William Noah Coffey, Bigamist & Murderer

William Noah Coffey
(After arrest)

William Noah Coffey was born Dec. 10, 1874 in Collettsville, Johns River Twp., Caldwell Col, NC to Israel Boone and Catherine Emma Spainhour Coffey.  Catherine was born in NC in 1845 to Noah Spainhour and wife Elizabeth Ann Mason.  Israel was a son of Daniel Boone and Clarissa Estes Coffey.  Daniel was the son of William Coffey who married Annie Boone, daughter of Jesse and Sarah McMahan Boone.

Nothing spectacular appears to have happened in the life of William Noah to have brought him any national notoriety until 1926. In a fit of what might be described today as a "mid life crisis," he met and illegally married a 53-year old widow by the name of Hattie Hales who was described as a buyer for a department store. In 1927 he was accused of bigamy and murder of Hattie.

When he registered for the WW1 draft in 1918, he described his job as a publicly employed credit collector.  He had married Alberta Ellen Winnek, born in Massachusetts in 1877, in Kansas on Jun. 24, 1903*.  They had three children:  Douglas Fredwill Coffey, Alberta Ellen Coffey and Miriam Martin Coffey.  After her divorce from William, she and her children began using the surname Winnek.

While searching archived newspapers, I found William on the front page of the Jan. 30, 1927 edition of the Sarasota [FL] Herald-Tribune.  The article was written after he had been arrested for the murder of Hattie Hales Coffey in Lancaster, WI.  This article indicates that he eventually confessed to her murder and led authorities to the place where he had killed her, cut her body into pieces and buried them in shallow graves at various locations in a place known as "Ritter's Woods," aka "Bratton's Woods."

William Noah Coffey
 (in front of automobile)

In an attempt to find more information about William, I located the June, 2014 History and Politics blog by Dennis A. Wilson in which he described receiving a cardboard box with photos of William and various locals searching the area where he had confessed to having killed and buried Hallie.

William was convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison at Wisconsin State Prison at Waupun, Dodge Co., WI.  He died there in June, 1962 and was buried at the Waupun state cemetery.  In 1965 his remains were relocated to the Calvary Cemetery at Waupun in Fond du Lac, WI.

He was my third cousin, twice removed.

It remains difficult to determine how Alberta Ellen spelled her maiden name.  It is recorded as Minnek [sic] in the marriage record to William Coffey.  In her death record her mother's maiden name was given as Martin - explaining where Martin comes from in daughter Miriam name - but a father's name was not given.  Alberta's Find-A-Grave memorial tells us that her father was Frederick Gideon and Ellen Mary Martin Winnek [sic].

After she was divorced from William Noah Coffey and moved to Chicago, she became known as Alberta Ellen Winneck [sic] and her children's surname was also changed to Winneck.  When her son Douglas was married, the record shows that his name was Winnek and his father was William Winnek but, a marriage record has not been found for Alberta's marriage to a Winnek of any spelling and with any given name.  Perhaps she also changed the name of William N. Coffey to William Winnek to satisfy some procedural requirement for supplying a father's name.

Douglas Fredwill Winnek - Isabel White Marriage License

The Coffey family appeared in the 1910 census at Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI; 1920 in Madison, Dane Co., WI and in 1923, the city directory for Madison shows them residing at 33 N. Carroll St.  In 1930, Alberta was living in Chicago, Cook Co., IL with her two daughters. Her surname was spelled Winneck.

In 1940, Alberta resided with Douglas and his wife and children at 616 Harold in Mamaroneck, Rye Twp., Westchester Co., NY.  The surname was spelled Minnick [sic].  Douglas gave his occupation as "inventor." He died in 1999 and his remains were cremated and scattered into the Pacific off Point Cabrillo, Monterey, CA.  His Find-A-Grave memorial spells his surname Winnek.

When Douglas married for the second time in 1935, his surname was spelled Winnek.  He reported on the license application that he had been previously married and had obtained a Mexican divorce a few weeks prior to taking his second bride, Isabel White in Cuyahoga Co., OH.  That and the fact that he had two years of college training are likely reasons he was not present in the 1930 household.  He has not yet been found in 1930.

Daughter Alberta Ellen married Albert Rosenheck.  He died in 1985, probably in NJ.  She died in 2006, also probably in NJ.  Both are buried at Lakeview Memorial Park in Cinnaminson, Burlington Co., NJ.

The last child, Miriam Martin, married twice.  According to CA marriage records, her first husband was Jacob Anton Wassenberg and they were married on Apr. 10, 1938. He died in 1950 and was buried as Andreas Anton Wassenberg at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles Co., CA.

Her second husband was William Dennis Stoltz, born 1917 in PA, married Jun. 19, 1954 in Los Angeles Co.  He died at Riverside, CA in 1997.  Miriam preceded him in 1978.  They too are buried at Green Hills.  On the certificate of marriage to Stoltz, she named her father as William Coffey and mother as Alberta Winnek.

Wm Dennis Stoltz-Miriam M. Coffey Marriage Certificate

I suspect the actual surname was some variation of Winneck. and I have recorded it as Winnek in my file for this family.

Corrections and additions welcomed.

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* "Kansas Marriages, 1840-1935", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FW21-GPB : accessed 19 December 2014), William N. Coffey and Alberta Minnek, 24 Jun 1903; citing Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, reference p 444; FHL microfilm 1,547,792.

Photos are courtesy of an used with permission of Dennis A. Wilson

Judge Silas DeMarcus Coffey

Contributed by
Kevin Coffey

"Silas D. Coffey was born on a farm in Owen County, Ind. on February 23, 1839.  His parents were Hodge R. [Rayburn] and Hannah [Wilson] Coffey, the former a native of Tennessee*, and the latter of North Carolina.

"Our subject's early education was acquired through the medium of common schools of that day, until, in the year 1860, he entered the State University at Bloomington, where he remained until the breaking-out of the late rebellion, when he enlisted, first in the three months' service, and then for a year.  When President Lincoln issued his 75,000 call, his regiment, the Fourteenth Indiana Infantry, responded, and was mustered in for three years, or during [sic] the war.  He remained on active duty until June, 1863, when he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, serving with it until the term of his enlistment expired the next year.

Judge Silas DeMarcus Coffey

"The Fourteenth Indiana Infantry won an enviable reputation in the field, and of its number none were more deserving that Mr. Coffey.  When he reached home, he determined to enter into the practice of the law, and for that purpose formed a partnership with Allen T. Rose, a prominent and influential member of the bar at Bowling Green.  In the autumn of 1868, this connection was dissolved by mutual consent, and another one formed with Maj. W. W. Carter, which continued until after Mr. Coffey was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court.

"In 1866, he was the candidate on the Republican ticket for Prosecuting Attorney for the district composed of the counties of Owen, Greene, Clay and Putnam, Ind., making the race against Hon. John C. Robinson, but the district being largely Democratic, he was of course defeated.  In 1873, he was candidate for Circuit Judge in Clay and Putnam Counties, and the same reason operated to prevent his election, although running far in advance of his ticket.  His opponent was Judge Solon Turman, of Greencastle, Ind.

"On March 25, 1882, Mr. Coffey was appointed by Gov. Porter to fill the unexpired term of Judge Turman.  In June, 1882, he was nominated, by acclamation of the Republican Judicial Convention for the same position.  The counties of Clay and Putnam being intensely Democratic, it was at the time supposed to be impossible to elect a Republican nominee, but in the fall he was elected over the Democratic candidate, James J. Smiley, by a majority of 655, carrying his own county (which gave a Democratic majority of 190 on the State ticket) by a majority of 128.

