Reuben Dalton (1752-1801)

According to a 2006 Dalton genealogy report submitted by Jean England, Reuben Dalton was the first of his line to settle in Grainger Co., TN.¹ He settled in Thorn Hill in 1801 after having served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War.² Reuben had been an Ensign in Captain Isham’s company in the Virginia State Militia.  He died prior to the passing of the law that gave veterans of that war the right to apply for a pension.

He was born in Bedford Co., VA c1752.  He arrived in “Montgomery Co., VA from Pittsylvania Co. in 1772” and bought “170 acres in the area known as Little Reed Island Creek.”  In her report, Jean tells us that Reuben was listed on Tennessee tax rolls of 1797 as owner of 200 acres but was probably still in Virginia at the time.  He sold some of the Virginia property in 1797 and the rest of it in 1801 when he relocated to Tennessee.

Reuben died in 1801 and was buried “on the Fred Davidson farm on Copper Ridge Rd. near Cedar Springs Baptist Church” in Thorn Hill.  Archie Dalton, a long time Dalton researcher, wrote to me in 2005 and reported that Reuben "is buried in the woods close to the Bluff Davidson graveyard..." near Thorn Hill.  I have been unable to locate the farm or the cemetery and, it is not clear to me how either burial site is known.

On Jan. 4, 1808 he applied for a marriage license in Grainger Co. to marry Nancy Shockley.³ Nancy was born c1757 at Pittsylvania.  Her family likely migrated along with others into Grainger Co. about the same time as Reuben.

The union between the couple produced at least nine children:  Enos; Elizabeth; Agnes Anne; William Meredith; Reuben, Jr.; Mary; Carter; Hannah Ann and Timothy.  In this paper we will try to follow Timothy, thought to have been born in 1810.⁴

Timothy is the first known Dalton known to me to marry into the Coffey family.  His wife was Delphia Coffey, a daughter of George Coffey and Margaret L. Rucker.  We can follow George back to Edward and Ann Powell Coffey through his father, Benjamin Coffey who married Mary “Polly” Hayes.  I will only touch on the descendants of Timothy who also married Coffeys.

Delphia and Timothy were married in Grainger Co. on Dec. 29, 1828.⁵ Over the next 26 years, she became the mother of at least 11 of Timothy’s children. Timothy died c1863 in Grainger Co.; neither a death record nor place of burial has been located.  In any event, Delphia, yet with young children at home, married the widower Jacob Hipshire on Mar. 23, 1863.  Jacob was age 66 years and Delphia was age 48 when they married.  There were no known children.

Jacob was a North Carolina native and son of Henry and Delphia Delamar (sic).  His first wife was Matilda Hayes, born c1810 in NC, died 1855 in Grainger Co.  Her parents were Thomas and Sarah “Sally” Rucker Hayes.  Margaret Rucker, wife of George Coffey and Sarah “Sally” were sisters, daughters of Colby and Sarah Roberts Rucker.

The 11 children of Timothy and Delphia were:  David, born c1831; George Washington, born Feb. 3, 1832, died Dec. 24, 1904;⁶ Manerva, born c1834; Thomas, born c1834; Ally (Ollie?), born c1837; William Nelson, born Dec 6, 1839;⁶ Green C., born c1840; Colby Timothy, born c1842; Hiram, born c1843; Emeline, born c1844 and Harriet, born c1854.

Son George first married Charlotte Hedrick, a daughter of John and Lucinda Hipshire Hedrick. His second wife was Sarah Ann, Charlotte’s sister. George and Charlotte’s son Lafayette, known as “Lee Fate” married Cornelia Dalton, a child of Tandy Witcher and Matilda Coffey Dalton. Lee Fate’s son James Franklin, (1880-1947), married twice, the second to Louvernie “Vernie” Coffey (1887-1978), a daughter of Lacy and Margaret Ogan Coffey. James’ first wife was Mattie Collins to whom he was married in 1903.  I know of only one child, a son Creed, born 1913.  Mattie died in 1917 at the same time as Creed; she of “pulmonary consumption,” he of “lobar pneumonia.”⁷ I know of no children born to James and Vernie.

Daughter Ally (Ollie?) married William Hedrick and their daughter married Eva (1895-1963) married Guy Willis Hedrick, her multiple second and third cousin.  Guy was the son of William Henry and Margaret Jane Coffey Hedrick.  Jane was the daughter of Thomas and Martha Jane Shockley Coffey.

Son Colby Timothy (1842-1908) married Letitia Wolfe (1842-1904), a daughter of Moses and Catherine Wolfe Wolfe.  Their son Greenberry (1868-1942) married Lula May Coffey (1869-1948).  Lula was a daughter of Austin and Elizabeth Dalton Coffey.  Austin descends from Edward through his father Elijah Coffey who married Rebecca Shockley.  Elizabeth Dalton was a daughter of Colby John and Elizabeth McGinnis Dalton.  Colby goes back to Reuben through his father William Meredith Dalton who married Delphia Rucker, the daughter of Colby and Sarah Roberts Rucker.

The death date and place of burial for Timothy and Delphia is unknown. The death dates for many of the children are known and some of their burial sites are also known.  However, more research is required to confirm and verify.

Corrections and additions welcomed.

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¹ Jean England, Thorn Hill, TN, compiler, Dalton Ancestors, an attachment to e-mail from the author  to Jack Coffee:, Sep. 25, 2006. Most of the early information about Reuben is credited to Jean.

² A monument to his memory has been placed at the Mount Pleasant Methodist Church in Thorn Hill.

³ "Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8YZ-WJ2 : accessed 24 January 2015), Reubin Daulton and Nancy Shockley, 04 Jan 1808; citing Grainger, Grainger, Tennessee, reference ; FHL microfilm 968,583.

⁴ Birth dates and locations for all of the children are inconsistent.  Some dates are prior to Reuben and Nancy’s marriage; some in Virginia and some in Grainger Co. He may have been previously married.

⁵ "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VNDC-3SC : accessed 05 ⁶Mar 2013), Timothy Dalton and Delpha Coffer, 1828.

⁶ Betty White Martin, "Descendants of Timothy Dalton". Grainger Co., TN, Jul. 18, 2005

⁷ "Tennessee Death Records, 1914-1955", index and images, FamilySearch.org

Coffey Books Available

Author Betty White Martin grew up in Morristown and White Pine, TN, the only child of Lonnie White.  She has Coffey ancestry that extends all the way back to Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.

Her grandfather was John McHenry White, a son of Susan Isabelle Dalton White.  Susan was the daughter of of Carter and Nancy Whitsett Dalton.  Carter Dalton was a son of Matilda Coffey, wife of Tandy Witcher Dalton.  Matilda was a daughter of George and Margaret Rucker Coffey. 

Nancy Whitsett Dalton was the daughter of Elizabeth Coffey, wife of Nathan Whitsett and later, wife of George W. Hayes.  Elizabeth Coffey was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Rucker Coffey.

Betty has authored at least three books containing photos and some history of these families.  I have also documented them rather extensively in The Edward Coffey Project.

Our Coffey and Dalton Families In Photos, which begins with descendants of Cleveland Coffey and his wife, Susan Hayes.


Ramblings From the North Side of Clinch Mountain A pictorial history of the early families of Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., TN.

A Woman of Vim and Vigor which is based loosely on the life of Nancy Whitsett Dalton Cozart.  She was the daughter of Elizabeth Coffey and Nathan P. Whitsett.  Nancy married twice; beginning in 1854* to Carter Coffey Dalton with whom she had at least five children: Susan who married Thomas Jefferson White; James Tandy, married Mary Emeline Jackson; Betty; Tennessee, who married Perry Singleton and, Pleasant.  There may have been others because it was seven or more years between Tennessee, born 1867 and Pleasant, born c1874.  

