Joshua & Martha "Patsy" Coffey Stapp

A recent e-mail asking for possible documentation of the marriage between Joshua and Patsy resulted in my attempt to again locate any documentation that FamilySearch.org might now have.  Unfortunately, I found none.  But, checking for on-line books through Google I found a couple of other references to this family that might be beneficial to researchers.  I have taken the liberty of altering/correcting spelling of some verbiage in the will to allow it to be more easily read.

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Joshua, probably a son of Abraham Stapp and Dorothy Moss, appears to have been born in Essex Co., VA c1687 and married Martha, a daughter of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey, between 1718 and 1721 in Essex Co.  The earliest references to this marriage that I am aware of can be found in the Laurence H. Coffey book, Thomas Coffey and His Descendants, published by Newell Sanders, Chattanooga, 1931 and, The Stapp/Stapp Families of America by Henry P. Scalf in 1976.  Joshua died c1783 in Orange Co., VA and left a will there in Will Book 3, pages 54-55.¹

Orange County Will Book 3, Page 54-55

"In the Name of God Amen I, Joshua Stapp of the County of Orange being in perfect health and sound sense of memory and mindful of the uncertainty of this life do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I give my soul to almighty God who gave it me trusting in Jesus Christ for the remission of my sins and as for what worldly goods it hath pleased God to bestow me I give in manner and form following Viz.

"Item my will and desire is that my Negro man and newswoman be both free and at their own disposal and if there should be any charges required by the Court towards their being legally set free from Bondage then my will is that such charges be paid out of my estate.

"Item my will is that my grandson Achillies Stapp have my Negro woman Cate.

"Item I give the residue of my Estate not already mentioned to be divided between the persons whose names I hereafter mention my Grandson Achillies Stapp my Grand daughter Lucy Willhoit (? ) my Grand daughter Sarah Creel and my Grand daughter Martha Hubbard to them and their heirs forever.

"Item my will is that my Estate not be sold but be appraised and divided according to appraisement.

"Lastly I constitute and appoint my Grandson Achillies Stapp Executor to this my last will and testament revoking all former wills byme made acknowledging this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and Seal this 19th day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty Two.

"Signed Sealed and Published In Presence of John Dayne,John Wayt Joshua X Stapp (SS) , William Wyat Mark

"At a Court held for Orange County on Thursday 27th March 1783 This last will and testament of Joshua Stapp Dec'd being presented into Court by Achillis Stapp Executor therein named And proved by the oaths of John Wait and William Wait Two of the witnesses hereto And Ordered to be recorded And on the motion of the said Executor who made oath According to law Certificate is granted him for Obtaining Probate thereof in due form whereupon he with Robert ? MIller his Security Entered into Bond for the same in"The sum of Two thundered and fifty pounds. Teste James Taylor C.O.C."

Orange Co. VA. Deed Book 16 pg. 352-353 Aug. 13, 1773

"To all Christian People to whom this presents writing Shall Come I Joshua Stapp Sener of Orange County Sendeth Greeting Know ye that I the said Joshua Stapp Sener for Divers good Causes and valuable considerations me hereunto moving have given and granted and by these present do give grant & confirm unto my son Joshua Stapp of Said County one Negro Man named Marrick to him and his heirs forever and also one Negro Woman Named Frank Ide (?) give to the said Joshua Stapp Junior during his life and after the Decease of the said to be with their increase divided equally between the children of the said Joshua Stapp and Hannah his wife forever and by these present to be do warrant the said Negroes to the said Joshua Stapp his heirs executors Administrators or Assigns forever from any person or persons whatever Claiming any Rights or Title to the said Negroes or either of them Virtue to my hand and Seal this Thirteenth day of August Anno Dom 1773.

"William Bell his Joshua X Stapp (SS), Thomas Burbridge mark , John Stabler (?) at a Court held for Orange County the 28th of September 1773 this Deed of Gift from Joshua Stapp to Joshua Stapp Junior was proved by the Oaths of William Bell Thomas Burbrige and John Stabler Witness thereto and Ordered to be Recorded. Test James Taylor C.O.C.”

