William Coffey, Jr. & Mary "Polly" Rippetoe

William, Jr. was a son of William, Sr. and wife Elizabeth Osborne Coffey.  He was born in VA c1762.  His date of death is not yet known.  He and Polly married Nov. 2, 1790 in Amherst Co., VA.  A Peter Rippetoe stated that both parents gave consent; James Rippetoe was surety.

William, Sr. has sometimes been referred to as a vindictive old man because of the way he disposed of property in his will of March, 1825*:

I William Coffey of the County of Nelson and State of Virginia being of sound mind and disposing memory do make declare & publish this my last will and Testament in maner and form as followith. Item I give to my son Edmund F. Coffey and to his Hiers forever that tract of land that I purchased of Joseph Burger which is the same tract that the said Edmund now lives on containing by estimation two hundred and fifteen acres to the same more or less also a negro boy named John.

Item I give to Edmund F. Coffey and James Montgomery in trust & to their successors for the benefit of my daughter Jane Fitzgerald and the legitament children of her body one half of my tract of land in Nelson County on Cub Creek containing by estimation two hundred and fifteen acres the said tract of land to be equally divided according to quantity and quality. The other moiety of the said last mentioned tract of land I give to my said trustees herein before mentioned & to their successors for the benefit of my son William Coffey during his natural life, at his death to return to the rest of my children or those which I shall name hereafter, each to hold the part they now live on. Item I give to Magret Monroe that tract of land called Briges Place in Nelson County containing by survey one hundred acres be the same more or less also one hundred dollars cash to be paid by my Executors hereafter named to the care and management of George Monroe nevertheless the said Margaret is at liberty to dispose of the said land as she pleases, also one horse of the value of forty dollars & one cow & calf.

It is my desire & request that my Executors hereafter named shall rent to Jordan Coffey my tract of land whereupon the said Jordan has lived he the said Jordan paying to them for the benefit of my Estate five pounds per annum so long as my Executors shall think it prudent to rent it to him but if my Executors shall think it right to sell the said tract of land the proceeds of the said is to go to the rest of children hereafter named. Item I give to Edmund F. Coffey & James Montgomery in trust for the benefit of Elizabeth Bridge & to their successors as also for the benefit of the Hiers of her body forever one moiety of my tract of land in Augusta County on Back Creek the said tract to be equally divided according to quantity and quality. Item I give to Elizabeth Coleman, Anney Coleman, James Coleman, John Coleman, Patsey Coleman, Polley Coleman and Lucy Coleman (who are children of Mildred Coleman deceased who was Mildred Coffey) one dollar each to be paid by my Executors out of my Estate. All the rest of my Estate both real and personal of what kind or naturesoever after my just debts and funeral espenses are paid, I give to Osborn Coffey one eighth part to Edmund F. Coffey one eighth part Edmund F. Coffey and James Montgomery trustees and to their successors for the benefit of Mary Coffey and Elizabeth Bridge one eighth part each also to my said trustees and their successors for the benefit of Jane Fitzgerald and the legatimate children of her body and Winny Hays I give one eighth part each also to my said trustees for the benefit of Frankey Coffey one eighth part, also to my said trustees and successors for the benefit of William Coffey during his natural life one eighth part at his death to return to the rest of my children & my trustees to be divided among them in the same manner as the property heretofore given that was not E________ given nevertheless all those that have received any money or other property heretofore must _____ the same into Hotch pot before any division takes place on their part, except Edmund F. Coffey who is not required to account for any thing received, all the property herein given in trust is to be under the management & sole control of my trustees herein before named and their successors. It is my desire that the County Court of Nelson shall appoint trustees to and in place of those appointed by me in the last will whenever it appears they of inablity to act. Hereby revoking all former wills made by me, I do constitue and appoint my friends Edmund F. Coffey and James Montgomery my Executors of this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of March 1825. Acknowed before us William Coffey (Seal)

John Hughes (his mark) Moses W. Hughes (his mark) Benjamin Hughes Peter C. Coffey (his mark)

