William Luther Coffey

This William Luther Coffey was born c1855 in North Carolina, likely in Caldwell Co., to Marvel and Nancy E. Pendley Coffey.  He was living with his parents in Kings Creek Twp. in census years 1860 and 1870.  He married Mary Ann Barlow, a daughter of Joseph and Louisa Laxton Barlow, on Mar. 5, 1874 in Caldwell Co.*  In census year 1880 he was again in the household with his mother, enumerated as a married man but a wife and children were not given.**  He has sometimes been mistaken for his distant cousin, also named William Luther, who was born Mar. 6, 1850 in NC, to Jesse Calton and Nancy A. Raines Coffey.

I believe there were at least two children born to William and Mary Ann:  J. (Julia?) Geneva, born 1875 at Kings Creek and, James William, born Sep. 16, 1877 in Caldwell Co.  Geneva married Finley Ferguson Barlow, born to Smith and Mary Jane Suddreth Barlow on Jan. 20, 1875 in Kings Creek, died Sep. 28, 1956 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  Finley was probably some kin to Geneva but I have not yet checked into that family.

James William married at least twice.  His first wife was Margaret Boughman to whom he was married on Oct. 1, 1899 in Lower Creek Twp., Caldwell Co.***  At least one child, Roy was born c1902.  His second wife was Thursa Elmira “Myra” Suddreth, born Sep. 27, 1883, died Mar. 6, 1931 at Kings Creek.  Myra had also been previous married.  Her first husband was Henry Coffey, a distant cousin of James’, and a son of Smith and Elizabeth Rebecca Greene Coffey.  Henry was born in Mar., 1883 and died c1906.  He and Myra were married on Dec. 20, 1902 in Caldwell Co.1

Henry and Myra had at least two children:  Roy, born c1902 and Annie, born Apr. 2, 1904, died Apr. 17, 1922.

James William and Myra were married c1907 and had at least seven children:  Clarence Lee, born Sep. 25, 1907, died Dec. 29, 1967 at Kings Creek; Pearl Lucille, born Jun. 10, 1912; Carter R., born Sep. 23, 1914, died 1985 in OH; Florence E., born c1917; Horace J., born c1910; Wayne, born c1921 and Wade Suddreth, born Apr. 10, 1924.

Of all the children named, the only one I have found any data for is Clarence Lee.  He married Winfred “Winnie” Jolly and they were parents of at least two children:  Alex Dale, born Nov. 25, 1936, died Jov. 27, 1936 at Kings Creek; and Jerry Lee, born Sep. 22, 1941.

A death record for William Luther has not yet been located.  Mary Ann Barlow Coffey died Feb. 3, 1943 at Kings Creek and is buried there in Kings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.  James William died Mar. 29, 1952 and his wife, Myra Suddreth Coffey died Mar. 7, 1931.  Both are buried at Kings Creek.  Clarence Lee died Dec. 29, 1967 and is buried there with his son, Alex Dale.  Others of this family are also likely buried at Kings Creek but I haven’t found a death record or other evidence of that.

---

*Groom's Name: W L Coffey Groom's Birth Date: 1854 Groom's Birthplace: Groom's Age: 20 Bride's Name: Mary A. Barlow Bride's Birth Date: 1853 Bride's Birthplace: Bride's Age: 21 Marriage Date: 05 Mar 1874 Marriage Place: Caldwell, North Carolina Groom's Father's Name: Manvel Coffey Groom's Mother's Name: Nancy Coffey Bride's Father's Name: Joseph Barlow Bride's Mother's Name: Louisa Barlow Groom's Race: Groom's Marital Status: Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: Bride's Marital Status: Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M74468-7 System Origin: North Carolina-EASy Source Film Number: 590345 Reference Number: bk 3 [North Carolina County Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org)]

**1880 Caldwell Co., Kings Creek, ED55, Page 5A, dwelling 27, family 41, Coffey, Nancy E., white female, age 60, widow, farmer, born NC, parents born NC; Coffey, Robert Lee, white male, age 5, grandson, single, born NC, parents born NC; Coffey, William L., white, male, age 25, son, married, born NC, parents born NC

***Groom's Name: James William Coffey Groom's Birth Date: 1877 Groom's Birthplace: Groom's Age: 22 Bride's Name: Maggie E. Boughman Bride's Birth Date: 1876 Bride's Birthplace: Bride's Age: 23 Marriage Date: 01 Oct 1899 Marriage Place: Lower Creek, North Carolina Groom's Father's Name: Luthar Coffey Groom's Mother's Name: Mary A. Coffey Bride's Father's Name: T. Bowman Bride's Mother's Name: Keturah Boughman Groom's Race: White Groom's Marital Status: Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: Bride's Marital Status: Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M74461-7 System Origin: North Carolina-EASy Source Film Number: 590347 Reference Number:  [North Carolina County Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org)]

1Caldwell County, North Carolina Register of Deed's Index Search, Wayne L. Rash, Register of Deeds online [http://rod.co.caldwell.nc.us/Resolution/search_menu.asp], accessed variously, Marriage Register, Book 15, Page 139.