Thomas was a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey and, a grandson of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey. He was born on Mar. 7, 1742[1] in Essex Co., VA and married first Elizabeth Smith c1762 in Albemarle Co., VA. Thomas died in Apr., 1825[2] in Wilkes Co., NC; Elizabeth is thought to have died between 1775 and 1780, probably in VA. Thomas' second wife was Sarah "Sally" Fields, married 1778/9, probably in Wilkes Co., NC.
Thomas and Sally had at least 10 children, many of which I have written about in earlier blogs. If anyone want more info, leave a note or send an e-mail.
There were about six children born to Thomas and Elizabeth. Two that I want to write about today are Elizabeth, the eldest and, John Franklin, next eldest.
Elizabeth was born on Oct. 25, 1765 and died in Oct., 1852[3] in Monroe Co., IN. She is buried there at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville. She married David Allen, born in VA in May, 1765 and died in Apr., 1848.[3] He too is buried at the Coffey Cemetery.
Their children were:
Thomas, born 1792 in NC, died and is buried at Ellettsville. A death date is not shown on his headstone.
Polly, born 1794, probably in NC, died and is buried at Ellettsville. She does not have a death date on the stone.
John, born 1797, probably in NC, died Aug. 31, 1844 in Elletsville. John married Eliza Coffey, the daughter of John Franklin Coffey and his wife, Hannah Wilson. Of course, this John Franklin is the brother of Elizabeth, making John Allen and Eliza Coffey first cousins. Eliza was born Nov., 1798 in NC and died Aug., 1844 in Elletsville. They were married in Sep., 1818 in Wilkes Co., NC
Following John was Jesse, born 1800 in NC, died Feb., 1881 in Monroe Co.. I do not know his wife's name but, there were at least seven children born to her. They were James, born c1828 in KY. The rest, all born in IN, were William, c1830; David, c1832; Nancy, c1836; Joseph, c1838; Louisa, c1840 and John Allen, c1842. Jesse is also buried at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville.
Hanna, born Jul., 1802 in Wilkes Co., married Abner Wilson, born 1804 in Burke Co. He died in Monroe Co. in 1844, she in 1877. They too are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.
Martha "Patsy," born in NC in 1804 married John Candler Corder of VA, probably about 1824 or a tad earlier and, probably in IN. John was born in Jul., 1800 and died in 1852.[3] Martha died in Dec., 1887 [3] and both are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.
They were parents of at least seven:
Mary A., married Jonathan L. Allen, a son of John and Eliza Coffey Allen. Mary and Jonathan were first cousins as well and second cousins. They too are buried at the Coffey Cemetery. I haven't yet searched for children.
Eliza Jane, born 1829 in IN, died there in 1899. She married Lorenzo [Dow?] Coffey, first cousin once removed, a son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey. Larkin was a son of Thomas and his second wife, Sarah Fields Coffey. Lorenzo and Eliza had at least two children: Wayland Everett, born 1854, died 1919 and, Nora E., born c1878, died 1947. Wayland is buried at the Coffey Cemetery; Nora at the Presbyterian Cemetery in Ellettsville.
Rachel, born 1832, died 1912, married Jason Coffey, another son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey. Jason was born in 1829, NC, died 1871 in IN. Both are buried at the Coffey Cemetery. They were parents of Merritt V., Ira E., Cyrus V., and Esther Martha.
Elizabeth was next. She was born in 1835 and died in 1841. She is also buried at the Coffey Cemetery.
Stephen, born 1838, died 1909, married Rachel Wilson in IN c1865. She was born in 1843 KY, died in Ellettsville in 1929. Chidlren were John; Frank; William S.; Clara; Emma H.; and Martha. Stephen and Rachel. All of the children and their spouses are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.
Sarah, born 1842, died 1860, buried at Coffey Cemetery.
Martha, 1845, buried at Coffey Cemetery, death date not given on headstone. She married Asbury Coffey, her double second cousin, born c1838 in IN to James Wilson and Malena Coffey Coffey. James Wilson was a son of first cousins, John Franklin and Hannah Wilson Coffey; Malena was a daughter of Rev. Reuben and Martha "Polly" Dowell Coffey. Asbury and Martha had children Mary; Charlie; Willie; Freddie and Ethel Malena. Asbury and Martha, as well and their children and spouses are all buried at the Coffey Cemetery.
The last child of David and Elizabeth Coffey Allen was David, born 1808, died 1881. He married Eliza McCowan, born c1799 in VA. Their children, all born in IN, were Elijah; Nancy; Mary; William; James; Sarah and Margaret.
John Franklin Coffey married Hannah Wilson in Oct., 1796, Wilkes Co. Hannah was born there in 1769 and died in IN on Sep. 12, 1862.
I know of five children born to them: Rebecca who married John Wilson; Cassandra; Eliza, mentioned above as spouse of John Allen; John Wilson, mentioned above as spouse of Malena Coffey; and Jane Graves[4], born Mar., 1811, died in 1855, Monroe Co., IN. Jane married Alfred Martin "Martin" Coffey, another son of Rev. Reuben and Martha Dowell. Alfred was born in 1807, Wilkes Co., died in1836, Owen Co., IN. They had at least two children: James Martin, 1837-1861 and Christopher Columbus, birth unknown, died during the Civil War in 1862 at Corinth, Perry Co., MS. He is buried at the National Cemetery in Corinth, Alcorn Co., MS. James is buried at the Stouts-Houston Cemetery in Ellettsville.
I have more information about many of these families.
Updates and corrections are appreciated.
Jack
[1] Unproven
[2] According to Laurence Coffey, Thomas "...was buried in Hull Hill graveyard..", and after Sarah died, she was buried next to him. "Years later the cemetery became neglected, and almost lost..." Laurence and cousin Newell Sanders "...had their remains removed to Harper's Chapel burying ground, where a suitable monument was placed above them." Harpers Chapel is located in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC.
[3] Headstone - birth and/or death dates for everyone buried at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville are taken from their headstones.
[4] John, in naming this child after his grandmother seems to have had a concept of where his roots lay.
