James Avery & Mary Jane Lainey Coffey

I noticed today that someone had been searching the blogs for information about James Avery Coffey.  As it happens, I have been trying to fill out his family information over the past couple of weeks.

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James was a son of James and Mary Keller Coffey and was born on Apr. 30, 1847 in Caldwell Co., NC and probably in the Yadkin valley. He was married there on Oct. 4, 1872 to Mary Jane Lainey (var.), born in April 1848 to James and Mariah Lainey.

There were at least nine children born to this union, all in the Kings Creek Twp. of Caldwell Co.  Each of them lived to become adults, marry and leave some descendants.  I'll name and report on each of them and their families.

The first born was James Columbus on Aug. 11, 1873.  James married Ann Etta "Etta" Barnett, daughter of Thomas Horton and Sarah Isabella Sherrill Barnett on Sep. 7, 1895 at Kings Creek..  Etta was born May, 12, 1874 in the Yadkin Valley and was the mother of at least two children:  John P., born in 1896, died in 1962 in Gaston Co., NC.  He married Lela Elrod - date not yet known - who was born in NC in 1910 and died there in 1999.  Both are buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Gastonia.  Second was Thomas Frank, born 1898, died 1967 in Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., NC.  Thomas' wife was Naomi Farris and I have no information about her.  Thomas is buried at Mountain Rest Cemetery at Kings Mountain.

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Next was George Wesley, born in 1875.  His spouse was Lula Jane Barlow and they were married on Jun. 17, 1911 in Caldwell Co.  Lula was born to John Horton and Martha M. "Mattie" Grubb Barlow on Oct. 10, 1895 in Kings Creek Twp.  Their children were Nora Lee, born Nov., 1912, died May 7, 1944.  Here spouse was Lee Otis Keller, a son of Anderson and Emma Mayberry Keller, born in Yadkin Valley in 1893.  They were married c1933 in Caldwell Co.  Nora died in Lenoir in 1944, Lee in 1958. Both are buried at Kings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery [KCBCC].  I know of no children.  Nora Lee was followed by Charles, c1915; Viola, c1917; Callie, c1919; Ellen, c1922; Annie, c1924 and Clara Mae, c1928.  Clara Mae married George Lincoln Smith and died on Mar. 21, 2012 at Hickory in Catawba Co.  She was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Lenoir.  Her obituary reports that she had a son and two daughters.

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Third born was Mary Genelia in 1878.  She married Finley Green Andrews [date not known], who was born on Apr. 22, 1882 in Watauga Co., NC.  He was a son of Avery J. and Sarah Knight Andrews.  He and Mary had at least five children:  Troy Lawrence, 1907 in Caldwell Co., died 1946 in Forsyth Co.  His wife was Edna M. Mooney.  No other information.  Following Troy was Elizabeth, c1910; Roy Green, c1912; Sarah Jane, c1916 and Marvin Pershing, c1918.  Mary died in 1946 and Finley in 1961.  Both are buried at KCBCC.

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Julia Emma was fourth.  She was born in 1879 and married Rufus T. Barlow, a son of Horton and Nancy Maltba Barlow.  Rufus was born in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co. on May 11, 1864 and they were married there on Dec. 8, 1901.  Their children were Nellie Mae, born 1904, died 1940.  She married James Fox on Nov. 1, 1924 in South Lenoir Twp., Caldwell Co.  James was born c1899 but I have no death information. Nellie is buried at KCBCC.  James is probably there as well.  Nellie's sister, Hattie Emma, was born c1908 and married Ralph Raymond Clippard in 1927.  He was born c1902 in NC.  I know of two children:  Richard, born c1937 and Maynard, born c1939..  I do not know where Hattie and Ralph are buried.  There were probably other children born to Rufus and Julia, but the last one I know of was Jack Christie, born 1915, died 1978 in Caldwell Co.

