William & Anna "Annie" Boone Coffey

William was one of the sons of Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Fields Coffey.  He was the second of 10 children born to that couple and the first of eight sons.  Bible records provided in 1990 by Mary E. Thornburg, tells us that William was born "November 29th in the year of our Lord 1782," and died May 22, 1839 in Wilkes Co., NC.  He was buried there at the Rufus Baptist Church Cemetery in the Mulberry Community, now part of Caldwell Co. (Lat: 36.00080, Lon: -81.64390).

Mary's Bible records tell us that William married Annie Boone on Oct. 16, 1804 in Boone, Watauga Co., the daughter of Jesse Boone and his wife Sarah McMahan.  Annie appears to be the sixth of at least eight children born to Jesse and Sarah.  She was born Jul. 26, 1785 in Burke Co. and died in Caldwell on Jan. 16, 1876.  She is also buried at the Rufus cemetery.

At least six children were born to William and Annie, the first being Daniel Boone Coffey, born Nov. 12, 1805 in Burke Co., died Jan. 21, 1862 in Caldwell Co.  Daniel married Clarissa Estes on Sep. 11, 1834.  She was born Jul. 18, 1817 in Burke Co., died Jul. 17, 1884, probably in Caldwell Co.  They were parents of at least nine children:  1) Emily who married her first cousin (once removed) Charles Lewis Coffey, a son of McCaleb and Elizabeth "Betsy" Collett Coffey; 2) Drury Dobbins who married Harriet Elizabeth Collett on Aug. 25, 1859; 3) Martha Ellen who married Elijah L. Moore on Oct. 12, 1858 in Caldwell Co.; 4) Sophronia Tate who married Henry Clay Coffey, brother to Charles Lewis; 5) Jonah, born May 9, 1843 in Caldwell Co.  He may have died in infancy; 6) Israel Boone, born Apr. 19, 1845 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 10, 1920 in Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS, married Catherine Emma Spainhour of North Carolina on Sep. 19, 1867 in Caldwell Co. 7) Julia, born Aug. 3, 1847; 8) Hezekiah, born 1852; 9) Celia, born Nov. 7, 1855, died Apr. 15, 1858.

Second born to William and Annie was Wilborn on May 14, 1807 in  Burke Co.  He married Sarah "Sallie" Cottrell on Jan. 2, 1832 in Caldwell Co.  Sallie was born May 1, 1812 in Wilkes Co. and died in Caldwell Co. on Mar. 25, 1894.  Wilborn died on Nov. 27, 1897.  Both are buried at the Rufus cemetery.  They were parents of at least eight children:  1) William Rufus, who married Harriet E. Moore on Dec. 4, 1856; 2) Thomas Milton, born c1835, died Aug. 12, 1863 on the Gettysburg battlefield; 3) Myra Emeline, born c1836, died before 1860; 4) James Grayson, born 1839, died Aug. 24, 1863 at the Union POW camp, Davis Island, New York Harbor, NY; 5) Minerva Jane, born Dec. 20, 1844, died Oct. 10,1934 and who married the Rev. John H. Nelson, born May 19, 1841 in Caldwell Co., died May 22, 1915; 6) John Calvin, born Apr. 30, 1848 in Caldwell Co., died in Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co. on Feb. 27, 1930.  He married Nancy Caroline Tuttle, born Jan. 10,1854 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 10, 1939 at Lenoir, Caldwell Co.; 7) Finley Patterson, born Apr. 30, 1848 in Mulberry Twp., died in Lenoir on Apr. 13, 1937.  His wife was Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Tuttle, born Sep. 11, 1851 in Caldwell Co, died Apr. 20, 1931 in Lenoir.  Nancy Caroline and Mary Elizabeth Tuttle were sisters, daughters of Robert G. & Lucinda Puett Tuttle. 8) Charlotte Caroline, born Dec. 2, 1851 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 18, 1944.  She married Jesse Richmond Moore on Oct. 21, 1869 in Caldwell Co.  He was born Mar. 16, 1849 in Globe Twp., Caldwell Co. and died in the Mulberry Twp. on Sep. 13, 1921

