McCaleb & Sarah "Sally" Hayes Coffey

McCaleb was a son of Jesse and Margaret "Peggy" Edmisten Coffey, born c1814 in North Carolina.  He married Sarah "Sally" Hayes about 1838 in probably Watauga Co., NC where they lived and died.

There were two Coffey men named McCaleb and were born just 11 years apart.  The older McCaleb was born in 1803 to Thomas and Sarah Fields Coffey.  As best as I can determine, he was always a resident of Caldwell Co. and served as a Commissioner in that county in 1868.  He and McCaleb, subject of this blog, were first cousins, once removed.  Their common ancestor was John and Jane Graves Coffey, a son of Edward.

McCaleb and Sally Hayes Coffey had four sons, three of which were killed during the Civil War:

Thomas Ninevah Coffey was the eldest, born in 1839.  He was one of the first to volunteer for service in the Confederate army and was with Co. E., 37th NC Infantry Regiment when he was killed at Chancellorsville.

John E. Coffey was the youngest, born in 1844, and also enlisted in the 37th.  He too was killed at Chancellorsville on the same day as his brother Thomas.

Jesse Finley was born c1842 and was the third born to McCaleb and Sally.  He enlisted in what became the 58th NC Infantry Regiment in 1862.  The unit was originally Palmer's Battalion of Partisan Rangers.  They were consolidated in Apr., 1865 with the 60th NC Infantry and became the 58th NC.  According to an article found at Footnote.com, "over 1000 men came from Cumberland Gap...and was assigned to guard Big Creek Cap."  Jesse died there on Mar. 7, 1863 but a cause of death was not given.  He is buried at DeLap Cemetery at La Follette in Campbell Co., TN.

The last son born to McCaleb and Sally was Cornelius Jones Coffey and the only one to live and raise a large family.  He was born on Apr. 22, 1840 served in Co. E, 37th NC Infantry Regiment.  He enlisted on Sep. 18, 1861 and was discharged in July, 1863.

Mar. 1918 Notice of Sale
C. J. Coffey Property

In 1866, Jones married his first cousin, Martha Jane Gragg, the daughter of James Burton and Nancy A. Coffey Gragg.  Nancy was a younger sister of McCaleb.  Martha was born in Caldwell Co. in 1843 and died in Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. in 1900.  Jones died there in 1917 and both are buried at White Springs Cemetery at Blowing Rock.

Jones - as I understand he was called - and Martha Jane had at least nine children; seven sons and two daughters.

Their first was Thomas Herndon Coffey, born 1867, died 1946 in Watauga Co.  His wife was Annie Marilda Pendley [sic], a daughter of William Patterson and Lou Ellen Moore Pendley.  Annie was born in 1873, Caldwell Co., and died at Blowing Rock in Watauga Co. in 1959.  Thomas and Annie were parents of at least two children, Ellen Pendley Coffey (1902-1975) and Thomas, Jr., (1905-1978),  They two are buried at White Springs.

Emma Irene was their second child, born Dec., 1868 and died in Apr., 1947.  She married John Alexander Gragg, a first cousin once removed, in Watauga Co. in 1887.  John was born to Johnson P. and Nancy Jane Cuthbertson Gragg in 1856 and died in 1925 in Watauga Co.  Both are buried at White Springs.  They were parents of at least two children, both daughters:  Mary E., born 1888 and Ila Mae, born 1891.

A third child was Simms Coffey, born c1871.  I received that information from Margaret Farley Coffey (decd), and together we searched for any record of this child without luck.  About the only fact that can be associated with the family is that he was not enumerated in the 1880 census with Jones and Martha.

Elbert, fourth child, was born in 1872 and died in 1900 at Kelsey in Watauga Co.  He Margaret Matilda Simms in 1892 at Watauga Co.  They had one son, John B., born in June, 1891, just a few months prior to Elbert's death.  I do not know where Elbert was buried.  Neither do I know if Margaret Simms remarried.  The family needs further study.

John Finley, born 1877 in Caldwell Co. was next born.  He married Frances C. Holloway, a daughter of Reede and Martha Andrews Holloway, in Watauga Co. in 1894.  I have one child born to them; John Stuart Coffey, born c1906.  John Finley died in Carolina Co., VA in 1953 and Frances in 1956 at Partlow, Spotsylvania Co., VA.  Both are buried at County Line Baptist Church Cemetery at Ruther Glen, Caroline Co.  John Stuart married a lady named Ruth in c1922 and had at least three children:  Edity, Conway and Ruth.