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Amanda Lou followed Julia in 1992.  She married Joseph Hamilton Kirby in 1906.  He was born in 1883, a son of William Jackson Kirby and Nancy Emma Nelson.  Their children were:  William Avery, 1907-1968, married Ruth Eva Montgomery, 1918-1998.  Both are buried at KCBCC.; Luther Iron, 1909-1958; Mallie Filmore, 1912-1978; and Edgar Lee, 1915-1969.  Edgar's wife was Gladys Lola Barlow, daughter of John Walter and Frances Ella Prestwood Barlow.  She was born in 1910 and died in Wilkes Co. in 1992.  They were apparently not married until 1964 and are likely to have been previously married to others.

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Robert Lee was next, born in 1885.  His wife was Bessie Church to whom he was married in Valmead, Caldwell Co. on Oct. 15, 1911.  He died in 1937 and was buried at KCBCC.  Bessie was born c1895 but I have no other information about her.

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William Henry "Will" was born in 1886.  His first wife was Naomi Genely [sic] Keller, daughter of Milas and Demaris Barlow Keller.  She was born in 1883 and died in 1933.  Her two children were Albert L., born c1907 and Mary Ethel, born 1910.  In c1938 Will, age 52, married 15 year old Annie Mae Summerow, a daughter of Joe F. and Florence Kincaide Summerow.  Annie was born in 1923 and gave Will at least five children:  Thelma Lore, 1939-2011, married James Garlen Laws; Ira Lee, 1940-?; and infant son, born 1943; Steve Wilson, born 1946 and Stanley Edward, birth date not known.  Annie died on May 2, 1989 in Hickory, Catawba Co. and was buried at Littlejohn Methodist Church cemetery in Hickory.  Will died on 1959 and was buried at KCBCC.  Sometime after Will's death, Annie married Gurner Walter Hamby, 1910-1996.

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Elisha Elmore was born in 1888 and c1919 married Fannie Bell Kirby, a daughter of William N. and Sarah G. Kirby Kirby.  Fannie was born at Kings Creek in 1898.  They were parents of Edgar Lee, born 1922; Toye Mae, born Dec., 1925, died 1987.  Toye (or Toy) married Earl Pearson in 1948; and Claude William born 1928.  Claude married Clara Dean Walker, daughter of Oscar Walker, on Mar. 26, 1954 in Granite Falls.  Claude died on Oct., 2010 at Rhodhiss, His burial place is unknown and there were no services scheduled.  Elisha is buried at KCBCC.  Fannie is likely there as well.

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Finally, we arrive at the last child, Millard Monroe, born 1889.  He married Mary A. Nelson in 1909 at Watauga Co.  She was born in 1892 to Thomas and Elizabeth Davis Nelson.  Their children were Rosa Bell, 1909-?; Mamie Bell, 1910-1993, married William Lee Turnmire in 1925, a son of John Calvin and Fannie Green(e) Turnmire.  They were parents of one unnamed, 1926-?; Grady, 1927-?; Nina, 1929-2009; Eugene, 1931-1969; Vilas, 1933-1940; Pauline, 1936-2002; William, Jr., 1938-1996; Lucille, 1940-?; and Edity, 1944-?.  Everett Turner follower Mamie in 1914, Watauga Co..  His wife was Thelma Green and they had at least one child, Lee Roy, born/died in Jan., 1937.

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So, that's what I have on this family.  There are more exact details available.

Additions and corrections welcomed!

Jack

Berry Green & Emily Jane Coffey Coomer

A recent e-mail inquiry about this family gives me an opportunity to write a bit of what I know about them.

Berry Green was born c1828 in Stokes Co., NC and married on Feb. 16, 1854 in Adair Co., KY to Emily Jane Coffey, a daughter of Ananias "Nias" and Jane Hindman Coffey.  Jane was born c1824 in Adair Co.

She and Berry had at least six children, all born in Adair Co.

Junius S., born c1855, married Martha Clem on Apr. 15, 1879 in Pike Co., IN.

Grubb-Coomer Marriage Record

Louisa Jane, born Jan. 6, 1857, married John Wesley Grubb on Jul. 21, 1876 in Columbia, Adair Co.  John was born Jul. 27, 1855 in Union, Pike Co., IN and died on Jul. 21, 1912 at Princeton in Gibson Co., IN.  Louisa Jane died on Apr. 1, 1936 in Clay Co., IN.  Both are buried at Little Zion Cemetery at Union in Pike Co.