William and Annie's third was Gilliam, born May 21, 1810, died Jan. 8,1910 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co.  He married Mary "Polly" Moore on Jan. 2, 1832.  She was born c1820 in Burke Co. and died in Caldwell Co. on May 26, 1871.  They were parents of at least six:  1) Harvey N., born 1837, died 1912, married Jane Cochran; 2) William Elbert, born 1839, died 1912 at Morganton, Burke Co.  His wife was Margaret Anne Kinkaid, born 1837 in Burke Co., died Dec. 22, 1921 in Morganton.  Margaret had a child after William died and whose father is not known to me.  She and William Elbert had at least six children:  Mary, William Alvin, Lula Eloise; Annie Jane, Harvey Macan, and Maggie Lee. 3) Harriet E., born Sep. 6, 1843 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., died Dec. 12, 1937 in Elizabethton, Carter Co., TN.  Harriet's spouse was James Brown Blair to whom she was married on Oct. 7, 1866 in Caldwell Co.  James was born in Cedar Valley on May 1, 1844 and died in Carter Co. on May 24, 1920.  They had at least eight children:  Henry Lee, Gilliam Colbert, Harvey, John Caldwell, Job W., Mary E., Hatibel, and Lillie M. 4) Celia Adeline, born c1847, died before 1910.  Her husband was John Wesley Estes and they were married on Dec. 2, 1868 in Caldwell Co.  Their children were at least eight:  Benjamin G., Albert Lafayette, Horace Herndon; John C., Victor Scotland, Emma E., Homer Roy, and May C.  This family left NC sometime after 1880 and journeyed west to Iowa where Emma was born and then to Idaho where May was born.  5) Cordelia Adaline, born Jan. 10, 1853, died Jul. 9,1918.  She married John Boone Gragg on Dec. 17,1 877 in Caldwell Co.  He was born Feb. 15, 1856 in Caldwell Co., and died in Globe Twp., on May 23, 1937.  Both are buried at the Job Moore cemetery in the Globe.  Their children were at least seven:  William Hardie, Charlie, Stella Victoria, John Vernon, Laurance Dillard, Mamie, and Horace Milton.  Child 6) was Emma, born c1855.  Unfortunately, nothing else has been found for her.

The fourth child of William and Annie was Celia, Jun. 29, 1813 in Burke Co., died in Wilkes Co. on Jul. 12, 1899.  She married Hezekiah Curtis, a son of Samuel and Susanna Cottrell Curtis, on Dec. 26, 1833 in Wilkes Co.  Hezekiah was born May 16, 1810 in Wilkes Co., and died there on Jan. 20, 1901.  Both are buried at Mountain Park Cemetery in Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co.  Their children were Darcus, Judson, Larkin Junius, Julia, Finley Patterson, Caroline L., and Martha Gertrude.

The fifth and last child born to William and Annie was Calvin on Sep. 30, 1819.  He died Apr. 2, 1847 after a short marriage to Mary Greene in about 1839-40.  Four children were born to Calvin and Mary:  Harrison, Alexander, William and Patterson Vance.  William also died on the battlefield at Gettysburg.

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This is quite a long blog and I hope that I have not made it too complicated to follow.  Many of these folks have been written about in previous blogs.  Use the search window in the sidebar to look for them.  To assure accuracy, place "quotation marks" around the name your are searching for.  All of these, plus all of their known (to me) ancestors and descendants are present on the Edward Coffey Project DVD.  Readers can also use the "Search Also For" links at the bottom of each blog.

