Brown and, some genealogies report her first husband as Billy Brown.  There is an 1897 marriage record in Denton Co., TX for a Scotland Brown to Sallie Coffee [sic] but I don't think this is the same Sarah/Sallie Coffey.

Sarah was a daughter of Martin and Mary Jane Bailey Coffey and, this family descends from the thus far mythical Chesley and Elizabeth Cleveland family.  Martin was a son of Golson Wilson and Rebecca Ann Shackleford Coffey.  Golson was a son of Martin and Nancy Hansford Coffey.  Martin is said to be the son of Chesley and Jane.

James and Sarah appeared together in the 1900 Grayson Co., TX census and the 1910 Lexington, Cleveland Co., OK census.  I have not found the family in the 1920 census but they appeared in the 1930 Colbert, McClain Co., OK census with their son George W. and his family as well as their last born child, Essie Dee.

Census records show that James and Sarah had seven children:  Pearl, born c1895 in OK; Jannie, in TX c1900; Olia, in TX c1902; Allie, in TX c1904; Charlie, in TX c1906; George, in OK c1909; and Essie Dee, in OK c1913.  Essie married John Douglas Franks and the couple lived and died in Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA; John in 1994 and Essie in 1996.

I'm still working on this family.

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Recap/Update Jul. 10, 2011

James Wesley Redwine was born Mar. 3, 1866 in Cedar Springs, Dallas Co., TX and died Feb. 21, 1936 in Shawnee, Pottawatomie Co., OK.  His first wife, thought to have been named Rebecca, died before 1897, perhaps in TX where her children were born.  They were:  

Milton, born May, 1884; Willie, born Jan., 1887; Irene, born Mar., 1889; Margaret, born Aug., 1890; and Pearlie, born Jan., 1894.

Willie married  a lady named Jenny and had several children, including Earl, Willis, Leonard, Alice and Lera (?), a male.

James' second wife was Sarah Elizabeth Coffey, born c1877 in MO to Martin and Mary Jane Bailey Coffey.  She married James on Jul. 12, 1897 in Grayson Co., TX and became the mother of at least six children:

Janie, born Oct., 1899; Olia or Ola, born c1902; Allie, born c1904; Charlie, born c1906; George, born Feb. 22, 1909 and Essie Dee, born c1913.  Essie, Charlie and George appear in the above photo.

Irene, from James' first wife, married c1905 to Lee P. Mooneyham and was the mother of five children:

Gilbert P., born c1906; Lillian E., born c1908; Glen W., born c1911; Clifford L., born c1913 and, Dessie L., born c1915

Lee died c1917 and Irene then married Ephraim Vernon Coffey, a son of William Franklin and Elizabeth Ann Brown Coffey.  William Franklin was a brother to Martin, both sons of Golson Wilson and Rebecca Ann Shackleford Coffey.

Ephraim had been previously married to Elizabeth Jane Wood with whom he fathered at least seven children:

Mary J., born Dec., 1884; Bettie A., born Mar., 1886; Jennie L., born May, 1889; Sophronia, born Jan., 1891; Jessie, born Jun., 1893; Sarah, born Sep., 1895, and Rosie, born July, 1898.

His second wife was Beulah B. Roach who he married c1901 in OK.  Their children were:

Dora, born c1905; Ira Franklin, born c1911, and John "Jack" Wesley, born c1914.  There may have been another born in the six year gap between Dora and Ira.  He is not known to have fathered any children with Irene.

There is a child in the 1910 census with Ephraim and Beulah that I cannot account for:  He and Elizabeth Wood had a daughter named Mary, born in Dec., 1884. In 1910 there was a child named Mary, age 16 in the household with Ephraim and Beulah.  She was not Beulah's child and she was too young to be Elizabeth's unless, perhaps, there was a census error and Mary was really 26 years old instead of 16.

Update, Jul. 19, 2011

James Wesley's first wife was Rebecca (Elizabeth?) Ann Rutledge.  Rebecca is said to have been previously married to M. L. Mason with whom she had the child Milton, born May 1884.