William Green, born Oct. 17, 1858, married Cora Evelyn Hartsey.  She was born in Louisville, Lay Co., IL on Nov. 27, 1877 to Joe and Eliza Jane Richards Hartsey.  William died July 11,1948 at Arbor, Welsh Twp., Cape Girardeau Co., MO and, Cora died on Jul 28, 1952 in Wayne Twp., Bollinger Co., MO.  Both are buried at Plainview Cemetery at Perkins in Scott Co., MO.


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Albert Lucas Coomer

Robert Bosley, born c1861, married Flora Louisa Mayhugh on Aug. 5, 1886 in Pike Co., IN.*  I do not have a death date or burial place for Robert.  Flora, a daughter of Jim and Mary Smith Mayhugh, was born Nov. 9, 1863 at Princeton, Gibson Co., IN and died Mar. 27, 1951 at Burfordsville, Wayne Twp., Cape Girardeau Co.

Albert Lucas was born Sep. 28, 1862 and died on Dec. 10, 1938 at Petersburg, Pike Co., IN.  His wife was Laura Belle Swain, born Feb. 23, 1869 (where?) and died Nov. 20, 1933 at Union in Pike Co., IN.  Both are buried at Mount Tabor Cemetery at Wheeling in Gibson Co., IN.  They were married Mar. 27, 1890 in Gibson Co., IN.*

Harriet "Hattie", born c1865, was the last child of Berry and Emily.  She married John Henry Earls c1886 in Indiana.  I have not found a marriage record or, their death and burial information.

I am also seeking accurate birth and death information for Berry and Emily, as well as their burial location.

Additions and corrections welcomed!

Jack

*Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992, Items on line at FamilySearch.org (www.familysearch.org), 2010.

James Avery & Mary Jane Laney Coffey of Kings Creek, Caldwell Co., NC

James Avery Coffey was born in April, 1846 to James Coffey, Jr. and his wife Mary Keller.  James Avery married c1871 to Mary Jane Laney, a daughter of James and Moriah Laney.  Jane was born in Apr., 1848 and died on Jul. 30, 1931 in Kings Creek Twp., Caldwell Co., NC. They were in the Kings Creek Twp. census from 1870-1900.

Mary Jane was buried at Kings Creek Baptist Church cemetery*.  James is probably also buried there but I have not found a record.

James and Mary Jane were parents to eight children, all born in Kings Creek:

James Columbus, born Aug., 11, 1873.  James registered for the WW1 draft at Williamson in Mingo Co., WV where he was employed as a coal miner by the War Eagle Coal Co. of War Eagle, WV.  He was 45 years old, born Aug. 11, 1873 and was described as being short and stout with blue eyes and dark brown hair.  He named Ann Coffey of Kings Creek as his nearest relative.

George Wesley, born Aug., 1875, died Jul. 25, 1928 in Caldwell Co.  George married c1911 Lula Jane Barlow, a daughter of John and Martha Grubb Barlow.  Lula was born Oct. 10, 1895 in Kings Creek and died in Lenoir on Apr. 16, 1971.**  She was buried at Kings Creek; George's grave site has not yet been located.  Their children were Nora Lee, born Nov., 1912; Charles W., born c1915; Viola A., born c1917; Callie, born c1919; Ellen, born c1922; Annie, born c1924 and Clara M., born c1928.  Nora Lee married Lee Otis Keller, a son of Anderson and Emma Mayberry Keller.  He was born Jan. 12, 1893 in Caldwell Co., and died May 16, 1958 at Kings Creek. Nora lee died May 7, 1944 at Lenoir.  Both are buried at Kings Creek.

Mary Genelia, born Jul. 31, 1878, died Mar. 17, 1946.  She married Finley Green Andrews, born Apr. 22, 1882 in Watauga Co., died at Lenoir on Dec. 31, 1960.  Both are buried at Kings Creek.+  Their children were Troy Lawrence, born Aug. 10, 1907, died Aug. 12, 1946 in Forsyth Co.; Elizabeth, born c1910; Roy Green, born c1912; Sarah Jane, born c1916 and Marvin Pershing, born c1918.