At a Court held for Nelson County the 28th day of March 1828. This instrument of writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of William Coffey deceased was produced into said court and proved by the oaths of John Hughes, Moses W. Hughes and Peter C. Coffey three subscribing witnesses hereto, and the same is ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Edmund F. Coffey one of the Executors named in said will, who made oath and together with George Williams his security entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of twelve thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining probat of said will in due form of law. And, at a Court held for said County the 28th day of April 1828. James Montgomery, another of the Executors named in said will, personally appeared in Court, and made oath, and together with John Harris (_____" his security, acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $12,000, conditioned according to law and hereupon certificate is granted him for obtaining probat of said will, jointly with Edmund F. Coffey in due form of law. Teste Spotswood Garland Clerk

Although other of his daughters had children out of wedlock, he chose to single out Jane and limit her legacy to "legitament children of her body...".  He left property in the hands of his trustees with instructions that William, Jr. receive land in trust during his lifetime but, upon his death it would return to the estate for the benefit of his other children.  This effectively left out any heirs that William, Jr. might leave and who would otherwise be entitled to a part of the estate their father had inherited.

Some researchers have interpreted the will of William, Sr. to show his disdain for his daughter-in-law, Mary "Polly" Rippetoe or, perhaps the entire Rippetoe clan.  She and William, Jr. had been married 38 years when William, Sr. made his will.  Why would Sr. make such a stipulation affecting the potential inheritance of his grandchildren?

The children of William and Polly Rippetoe Coffey were: Sarah; Frankey; Nancy; Osborn; Jane and Elizabeth.

I have no information on the first two.  Nancy, born c1795 in Nelson Co.,  Had at least three illegitimate children.*  They were Candis W., born c1815 and who married Benjamin J. Coffey on Jan. 28, 1836 in Nelson Co.  I have been unable to identify this Benjamin's parents.  Candis and Benjamin had at least seven children:  Peter J.; Susan; Sarah A.; Paulina M.; George Washington; Caroline Elizabeth; and Beverly.  Nancy's second illegitimate child was also a daughter, Sophia W., born c1815 in Nelson Co.  Sophia married William Crost on Mar. 23, 1835 in Nelson Co..  I have no children for them.  The third illegitimate child was Ann who married James Butler.  I have no further info on this couple.

William, Jr.'s fourth child was Osborn, born c1796 in VA.  He married on Sep. 20, 1827 to Mary Fitzgerald, his first cousin and the daughter of his father's sister Jane and her husband Benjamin Hawkins Fitzgerald.  Their children were Eleanor or Ellen, born c1827; Mary Elizabeth, born c1830; Anna Mariah, born Oct. 28, 1822, died Sep. 12, 1906 in Rockbridge Co., VA; and Jane G., born c1838.

His fifth child was Jane, born c1801 in Nelson Co.  She married Edmund Fitzgerald, a first cousin and son of Benjamin and Jane Coffey Hawkins.  That marriage took place on Mar. 26, 1832 and resulted in at least four children:  Wyatt, born 1833; Benjamin Douglas, also born 1833;** James Alexander, born c1839; and Mariah, born c1842.

The sixth and last child was Elizabeth, born c1810.  I have no other information about her.

More information is available for some of these families on the Edward Coffey Project DVD.

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Source: Nelson Co, VA Will Book C, Pg 417;Contributed by: Wayne Coffey
*This fact may also be cause for William, Sr. to disinherit his grandchildren by William, Jr.
** I do not believe they were twins or, that they were both born in 1833.

Arthur Hill & Mary Jane Coffey Dula

I have written previously about this family.  Interested readers can find that blog here.

1910 Snippet

While attempting to reconcile their (minimum) nine children with the census records, etc., I found some of their names to be quiet different in each census.