Burl & Camely Steele Coffey

Burl was a son of James Nelson and Sarah Margaret Barrier Coffey.  He was born on Jan. 14, 1884 in Kentucky - probably Wayne Co. - and died May 15, 1971 in that county.  He is buried at Elk Spring Cemetery at Monticello, KY.  Burl married Camely Steele, a daughter of John M. and Eliza Steele on Mar 7, 1903. Camely was born in Dec., 1884 in Wayne Co..  Her death date is unknown but, she is also buried at Elk Spring Cemetery.

Burl shares his headstone with his second wife, Emma Lee Gregory who he married c1941.  Emma was born Sep. 25, 1897 to George Washington and Gemima Elizabeth Worley Gregory.  She died Dec. 5, 1986.

Burl registered for the WW1 draft on Sep. 12, 1918 at the age of 34 years.  He and Camely lived in Barrier, Wayne Co. at the time where he was a farmer.  The record describes him as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and light brown hair. Twenty-four years later, on Apr. 27, 1942 and at age 58, he registered for the WW2 draft in Benton Co., IN.  He was described then as weighing 160 lbs and 5' 9" tall.  He eyes were still blue but his hair was gray.  Rather than Emma, he named Shoff Coffey of Oxford, IN as someone who would always know his address.  Perhaps he and Emma married later than 1941?

Burl and Camely were the parents of at least 10 children, all born in Wayne Co.:

Mabel, born c1905
Earnie, born c1907
Oscar, born c1909
Mayme, born Aug. 6, 1911
Mary Jane, born c1912
Leslie, born Aug. 24, 1913
Frederic, born c1915
Woodrow, born May 31, 1918
Dortha, born Feb. 13, 1921
Shoff G., born Jul. 29, 1925

Mayme married Addir R. Tuggle c1927 in KY.  He was born c1904 to James Wyatt and Rice Ellen Brown Tuggle.  Addie died Aug. 18, 1977 in Pulaski Co.  He was a resident of Lincoln Co. at the time of death and, is probably buried in that county.  There were at least two children born to this union:  Eugene (?) R., born c1927 and Lula Mae, born Nov. 14, 1929 in Wayne Co.

Cullem Leonard Coffey

Lula Mae married Cullem Leonard Coffey on Feb. 14, 1948, in KY and probably in Wayne Co.  Cullem died on Dec. 2, 2010 in Monticello, Wayne Co. and, was likely buried at Elk Spring.  Lula Mae died May 24, 2007 and, she is buried at Elk Spring.  Cullem was the son of Edward Cullem and Gertie Evana Taylor Coffey.

Shoff G. married Eva Mae Rainwater on Jan. 7, 1942 in Indiana.  She was born Feb. 12, 1923 in Liberty, Casey Co., KY to parents Louis F. and Grace "Gracie" Wilson Rainwater.

Death records for Shoff and Eva have not been found.  However, an obituary has been found for (second wife?) Adela L. Coffey, wife of Shoff G. Coffey.  She died in Fuquay-Varina, Wake Co., NC and, her obituary appeared in the The (Asheboro, N.C.) Courier-Tribune

FUQUAY-VARINA - Adela Laster Coffey, 59, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999.  Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Baptist Church, Angier.  Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Fuquay-Varina.

Surviving are husband, Shoff G. Coffey; daughters, Sandra Betts of Asheboro, Sharon Inman of Archdale; son, Karl Haper of Fuquay-Varina; brothers, Haywood Laster of Chesapeake, Va., Donald Laster and David Laster, both of Portsmouth, Va., Robert Adams of Sophia; granddaughter, Amber Haper of the home; five other grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

The family will be at the church noon-2 p.m. on Thursday.

Thomas Funeral Home, Fuquay-Varina, is in charge of the arrangements.

Drop a comment or e-mail to add to or to correct any of this info.

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Photo of Cullem Leonard Coffey is courtesy of Jacqueline Coffee Daffrin

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1910 Wayne Co., Elk Creek Pct., ED222, Sheet 13A, dwelling/family 240, Coffey, Burl, head, male, white, age 26, married once for 7 yrs., born KY, parents born KY, farmer; Comely, wife, female, white, age 25, married once for 7 yrs., mother of 3, 3 living, born KY, parents born KY; Mabel, dau., female, white, age 5, born KY; Earnie, son, male, white, age 3, born KY; Oscar, son, male, white, age 6 mos., born KY.

