Showing posts with label Oatts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oatts. Show all posts
January 2, 2013
Lewis Russell and Bidant "Biddy" Moore Coffey
Lewis' will has been transcribed and can be found here. In his will, he named his children Betsy, Rachel, Polly, James, Henderson, Shelby, Benjamin F.,Thomas, and Edward. He mentioned his deceased son Jesse and named Jesse's daughter Sophronia as a legatee. Son Cleveland may have been deceased without descendants as he is not mentioned.
Lewis Russell Coffey was a grandson of John and Jane Graves Coffey through his father, the Rev. James Coffey and his wife, Elizabeth Cleveland. James and Elizabeth, through their 11 children are responsible for many of the Wayne and Pulaski Co., KY Coffey families.
Lewis was number 11, born Nov. 18, 1772 in Amherst Co., VA, died Sep. 29, 1850 in Wayne Co., KY.[1] He married Bidant "Biddy" Moore on Dec. 10, 1795 [2] in Wilkes Co. NC, a daughter of Jesse Moore and Alley Johnson. Biddy was born on May 3, 1775 in Albemarle Co., VA and died in Wayne Co. on Jan. 13, 1857.[1]
Eleven children were born to Lewis and Biddy. They were:
Elizabeth G. (Betsy), 1797-1868, who married Richard Northcraft Cullom. Richard was a farmer and a legislator, born in Maryland in 1795. He and Betsy were married in Wayne Co., KY where Richard's family had moved early in his life. In 1830, he and Betsy moved to Tazewell Co., IL where they lived the remainder of their lives. In 1836 he was elected to the 10th Illinois General Assembly where he served with Lincoln. In 1840 he was elected to the IL Senate. He served in a number of other elected offices and died in Tazewell Co. on Dec. 3, 1872. Betsy died on Dec. 5, 1868. Both are buried at the Old Washington Cemetery in Tazewell Co., IL. They had at least five children, the third being Shelby Moore Cullom (1829-1914). He followed his father into politics and was elected to the IL state house in 1855. In 1865 he was elected to represent IL in the US Congress where he served three consecutive terms. In 1876 he was elected Governor of IL and served nearly two terms. He resigned in the middle of the second term to become a candidate for the US Senate, to which he was elected and served five consecutive terms and was considered several times as a candidate for the US presidency.[3] He married twice, both wives daughters of Samuel and Hannah Beaver Fisher. All are buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, IL.
Rachel, 1798-?, married Thomas Jefferson Jones c1830. They were probably married sometime around 1830 and were in the 1860 Wayne Co., KY census. Thomas was age 55; Rachel age 59. I know of two children: Margaret (1830-1862) married Martin Sallee. In 1860 a John Jones, age 11, was in the household with Thomas and Rachel and, could be a son or a grandson.
Mary Jane "Polly", c1803-1855, married Jooshua Oatts in Wayne Co. on Jan. 4, 1821.[4] They were in the 1850 Wayne Co., KY census with children Cleveland, age 21; Emily, age 18; John R., age 15; Safrona [sic], age 14; Lewis, age 10; T. J., age 8 [Thomas J.]; Shelby C., age 6 and Russell, age 5. In addition to those, they also had Cosby [1823-1890] and James Douglas [1824-1893]. Joshua died in 1858 and is buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery in Oil Valley, Wayne Co. Polly died of typhoid fever in 1855 and is also buried at Elk Springs Valley.
James Lewis, 1802-1855, married Sarah Alloway "Sally" Strange in 1830, Wayne Co. Sally was born in McMinn Co., TN in 1807 to Archelaus Alloway and Elizabeth Coffey Strange. Elizabeth Coffey Strange and James Lewis Coffey were first cousins. James died in Wayne Co. in 1855 and Sally there in 1885. Both are buried at Elk Springs Valley. They had at least 10 children: Jesse Columbus; Elizabeth E.; Anjeletta; George W.; Cleveland McKendree; Mary "Molly"; James Franklin; Sarah J. "Sallie"; Obidah Strange "Obie"; and Verlinda J. "Linnie." More information about this family is available.