Notice on the 1910 snippet the child Rzela enumerated after Beatrice.  In other records she is Ruby Dula or Ruby Evelyn Dula, born Jan 19, 1910.*   Ernest D. is actually Ernest Drexell Coffey Dula and he was born on Oct. 18, 1908.  This birth date was found on his death certificate.**

Following Ernest on the census is a daughter named Lena R., born in 1910.  I haven't found a birth record for her.  But, note her age is given as 3 months which pretty much coincides with Ruby's birth date.

1920 Snippet

Then, we come to 1920 where the child following Beatrice is named Rosavelt.  Again, the census taker apparently misunderstood.  She was aged 15 meaning that she was born 1904-05 time frame and must be Ruth, who was born Aug. 5, 1904.‡

By 1930, the only child left at home was Cleda, age 12.  She was born Sep. 17, 1917.†

To recap all the children:

Clyde Lester Dula

Catherine G. Coffey

Clyde Lester, born Jul. 23, 1893 in Watauga Co., died Aug. 2, 1973 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.  Married first wife Bertha Mae Robbins, a daughter of Joshua Rufus and Margaret Alenza "Maggie" Coffey Robbins, born Mar. 9, 1897 in Watauga Co., died Jun. 23, 1982 in Avery Co.  Their marriage produced three unnamed daughters between 1916 and 1918.  Mary Elise was born Feb. 8, 1923 and Anna Mae was born Sep. 26, 1926.  Clyde and Bertha divorced some c1930 and Catherine Gwendolyn Coffey, a daughter of Austin Blaine and Emma Mahalia "Hailey" Harris Coffey became his second wife.  Catherine was born Aug. 1, 1919 in Watauga Co., and died in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC on Aug. 19, 1997.  I am not aware of any children born to this union.  Clyde was 45 years old and Catherine was 19 when they married on July 4, 1939.  Both Clyde and Catherine at buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.  I do not know where Bertha was laid to rest.

Julius A. Gragg

Charlotte N. Dula

Charlotte Nevada, born Jan. 21, 1895, married Julius Allen Gragg.  He was born Jun. 25, 1892 in Caldwell Co. to Julius Leander and Margaret Jane "Maggie" Henley Gragg and died on Jun. 17, 1979 in Boone, Watauga Co.  Charlotte died on Jul. 14, 1989 in Asheville, Buncombe Co., NC.  Both are buried at Boone Fork Community Cemetery in Blowing Rock.  Their children were Lester Merrill, born 1916; Wanda Lee, born 1918, died 1965, married Clarence Richard Lamkin on Mar. 23, 1939 in Blowing Rock.  He was born in 1917 at Lenoir, Caldwell Co., and died Jan. 30, 1987 in Hickory, Catawba Co.  Both are buried at Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir.  Their third and last known child was Virginia Katherine "Jackie," born Dec. 1, 1924 in Watauga Co., died Jun. 30, 1999 in Lenoir.  Her husband was Earl William Ward, born Nov. 8, 1911, a son of Miles A. and Hester Elizabeth Trivett Ward.  Jackie and Earl was married Aug. 11, 1946 in Blowing Rock.  He died Sep. 24, 2002 and they are also buried at Boone Fork.

Anthony Cory

Olive Manila, born Feb. 26, 1899, died Dec. 17, 1985.  She married at least three times.  Here first was Robert Lawrence Coleman, born to Thomas and Emmerette Wright Coleman on Feb. 19, 1891 in Watauga Co.  They were married there on May 1, 1917.  I have not found a death record for Robert.  He and Olive apparently divorced because Robert married again c1924 to a lady named Frances J. and, they had at least one child, May R., born c1928 in West Virginia.  Olive's second husband was Anthony Cory [sic], born Jul. 6, 1881 in the Syrian Arab Republic.  He died on Nov. 15, 1946 in Watauga Co. and was buried at Boone Fork.  Olive's third husband was Will Estes, born 1877 in NC, died Jan. 7, 1971 in Boone.  It appears that Olive did not have any children by either of her husbands.