1920 Wayne Co., Oil Valley Pct., ED258, Sheet 5B, Cooper Road, dwelling 96, family 100, Coffey, Burl, head, female, white, age 35, married, born KY, parents born KY, farmer; Camely [sic], wife, female, white, age 35, married, born KY, parents born KY; Mabvel, dau., female, white, age 15, single, born KY; Ernie, dau [sic], female, white, age 13, born KY; Oscar, son, male, white, age 11, born KY; Mary Jane, dau., female, white, age 8, born KY; Leslie, son, male, white, age 7, born KY; Frederic, son, male, white, age 4 yrs., 6 [?] mos., born KY; Woodrow, son, male, white, age 1 yr., 7 mos., born KY.

1930 Benton Co., Otterbein, ED1, Sheet 3A, dwelling 65, family 67, Coffey, Burl, head, male, white, age 46, married at age 18, born KY, parents born KY, farm laborer; Camely, wife, female, white, age 45, married at age 17, born KY, parents born KY, farm laborer; Oscar, son, male, white, age 20, single, born KY, farm laborer; Lulie (?), son, male, white, age 18, single, born KY; Frederick, son, male, white, age 15, born KY; Woodrow, son, male, white, age 12, born KY; Dorothy, dau., female, white, age 10, born KY; Shoff, son, male, white, age 4, born KY.

Elisha "Lish" and Anna Harmon Moody Coffey

I touched a bit on Elisha and Anna Coffey in the Aldridge & Coffey blog of May 1.  Elisha was a son of Joseph and Isabella Lindsay Coffey and was born c1814 and almost certainly in North Carolina.

Anna was a daughter of Edward and Frances Carter Moody and was born c1814 in NC.  She died before 1880 and probably in Watauga Co.  Elisha appeared in that county's 1880 census as a widower.

There are at least two other sons of Lish and Anna for whom I have very little information.  They were all born early enough to have been strong candidates for service during the Civil War and, may have been killed.  Those sons were Jacob, born c1838 and, DeKalb, born c1839.  Some genealogies that I have seen also names another Levi, born c1844 as their son.

I think the Elisha Coffee [sic] and wife Hannah in the 1850 Watauga Co. census is this couple.  In addition to the parents, there was Levi, age 16; De Calb [sic], age 11 and Mary Cannon, age 7.  I am not certain who Mary Cannon was, but there is at least one Cannon female (not Mary) who married into a Coffey family in Burke Co., NC.

In 1860 Watauga co., Jacob, age 21 appeared with the family.  Another child, May A. Harmon [sic] age 2, was enumerated with the family. Although named as a child of Elisha, it isn't clear to me yet that he was.

The 1870 Watauga co. census shows that May Harmon was then Mary Harmon, age 13.  Except for a black male, age 14, named John Adges [?], the only others in the household were Elisha and Ann.

As mentioned earlier, Elisha appeared as a widower in the 1880 census for Watauga Co.

Levi Lafayette, who appears to be the eldest child of Elisha's, was born May 30, 1833 in Burke Co., and died Feb. 11, 1925 in Watauga Co.  He married "Tempie" Calloway, a daughter of James and Nicey Gragg Calloway, c1859 in Watauga Co.

To them were born at least seven children:

1 - Caroline Lavinia Coffey, born Mar. 6, 1860, died Feb. 13, 1923.  Caroline married her cousin David Nathaniel Coffey c1886.  David and Caroline are mentioned in several blogs.  If you are interested in more about them, search the blog archives [use search window in upper left corner and surround search term with quotes; e.g., "David Nathaniel Coffey."]  You can view a photo of David and read a bit of info about him in this blog.

2 - Joseph DeCalb Coffey, born Jan. 24, 1863 at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co., and died there on Dec. 30, 1930.  He married Lutittia [sic] F. Walters, a daughter of Johnathan and Emeline Long Walters, on Apr. 9, 1899 in Watauga Co.  Both are buried at the Byrd Cemetery in Foscoe, Watauga Co.

3 - Judith Coffey, born c1866 - no further information.

4 - Emma Coffey, born Oct. 19, 1869 in Watauga, died Jan. 3, 1938 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC.  Emma also married a cousin, William M. Coffey c1896.  William was a son of Smith W. and his wife Charity Elizabeth Redmond.

