Coffey-Gilbreath

Elmer C. Gilbreath compiled the Coffee-Gilbreath-Turnbow Families in 1958.  It was placed on microfilm and retained in the LDS library at Salt Lake City and later reprinted by Gene Brewington (dec'd).  The following is from Gene's reprint and the website Gilbreath-Morrow Cemetery.

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 I began transcribing information for the Gilbreath-Coffey family with Andrew Gilbreath and his wife Nancy Hicklin.  Andrew is said to have been born c1735 in Pennsylvania, married Nancy c1767 in South Carolina and died c1783 in Tennessee. Of interest to Coffey researchers are two of their children, John (Jun. 6, 1768 - Nov. 24, 1850) and Elizabeth (c1777-June 18, 1846).

John Gilbreath was born in Virginia and died in Maury Co., TN.  He married Mary "Polly" Coffey c1788 in Kentucky.  Polly was the daughter of Chesley Coffey, Jr. and his wife, Margaret Baldwin.  She was born in Sept., 1758 in Wilkes Co., NC and died Aug. 24, 1843 in Maury Co.  Both she and John are buried in the Gilbreath-Morrow cemetery and their graves are marked with headstones.

Their children were Andrew, born c1791 in SC; James, born Apr. 2, 1792 in SC, died Sep. 26, 1845 in Maury Co.; Jane, born Oct. 2, 1795 in SC, died Apr. 22, 1842 in Maury Co., and John, born Sep. 26, 1799 in Green Co., KY.  His death date is unknown. 

Of these, James married Elizabeth Baker in KY n 1816.  She was born there on Mar. 24, 1798 and died in Maury Co. on Apr. 6, 1879.  Both are buried in the Gilbreath-Morrow cemetery and their graves are marked with headstones.  Their children were Minerva, born Nov. 30, 1819, died Sep. 28, 1875; John B., born Dec. 2, 1823, died Oct. 3, 1855; Isaih R., born Dec. 1, 1828, died Nov. 21, 1864, and Absalum M., born Mar. 9, 1830, died Nov. 22, 1858. 

Isaih married Mary L. Coffey on Aug. 19, 1862 in Maury Co.  She was the daughter of Calvin and Elizabeth Fine Coffey.  Calvin was a son of Nathan and Elizabeth Gilbreath Coffey.  Their children were Martha, born Jun 21, 1863, died Feb. 22, 1864 and, William James, born Aug. 29, 1864.  Isaih and Martha are buried at Gilbreath-Morrow.  After Isaih's death, Mary remarried to J. J. Fleming and died May 8, 1896 in Maury Co.  Mr. Fleming died Mar. 4, 1926 in Maury Co.  Both are buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia, Maury Co.

Absalum married Emily E., born Nov. 25, 1831, died Sep. 1, 1855 in Maury Co.  They had at least one child, Elizabeth Jane, born Aug. 20, 1855, died Nov. 30, 1855.  All are buried at Gilbreath-Morrow and their graves are marked with headstones.

John and Polly's third child Jane, married John Leonard Morrow on Oct. 13, 1821 in Maury Co.  John's grave site is unmarked; Jane's headstone is intact.  John was born Apr. 30, 1797 in the Pendleton District of SC and died Jan. 21, 1863 in Maury Co.

Their children were:

Mary Ann, born Jun. 3, 1828, perhaps in Giles Co., died Aug. 20, 1902 in Collin Co., TX.  She married Coleman William Wilcoxson on Mar. 26, 1851 in Maury Co.  He was born there on Sep. 26, 1828 and died in Collin Co. on Oct. 12, 1902.  They had at least two children:  Martha Asia, born Jan. 27, 1858 in TN, died Apr. 3, 1947 in Collin Co.; and Mary Alice, born Jul. 15, 1865 in Farmersville, Collin Co., died in Victoria Co., TX on Apr. 3, 1954.  These sisters respectively married brothers Isaac Fountain Coffey and William Daniel Coffey, sons of William Fine Coffey and Priscilla Howard.  Both had large families and, more information is available.