Carter and Nancy apparently divorced because they were married a second time in 1860**.  When Carter died in 1877 Nancy had an affair with his uncle, Anderson Dalton and had two more children, Matilda, born c1877 and Milton, born in 1880.  Nancy seems to have also had an affair with her former father-in-law, Tandy Witcher Dalton, a brother to Anderson and had another child, Charles S.  

Tandy did not die until 1909 so they likely divorced as well for on Oct. 13, 1888 she married James Wiley Cozart.  No children are known from that union. 

These books are very reasonably priced and available on Amazon.com.  They can be reviewed and purchased by clicking on the title of each book. E-mail me if you would like to discuss these books with the author.

*https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8YC-1LX
** https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8Y8-7VH

Winright Shockley & Martha Emaline Coffey

The Coffey, Dalton, Harville, Rucker, and Shockley families have close family ties in Grainger Co., TN.  A researcher cannot concentrate on one of those families without also considering each of the others.  

It's impossible!  

Don't believe that?

Consider the following:

Winright Shockley, a son of Booker and Hannah Ann Dalton Shockley, married Martha Emaline Coffey, daughter of George and Margaret L. Rucker Coffey.  Winright and "Emily" were married on Feb. 20, 1851 in Grainger Co. and had at least eight¹ children:

Martha Jane Shockley married Thomas Coffey.  Their daughter Viola married Pleasant Dalton in 1912

George Winright Shockley married Harried Harville and they had a son, James Henry who married Cora Dalton in 1895. Their son James Nathan married Mayme Harville, daughter of Hugh Harville and Lillie M. Coffey.

Wyatt W. Shockley married Virginia Rucker, daughter of Perry Rucker and Minerva Latham.  They had at least six children and of those found to date, none are known to have married any of the above surnames.  Wyatt and family remained in Grainger Co. thru 1900 but by 1910 they were living in Bailey, Fannin Co., TX.  Wyatt died thee in 1910; Virginia in 1939.

Mahala Shockley married Collins Calvin Coffey, son of Caswell and Martha Campbell Coffey in 1883.  Their daughter married Buford Enderson Shockley in 1912.  Buford's parents are unknown to me.

William Berry Shockley married Eliza Jane Coffey in 1885.  She was the daughter of Thomas Nelson and Cornelia Coffey Coffey.

Jincey Shockley married Berry Wisdom Coffey in 1887. Their son Nathaniel married Pearly Dalton, daughter of Ira and Sarah Manerva Dalton Dalton. Nathaniel's daughter Dorsie Ellen Coffey married Esco Dalton, son of Hugh and Minnie Dalton Dalton. Stella May, another daughter of Nathaniel married Thea Coffey, son of Everett Elbert and Leva Lois Dalton Coffey.

Winright's last child, Elizabeth "Bettie" Shockley married Pleasant Dalton in 1888.  "Pleas" was a son of Hiram and Catherine Howerton Dalton. Hiram was a son of Timothy and Delphia Coffey Dalton. Timothy was a son of Reuben and Nancy Elizabeth Shockley Dalton and Delphia was a daughter of George and Margaret L. Rucker Coffey.

This is just one such family.  It is a small sampling of how these families joined with and shared their families over the years.  

I'm certain had I chosen to go back a few more generations, or had come forward one or two more, I would have found many examples within this select group where ancestors and/or descendants intermarried with the same family of surnames.

There are perhaps a few hundred examples in my Edward Coffey Project of how these families intermarried and how, until today, they still cherish each other.

Want to know more?  Contact me!

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¹They also had a daughter named Rutha, born c1865.  I have not yet found info about her.

Colby & Sarah Roberts Rucker

In 1927 Edyth Johns Rucker Whitley put together a rather comprehensive account of the Ruckers in American. By her own admission, Edyth did not set out to provide "a complete history of the family" before they began to arrive on the shores of this country.*

She emphatically states that the origin of the Ruckers was "no doubt a very historical family" and was German. She descended into a short description of when the family originated when a "Sir Knight crusader, John Von Rucker, was granted in 1096 AD¹ a coat-of-arms, dating from the first Crusade."

This book is available to read and download at Ancestry.com.  I will borrow only slightly from it in this outline of the family and their intermarriage with the Coffey and Dalton families of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. I have not relied on it entirely for Colby's descendants; instead I have relied on several contemporaries who have assisted me over the years while I researched my own Coffee/y ancestry.

Edyth tells us that Colby Rucker was a son of Peter and Sarah Rucker of Culpepper Co., VA. She found no exact date of marriage for Peter and Sarah but speculated that it "must have been about 1759." In 1775 Peter sold his land in Virginia and relocated with Sarah and his children to Mississippi. Through an investigative process Edyth speculates that although no official record has been found that provides Sarah's maiden name, she pretty much convinces researchers that her name was Sarah Cowherd, a daughter of Colby Cowherd whose property adjoined the Ruckers in Culpepper Co.

Colby Rucker was born Oct. 10, 1760 and died on Jan. 20, 1852 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., TN and was buried there at the Rucker Cemetery. He married Sarah Roberts** c1784 and she died c1844, but we do not know where or, the location of her burial.

They had at least eight children; seven of which are believed born in Wilkes Co., and the last in Grainger Co., TN.

The first was Elizabeth. An un-sourced contribution to Coffey Cousins' tells us that she was born  born Jan. 6, 1787 and died Mar. 22, 1855.  She married John Coffey, a son of Benjamin and Polly Hayes Coffey on Mar. 1, 1804 in Wilkes Co.  It is said that 12 children were born to the union but likely there were only ten.  We have no data on two of them:  Jesse T. and George.

The others were Ausburn (var.) who was born on Jan. 11, 1805 and died on Dec. 30, 1876 in Grainger Co. He was married c1830 to Matilda "Tildy" Dalton, a daughter of Enos and Rebecca Williams Dalton. Tildy was born Jan. 30, 1799 in Grayson Co., VA and died in Rockcastle Co., KY on Jan. 30, 1899. Ausburn is buried at the Rucker Cemetery in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., while Tilda died in Rockcastle Co. and was buried in Roundstone, KY at the Scaffold Cane Cemetery. Thirteen children.

Colby, born Aug. 23, 1806 in Wilkes Co., died in Estill Co., KY on Jun. 17, 1888. He was married to Mary Ann "Polly" Adams on May 22, 1830 in Grainger Co., TN. She was born Oct. 6, 1807 in VA, died Sep. 26, 1887 in Estill Co. Both buried at Garrett Cemetery in Jinks, Estill Co. Ten children.

Benjamin, born Feb. 8, 1808 in Wilkes Co., died May 8, 1867 in Rockcastle Co. He married Nancy Hayes c1872 in Hawkins Co., TN.  Nancy was born Jul. 23, 1802 in NC and died in Rockcastle Co. on Feb. 14, 1874.  Both are buried at the Maret Cemetery in Wildie, Rockcastle Co. Ten children

Elizabeth Coffey Whitsett Hayes
Photo via S. Phelps

Elizabeth was born Oct. 14, 1810 in TN and died in Cass Co., MO on Aug. 30, 1883. Her first husband was Nathan P. Whitsett to whom she was married on Dec. 1, 1839. He died in Jan., 1842 in Grainger Co. and she then married her first cousin, George W. Hayes, a son of Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Rucker Hayes. Sally was the daughter of Colby and Sarah Roberts. The marriage occurred on Feb. 23, 1845 in Grainger Co. Both George and Elizabeth are buried at Pleasant Hill in Cass County's Union Baptist Church Cemetery. At least five children.

Nancy, born Jan. 12, 1811 in Grainger Co., died Nov. 20, 1896 in Rockcastle Co.  She never married and in the 1860 census she was enumerated as "insane."  She is buried at the Thomas Jefferson Coffey cemetery near Lake Linville in Rockcastle Co.

