Edward Coffey (c1700-c1776)

Very little factual information is known of Edward Jr., a son of Edward and Ann Powell.  He is "said" to have been born c1701 in Essex Co., VA and, died in Albemarle Co., VA after 1774.  He married Grace Cleveland, a daughter of Alexander and Mildred Presley¹ Cleveland sometime between 1737 and 1740.

Marvin Coffey wrote in his ancestral work on James Blueford Coffey, a descendant of Edward and Ann, that he had found no proof of the children of Edward and Grace.  He speculated that Cleveland, Coffey, who married Elizabeth² is one of their sons.  Or, he might be the Cleveland Coffey who entered land in Burke Co., now Caldwell Co., on Zack's Fork, in the year 1778.

Marvin thought that Edward Jr. might be a twin of the better know John who married Jane Graves. John is thought to have been born between 1699 and 1700 followed soon thereafter by Edward Jr., with perhaps less than a year between the births.

No proof of the names of Edward and Grace's children has ever been found.³  Marvin, again speculating and, based on time and location, thought that Benjamin, born in VA in 1763 and on the Burke Co., NC census from 1790 to 1850 (Caldwell Co. in 1850) was the son.  He married Leah, born c1760 in VA.  A Leah Coffey who married Francis Hickman in Jefferson Co., TN in 1798 might be their daughter.

Other possible children were James, on the 1785 census in Botetourt Co, VA and William in Montgomery Co., VA from 1781 to 1785.  They could also have been the children of Peter and Susannah Coffey of Prince Edward Co., VA. The William found on tax lists in Buckingham Co., VA from 1783 to 1797 is likely to have been a son of Peter.

Jesse Cleveland Coffey found in Wilkes Co. up to about 1786 could be the same found later in Pendleton Co., SC in 1790 and 1800.  He was the father of Cleveland, Edward, Joel, Elijah, Elisha and John.4  

Jesse is found in the Pendleton District, South Carolina census of 1800.5 6  He married Nancy Alexander, probably before 1766.

I have been in recent contact with descendants of Jesse and Nancy.  Their ancestor was Jesse's son Joel who married Martha "Patsy" Cobb.  For the most part, descendants of Joel remained in Rabun Co., GA all of their lives.

Joel and Martha had at least four children, the first being John Coffee, who is often referred to by the title of Reverend.  He is buried as "Elder John Coffee." He married Lavinia Carter in that county on Dec. 31, 1833 and died c1835, likely in childbirth. and later married Martha Singleton on Feb. 4, 1837.  With Martha, they raised 11 children.  John died in 1886 and Martha in 1887.  Both are buried

at the Clayton Baptist Church Cemetery in Clayton, Rabun Co.

The second child of Joel and Martha was Mary Frances, born c1818 in SC, died 1873 in GA.  She married Silas B. Price on Mar. 19, 1835 in Rabun Co. and were parents of at least five: Nancy Elizabeth, Martha, William J., and John R.

William Rowland was third and his wife was Ruth M. West, born 1851.  They married on Aug. 25, 1879 in Habersham Co., GA.  William was born on Nov. 4, 1834 in Rabun Co., died in GA in 1909. Ruth died in 120.  Both are buried at Head of Tennessee Baptist Church Cemetery at Dillard in Rabun Co.  Their children were Mable, Georgia, John Benjamin; Franklin, James Clinton and William H.

Jesse Leonard was the last known child.  He was born on Oct. 10, 1828 in Rabun Co. and married first to Nancy O. Singleton on Sep. 2, 1845.  She was born c1828 in GA.  Their children were Terrel, Mary M., Jemima, John E., James Jefferson, Lucinda and Martha, all born between 1847 and 1860. These children remain a work in progress.  More is known of the children by his second wife, Arzelia P. Thomas, born 1839 in Rabun Co.

Those children were Sarah B. "Sally," born c1863, married James A. Canup on May 4, 1886 in Rabun Co.  Robert Douglas, born Dec, 1866, married Martha Hazeltine Bowen on Dec. 10, 1888 in Towns Co., GA.  Joseph T., born c1869, no other information.  Rachel L., born c1872, married W. Virgil Bowen, no other information.  Franklin Alexander, no further information; Naoma Callie, born c1875, married Anderson Eller on Apr. 8, 1900 in Rabun Co. and lastly, Genela F., born Jun., 1877, married Martin Baker on Aug. 25, 1895.