Henderon, c1802-1868, married Minerva Alexander in 1827, Wayne Co.[5] Minerva was born c1805 in KY and died in Wayne Co. in 1881. Harrison died in 1868 and both are buried at Elk Springs Valley. They had at least 10 children: Telitha; Mary Alexander; Shelby; Joseph; Emily Biddy; Nancy "Nannie"; Elizabeth "Betsy;" Lewis; Mary Anna and Susan. More information about this family is available.
Shelby "Shelly," 1811-1863, married Zerilda Emarine Meadows, daughter of Andrew and Jane Graham Meadows. She was born in Wayne Co., 1822 and died there in 1900. Shelly died in 1863 [6] and both are buried at Elk Springs Valley. I have only three children for them: Shelby, Jr., 1833-?; Andrew Lewis, 1844-1887; and Mary Jane, 1854-?. More information about this family is available.
Edward Northcraft Cullom, c1813-?, married Rachel A. Isaacs. Rachel was born in 1823 and died in Wayne Co. in 1872. She is buried at Kendrick Cemetery in Monticello, Wayne Co., KY. No further information.
Jesse Moore, 1815-1835, married Elizabeth "Eliza" Smith in 1832. [5] They had a daughter, Sophronia, born c1833. No further information.
Benjamin Franklin, 1816-1868, married Mary Ann Worsham in 1842. [5] Mary Ann was born in 1826 in KY and died in Wayne Co. in 1886. Both are said to be buried in Monticello at a Coffey Cemetery. [7] Their children were Emma; Martha; William E.; Mary A.; Ida S.; Benjamin, Jr.; Robert Lee and Nannie J. No further information.
Cleveland L., 1817-?, married Sophronia Oatts, born 1812m died 1877 in Wayne Co. Children were at least two: Lewis J. and Mary C. Sophronia is buried at Elk Springs Valley. No further information.
Thomas Coleman, c1819-1890, married four time, first to Mary Heaven or Havens in 1839, Wayne Co.[5] No children are known to have been born to this union. Second wife was Patience Jane Miller in 1848.[5][8] He and Patience had at least three children: Margaret, c1841, John, c1843 and Marshal, c1850. Patience died in Wayne Co. in 1855. That date is not proven and her burial place is not known to me. Third wife was Sarah Havens, likely some relation to Mary, his first wife. Nothing is known of her. Thomas' fourth wife was Mrs. Amanda Jane Hudson Stone, born c1819. They had at least three children: Amanda, c1851; Alley, c1853 and Mary, c1856. According to the KY DAR, Thomas died in Lincoln Co. and is probably buried there.[9]
Some documentation as well as this information and Lewis' ancestors, his family and his descendants can be found on the Edward Coffey Project CD or DVD. In fact, all of the Coffey's that I have written about in this blog over the past number of years can be found in my Edward Coffey Project, with much of it updated since the blog was written.
[1] Grave monument
[2] Coffey, Laurence H., editor, Thomas Coffey and His Descendants (Chattanooga, TN: N. Sanders, 1931), Page 85.
[3] Governors of Illinois (Chicago, IL: Biographical Publishing Company, 1891), Pages 175-176.
[4] Dodd, Jordan. Kentucky Marriages to 1850. [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 1997. Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Kentucky.
[5] From Wayne County, Kentucky Marriages, 1801-1860. Source gives brides name as Mannen Alexander; Manerva in 1850 and 1860 Wayne Co. census. Bond missing; married 29 March 1827 by Racoon John Smith.
[6] “Kentucky Probate Records, 1792-1977,” Image database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/).
[7] Wayne Co. KY Cemeteries compiled by B. B. Coffey, Sr., Page 31. This cemetery is referred to in the source as Coffey Cemetery and is said to be located at or near the intersection of Spruce St. and Hiland View Dr. in Monticello.
[8]The bride's name appears to be Jane Meeker in record. Surety was Isaac N. Shepherd. Bond dated 23 August 1848; Minister return is missing.
[9] Kentucky DAR, compiler, Kentucky Bible Records (: DAR, 1966), Vol. IV.
October 2, 2012
Joshua & Mary "Polly" Coffey Oatts
Joshua was a native of Virginia, born in that state on Jul. 5, 1791. He was a son of Robert and Mary or May Jones Oatts. On Jan. 4, 181 Joshua married Mary "Polly" Coffey, probably in Wayne Co.,KY, a daughter of Lewis Russell and Bidant "Biddy" Moore Coffey.