Julia E., born Jun., 1879; Amanda L., born Jul., 1881, Robert Lee, born Aug., 1885, died 1930; and William Henry, born Aug., 1886, died 1959 - no further information.

Elisha Elmore, born Aug. 14, 1889, died Oct. 7, 1962.  He married Fannie Bell Kirby, born Apr., 1898 at Kings Creek to William N. & Sarah G. Kirby Kirby.  She and Elisha were married at Caldwell Co. in 1919.  Their children were Edgar Lee, born 1922; Toye May, born Dec. 14, 1925, died 1987, and Claude William, born 1928.  Toye married Earl Pearson in Caldwell Co. in 1948.


















*NC Death Cert., No. 279
**NC Death Cert. No. 11910
+NC Death Certs. 34854 (Finley) & 6800 (Mary)

No. 981

James Coffey & Martha Stalsworth Marriage

The couple in the attached marriage license were James Coffey and Martha Stalsworth. They were married in Grainger Co., TN on 18 Dec. 1848.

There was a Martha Stalsworth in that county but, only after 1877. Her parents were Samuel and Susannah Coffey Stalsworth. Susannah was the daughter of Joel and Elizabeth Grubb Coffey.

If you can identify this James and Martha, please contact me at the e-mail address above.

Joel Coffey and Elizabeth Grubb

Joel was the fifth of at least 10 children born to Meredith and Ester Coffey. Meredith was a son of John Coffey and Dorcas Carter. I have not found any information on Ester. Joel was born c1806 in Grainger Co., TN and died there before Sep. 10, 1851. They appeared in the 1850 Grainger Co. census.*

Elizabeth Grubb was the daughter of Jacob and Barbara Shelly Grubb and was born Dec. 25, 1808 in Grainger Co., TN. She and Joel were married Feb. 5, 1829 in Grainger Co. Jacob was Joel and Elizabeth's bondsman. I am certain that Jacob and Barbara had additional children but I have not yet identified them.

There were at least eight children born to this union:

Nancy, born Oct., 1830. She married John Hinshaw on Oct. 17, 1847 in Grainger Co. He was born c1822, probably in Grainger Co., and died in 1883. They had at least 12 children: Martha Jane, born 1848, died 1917; William Temple, born 1851, died c1890; James Henry, born 1853, died 1932; Amanda E., born 1855, died 1897; Samantha Caroline, born 1858, died 1900; John Bo., born 1860, died 1885; Theodocia A., born 1862, died 1938; Mary Susan, born 1864, died 1909; Nancy Cordelia, born 1866, died 1943; Jacob Golden, born 1868, died 1940; Sophronia, born 1870; and Rosa F., born 1872, died 1904. Nancy and John appeared in every Grainger Co. census from 1850 through 1880.

James, born c1831

John, born c1833, married Nancy A. Vineyard, born c1835 in Grainger Co., died before 1880 in Grainger Co. They were married c1850 in Grainger Co. Children were: James W., born c1854; Eliza Cordelia, born c1856; William G., born c1858; Pleasant G., born c1861; Catherine, born c1863; Nancy C., born c1864; John P., born c1865; Samuel Henry, born c1869; Meredith H., born c1872; and Sarah A., born c1872. I found John and Nancy in the 1860 and 1870 Grainger Co. census.

Susannah, born Jul 23, 1836 in Grainger Co., married Samuel Stalsworth Feb. 19, 1855 in Grainger Co. Samuel was born c1836 in TN. Their children were Rosanna Elizabeth, born c1855; Nancy J., born c1858; Joel Amos, born Mar. 30, 1860, born Artissa Hinsaw (perhaps brother to John); Samuel S., born c1863; Mary L., born c1865; William D., born c1868; Sarah M., born c1871; John C., born c1874; and Martha A., born c1877. Susannah and Samuel appeared in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 Grainger Co. census.

Jacob S., born c1839

William Elijah, born c1842

Sarah E., born c1845. She married Robert Inklebarger on Dec. 6, 1860 in Grainger Co.

Elvira, born c1846

Please send additions and/or corrections to me.