Laurence Coffey gives this name as Elizabeth Baker Redmond, indicating to me that she was probably married previous to her marriage to Smith.  However, in an e-mail to me dated Aug. 23, 2007, Carolyn Curtis wrote this:

"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 her freedom, $6.00, a new suit of clothes, a bible and she was to be taught to read and write."


I seem to recall some speculation that Elizabeth was full or part Indian and the Redmond might have something to do with that part of her heritage.  But, that is something that I have not pursued.

Both Charity and Smith are said to be buried in a Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill.

5 - James Wesley Coffey, born May 2, 1873 in Watauga Co., died in Boone on Dec. 6, 1960.  He married Donnie Brewer c1906.  A subsequent spouse was Callie Ward, born Mar. 30, 1898, daughter of James Ward and Mary Hicks.  Callie died Aug. 25, 1975 in Boone.  They are also said to be buried in the Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill.

6 - Archie E. Coffey, born Mar 23, 1876, died Apr. 11, 1903.  He married Virginia Frances Brown on Sep. 30, 1900.  "Jennie" was a daughter of Samuel Walker and Nancy Jane Joyce Brown.  See the other Levi Lafayette Coffey blog for more.

7 - Oscar Lee Coffey, born Sep. 7, 1878, died Jul. 1, 1977 in Davidson Co., NC.  Oscar married Ollie Belle Calloway, born Mar. 10, 1886 in Watauga Co., died Apr. 23, 1943 in Boone.  She was the daughter of William Henderson Calloway and his wife Almirah M. "Myra" Johnson.  Ollie is buried at Foscoe in the Community Cemetery.  I have not located Oscar's burial site.

I would really love to know if the Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill is actually known locally by that name and where it is located.

William M. Coffey and Martha Jane Sharpe

Continuing a bit with the family of Annie Lou Coffey who married Horry Thomas Austin:

Annie's father was William M. Coffey, born Dec. 1, 1855 in Buffalo Creek, a part of Wilkes Co., NC that later became Caldwell Co.  He was a son of William, Jr. and wife Margaret Robbins Coffey.  Annie's mother was Martha Jane Sharp, a daughter of James and Mary Ann Luellan Sharp and found in the upper division of Wilkes Co., NC in 1860.

The children of William and Martha Jane Sharp Coffey were:

Millard Cicero, born Feb. 1879, Caldwell Co., died Feb. 4, 1962 in Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC.  He is buried at Gaston Memorial Park in Gastonia.  Millard married Fannie Davis c1898 and together they had at least four children:  Purnell; Michael Luther; Clinard Yates; and Millard Reeves.

Richard Andrew, born May 16, 1880 in Caldwell Co., died Jan. 8, 1954 in Lincolnton Twp., Lincoln Co., NC.  He married Edna Laura McFadden c1907.  She was born Jul 13, 1887 in Rutherford Co., NC and died Aug. 30, 1967 in Hickory, Catawba Co.  Her parents were John W. and Regina Dellinger McFadden.  Richard and Edna are buried at River View Cemetery in Lincolnton.  Their children were William Glen; Dennis Dixon; Mary Lou; Alice; and Claude Wilson.

James Thomas, born Sep. 18, 1881 in Caldwell Co., died Apr. 10, 1962 in Lincolnton.  He married Celia Hix c1912.  She was born c1890 in NC and died before 1930.  He is buried at River View.  Children were Pervey; Vance, Juanita and one unnamed child.

Jesse Lawrence, born Jun. 19, 1883 in Lincoln Co., died Dec. 6, 1942 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co.  He married c1905 Estelle Virginia "Stella" Austin, a daughter of George Thomas and Sarah Isabell Simmons Austin.  Stella was born Mar. 31, 1883 in Patterson Twp., and died Sep. 24, 1959 in Lenoir.  Both are buried at the Yadkin Baptist Church cemetery in Lenoir.  Children were:  Floyd Jasper; Annie Lee; Carson A.; Carl; Esther Ruth; Geneva and Vurley L.

Bessie followied Annie Lou.  She was born in Feb., 1892 and married James Marvin Laney c1907.  Their children were Laurence; Lavonia; W. Blair; and Floyd Dure.

Bertha M., born Jul. 29, 1893 in Lincolnton, died there on Mar. 1, 1974.  She married Edward Brown.  I know of only one child, Helen, born c1918.  Bertha is buried at Southside Baptist Church cemetery in Lincolnton.