John Jackson, born Jan. 12, 1812 in Hancock Co., TN, died Oct. 15, 1877 in Rockcastle Co. His spouse was Elsie Nash, born 1810 in TN and died in Grainger Co. on Jan. 7, 1867. They were married Jul. 7, 1839 in Grainger Co. He is buried at Maret Cemetery in Wildie; she at the Condry Cemetery in Thorn Hill. Elsie was a daughter of Thomas and Dicy Mallicoat Nash. They also had a son named Marvel Nash who married Louisa Wells. Their daughter, Sarah Nash later married Wiley Coffey, son of Ausburn and Tildy Dalton Coffey. A son, Parrot Leon Nash also married Martha Matilda Coffey, a daughter of Wiley and Sarah Nash Coffey. John Jackson and Elsie had seven children.

The Coffey's loved their cousins!

John and Elizabeth Rucker Coffey's daughter, Sarah Lucinda, born c1822 in Grainger Co., married William E. (or H.) Coffey on Mar. 21, 1840.  William was the son of George and Margaret Rucker Coffey.  Margaret Rucker and Sarah's mother, Elizabeth Rucker were sisters and, John and George Coffey were brothers.  So, Sarah and William were double first cousins!  Sarah and William had seven children.

Margaret Elizabeth Coffey, born Feb. 28, 1823, probably in Grainger Co., married Isaac Bullen on May 9, 1844 in that county.  He was born Apr. 23, 1802 in TN and died in Rockcastle Co. on Nov. 28, 1896.  Margaret also died in Rockcastle Co.  Margaret was Isaac's second wife.  His first wife was Mary Dotson to whom he was married on Nov. 3, 1829 in Grainger Co.  They had five children, one of which (Hannah) married Elias Henry "Eli" Coffey in 1851 Grainger Co.  He was another son of Ausburn and Tildy Dalton Coffey.  Both Margaret and Isaac are buried at the Thomas Jefferson Coffey Cemetery.  Mary Dotson is buried at the Dotson Cemetery in Grainger Co.

Catherine Coffey, born Apr. 29, 1827 in TN, died Sep. 27, 1914 in Howell Co., MO.  She married a Mr. Sweet in Cass Co., MO.  We know that Catherine is buried at the Langston Cemetery in West Plains, Howell Co. MO, but no clues yet on Mr. Sweet.

William M. Coffey, born Oct. 31, 1828 in TN is the last known child of John and Elizabeth Rucker Coffey.  He married Ellen Nash on Jun. 10, 1849 in Rutledge, Grainger Co.  He died on Aug. 9, 1893 in that county; she on Jan. 19,1884.  Unfortunately, I have not yet found where they are buried.

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2/16/2015 Update:

The following is from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application made for the Colby's children.  His pension was denied as no proof existed that he actually served:

United States Department of Interior***

Bureau of Pensions

Rev. and 1812 Wars.         Washington, Nov. 6, 1925

Section R-9061

In response to your letter [presumed to be Whitley] of the second instant, I have the honor to advise you, that from the records of this Bureau it appears that Colby, or Colley Rucker was born October 10, 1760, place not stated.  During the Revolution he lived with his parents, whose names are not on record, on the Mississippi River, near Natchez.  He married soon after the Revolution in Wilkes County, North Carolina, date not given, Sarah Roberts.  He died in Grainger County, Tennessee, January 20, 1852.  His wife died about eight years before he died.  In 1852, their surviving children were:

Mrs. Margaret Coffee, aged sixty-five years.

Mrs. Elizabeth Coffee, aged sixty-seven years.

William Rucker, aged sixty-three years.

Mrs. Sarah Hayes, aged sixty-one years.

Mrs. Nancy Pain or Payne, aged fifty-eight years.

Mrs. Delphia Dalton, aged fifty-six years.

John Rucker, aged fifty-four years.

Mrs. Jane Hayes, aged fifty-one years.

On December 27, 1852, William Hays, or Hayes, soldier's administrator, a resident of Rockcastle County, Kentucky, applied for pension in behalf of the surviving children.  He was also soldier's son-in-law, but it is not stated which daughter was his wife.

It is stated that Colby, or Colley Rucker, enlisted in 1778, or 1770 and served under Captain Alston and Colonel Blunt, ranging up and down the Mississippi River near Natchez, for eighteen months.  After this, while going to North Carolina, he was captured by the British and confined in Savannah between four and six months, before he escaped.

He then went to Wilkes County, North Carolina, where he enlisted and served for three months under Captain John Keyes and Colonel Benjamin Harrald and Colonel Charles McDowell against the Cherokees.  Dates of service not given.

The claim was not allowed as soldier did not render six months service, in an embodied military corps as required by the pension laws.

Very truly yours,

Winfield Scott, Commissioner

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Sources:

¹ The People's Crusade; see http://tinyurl.com/l6b244m

*Neither do I plan to create here a complete descendant list of children and other descendants of Colby.  I will however, be glad to discuss and provide information, including sources, to any researcher who would like to know more about this very large family.

** Was Sarah's surname Roberts or Robins?  According to the website "Robins [Ro-Bynes] Robbins - Clan?" Colby Rucker married Sarah Robins, daughter of John Robins, Jr., and Margaret Strother.

See the wewbsite  http://jimrobins.cherokee-online.com/robins.php as source of following information:

Children of John Robins, Jr. and Margaret Strother:

William Robins, born c. 1745 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died c. 1774 in Orange Cty., Virginia. He was married c. 1766 to Ann Foster, born c. 1744, died 14 June 1833.

Capt. Thomas Robins, born c. 1748 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died bef. 1824 Coffey Cty., Tennessee. He was married on the 24 December 1775 to Mary Foster, she was born abt 1747, died 4 December 1807 in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina.

NOTE: Check this link for a surname history for the Foster line: Foster Link

[http://www.fmoran.com/foster.html]

John Robins, born c. 1750 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died (?) in Franklin Cty., Tennessee. He married Elizabeth Dogan in c. 1771 in Orange Cty., Virginia.

NOTE: Check this link for a surname history for the Jones line

[http://www.fmoran.com/wilkes/jones.html]

Reuben Robins, born bet. 1750-1755 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died in 1833 in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina. He was married on the 29 April 1782 in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina to Jane Turner, born c. 1760-70, died c. 1850-60

Mary Robins, born c. 1760 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died (?) in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina. She married Joseph Roberts c. 1781.

Ann Robins, born (?) in Orange Cty., Virginia. She married James Sartin c. 1786.

Lucy Robins, born bet. 1755-60 in Orange Cty., Virginia, died bef. 1787 in Wilkes Cty., North Carolina. She married (Benjamin) Brown

Sarah Robins, born (?). She married Colby Rucker c. 1786.

***Microfilm publication M804 (Washington, D.C.: NARA, ), M804, Pension No. R.9061.

Benjamin & Nancy Hayes Coffey

Bennie Coffey Loftin (dec'd) in her 1984 book Lizzie's Legacy and Our Coffey Cousins, with co-author Mary Elizabeth Coffey Self, and second printing in 2002 re-titled work Coffey Cousins, North Side of Clinch Mountain, Tennessee and Beyond, wrote about her ancestor, Benjamin Coffey:

"Benjamin, son of John and Elizabeth Rucker Coffey, b. 8 Feb 1808, Wilkes Co., d. 8 May 1867, Rockcastle Co., KY.  Nancy was b. 23 Jul 1802 in NC; d. 14 Feb 1874, KY. Children are John, 1828-18?; Unk, b. 1830; Richardson, 1832-1922;  Elizabeth, 1835-1922; Ransom, 1836-1917; Calvin, 1839-1863; Calton, 1839-1926; Marvel, 1841-1917; Perry, 1844-1864; and Ausborn, 1846-1923. A descendant of this line is Bennie Coffey Loftin. Benjamin was b. Feb. 8, 1808 in Wilkes Co., and d. May 8, 1867 in Rockcastle Co., KY. He m. Nancy, d. of Thomas and Sarah Hayes, and they had nine sons and one daughter.