"November 1, 1864, Judge Coffey married Miss Caroline L. Byles, daughter of William and Sarah Byles, of Baltimore, Md., and to this union have been born one son and three daughters.  As an attorney he is possessed of find social qualities, is quiet and unobtrusive, and of undoubted integrity.  He also stands high as a member of the Masonic fraternity."

[Judge Coffey and Caroline Byles Coffey were parents of Ida L., born c1867 in IN; Emma J., born c1871 in Clay Co., who married Dr. Renos Harlan Richards in Clay Co. in 1898; and Nettie, born c1874 in Clay Co.  The were also parents of one son, Robert Wallace Coffey, born 1878 in Brazil, Clay Co.  Robert married first to Alice Louise Wright, in 1907 Clay Co. and, second to Hallie Audrey Steuerwald in Owen Co. in 1945.]

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Source: Charles Blanchard, Editor, Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. Illustrated. (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884), Page 345.

*In census records he always reported his birth in NC.

See earlier blog announcing death of Judge Coffey at http://tinyurl.com/nntajp5

Wallace Lee Coffey (1917-2000)

Wallace Lee Coffey

Wallace, a member of America's "greatest generation," was born to Charles I. and Mary Ann Hendricks Coffey in Owen Co., IN on Aug. 12, 1917.

Charles Iomer Coffey was a son of the Rev. Cyrus V. and Elizabeth Ella Brown Coffey, both of whom were born and raised in Indiana.  Charles' parents were Jason, a native of North Carolina and Rachel Corder, an Indiana native.

Jason's father was Larkin Coffey (1800 Wilkes Co., NC-Jan. 12, 1881 Owen Co., IN); his mother Catherine H. Wilson (1802 Wilkes Co.-1857 Owen Co.), both natives of Wilkes Co., NC.  After their marriage in that county in 1826, they moved west, and in 1841 were found on the tax rolls in Morgan Co., IN.1

Jason was born in 1829 and accompanied his parents to Indiana where he married Rachel, born 1832 in that state, on Mar. 17, 1853.2

Cyrus and Elizabeth Ella Brown Coffey were parents of at least nine:  Orpha May; Charles Iomen; Flora Rachel; Ada Florence; Jason Ray; Nellie Mabel; Mary Esther; Wendell Holmes and Charlotte Virgie.

Charles Iomer and Mary Ann had at least seven children:  Edna May; Stella Murl; Dorothy M; Bernice L; Wallace Lee; Arthur E. and Verlin M.

Coffey-Klar Marriage Record

Having been born near the end of WW1, Wallace Lee missed an opportunity to serve his country.  Not so in WW2.  He apparently had a normal farm life in Indiana until he enlisted in the US Army at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN on Feb. 26, 1944.  He may have received his basic military training at Fort Ben and later that year was sent as an infantry soldier to Germany to fight NAZIs.  Unfortunately, he was captured shortly after his arrival.  He was taken prisoner on Oct. 14, 1944 and assigned to Stalag VII A at Moosburg, in Bavaria.  This prison was originally built to hold about 10,000 prisoners but, source reports at least 80,000 allied troops were held there by the end of the war.

Wallace was repatriated on Feb. 21, 1945 and the war in Europe was over some two months later.  He returned to Indiana where on Dec. 24, 1948 he married Minnie M. Klar in Spencer Co., IN.3   His memorial at Find-A-Grave reports that he was married once prior to Minnie but does not give her name.  A 1940 census entry for Clay Co., IN shows Wallace Coffey, age 22, married to Ruth, age 29 and one son, Edward Lee Coffey, born Apr. 20, 1937 in Owen Co.  Edward married a lady named Phyllis A. c1957.  She was born on Jan. 2, 1940 and died on Dec. 3, 2007.  Edward preceded her in death on Jul. 20, 1979.  Both died in Indiana and are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.

Additions and corrections welcomed!

^Jack

1Charles Blanchard, Editor, Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey & Co. Publishers, 1884), Page 502.

2Ancestry.com. Indiana Marriage Records Index, 1845-1920. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Original Data: Works Progress Administration. Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940., Marriage Book 3, Page 20. [This source does not provide county where marriage was celebrated]

3"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959" index and images,  FamilySearch  (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXRR-14M: accessed 30 Aug 2014), Wallace L Coffey and Minnie M Watkins, 24 Dec 1948; citing Daviess County; FHL microfilm 001939654.

Coffey & Wilson in North Carolina

Ron Wolden and I began exchanging e-mails a few weeks ago.  He is in search of his Coffey and Wilson ancestry.  Ron would like to know more about his Wilson side.

Jordan H. Wilson was his 3d great grandfather who married Nancy Baker c1832 in NC.  Jordan was born sometime between 1798 and 1811 in Burke Co., and died in Caldwell Co. on Apr. 10, 1892.  He married Nancy Baker, born c1806 in Burke Co., died Dec. 16, 1894 in Caldwell Co.  Both are buried at the Lindsay Cemetery near Collettsville, in Caldwell Co.

Jordon and Nancy had at least six children:

Joseph Coleman Wilson, born Jun. 11, 1834 in Burke Co., died Mar. 18, 1884 in Caldwell Co.  Joseph married Martha Lindsey (var.) in Caldwell Co. on Jan. 15, 1861.

Robert Monroe Wilson, his 2d great grandfather, was born Apr. 26, 1837 in Burke Co. and died Jun. 29, 1920 in the Mulberry township of Caldwell Co.  He is buried at Harpers Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  He married Susan Caroline Coffey c1862.  She was the daughter of Athan and Mary McGuire Coffey, born Oct. 6, 1845, died Jan. 23, 1949 in Mulberry Twp.

Robert and Susan's children were at least six:  Joseph J., born c1865; Mary Addie, born c1866, married John A. Lutz c1895; Annie J., born c1875; Nina Victoria, born c1879, married Flaveous Josephus Sherrill.  He was born in the Yadkin Valley on Oct. 15, 1875, died May 29, 1959 in Washington State.  He and Nina were married Mar. 25, 1900 in Patterson Twp.  I do not have death or burial information for Nina.   R. Athan, born Oct., 1881 and Martha C., born Aug., 1884.

Other children of Jordan and Nancy were:  John Alexander., born c1840, Burke Co., died 1919 in Caldwell Co.; Mary Jane, born c1844; Nancy P., born Jun. 17, 1847, died Sep. 8, 1899, buried at Lindsay; Laura, born Aug. 10, 1850, died Mar. 28, 1870 and also buried at Lindsay.

Ron tells me that Jordan's name first appears on an election list of voters in Lenoir, NC who submitted ballots at White's Election Ground on Johns River, Aug. 13, 1835.  In 1838 he enlisted as a Private in Co. D. of the Burke Co. Volunteers during the Cherokee Removal.  Sons Joseph Coleman and Robert Monroe had already been born.  Jordan's actual birth is likely to be somewhere between 1798 and 1811 in Burke Co.  Ron speculates the 1811 date may have been used at the 1838 enlistment to make him appear to be younger in order to serve.

Page 1 of Jordan's Will

His wife, Nancy Ann Baker was the daughter of John Menefee and Lucenda Puett Baker. In 1840 the couple lived in the Beaverdam District of Cherokee Co.

The executor of Jordan's will was his son, John Alexander Wilson.  Named heirs were M. E. Shell, R. T. Wilson, R. M. Wilson, J. W. Wilson, J. L. Wilson, Minnie Wilson, Mary M. Greene, Jesse Wilson and W. H. Lloyd.  The Shell and Lloyd portions appear to be payment for preparing the will.

R T., Robert Theodore Wilson, Minnie Wilson and Jesse (Hasty) Wilson were children of his son Joseph Coleman.  J. L. Coleman may be Joseph's son Lafayette and J. W., his son John.  Ron says that Mary M. Greene is a bit confusing since Joseph Coleman's daughter Mary was only 13 at the time and Jordan's daughter Mary had the middle name Jane.  But, Mary Greene is probably one of the two.  However, Mary Jane is known to have married M. M. Slagle.  R. M. Wilson is probably Robert Monroe.