One of the sons of Joshua and Mary was Lewis, born Dec., 3, 1837, died Feb. 12, 1898 in Wayne Co. I don't have a marriage for Lewis. He is buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery at Oil Valley in Wayne Co., KY.
Lewis and "his sister" [he had two: Emily, born 1831 and Sophronia, born 1839) are mentioned in the Slave Narratives, a Gutenberg Project. This work was originally prepared by the WPA and, released in eBook format on April 6, 2004. A part which mentions the Oatts family of Wayne Co. reads as follows:
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, by Work Projects Administration
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Kentucky Narratives
Author: Work Projects Administration
Release Date: April 6, 2004 [EBook #11920]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLAVE NARRATIVES ***
Produced by Andrea Ball and PG Distributed Proofreaders. Produced from images provided by the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.
Mercer County. Ex-Slave Stories. (Hazel Cinnamon)
Interview with Will Oats--Ex-Slave:
Will Oats, 84 years of age, was born in Wayne County, up Spring Valley in 1854. He was the son of Betty Oats and Will Garddard of North Carolina. He has three sisters: Lucy Wilson, Frances Phillips that live in Ohio, and Alice Branton of Mercer County, Kentucky. He has two brothers; Jim Coffey and Lige Coffey of Harrodsburg.
As a child he lived with his mother, brothers, sisters, and grandmother. Their quarters were in the yard of their master; and they were as comfortable as any slaves--with plenty to eat and clothes to keep them warm.
Will was just a boy at that time, and he cut wood and carried it in; and did other chores around the house such as help to milk and feed the stock. Their food was plentiful and they ate all kinds of vegetables, and had plenty of milk and butter, fat meat, and bread.
The family all wore home made clothing, cotton shirts, heavy shoes, very heavy underwear; and if they wore out their winter shoes before the spring weather they had to do without until the fall.
Will was owned by Lewis Oats and his sister; they lived in a two story house, built of log and weather boarded. They were very wealthy people. The farm consisted of over 230 acres; they owned six slaves; and they had to be up doing their morning work before the master would wake.
When working and the slaves would disobey their master, they were punished in some way; but there was no jail. They didn't know how to read or write, and they had no church to attend. All they had to do when not at work was to talk to the older folks. On Christmas morning they would usually have a little extra to eat and maybe a stick of candy. On New Year's Day their work went on just the same as on any other day.
Will, as a boy loved to play marbles which was about the most interesting game they had to play. Of course, they could play outside as all children do now when they had spare time.
At that time there were few doctors and when the slaves would get hurt or sick, they were usually looked after by the master or by their overseer.
After the war had closed, Will's grandmother walked from Monticello to Camp Nelson to get her free papers and her children. They were all very happy, but they were wondering what they were going to do without a home, work, or money. But after Will and his mother and grandmother got their freedom, the grandmother bought a little land and house and they all went there to live. Of course, they worked out for other people and raised a great deal of what they ate. Will lived there until he grew older and went out for himself; and later moved to Mercer County where he now lives.
Bibliography: Interview with Will Oats, Ex-Slave of Mercer County.
One of the sons of Joshua and Mary was Lewis, born Dec., 3, 1837, died Feb. 12, 1898 in Wayne Co. I don't have a marriage for Lewis. He is buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery at Oil Valley in Wayne Co., KY.
Lewis and "his sister" [he had two: Emily, born 1831 and Sophronia, born 1839) are mentioned in the Slave Narratives, a Gutenberg Project. This work was originally prepared by the WPA and, released in eBook format on April 6, 2004. A part which mentions the Oatts family of Wayne Co. reads as follows:
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, by Work Projects Administration
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Kentucky Narratives
Author: Work Projects Administration
Release Date: April 6, 2004 [EBook #11920]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLAVE NARRATIVES ***
Produced by Andrea Ball and PG Distributed Proofreaders. Produced from images provided by the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.