*1850 Grainger Co., Pabge 102, dwelling 731, family 756, Joel Coffee, age 44, male, farmer, $2000, born TN;Elizabeth Coffee, age 44, female, born TN; John Coffee, age 14, male, farmer, born TN; Susan Coffee, age 12, female, born TN; Jacob Coffee, age 11, male, born TN; William E. Coffee, age 8,. male, born TN; Sarah E., age 3, female, born TN; James Griffin, age 16, male, laborer, born TN

Other Coffee families adjacent to Joel at this census were James, age 44; wife Sarah, age 44, son Joel age 23, dau., Martha age 20; Elizabeth, dau., age 16; John, son, age 14; Calvin, son, age 10; Mahala, dau., age 12; Mary, dau., age 8; Aquilla, son, age 2.

James Coffee, age 19, male; wife Martha, age 19, female, and son Joel H., age 4 mos.,

Another neighbor is John Hinchall [Hinsaw], and wife Nancy. Nancy was the daughter of Joel and Elizabeth.

Joel Coffey

As previously written, my early personal family research efforts uncovered literally thousands of miscellaneous Coffee/Coffey tidbits. I placed those items into a database that I could search on various keywords. To date, that database contains 11,650 names.

Over the years the database has not only helped me uncover several clues to my own family, but has helped other family historians by providing them with that one little "clue" that lead to a break through in their own research.

There are 102 Joels in the database, but there is only one that has me puzzled. That Joel first appears in Hempstead Co., AR in 1856 when he purchased land in Township 12, Range 23. On Feb. 20, 1858 he and Elizabeth, his wife, sold that land to Moses Jones. Joel died in 1859 as proven by probate of his will on Apr. 11, 1859. The only information provided in that document was the name of his wife. Strangly, there is a land patent dated Jul. 1, 1859 in that county in the name of Joel Coffey, who purchased 160 acres in township 34, section 12 south, range 23 west. This purchase may have been in the works prior to his death, but the fact that he sold land knowing that he was about to die sort of belies this.

Three witnesses attested to Joel's will in 1858. They appear to be of no relation to Joel or Elizabeth. When the will was probated, one of the witnesses had already left the county and was not available to testify as witness to Joel's signature on the will. My ancestor, Lilburn Coffee, who had settled in Hempstead Co. in 1849, was called upon to verify that the signature of the missing witness was in fact accurate. I've often wondered how a man who could neither read nor write could give such testimony.

In any event, Joel must have been known to Lilburn, and may even have been related. But, I have been unsuccessful in determining which of the hundreds of Joel Coffee/ys this could be.

My database contains several entries for a Joel Coffey with a wife named Elizabeth:

+ Joel, born 1806 in TN, married Elizabeth Grubb on Feb. 5, 1829. Bond was Jacob Grubb, James Kennon, MG, officiated. Joel was the son of Meredith Coffey and Esther (Hester?) LNU. Most researchers report that this Joel died before Sep. 10, 1851 in Grainger Co., TN. Children were: Nancy who married John Hinshaw on Oct. 16, 1847 in Grainger Co.; John, born c1833; Susan, born c1838, married Samuel Stalsworth; Jacob, born c1839; William E., born c1842; Sarah E., married Dec. 6, 1860 to Robert Inklebarger; and Elvira.

+ Joel William, born 1824-26 in either AL or TN. He married Elizabeth Ann Moore, born 1832, in Morgan Co., Somerville Co., AL in 1848. Elizabeth is thought to have died between 1894-96 in Province, OK. Joel died in TX in 1880. Their children were John James, Ann E. J. (Jane?), Joel William, Daniel Webster, Sarah Elizabeth, Eleanor (Linnie), Joseph A., Robert Richard, Harrison, and Charles.

+ Joel and wife Elizabeth appear in the 1860 DeKalb Co., AL census. Joel, age 53, grocer, born SC, Elizabeth, age 49, born SC; William H., age 17, born GA; Andrew J., age 14, born GA; Mary E., age 9, born GA, and Franklin, age 6, born GA.

+ Joel Hymer Coffee, born 1839 in SC, married Susan Elizabeth Cobb, born 1866. This Joel was the son of Rev. John D. Coffee, born 1816 and Martha Singleton, born 1818.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who can add to or correct the above list, or who might know which Coffey family Joel of Hempstead Co. belonged to.