[Jordan and Nancy were in Lower Creek Twp., Caldwell Co. in 1850; Beaverdam Dist., Cherokee Co. in 1860 and in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. in 1870.  I haven't found them in 1880.  Ron also mentioned in his e-mail the marriage of Joseph Coleman Wilson to Martha Lindsey, a daughter of Grief Lindsey and Mary Elizabeth Coffey.  This is a union that I do not have recorded and, pretty much unsure who the parents were of Mary Coffey.  Click to contact Ron via e-mail.]

  Jack

Hodge R. & Hannah Wilson Coffey

Hodge was a son of William Henderson[1] and Mary Faulkner (var.) Coffey and was born about 1812 in North Carolina.  I have been told that his middle name was Rayburn but, it could also have been Raymond.

This family was in Owen Co., IN where Hodge married Hannah Wilson on Nov. 13, 1831.[2] Hodge and Hannah appeared in the Washington Twp., Owen Co. census in 1850.  Sometime between 1855 and 1858 Hannah attempted [apparently] to divorce Hodge.  The following appears in Owen Co. divorce proceedings[3]:

[Plaintiff] Coffey, Hannah Coffey, [Defendant] Hodge R.  [Complete record, including order book and pages] (6) 270 48/116 1855/1858 [Remarks] Dismissed. Plaintiff to recover costs  

Apparently there was a reconciliation because they were found living together in the 1860 census.  I have not found them in 1870 or later.  The death dates and places for the couple have also not been found.

Their children as given in the 1850 and 1860 census records were:

Oliver N., born Dec. 2, 1832; James L. R., born Jun. 9, 1835; Silas D. M., born Feb. 23, 1839; Mar A. R., born c1841; Serena, born c1847; and Laura, born c1852.  Another child, Silas, is said to be their son, born c1843 and who apparently was deceased by 1850.

Oliver married Lydia Susan Litton, born c1828 in NC, on Jan. 30, 1851 in Owen Co. and died Dec. 30, 1901.  He is buried at Jennings Cemetery in Alanthus Grove, Gentry Co., MO.  I do not have a death date or burial place for Lydia.  Both last appeared in the census record on Jun. 18, 1900 in Gentry Co.  Their children were:  Harrison, Rebecca, Edgar, Martha, Joshua Benton, Francis M., and Charles E.  Charles is said to have been born in Douglas Co., KS; the rest in Indiana.

James Leander "Lee" married Elizabeth Caroline Litton, a daughter of Joel and Sarah Bridges Litton,[4] on Sep. 30, 1855 in Owen Co.  Elizabeth died in 1876 at Alanthus Grove and is buried at Jennings Cemetery in Alanthus Grove.  She and Lee were parents of at least six children:  Martha Ann, Laura, Joel, Eliza, Sarah K. and Silas Hinkley.  Following the death of Elizabeth, Lee married Sarah J. Matthews in Albany, Gentry Co., MO on Apr. 2, 1885.  No children are known to have been born to this union.  Lee died on Nov. 6, 1890 in Gentry Co. and was buried at Jennings Cemetery.  Sarah died in 1917 at Stanberry in Gentry Co. and was buried at High Ridge Cemetery in Stanberry.

Silas married Carolina Laura Byles on Nov. 1, 1864.[5]  Their children as I know then were Ida, Emma, Nettie and Robert Wallace.  Robert was born Nov. 27, 1878 in Brazil, Clay Co., IN and married Alice Louise Wright in that county on Aug. 17, 1907[6].  Alice was a native of Terre Haute in Vigo Co., IN, born there on Jun. 24, 1891.  Silas had a unique life.  His bio can be found in source identified in footnote 5.  He died on Mar. 6, 1904 in Manatee Co., FL and was buried at Cottage Hill Cemetery in Brazil, Clay Co., IN. Caroline died on Apr. 9, 1915 in Brazil and was also buried at Cottage Hill.

Hodge and Hannah also had a daughter named Mary Ann, born on Jan. 24, 1841 in Indiana. A public family tree on Ancestry.com identifies this Mary Ann as a daughter of William H. [Henderson] and Mary Falkner [sic] [Faulkner].

William H. died on Oct. 17, 1844 in Owen Co.  Mary did not die until 1851.  In 1850 she lived with her son Silas K. Coffey in Owen Co.  In the household with Silas and his mother was a 16-year old Mary Coffey. Some researchers apparently conclude that this Mary was Silas' sister.

However, I believe that she was Silas' wife, Mary Parrish to whom he was married on Aug. 12, 1859 in Owen Co.[7]

Mary, daughter of Hodge, married David H. Allen on May 9, 1858 in Owen Co.[8]  In 1860 the couple resided with their daughter Maranda, age 9 mos., in Owen Co.  In 1870[9] a David Allen of the correct age was enumerated in Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN.  His occupation was painter.  In 1880 a 47-year old David Allen was an inmate in the Owen Co., Asylum.  The Ancestry genealogies report that Maranda died in 1862 but I cannot confirm that.  There are other reports, yet unconfirmed that Mary Ann married a Mr. James and, that she died on Jun. 30, 1903.  There is a Mary Ann Coffey James buried at the Ellettsville Methodist Church Cemetery in Monroe Co., IN.[10]  But, it is not confirmed that she was the daughter of Hodge and Hannah Wilson Coffey.

Additions and/or corrections welcomed.

  Jack

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Footnotes:
[1]William is said to be a son of Reuben and Sarah Scott Coffey, born 1789 in Caldwell Co., then Burke Co., NC.  Reuben and Sarah's children are not entirely agreed upon by researchers.
[2]Owen County, Indiana: Marriages before 1850, Owen County Historical and Genealogical Society online [http://www.owen.in.us/owenhist/bks123a.htm], accessed Jan. 6, 2005.
[3]Divorces for Owen Co., IN 1819-1871, Owen Co. Historical and Genealogical Society online [http://www.owen.in.us/owenhist/divorces.htm], accessed Various.
[4] She is likely to be a sister to Susan, wife of Oliver, but I have not investigated the possibility.
[5] Charles Blanchard, Editor, Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. Illustrated. (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884), p345
[6]Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXR9-SPT : accessed 21 Feb 2013)
[7]"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXFF-X65 : accessed 30 Mar 2013), Silas K Coffey and Mary Parrish, 1849.
[8]Ancestry.com. Indiana, Marriage Collection, 1800-1941 [database on-line], indexed by Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.
[9]The 1870 census record in which David is found is rather odd.  The enumerator tallied females and males separately, making it impossible for me to determine who was in a family.  For 1880, see https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11829-43603-85?cc=1438024&wc=M9SM-J17:n2115918512 and http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=6742&iid=4240636-00249&o_iid=48558&o_lid=48558&o_sch=Web+Property
[10]Find A Grave Memorial No. 74411333

Thomas Coffey & Elizabeth Smith

Back in 2006 I wrote a short blog about Smith Coffey, thought by me to be the youngest child born to Thomas and Elizabeth Smith Coffey.

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Thomas was a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey and, a grandson of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.  He was born on Mar. 7, 1742[1] in Essex Co., VA and married first Elizabeth Smith c1762 in Albemarle Co., VA.  Thomas died in Apr., 1825[2] in Wilkes Co., NC; Elizabeth is thought to have died between 1775 and 1780, probably in VA.  Thomas' second wife was Sarah "Sally" Fields, married 1778/9, probably in Wilkes Co., NC.

Thomas and Sally had at least 10 children, many of which I have written about in earlier blogs.  If anyone want more info, leave a note or send an e-mail.