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Footnotes

¹ Some Cleveland researchers reject Mildred Presley as the wife of Alexander and name an anonymous "Mary" as the mother of his children.  My source for her name is the work of  Marvin Coffey whose source appears to be by tradition. I consulted The Genealogy of the Cleveland Families, Edmund James Cleveland, 1899 and Virginia Cleveland Ancestor Discovered, George A. Martin, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 46, Sep., 1958. Cleveland's work appears to me to mix two different Cleveland families and, is the source of the Presly surname.  I have not made a study of the Cleveland line and have only those two references to go by.

² Elizabeth is suspected to be the daughter of a man named Benjamin Franklin of Albemarle Co.  He had a daughter named Elizabeth who is known to have married a Clifton or Cliff Coffey and to have lived in Albemarle Co.  Marvin believed that Cliff or Clifton was a nickname for Cleveland because Joel and Martha Stapp Coffey had a son named Cleveland and nicknamed Cliff.  According to Tim Peterman, Elizabeth Franklin Coffey was the mother of Grace Coffey who married Rutherford Coffey in Green Co., KY in 1801.

³ At least by any Edward Sr. researcher that I know.

4 According to Marvin Coffey.  Others name his wife as Nancy Alexander and children as Cleveland, Bathsheba, Edward, John, Joel, Nancy and Elisha. Some descendants continue to spell their name Coffey while others, up through about the middle of the 20th century began spelling their name Coffee.  It appears now that practice ended and descendants have once again accepted Coffey as the correct spelling.

5 Attenpt to reconcile family members: 3 under 10 males: Edward, Joel and Elisha; Male 16-25, Cleveland; Male 45, Jesse; Female under 10: Nancy; Female, 10-15, Unknown; Female, 45, Nancy.  John should be here, born between 1786 and 1822.

6 Some family researchers claim that Jesse was born c1855 in VA and died c1807 in the Pendleton Dist., SC.  Some write that his parents were Joel Coffee [sic], and Martha Seely, and that he married Nancy [lnu] and was the father of Joel, born c1799 in the Pendleton Dist., and married Martha "Patsy" Cobb.  Joel is said to have died Sep. 15, 1849 and is buried in the Old Kingwood Cemetery.  The only reference I have found thus far to any Kingwood cemetery, places it in Preston Co., WVa.

^{Sources used were Rabun County Marriage Records; Census records, and family histories of Karen Coffey Galanski and Victoria Isham.  Heavily relied on for early Edward and Ann Powell research is credited to Marvin Dale Coffey and his work, James Bluford Coffey, His Ancestors and Descendants in America, and Vol. II, privately printed in 1984, second printing in 1994.  See http://bit.ly/1zUm0Sn for more information about this book.}

Willie Newton Coffey

There is no doubt that Willie Newton Coffey was a son of Mathew and Emily Troxell Coffey.

Willie was born in Kentucky in 1903, probably in Wayne Co.  He was in that county in 1910.  In 1920 he and his family lived in McCreary Co.  

Mathew, the father, was born to Henry Baker Coffey and Sarah Elizabeth Dobbs in June of 1875, married Emily, a daughter of Jacob and Salena Steel Troxell in about 1896.

Between Oct., 1896 and Jan., 1917 Emily and Mathew had at least six children. They were: Sarah Jane; William "Willie"; Salena, who is said to have married Lark Bell in about 1924; Sallie; Ed Lincoln, born 1911, married Edna Hatfield; and Goldman, born in 1917.

Willie is something of an enigma.  I write that with some misgivings because he may have been no puzzle at all over his lifetime* and did not try to hide from the law.

A newspaper article appeared in the Lexington  (KY) Herald in July, 1946 announcing the arrest of Willie Newton Coffey in Birmingham, AL for killing his father, Mathew Coffey, in Wayne County in 1928.  It was reported that "shortly before the elder Coffey was slain, his son had escaped from a Wayne county jail where he had been held on a "drunkenness charge."  

That was the first and last article that I have been able to find in any KY newspaper so it is not possible for me to tell you if he was tried, convicted and jailed, or if found innocent or not guilty of his father's death.