Drury Dobbins & Harriet Elizabeth Collett Coffey

Drury was the son of Daniel Boone and Clarissa Estes Coffey, and was born Apr. 23, 1838 in Burke Co., NC.  Harriet was the daughter of James Hamilton and Jane Stewart Collett [photo], and was born Nov. 25, 1840 in Caldwell Co.

She and Drury were married in Caldwell Co. on Aug. 15, 1859.  Drury died in Caldwell Co. on Aug. 16, 1913 and Harriet on Jan. 13, 1921.  Both are buried in Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir.

Her obituary:

MRS. HARRIET COFFEY OF LENOIR, DIES AT AGE OF 80

Lenoir, Jan. 16 -- Mrs. Harriet Coffey died at the home of her son, F. H. Coffey, Thursday evening, being 80 years old, and was buried Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock in Bellview cemetery, Rev. A. A. McLean conducting the funeral services.

Mrs. Coffey, whose maiden name was Miss Harriet Collett, was born at Collettsville November 25, 1840, and on August 24, 1859, was married to D. D. Coffey. To this union two sons, F. H. and D. S. Coffey, and one daughter, Ellen Coffey, were born. Mr. and Mrs. Coffey continued to live at Collettsville for a number of years, following which time they went west and lived 14 years. At the end of that time, their son, F. H. Coffey and his family, who were also living in Junction City, decided to return to North Carolina, and Mr. and Mrs. Coffey returned with them to Lenoir where they lived until August, 1913, when Mr. Coffey died. Four years ago last October Mrs. Coffey fell and broke her hip. Since that time she had been confined to her bed.

She was a life long member of the Adventist church, and a professed Christian. Hers was a life of loving service and she will be greatly missed. She did not complain at her lot, but bore with courageous patience her affliction. During the war she knitted sweaters and socks for the soldiers, and seemed so glad to do that much for the boys.  [Courtesy of Nancy Stonebreaker]

His obituary:

August 13, 1913 – Mr. Drury Coffey Passes.

Useful and Valued Citizen and Brave Confederate Veteran Answers Final Roll Call.

Mr. Drury D. Coffey died at the home of his son, Mr. F.H. Coffey Saturday evening at 6 o'clock after an illness of only a few weeks. For several months Mr. Coffey had been in declining health, but not till recently did his friends and relatives become alarmed about his condition and realize that the end was near. He was one of the old landmarks of Caldwell county, and the announcement of his death will bring sorrow to many homes, especially among the older citizens, who love and honored him, as their comrade and leader.

Drury D. Coffey was born in the Mulberry section of the county in 1838, and was soon recognized as a leader among his people in both social and political life. He was honest as a citizen and always spoke his convictions. As a public servant, he was the champion of the rights of his people and always guarded their interest most zealously. When the Civil War came on, he immediately volunteered and went to the front as a member of Company E, 58th North Carolina Regiment. He was made Sergeant Major of this company and distinguished himself for his prowess and devotion to the cause. He was in many engagements, but was only wounded slightly one time, having a finger shot off.

After the close of the war, he returned to his home, and began life anew as a farmer. He was soon honored by his people by being elected County Commissioner, and so successful and wise was he in handling the affairs of the county, that he was re-elected seven consecutive terms, serving in all sixteen years. In 1857 he represented Caldwell county in the General Assembly of North Carolina, and here he distinguished himself for the boldness and aggressiveness with which he championed the rights and cause of the common people. He moved from this county to the State of Kansas in 1892, where he lived 15 years. In his old days he felt the longing to return to his native county, and in 1907 he returned and took up his residence in Lenoir, where he lived till his death.

In 1868, Mr. Coffey was married to Miss H. E. Collett of this county. She together with two sons, Mr. D. S. Coffey of St. Paul, Minn., and Mr. F. H. Coffey of Lenoir; one daughter, the wife of Dr. Robert Coffey of Portland, Ore., one of the most noted surgeons on the Pacific Coast; and three sisters, Mesdames Charley Coffey and H. C. Coffey of Lenoir, and Mrs. M. E. Moore of Manhattan, Kan., survive him.