There were about six children born to Thomas and Elizabeth.  Two that I want to write about today are Elizabeth, the eldest and, John Franklin, next eldest.

Elizabeth was born on Oct. 25, 1765 and died in Oct., 1852[3] in Monroe Co., IN.  She is buried there at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville.  She married David Allen, born in VA in May, 1765 and died in Apr., 1848.[3]  He too is buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

Their children were:

Thomas, born 1792 in NC, died and is buried at Ellettsville.  A death date is not shown on his headstone.

Polly, born 1794, probably in NC, died and is buried at Ellettsville.  She does not have a death date on the stone.

John, born 1797, probably in NC, died Aug. 31, 1844 in Elletsville.  John married Eliza Coffey, the daughter of John Franklin Coffey and his wife, Hannah Wilson.  Of course, this John Franklin is the brother of Elizabeth, making John Allen and Eliza Coffey first cousins. Eliza was born Nov., 1798 in NC and died Aug., 1844 in Elletsville.  They were married in Sep., 1818 in Wilkes Co., NC

Following John was Jesse, born 1800 in NC, died Feb., 1881 in Monroe Co..  I do not know his wife's name but, there were at least seven children born to her.  They were James, born c1828 in KY.  The rest, all born in IN, were William, c1830; David, c1832; Nancy, c1836; Joseph, c1838; Louisa, c1840 and John Allen, c1842.  Jesse is also buried at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville.

Hanna, born Jul., 1802 in Wilkes Co., married Abner Wilson, born 1804 in Burke Co.  He died in Monroe Co. in 1844, she in 1877.  They too are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

Martha "Patsy," born in NC in 1804 married John Candler Corder of VA, probably about 1824 or a tad earlier and, probably in IN.  John was born in Jul., 1800 and died in 1852.[3]  Martha died in Dec., 1887 [3] and both are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

They were parents of at least seven:

Mary A., married Jonathan L. Allen, a son of John and Eliza Coffey Allen.   Mary and Jonathan were first cousins as well and second cousins.  They too are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.  I haven't yet searched for children.

Eliza Jane, born 1829 in IN, died there in 1899.  She married Lorenzo [Dow?] Coffey, first cousin once removed, a son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey.  Larkin was a son of Thomas and his second wife, Sarah Fields Coffey.  Lorenzo and Eliza had at least two children:  Wayland Everett, born 1854, died 1919 and, Nora E., born c1878, died 1947.  Wayland is buried at the Coffey Cemetery; Nora at the Presbyterian Cemetery in Ellettsville.

Rachel, born 1832, died 1912, married Jason Coffey, another son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey.  Jason was born in 1829, NC, died 1871 in IN.  Both are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.  They were parents of Merritt V., Ira E., Cyrus V., and Esther Martha.

Elizabeth was next.  She was born in 1835 and died in 1841.  She is also buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

Stephen, born 1838, died 1909, married Rachel Wilson in IN c1865.  She was born in 1843 KY, died in Ellettsville in 1929.  Chidlren were John; Frank; William S.; Clara; Emma H.; and Martha.  Stephen and Rachel.  All of the children and their spouses are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

Sarah, born 1842, died 1860, buried at Coffey Cemetery.

Martha, 1845, buried at Coffey Cemetery, death date not given on headstone.  She married Asbury Coffey, her double second cousin, born c1838 in IN to James Wilson and Malena Coffey Coffey.  James Wilson was a son of first cousins, John Franklin and Hannah Wilson Coffey; Malena was a daughter of Rev. Reuben and Martha "Polly" Dowell Coffey.  Asbury and Martha had children Mary; Charlie; Willie; Freddie and Ethel Malena.  Asbury and Martha, as well and their children and spouses are all buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

The last child of David and Elizabeth Coffey Allen was David, born 1808, died 1881.  He married Eliza McCowan, born c1799 in VA.  Their children, all born in IN, were Elijah; Nancy; Mary; William; James; Sarah and Margaret.

John Franklin Coffey married Hannah Wilson in Oct., 1796, Wilkes Co.  Hannah was born there in 1769 and died in IN on Sep. 12, 1862.

I know of five children born to them:  Rebecca who married John Wilson;  Cassandra; Eliza, mentioned above as spouse of John Allen; John Wilson, mentioned above as spouse of Malena Coffey; and Jane Graves[4], born Mar., 1811, died in 1855, Monroe Co., IN.  Jane married Alfred Martin "Martin" Coffey, another son of Rev. Reuben and Martha Dowell.  Alfred was born in 1807, Wilkes Co., died in1836, Owen Co., IN.  They had at least two children:  James Martin, 1837-1861 and Christopher Columbus, birth unknown, died during the Civil War in 1862 at Corinth, Perry Co., MS.  He is buried at the National Cemetery in Corinth, Alcorn Co., MS.  James is buried at the Stouts-Houston Cemetery in Ellettsville.

I have more information about many of these families.

Updates and corrections are appreciated.

 Jack

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[1] Unproven
[2] According to Laurence Coffey, Thomas "...was buried in Hull Hill graveyard..", and after Sarah died, she was buried next to him.  "Years later the cemetery became neglected, and almost lost..."  Laurence and cousin Newell Sanders "...had their remains removed to Harper's Chapel burying ground, where a suitable monument was placed above them."  Harpers Chapel is located in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC.
[3] Headstone - birth and/or death dates for everyone buried at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville are taken from their headstones.
[4] John, in naming this child after his grandmother seems to have had a concept of where his roots lay.

John Clinton & Nancy Elizabeth Coffey Jacobs

What began as an attempt to correct a previous blog about a member of this family resulted in deleting that blog and starting over.  For some unknown reason I could not remove a link that connected that blog to a now deleted website.

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Nancy Elizabeth Coffey was born on May 23, 1861 in Rash, Jackson Co., AL and died there on May 16, 1918.  She was born to the union of Rice Abner Coffey and his first wife, Mary Ann Coffey.  She and Rice were first cousins as well as double-fourth cousins.  She was the daughter of Benjamin B. & Mary Elizabeth Roach Coffey while Rice was the son of Alexander Hamilton and Nancy E. Weatherly Coffey.  Benjamin and Alexander were brothers as well as double-third cousins.  These families go back to Edward through Rice and Sarah Bradford Coffey, Rev. James Coffey and wife Elizabeth Cleveland to Edward's son John and his wife, Jane Graves.

Nancy Elizabeth married John Clinton Jacobs in Stevenson, Jackson Co., AL on Nov. 1, 1883. [1]  He was born on Apr. 22, 1855 in Beech Grove, Maury Co., TN and died in Scottsboro, Jackson Co., AL on Jun. 30, 1938.[2]

Their first child, a daughter, was Bennie Coffey Jacobs, born in TN in 1884, died in Scottsboro on Oct. 17, 1899 at the age of 15 years.  She is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro.

Elmer Pruitt was born in Coffey Co., TN in 1887 and died in Bridgeport, Jackson Co. in 1970.  He was involved with the Gunter Stove Works in Bridgeport for many years.  His wife was Lena Geneva Givan or Givens, born c1890 in Missouri.  They were parents of nine children:  Geneva, Bettie, Elmer, Jr., Sallie Belle, Rice Abner, Henry Grady, Lethia Ring, Nathan Bedford Forrest and Mary Jane.  Elmer, Sr. died in Bridgeport in 1970, Lena in Marion Co., TN in 1977.  Both are buried at Cumberland View Cemetery in Marion Co.  Lena appears in the 1910 Finley Twp., Christian Co., MO census with her parents and a large number of siblings.  The handwriting is small and blurred making it difficult to determine what exactly the surname is: Givan, Givans, Given or Givens.