Pg. 353:

"To all Christian People to whom this presents writing Shall Come I Joshua Stapp Sener of Orange County Sendeth Greeting Know ye thatI the said Joshua Stapp Sener for Divers good Causes and valuable considerations me hereunto moving have given and granted and by these present do give grant & confirm unto my son Thomas Stapp of Said County During Life One Negro Man named James and One Negro Woman named Minn (?) and after the Decease to be equally divided between the Children of the Said Thomas Stapp and Ann his wife with their increase forever and by these presents do warrant the said Negroes to the said Thomas Stapp during life and after his decease to the heirs of the said Thomas and Ann his wife for ever from _____ Claims of any person or Persons to ha (?) Claiming any Rights for (?) The said Negroes or either of them. Witness my hand and Seal this fourteenth day of August Anno Dom 1773. In the presence of William Bell his Thomas Burbridge Joshua X Stapp (SS), John Stabler mark"

"At a Court held for Orange County the 28th of September, 1773 This Deed of Gift from Joshua Stapp to Thomas Stapp was proved by the Oaths of William Bell Thomas Burbridge and John Staler Witness there and Ordered to be Recorded , Test James Tayler C.O.C. "

Pg. 393-394

"To all Christian People to whom this presents writing Shall Come I Joshua Stapp Sener of Orange County Sendeth Greeting Know ye that I the said Joshua Stapp Sener for Divers good Causes and valuable considerations me hereunto moving but more Especially for the Love and good will I have unto my son James Stapp have given and granted and by these present do give grant bargain & confirm unto my son James Stapp one Negro man named Abraham and one Negro woman named Bel lone Negro boy named Abraham one Negro girl named Bell and for the above Consideration do give freely and Clearly the above said four Negroes and their Increase to my said son James Stapp and his heirs forever and by Virtue of this present writing do warrant the said Negroes with their Increase."  "Tomy said son James Stapp and his heirs Executors Administrator from the Just Claim right or title of any person or persons whatever having or lawfully claiming the same or part thereof in Witness whereof I the said Joshua Stapp Senior have here to set my hand seal this 23rd day of December Anno Dom One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy five. . Signed Sealed and Delivered his Inthe presence off Joshua X Stapp, William Sims , Thomas Stapp , Thomas X Stapp, Killes Stapp" 

"At a court held for Orange County on Thursday the 22nd of February 1776. This Deed of gift from Joshua Stapp to James Stapp proved by the oaths of Wm. Sims Tho. Stapp and Tho. Stapp junior thereof the Witnesses hereto and Ordered to be recorded. Test James Taylor C.O.C. " 

Deed Book 16 pg. 394 

"Toll Christian People to whom this presents writing Shall Come I Joshua Stapp Sener of Orange County Sendeth Greeting Know ye that I the said Joshua Stapp Sener for Divers good Causes and valuable considerations me hereunto moving but Especially for the Love and good will I bare unto my Granddaughter Elizabeth Sims of Albemarle County have given and Granted and by these presents do give grant bargain and Confirm unto my Grand Daughter Elizabeth Sims one Negro boy named Ben and for the above Consideration do give freely and Clearly the above said Negro boy to my said Grand daughter Elizabeth Sims to her and her heirs forever and by Virtue of this present Writing do warrant the said Negro boy tomy said Grand Daughter Elizabeth Sims and her heirs Executors Administrators from the Just Claim Right or Title of any person or persons whatever having or Lawfully Claiming the same in Witness whereof I the said Joshua Stapp Sener have hereunto my hand and Seal this 3 of December Anee Dom One thousand Seven hundred and seventy five . In the presence off : Joshua Stapp, William Sims ,Tho. Stapp , Tho's Stapp , Killes Stapp"

 "At a Court held for Orange County on Thursday the 25th of February 1776 This Deed of Gift from Joshua Stapp to Elizabeth Sims was proved by the Oaths of William Sims Tho's Stapp and Tho's Stapp Junr. Three of the Witnesses hereto and Ordered to be Recorded , Test James Taylor C.O.C." 

Researchers believe that Joshua and Martha had at least eight children, they being:

Joseph who married Elizabeth Lucas and had (at least) Joshua, Elizabeth and Sally and died after 1775.

John, born between 1720 and 1722, died at Culpepper, VA in 1751.  He married Ann Salmon, born c1710 in Spotsylvania Co., VA.

Joshua, Jr., born c1724, died in Jun., 1814; married Hannah Durham and had children Achilles, Thomas, Lucy and James.  Achilles married Margaret Vawter on Nov. 27, 1782 in Orange Co.² Thomas married Elizabeth "Betsy" Barbridge or Burbridge on Jan. 4, 1779 in Orange Co.³  Lucy married John Wilhite.