Mercer County. Ex-Slave Stories. (Hazel Cinnamon)
Interview with Will Oats--Ex-Slave:
Will Oats, 84 years of age, was born in Wayne County, up Spring Valley in 1854. He was the son of Betty Oats and Will Garddard of North Carolina. He has three sisters: Lucy Wilson, Frances Phillips that live in Ohio, and Alice Branton of Mercer County, Kentucky. He has two brothers; Jim Coffey and Lige Coffey of Harrodsburg.
As a child he lived with his mother, brothers, sisters, and grandmother. Their quarters were in the yard of their master; and they were as comfortable as any slaves--with plenty to eat and clothes to keep them warm.
Will was just a boy at that time, and he cut wood and carried it in; and did other chores around the house such as help to milk and feed the stock. Their food was plentiful and they ate all kinds of vegetables, and had plenty of milk and butter, fat meat, and bread.
The family all wore home made clothing, cotton shirts, heavy shoes, very heavy underwear; and if they wore out their winter shoes before the spring weather they had to do without until the fall.
Will was owned by Lewis Oats and his sister; they lived in a two story house, built of log and weather boarded. They were very wealthy people. The farm consisted of over 230 acres; they owned six slaves; and they had to be up doing their morning work before the master would wake.
When working and the slaves would disobey their master, they were punished in some way; but there was no jail. They didn't know how to read or write, and they had no church to attend. All they had to do when not at work was to talk to the older folks. On Christmas morning they would usually have a little extra to eat and maybe a stick of candy. On New Year's Day their work went on just the same as on any other day.
Will, as a boy loved to play marbles which was about the most interesting game they had to play. Of course, they could play outside as all children do now when they had spare time.
At that time there were few doctors and when the slaves would get hurt or sick, they were usually looked after by the master or by their overseer.
After the war had closed, Will's grandmother walked from Monticello to Camp Nelson to get her free papers and her children. They were all very happy, but they were wondering what they were going to do without a home, work, or money. But after Will and his mother and grandmother got their freedom, the grandmother bought a little land and house and they all went there to live. Of course, they worked out for other people and raised a great deal of what they ate. Will lived there until he grew older and went out for himself; and later moved to Mercer County where he now lives.
Bibliography: Interview with Will Oats, Ex-Slave of Mercer County.
February 19, 2009
Shelby Dave & Bessie Mae Coffey Oatts
 |
| Shelby Dave Oatts |
Shelby Dave Oatts was born in Kentucky c1885. He married Bessie Mae Coffey there in c1909. She was born in that state c1889 to Cleveland McKendrie and Mary Elizabeth Coffey Coffey.
Cleveland was a son of James Lewis and Sarah Alloway Strange Coffey, and Mary Jane Elizabeth was a daughter of Shelby and Zerilda Emarine Meadows Coffey.
 |
| Bessie Mae Coffey |
In addition to Bessie Mae, Cleveland and Mary Jane Elizabeth also has Obadiah; Grover Columbus* who married Florence Lemon; and Vera who married Lee Ingram.
Children of Shelby and Bessie May were:
Nell Oatts, born Sep. 8, 1910, died Sep. 8, 1974
Emma C. Oatts, born Dec. 16, 1912
Shelby D. Oatts, born Aug. 11, 1916
Margaret Oatts, born Jul. 20, 1920 and, Lewis Oatts, born Apr. 5, 1923
These families were all natives of Wayne Co., KY.
 |
| Grover Columbus Coffey |
Both Grover and Florence are buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco.
November 26, 2007
Joshua and Mary Coffey Oatts of Wayne Co., KY
The first time I wrote about Joshua and Mary's children, I included a child Sophronia who was said to have first married Cleveland Coffey, then Alexander Bobbitt. Mary (Polly) Coffey was a daughter of Lewis and Biddy Moore Coffey.
After checking census records more closely I find that Sophronia Oatts was born in 1812 and died in 1877. She is buried at the Elk Spring Valley Cemetery in Wayne Co., and not their daughter.
The Sophronia born to Joshua and Polly was 14-yrs old in the 1850 census, indicating a birth year of 1835-36. She is also buried at Elk Spring Valley, and according to the cemetery compilation, she was born Oct. 3, 1839 and died Mar. 14, 1855. This Sophronia appears to not have been married.
So, that leaves me with an unidentified Sophronia Oatts!