"Benjamin did not live long after they moved to Kentucky from Tennessee. They moved shortly after the Civil War. Their sons, Ransom and John, were already living in Kentucky. Ransom and his cousin, James Madison Coffey, were living in Rockcastle County when the 1860 census was taken in the fall of that year. They are supposed to have moved together. Ransom fought on the Union side during the Civil War.

"All of Benjamin and Nancy Coffey's children were born in Tennessee, either Hawkins or Grainger County. They lived near the county line on the north side of Clinch Mountain. Ausbon's pension application for CSA service states that he was born at Rutledge. Rutledge was the county seat for Grainger County. They didn't live there, but lived near Idol (now Thorn Hill).

"Death dates for Benjamin, his wife, his parents, three and maybe four sons and a grandson were all recorded on two pages that Grace Coffey Gill found tucked into a little book that had belonged to her Grandpa Ausbon. There was an autograph on one page that reads, "Benjamin Coffey's Book,  August 1, 1856, T.G. Tilley."

"Rance Coffey (1885-1984) thinks that one of Benjamin's sons was crippled. He had heard a story of him going hunting on crutches. He thought it was Richardson, but he served in the CSA Army and as Rance says, What would the army want with a crippled man."

One of the sons of Benjamin and Nancy was seventh son, Calton Coffey, born Jan. 16, 1839 in Grainger Co., died in Oct., 1926 at Diamond in Stephens Co., OK.  He married Martha Ann Campbell, a daughter of William and Sidney Holt Campbell on Dec. 22, 1857 in Grainger Co.  a couple of years later Calton enlisted as a Sergeant in Co. D., 26th TN Infantry.

Calton survived the war and by Dec., 1870 the family had relocated to Pilot Point in Denton Co., TX. They apparently made a detour or two and made stops in AR and MO. Later, one of their children reported his birth in 1869 Missouri and two others reported their births to have occurred in 1871 and 1875 Arkansas.*  Martha Ann Campbell Coffey died sometime before 1900 and is thought to have been buried near Montegue Co., TX.  She was the mother of at least seven children.

I have been unable to account for three of their children:  William, said to be first born; Benjamin, born 1858 in Claiborne Co., TN and Thomas Jefferson, born c1866.

Hillery, thought to be the third child, was born in TN in 1863.  He married Ella Mae Fleetwood in Denton Co., TX on Oct. 21, 1889.¹   He and Ella lived very short lives.  She died on Jan. 5, 1892 at age 22 and probably in childbirth.  Their first child, Charles Belden had been born in Sep., 1890 in the Chickasaw Nation, IT.  Hillery died before before 1898 in Terral, Jefferson Co., IT.  Both are buried at the Fleetwood Family cemetery in Jefferson Co.  Charles is said to have died in Dec., 1943 but I have not confirmed that.

Fifth child was Franklin David "Frank" Coffey, born Apr. 2, 1869, Missouri.  He married Rebecca Jane Kimberlain, a daughter of William and Anna Kimberlain.  She was born on Apr. 1, 1870 in Lebanon, Laclede Co., MO. and married on Apr. 23, 1890 in Fleetwood, Chickasaw Nation, IT.

Children born to this couple were:

William, born Mar. 26, 1891 at Fleetwood, died there in 1893 and buried at the Fleetwood Cemetery.

Rosa M., born in Fleetwood Jun., 1893; no further info.

Albert Wesley, born in Fleetwood Jan., 1895; no further info.

Hillery Newton "Hill", born Nov. 23, 1896 at Fleetwood, died and was buried at Terral Cemetery in Jefferson Co., OK in 1965.  Married Myrtle Ruth Fraysher [sic], a daughter of Louis and Mary Jennings Fraysher.  Their children were at least two: Frankie Brunetta, born Feb. 28, 1920 at Fleetwood, died in Papla, Gray Co., TX on Nov. 15, 2005.  Frankie married Boyd Stewart on Apr. 8, 1942 in Caddo, Bryan Co., OK.  The other child was Roy Elwood, born c1927 in Stephens Co., OK.

Artie Christine, born in IT in 1902, died in Comanche, Stephens Co., OK and buried there at Fairlawn Cemetery.  She married Robert McFatridge c1923.  He was born in Stephens Co. in 1899 and died there in 2000 with burial in Fairlawn Cemetery.  Their children numbered at least four:  J. F., born c1924; Clayton, born c1926; and twins, Haskell J. and Hazel Ann, born c1939, all in Stephens Co., OK.  Robert was a son of James and Mary Wise McFatridge.

Ransom, born Jan 6, 1904 in Fleetwood, died Jun., 1905 and buried at Terral.

Benjamin Franklin, born 1906 at Fleetwood, died 1974 at Comanche.  Married Mae Belle Kinman on Jan. 30, 1926 in Jefferson Co.² May Belle was born in Sweetwater, Nolan Co., TX on May 19, 1908 and died in Walters, Cotton Co., OK on Feb. 26, 1987.  Both are buried at Fairlawn Cemetery.  Their children were Edward Gene Coffey, born Aug. 23, 1927 at Fleetwood, died there on Jun. 25, 1930 and, Bobbie Corrine, born Sep. 26, 1930 at Fleetwood and died in Stephens Co. on Jun. 16, 1976.  Bobbie married Raymond Pewitt.

The last children born to Franklin and Rebecca were Edgar Belton and twin sister, Ethel Bell on Nov. 12, 1907 at Fleetwood.  Edgar married Dessie Mabel Nelson, born Nov. 4, 1906 in OK, died in Stephens Co. on Aug. 8, 1998.  Edgar died Apr. 22, 1974, also in Stephens Co.  Both are buried there at Fairlawn Cemetery.  Their children were at least two:  Kenneth W., born c1930 and Jimmie Dee, born c1932, both in Stephens Co.

Ethel married Earl Thomas Chastain on Jul. 12, 1926 in Montague Co., TX.³ Earl was a son of Thomas and Sarah Kimberlain Chastain and was born on Sep. 27, 1902 in Laclede Co., MO.  Earl died on Jul. 13, 1970 in Lebanon, Laclede Co. and was buried there at the Mount Rose Memorial Park.  Ethel was born on Nov. 12, 1907 in Fleetwood, IT and died on Feb. 14, 1982 at Lebanon.  She too is buried at Mount Rose.  Six children were born to this union:  Glenna L.; Ray; Tommy Franklin; Dottie Jean; Bobby Dean and James.  Dottie and Bobby may have been twins.


Additions and corrections welcomed!

  Jack

*I do not think this likely.  The family remained in Denton Co., TX through at least 1880 and later moved on the the Chickasaw Nation where they were enumerated in 1900. In 1910 and 1920 they were in Stephens Co., OK where Calton died.

^1"Texas County Marriage Index, 1837-1997", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XLX1-2XJ : accessed 17 Nov 2014), H C Coffee and E M Fleetwood, 21 Oct 1889; citing Denton, Texas, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1302338.

²"Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1891-1959", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XVL6-356 : accessed 27 Jul 2013), Ben Coffey and May Kinman, 1926.

³"Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXS3-4M5 : accessed 20 Nov 2014), Earl Chastain and Ethel Coffey, 12 Jun 1926; citing Montague, Texas, , reference p 253; FHL microfilm 1435394.

Other sources: http://tinyurl.com/n5gfbmu and Rick Miller, Bedford, NH at Ancestry.com http://tinyurl.com/m6opvgu

Hardy Mills (perhaps) and what Coffey Woman?

Those of you who have followed this blog from the beginning know that I am not a direct descendant of any male descendant of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.  Instead, DNA shows me to be a ggg-grandson of a man named Lilburn Jackson Coffee who was a descendant of William and Sarah Ellis Mills.  My 37-marker DNA test shows a perfect match to others who also descend from this Mills family. Additionally, the DNA test result for a descendant of a brother to my gg-grandfather matches mine.