News Item, The Lexington Herald, Lexington, KY, Thu., Jul. 11, 1946, Page 9, Col. 4

Arrest Suspect in 1928 Patricide

Monticello, Ky., July 10 (AP) - County Judge S. E. Anderson announced today the arrest of Willie Newton Coffey, 44, wanted in Wayne county for the past 17 1/2 years in connection with the slaying of his father.

Judge Anderson said Coffey was picked up on a disorderly conduct charge at Tarrant, Ala., a Birmingham suburb.  He said Birmingham police notified Wayne county officials that Coffey admitted he fatally shot his father, Matthew Coffey, in 1928.

"Coffey hadn't been seen in Wayne county since then," declared the judge, adding that a murder indictment had been returned in March, 1929, against Coffey.

The judge said Sheriff J. J. Gibson would go to Frankfort, probably Thursday, to get a requisition for the extradition of Coffey from Alabama to Wayne county.

Judge Anderson said that shortly before the elder Coffey was slain, his son had escaped from jail where he had been held on a drunkenness charge.  The judge said Coffey had been quoted as saying he fired as his father was about to attack his mother.

What I do know is in 1930 a William Coffee [sic] appeared in the McDowell Co., WV census with Minnie Jane Carter Coffee.  He was 26 years-old; Minnie was also 26.  With them was Helen Blaylock, a five year-old step-daughter to Willie.  Willie was employed as a coal digger.

There is a 1938 marriage license in  McDowell Co. that tells us he and Minnie were married on Oct. 14 of that year.  The application tells us that he was born in Crossville, TN, and named his parents as George and Mary Coffey**.  Minnie named her parents as Ernest and India Carter.

The 1940 census for Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL includes William [sic] and Minnie as well as Gladus [sic], a daughter, age 8, born WV; Hershel, a son, age 7, born WV; and William J., a son aged eight months, born in AL.  The step-daughter Helen was no longer with the family.  

Gladys, born in Matewan, Mingo Co., WV, had at least three children:  Lynda Sue Coffey, born KY in 1950; Glynda Gaye, born 1955 in Birmingham and Viola Coffey, born 1965 in McCreary Co.  Glynda Faye died by drowning in 1970 at Birmingham where she had been taken by her grandfather, Willie Coffey to visit relatives.  The obituary reports she was survived by sisters Viola and Lynda as well as a half-brother, Robert Lee Pearson, all of Stearns, KY.

Willie died in Jan., 1973 in McCreary Co. and was buried at Sherd Dobbs Cemetery in Whitley City.

Minnie died Feb. 7, 1986 at Somerset in Pulaski Co., KY.  She was 84 years-old.  Her obituary reports that she was the daughter of Lee and India Carter.  Her husband, William "Willie" Coffey preceded her in death in 1972.  A daughter, Helen Thompson, granddaughter Glynda Coffey, two brothers, Robert and Walter Carter and one sister, Gertrude Sloan also preceded her in death.  She was survived by children Herschel Coffey and Elsie Reynolds of Birmingham, AL; William, Jr. of Wayne Co., KY; Gladys Coffey and Lynda Dobbs of Sterns and a brother, Ray of WV.

Minnie is also buried at Sherd Dobbs.

Comments, corrections and additions welcomed.

---

*Apparently, the law was not actively searching for Willie from 1928 until 1946 for killing his father.  It was only after he was arrested near Birmingham for "disorderly conduct" in 1946 and perhaps volunteering information about killing his father that he was returned to Wayne County to face the law.  Certainly, with all of the people who went back and forth between KY and WV to work in the coal mines, someone would have known and reported the whereabouts of Willie to the KY authorities.

**Well, he may have tried somewhat to misdirect any leads to his birthplace and involvement in the death of his father.

Judge Silas DeMarcus Coffey

Contributed by
Kevin Coffey

"Silas D. Coffey was born on a farm in Owen County, Ind. on February 23, 1839.  His parents were Hodge R. [Rayburn] and Hannah [Wilson] Coffey, the former a native of Tennessee*, and the latter of North Carolina.