Annie Theodosia "Dosia" was born in 1890, Coffee Co., TN, and married Mitchell Luther Harris of Cumberland Co., NC in Scottsboro on Mar. 14, 1910.  He died in Scottsboro in 1960, she in 1974.  She is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro and he is probably there as well.  Their children were John Clinton, Roderick Edward, Dr. Elmer Jacobs; Dr. Ruth; Mitchell Luther, Jr.; and an unnamed son who was born and died in Feb. 1928 at Autauga Co., AL.

Henry Woodfin Grady was born in 1892, Maury Co., TN.  He married Sarah Louise Wilson in 1913, McMinn Co., TN.  Sarah was born there in 1893 and died in Scottsboro in 1988.  They too are probably buried at Cedar Hill but I have not found them there.  I know of a couple of children:  Nancy Elizabeth, born 1915 and John Clinton, born 1918, both in Scottsboro.

Rice Abner was born in TN in 1894 and died in Scottsboro in 1980.  He married Jewell Riggs, born 1898 in GA, died 1952 in Scottsboro.  Jewell was living with her paternal grandparents in Haralson Co., GA in 1900.  I have not located her parents.  I have not found the marriage record for Rice and Jewell and do not know of any children.

Veda Pearl was born in AL in 1896 and married Claude Evans Spivey of Rhea Co., TN in Dec., 1917 at Scottsboro.  They had at least two children, Carolyn, born 1918 and Lunita Jacobs, born 1925, both in Scottsboro.  Carolyn married William Bethel Wilson on Jun. 26, 1941 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL.  Their engagement was announced in the Tuscaloosa News on Jun. 15, 1941.[3]

Miss Spivey Is Engaged to Wed Mr. William Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Philo Dayton Benham announce the engagement of their niece, Carolyn Spivey of Scottsboro, Alabama to William Bethel Wilson of this city.

The wedding will take place on the evening of June 26 at 7 o'clock in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Benham and Tuscaloosa relatives will attend the nuptial vows.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of the late John Clinton Jacobs, widely-known banker of North Alabama, and of Mrs. George Wesley Spivey of Dayton, Tenn. [sic].  She was graduated from Penn Hall Preparatory School in Chambersbury, Penn., and attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia where she was affiliated with the Kappa Delta sorority.

The bridegroom-to-be, known and admired in this city as Bill Wilson, is the son of Dr. and Mrs. John W. Wilson of Audubon Place and a nephew of Owen Meredith and of Commander J. E. Meredith (U.S. Navy) of Mobile.

Mrs. Wilson was graduated from the Tuscaloosa High School where he was a member of the S.E.A. fraternity.  At the University of Alabama he was affiliated with the Kappa Alpha fraternity and other social organizations. 

Philo Dayton Benham was the husband of Veda's sister, Fletcher Pitts Jacobs.  Fletcher was born in Jackson Co. in 1899 and died in Scottsboro in 1962.  Philo was born - according to the marriage record - in Delaware in 1895.  He and Fletcher married in Jackson Co. in 1929 and, he died in 1960.  Both are buried at Cedar Hill.  I know of no children for them.[*]

The last known child of John and Nancy was Lunita, born in 1902.  She married Robert Martin Lane in Scottsboro in 1927 and had at lest two children; Robert Martin and Frances Fletcher.  Nothing more is known of this family.

[*] Jerry Dickinson wrote in a Jan. 18, 2013 e-mail that "Fletcher Jacobs and Philo Dayton Benham did have at least one child - Nancy Benham b. 29 Jan 1933 in Alabama d. 9 Mar 1967 - Fulton, Georgia.  Married a Steenhuis.  Found her SSN/1940 census/some ship passenger list.  She is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery."

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[1] "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FQNJ-B2H : accessed 26 Nov 2012), J. C. Jacobs and N. Elizabeth Coffey, 01 Nov 1883.

[2] Information about John Clinton Jacobs was originally found at a website (Jacobs Family History) owned by Mary Ellen Harris.  There was an abundance of info about the family, including photos of all of the children of John and Nancy.  The site appears to be off line now; at least at the link I first found.

[3]The Tuscaloosa News

The photos were found on the Former Jacobs Family History website, no longer on-line with the same web address.

Rev. Adolphus Coffey 1836-1909

Adolphus was born Sep. 16, 1836 in North Carolina, just a few months following the fall of the Alamo in March of that year.  He was a son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey.  Larkin descends from Edward through Thomas and Sarah Fields Coffey.  Adolphus was the next to youngest of at least seven children born to Larkin and Catherine.

Sometime after about 1830 and, before 1850, Larkin and Catherine left NC and went to Morgan Co., IL where they appeared on that county tax rolls in 1840[1].  By the 1850 census the family was in Monroe Co., IN where they stayed until around 1870 when some of the family was found in Owen Co.  Larkin died in Owen Co. in 1881 and was buried at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville, Monroe Co., IN.  Catherine died in Jun, 1857 and is also buried at Ellettsville.

On Sep. 26, 1860 Adolphus married Susan Harriet Miller [2], a native of New York, by having been born there in Jan., 1838.[3]  In 1870 this couple was in Tuscola, Douglas Co., IL.  In 1875 (perhaps) Susan died in Owen Co. and was buried at a Coffey family cemetery in or near Ellettsville.  During their short marriage of 15 years, Susan gave Adolphus five children:  H. Walter, born 1862, IN; Homer Ernest, 1863-1841, married Ina Sproul and had numerous children; Minnie, born c1864; Ezra M., born 1865, married Geneva R. Oakes in CA on Aug. 27, 1896.[4]  Their last was Katie, born 1868 in IL.

After Susan Miller Coffey died, Adolphus married another Susan, Susan Frances Stoneman, the daughter of Henry and Fanny.  The Stoneman mother and father and their first three children (George, Henry and Charles) were all born in England.  They arrived in NY on May 31, 1836 aboard the ship Lord Ramsey.[5]
Susan was age 30 when she and Adolphus married.  She can be found with her parents first in Putnam Co., IN in 1850 and later in 1860 and 1870 in Owen Co.  She was the mother of at least three children with Adolphus before she died in 1927.  Her children were Fanny, 1876-1939; Anna Lois, 1877-1944 and H. Reul, 1878-?.  Anna married Niles Roy Mossman in Owen Co. in 1913.  She died rather tragically when a hunter’s bullet found her as she walked in a field near her home.

Adolphus served with Co. H, 13th US Infantry Regiment, Indiana during the Civil War.  He died on Mar. 20, 1909 at the Illinois Soldier and Sailor Home in Quincy, Adams Co., IL.  He was returned to Ellettsville and buried at the Coffey family cemetery.

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[1] Charles Blanchard, Editor, Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey & Co. Publishers, 1884), Page 502.
[2] Indiana Marriage Records Index, 1845-1920;.Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.
[3] Unsourced
[4] California County Marriages, 1850-1952, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XL76-X61 : accessed 7 June 2012), Ezra M Coffey, 1896.
[5] Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897 and Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957.  Also arriving on that date and ship was the John Stoneman family from England. John was 45, his wife Ann, age 40. Children were Mary, Phillip, William, Ann, Joseph, Thomas, and John. Children ranged in age from 19 to 6.

Joshua & Mary "Polly" Coffey Oatts

Joshua was a native of Virginia, born in that state on Jul. 5, 1791. He was a son of Robert and Mary or May Jones Oatts. On Jan. 4, 181 Joshua married Mary "Polly" Coffey, probably in Wayne Co.,KY, a daughter of Lewis Russell and Bidant "Biddy" Moore Coffey.

One of the sons of Joshua and Mary was Lewis, born Dec., 3, 1837, died Feb. 12, 1898 in Wayne Co. I don't have a marriage for Lewis. He is buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery at Oil Valley in Wayne Co., KY.