Gertrude G., born Apr., 1896 and Ruth E., born Nov., 1898.  I have not yet found any marriage or family information for these two daughters.

Please drop me a note if you can add to or correct any of this information.

Lester B. Coffey 1894-1954 Laurel Co., KY

In the 1900 Fariston, Laurel Co., KY census, Linville Coffey named one member of the household as Lester Coffey, born Jun., 1894, age 5, as his grandson. He also named Lula Brown, born Apr., 1898, age 2, as a granddaughter.

Linville's oldest child was Samuel Madison Coffey who had married c1894, had two children of his own by 1900 and also resided in Fariston. Sam's wife Sarah reported that she was the mother of two children and that both were living at the time. Those two were Russell, born Dec., 1896 and Lucy, born Jan., 1898.

So, it appears then that Lester was not a son of Samuel Madison Coffey.

Linville's next oldest child was his daughter, Edna. She was born c1876 and was not in the family household at the time of the 1900 census. Edna may have been the mother of Lula and/or Lester. I have not found an Edna of any surname in 1900 Laurel Co. that could be Linville's Edna.

Lester married c1916 Arretta "Retta" Jones, a daughter of James M. and Mary Jones of Laurel Co. She was born Jun. 17, 1896 in Kentucky and died Aug., 19, 1987 in Laurel Co. "Retta" and Lester were the parents of Opal M., born Sep., 1917 and Earl M., born Oct., 1919.

In 1930 Lester and "Retta" were enumerated in the Rough [Rouge?] Creek Pct., Laurel Co. A member of the household was David Coffee [sic] who was named as a brother to Lester. Also in the household was David F., a son of David, age 1, whom Lester named as his nephew.

David was David Ira, and a son of Linville, born Jun. 13, 1882, died Apr. 1, 1944 in Laurel Co. He married Maggie Epperson c1922 and they had four children before Maggie died on Nov. 16, 1928 in McHargue, Laurel Co.

So, for lack of any better evidence to the contrary, I have attached Lester to Linville though his daughter Edna, father unknown.

Linville and his wife Mary Jane Stansberry Coffey are buried at the Campground Cemetery in Boreing, Laurel Co., KY

Earl E. Coffey, a son of Samuel Madison and his wife Sarah died in 2001 and is buried at Pottawatomie Co., OK in the Tecumseh Cemetery.

Lester and his wife Arretta are buried at London, Laurel Co. in the Whitaker Cemetery.

Lester's son Earl M., married Emma Kathleen Burnett. They and their son Donald R. are also buried at Whitaker.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you have information concerning this family, especially Lester's parents.

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."

Charles Iomer and Mary Ann Hendricks Coffey

Charles Iomer [?] Coffey was born May 3, 1883 in Owen Co., IN to Cyrus V. and Elizabeth Ella Brown Coffey. He was one of at least nine children born to Cyrus and Elizabeth.

His siblings were:

Orpha May - no information

Flora Rachel (Rettie), born c1886, IN, married Victor Burch; children: Helen, born c1914 and Charles, born c1916.

Ada Florence, born c1887, IN, married Carl Von Burch Mar. 31, 1912, Owen Co.; children: Gladys, born c1915 and Hazel, born c1918

Jason Ray, born Mar. 17, 1888, IN, died Jul. 24, 1969, Owen Co., buried Riverside Cemetery, Washington Twp., Owen Co.

Nellie Mabel, married Charles Wyrick

Mary Esther, born Harry Coyal [sic]

Wendell Holmes, born Mar. 5, 1894

Charlotte Virgie, born c1897, married Ralph Sprague May 29, 1916 in Owen Co. One known child: Garland, born c1917

Charles was married to Mary Ann Hendricks on Feb. 24, 1904 in Greene Co., IN. The marriage is recorded in the Indiana index to marriage records compiled by the WPA from 1938-40.

Mary was born Nov. 4, 1885 in IN, and died Nov. 15, 1967 in Spencer, Owen Co. Charles' father died before the 1900 census. His mother was found residing in the household with her widower father, Lewis Brown, in Owen Co. The only children with her at that census were Flora, Ray, Wendell and Virgie. Charles was found in Greene Co., IN as a "boarder" in the household with the William Brown family, likely a relative of his mother. At the same time, there was a Willie E. Coffey, age 10, enumerated as a "servant" in the John Brown family, neighbors of William Brown. Willie remains a mystery to at this writing.