"Our subject's early education was acquired through the medium of common schools of that day, until, in the year 1860, he entered the State University at Bloomington, where he remained until the breaking-out of the late rebellion, when he enlisted, first in the three months' service, and then for a year.  When President Lincoln issued his 75,000 call, his regiment, the Fourteenth Indiana Infantry, responded, and was mustered in for three years, or during [sic] the war.  He remained on active duty until June, 1863, when he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, serving with it until the term of his enlistment expired the next year.

Judge Silas DeMarcus Coffey

"The Fourteenth Indiana Infantry won an enviable reputation in the field, and of its number none were more deserving that Mr. Coffey.  When he reached home, he determined to enter into the practice of the law, and for that purpose formed a partnership with Allen T. Rose, a prominent and influential member of the bar at Bowling Green.  In the autumn of 1868, this connection was dissolved by mutual consent, and another one formed with Maj. W. W. Carter, which continued until after Mr. Coffey was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court.

"In 1866, he was the candidate on the Republican ticket for Prosecuting Attorney for the district composed of the counties of Owen, Greene, Clay and Putnam, Ind., making the race against Hon. John C. Robinson, but the district being largely Democratic, he was of course defeated.  In 1873, he was candidate for Circuit Judge in Clay and Putnam Counties, and the same reason operated to prevent his election, although running far in advance of his ticket.  His opponent was Judge Solon Turman, of Greencastle, Ind.

"On March 25, 1882, Mr. Coffey was appointed by Gov. Porter to fill the unexpired term of Judge Turman.  In June, 1882, he was nominated, by acclamation of the Republican Judicial Convention for the same position.  The counties of Clay and Putnam being intensely Democratic, it was at the time supposed to be impossible to elect a Republican nominee, but in the fall he was elected over the Democratic candidate, James J. Smiley, by a majority of 655, carrying his own county (which gave a Democratic majority of 190 on the State ticket) by a majority of 128.

"November 1, 1864, Judge Coffey married Miss Caroline L. Byles, daughter of William and Sarah Byles, of Baltimore, Md., and to this union have been born one son and three daughters.  As an attorney he is possessed of find social qualities, is quiet and unobtrusive, and of undoubted integrity.  He also stands high as a member of the Masonic fraternity."

[Judge Coffey and Caroline Byles Coffey were parents of Ida L., born c1867 in IN; Emma J., born c1871 in Clay Co., who married Dr. Renos Harlan Richards in Clay Co. in 1898; and Nettie, born c1874 in Clay Co.  The were also parents of one son, Robert Wallace Coffey, born 1878 in Brazil, Clay Co.  Robert married first to Alice Louise Wright, in 1907 Clay Co. and, second to Hallie Audrey Steuerwald in Owen Co. in 1945.]

---

Source: Charles Blanchard, Editor, Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. Illustrated. (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884), Page 345.

*In census records he always reported his birth in NC.

See earlier blog announcing death of Judge Coffey at http://tinyurl.com/nntajp5

Henry Columbus & Ruth Annie Carter Coffey

Henry was born in North Carolina on Oct. 23, 1903 to Thomas Franklin and Mary Kathryn Lingafelt Coffey.  He died in Hickory, Catawba Co. on Jul. 18, 1949 and was buried at Pinecrest Cemetery in Granite Falls, Caldwell Co.

Ruth Annie was a daughter of Robert Alexander "Bob" and Mary Martha "Mollie" Cooper Carter.  She was born Dec. 3, 1904 in Caldwell Co., and died in Granite Falls on Dec. 9, 1994.  Ruth is likely buried at Pinecrest as well, but I have not found any evidence.

Bob Carter was born Jul. 26, 1882 in Watauga Co., NC and died Jan. 27, 1958 in Granite Falls.  Mollie was born in North Carolina on Sep. 11, 1886 and died in Granite Falls on May 9, 1918.  Her death certificate reveals only that she was buried at Granite Falls.  On Nov. 1, 1919 Bob married Carrie Mae Hayes, born Aug. 16, 1882 in NC, died May 18, 1972 at Kenansville in Duplin Co., NC and was buried in Warsaw, Duplin Co. at Devotional Gardens.  Her parents were J. Robert and Caroline Neal Hayes.