Eve Stapp married Anthred Salmon.

Anester, born c1728 married Capt. William Sims and had at least one child, Elizabeth, born in Albemarle Co., VA. [Scalf].

Elizabeth, born c1729 in VA, married William Morris c1746, [Scalf]

Thomas married Ann Lucas. [Scalf]  Thomas came into possession of 200 acres of land from his brother Joseph of Orange Co. Joseph had married Elizabeth, the daughter of William Lucas and the land was her inheritance. It is said to have been "lying on both sides of Marsh Run." See Orange Co. deed book 13, page 331. The relationship between Ann and Elizabeth is not known.

Scalf also reports that a son named James was born c1731 but offers no other information. James is mentioned in his father's will.

Some researchers claim an additional three daughters were born to the union but, no documentation has been produced.

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Sources:

¹ See also Orange Co., VA Deed Book 16, pages 352-353 dated Aug. 13, 1773
² "Virginia, Orange County Marriage Records, 1757-1938" at FamilySearch.org
³ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940" at FamilySearch.org.  See also Virginia County Records: Miscellaneous County Records, Wm Armstrong Crozier, p169 as well as Johnston, Stapp and Allied Families, Jennie F. Downing Crow, 1979, Page 18

John H. & Miriam Coffey Sanders

John and Miriam were the parents of Newell Sanders, written about in an earlier blog.  At the time, I did not have a whole lot of information on the descendants of John and Miriam.  Newell appears to be the only son or child that survived from that union.  Hopefully, what I add here will be of some use to readers who have an interest in this family.

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Newell Sanders' mother, Miriam Coffey, was a daughter of the Rev. Reuben A. and Martha "Polly" Dowell Coffey.*  She was born to them on Dec. 26, 1822 in Watauga Co., NC and died in Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN on Nov. 12, 1885.  The marriage between her and John Sanders, Jr. occurred on Sep. 30, 1849 in Owen Co., IN.  John H. Sanders, Jr. was born on Jan. 20, 1824 in IN and died there on Oct. 2, 1851.  The only census that the couple appeared in was the 1850 of Owen Co.  That records shows a child named John M., age 6, born in IN.  I believe this child to be John's by an earlier marriage and not with Miriam.

Miriam married for a second time on Dec. 31, 1857 in Clay Twp., Owen Co.  This husband was John Hamilton Buchanan, born Mar. 9, 1831 in KY, died Jul. 12, 1890 in Hamilton Co., TN.  The 1860 census of Owen Co. shows children Adelaide, age 10, William D., age 8, Newell Sanders, age 9 and Judson Buchanan, age 1.  Newell of course was Miriam's first child; Judson was her second. It is unclear what became of the child John M. Sanders that appeared in the 1850 census.  In 1870, a daughter named Marietta, age 5, appears in the household with John and Miriam but nothing else has been found.  I suspect that she died young.

This family remained in Owen Co. at least through the 1870 census but, by 1880 they had relocated to Chattanooga in Hamilton Co., TN.  Newell had graduated from Indiana University in 1873 and married Corinne Dodds, also a Indiana U graduate (Bachelor of Science) in about 1873.  In 1877 the couple moved from Indiana to Chattanooga where he began to successfully manufacture plows. The Buchanan family followed and Judson eventually went into the plow making business with his half-brother.

Judson married Mary Angie Coffey, a second cousin and daughter of Alfred Alphonso and Julia Ann Dawkins Coffey.  Alfred was a son of Elijah and Polly Hull Coffey.  Elijah and Reuben were brothers, sons of Thomas and Sally Fields Coffey.  Judson died on Jan. 27, 1842 in Chattanooga.  Angie died there on Nov. 9,1932 and both are buried there at Forest Hills Cemetery. Their children were:  Raymond, 1886-1887; Corliss, 1889-1947; Evelyn, 1892-1927; Robert, 1893-?; and James, 1900-1922.  With the exception of Robert, for whom I have found no death/burial info and, Evelyn who is buried with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery, all of the others are buried at Forest Hills.