Beatrice Rema was born Jul. 7, 1902 in Watauga Co., died Nov. 16, 1977 in Winston-Salem.  She married twice, first to Joseph John Teague on Sep. 21, 1920 in Blowing Rock.  He was born Jul. 27, 1895 in Patterson, Caldwell Co., to Hiram John and Julia A. Coffey Teague.  Julia and Beatrice's mother were distant cousins.  Joseph died on Feb. 25, 1961 in Durham Co., NC.  There was one known child, a daughter Ophelia Hartt Teague, born in 1921, died in 1999 in Davie Co., NC.  She married Paul Roberson Coffey, born Mar. 17, 1922 in Caldwell Co. to Charles Alexander "Charlie" and Julia Evelyn Knight Coffey.  Joseph and Beatrice apparently divorced because before his death, she married Kenneth Wilmont Lentz on Mar. 20, 1954 in Forsyth Co., NC.  He was born Feb. 5, 1884 to Adam W. and Maggie Miller Lentz and died on Oct. 13, 1963 in Winston-Salem.  Beatrice died there on Nov. 16, 1977.  Both are buried there at Salem Cemetery.

Ruth Virginia married Zenobian Michaels Koontz on Nov. 12, 1927 in Forsyth Co.  He was born Jul. 12, 1902 in Davidson Co., NC and died in Winston-Salem on May 8, 1981.  Ruth died there on Sep. 2, 1990.  She is buried at Forsyth Memorial Park in Winston-Salem; he at Wallburg Baptist Church Cemetery in Davidson Co.  They had at least two children, both daughters:  Ramona Jane in 1929 and Nancy, birth date unknown.  On Jun. 21, 1950 Ramona married Francis A. McKenna in Forsyth Co., NC

Ernest Drexell was born Oct. 18, 1908 and died in Winston-Salem on Sep. 7, 1974.  He married Jessie O. Coome on Jan. 19, 1929 in Forsyth Co.  He is buried at Forsyth Memorial Park.

Ruby Evelyn Dula

Murray Harris Coffey

Ruby Evelyn was born in Caldwell Co. on Jan. 19, 1910 and died in Guilford Co. on Apr. 13, 1999.  Her husband was Murray Harris Coffey, brother to Catherine who married Clyde Dula.  They were married in Watauge Co. on Nov. 19, 1938.  Murray died Apr. 5, 2003 in Blowing Rock.  Both are buried at Boone Fork Community Cemetery.  I know of only one child, a son M. Vern Coffey, born Oct. 5, 1939, died Oct. 3, 1990.

Lois Esther (sometimes spelled Estha) was born in Watauga Co. on Jun. 3, 1912 and died in Eden, Rockingham Co., NC on Oct. 29, 1999.  Lois married a Mr. Self.  I have been unable to find any information about him.

Cleda Elizabeth was the last child, born Sep. 17, 1917 in Watauga Co.  She married J. T. Nicholson on Aug. 24, 1939 in Forsyth Co.  I have found no other information about them.

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Rites held for Mr. Dula

Clyde Lester Dula, age 80, of Blowing Rock died Thursday in Blowing Rock Hospital after an extended illness.

Mr. Dula was born in Watauga County to Arthur and Mary Jane Coffey Dula.  He was a retired fuel oil distributor having been employed by the Colvard Oil Company for thirty-four years.  He served on the Blowing Rock Town Council for eight years and the local Recreation Commission for several years.  He also served as Elder at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church.
 
Surviving are his wife, Gwendolyn Coffey Dula of Blowing Rock; four daughters, Mrs. Elyse Milum of Lakeland, Florida, Mrs. John Broyhill of Blowing Rock, Miss Linda Dula of Blowing rock and Mrs. Mike Wilson of Boone; seven sisters, Mrs. Aileen Gragg of Boone, Mrs. W. H. Estes of Blowing Rock, Mrs. Beatrice Lentz of Winston-Salem, Mrs. Murray Coffey of Blowing Rock, Mrs. Virginia Willis of Winston-Salem, Mrs. Estha Self of Eden, Mrs. J. T. Niehulson [sic] of Los Angeles, Calif. and one brother, Ernest Dula of Winston-Salem; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church by Rev. Richard Holshouser and Rev. George Stenhouse.  burial was in the Blowing Rock City Cemetery.
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Charlotte Dula Gragg
Watauga County Native

Charlotte Dula Gragg, 94, of Asheville, and a native and former resident of Boone, died Friday, July 14, 1989, at Biltmore Manor, a nursing care center in Asheville.