Henry and Ruth were married on Jul. 2, 1921* in Lovelady Twp., Caldwell Co. and were the parents of at least eight children:

Annie May, born Mar., 1922 in Caldwell Co., died on Jan. 4, 2009 in Seattle, King Co., WA.  Her husband was Kenneth Jefferson Holverstoot, born Oct. 5, 1924 in OR, died in Seattle on Oct. 6, 1982.  He and Annie were married in King Co. on Apr. 29, 1950.**

Lois, born 1923 in Caldwell Co.  No further information.

Van, born 1927 in Caldwell Co.  No further information.

Marylyn Coffey Franklin Obituary Photo

Marilyn Miller, born Jun. 30, 1928 in Caldwell Co., died Aug. 23, 2011 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  Her husband was George Jennings Franklin, born Jul. 16, 1924 in NC, died May 28, 1984 in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC.

Obituary, Mackie-High Funeral Home,  On-line , Aug., 2011

Marilyn Miller Coffey Franklin
Hudson – Mrs. Marilyn Coffey Franklin, 83, of Hudson, NC, went home to be with our Lord, Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at Caldwell County Hospice and Palliative Care of Lenoir.

Mrs. Franklin was born June 30, 1928 in Caldwell County, N.C. to the late Henry C, Coffey and Ruth Carter Coffey.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, George Jennings. Franklin, a sister, Mae Holverstott, of Seattle, Washington, two brothers; Harold Coffey of Granite Falls and Bill Coffey of Rutherford College. She is survived by four sons; George A. Franklin and his wife Becky Newton, NC, Richard Franklin and his wife Aileen from Raleigh, NC, Audie Franklin and his wife Judy from Statesville, NC, and Fabian Franklin of Hudson, NC. Four daughters; Diane Carswell and her husband Gene of Valdese, NC, Kay Geouge and her husband Dennis of Lenoir, NC, Doris Sigmon and Gale Franklin, both from Lenoir, NC. Two brothers; Gary Coffey of Rhodhiss and Van Coffey of Alexander County. Two sisters; Lois Coffey of Burke County and Frances Underwood of Davie County. In addition to her children, she is survived by 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held Friday, August 26, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Mackie High Chapel, with the Rev. Mike Isaacs officiating. Burial will follow at Center Grove Baptist Church in Hudson, NC. The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 25, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Mackie High Chapel.

Serving as pallbearers will be Cody Conner, Damon Hood, Jeff Carswell, and Marty Mooney.

The Family would like to thank Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care of Lenoir, NC Nurses and Staff for all the love and care for our family through this difficult time. A special thanks to Kelly Mitchell, BSW.
Mackie-High Funeral Home is serving the family.

Harold Thomas, born Dec. 5, 1929, died Mar. 23, 2001 at Valdese in Burke Co.  Harold never married.

Gary Cooper, born 1934 in Caldwell Co., married Jeanetta J. Garnett.

Frances Irene, born 1937 in Caldwell Co.  No further information.

Billy Joe, born Mar. 2, 1940 at Granite Falls, died May 2, 2010 in Valdese.

VALDESE - Mr. Billy Joe Coffey, 70, of Rutherford College, died Sunday, May 2, 2010, at Burke Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Valdese, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Coffey was born March 2, 1940, in Granite Falls, a son of the late Henry and Ruth Carter Coffey. He was a faithful member of Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church. Bill was famous for his cooking chicken pie, barbecue and fish fries. He loved his family; to garden and share his vegetables with his friends and family; to fish and his time at the beach; and especially to make people laugh. Bill retired from General Electric in Hickory and worked part time for 17 years as a cook at Valdese General Hospital. After retirement, he worked part-time at Westpoint Stevens in Hickory.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Harold Coffey; and a sister, Mae Holverstott.

Surviving are his wife of more than 48 years, Lillian Rutherford Coffey of the home; a daughter, Kellie Coffey Clay of Morganton; two sons, Neal Coffey and wife, Holly, of the George Hildebrand community and Mark Coffey and wife, Angela, of Morganton; brothers, Gary Coffey and wife, Joan, of Rhodhiss, Van Coffey and wife, Ginger, of Taylorsville; sisters, Frances Underwood of Mocksville, Lois Coffey of Valdese and Marilyn Franklin of Hudson. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Jordan and Bryant Clay, Whitney, Zachary and Mason Coffey, Sydney Coffey; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A service of remembrance will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, May 10, 2010, at Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Sally Queen officiating. The family will receive friends from 3:30 until 5 p.m. Monday at Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to ACE & TJ's Grin Kids, P.O. Box 37192, Charlotte, N.C. 28237; or Wrights Pantry in care of Abernethy Memorial UMC, P.O. Box 127, Rutherford College N.C. 28671; or Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, N.C. 28690 An online guest book and obituary notice are available at www.heritagefuneralservice.com. Heritage Funeral Service and Crematory is assisting the Coffey family.