Walter Gwyn was next, born in 1878, probably in Watauga Co., and died there in 1945.  He is buried at White Springs.  He was wed to triple third cousin Julia Hayes, daughter of Wyatt and Mary Jane Coffey Hayes in Watauga Co. in 1896.  They had at least eight children:  William Harston; Lloyd Edgar; McDonald; Roberta; Wyatt; Cecil; Emma and Bulah.  More information on several of these children is available.  Julia was born in Watauga Co. in 1876 and died there in 1955.  She too is buried at White Springs.

Charles Burton was number seven.  He was born in Watauga Co. in 1882 and died in Hickory, Catawba Co. in 1960.  He married Amanda Louise Misemore in about 1916 or 17.  She was born in Tennessee in 1888 and died in Hickory in 1967.  They had at least two children; Wiley Monroe, 19188-1921 and, James Grady, 1922-1941. Charles and Amanda were buried at First Baptist Church Cemetery  in Hudson, Caldwell Co.  Their two sons are buried at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery, also in Hudson.

We know the next child, Hattie, was born in Sep., 1833 at Watauga Co. and that she married Charles Stocks.  Nothing else is yet. known.

The last child was Rufus Monroe, born 1886 in Watauga Co., died there in 1965.  He married Emma Eliza Robbins in that county in 1906.  She was born in NC in 1886 and died there in 1952. Both are buried at White Springs.  Their children were Mabel, Howard, Helen, Edward, and Rhonda.  More information about the children and their descendants is available.

A letter to the editor appeared on page 2, column 2 of the Watauga Democrat of Thursday, March 14, 1895.  It was written by A. W. Beach [several Coffey ladies in Caldwell Co. had Beach husbands.  I do not know who A. W. was] discusses McCaleb's family.  In it he [presumed male] writes that he went to live with "uncle" Caleb and "aunt" Sally at the age of nine years in 1863.  He named their sons as Thomas N., Finley, John, and Jones.  Three sons were already deceased when he arrived and Jones was at home, disabled by a wound to a foot.  He thought that one of the sons had been brought back from the battle field and laid to rest somewhere along the Blue Ridge but, did not name the son nor a specific spot where the burial occurred.

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A double third cousin to Jesse and his brothers was Elbert Coffey, a son of William Coffey, Jr. and his wife Margaret Robbins.  Elbert was born at Buffalo Cove in Watauga Co., NC in 1837 and died "of disease" on May 15, 1863 at Big Creek Gap.  He too is buried at De Lap.

Cornelius Jones Coffey

Cornelius was born to McCaleb and Sarah “Sally” Hayes on Apr. 22, 1840 in Watauga Co., NC.  When he was about 21 years old, Jones, as he was called, enlisted on Sep. 18, 1861 in Co. E of the North Carolina 37th Infantry Regt.  He was wounded on Aug. 29, 1862 at Manassas, VA but, returned to duty on Jan. 15, 1963.  He was “accidentally” wounded in the foot on July 16, 1863.  In November, 1864 he was transferred to Co. E, same regiment.  However, another record reports that he was “retired to the Invalid Corps by reason of disability from his wounds.”

On July 1, 1866 he was married to Martha Jane Gragg in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co.¹ and together they had at least nine children:  Thomas Herndon (1867-1946); Emma Irene (1868-1947); Simms (c1871-?); Elbert (1872-1900); John Finley (1877-1953); Walter Gwyn (1878-1945); Charles Burton (1882-1960); Hattie (1883-?) and Rufus Monroe (1886-1965).  Martha died at Shulls Mill, Watuaga Co. in 1900 and was buried at White Springs Cemetery at Blowing Rock.

On April 20, 1907 in Watauga Co., Jones was married to Sara Caroline Hodges, a daughter of Jesse and Nancy Storie Hodges.²  They are known to have had only one child, Junie Irene (1908-1982).

Cornelius died of heart failure on Feb. 10, 1917 at Shulls Mill and was also buried at White Springs.  Sarah was remarried on Apr. 23, 1920 at Lower Creek in Caldwell Co., to Calvin Hodges.³  Although there is likely to be some kinship between Sarah and Calvin, I am unaware of any.

The following April 25, 1918 The Watauga Democrat⁴ published the following legal notice:

"NOTICE North Carolina, Watauga County, Sarah Coffey, widow of C. J.Coffey Deceased, and Junio [sic] Coffey, by her guardian, W. D. Ashley, VS, Thos Coffey, Emma Gragg and her husband, John Gragg. John Coffey and wife, Francis Coffey, Gwin Coffey and wife Julia Coffey, Charley Coffey and wife, Amanda Coffey, Hattie Stocks [Stokes?] and husband Charlie Stocks, Rufus Coffey and Emma Coffey.