The WW1 draft record for Charles, dated Sep. 21, 1918, gives his residence at RR1, Spencer, Owen Co. where he lived with his wife. He described himself as a farmer of medium height and build with light blue eyes and black hair. The family appeared in the 1920 and 1930 Owen Co. census records.

Children born to him and Mary Ann were:

Edna May, born c1906

Stella M., born c1907

Dorothy M., born c1910

Bernice L., born c1912

Donald W., born c1915

Wallace L., born Aug., 12, 1917, died Feb. 11, 2000

Arthur E., born c1921

Verlin, a son, born c1924

Wallace enlisted in the US Army on Feb. 26, 1944 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. He was captured and made prisoner of war on Feb. 21, 1945, confined at Stalag 7A in Moosburg, Bavaria, Germany. He was later freed or liberated; the record is not clear. Social Security records his death at age 82 on Feb. 11, 2000 in Spencer Co.

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

Peggy Cornelia Brown Coffey

The death of Peggy Cornelia Brown Coffey was announced today in the Lenoir, NC News-Topic.

She was the wife of Russell James Coffey, a son of Joseph Howard and Florence Oleen Hartley Coffey.

Click on the News-Topic link to read the complete obituary.

Cyrus V. Coffey

Cyrus was a son of Jason and Rachel Corder Coffey, born c1858 in (probably) Owen Co., IN. Jason was a son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey, born c1833 in North Carolina and died before 1800 in (probably) Owen Co., IN. Rachel was born c1832 in Indiana.

On Sep. 5, 1880 Cyrus married Elizabeth Ella (Ellen?) Brown, a daughter of Lewis and Ritta (Artie?) Brown. Elizabeth was born in Indiana in Jul., 1864. Cyrus died before Jun. 16, 1900 in Owen Co. because Ella - as she was enumerated - was a widow in her widower father's household census for that year.

According to the 1900 census, Ella was the mother of nine children, nine living, but only four were residing with her at the time: Flora, age 15; Ray, age 12; Wendell, age 6; and Virgie, age 3.

I believe her children were:

• Orpha, no information


• Charles Iomer, born May 3, 1883


• Flora Rachel, born c1886


• Ada Florence, born c1887


• Jason Ray, born Mar 17, 1888


• Nellie Mabel, no information


• Mary Ester, no information


• Wendell Holmes, born Mar. 5, 1894


• Charlotte Virgie, born c1897

Charles married Mary Ann Hendricks, born c1886 in IN and had children: Edna May, born c1906; Stella M., born c1907; Dortha, born c1910; Bernice L., born c1912; Donald W., born c1915; and Wallace L., born c1918 (1920 Owen Co. census). Charles registered for the WW1 draft on Sep. 12, 1918 in Owen Co., and was described then as being 35 years old, born May 3, 1883. He was of medium height and build with light blue eyes and black hair. The family resided and farmed at RR1, Spencer, Owen Co.

Flora married Victor A. Burch, born c1886 in IN. In 1920 they were in Hendricks Co., IN and had children Helen, born c1914 and, Charles, born c1916.

Ada married Carl Von (or Van) Burch, born c1888 in IN, on Mar. 31, 1912 in Owen Co. In 1920 the family resided in Owen Co., Washington Twp., and had children: Gladys I., age 5 and, Hazel V., age 1 yr., 11 mos. In 1930 they were in Spencer Twp., and there were no additional children.

Jason apparently never married. He was enumerated as a single man in both the 1920 and 1930 Owen Co. census records. He registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917 in Owen Co. and was described then as being of medium height and build with brown eyes and black hair. He was 29 years old at the time, born Mar. 17, 1888 in Spencer, IN. He was unmarried then and, a self-employed farmer.

Nellie Mabel is thought to have married Charles Wyrick.

Mary Ester is thought to have married Harry Coyal.

Wendell Holmes registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917 in Owen Co. He was 23 years old at the time, born Mar. 8, 1894 in Elletsville, IN. He was unmarried at the time and was described as being of medium build and height with blue eyes and brown hair. He was a farm laborer and listed his employer as P.C. Becker or Decker in Colfax, IL.