She was born Jan. 21, 1895 in Watauga County to Arthur and Mary Coffey Dula.

Mrs. Gragg was preceded in death by a daughter, Wanda Lamkin of Lenoir.

Surviving are one daughter, Jackie Ward of Asheville; four sisters, Mrs. Cleda Nicholson of Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. Ruby Coffey of blowing Rock, Mrs. Estha Self of Eden, N.C., and Mrs. Virginia Finney of Winston-Salem; five grandchildren, including Barbara Lamkin Price of Lenoir, seven great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Boone Fork Community Cemetery.  The Rev. Murray Coffey and the Rev. Howard Hodges will officiate.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Boone.

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*Name: Ruby Evelyn Dula Date of Birth: 19 Jan 1910 Gender: Female Race: White Birth County: Caldwell Parent1 Name: Arthur Hill Dula Parent2 Name: Mary Jane Coffey; North Carolina Birth Indexes, Roll No. B_C017_68001, Vol. 24, Page 257.

**Drexell Coffey Dula, Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC death certificate No. 31539 (7 September 1974).

‡Name: Ruth Virginia Dula Date of Birth: 5 Aug 1904 Gender: Female Race: White Birth County: Watauga Parent1 Name: Arthur Hill Dula Parent2 Name: Mary Jane Coffey Register of Deeds. North Carolina Birth Indexes, Roll Number: B_C102_66001 Volume: 14 Page: 70.

†Name: Cleda Elizabeth Dula Date of Birth: 17 Sep 1917 Gender: Female Race: White Birth County: Watauga Parent1 Name: Arthur Hill Dula Parent2 Name: Mary Jane Coffey North Carolina Birth Indexes, Roll Number: B_C102_66001 Volume: 3 Page: 549.

Samuel and Mildred "Milley" Coffey Coleman

Samuel Coleman was born c1752 in Albemarle Co., VA to James and Elizabeth Leake Coleman.  According to one Todd County Kentucky history1, Samuel was a Rev. War veteran, a Todd Co. pioneer and a grandson of Samuel Coleman and his wife Ann Mourning Christian.

James and Elizabeth had at least two other children; Maskey2, born c1750 who was married c1780 to Bartlett Fitzgerald, a native of Orange Co., Virginia.  Bartlett was the son of John Joseph and Mary Hawkins Bartlett Fitzgerald and a brother to Benjamin Hawkins Fitzgerald who married Jane Coffey, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Osborne Coffey of Nelson Co., VA.  Readers may recall that Jane is considered to be the mother of Jordan Coffey, founder of "Coffeytown."

Maskey's sister was Lucy who married Evan Thomas Watson (1759 VA-1834 Bowie Co., TX) on Jan. 4, 1772 in Albemarle Co., VA.  They named a son Coleman Watson, born Jan. 23, 1800 in Logan Co., KY, died Jul. 6, 1876 in Grayson Co., TX.  There is a problem with either Evan's birth date or their marriage date.  The dates given here mean that Evan married at age 12!

In any event, Coleman Watson married his first cousin Lucy Mildred Coleman, the daughter of Samuel and Mildred Coffey Coleman, in Kentucky on Sep. 23, 1821.  They were parents to at least nine children:  Morton Price; Emily E.; Mary Susan; Samuel, Jr.; Evan Thomas; Lucy Ann; Louisa Jane; Nancy Margaret and Edward A.