Judson's daughter Evelyn married Homer David Cogdell of Bullock Co., AL c1918, or earlier.  David apparently had some connection with the plow company because he is known to have traveled, and at least once to Europe.  After Evelyn died, he moved with Caroline, their only child, to Sioux Falls, SD where in 1930 he reported his employment as a salesman of farm utensils.  He was then 42 years old and unmarried.  Caroline was 10 years old.  On Mar. 14 of the following year he married Mary Helen Elliott of Sioux Falls.  There is a passenger record which shows this couple returning from Le Harve in France to the Port of New York on Feb. 17, 1938.  With them was one child, Helen Janet, born May 8, 1936, "abroad to American parents."  Homer died on Oct. 8,1956 in Alexandria, VA was was buried at Arlington.  He had served as a Captain in the US Army during WW1.  I have no information on the death or burial location of Mary Helen.

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Newell and Corinne, a daughter of Clelland Finley and Mary Elizabeth Orchard Dodds, lived on Lookout Mountain in Hamilton Co., TN.  They were the parents of six children.  It appears that only three of them lived to adulthood.

They were:

Wendell, born Jan. 15, 1875 in Indiana, died Apr. 30,1892 in Hamilton Co., TN.  He is buried at Forest Hills.

Norinne, born Dec. 17, 1876 in Indiana, died Jul. 3, 1939 at Lookout Mountain, married John Harvey Anderson.  He was born Feb. 9, 1874 (place not known to me) and died on Jan. 7, 1966 in Hamilton Co.  Both are buried at Forest Hills.  They are known to have at least one child, John, Jr., born prematurely and died on Apr. 15, 1915.  He is also at Forest Hills.

Mildred, born May 1879.  No further information.

Sherman, born Aug. 18, 1882 in TN, died in Chattanooga onOct. 2, 1927.  Sherman was married but I do not know his wife's name.  He died at age 45 from acute appendicitis and was buried at Forest Hills.

Dorothy, who was called Dot, was born Oct. 24, 1886 and died on Jan. 4, 1894 in Chattanooga.  She is buried at Forest Hills as well.

The last child I know of was Pansy, born in June, 1890 in TN, died Jun. 4, 1944 at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville.  She married Ben Matthews Allison c1910 and gave birth to at least two children, both sons. Joe Hill was born in 1913 and died in 1979.  Ben Matthews, Jr. was born Aug. 24, 1914 and died Sep. 17, 2004.  Joe's wife was Mary Cummings.  I do not know where Mary Cummings Allison is buried.  The rest of this family rest at Forest Hills.

"Sanders, Newell, a Senator from Tennessee; born on a farm near Bloomington, Owen County, Ind., July 12, 1850; attended the rural schools; graduated from Indiana University at Bloomington in 1873; owned and operated a book store in Bloomington, Ind., 1873-1877; moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1877 and became a manufacturer of agricultural implements; member of the school board 1881-1882; alderman 1882-1886; president of the Chattanooga Plow Co. 1882-1901; member of the board of directors of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway; appointed as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert L. Taylor and served from Apr. 11, 1912, to January 24, 1913, when a successor was elected; was not a candidate for election; chairman, Committee on National Banks (Sixty-second Congress); continued his former manufacturing pursuits; died at his home on Lookout Mountain, Tenn., January 26, 1939; interment in Forest Hills Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tenn."**

Click on the "earlier blog" link at the top of this page to read more about Newell and Corinne.

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*More blogs about Reuben and Polly can be found by using the search block in the sidebar.
**Mitchell Chapple, Editor, National Magazine: An Illustrated American Monthly, vol. 36, April, 1912 - Sept., 1912 (Boston, MA: Chapple Publishing Co., Ltd., ~Oct., 1912), Page 413. [There are many sources of information on Newell.  Search for him in Google Books.

The Georgians: Genealogies of Pioneer Settlers

This book was compiled by Jeanette Holland Austin and apparently originally published by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. in 1984.  It was reprinted for the Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing in 1998 and again in 2002.

It is an ambitious work but not without errors.

Beginning on page 84, the compiler provides a descendants list for Peter Coffee, born in Ireland between 1690 and 1700, who came to VA c1730 aboard the ship “Forward Galley.”  This is documented on page 188 of the 1981 work by Marion and Jack Kaminkow, Emigrants in Bondage.  In this work, it is stated that Peter was received on board the ship October 28, 1730.

Austin ends the Peter Coffee descent with the family of Michael Coffee, of Rockingham Co., NC and dates his will to June 23, 1804, proved Nov., 1810 in Rockingham Co.  In the will, Michael names wife Margaret and children:  Michael, Robert, Thomas, John, Sophia, Mary and Margaret.  She tells us that Michael was a son of Joshua Coffee, born 1745 in Prince Edward Co., VA, later of Granville Co., NC.