Lewis and "his sister" [he had two: Emily, born 1831 and Sophronia, born 1839) are mentioned in the Slave Narratives, a Gutenberg Project. This work was originally prepared by the WPA and, released in eBook format on April 6, 2004. A part which mentions the Oatts family of Wayne Co. reads as follows:

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, by Work Projects Administration

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Kentucky Narratives
Author: Work Projects Administration
Release Date: April 6, 2004 [EBook #11920]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLAVE NARRATIVES ***
Produced by Andrea Ball and PG Distributed Proofreaders. Produced from images provided by the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.

Mercer County. Ex-Slave Stories. (Hazel Cinnamon)

Interview with Will Oats--Ex-Slave:

Will Oats, 84 years of age, was born in Wayne County, up Spring Valley in 1854. He was the son of Betty Oats and Will Garddard of North Carolina. He has three sisters: Lucy Wilson, Frances Phillips that live in Ohio, and Alice Branton of Mercer County, Kentucky. He has two brothers; Jim Coffey and Lige Coffey of Harrodsburg.

As a child he lived with his mother, brothers, sisters, and grandmother. Their quarters were in the yard of their master; and they were as comfortable as any slaves--with plenty to eat and clothes to keep them warm.

Will was just a boy at that time, and he cut wood and carried it in; and did other chores around the house such as help to milk and feed the stock. Their food was plentiful and they ate all kinds of vegetables, and had plenty of milk and butter, fat meat, and bread.

The family all wore home made clothing, cotton shirts, heavy shoes, very heavy underwear; and if they wore out their winter shoes before the spring weather they had to do without until the fall.

Will was owned by Lewis Oats and his sister; they lived in a two story house, built of log and weather boarded. They were very wealthy people. The farm consisted of over 230 acres; they owned six slaves; and they had to be up doing their morning work before the master would wake.

When working and the slaves would disobey their master, they were punished in some way; but there was no jail. They didn't know how to read or write, and they had no church to attend. All they had to do when not at work was to talk to the older folks. On Christmas morning they would usually have a little extra to eat and maybe a stick of candy. On New Year's Day their work went on just the same as on any other day.

Will, as a boy loved to play marbles which was about the most interesting game they had to play. Of course, they could play outside as all children do now when they had spare time.

At that time there were few doctors and when the slaves would get hurt or sick, they were usually looked after by the master or by their overseer.

After the war had closed, Will's grandmother walked from Monticello to Camp Nelson to get her free papers and her children. They were all very happy, but they were wondering what they were going to do without a home, work, or money. But after Will and his mother and grandmother got their freedom, the grandmother bought a little land and house and they all went there to live. Of course, they worked out for other people and raised a great deal of what they ate. Will lived there until he grew older and went out for himself; and later moved to Mercer County where he now lives.
Bibliography: Interview with Will Oats, Ex-Slave of Mercer County.

Vester Lee & Bessie Moses Coffey

Vester Lee Coffey was a son of a John Coffey and Lezie or Letha, maiden name unknown.  In 1900 this family lived in Lower Creek Twp., Burke Co., NC and consisted of:

John Coffey, born Jul., 1845 in NC and had been married for 31 years.
Lezie (Letha?), wife, born Apr., 1853 in NC; mother of 14, 9 living
Son, Monroe, born Dec., 1879 in NC
Dau, Danna, born Jun., 1882 in NC
Son, Frank, born Jun., 1884 in NC
Son, Robey, born Jun., 1888 in NC
Son, Vester, born Jun., 1890 in NC
Dau, Nettie, born May, 1894 in NC

Vester married Bessie Moses in Burke Co. on Jan. 3, 1912 in Upper Creek Twp.  In the 1920 census the family appeared in Burke Co., Lower Creek Twp., with children: Claude, Roy and Bertha.  In 1930 they were living in Morganton, Burke Co. and had an additional child, a son named Aruel [sic].

Their son Claude Lee Coffey died in 2008 and his obituary appeared in the Burke Co. News Herald, of Feb. 24, 2008:

Claude Lee Coffey

Claude Lee Coffey, 95, of Morganton, died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at his residence following a period of declining health. Born in Burke County, on Sept. 27, 1912, he was the son of the late Vester Lee Coffey and Bessie Moses Coffey. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Roy Coffey, and a sister, Lillie Mae Hollifield. Claude was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Pacific Theatre in World War II. He retired from Broughton Hospital and was a member of Oak Forest United Methodist Church. Mr. Coffey was an avid gardener and fisherman.

Claude is survived by his wife, Katie Williams Coffey of the home; daughters, Carol Lee Walters and husband, Ronald, of Gastonia, Betty Jo McMahan and husband, the Rev. Stanley, of Burnsville, and Wanda Scott and husband, David, of Morganton; a brother, Arnold Coffey and wife, Mary, of Morganton; a sister, Bertha Wilson of Danville, Va.; grandchildren, Jeffrey Walters and wife, Angie, Jennifer Stamey and husband, Donnie, Shelly Thompson and husband, Keith, Joel McMahan, Dana Dale and husband, Jason, and D.J. Scott; and great-grandchildren, Tabitha and Will Thompson and Tanner and Jacey Dale.

The funeral will be held at 6 p.m. today in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with the Revs. Roderick Randolph and Stanley McMahan officiating. Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. before the service. At other times the family will be at the residence on Berry Street, Morganton. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690. Condolences may be made online at www.sossomanfuneralservice.com.

My problem is not knowing who John Coffey was?  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Harley Pinkney Coffey

Harley was a son of John A. and Emaline Jones Coffey and was born Feb. 14, 1866 in Buncombe Co., NC.  His first wife was Edith Rhodes to whom he was married on July 25, 1886 in Buncombe Co.  Edith was born May 17, 1870, probably in Buncombe Co., and died there on Feb. 10, 1895.  She was buried at the Mount Zion Missionary Church Cemetery in Leicester, Buncombe Co.

Edith gave birth to four children:

Hillard Floyd, born Jun., 1887, died Sep. 21, 1952 in Oteen, Asheville Twp., Buncombe Co.  He is buried at Grace Methodist Chapel Cemetery in Asheville.  Hillard married Jenny Hall and had at least two children:  Joseph Harley and Hillard, Jr.

Goldie Pearl, born Jul. 28, 1888, died Mar. 21, 1968 in Morganton, Burke Co., NC.  She married Wells Green on Jun. 15, 1909 in Buncombe Co.  Wells was born to Hillard and Betty Wilson Green on Apr. 3, 1882 in Buncombe Co.  He died Mar. 27, 1967, also in Morganton.  Both are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Ashville, NC.  They had at least two children:  Hillard and Olive.

Maude, born Feb. 5, 1890 in Buncombe Co., died there on Feb. 14, 1896.  She is buried at Zion Hill cemetery at Leicester.

Talmadge DeWitt, born Feb. 8, 1894 in Buncombe Co., died Jan. 4, 1960 in Asheville.  He is buried at Grace Methodist Church cemetery in Asheville.

About a year after Edith died, Harley married Allie F. Brooks on Sep. 20, 1896.  She was born in Aug., 1876 and died Apr. 17, 1933, either in Buncombe or Bladen Co., NC.  Allie is also buried at Zion Hill.

Allie gave birth to at least seven children:

Kenneth LeCosta, born Aug. 11, 1898, died Mar. 21, 1975 in Buncombe Co.  He married Altha Ingle on Feb. 14, 1921 in Buncombe Co. and became the parents of Kenneth, born 1922; Charles William, born 1924; Betty L., born 1927; and Richard, born 1930.  Kenneth is buried at Forest Lawn in Asheville, Buncombe Co.  He and Altha were divorced in Buncombe Co. on Feb. 11, 1958.  She may have remarried and, her burial site has not yet been found.