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*North Carolina County Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org).
**"All Record Series." Transcription. Washington Secretary of State, Washington State Digital Archives. http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/ : 2010.

Thomas Franklin Coffey

Thomas was a son of Bartlett "Bart" and Mary Hicks Coffey.  This relatively modern family has been difficult to follow through the census years.  I know that Thomas was born on Mar. 13, 1877 in Buffalo Twp., Caldwell Co. and died in that county in 1942.  He married Mary Kathryn Lingerfelt c1895.  She was born in Dec., 1877 in North Carolina.

I have found them in the 1910 census living in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. and Thomas' WW1 draft registration in 1918, but after that...no trace!  I know Thomas' death year from the Caldwell County Register of Deed's website.

There were at least seven children born to their union:

Robert Gaither, born Jul., 1897, married Bertha Lillian Herman.  I know of only one child, Robert Ivey, born 1917, died Jul. 15, 1977.  In 1943, Robert Ivey married Mabel Margaret Lackey, a daughter of Carl and Bertha Ward Lackey.  She was born Feb. 12, 1926 in Caldwell County and died there on Oct. 3, 2005. I know of only two children for them:  Duke Delano, born and died in 1949 and, Robert Anthony, born 1963, died 1977.

Frank Bynum, born 1900, died 1960 in Caldwell Co.

Mattie May, born Jun. 1900.

Henry Columbus, born Oct. 23, 1903, died Jul. 18, 1949 in Catawba Co.  He married Ruth Ann Carter, born Dec. 3, 1904, died Dec. 9, 1994 in Caldwell Co.  They had children:  Annie May, born 1922, died 2009 in Seattle, King Co., WA. Annie May married Kenneth Jefferson Holverstott on Apr. 29, 1950 in King Co.  He was born Oct. 5, 1925 in OR and died in King Co. on Oct. 6, 1982.  Their other children were Lois, Van, Marilyn Miller, Harold Thomas, Gary Cooper, Frances Irene, and Billy Joe, born Mar. 2, 1940, in Caldwell Co., died May 2, 2010 in Burke Co.

Annie Lee.

Cloyd Finley, born Jun. 30, 1912 in Caldwell Co.

Thomas Howard, born 1921 in Caldwell Co.

Please drop me an e-mail if you can fill in the blanks.

The Other Side of the Source Coin!

Death Certificate for Lillie Ann Coffey Carter
Click to Enlarge

This is a North Carolina death certificate for Lillie Ann Coffey Carter, a daughter of Napoleon Austin Caleb Coffey and his wife Mary Matilda Townsend. Austin, as he appears in the census record and Mary Matilda were married prior to 1882 in NC. Their marriage record has not yet been found.

Their children were Cleveland Napoleon, born in May of 1882; Lillie Ann, born May 3, 1886; Rosa B., born Oct., 1888 and Perry Elmore, born Mar. 25, 1892.

There are several errors of interest to me on this document, and were likely were made by the informant, Mr. M. M. Carter of China Grove, NC.  He was probably Lillie's husband.

First error: Lillie was born in Caldwell Co. per Vol. 12, Page 65 of the Caldwell Co., birth index.

Second error: Her mother was not Ellen Adams.

Third error: Her father's given name is misspelled.

The third error is not that gross. The birth place and mother's name errors, in my opinion, are. Anyone looking for Napoleon and Ellen Coffey in Avery Co. in 1886 will likely not find them there, especially without an 1890 census to help.

I have noticed that several internet genealogies for this family omit Mary Ellen’s surname, and appear to assume that Mary Ellen Adams and Mary Matilda Townsend were the same person; e.g., Mary E. Matilda Townsend.