Susan P. was their second child.  She was born Mar. 10, 1834 in Maury Co., and died Apr. 7. 1852.  She is buried at Gilbreath-Morrow and her gravesite is marked by a headstone.

Andrew Alexander was next, born Feb. 6, 1836, died Jun. 18, 1898 in Maury Co.  Andrew married Martha S. Coffey, another daughter of Calvin and Elizabeth Fine Coffey, on Mar. 4, 1880 in Maury Co.  Martha was born Sep. 13, 1842 and died Jan. 14, 1899 in Maury Co.  Both grave sites are marked by headstones.  Before Andrew, Martha was married to Martin V. West of Giles Co. He was born Apr. 15, 1841 and died Jun. 14, 1872 in Maury Co. and was buried at Gilbreath-Morrow.

John William is the last known (to me) child of John and Jane.  He was born Nov. 4, 1853 in Farmersville, Collin Co., and died in Pauls Valley, Garvin Co., OK on Jun. 26, 1925.  He married Rebeca Jane Bottoms, born May 9, 1858 in IL, died Jun. 4, 1936 at Pauls Valley.  Both are buried at the Paoli Cemetery in Garvin Co.

John Gilbreath, born Sep. 26, 1799 in Green Co., KY is the last known (to me) child of John and Mary Coffey Gilbreath.

As written earlier, Andrew and Nancy Hicklin Gilbreath had two children who married into the Chesley Coffey, Jr. family.  His daughter, Elizabeth, born c1777 (very questionable, considering Nathan's birth date!) in VA married Nathan Coffey, a son of Chesley, Jr.  Nathan was born Aug. 13, 1790 in NC and died Jun 3, 1858 in Maury Co.  He is buried at Reece Chapel Cemetery at McCains in Maury Co.  Elizabeth died on Jun. 18, 1846 and is also buried at Reece Chapel.  I wrote an earlier blog about Nathan and Elizabeth and it can be read here.  Not much was included about their 14 children however, and I'll do that in a future blog.

After Elizabeth died, Nathan married  Eupheme Stockard, and I know almost nothing about this union.

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Wayne Austin has created an excellent website containing links to roughly 400 Tennessee cemeteries, some with photographs of the graves and headstones.  To view photos of the Coffey-Gilbreath graves, use this link.  Use this link to view a menu of available cemeteries.

William Fine Coffey (1830-1864)

Update Jan. 17, 2015. Some changes are highlighted, others are not.

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William was born Jan. 28, 1830 to the union of Calvin and Elizabeth Fine Coffey. Calvin was a son of Nathan and Elizabeth Gilbreath Coffey. Nathan is in the Chesley Coffey, Jr. line.

Priscilla Howard, born 1826 in Mount Pleasant, Maury Co., TN, married William Fine on Dec. 24, 1850* in Maury Co. William died Aug. 24, 1864 in Mount Pleasant, and Priscilla on Aug. 17, 1899 in Farmersville, Collin Co., TX. William is said to have been the victim of an ambush before leaving Tennessee**. He is buried in the Howard Cemetery in Maury Co. Priscilla is thought to be buried in the IOOF cemetery in Farmersville.

Photo Courtesy of Melonie Masih

She and William were the parents of at least six children:

Calvin Jefferson, born in Maury Co. on Aug. 27, 1851, died Dec. 19, 1906 in Farmersville and was buried at the IOOF in Farmersville.  His wife was Frances Hinton.  They were married c1876.  They had two children but, only one survived to the 1900 census.  She was Sallie Bell, born in Oct., 1881 at Maury Co.