Another daughter of Samuel and Mildred Coffey Coleman was Elizabeth Leake Coleman - obviously named for her paternal grandmother.  Elizabeth was born on May 6, 1786, probably in Virginia, and died Aug. 2, 1862, probably in Texas.  She married Collin McKinney, a man who was destined to become a Texas legend.  An article in a Daughters of the Republic of Texas source on Collin3, submitted by member Maryln Jones Cherry, reads:

Collin McKinney (1766-1861) was born in New Jersey, the second of 10 children born to Daniel McKinney (1735-1809) and Mercy Blatchley (1745-1825).  He married twice and had 10 children.  Proor to 1824, his adult life was spent in Tennessee and Kentucky, where he owned a trading post and managed the vast Nashville estates of George W. Campbell, who had been appointed by President Madison as Minister to Russia.

In 1824, Collin, with his brother, Daniel and their families, began the long trek down the Southwest Trail, first settling in Arkansas, believing themselves to be in Texas, later moving to present Bowie and Red River counties.  On Aug. 4, 1830, Collin McKinney took the oath and signed the Register of the Wavell Red River Colony, Aug. 4, 1830 [sic].

He became the close confidant of Benjamin Rush Milam, a fellow Kentuckian, and the first survey Milam ran from his new land office was for Collin McKinney in present Bowie County.  Collin's youngest daughter, Elizabeth, married Milam's nephew, Jefferson Milam, a surveyor for Wavell County.  In 1835, when Ben Milam journeyed to Moncolva, Mexico with the colonists' land petitions, he left his business and personal papers in care of his friend, Collin McKinney.  (The original document signed by the Red River colonists each pledging $5 toward Milam's expenses is the McKinney-Milam Papers at the University of Texas at Arlington.)  By December of that year, Santa Anna's invasion of Texas was well underway; the Red River Colony was asked to raise $200 to equip a company of riflemen to join Sam Houston's army.

In January 1836, a mass meeting was held at Collin McKinney's plantation to elect five delegates to attend the general convention 300 miles away at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1, 1836.  Collin, age 70, was the oldest elected delegate and was destined to outlive most of his colleagues.  He traveled with Richard Ellis, who was elected president of the convention.

Collin McKinney was one of five men to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, and as the oldest of the 59 signers, was presented the signing pen.  He represented Red River settlements in four congresses of the Republic of Texas.  During his 95 years, he was a planter, land surveyor, developer, merchant, deacon, lay preacher, politician and a citizen of eight different governments - born a subject of King George III of England; a citizen of the Thirteen colonies; a citizen of the United States; a citizen of Mexico; a citizen of the Provisional Government established by Texans in 1835; a citizen of the Texas Republic; after annexation, again a citizen of the U.S.; and when death came in 1861, it found him (against his will) a citizen of the Southern Confederacy.

Along with his nephew, H. C. McKinney, he was active in establishment of the Disciples of Christ Church in his last home community.  The Rev. G. Gates, a visiting minister from Indiana, in a letter to his church journal, wrote:  "Brother McKinney, an old disciple from Kentucky...noted for his integrity, hospitality and good works as a Christian, is the natural elder to preside over his flock...The old gentleman had a number of slaves who are, I believe, members of the church and love their master as they would a father."  Archibald Burton, a cousin back in Lincoln County, KY, wrote to Collin, "Collin McKinney, I want to see you more than any man alive."  The town of McKinney and Collin County are name for this remarkable Texas Pioneer.

Collin and Elizabeth Leake Coleman McKinney had a number of children, including:  William C., Annie, Amy, Peggy, Elisa and Younger Scott.

I believe some of the Colemans, McKinneys, Coffeys and Watsons must have known some of my own Coffee family members.  Some of them must have moved together into Arkansas down the Southwest Trail into Hempstead Co., AR, as well as into Bowie and Red River Counties in TX.  My paternal great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Bowman Coffee married a Watson in Bowie Co. following the loss of her first husband, James M. Coffee.  Her father and grand-father (Joseph and Jesse Bowman, respectively) are known to have been in those counties in the same period, and were active in the battle for Texas independence.