He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity and until his death was the oldest living member of Hibriten Lodge, A. F. & A. M. No 262. The burial was with Masonic honors, the funeral services being conducted from the residence of Mr. F. H. Coffey Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by Rev. C. T. Squires. The body was laid to rest in Belleview Cemetery. The pallbearers were Major G. W. F. Harper, Capt. Edmond Jones and Messrs J. L. Nelson, H. L. Houck, E. F. Reid, C. A. Tuttle, M. N. Harshaw and F. P. Moore.  [Courtesy of Nancy Stonebreaker]

Their children were:

Finley Hezekiah, born Apr. 20, 1861, died Aug. 4, 1943

Daniel Silvester, born May 20, 1866, died Apr. 16, 1945

Clarissa Ellen, born Sep. 24, 1868, died Mar. 1, 1939

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

Rufus Anson Coffey

Rufus was another child of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey. He was born on Jul. 21, 1888 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC and, did Sep. 5, 1981 in Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC.

Rusus married Beatrice Chloe Moore in 1910 and, in Caldwell Co. He registered there for the draft on Jun. 5, 1917. He was described then as being tall with medium build, grey eyes and black hair. He resided in Gastonia with his wife and two children and, was in the insurance business. I am unable to read the name of his company on the card. In 1920 the family resided in Hendersonville, Henderson Co.

Beatrice was born in May, 1894 in Caldwell Co., the daughter of John B. and Olive Moore. She and Rufus were the parents of at least three children:

James Cecil, born Jul. 22, 1912

Ivan Moore, born 1916

Dr. Robert (Bob), born Oct. 19, 1921, died Mar. 12, 2004

His obituary:

Obituary, News-Record, Greensboro, NC, Mar. 16, 2004

ROBERT "BOB" TUTTLE COFFEY

03-14-2004

MOORESVILLE — Dr. Robert "Bob" Tuttle Coffey, died Friday, March 12, 2004, at his residence.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at the Cavin-Cook Funeral Home Chapel, Mooresville.

He was born in Hendersonville, N.C., and was a son of the late Rufus Anson and Beatrice Chloe Moore Coffey. Dr. Coffey earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Wake Forest University, Medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and did his internship at George Washington University. He practiced family medicine in Greensboro for several years before specializing in psychiatry at Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Upon completing his residency in 1969, Dr. Coffey opened a private practice in Greensboro before joining Tri-County Mental Health as clinical director. After retiring from Tri-County Mental Health, he joined the staff of Broughton Hospital in Morganton. Dr. Coffey was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and the elite and prestigious Society of the Quiet Birdman. He was a U.S. Army veteran having served in World War II. Dr. Coffey was preceded in death by brothers, Dr. James Cecil Coffey and Ivan Moore Coffey.

He is survived by his children, Leigh Coffey Byers and husband, Marty, and Robert Anson Coffey; and former wife, Nancy Koontz Coffey, all of Mooresville.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, c/o Lib Cooke, 129 Pampas Lane, Mooresville, N.C. 28117, and/or Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 575 Brawley School Road, Mooresville, N.C. 28117, and/or the charity of donor's choice.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, 494 E. Plaza Drive, Mooresville, is serving the family of Dr. Coffey.

I have some information on the remainder of John and Nancy's children that I will share via e-mail.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to correct or, to add to this information.

Bessie Maude Coffey

Bessie was a daughter of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey. She was born in Nov., 1885 and in North Carolina, probably Caldwell Co. She died Feb. 28, 1972 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.

Bessie married John Hill Lee in Caldwell Co. in 1907. Census records from 1910 to 1930 show them as residents of first, Patterson Twp., then 20 years in Mulberry Twp.