"By virtue of an order of the Superior court in the above entitled action, appointed the undersigned a commissioner to sell the lands of C. J. Coffey, I will on the 6th day of May 1918 sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described lands to wit: Being the land on which the said C. J. Coffey lived at the time of his death, and being bounded on the north by the lands of the Boone Fork Lumber Co and W. S. Whiting, on the west by Roby Coffey on south by Gwyn Coffey and on the east by Rufus Coffey and Rufe Baldwin Con. about 150 acres.  Said sale will be made subject to the dower right of the said Sarah Coffey, widow of C. J. Coffey, deceased, and allotted by T. L. Critcher, T. F. Greer and W. L. Holshouser, commissioners appointed by the court, to which reference is hereby made for more complete description of said dower.  This 23d day of March 1918.  T. E. Bingham, Com."

Click to Enlarge

Marriages:  Thomas Herndon married Annie Marilda Pendley on Nov. 19, 1900; Emma married John Alexander Gragg on Dec. 19, 1887; Simms Coffey is thought to be a child in this family but not proven.  If he was, then he was deceased by the time of his father's estate sale.  Elbert Coffey married Margaret Simms on Feb. 14, 1892.  Could this be where a child named Simms Coffey might have entered the family?  John Finley married Frances F. Holloway on Jul. 14, 1894.  Walter Gwyn married Julia Hayes on Jul. 4, 1896. Charles Burton married Amanda Louise Misemore c1918.  Hattie married Charles Stocks or Stokes. Rufus Monroe married Emma Eliza Robbins on Oct. 27, 1906.

Civil War Deaths:  Jone's brother, Thomas Ninevah Coffey, born 1839, died May 3, 1863 at Chancellorsville in Spotsylvania Co., VA. Another brother, Jesse Finley, born 1842, died Mar. 7, 1863 at Big Creek Gap in Campbell Co., TN.  Brother John E., born 1844 is thought to have died on the same date as his older brother Thomas and also at Chancellorsville.

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Sources: 

¹"North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F89P-JLW : accessed 04 Apr 2014), C. J. Coffey and M. J. Gragg, 28 Jun 1866; citing Caldwell, North Carolina, reference bk 2; FHL microfilm 590345.

²”Historical Studies, Appalachian State University, Department of History” (Editors Evelyn G. Shepherd and Brenda M. Greene), compiler, Marriage Register of Watauga County, North Carolina 1873-1954 (Boone, Watauga Co., NC: Dept. of Hist., Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC, 1995).

³"North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979". index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F895-TZX : accessed 04 Apr 2014), Calvin Hodges and Sarah Coffey, 23 Apr 1920; citing Lower Creek, reference ; FHL microfilm 590350.

4”The Watauga Democrat”, Apr. 25, 1918, page 2, col. 4 (http://tinyurl.com/nywde9x)

Henry S. & Sarah “Sallie” Coffey Roberts

Sallie was a daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth “Betty” Watters Coffey.  Lewis was a son of James and Sarah Emeline Sumpter Coffey.  Sallie was born Mar. 17, 1834 in Pulaski Co.

Henry, in the 1900 census for the Sinking Pct., Wayne Co., KY tells us that he was born in Apr., 1832 in North Carolina.  The census also tell us that he and Sallie had been married for 43 years and that Sallie was the mother of eight children, seven still living.  Unconfirmed sources tell me that their marriage date was Dec. 3, 1856 in Wayne Co.

In 1860, the first census after their marriage, the family received mail at the Monticello Post Office in Wayne Co.  Two children had been born:  Lewis, c1858 and Jesse, c1860.  In 1870 they were enumerated in the Texas District of Pulaski Co.  Lewis was then 12 and Jesse was 10.  In the interim, four additional children had been born:  Manassas, age 8 (born Dec. 1, 1861 in Pulaski Co.); Silas, age 5 (born Sep. 4, 1864); Elijah, age 3 (born c1867) and James, age 6 mos.  It was sometime after the birth of Manassas that the family moved back to Wayne Co. where they lived out the remainder of their lives.

When the census was taken in 1880, the family consisted of mother and father a children Silas, age 16; Elijah, age 12; James C., age 10; Thomas F., age 8; and Williams S., age 3.  Also in the household was Jane Clark, a 22-year old servant girl and her son, William, age 1 mo., all born in KY.