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1Todd County Kentucky Family History, Vol. 1, Turner Publishing Co., Paducah, KY 1995, p161
2Apparently named for her maternal grandmother, Judith Mask or, perhaps her uncle, Mask Coleman
3Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Compilers, Daughters of the Republic of Texas: Texas History, Vol. 1 of many (New York & Nashville: Turner Publishing Co., n.d.), Page 192.

Roby Monroe Coffey Family

Roby Monroe Coffey was a son of George Washington "Wash" and Matilda "Tilda" Coffey Coffey.  Wash and Tilda were distant cousins.  Roby was the ninth of the 11 children born to Tilda, and first saw light on Mar. 20, 1881 in Ashe Co., NC.  He died on Oct. 1, 1955 of a coronary occlusion and was buried in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Watauga Co., NC.

On Sep., 12, 1918, Roby registered for the draft in WW1 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  He was described as being 37 years old, tall with blue eyes and dark colored hair.  He was a farmer and resided at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co. with his wife.  He did not mention the number of children in his household, but by that date, should have been the father of at least six children:

Roby Monroe Coffey Family

Lena, born Dec. 13, 1903, died 1979, married George Norvell Fox Aug. 10, 1927 in Carter Co., TN.  George was born May 7, 1902 in Watauga Co., the son of John Lee and Jodie Ella Shook Fox.

Lelia Nancy, born May 20, 1906 in Caldwell Co., died May 7, 1969 in Lenoir.  She married Ralph Washington Jones on Jul. 31, 1926 in Watauga Co.  He was born Jun. 1, 1906 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Jul. 14, 1987.  Both she and Ralph are buried at Harris Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery in Hudson, Caldwell Co.  They had at least three children, all now deceased:  George Sylvester, born Jun 3, 1927, died Jun. 9, 1946; Thelma, born Jan. 29, 1930, died Dec. 14, 2006 as Mrs. Claude D. Payne, and Peggy Ann, born Dec. 4, 1948, died Apr. 5, 1960.

Bina Lee, born Jun. 29, 1909 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 10, 1999 in High Point, Guilford Co., NC.  She married her distant cousin, Troy Talmadge Coffey, on Nov. 3, 1928 in Carter Co., TN.  Troy was the son of George Calvin and Louisa Elizabeth Curtis Coffey.  Troy and Bina had at least one child, a son Wayne Lewis, born Oct. 9, 1929, died Sep. 24, 1999.  Troy was born Mar. 4, 1906 in Watauga Co., and died Apr. 18, 1995 in Thomasville, Davidson Co., NC.

Lottie Merle, born Feb. 12, 1912 in Caldwell Co., died May 3, 1998 in Culpeper, Culpeper Co., VA.  She married Ralph James Moore on Jan. 21, 1928 in Watauga Co.  Ralph was born Apr. 4, 1908, a son of Wiley Hill and Ellen Hodges Moore.  After Ralph died, Lottie married Herbert Hensley who also preceded her in death.

Cora Lee, born Oct. 18, 1914 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Dec. 31, 1990.  She married Earl Boyd Miller, a son of Daniel Lafayette and Emma Coleman Miller, in 1932, Caldwell Co.  Earl was born Dec. 24, 1911 in Caldwell Co., and died in Hudson, NC on Oct. 15, 2006.  Earl was buried at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Hudson.  Cora is also presumed to be buried there.

Ruth, the sixth child, was born Dec. 31, 1916 in Caldwell Co.  she married Edward R. Cook on Aug. 29, 1936 in Watauga Co.  No further information is known.

It is not clear to me where the other children in the family were when this family-style photo was taken.  Because the first six children were only girls, the children in the photo have to be:

Frank E., on the right, born c1919

Boyd Ray, on the left, born Mar. 26, 1923.  Boyd married Mary Elizabeth Hayes.

Margaret Allena, the "babe in arms," born Apr. 7, 1926, died Feb. 10, 1990.  Margaret married John Wellington Ford on Jul. 12, 1941 in Watauga Co.  John was born in North Carolina on Jan. 8, 1925 and died in Lenoir on Sep. 7, 1980.  According to his obituary, John was buried in the Ford Cemetery in Caldwell Co., white Margaret was buried in the Bolick Family cemetery in the Globe, Caldwell Co.  There were at least two children born to them:  John, Jr., born Sep. 20, 1945, died Dec. 9, 1996; and Della Mae, born Dec. 23, 1947, died Mar. 12, 1995.