Clearly, I am not a Peter Coffee expert, but have read some fairly well documented work on this line.  The one that I most often refer to when asked about Peter is the compilation completed and privately published by Gene Brewington (dec’d).  His wife was a Peter descendant.  Gene named only five children for Joshua and wife Elizabeth Graves:  William, born Sep., 1768, died before 1797; Thomas Graves, born 4 Sep. 1769 in Prince Edward Co., died 1846 in Lauderdale Co., AL; Elijah, born 1770, died before 1797; John, born June 2, 1772 in Prince Edward Co., died in Florence, Lauderdale Co., AL on Jul. 7, 1833.

John Coffee was a life-long friend of Andrew Jackson, and they engaged in many business affairs together.  John raised a regiment of volunteers to help Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in Dec., 1814.  After that battle he was promoted from Colonel to Major General, and in 1817 was appointed Surveyor-General of Alabama.  He moved to Huntsville in that state and in 1819 moved to Florence in Lauderdale Co.  He died at the family home, "Hickory Hill" north of Florence.  William T. Hale wrote a bit about Gen. Coffee in his work A History of Tennessee and Tennesseans, published in 1913 by Lewis Publishing Co. of Chicago.  Coffee Co., AL is named for him.

Joshua’s brother, Peter, Jr. also named a son John who also became a General.  The two Johns are sometimes confused with one another.  Peter Jr.’s son was most famous in GA and served from there in the War of 1812.  He was also a US Congressman.  Coffee Co., GA is named for him.

Austin continues with the genealogy of Michael Coffey by writing that he married Margaret, last name not given, and cites his children as Thomas who married Mary Coffee, a daughter of Hugh Patrick Coffee whose last will and testament was written on June 15, 1828 and proved in August, 1828 at Rockingham Co., NC; John; Michael; Robert; Sophia; Mary; and Margaret.  She ends there, but writes that “The family in Wilkes Co., N. C. are descendants of either Peter, or Joshua, sons of Peter Sr.”

As far as I know, all of that could be correct.  However, following the above quote, Austin appears to tell us that James Coffey who married Elizabeth Cleveland was a descendant of Peter.  All Edward Coffey research that I know of, tells us that Rev. James Coffey was a son of John Coffey and Jane Graves, John being the eldest son of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.

James is one of the better researched of the known children of John and Jane Graves Coffey.  He was referred to as Reverend because he was a Baptist minister in Wilkes Co., NC.

Many researchers have assumed that James and Elizabeth were married in Orange Co. about 1750, and more specifically Aug. 30, 1750.  However, no source has been given for this date, and a record has not been found in Orange Co. marriage records.

James can be found on the Orange Co. "List of Tithables" in 1749, but not in 1754 meaning that he and Elizabeth moved [to Albemarle Co.?] soon after their marriage.

The first deed record found in Albemarle Co. is dated 1758.  They bought 124 acres from James' father John, at the head of the middle branch of the Hardware River.  (Many early Albemarle Co. records are missing making it impossible to determine the exact date that James settled in Albemarle Co.)

James did enter land on July 26, 1765 for 262 acres "on the head branches of Meechums River, under the Ragged Mountains."    This date is probably much later than actual purchase because James had already moved to Amherst Co. the year prior to that date.

James made his will on Sep. 13, 1786 and it was proved Oct. 26 in Wilkes Co.  All of his children are named except he mentions the "heirs of my son Archelaus."  This indicates that Archelaus died prior to Sep. 1786.

Elizabeth is said to have gone to TN with her son Rice where she died about 1827, at about 100 years of age.

From Virginia DAR Book; Big Blue Book, 1970, page 469:
 
James Coffey -- Born 1726 Ireland; Died 1813 Wilkes County, North Carolina; Married 1746, Prince Wm. Co., Va., Elizabeth Cleveland, born 1728, died 1828.
 
James Coffey served as a Private under Capt. Alexander Peoples.  Five of his sons were Revolutionary soldiers.  (Penn. Archives, 5th Series Vol. VI, p. 57).  He resided in Pennsylvania during the Revolution.
 
The accuracy of that DAR biography is very questionable.
 