While searching for whichever of William and Sarah's descendants might be my ancestor, I have more or less concluded their son Hardy is the most likely candidate.  He was born in Halifax Co., NC c1763 and died Mar. 6, 1841 in Greencastle, Putnam Co., IN.

Hardy was found on the Wilkes Co. 1787 tax rolls in Captain Ferguson's District and, again in 1830 Hawkins Co., TN.  Other names found on the 1787 list, and pertinent to this genealogy were:  John Coffee (owned stud horse), Thomas Coffee, Reuben Coffee (two, one with note "Estate of James Coffee, dec'd.), Elender Coffee, Benjamin Coffee (owned stud horse), Jane Coffee.

Except for Ellender, these Coffey names match children of John Coffey and Jane Graves.  John Coffey died in 1775 so Jane Coffee could be his widow.  The James Coffee, dec'd would also be a son of John and Jane, who died in Wilkes Co. in 1786.

In Captain Isbell's District I found Joel Coffee, and Colbey [sic] Rucker.  Hardy appeared in the 1784-1787 (enumerated in 1785) NC State Census as a white male, age 21-60, with a white female in the household.  Families adjacent to him were John Coffey, Thomas Coffee [sic], Reubin Coffey, Elizabeth Coffey, Stephen Carpenter and, Benjamin Coffey.  Stephen Carpenter was father of Hardy's wife, Frances Carpenter.

With an age spread as required at the time by the NC census, it is impossible to accurately determine the age of any person enumerated.  Elizabeth Coffey appears in the census as head of household and likely a widow.  I believe she would have been Elizabeth Cleveland, the widow of Rev. James Coffey.  There were no males 21-60 in the household but, there were two males under 21, 1 female and 3 blacks. I don't know how old Elizabeth was, but if she was James' widow, she would been in her 50's.

James and Elizabeth had only two daughters that I know of: Elizabeth, born c1751 and Martha, born c1758.  I believe Elizabeth would have been deceased in Wayne Co., KY before my GGG Coffey was born.  Martha died in Wayne Co. in 1826 but was married and believed to be in KY before the Rev. War began.

My GGG named his first daughter Mary Elizabeth, perhaps after his own mother.  His second daughter was Margaret, apparently named for his wife's mother, Margaret Lloyd Taylor.  He named his first two sons John Fielding; John perhaps for his father-in-law, whose middle name we do not know.  His second son was, James M. for perhaps Pres. James Madison (1751-1836) or, James Mills.  James M. Coffee was my paternal g-grandfather.  Lilburn then had a son whom he named for himself and later a daughter named Ellen.

John, another son of William and Sarah, John Mills, birth unknown but probably between 1770 and 1780, married Alice "Allie" Coffey in Wilkes Co., NC on Mar. 19, 1804.  Allie was a daughter of Ambrose and Mildred "Millie" Moore Coffey, born c1788 in Burke Co.  Ambrose was a grandson of John and Jane Graves Coffey.

These bits and pieces of circumstantial evidence gives me a bit of confidence that I am somewhat justified in considering Hardy, an older brother to John, as my ancestor.

The first problem that I have is the probability that Hardy left NC before 1820.  A Hardy Mills, and the only Mills,  was in Pulaski Co., GA in 1820 and in Hawkins Co., TN in 1830.  He was in Indiana from at least 1837 to death in 1841.  Of course, he could have learned in 1819 that he had impregnated a young woman - he would have been in his late 50's by 1820 - and decided to head to a safer place.  He had married Frances Carpenter in Wilkes Co. in 1785.  I do not know when she died, but the 1820 GA census does not list a woman of the right age to have been Frances.  There was such a female in the 1830 household in Hawkins Co. which might mean a second wife.  There were no Coffey families in Pulaski Co., GA in 1820.  There was a Thomas Coffee [sic] in Wilkes Co., GA that year.

Another problem, and perhaps the one most difficult to overcome at the moment is the possibility that one of Hardy's sons could have been my ancestor.  He had at least four, three of which would have been old enough to sire children by 1820.

One son, James, was born c1782 in Wilkes Co.; Henry and William followed James in 1798 and 1799-1800 respectively.  James married in before 1804 at Tazewell in Claiborne Co., TN.  Henry married in 1820 at Rockingham Co., NC and. William married in Jefferson Co., TN in 1819.  Based purely on birth years, of his other sone, there were likely more children born to Hardy between 1782 and 1798.  Another son, Hardy, Jr. was born c1808 and would have been only about 12-14 years old when my ancestor was born.

Clearly, more census work is needed to determine what Coffey and Mills families were living in TN counties other than Hawkins in c1820 and 1830.  That will help determine if any were living within spittin' distance of any Mills related to William and Sarah Ellis Mills.  Coffey families on the tax rolls and living adjacent to Hardy in 1787 need to be studied more and time lines developed.  I see no other way to eliminate the various Coffey females until I find the one who perhaps had a liaison with Hardy.

 Jack

Tragedy in the life of Hiram Dalton

Hiram Dalton, born Mar. 4, 1843 at Idol in Grainger Co., TN, was a son of Timothy Dalton and Delphia Coffey.  Delphia was the daughter of George and Margaret Rucker Coffey, natives of North Carolina, and Timothy was a son of Reuben and Elizabeth Shockley Dalton, Virginia natives.

In order of birth, Hiram was the seventh of at least 11 children born to Timothy and Delphia. Others were, in order of birth, George Washington, David, Thomas, Ollie or Ally, William Nelson, Green C., [Hiram], Colby Timothy, Manerva, Emeline and Harriet.  A couple of these children were married at least twice but, Hiram seems to have had an abundance of misfortune with his spouses.  He was married at least four times.

His first wife was Catherine Howerton, born c1843, died c1870.  They were married on Nov. 11, 1861[1] in Grainger Co.  Catherine was the mother of at least two children which survived to adulthood: Pleasant "Pleas" Dalton, born Aug. 5, 1865, died Aug. 14, 1942, and Mary Elizabeth Dalton, born c1866, died 1947.

Hiram's second wife was his first cousin, Mahala Jane Dalton, a daughter of Carter J. and Mary A. Coffey Dalton.  Mary was a sister to Delphia, wife of Timothy.  Timothy and Carter J. were likely very close kin but I haven't determined that yet.  This marriage occurred on Jul. 6, 1871 in Grainger Co.[1]

Mahala and Hiram had at least four children:  George, born c1874; Abner B., born 1875, died 1949; Rev. Carter J., born 1876, died 1939 and, Mary Margaret, born 1882, died 1968.

Mahala apparently died at the birth of Mary in 1882 because Hiram took his third wife, the widow Myra Mallicoat on Dec. 24, 1882[1] in Grainger Co.  Myra was about 37 years old when she married Hiram.  I do not know if she bore any children for Hiram but, in 1900 Hancock Co., a son by the name of Farnee or Tarnee, born in Apr., 1888 and then 12 years old, was in the household with Hiram.  In this census Hiram reported that he had been married for six years but a wife was not enumerated.

The excluded wife Hiram claimed to have in the 1900 census was likely C. J. Roberts [given names not found].  They were married on May 14, 1894[1] in Grainger Co.  I have not been able to locate Hiram in the 1910 census.  He died of unknown causes in Hancock Co. on Jun. 14, 1915 and was buried at the Wolfenbarger Cemetery in that county.

Perhaps some of Hiram's poor record with wives was passed along to Pleasant, his son with Catherine Howerton.  Pleas, as he was called, was born on Aug. 5, 1865 in KY and died on Aug. 14, 1942 in Hamblen Co., TN.  He is buried in that county at the Emma Jarnagin Cemetery in Morristown.

Pleas' first wife was Elizabeth "Bettie" Shockley.  They were married in Grainger Co. on Feb. 24, 1888.  She was the mother of at least three children:  Effie, born c880, James Carter, born 1896, died 1958 and, Neil, born c1902.  Bettie died on May 11, 1911 and was laid to rest at Emma Jarnagin.