There were at least five children born to John and Bessie:

Rose Helen, born Jun. 12, 1909, died Mar. 28, 1995. She married Hal Pettigrew Presnell, a son of Jefferson Pettigrew and Ella Gertrude Tuttle Presnell. They had at least one child, Linda Jean, born Feb. 5, 1942.

Horace Randolph, born Mar. 10, 1912, died Sep. 23, 1997.

Walton Hill, born Apr. 29, 1914, died Nov. 8, 2003. Walton married Hazel Hayes and, they were the parents of at least two sons: Clarence (Toney), born Feb. 27, 1945, died Apr. 24, 2004; and Douglas.

Edith C., born 1916, died 2002

Robert, born c1922

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or, to correct any of this information.

John Calvin Coffey (1848-1930)

John Calvin Coffey was the sixth child and fourth son born to Welborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey. He was born Apr. 30, 1848. 1 He married Nancy Caroline Tuttle, born Jan. 10, 1854 in Caldwell Co., but I have been unable to find a marriage date. Their first son, Horace Grayson Coffey was born in Dec., 1886, so they probably married in late 1885 or early 1886. John died in Caldwell Co. on Feb. 27, 1930, and Nancy died there on Mar. 10, 1939.

The children born after Horace were:

- Nora E., born c1874 Caldwell Co., married James Laxton
- W. Lemuel, born c1879 Caldwell Co., married 1) Fauna Lamberth; 2) Mamie Neff
- Ida V., born Oct. 1881 Caldwell Co., married David Glass
- Davis Finley, born Oct. 3, 1883 2 Caldwell Co., married Rose Amanda Grant
- Bessie M., no info
- Rufus Anson, born Jul 21, 1888 3 Caldwell Co., married Beatrice Chloe Moore
- John Ross, born May 1890 Caldwell Co., married Mary Woods
- Wellborn Cary, born Oct. 5, 1892 4 Caldwell Co., married Jennie Woods
- Clarence T., born Dec., 1895, Caldwell Co., married Nancy Caroline Tuttle

Horace left Caldwell Co. before 1900, and headed west. He was found in Whitman Co., WA in the 1900 census. By 1902 he was married to Brintie Wilkie. In 1910 they were still in Whitman Co., and the parents of two children: Albert, born c1907, and La Verne, born c1908. Horace registered for the WW1 draft in Colfax, Whitman Co. on Sep. 12, 1918. He was a farmer living at Colfax and was 41-yrs old. He listed his two sons as his nearest relatives. Horace was described as being tall with slender build, blue eyes and sandy colored hair. I have not found Horace in any later census records, but he is said to have married a second time to Pearl Jaynes. Their children are unknown to me.

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[Aug. 17, 2009]  Brintie is buried in the Hay Cemetery in Whitman Co., WA.  Horace's gravesite has not been discovered yet.

Thanks to John Coffey for photo of Brintie's headstone and location of her gravesite.

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Davis followed Horace westward. The first record that I find for him is the Mar., 1912 5 marriage to Rose Amanda Grant in Ritzville, Adams Co., WA. They remained in Adams Co. through the 1920 census, but in 1920 were in Yakima Co. Davis died on Dec. 17, 1970 in Klickitat Co. 6 Rose died Apr. 24, 1972 7 in Spokane Co., WA. Together they had at least eight children: Helen, born c1913; Vera Pearl, born Jan., 1915; Byron W., born c1917; Ralph Calvin, born Nov., 1918; Gladys, born c1921; Edith, born c1923; Robert, born c1925, and Barbara, born c1929.

I have limited information on the remainder of the children. Please contact me if anyone needs more information, or can add to or correct any of the above.


1 Book 17, Page 174, Caldwell Co., NC Register of Deeds at
http://rod.co.caldwell.nc.us/Resolution/search_menu.asp [book 17, p174]
2 ibid [book 10, p161]
3 ibid [book 15, p41]
4 Civilian Draft Registration WW1
5 IGI
6 SSDI and Washington Death Index, 1940-1996