Liston Jeffery, born Jul., 1899, died Apr. 3, 1965 in Asheville.  He married Emma Foster c1928 and they had at least one child, Virginia, born c1929 in Buncombe Co.  Liston is buried at Zion Baptist Church cemetery in Morganton, Burke Co.  Liston was divorced by the 1940 census and was residing with daughter Virginia in the household with his sister, Bonnie Howington and her family.

Gertrude, born Aug. 12, 1901 in Buncombe Co., died Jun. 21, 1968 at Burlington in Almance Co., NC.  She married Donald Walton Hamilton on Jun. 20, 1934 in Buncombe Co.  He was born Jul. 7, 1902 and died Nov. 28, 1858.  Both are buried at Green Hills cemetery in Asheville.

Update Jan. 16, 2013:  Gracie, child no. 4 for Harley and Allie, was born Aug. 12, 1903 and died Jun. 15, 1909.  She too is buried at Zion Hill.

Forest Andrew, born Apr. 12, 1906, died Nov. 1, 1920 in Buncombe Co.  Forest is buried at Zion Hill.

John, born c1908; no other information.

Bonnie, born Dec. 20, 1910, died Dec. 16, 1988 at Asheville.  She married the Rev. Bud Howington, a son of C. H. and Isabell Stewart Howington, on Jun. 24, 1933 in Buncombe Co.  Bud was born Jan. 23, 1910 in Asheville and died there on Jun. 23, 1952.  Both Bud and Bonnie are buried at the Mount Olive Baptist Church cemetery in Asheville.  I have found only two children:  Helen C., born Feb. 18, 1934 in Asheville, died there on Jul. 31, 1937.  The second was born and died in Oct., 1942 at Asheville.  Both chidlren are buried at Mount Olive.

The last child was Geneva, born c1914.  She appeared in the family census record in 1920 but not in later records.

Joel & Sarah Bridges Litten

As best as I can determine, Joel was born in North Carolina on Nov. 13, 1798 and died on Jun. 4, 1863 in Greene Co., IN.  In between those dates he married Sarah Bridges of Lincoln Co., NC on Oct. 2, 1823.  Actually, that was the marriage bond date; they likely married the same day or, perhaps the next.*

They remained in Lincoln Co. at least through the 1830 census but, by 1850 they were in Monroe Co., IN and Green Co., IN by 1860.  Joel was buried at Kentucky Ridge Cemetery in Doans, Green Co., IN.  A headstone is present at his grave.  Sarah's death date and burial site is unknown to me.

Of their 10 (at least) children, two of them married into the Benjamin Coffey-Exia Stepp family.

The first of their children was William Kingston Litten, born c1825 in NC.  He married Sarah Ann "Sally" Coffey on Aug. 16, 1849 in Monroe Co., IN.**  They remained in Monroe Co. through at least 1850 but by 1889 they were in Gentry Co.  Sarah was a daughter of Benjamin and Exia Saphronia Stepp Coffey.  She was born Jan. 25, 1830 in Monroe Co. and died in Gentry Co. on Sep. 26, 1914.  Their burial sites are unknown to me.  Children:  Mary Jane, born 1856, died 1933 in Alanthus Grove, Gentry Co.; James H., born c1862; Albert D., born c1865; Ally C., born c1865; Tempy C., born c1869 and, Joel B., born c1872.  There may be more that I have not yet found.

Malinda Emeline Litten was the second of Joel's children to marry a Coffey.  Her husband was William Wiley, brother to Sarah Ann, wife of William Kingston Litten.  They were married Feb. 7,1850 in Monroe Co.*  William is said to have died by drowning on Jun. 18, 1865 in Gentry Co.  Malinda was born Oct. 25, 1827 in NC and died Jun. 15, 1919 in Stanberry, Cooper Twp., Gentry Co.  Malinda is buried at High Ridge Cemetery in Stanberry where William is also likely buried.  Their children were at least two:  Mary, born c1851, married John Evans c1865.  Their second child was Lorenzo Dow Coffey, born Sep. 12, 1852 in IN, died Mar. 20, 1920 in Stanberry.  He married Martha Jane Wilson c1874.  She was born Oct. 28, 1854 in Gentry Co., and died there on May 13, 1938.  Both are buried at High Ridge.  Some of their children were (from census) daughter E.N., born c1876; daughter L. A., born c1878; Hattie, born May, 1891 and Woodson, born Apr., 1893.  Lorenzo and Martha were in Stanberry from at least 1880 through 1920.

Joel's third child, Mary Adeline, born Oct. 25, 1827 in Monroe Co., IN, married Lawson Howard Coffey, another son of Benjamin and Exia Coffey.  Lawson was born Aug. 15, 1820 in Owen Co., IN, died Aug. 7, 1904 in Alanthus Grove, Gentry Co.  Mary died there c1857.  Lawson is buried at the Jennings Cemetery in Alanthus Grove and, Mary is likely there as well.  I have only two children for them:  Columbus, born c1851 in IA, died May 1, 1895 in Gentry Co., and Noah, born Mar. 5, 1852 in IN, died in Millwood, Spokane Co., WA on Jan. 25, 1916.  Columbus is buried at Jennings; Noah at Riverside Memorial Park in Spokane.

Joel's sixth child, Elizabeth Caroline, born Feb. 14, 1838 in Morgan Co., IN, married James Leander "Lee" Coffey on Sep. 30, 1855 (no source).  James was a son of Hodge Rayburn and Hannah Wilson Coffey.  Hodge Coffey was a son of William Henderson and Mary Faulkner Coffey and was born c1812 in NC, probably Burke Co.  Their children (more info available) were: Martha A.; Laura; Joel; Eliza; Sarah K.; and Silas Hinkley.

On the ten children born to Joel and Sarah, I have spouses and some descendant information for five of them.  I know their child Isaac married someone by the name of Matilda, who could also be a Coffey.  He was born in IN in 1832 and died in Gentry Co. in 1815.  He and Matilda are buried at Depriest Cemetery in Albany, Gentry Co.  In 1910, Isaac was a widower and his widowed sister Malinda Coffey was living with him in Cooper Twp.

Joel's other children for which I have no info, were:  Wesley, born c1837; Martha, born c1840; Elijah, born c1844; Taletha, born c1845 and Elisha, born c1845.

Please contact me if you can add to or correct any of this information

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*North Carolina Marriage Bonds 1741-1868 Groom: Joel Litten Bride: Sarah Bridges Bond_Date: 01 Oct 1823 Bond #: 000074109 Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868; ImageNum: 000936 County: Lincoln Record #: 01 080 Bondsman: Isaac Litten Witness: Jas T Alexander

**Indiana State Library Genealogy Database: Marriages through 1850, Indiana State Library online [http://199.8.200.229/db/marriages_search.asp], accessed Sep.,2005.

Lorenzo and Eliza Corder Coffey

Lorenzo was born c1832 in North Carolina to Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey.  Not too much info has been found for Lorenzo.

Eliza Corder, born c1830 in Indiana, was a daughter of John Candler and Martha "Patsy" Allen Corder.  Patsy's parents were David and Elizabeth "Betsy" Coffey Allen.  Betsy was a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Smith Coffey; Thomas being a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey.  Another son of David and Betsy, John Allen married Eliza Coffey, a daughter of John Franklin and Hannah Wilson Coffey.  John Franklin was also a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Smith Coffey.

Lorenzo and Eliza had at least two children; Wayland E. or Waland, born Dec., 1854 in Indiana and, Nora E., born 1878 in Indiana.