A little more than a year later, Pleas married Viola Coffey on Aug. 10, 1912 in Grainger Co.  Viola was the daughter of Thomas and Martha Jane Shockley.  Martha Jane was the sister to Elizabeth Shockley, Pleas' first wife.  Their common ancestors were George and Margaret Rucker Coffey, Reuben Dalton and Elizabeth Shockley and Colby and Sarah Roberts Rucker.

Viola was the mother of at least six children: Claude Wilson, Lee Boyd, Lloyd Oliver, Paul Edam, Clifford and P. Henderson, all born between 1913 and 1926 in Hamblen Co.

The life that would eventually turn to tragedy for Pleas and Viola began with the birth of their first child, Claude Wilson.  He married Virgie Newman on Jan. 20, 1940[1] in Hamblen Co.  He was 26 then and perhaps had been previously married, but I find no record.  Neither do I know who their children were, if any.  Claude ended his life by gunshot on Jun.1, 1953[2] and was buried at Emma Jarnagin.

Their next son was Lee Boyd, born Nov. 17, 1917.  Lee died of "infantile paralysis" [known as poliomyelitis or, polio today] at the age of 10.[2]  He was buried at Emma Jarnagin.

Lloyd Oliver was next, born Aug. 30, 1919.  He died on Dec. 11, 1921[2] of burns when his clothing was ignited by the fireplace.

Paul Edam came next, born Feb. 1, 1922.  Paul died at age 12 on Mar. 23, 1934[2] of bronchial pneumonia.

Clifford survived to married Mary Lois Hall on Aug. 16, 1953 in Hamblen Co.  I have not found a death record for him or Mary.

Their last child was P. Henderson (Henderson), born Sep. 30, 1926.  Henderson died of pneumonia on Mar. 28 1939 at age 12.

It appears then that all of their children, with the possible exception of Clifford died before Viola passed on in 1969.  And, most died before Pleas' death in 1942.  All but Clifford are to be found buried at the Emma Jarnagin Cemetery in Morristown.

The Tennessee Daltons and Coffeys have a history of intermarriage.  Other of Hiram's children married into the Coffey family and I have information on those.  Additions and corrections welcomed.  Contact me via e-mail for more info.

  Jack

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Sources:
[1]"Tennessee County Marriages, 1790-1950"
[2]"Tennessee Death Records, 1914-1915"

George Holland & Samantha Ann Ridgeway Coffey

George was born in July, 1841 to Cleveland and Malinda Coffey Coffey.  Malinda and Cleveland were second cousins, he a son of Jesse and Margaret Edmisten Coffey; Malinda a daughter of George and Margaret Rucker Coffey.

It appears that George was married at least twice, perhaps three times.  He was found in Washington Co., VA in 1870 with wife Rebecca A. V., born c1844 in that state.  There were two children in the home:  John F. M., born c1868 and Charles S., born c1874.  Both were born in TN.

Samantha Ridgeway Coffey

The 1880 census for Richwoods, Sharp Co., AR finds him with wife Samantha Ann Ridgeway.  Samantha was born in Aug., 1851, Henry Co., TN and died in 1943, Lawrence Co., AR.  She is buried at Walnut Ridge in Campbell Twp., Lawrence Co.  Her headstone provides us with only birth and death year.

In addition to George H. and Samantha A. Coffee [sic], in the household at the time of the census was: John F. Coffee, age 11, born TN; Charles F. Coffee, age 6, born TN; Cora D., age 3, born MO, and Millie L. A., age 1, also born in MO.  Thomas Hardy, a third child born to George and Samantha was born Feb. 25, 1881 in MO.

I have seen some genealogies that give Thomas the middle name of Harry. However, his WW1 draft registration, which he completed on Sep. 12, 1918 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, was signed by him as Thomas Hardy Coffey.

There are a few genealogies available that list the child Flora R., born in 1876 to George and a wife named Rebecca Bowman.  If she was the child of George Holland Coffey she must have been born from circumstances we are not familiar with, because George was still living with Samantha in 1880, Sharp Co., AR and there is not a child named Flora in the household.

Another - or perhaps the same - George H. Coffey in Lawrence Co., AR married Sarah E. Barnett.  They were in the 1900 Portia, Lawrence Co. census; George born Jul., 1840 and Sarah born Aug., 1860 in MO.  Their children were Myrtle, born c1897 and Jesse Dewey, born c1898.  Also in the household was Eula Barnett, enumerated as a step-daughter.

I have no idea when George Holland died.  Samantha lived until 1943 when she died and was buried at Walnut Ridge.  In 1920 and 1930 she resided with her daughter Willie, who married Lewis E. Watkins in 1903.

Did George and Samantha divorce?

Lane-Coffey Headstone

Samantha's oldest child by George Holland Coffey was Cora Duffle Coffey, born Jan. 14, 1878 in MO, died Nov. 2, 1946 in Walnut Ridge.   Cora married William R. Lane on Dec. 31, 1895 in Lawrence Co., AR.  He was born Aug. 18, 1863 in Lawrence Co. and died there on Aug. 12, 1925.  Both he and Cora are buried at Walnut Ridge in the Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery.  Her headstone reads Duffle C. Lane.

Willie Lea Ann was her second child, born c1879 in MO.  She married Watkins on Dec. 29, 1903 and their children were:  Alma Pauline, born c1906 in MO; William P., born c1912 in AR; Jessie R., a daughter, born c1914 in AR and Bonnie Kathlene, born c1919 in AR.

Samantha's last know child was Thomas - mentioned above.  His first wife was Carrie Belle Lafferty who he probably married c1900 in MO.  He has been difficult to find in census records.

With Carrie, Thomas fathered at least four children:  Mabel, born Oct. 15, 1902 in MO, died Sep. 23, 1979 in Lake City, Columbia Co., FL; Manuella, born Jul. 5, 1904 in TX, died Jan.11, 1970 in Kansas City, MO; Glenn, born c1906 in TX; and Marguerite, born Mar 6, 1908 in MO.

Thomas was married second to Mary Anita Singleton, or Templeton.  They were married on July 30, 1915 in Jackson Co., MO.  He died on Jan. 23, 1952 in Santa Clara Co., CA.

The marriage license application for Thomas and Mary reads in part, "desiring to procure a license to marry Mrs. Maria Templeton of Walnut Ridge, County of Lawrence, and State of Arkansas...," and the license was signed by "Marrie Templeton."  However, typewritten in the top left margin of the license is "Cor. Name by Aff. B 50964 Book B 4530-Page 605-Apr 7-52."  She was a "Mrs." as given in the application, so perhaps her maiden name was Singleton.

The only census record that I have thus far found for Thomas was the 1910 Fishing River Twp, Clay Co., MO record of his family with Carrie.

Please contact me if you have info to share on this family.

Milton Carter Dalton Family

Milton Carter Dalton was a son of Carter and Nancy Elizabeth Whitsett Dalton. Carter was a son of Tandy Witcher and Matilda Coffey Dalton while Nancy Elizabeth was a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Coffey Whitsett.

Matilda and Elizabeth were double first cousins, descendants of Benjamin Coffey and Mary Hayes as well as Colby Rucker and Sarah Roberts.

Milton was the seventh of at least eight children born to Carter and Nancy. He was born Dec. 20, 1879 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN. I believe that he married Elizabeth Jane Owens, born Aug. 4, 1876 and died Nov., 1941.

According to the 1920 census [not yet found in 1900 or 1910], their children were Cassie, born c1904; James C., born c1906; Andrew, born c1907; and Fred, born c1914.

The photograph - source unknown - is said to be one of Nancy Elizabeth Whitsett Dalton, Cassie, Milton Carter and Elizabeth Jane with James C. on her lap.

Please contact me if you are the source of the photograph, or can add to or correct any of the family information.