Some researchers have mistakenly given James the middle name of Bluford or Edwen [sic].  I have even seen Ervin as a middle name for James.  Middle names did not become common in America until long after the Rev. War.  It became somewhat common only after the mid-1800’s.  I do not believe anyone can produce documentation that any of our early Coffey ancestors had middle names.  The proliferation of such errors as middle names in web-based genealogies is, in my opinion,  the result of copying undocumented work without question.
 
In a following paragraph, Austin then seems to name Thomas Coffey, another son of John and Jane Graves Coffey as a descendant of Peter.  I believe that has been proven to not be accurate in the work by Dr. Marvin Coffey, a descendant, in his 1984 work, James Bluford Coffey:  His Ancestors and Descendants in America as well as in Thomas Coffey and His Descendants, compiled by Laurence H. Coffey of Lenoir, NC (pub: Newell Sanders, Chattanooga, 1931).
 
If she knew differently, Austin may have simply miswrote (e.g., badly worded) or perhaps should have omitted all together the comment about the Wilkes Co. Coffeys being descendants of Peter.  I’m afraid that comment has mislead some to erroneously conclude that some of Edward’s descendants were actually Peter descendants.

Noah Monroe Coffey

Coffey-Good Marriage License

Noah was a son of Perry L. and Sarah "Sally" Sanders Coffey.  He was born on Mar. 31, 1883 in Ozark Co., AR and died in Baxter Co., AR on Feb. 4, 1919.  He was buried there at the Conley Cemetery in Mountain Home.

His wife was Celia Veronica Gooden to whom he was married Mar. 28, 1909 in Baxter Co., AR.  Celia was born in Arkansas on Feb. 14, 1883 and died as Celia V. Boyd on Oct. 26, 1955 in San Mateo Co., CA.  Her second husband has not yet been discovered.

Noah and Celia had four children:





Olive Irene, born c1910 in MO.  She married Talmadge Young.

Eugene Frank "Bud", born Feb. 5, 1912 in Washington state, died Sep. 15, 1969 in Sutter Co., CA.  He married Elizabeth Pool, born c1922 in MO, died Jan. 13, 1974 in Sacramento Co., CA.

Edith Mildred, born c1916 in Arkansas.

Helen Juanita, born c1918 in Wyoming.  She married a Mr. Taylor.






I continue to search for more information about this family and will update when more information becomes available.

All people photos are courtesy of and remain the property of Juanita Coffey Daniel.

Thaddeus Warsaw & Rosa Etta Coffey Rollison

Rosa was a daughter of Shelton and Dicy Sanders Coffey.  She was born on Feb. 21, 1863 in Indiana and died on Jul. 9, 1920 somewhere in Arkansas.  She and Thaddeus married Oct. 26, 1879.  He was born to Charles Perry and Matilda Runser Rollison of Nov. 10, 1858 in Ada, Hardin Co., OH and died in DeWitt, Arkansas Co., AR on Aug. 29, 1953.

Both are buried at the DeWitt cemetery in DeWitt, Arkansas Co., AR.

There were at least 11 children born to this union:  Eva Alice; Alma Katel Nathan Jersey; Cora May; Ina Belle; Charlie Shelton; Pearl; Ralph Thaddeus; Nora; Estelle and Mabel.

I have no additional family info and would welcome any corrections or additions.

Jesse Calton & Julia Elizabeth Hollifield Coffey

Jesse Calton was born Mar. 27, 1867 at Coffey's Gap in Watauga Co., NC to George Washington "Wash" and Matilda "Tilda" Coffey Coffey.  Wash was the son of William Clayton and Sarah Greene Coffey while Tilda was the daughter of Jesse Calton and Nancy A. Raines Coffey.  William was uncle to Jesse, their common ancestor being Jesse and Margaret Edmisten Coffey.

Julia Hollifield was born Mar. 31, 1873 in Watauga Co. and died Jul. 11, 1957 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.  She and Jesse were married May 7, 1892 in Watauga Co.  Her parents were Wiley and Mary Ann "Annie" Reid Hollifield.  Another daughter, Flora Ellen Hollifield married Reuben Finley Coffey on Dec. 14, 1893 in Caldwell Co.

Jesse and Julia were parents of at least nine children:

George Wiley, born Mar. 20, 1890, died Jan. 25, 1948 in Wilkes Co.  He married Ida Belle Norman on Apr. 11, 1912 and they were parents of at least nine children.  Ida was born in 1886 in Lenoir and died there in 1974.