Charlotte Virgie married Ralph Sprague on May 29, 1916 in Owen Co. Ralph was born c1893 in IN. In the 1920 census they are found in Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN where Ralph is employed as a bakery salesman. The only child was Garland, a son, born c1917 in IN.

Please send corrections and/or additions to me at the e-mail address below.

Anderson T. Coffey

Anderson T. Coffey was a son of John Davidson and Mary A. Mayfield Coffey. He was born in July, 1863 in Indiana and married Margaret (Maggie) Brown in Carroll Co., IN on Jul. 28, 1886. Maggie was born in Michigan in Dec., 1867.

I know of only one child, a daughter named Mayfield M. Coffey, born Sep. 1887 in Indiana.

Anderson was a railroad agent by profession. He is listed in the Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., IN city directory as an agent for the American Express Co. for years 1887 and 1888. In 1900 the family was in Council Grove, Morris Co., KS where Anderson was enumerated as a railroad station agent. Probably having just arrived in that town, they were boarders in the household of the Lewis Mead family. Mead was the local banker.

In both the 1905 and 1915 Kansas state census the family still resided in Council Grove. They seem to disappear after 1915. I have been unable to find them in any subsequent census. Neither have I been able to find a marriage record for Mayfield. The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) contains an entry for a May Coffey, born in Sep. 1886 and died in Kansas in Aug., 1965. It remains to be proven whether or not she was the daughter of Anderson and Maggie.



Please contact me if you have any additional information about this family.

George Nathan & Lillie Belle (Coffey) Walker

The following is a continuation of the Families of Kimble County [Texas] blog.

George Nathan & Lillie Bell (Coffey) Walker
by Lilburn Walker

George Nathan "Nath" Walker, son of Seth B. Walker & Sarah H. Harrell, was born Jan. 27, 1877 in Erath Co. TX. He was the youngest of 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls. His father, Seth B. Walker, served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War with Co. F, 11 Regt, TVI [TN Vol. Inf.?].

On Oct. 24, 1899 in Noxville, TX, George Nathan married Lillie Belle Coffey, daughter of John Wright & Mary Adeline (Brown) Coffey. Lillie Belle was born Jul. 15, 1861 in Concho Co., TX. Nath & Lillie had 12 children b. in Kimble Co., TX except Wm. & Susie, b. Menard Co.

Clabe [Claiborne?] Wright, b. Oct. 26, 1900, d. Mar 19, 1981, Kimble Co., TX, m.1) Pearl Seal, m. 2) Cleora Aridia Dodd.

Iva Maude, b. Jul 25, 1903, m. William Oilver "Bill" McKinney.

Simon, b. Jul. 15, 1905 m. Ruth Johnson.

Arthur Holland, b. Oct. 31, 1907, m. 1) Nettie Schmidt, 2) Ollie Davis.

Walter Edd, b. Dec. 21, 1909, m. Jessie Cowsert [Cowert?].

Ola, b. Jan. 26, 1912, m. Paul Foster.

William Henry, b. May 19, 1914, m. 1) Evelyn Nochols, 2) Murdell Rowlett

Susie, b. Dec. 21, 1916, m. 1) George Ivy, 2) Colman Solursh [Solrush?].

Earl, b. Oct. 29, 1919 m. Margie Harper.

Verda Fannie, b. Feb. 21, 1921, m. Phillip Braden.

Myrtle, b. May 13, 1924, married John Lewis Weaver.

Lillie John, b. Apr. 2, 1927 m. Edward Wm. Brown.

Nath and Lillie spent most of their married life on a ranch in Kimble Co. near Noxville, then lived for a few years in Harper. Nath died July 10, 1951 in Harper. Lillie died Dec. 28, 1965 in Menard. Both are buried in Noxville Cemetery.


[Note: In all three of the Families of Kimble County blogs, remarks contained in [brackets] are mine. The authors of the articles were not consistent in grammar, punctuation and syntax. I have added some corrections [not in brackets] to improve the flow.]

John Coffey - Update, Apr. 11, 2011

This John was born c1836 in North Carolina (probably Buncombe Co.) to Reuben and Rachel Hayes Coffey. He was the fourth son and fourth child in a family that would eventually total eight children; five males and three females.