By 1880, the three oldest sons, Lewis, Jesse and Manassas had taken brides.  Lewis and Jesse lived close to their parents with their wives and young children.  Lewis married a young woman by the name of Rebecca and they had one child in 1880, a daughter named Eliza.  Jesse married c1880 to a young woman named Emma who shortly had a son, Tilford.  About the same year, Manassas married Hettie Godsey and they also lived nearby.  Their first child, Sarah came on Jan. 22, 1882; the second that I know of was William, date of birth unknown, died in Ritner, Wayne Co. in 1948.

Hettie Godsey was a daughter of Zebulon and Mahala Jane Thompson and was born Aug. 13, 1862.  Her sister Ruth was born in Nov., 1864 and married Marion Sellers c1885 in KY.  One of Ruth’s children, Ollie Sellers, born Jan. 31, 1898 in Whitley, Pulaski Co., married John William Coffey, a son of James Shelby and Melissa Malvina Holloway Coffey.  James Shelby Coffey was Lewis Coffey’s nephew and also a double-fourth cousin.

By 1900, Henry and Ruth were up in age and the only child remaining at home was Thomas, age 28.

Henry’s headstone in the Martha Coffey cemetery near Ritner tells us that he died on Jun. 1, 1909.  However, he appeared in the Ritner, Wayne Co. census taken on May 10, 1910.  He was 78 then and reported that he had been twice married.  Sally was 76 and 53 years into her first marriage.  Henry was 24 when he and Sarah were married.  Since young men tended to marry by age 20 it seems likely that he had been previously married but, outside this census I have found nothing to substantiate that.

Sarah died on Sep. 8, 1923 in McCreary Co., KY and was buried the next day in the Martha Coffey cemetery.  I have not found her in the 1920 census.

Silas, born Sep. 4, 1864, died Oct. 7, 1937 in Kidder, Wayne Co. and was buried at Martha Coffey Cemetery.

Elijah, born c1868, died in Wayne Co. in 1937.

Thomas was born Feb. 23, 1872 and died Jul. 20, 1956 in Wayne Co.  He is also buried at Martha Coffey Cemetery.

William was born Apr. 17, 1877 and died Jul. 17, 1962 in Wayne Co.  Like the others, he is also at Martha Coffey Cemetery.

I have found nothing about James C. since his appearance in the 1880 census.

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This cemetery is difficult to locate.  It is near Ritner and off the Jones Hollow Road at a fork with a gravel road.  I am told there is a cemetery sign at the fork.

My thanks to Theresa/Thunderbird584 at Find-A-Grave (FAG) for locating this cemetery and providing researchers with headstone photos.

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I do not believe the "search also for" function at the very bottom of each blog is working properly. I suggest using the upper right search window and enclose your search terms in quotes; e.g., "Sumpter"

Robert Reaves "Little Mac" Wright

Robert was a grandson of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright.  Margaret was the daughter of Austin and Mary Blalock Coffey.  Before her marriage to Austin, Mary Blalock had given birth to the infamous William McKesson "Keith" Blalock.

Margaret Ann Coffey was born on Aug. 22, 1845 in Caldwell Co., NC and died there on Dec. 4, 1931.  She married Thomas A. Wright on Feb. 22, 1865 in that county.  Thomas was born Nov. 11, 1834 in Georgia and died Apr. 5, 1906 in NC, probably also in Caldwell Co.  Both Thomas and Margaret are buried at the Boone Fork Baptist Church cemetery at Shulls Mill, Watauga Co., NC.

Thomas and Margaret's son, Robert Arthur Wright was born c1875 in NC and married Jul. 14, 1894 to Lurenie Holloway, a daughter of Reede D. and Martha Andrews Holloway.  Lurenie was born c1879 and died Dec. 9, 1959 in Clermont Co., OH.  She is buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Withamsville, Union Twp., Clermont Co.  Apparently, Robert died shortly after their marriage because Lurenie was married c1896 to William Wiley Church with whom she had several children.

The only known child of Robert Arthur and Lurenie was Robert Reaves "Little Mac" Wright.  He was born Jun. 18, 1895 at Foscoe in Watauga Co., and died in Caroline Co., VA on Jan. 18, 1944.  He was married to Nettie L. McAlister, a daughter of Walter L. and Betty P. Mcalister, on Jun. 17, 1917 in Washington, D.C.

In September of 1917 Robert Reaves enlisted in the 318th Infantry of the 80th Division at Bowling Green, Caroline Co. and was discharged on Jun. 5, 1919.