Equilla Howard, born Oct. 2, 1856 in Maury Co., died Jul. 30, 1920 in Farmersville. He married Margaret (Maggie) Elizabeth Scott - date unknown - who was born Jul. 27, 1857 in Mount Pleasant, Maury Co., TN, daughter of William Scott and a Miss Walker. Maggie died in McKinney, Collin Co. on Mar. 16, 1937. The only census record that I can find for them is dated Jan. 22, 1920, just a few months before Equilla died. Equilla is buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Farmersville; Maggie is also buried there, Collin Co.   They had at least three children:  Tennee, female, born c1877; Hattie D., born c1879 and Herchel Alexander, born 1888.

Isaac Fountain, born Aug. 10, 1857 in Maury Co., TN and died Nov. 26, 1927 in Farmersville. He married Martha Asia Wilcoxson on Jan. 8, 1880 in Collin Co. Martha was born Jan. 27, 1858 in Tennessee and died Apr. 2, 1947 in Collin Co. Together they had at least five children: Ada, born Apr. 1881; Will T., born May, 1883; Dessie, born May, 1887; Emer, born Sep., 1889; and Emmet, born c1894. Emmet married Eva Carver, and had at least one child, a son named Gordon Phillips Coffey, born c1923. Isaac and Martha are buried in the IOOF cemetery at Farmersville.

William Daniel, born May 8, 1860 in Mount Pleasant, married Mary Alice Wilcoxson, likely a sister to Martha who married Isaac, on Aug. 20, 1882 in Farmersville, Collin Co. Mary Alice was born Jul. 15, 1865 in Farmersville, and died Apr. 3, 1954 in Victoria, Victoria Co., TX. They were the parents of nine children:

Webb Granville., born May. 28, 1883, died Apr. 19, 1929 in an automobile accident in Wharton, Wharton Co., TX. Webb's death certificate indicates that he was married at the time of death. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria.*

Lottie Viola, born Jun. 22, 1886 in Farmersville, died Oct. 8, 1966 in Victoria Co.. Lottie married Dave Byrd Yeary on Jan. 16, 1907 in Collin Co. Lottie died of acute myocardial failure and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria.

Clara Gertrude, born Feb. 6, 1888, died of sarcomatosis on Jul. 24, 1950 in Victoria Co. She married Herbert Edgar Evans on Jun. 2, 1906 in Farmersville. Clara is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria.

Pearl Drusilla, born Oct. 26, 1892 in Farmersville, and died there on Nov. 26,1893

Stella Eudora, born Jun. 29, 1896 at Farmersville, died Jun. 28, 1994 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA.  She was returned to Victoria, TX for burial in the Evergreen Cemetery.  She was married to a Mr. Skinner but I have found no information for him.

Thadius Elmo, born Apr. 19, 1900, married Ruth Crawford and had at least one child, a daughter named Eleanor, born c1922.  Thadius died in MS in Mar., 1967 and was returned to Mission Valley in Victoria Co., TX for burial in the Mission Valley Community cemetery.  Nothing is yet know of Ruth.  They had at least three children:; Thad, Jr., Eleanor and William Stark.

Mary Prucilla or Pricilla, born Jul. 19, 1903, died May 20, 1998 at Goliad in Goliad Co., TX and buried at Memory Gardens in Victoria, Victoria Co.  She married a Mr. Jacobs but nothing yet known of him.

Jack Daniel, born Oct. 17, 1906 in Collin Co.  He married Dorothy Heinke c1929. Dorothy was the daughter of Arthur and Maggie Wilden Heinke. She was born Sep. 7, 1908 in Victoria, and died of Uremia on Sep 19, 1953. She is buried in Catholic Cemetery No. 3 in Victoria along with Jack who died in Oct., 1984.  They were parents of at least three:  Jack Arthur, 1931-2005; Carolyne Sue, 1935-?; and James Ross, born 1936.  Jack Arthur married Patricia Ann Everton and they had at least three children: Deborah Sue, Daniel Ross and Michael Harold.