Charles Alexander "Charlie" was born Jul. 2, 1894 in Caldwell Co., and died May 17, 1966 in Lenoir.  He married Julia Evelyn Knight on Sep. 4, 1915 in Watauga Co.  Julia was born Sep. 13, 1896 and died Jan. 21, 1981.  They were also parents of at least nine children.

Annie, born Feb. 16, 1896, died Jul. 4, 1976. No other information.

Thomas Leroy "Tom", born Oct. 13, 1898, died Feb. 11, 1974 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.  Tom married Alice Sanders on Jul 19, 1919 in Watauga Co.  She was the daughter of Eve and Emma Sumlin Sanders of Caldwell Co.  Alice died Feb. 24, 1962 in Blowing Rock.  They were also parents of at least nine children.

Ella, born Feb. 22, 1901, died Jul. 15, 1983 in Morganton, Burke Co., NC.  Ella married a Mr. Smith.  No other information.

Rev. Harley Clint, born Jul. 11, 1903 in Upton, Caldwell Co., died Mar. 5, 1972 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC.  He married twice, first to Dovie "Texie" Bolick on May 8, 1927 in Watauga Co., and second to Myrtle Thelma Andrews on Nov. 20, 1930 in Winston-Salem.  I know of only one child, a daughter Claudine, born to his union with Myrtle.  Texie died of dysentery after a little over a year of marriage, on Jun. 16, 1928.  Myrtle, a daughter of William M. and Manarky Victoria Shook Andrews died Nov. 13, 1979 in Valdese, Burke Co., NC.

Pearl Nevada, born Feb. 8, 1906, died Feb. 25, 1993.  She married first James Samuel Day on Apr. 22, 1923 in Watauga Co.  James, a son of James Mordichi and Annie Marie Reid Day, was born Aug. 5, 1899 in Watauga Co. and died there on Mar. 13, 1956.  She later married James' brother Spencer who died in Caldwell Co. in 1965.  Pearl died Feb. 25, 1993.

William Glenn, born Apr. 11, 1909, died Feb. 24, 1977 in Alexander Co., NC.  He married Annie Rivers "Nannie" Coffey, a daughter of Jesse Cleveland and Eliza Loudermelt Coffey.  Nannie was born Jan. 1, 1910 in Avery Co., NC and died Apr. 15, 1952 in Boone, Watauga Co.  I know of one child, Jerry Guy Coffey, born Sep. 12, 1933, died Jan. 25, 1998.  Jesse Cleveland and Jesse Calton were first cousins.

Bertha Vienna, born Sep. 2, 1912, died Jan. 14, 1970 in Blowing Rock.  She was the second wife of Adren Reece Moody, born Dec. 6, 1909 in Watauga Co., died Sep. 12, 1968 in Blowing Rock.  Adren was the son of Arthur C. and Rota Marticia Estes Moody.  He and Bertha were the parents of at least two children:  Teresa Geraldine, born May 7, 1932, died Jan. 8, 1994 and Catherine Elizabeth, born May 7, 1935, died Jan. 23, 1993.  Adren's first wife was Edna Porter with whom he had at least one child, Louise born Nov. 15, 1928.

Please contact me to add to or correct any of this information.

Shelton and Dicy Sanders Coffey

Janet Amtower documented the travels of her ancestor, Rev. Reuben A. and his wife, Polly Dowell Coffey.  I wrote about them in Dec., 2006  I also wrote about their son Shelton and his family in a subsequent blog.

Now, Janet has posted many family photographs and some biographical information about Shelton and his descendants at Find-A-Grave.

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A word about Find-A-Grave.  If you haven't discovered this treasure yet, give it a try.  I have found literally hundreds of headstones and other information for the Edward Coffey Project CD using this resource!  While you are visiting, take some time to upload your own headstone photos.  They can be extremely helpful to the next researcher, who might be a long lost cousin with just the info you need to break down your personal "brick wall."

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Shelton Coffey

These are cropped versions of Janet's photo of Shelton and Dicy together.  I chose to crop so that I could add a photo to their individual data pages in my file.  Visit her FAG site at the above link to see all of the photos she has uploaded.

Dicy Sander Coffey

Newell and Corinne Dodds Sanders

"Newell Sanders, manufacturer and United States Senator, 1912, 1913, was born in Owen County, Indiana, July 12, 1850, the son of John Sanders and Miriam Coffey Sanders, grandson of John Sanders and Nancy Briscoe Sanders and great grandson of Henry Sanders and Dicey Blake Sanders, South Carolina. Henry Sanders was a Baptist preacher and a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Sanders' maternal grandfather, Reuben Coffey was a pioneer Baptist preacher and in 1834 was one of the founders of Franklin College, the Baptist college of Indiana. Mr. Sanders' parents and grandparents were among the numbers of Southerners who settled in southern Indiana about 1830.