The Sophronia Oatts who married Bobbitt can be found in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census records of Monticello, Wayne Co.
The 1850 Wayne Co. census enumerated Alexander R. Bobbitt, age 38, blacksmith, with wife Sophrona, age 38 [born c1812], and children Jervis T. Coffey, age 17, Mary C. Coffey, age 16, Margaret E. Bobitt, age 12, John Bobbitt, age 9, James W. Bobbitt, age 8, Sarah A. Bobbitt, age 6, Thomas O. Bobbitt, age 1 and Tyre Samson, age 20.
In 1860 she was 46-yrs. old and apparently a widow with children James Bobbitt, age 15, Sallie Bobbitt, age 13, and Therissa [sic] Bobbitt, age 7 in the household. Her age indicates a birth year of c1814.
The Slave Schedule for that year shows Sophronia as owner of one male mulatto, age 12. Next door to her are Lewis Coffey, Jonathan Frisbie, John Frisbie and M.D. Hardin, also slave owners. These are also family names that some of Joshua and Mary's children married into. Nearby is Benjamin F. Coffey with 18 slaves, mostly children. This Benjamin appears to be the younger brother of Mary (Polly) Coffey Oatts and, was born Dec. 10, 1816 and died May 11, 1868 in Wayne Co.
She was enumerated in Wayne Co. in 1870 at age 56. This confirms her approximate birth year of c1814. The only child remaining with her was Theresa, age 18. Lucy Havens, a 20-yr. old black domestic with her child also named Lucy, age 1, were included in the household.
I have no proof other than "tradition" that she married Cleveland Coffey, brother of Mary (Polly) Coffey Oatts, Benjamin Franklin Coffey, and others. Lewis and Biddy Moore Coffey had at least 11 children.
Please contact me at the e-mail address above if you know who this Sophronia Oatts belongs to.
After checking census records more closely I find that Sophronia Oatts was born in 1812 and died in 1877. She is buried at the Elk Spring Valley Cemetery in Wayne Co., and not their daughter.
The Sophronia born to Joshua and Polly was 14-yrs old in the 1850 census, indicating a birth year of 1835-36. She is also buried at Elk Spring Valley, and according to the cemetery compilation, she was born Oct. 3, 1839 and died Mar. 14, 1855. This Sophronia appears to not have been married.
So, that leaves me with an unidentified Sophronia Oatts!
The Sophronia Oatts who married Bobbitt can be found in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census records of Monticello, Wayne Co.
The 1850 Wayne Co. census enumerated Alexander R. Bobbitt, age 38, blacksmith, with wife Sophrona, age 38 [born c1812], and children Jervis T. Coffey, age 17, Mary C. Coffey, age 16, Margaret E. Bobitt, age 12, John Bobbitt, age 9, James W. Bobbitt, age 8, Sarah A. Bobbitt, age 6, Thomas O. Bobbitt, age 1 and Tyre Samson, age 20.
In 1860 she was 46-yrs. old and apparently a widow with children James Bobbitt, age 15, Sallie Bobbitt, age 13, and Therissa [sic] Bobbitt, age 7 in the household. Her age indicates a birth year of c1814.
The Slave Schedule for that year shows Sophronia as owner of one male mulatto, age 12. Next door to her are Lewis Coffey, Jonathan Frisbie, John Frisbie and M.D. Hardin, also slave owners. These are also family names that some of Joshua and Mary's children married into. Nearby is Benjamin F. Coffey with 18 slaves, mostly children. This Benjamin appears to be the younger brother of Mary (Polly) Coffey Oatts and, was born Dec. 10, 1816 and died May 11, 1868 in Wayne Co.
She was enumerated in Wayne Co. in 1870 at age 56. This confirms her approximate birth year of c1814. The only child remaining with her was Theresa, age 18. Lucy Havens, a 20-yr. old black domestic with her child also named Lucy, age 1, were included in the household.
I have no proof other than "tradition" that she married Cleveland Coffey, brother of Mary (Polly) Coffey Oatts, Benjamin Franklin Coffey, and others. Lewis and Biddy Moore Coffey had at least 11 children.
Please contact me at the e-mail address above if you know who this Sophronia Oatts belongs to.
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