He was initially assigned to Co. B, 318th Regt., 80th Div., at Camp Lee, VA, and trained there from Sep. 19, 1917 to May 20, 1918.  He was promoted to Private First Class on Oct. 5, 1918.  The 80th was known as "The Blue Ridge Division" because it was made up of men mostly from VA, WVa, PA and DE.

The unit embarked from Hoboken, NJ on the ship Leviathan on May 22, 1918 and arrived at Brest, France on May 30, 1918.  From there they proceeded to Calais on Jun. 2, 1918.

Robert went into action for the first time on Aug. 10, 1918 in the Artois section and was engaged in the  St. Mihiel offensive at Meuse-Argonne.

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the final offensive by the Americans and took place between Sep. 26 and Nov. 11, 1918, when the war officially ended.  Over one and a quarter million Americans took part in the battle against what would eventually total nearly 450,000 Germans.

He arrived at New Port News aboard the USS Maui on May 27, 1919 and discharged at Camp Lee on Jun. 5, 1919.  He returned to civilian life and worked as a farmer for the remainder of his life.

Robert Reaves Wright

When asked about his attitude toward military service in general, and his call to service, he responded that "when I first entered I thought it unnecessary but after I learned the state of affairs, I thought it very essential for boys to go and help their country."*  He believed that he did not suffer any poor effects, either mentally of physically due to "camp experiences" in the United States.  Neither did his military experience overseas have any affect upon his person or affect his religious beliefs.  He was appalled by seeing men around him die in battle.**

He and Nettie were the parents of at least three children:  Robert Reaves, Jr., Mack A., and Lotus Frances.

Robert Reaves and Nettie

Both are buried at the County Line Baptist Church cemetery at Ruther Glen in Caroline Co.


*Virginia War History Commission, Lynchburg, Virginia, Individual Service Records (Questionnaires), 1919-1921. Accession 33311, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

**In the War History Commission report he gave date of marriage to Nettie McAlister as Jul 17, 1917 in Washington, DC and birth date of son Robert Wright, Jr. as Jun 6, 1918 at Chilesburg, VA. He was a farmer employed by W. H. Holloway in Chilisburg, Caroline Co., VA. W. H. Holloway was his uncle, brother to his mother.

Robert Arthur Wright Family

I've previously written about the Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright Family. Click on this blog title to read about them.

Thomas and Margaret had a son that seems to have mysteriously disappeared. Robert Arthur Wright, born c1875, married first on Jul. 14, 1894 to Lurenie Holloway in Watauga Co., NC. She was the daughter of Reed (Reid?) and Martha Andrews Holloway. She was born c1879 in NC and died Dec. 9, 1959 in Clermont Co., OH.

Lurenie and Robert apparently divorced after 1895 and she married William Wiley Church, a son of James Franklin and Laura Virginia Blackburn Church. William was born c1875 in NC and died Jun., 1954 in Clermont Co.

There was on child born to the union of Robert and Lurenie; a son named Robert Reeves Wright, born Jun. 18, 1895.

Robert Reeves married Nettie L. McAlister on Jun. 17, 1917 in Washington, D.C. She was born Oct. 23, 1898 in Virginia. Their children were Robert Reeves, Jr., born Jun. 6, 1918, died Jul. 25, 1984; Mack A., born c1921, died Jun. 1985; and Lotus Frances, born c1925.

Robert Reeves was drafted during WW1 and trained at Camp Lee, VA from Sep., 19, 1917 to May 20, 1918, and promoted to Private First Class on Oct. 5, 1918. He embarked for France from Hoboken, NJ aboard the ship Leviathian on May 22, 1918, arriving at Brest, France on May 30, 1918. He proceeded from there to Calais on Jun. 2, 1918.

He saw action first on Aug. 10, 1918 in the Artois section of France and was engaged in the St. Mihiel offensive at Meuse-Argonne. That engagement was the final offensive by the Americans and took place between Sep. 26 and Nov. 11, 1918, when the war officially ended. Robert was only one of more than a quarter million Americans who took part in the battle that eventually faced nearly one-half million Germans.

Robert returned to the United States aboard the USS Maui on May 27, 1919 and was discharged at Camp Lee on Jun. 5, 1919. He returned to his family and farming in Caroline Co., VA.

In 1920 and 1930 Robert was enumerated with his family in Madison, Caroline Co. He again registered for the military draft in Apr., 1942 but, was not drafted.

I would like to know when and where Robert and Nettie died and, where they are buried.

Who did Robert Reeves, Jr., and siblings Mack and Lotus marry and where did they settle?

Anyone with information about the fate of Robert Arthur, or Robert Reeves and Nettie, or their children can write to me at the e-mail address below.