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

The headstone and church photos are courtesy of Connie Coffey Dorsey.  The Roby Coffey family photo is courtesy of Margaret Coffey Farley.

Levi Coffey

Levi - first child and son of Rice and Dorotha Jane Medaris Coffey:

This child was born in North Carolina c1829 and died Jul. 20, 1863 in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN from wounds received while serving with Co. G., 65th Inf. Regt., GA in the Civil War. He married Catherine Kilpatrick c1852 in (probably) Cherokee Co., NC.

Catherine was born Nov. 24, 1830 in Haywood Co., NC and died between 1910 and 1920 in (probably) Shoal Creek, Cherokee Co., NC. She was the daughter of Balis Jackson and Mary E. Hunter Kilpatrick,

Levi and Catherine's children were:

1 - Susan Malissa, born in Cherokee Co. in Feb., 1853, died there on Oct. 19, 1944. She married Jesse Coleman on Mar. 10, 1870 in Murphy, Cherokee Co. He was born Apr., 1850 in Cherokee Co., and died there in 1925.

Their children were:

Laura, born Dec., 1870

Martha Jane, born c1873

Mary Etta, born Oct. 11, 1875

William, born Feb. 6, 1878

Monroe, born May, 1881

Milos Milton, born Jun., 1886

2 - Ann, born c1853

3 - Mary Jane, born Mar., 1857, died Mar. 26, 1931 in Benton, Polk Co., TN. She married William Elrod on Oct. 26, 1882 in Shoal Creek. He was born in May, 1854 in Georgia and died Apr. 10, 1923 in Fairplay Twp., Fannin Co., GA.

4 - William, born Feb., 1858 in Cherokee Co., and died in Polk Co., TN c1898. His wife was Sarah Saleny Womble, a daughter of early Polk Co. settlers, George and Mahala Vaughn Womble. Sarah was born Feb. 7, 1853 in Polk Co., and died Jun. 30, 1916 in Campbell Co., TN.

Their children were:

Emma Jane, born 1888, died c1956

Mary Adeline, born Feb. 17, 1891, died Jun. 26, 1920 in Knoxville, TN. She married Simon Peter Angel on Oct. 19, 1912 in Campbell Co. Their children were Nellie Leoma, born Jan. 28, 1916, died Mar 21, 1981; and Edith Ella, born apr. 13, 1918, died Dec. 31, 2005.

Margaret Catherine, born Jan. 14, 1894, died Jan. 2, 1971

Dock Charles, born May 10, 1896 in Polk Co., died Jun., 1973 in Clermont, Butler Co., OH. Dock married Elizabeth Jane Turner on Jul. 25, 1920 in Polk Co. She was born May 27, 1903 in Cumberland Co., TN, died Feb. 8, 1981 in Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN. Their children were Charles, born Jun, 18, 1921; Robert Lee, born Jan. 2, 1923, died Feb. 11, 1989; Myrtle Marie, born Dec. 10, 1924; Paul Erskine, born May 21, 1927 and Betty June, born Jun. 10, 1929.

5 - Adaline Ann Dorcus, born c1860

6 - John J., born May 1862 in Cherokee Co. He married Mary Burnett in 1884 in Cherokee Co. She was born in NC in May, 1874.

Their children:

Charles, born May 29, 1889, married Birdie Wilhoit

Lillie - no other information

William Fredereick, born Jul. 26, 1895 in Ducktown, Polk Co., TN. He married Laura, last name unknown.

John Oscar, born NC on Sep. 23, 1898 died Jul., 1878 in LaFollette, Campbell Co., TN. He married Pearl May Pierce.

Emma Helen, born Aug., 1899. She married Rosco Hooks.

Florence, born 1902, married Jake Smith

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