Austin’s children with Mary Ellen Adams were:

1 - William McKinley, born Feb. 22, 1898, died Oct. 26, 1953 in Crossnore Twp., Avery Co. He married Annie Lee Crump in 1921, Caldwell Co. She was born Nov. 29, 1901 in Caldwell and died Mar. 10, 1994 in Morganton, Burke Co. After William died Annie married his uncle, Wheeler Eden Coffey. Wheeler had been previously married to his second cousin, Mary Emaline Townsend, daughter of Joseph and Rosa Bell Coffey Townsend.

2 – Dollie, born c1903 – no other information

3 – Lona V., born Jun 25, 1910 in Avery Co., married Elbert Clark on Nov. 20, 1928 in Carter Co., TN. Elbert was born Jan. 8, 1907 in Avery Co., and died Jan. 31, 1974 in Crossnore.

4 – Ann, born Apr. 15, 1914, died Sep. 20, 2006 in Mitchell Co., NC. She married a Mr. Eller.


Obituary, Hampton Funeral Service, Sep. 20, 2006

Ann Coffey Eller (April 15, 1914 - September 20, 2006)

Mrs. Ann Coffey Eller, age 92, of Brian Center, in Spruce Pine, died Wednesday morning, September 20, 2006.

Mrs. Eller is survived by one daughter, Nora Gladden of Plumtree, and one grandson, Michael Joseph Decker of New York, New York.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Napolean and Ellen

Adams Coffey, and one son, Zane Edward Clark.

Private graveside services and burial for Mrs. Ann Coffey Eller will be conducted Friday afternoon, September 22, 2006, at 2:00 o'clock at the Calloway Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Avery County Humane Society Shelter, 1824 Stamey Branch Road, Newland, North Carolina.

Looking for help!

I have the following Coffey families from Caldwell Co., NC that I am unable to place with their parents.

• Finley C. Coffey, m. Verdie Corpening - a child was Francis Nadine, born 5.18.1840


• Finley C. Coffey, m. Sarah Pearson - a child was Magalener, born 3.1.1910


• Henry C. Coffey, m. Ruth Ann Carter - a child was Frances Irene, born 7.27.1937


• Jasper P. Coffey, m. Mary Jane Minton - a child was Ellis Lafayette, born 7.3.1888


• Clarence M. Coffey, m. Bessie Simmons - a child was Peggy Jean, born 10.24.1930


• Wm. H. Coffey, m. Mattie Maltba - a child was Albert Lee, born 6.9.1906 [Mattie could be d/o Wm. Zacharia and Mary Ann Maltba Coffey!?]


• James C. Coffey, m. Etta Ann Barnette - a child was John Parlier, born 3.13.1896


• Wm. Monroe Coffey, m. Polly Ann S. Coffey - a child was John Lee, born 9.23.1898 [Wm. Monroe Coffey and Mary Chandler Coffey also had a son named John Lee]


• Margaret A. Coffey, no husband given - a child was Collis Ray, born 4.4.1911


• Robert Lee Coffey, m. Jennie Celia Carlton - a child was Fanry [?] Isabell, born 12.18.1911


• Amanda Coffey, no husband given - a child was Mattie Mae, born 1.9.1900


• James William Coffey, m. Myra Sudderth - a child was Pearl Lucille, born 6.10.1912 [A Myra Sudderth also married Henry Coffey]


• Geo. Wash. Coffey, m. Emma Rice - two children: Sidney Thomas, born 6.30.1914 and Auburn Zale, born 9.4.1927


• Harrison Coffey, m. Wincie R. Teague - two children: Earl H., born 10.28.1907 and Grace Bell, born 11.1.1906


• George G. Coffey, m. Ella Barnette - a child was Vernon Smith, born 11.17.1912


• Thos. W. Coffey, m. Mary Lou E. Robbins - a child was Charlie Lee, born 6.14.1907


• Robert Finley Coffey, m. Crettie Ritch - three children: Beulah Evelyn, born 8.22.1923; Lena Faye, born 5.26.1932, and Beadie Owen, born 2.27.1934*

Please contact me at the e-mail address below if you can help identify any of these people.

*Identified: Robert Finley was a son of Thomas Hall and Cora Ellen Tolbert Coffey. I have five children for them: Beulah Evelyn, born 8.22.1923; Thomas Henry, born 1925, died 1999; Lena Faye, born 5.26.1932; Beadie Oden, born 2.27.1934, and Robert Claude, born 1936. I have not found them in the 1930 census schedule.