Martin Coffey

This Martin is thought to be a son of Andrew Jackson and Martha J. Spann Coffey. He was born c1846 in Eadsville, Wayne Co., KY. In 1880 he is found in Melcalfe Co., KY, Edmonton precinct, ED142, page 27. With him was wife Lisabeth, age 29, son Walter, age 8, and brother George Coffey, age 22. The presence of George, born c1858 offers some evidence that they are sons of of Andrew.

There was another Martin Coffey in KY. He is believed to be a son of Chesley and Jane Cleveland Coffey. This Martin was born Dec. 15, 1762 in Essex Co., VA and died Nov. 27, 1867 in Wayne Co., KY and married Nancy Heriford Dec. 1, 1817 in Wayne Co. My data show only one child, James, born Sep. 7, 1818 in Russell Co., and died Jul 27, 1897 in Lincoln Co., KY.

James is said to have married Martha (Patsy) Tucker Jun. 30, 1836 in Wayne Co. She was born Dec. 7, 1818 in Wayne Co., and died Mar. 7, 1877 in Lincoln Co. They had at least one child, a son Francis Marion Coffey, born Mar. 27, 1840, died Jan. 13, 1933 in Jackson Co., KS. Francis married Permelia Jane Hughes on May 26, 1865 in Lincoln Co. Permelia was born May 11, 1846 in Lincoln Co., and died Oct. 28, 1950 in Jackson Co., KS.

Francis and Permelia had at least 10 children:

- Charles H., born Feb. 8,. 1867
- Annie C., born Aug. 13, 1869, died Dec. 3, 1962
- Belle, born Sep. 7, 1871, died 1933
- Margaret G., born Jan. 15, 1874
- Minnie E., born Jan. 17, 1876, died Jan. 15, 1974
- Francis Timothy, born Aug. 7, 1878, died Aug. 14, 1947
- Pearl D., born May 11, 1880
- Mary A., born c1882, died Jun. 16, 1968
- James Gabriel, born Aug. 23, 1895, died Aug. 20, 1974
- Arthur K., born Dec. 8, 1885

Other Martins found in the Edward Coffey line are:

- Martin, born 1866 in Grainger Co., TN, son of Elijah and Rebecca Shockley Coffey
- Martin, born c1906 in Missouri, son of Arthur E. and Nora B. Coffey
- Martin Dewitt, born Nov. 15, 1881 in Georgia, son of John Gordon and Mary Monroe Pettit Coffey
- Martin Marcellus, born c1857 in Nelson Co., VA (probably), son of Hezekiah and Mary Jane Fitzgerald Coffey
- Martin Van Buren, born Sep. 1834 in GA, son of Jesse and Winifred Comption Coffey
- Martin Van Buren, born c1854 in GA, son of Larkin D. and Temperance Elaine Gravitt

I have some additional information on these Martins. Anyone with, or needing additional data is invited to contact me.

Grainger County Tennessee Families

A number of researchers I know have pooled their resources via e-mail to discuss and update information about their ancestors in Grainger County. Ancestoral names primarily include Coffee/y, Dalton, Wolfe, Shockley, Rucker, and Hayes. Other surnames are discussed as they arise. Photographs are also shared!

My purpose in participating is to add and update information in the Edward Coffey/Ann Powell descendants report that I maintain at the Coffey Cousins' Clearinghouse website.

The problem with such a list is that it tends to grow. For me, I find it increasingly difficult to remain concentrated on each participant, and the information they provide. The information sometimes becomes extremely confusing as lines cross. Of course, it remains clear in the mind of the person submitting it because they are intimately familiar with the data. But, for others it tends to blur after awhile.

But, the information exchange is extremely important, and I like the format. If you have ever participated in the various Coffee/Coffey forums on Genealogy.com or Ancestry.com, you have no doubt noticed that just about the time you find an interesting post, the participants switch to private e-mail (or, they change and fail to update their e-mail address), and you never see any more of their information. By setting up your own informal mailing list, and keeping it limited to 10-15 people interested in the same family lines, a lot of information can be exchanged in a short period of time.

I find myself having to do more than just concentrate on what information is being exchanged. One of the first things I do is jump to the census record to verify children, ages, birth places, etc., hoping to at least provide future researchers with some confidence that the information is accurate as I know it.

Not all of the information that has been, or ever will be posted to the Coffey Cousins' website will be completely accurate. I post what is sent to me by others with the disclaimer that I have not personally documented the information, and it is not guaranteed to be accurate. For the most part, sources are provided. Users of the data are encouraged to complete their own research, and contact the source - if a person with contact information has been listed. Naturally, I would like to receive any updated information so changes on the Coffey Cousins' website can be corrected.

I guess what I am attempting to do with the Edward and Ann Powell document, is to start a public discussion, the goal being to update the information with the most accurate data available at the time. I would also like to do the same thing with the Peter Coffey family. It appears however, that Edward left more descendants who research, and share information, than Peter did.

What I would eventually like to do is start an on-line discussion, available to everyone, with defined "categories." That will require more thought! If any readers have suggestions please contact me.