John married Emeline (maiden name unknown) who was also born c1836 and probably in Buncombe Co. Together they had at least three children: Laura, born c1860; Montgomery G., born Jan. 1863, died Sep. 28, 1939; and Harley P., born Feb. 1866, died Mar. 1928.

Nothing is known about Laura.  Laura died c1879,

Montgomery married Julie C. (maiden name unknown) c1887 in North Carolina. She was born May 1870, but a death date has not yet been found. They had seven children: Addie L., born Jun., 1887; Henry Bascombe, born May, 1888; Cora B., born Jan., 1891; Horace M., born Jul., 1893; James Claude, born Apr. 12, 1897; John Hilliard, born Nov. 28, 1928; and Virginia, born c1902.

Julia C. was Julia C. Brown, born May 13, 1870 in Buncombe Co., and died there on Nov. 17, 1933. She was a daughter of James Lowery and DeMaris Rogers Brown 

Henry married Sadie (maiden name unknown) sometime around 1910. He registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917. He was described as being of medium height with slender build, blue eyes and black hair. He reported his age as 28 years, born May 19, 1889. This date is off by one year from that provided in the 1900 census in which he was reported born in May, 1888. The only census in which I have found them thus far is 1920 Leicester, Buncombe Co. In that year they had children: Eva, age 8; James, age 7, and Francis [Frances], age 6.

Photo by Molly Brown

Updates Apr. 11, 2011: Henry's first wife was Jennie Lee Morgan. They were married Sep. 30, 1906 in Buncombe Co. Jennie was born Nov. 16, 1885 and died Aug. 25, 1908. She is buried in Leicester, Buncombe Co. in the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. His second wife was Sadie Brown to whom he was married on Nov. 28, 1909 in Haywood Co., NC. Sadie was born Dec. 25, 1892 in Buncombe Co., and died Mar. 30, 1939 in Leicester. She is buried at Bell United Methodist Church Cemetery in Leicester. In addition to Eva, James and Frances, they also had a son Norman Reeves Coffey, born Oct. 25, 1915, died Jun. 23, 1916 in Leicester. Thanks to Lloyd Coffey and Molly Brown for this update.

Nothing is known of Cora or Horace.

Cora married a Bridges. She was born Jun. 28, 1891 in Buncombe Co., died Apr. 1, 1951 in Leicester and was buried at Western Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.

Photo by June Taylor McClure

Horace married Deborah Estelle Smathers on Jan. 8, 1914 in Canton, Haywood Co., NC. She was born Feb. 25, 1889 in Haywood Co., and died Jul. 21, 1968 in NC. She is buried at Morning Star Cemetery in Canton, Haywood Co. Horace Mitchel Coffey was born Jul., 1893 and died Jan. 1, 1947 in Houston, Harris Co., TX. He was also buried at Morning Star.

James Claude registered for the draft in June, 1918 in Buncombe Co. He was described then as being of medium height and build with gray eyes and black hair. He gave his age as 21 years, born Apr. 12, 1897 in Leicester.

John Hilliard registered for the draft on Sep. 12, 1918 in Buncombe Co. He was tall and slender with brown eyes and dark brown hair. He gave his age as 18 yrs., born Nov. 28, 1898.

Nothing is known of Virginia.

John and Emeline last child was Harley P., born Feb. 1866 in Buncombe Co., and died in March, 1928 in Bladen Co., NC. He married Alley F. (maiden name unknown) c1897 in North Carolina. She was born Aug., 1876 in North Carolina, and died Apr. 17, 1933 in Bladen Co. Harley was apparently married prior to Alley because the list of children in the 1900 census makes it clear that she is the mother of only two. They were Kenneth Lecosta, born Aug., 1897, and Liston Jeffry, born Jul., 1899.

Kenneth registered for the draft on Sep. 12, 1918 in Buncombe Co. He had blue eyes and brown hair and was of medium height and build. He gave his age as 20 yrs., born Aug. 4, 1898. He was unmarried at the time of registration and worked for his father on the farm.

Liston Jeffry also registered on Sep. 12, 1918 in Buncombe Co. He was short and stout with blue eyes and light colored hair. He gave his age as 18 yrs., born Jul. 18, 1900. He too was unmarried and worked at farming with his father in Leicester.