Booker and Hannah Ann Dalton Shockley

Booker was born c1795 in Pittsylvania Co., VA. He married Hannah Ann Dalton, a daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Shockley Dalton, on Dec. 22, 1819 in Grainger Co., TN. There is likely a relationship between Booker and Elizabeth but I have not yet found it.

Hannah was born c1802 in Grainger Co. and died there in 1880. Booker died prior to the 1870 census, and probably in Grainger Co.

I have found six children for them, most of which married Coffeys.

First born was Rebecca, born Oct., 1820 and died Aug. 11, 1890. She married Elijah Coffey, a son of George and Margaret L. Rucker Coffey, on Jan. 11, 1840 in Grainger Co. Elijah was born Feb. 23, 1819, probably in Grainger Co., and died there on Jul. 13, 1890. Rebecca and Elijah were parents of at least 10 children:

Austin, born c1840, died before 1880; married Elvira Wolfe Jan. 8, 1856 in Grainger Co. Elvira was the daughter of William and Maleta (Lette) Hipsher. I have one child for them: Martha Emeline, born c1856.

Millie, born c1841

Mira, born c1843

George, born Feb. 24, 1847 in TN, died in Grainger Co., c1946. George married Martha M. Johnson, born Apr. 27, 1846, died Jun. 4, 1922 in Grainger Co. Their children were James H., born Dec. 22, 1871, died Nov. 7, 1907; Samuel B., born Feb. 25, 1873, died Jun. 28, 1961; John Henry, born Aug. 2, 1874, died Oct. 10, 1920; Hattie M., born c1878, died Aug. 31, 1945; Pleasant (Ples), born Aug. 2, 1879; Elijah, born abt Dec. 1884; and Cordelia (Cordie), born Feb. 1887.

Ambrose, born c1851 in TN, married Louisa Blake, born c1854 in TN. The children that I have for them are: Mary, born c1870; Martha Matilda, born c1873; and Simeon, born Dec., 1879.

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Update: Mar 1, 2013:  Ambrose was born in Nov., 1846 in Grainger Co., TN and died in Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN on Dec. 18, 1915.  He and Louisa Blake, born Oct., 1850 in TN, were married on Sep. 12, 1869 in Grainger Co.[1].  I haven't found a death date/place for Louisa.  Ambrose is buried at Liberty Hill Methodist Church Cemetery at Morristown, Hamblen Co.

Their children numbered at least eight:  Mary, born c1870; Matilda, born 1872, died 1930, married William Henry Coffey, son of Collins and Nancy "Hulda" Wolfe on Sep. 14, 1895 in Hamblen Co.  Their closest blood relationship was 3rd cousin.  Third child was Henry, 1878; Simeon, 1879; Arthur, 1884; Columbus, 1886; John Littleton, 1896, died 1964 in Buncombe Co., NC.  He married Dora Meadows on Feb. 23, 1919 in Hamblen Co.  I have no birth/death info for Dora.  The last child was Frank, born 1896.

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Samuel (Sam), born Jun., 1855 in TN, died Aug. 20, 1910 in Hamblen Co., TN. Married Martha Wolfe, a daughter of Henry and Elvira Coffey Wolfe, on Dec. 25, 1876 in Grainger Co. I have found only two children: Henry (Pat), born Oct. 18, 1878, died Dec. 3, 1964; and Elijah, born Apr. 1881. Sam later married Mary Hipshire, born Mar. 2, 1869 in TN, died Dec. 29, 1921 in Hamblen Co. I have found nine children for them: Evey, born Aug., 1890; James Archie, born Oct. 22, 1892; Ralph, born Aug. 28, 1895; Daniel (Dan), born c1898; Angie, born c1899; Arkie, born c1901; Lucy, born c1904; Rosie, born c1906; and Myrtle, born c1908.

Martha E., born c1857

Lacy, born Mar. 30, 1861, married first to Elizabeth LNU; married second to Margaret Ogan who died in 1942.

Elijah Jr., born Jan. 4, 1864 in Grainger Co. and, died there on May 14, 1923. He married Rosa Shockley, a daughter of Enos (or, Enoch) Shockley and Mahalia Coffey. Rosa was born Nov. 29, 1864 in Grainger Co. and, died in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., on jan. 26, 1952. Their children were Lillie M., born Dec. 25, 1885, died Oct. 23, 1923; Etta, born c1890, died Jul. 31, 1969; Lula, born Feb. 4, 1892, died May 4, 1951; James Oscar, born Mar. 20, 1894, died May 31, 1949; and Walter Preston, born Feb. 17, 1908, died Sep. 14, 1984.

Martin, born c1866

Second born was Enos (Enoch?), born Jan. 1, 1822 in Grainger Co. and, died there on Jul. 4, 1901. He married Mahalia Coffey on Jan. 21, 1846 in Grainger Co. She was born Oct. 20, 1827 in Grainger Co., and died there on Jul. 10, 1900. She was the daughter of George and Margaret L. Rucker Coffey.

I have 11 children for them:

Perry Wilson, born Jan. 13, 1847, died Nov. 5, 1923, married Harriet A. LNU.

Alice (Ally), born Oct. 24, 1848 in Grainger Co. and, died there on Aug. 12, 1909. She married Perry Harville. I have one child for them: Lemuel Harville.

Martha Louise, born c1851

William Gilbert, born Dec. 2, 1852 in Grainger Co., and died Mar. 13, 1901. He married Sarah P. Dalton on Jul. 24, 1872 in Grainger Co. I have found three children: Minnie, born c1875; Loretta, born Nov. 11, 1877, died Aug. 13, 1906; and Hattie, born Apr. 1880.

John, born May 22, 1855, died Jul. 28, 1875

Malinda (Matilda?), born Apr. 6, 1856, died Mar. 12, 1922

Harriet, born Sep, 13, 1859, died Jul. 9, 1940

Cornelia, born May 15, 1863, died Oct. 8, 1887

Rosa, born Nov. 29, 1864, died Jan. 26, 1952, married Elijah Coffey, Jr.

Hannah Elizabeth, born c1868

Lucinda, born Dec. 13, 1869, died Dec. 18, 1887

Third born was Ephraim who married Lucretia Hipsher

Fourth born was Thomas who married Perlina Wolfe

Fifth born was Winright who married Martha Emaline (Emily) Coffey on Feb. 20, 1851 in Grainger Co. Winright was born c1827 in TN; Martha c1831.

Their children were:

Martha Jane, born Dec. 2, 1852, died Aug. 30, 1930. She married Thomas Coffey, born Dec. 7, 1852 in Grainger Co. and, died there on Jan. 3, 1925. He was a son of William Ira Coffey and Sarah Jane Hipshire.

George Winright, born Dec. 2, 1852 (apparently a twin to Martha), died Mar. 13, 1901. He married Harriet Harville, a daughter of R. W. and Mary Harville.

Wyatt, born c1855

Mahala, born c1858

William Berry, born Aug. 2, 1862, died Jan. 15, 1910. He married Eliza Jane Coffey on Jun. 5, 1885 in Grainger Co. Eliza was the daughter of Thomas Nelson and Cornelia Coffey Coffey. Eliza was born Sep. 8, 1868 and died Dec. 6, 1927 in Mooresburg, Hawkins Co., TN.

Rutha, born c1865

Jincey, born May, 1864. She married Rev. Berry Wisdom Lafette (Lafayette?) Coffey, a son of William Wesley and Gelina E. Shouse Coffey. Berry Wisdom was born Oct. 15, 1857 in Grainger Co., and died in TN on Jan. 1, 1936.

Elizabeth (Betsy), born c1869 in TN, died May 11, 1911 in Grainger Co. She married Pleasant Dalton c1888 in TN. He was the son of Hiram and Catherine Howerton Dalton. Pleasant later married Viola Coffey, a daughter of Thomas and Martha Jane Shockley Coffey.

