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

William Henry Harvey & Martha L. Coffey Clark

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William Henry Harvey Clark

William Henry Harvey Clark was born Dec. 25, 1845 in North Carolina, perhaps Caldwell or Avery Co.  I suspect Caldwell based on the mere fact that he and Martha Coffey were married there.

Martha L. Coffey was the sixth child and fourth daughter of Enoch and Martha Calloway Coffey and was born to them in Sep., 1846 in Caldwell Co.  I believe Martha Calloway was the second wife for Enoch.  His first was Prudence Gragg; third was Fannie Sims.

The Clark-Coffey marriage occurred on Apr. 15, 1866.*  William and Martha, like many families in the south following the Civil War who were trying to live through reconstruction, carpetbaggers and other petty officials, seem to have avoided the 1870 census.

[Update 8/4/2011 - Thanks to Lloyd Coffey of Taylorsville, NC I now know that William and Martha did not miss the 1870 census.  They, along with first child Charlotte were in  Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co. (Collettsville Post Office) that year.]

Their first known child was Charlotte L., born Sep. 15, 1869 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 21, 1958 in Banner Elk, Avery Co.  Charlotte Married George W. Bowman but I have no further information on their family.  Charlotte is buried at Jonas Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery in Burke Co., NC

Joseph Enoch was their second child and first son.  He was born after the family moved from Caldwell to Avery Co. and entered the world on Mar. 12, 1871.  Joseph married Edna Ann Coffey, a daughter of Margaret A. Coffey who was the daughter of Jesse Patterson and Elizabeth M. Coffey Coffey.  Edna was born July 4, 1887 and died Aug. 28, 1959. Joseph died Dec. 3, 1965 in Crossnore, Avery Co.  Both are buried at the Tate Family Cemetery** in Linville, Avery Co.

[The family probably did not physically move.  They likely lived in that part of Caldwell that was taken to form Avery Co. in 1911]

Rebecca followed Joseph.  She was born May, 1874 in Avery Co., and died there on Sep. 13, 1943.  She married a Mr. Tilley but nothing more is known of their family.  Rebecca's death certificate reports her burial at Clark Cemetery at Pineola, Avery Co.**

Della May was child number 4, born Jun. 30, 1875, died Sep. 18, 1950 at Marion in McDowell Co., NC.  Della married Elam Gather Barrier c1896 and had a number of children, including William Seth; Inez; James Gudger; Gladys Susan; Tom Harvey and Myrtle Chloe.  Della is buried at the Tate Family cemetery while Elam is buried at Jonas Ridge Baptist Church cemetery in Burke Co.


Willard F. was next, born c1877 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 27, 1927 in Linville.  He was buried at Calloway Cemetery in Jonas Ridge.  His wife was Bettie Kates.

Douthard "Douth" Charlie was born Apr. 15, 1879 and died Dec. 12, 1957 at Crossnore.  He is also buried at Tate.

Martha Ann was born May 12, 1881 and died May 25, 1964 at Crossnore.  She married Walter Puett.  Martha is buried at Jonas Ridge.

William Elgie was born May, 1883.  No further information.

Pinkney was born Jul. 31, 1886 and died Oct. 27, 1973 in Morganton, Burke Co.  He married Mary Jane Webb, born Jan., 1894, daughter of Theodore M. and Sarah Elizabeth Coffey Webb.  Sarah Elizabeth was a daughter of Bryce Brisco and Susannah Gragg Coffey.  No further info on Pinkney and Mary Jane.

Dovie Jane was the last known child of William Henry and Martha.  She was born Sep. 15, 1890 and died Jul. 3, 1968 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  Her husband was Monroe Coffey, a son of Thomas M. & Martha Cordelia Gragg Coffey.  Monroe was born Jan. 26, 1883 in Avery Co. and died Nov. 3, 1955 in Collettsville, Caldwell Co.  He and Dovie Jane were married in Caldwell Co. in 1910.***  Monroe was the first US Forest Ranger in the Globe and "...oversaw the fledgling agency’s activities in an era just before the Civilian Conservation Corps ended it efforts at forestry and went off to fight WW II."¹

Dovie Jane and Monroe had at least eight children:  Ruby, Ruth, Bruce, Sarah Nell, Jack; Blanche, Martha Louise and Clyde Hedrick.  More information is available.

Corrections and additions welcomed.

Update  Aug. 2, 2011 - Rebecca Clark's husband was John A. Tilley, born c1860 in NC.  They were married c1892.

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*North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org), Marriage Register, Book 3, Page 157.

**This cemetery has been called by various names; e.g., Tate-Love and Clark Family Cemetery, and has appeared in several places in genealogy reports as one or the other.  It can be found on Find-A-Grave as Clark Cemetery as well as Tate.  The official name is Tate Family Cemetery and it is located at Linville. Enter coordinates 36 2 37.14, -81 54 8.69 (copy and paste) into maps.google.com for exact location.  The resulting map repeats the error by referring to it as Clark Cemetery.


***Caldwell County, North Carolina Register of Deed's Index Search, Wayne L. Rash, Register of Deeds online, Marriage Register, Book 22, Page 180.

¹Tracing Timber’s History in the Globe, by Randy Johnson, High Country Press, on-line, Jul. 28, 2011

Thanks to Bradley Ingels for his wonderful headstone photos and additional information on some of these families.