Franklin Penn, born Feb., 1862, married Mollie Brewer in 1884 in Farmersville. Mollie was born in Apr., 1866 in Alabama. They had at least six children: Clovie, born Mar., 1886; Roy F., born Jan., 1888, married Mary Jones; Mamie, born Feb., 1891; Raymond, born Mar., 1896; William H., born c1903; and Mary Frances, born c April, 1910.  Frank died in 1956 in Fort Worth and was buried at Vernon in Wilbarger Co., TX.  Mollie died in 1945 in Vernon.  Both she and Frank are buried at Eastview cemetery in Vernon.

Please send additions and/or corrections welcomed.

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Update Mar. 14, 2012

According to his death certificate, Webb Granville Coffey's given name was Webb.  I have seen other genealogies that report his call name was "Wibb" or "Wibbie."

His wife, Katherine Agnes Hartsell was the daughter of James Joseph and Henrietta Whitmarsh Hartsell, already married emigrants from England in 1871.  The couple seems to have first settled in MS because I find them in 1880 living in Yalobusha Co., MS.  Four of their six known [to me] children were born in MS; the last two in TX.  In addition to Katherine, there was W. J., born c1875; Charlotte H., born May 1878; Lily, born Feb., 1891.  Texas born children were John Joseph, born Jan., 1893 and Walter J., born Aug., 1894.

Katherine's death certificate reports she was born Oct. 25, 1885 in Jackson, Hinds Co., MS and, died May 13, 1964 in Victoria.  She is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria.  Until Apr. 11, 1930 Katherine was still a widow residing in Victoria.  Sometime after that she married a Mr. Holland who also preceded her in death.  I hope to find out who Mr. Holland was from the soon-to-be-released 1940 census.

James Joseph Hartsell died in Victoria, Victoria Co., TX on Aug. 22, 1941 and is buried at Farmersville in Collin Co., TX.  I have not found a death record or burial site for Henrietta.  According to his death certificate, James was born in London on Nov. 24, 1849 and was a retired horticulturist at the time of death.

Katherine's son, Lawrence Granville Coffey, born Nov. 19, 1905, was married to Issetta [sic] Marie Hadley and were the parents of at least three children:  Beverly, Sandra and Robert Lawrence.  I have not found any information pertaining to her daughter, Ruth Agnes Coffey.

William Daniel and Mary Alice Wilcoxson Coffey had at least two additional children: James Ross, born Dec. 11, 1894 in Collin Co., died unmarried on Oct. 16, 1970 in Travis Co., TX. and Edith, born c1904 in Collin Co.

Thadius Elmo and wife Ruth Crawford had at least two additional children:  Thad, Jr., born 1921 and William Start, born 1929.

This family are descendants of the mythical Chesley Coffey.

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* Update May 5, 2015: The informant on his death certificate was his brother Thadius, who apparently gave the name Webb to authorities.  Of course, dialect could have been at play here.  The news item announcing his death names him "Webb."  His headstone reads "Wibb,"  Melonie Williams-Masihm whose grandmother was Webb/Wibb's sister, writes today that the family Bible names him Wibb and that his daughter Ruth, told others at a Coffey family reunion "a number of years ago" that his name was Wibb.

This would be a good time to find a birth certificate.

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*Elmer C. Gilbreath, compiler, Coffee - Gilbreath - Turnbow Families (Oklahoma City, OK: (Reprint) Gene Brewington from microfilm in LDS Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Orig. Pub. 1958)

[This source gives bride's name as Driscilla Homan. It is likely incorrect. William is known to have had only one wife, Priscilla Howard]

**Howard Cemetery, Enterprise, Maury County Tennessee, online [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~maury/cemetery/HowardCem/Coffey01.htm],

COFFEY, William F., 28 Jan 1830 - Killed 24 Aug 1864. " by Major Howell and Sam Morrow two "local self styled Federals", Mason. (Co. B, 48th Term., C. S. A., married Priscilla Howard on 24 Dec 1850, She was the daughter of Willoughby & Frances [Cochran] Howard). Pricilla removed with her family of six or so children to Collin County, Texas where she lived there with her family until her death in 1899. Photo & info by Wayne Austin 4/10/04.