The last child that I have for Booker and Hannah is William, born Mar. 12, 1833 in TN and, died in Grainger Co. on Oct. 22, 1871. He married Louisa Jane Coffey on Mar. 21, 1851 in Grainger Co. She was born Jul. 27, 1833 and died Jun. 1, 1910 in Grainger Co. Louisa Jane was also married to Berry Dalton.

These families tended to marry back and forth into each of the same families. Care must be taken when compiling them. This is especially true since many were given the same names. I believe the above to be mostly accurate and, would appreciate comments adding to or correcting any of it. I also have additional descendant as well as ancestral information for most of these families.

I can be reached at the e-mail address on the right.


[1] index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XD92-K5M : accessed 01 Mar 2013), Ambrose Coffee and Louis Blake, 12 Sep 1869.

William Tarrance and Susan Rucker Coffey

William was previously mentioned in the blog on his parents, William Lemmie and Caroline Hopson Coffey.

William was born Jul. 26, 1893 in Washburn, Grainger Co., TN and died Jul. 16, 1946. He married Susan Maude Melissa Rucker on Sep. 7, 1919 in Washburn. Susan was born Oct. 9, 1897 in Grainger Co., the daughter of Claiborne and Mary Majors Rucker. Susan died May 11, 1991.

When William registered for the WW1 draft on Jan. 5, 1917, he was described as being tall and slender with dark brown hair and eyes. He confirmed his birthdate in this record, and reported that he was born "near Idol," TN. He was a farmer and still unmarried.

In 1920 he and Maude were living together in Grainger Co., and William was a farmer. By 1930 he had left TN and was living in Pontiac, MI with his brother James Nelson. James was a metal worker in an automobile factory while William (called Torrence in the census) was a truck driver for an automobile factory. That same year, Susan was residing in Grainger Co. with her children, Lillian, Alta, Kathleen and Wancida [sp]. Susan's brother Samuel and his wife Sarah were also residents in the household. William and Susan's last (known to me) child was Delta Lucille, born c1932 in Grainger Co.

Lillian, born c1921, married Elvin Lester Harrell, born c1918, died Feb. 28, 1994 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co.

Alta, born c1923, married Conley Hubert Coffman on Dec. 21, 1945 in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN. Conley died Feb. 13, 1984. Alta died on Aug. 4, 2007 in Washburn. Her obituary appeared in the Morristown Citizen Tribune on Aug. 6, 2007.

Kathleen, born about Dec. 1925, married Landon Crow Rucker on Jan. 19, 1942 in TN. Landon died May 14, 2006 in Grainger Co.

Landon C. "Crow" Rucker died May 14, 2006, Grainger Co., TN. He was a Deacon at Bridgeport Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Rucker was preceded in death by: Parents Landon and Clara (Coffman) Rucker; his wife, Kathleen (Coffey) Rucler; two sons, David Rucker and Dil Ray Rucker and wife Bonnie; two daughters, Anita Harrell and husband Clifton, and Kathy Coffey and husband Stanley all of Thorn Hill; brothers, Earl Rucker and Wayne Rucker and wife Evelyn of Morristown; sister, Mary Ratcliff of Knoxville, and sister-in-law, Edith Rucker of Corryton. Burial in McGinnis Harrell cemetery.1

Wancida, born about Jan., 1928 - no information.

Delta Lucille, born c1932, married James Leonard Dalton Jun. 6, 1950 in Grainger Co. He was a son of Joseph Thomas and Martha Hayes Dalton, born 1931 and died 1999 in Grainger Co. James served in Korea with the 82 Airborne Division.2 Their children are Charles Odell, Kathy, James Leonard, Jr., Dixie and Dana Lynn.

Please send additions and/or corrections to me at the e-mail address below.



Sources

1 Coffey Cousins' Newsletter, Dec., 2006, Issue 103, Page 7, submitted by Archie Dalton
2 Descendants of J. Hiram Dalton by Archie Dalton, Jul. 26, 2007

William Lemmie and Caroline Hopson Coffey

William was a son of John Jackson "Stumpy" Coffey, Jr. and wife Darcus Elizabeth Parris. He was born Mar. 22, 1872 in Grainger Co., TN and died Dec. 21, 1932 in Washburn, Grainger Co. He married Caroline Hopson, a daughter of Jesse and Julia Ritter Hopson in Oct., 1892 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co. Caroline was born May 1, 1875 in Thorn Hill and died Aug. 28, 1956 in Pontiac, Oakland Co., MI.
There were at least six children born to this marriage:

William Tarrance, born Jul. 26, 1893 in Washburn, and died Jul 16, 1946, place unknown. He married Susan Maude Melissa Rucker, born Oct. 9, 1897 in Idol, Grainger Co. to Claiborn and Mary Majors Rucker, on Sep. 7, 1919 in Washburn. Their children, all born in Grainger Co., were: Lillian, born c1921; Alta, born c1923, married Conley Hubert Coffman; Kathleen, born Dec., 1925, married Landon Crow Rucker; Wancida, born Jan., 1928; and Delta Lucille, born c1932, married James Leonard Dalton on Jun. 6, 1950 in Grainger Co. James was a son of Joseph Thomas and Martha Hayes Dalton.

Maude Delia, born Jul. 31, 1895 in Washburn. She married Henry A. Presnell on Oct. 16, 1920 in Monroe Co., MI. Their children were Hilda, born c1922 in MI; Alma, born c1924 in KY; Ellen, born c1925 in TN; Dewey S., born c1927 in TN; and Leona, born c1928 in MI. Although both claimed to still be married, the 1930 Grainger Co. census shows Maude and her children residing in the household with her parents, and Henry residing alone elsewhere in the county. Maude could have been visiting her parents.

Parlin John, born Jun. 10, 1898 in Idol, married Maude Wolfenbarger on Jun. 20, 1918 in Washburn. Maude was born c1900 in Idol and died in Dec., 1946 in Michigan. I know of two children: Ethel, born c1922 and Norma.

Amanda Elizabeth, born Sep. 22, 1902 in Idol, married William Frank Breeding on Jun. 29, 1919 in Washburn. William was born May 10, 1897 in Thorn Hill and died Jan. 10, 1976, place unknown. Their children, all born in Michigan, were William Harvey, born Apr. 15, 1921; Wiley Grover, born Nov. 2, 1922; Buford Frank, born May 27, 1927; Clifford Jesse, born Mar. 20, 1933; and Delbert Nelson, born May 15, 1935.

James Nelson, born May 6, 1906 in Idol, died Feb. 6, 1988 in Bean Station, Grainger Co. He married Joycie Clara Dalton, a daughter of William Jasper "Jape" and Cynthia Ann Jordan Dalton. She was born Dec. 21, 1907 in Washburn, and died Jul. 11, 1993 in Bean Station. The marriage was recorded on Feb. 14, 1926 in Washburn. Their children were: Vernon Clare, a dau., born Aug. 21, 1926 in TN; Leland Clarence, born Oct. 6, 1927 in TN and died Nov. 24, 1999 in Hamblen Co., TN; Lela Elizabeth, born Sep. 25, 1929 in Oakland Co., MI; Lemmie Elmer, born Dec. 14, 1931, married Ida Jo. Waddell; Gladys Imogene, born Jan. 6, 1934, died Apr. 6, 1984 in Jefferson Co., TN; Reva Marie, born May 28, 1936, died May 23, 2000; Raymond William, born Aug. 24, 1940.

The last child, known to me, was Julia Isabell, born Jan. 28, 1912 in Washburn. She married Carter Emmitt Smith on Jun. 14, 1920 in Luttrell, Grainger Co. Carter was born Sep. 14, 1911 in Claiborn Co. Their children were: Donald, born Jun. 28, 1931 in MI, and died Feb. 12, 1951 in Korea; Dorothy, born Jun. 28, 1931; Hazel Ruth, born Oct. 11, 1933; and Paris Leland, born May 25, 1940.