"Newell Sanders entered Indiana State University at Bloomington where he graduated in 1873 with a degree of B.S. After conducting a book store in Bloomington from 1873 to 1878 he decided to enter the manufacturing field. He spent a year in northern shops gaining experience and settled in Chattanooga on the advice of Gen. John T. Wilder in 1878. He opened a factory to manufacture plows. This was the first factory in the South to make improved plows. In 1883 the business was incorporated as the Chattanooga Plow Company with Newell Sanders as president and general manager. Under his management it developed rapidly, doing a large domestic business and enjoying an extensive export trade. In 1901 he established the Newell Sanders Plow Company of which he was sole owner. In 1915 he again became president of the Chattanooga Plow Company, a position he retained until 1919 when he sold the company to the Internal Harvester Company. He sold the Newell Sanders Plow Company in 1927 and retired from business after having manufactured plows in Chattanooga for fifty years.

"His business interests, however, have not been confined to plow manufacturing. He organized the Chattanooga Steamboat Company in 1891 for the purpose of operating a line of boats on the Tennessee River to St. Louis and served as its first president. He was the first president of the Tennessee River Improvement Association and appeared many times before Congress in that interest. He was president of the National Association of Agriculture Implement and Vehicle Manufacturers from 1907 to 1909 and vice president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 1927, 1929. He is a director of the Hamilton National Bank and of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway.

"Mr. Sanders served as chairman of the Tennessee Republican State Committee 1894-1896 and again in 1906-1912. In both these periods Republican governors of Tennessee were elected. He was a member of the Republican National Committee, 1912-1916, and a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920 and 1924. He was appointed by the Governor of Tennessee to the United States Senate and was the first Republican Senator from Tennessee in forty years. He took his seat April 8, 1912, his successor taking his seat in February, 1913. He led the prohibition movement in Tennessee which became a dry state before the national prohibition amendment was passed. In the Senate he was the leader in the passage of a law against the shipment of intoxicating liquor from 'wet' states into 'dry' states.

"Mrs. Newell Sanders was Miss Corinne Dodds of Bloomington before her marriage. The marriage took place October 28, 1873. She was a graduate of the Indiana State University of the Class of 1873. She was active in church and Red Cross work and was president of the Chattanooga Free Kindergarten Association during its long existence. She was the first woman in the Southern states to vote**. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders traveled together extensively in this country and abroad. They were four years in the same class in college, receiving the same training and acquiring the same ideals and success has been result of their joint efforts. The credit is due as much to one as to the other. Mrs. Sanders died in 1929. Their children are Norinne who married James Harvey Anderson; Mildred who married Walter Blair Wright; Pansy who married Ben Matthews Allison; Wendell who died at the age of seventeen; Dot who died young and Sherman who died in 1927 at the age of forty-six.

"Mr. Sanders home is on the east brow of Lookout Mountain next to the Lookout Mountain Incline. Since his retirement from business Mr. Sanders has given his time to the development of the Chattanooga-Lookout Mountain Park, on the sides of Lookout Mountain, and to other public affairs"

[Newell Sanders was the son of John and Miriam Coffey Sanders. Mirian was a daughter of the Rev. Reuben A. and Martha "Polly" Dowell Coffey.  Newell was born Jul. 12, 1850 and died Jan. 26, 1939 in Chattanooga.  Corinne died in 1929.  He is buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga and Corinne is probably there with him.]

**Interesting!  I wonder how this is known?

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Thanks to Richard Beu for providing this news article and photo, proving that Mrs. Sanders was the first woman to vote in the state of TN.  His GG-grandfather was I.E. Ireland, also pictured. Unfortunately, the date this was published in this Chattanooga newspaper was not preserved on the clipping I received.

Source:  Zella Armstrong, Author, The history of Hamilton County and Chattanooga, Tennessee: Vol I, 2 volumes (Johnson City, TN: The Overmountain Press, 1992), .  Photos from the source credited to Judd.  The book is available at Amazon.com, as well as other on-line book sellers.  It can probably be found on Amazon at this link:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0932807917