Wayland married Clara Risdon on Dec. 22, 1875 in Owen Co., IN.  Clara was the daughter of James and Ellen Risdon who emigrated to New York as a family from England on Jun. 3, 1858 aboard the Ocean Monarch.  Although Clara always claimed to have been born in England, and was born some two years before their arrival, she was not found on the passenger list with her parents.

Clara and Wayland had at least three children:  Norman L., born Apr., 1877, Nora E., born Nov., 1878 and, Iva A., born Jan., 1888. 

Norman married Estella M. Dowell on Feb. 3, 1900 in Owen Co., IN.  Their children were:  Lawrence, born c1902; Loyd F., born c1904; and Arthur, born c1906.  All were born in Indiana.

Nora married Alva Preston Christy c1903 in Indiana.  Alva was born in Nov., 1872 in Indiana and had been previously married to Essie Sharp c1892 in Indiana.  Essie gave birth to one son, Clyde Wallace Christie and apparently died at or shortly after his birth. On Jun. 9, 1900 Alva was a widower with one child, Clyde Wallace Christy, born Aug., 1893.  Both resided in the household with Essie's parents, George Parks and Martha S. Allen Sharp and was enumerated as their son-in-law and grandson, respectively.  With Nora, Alva fathered at least two additional children:  Corliss W., born c1904 and Clara Faye, born c1909, both in Indiana.

I have no information on the child Iva A.  She appeared with the family in the census of 1900 as a 12-yr old female, born in Jan., 1888.

Many of these families and their descendants are buried at the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Ellettsville, Monroe Co., IN.

I would like to have more information about this family, and especially Lorenzo and his Corder wife. I need to know when and where they died, and perhaps where they are buried.

Please drop me a note if you can help!

Marvel Coffey

As long as I've been researching Coffee/Coffey families I've read that other researchers who are interested in the Marvel Coffey who married Rachel Boone, have concluded that he was named Asbury Marvel Coffey. As one who has taken those researchers to be accurate (for the most part), I continued the search for Marvel's father without any success.

Just recently, with thanks to Janet de la Peña and Bonnie Culley, I received a copy of the Jesse Boone will. Jesse was the father of Rachel. In his will Jesse divided his estate between Daniel Boon [sic], Israel Boon, Jonithan Boon, Marvel Coffey, Jonithan [sic] Wilson, Smith Coffey, William Gregg [sic] [Gragg], and William Coffey. The will was written on Nov. 23, 1829 and recorded in McMinn Co., TN.

Jonathan, Daniel and Israel were his sons. Smith Coffey was his son-in-law, husband of Hannah, Jesse's daughter. William Coffey was also a son-in-law, husband of Anna Boone. William "Buck" Gragg was a son-in-law, husband of Celia Boone and Marvel Coffey, a son-in-law, husband of Rachel.

Jonithan Wilson may be the John Wilson who married Rebecca Coffey. Rebecca was the daughter of John Franklin Coffey, another son of Thomas Coffey and Elizabeth Smith.

Jesse appointed Asbury M. Coffey and his son Israel as executors of his will.

It is likely that many people reading this will believe that Asbury M. Coffey was the son-in-law, Marvel. However, Asbury M. was really Asbury Madison Coffey, an attorney in McMinn county at that time and believed to be the son of Eli and Hannah Allen Coffey. Asbury Madison later achieved fame in Kansas and Missouri.

In 1830, the McMinn county census lists only two Coffeys as head of household: Asbury M. and Marvel. We know that both Marvel and Asbury Madison relocated to McMinn county, so this - in my opinion - proves that the two of the Boone will were different people.

Now, how do we determine who the father was of Marvel? I can only speculate and offer the following:

Thomas Coffey, a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey, was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Smith with whom he had six children:

Elizabeth "Betsy", born 1763, died 1850 in Indiana, married David Allen.

John Franklin, born c1765, died c1812 in Wilkes Co., NC, married Hannah Wilson. Parents of Rebecca who married John (Jonithan?) Wilson. Several of John Franklin's children married children of Reuben Coffey, another son of John and Jane Graves Coffey.

Thomas Jr. born c1767, married first Margaret Coffey (parents not yet known) and 2) Nancy Pendley. born c1800. There were two Nancy Pendleys, both married Coffey men. However, the two were born about 18 years apart. The second Nancy was born c1818 in NC and married a Marvel Coffey who was the son of James Coffey and Delilah Ferguson. This Marvel remained in NC throughout his lifetime. Thomas, Jr. and his Nancy named one son James Asbury Coffey.

James, born c1772, died c1840 in Wilkes Co., NC is the son who married Delilah Ferguson and were parents of Marvel who married Nancy Pendley. James and Delilah's other children were Thomas, Lovancy, James, Jr., Eli, Myra and Louisa.

Mary, born c1775, died c1828 in NC, married William Coffey, born c1775 in Burke Co., NC, and a son of Benjamin Coffey and Mary "Polly" Hayes. Benjamin was a brother to Thomas making Mary and William first cousins.

Thomas' last child with Elizabeth Smith was Smith Coffey, born c1776, died 1839 in Cherokee Co., NC. He married Jesse Boone's daughter, Hannah.

It is interesting to note that James and Delilah named a son Marvel, and Thomas, Jr. and wife Nancy named one son James Asbury.

It is also interesting to me that of the nine children born to Thomas Coffey and second wife, Sarah Fields, the first four were born pretty much like clock work; e.g., every two years between c1780 and c1788. The next five were also born more or less like clock work, every two years. There is a gap between Elijah - fourth child, born c1788 - and Sarah, the fifth child, born c1792, that Marvel, born c1790 would fit into pretty well.

All of this assumes, of course, that the given approximate birth years for these children are somewhat accurate.

So, let me see if I can sum this up correctly!

- James Coffey was a son of John Coffey and Jane Graves

- James and wife Elizabeth Cleveland were parents of Eli, who married Hannah Allen and were parents of Asbury Madison Coffey.

- Thomas Coffey, also a son of John Coffey and Jane Graves.

- Thomas married 1) Elizabeth Smith and were parents of Smith Coffey. Thomas married second to Sarah "Sally" Fields.

- Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Fields Coffey were parents of William Coffey who married Anna Boone.

- William Coffey, Smith Coffey and Marvel Coffey, along with Asbury Madison Coffey all involved in the Jesse Boone will.

- A gap exists between the first four and last five of Thomas and Sally Fields Coffey's children; a gap that Marvel could fit into given that birth years are somewhat accurate.

Could it then be concluded from this somewhat preponderance of evidence that Marvel Coffey was a son of Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Fields Coffey?

Your opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Leland L. "Lee" and Elizabeth Jane Manis Coffey

"Lee" was a son of John Morgan and Elizabeth Day Coffey, and was born in Cherokee Co., NC on Jul. 28, 1851. He was married to Elizabeth Jane Manis but I have not found the marriage date. Elizabeth was born Feb. 28, 1856 in NC and died on Dec. 22, 1943 in Marble, Cherokee Co. Lee died there on Nov. 11, 1907. Both are buried in the Moss Cemetery at Marble.

He and Elizabeth were parents of at least seven children, all boys except for one daughter.

Barney Luther, born Aug. 1, 1876 in Union Co., GA and died Oct. 21, 1957 in Enka, Hominy Twp., Buncombe Co., NC. He married Melissa Wilson on Aug. 15, 1903 in Cherokee Co. Melissa was born c1884 in NC. Their children were Lois Alma; Barney, Jr.; Jack Edgar; and Paul Lee. Barney registered for the WW1 draft in Marble, Cherokee Co. on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as being short with blue eyes and black hair. Build was not provided. He was 42 yrs old, born Aug. 1, 1876. He was a farmer who resided at Marble. He named Mrs. Jessie Coffee [sic] as his nearest relative. Both are buried at Moss.

Virgil Lee, born Dec. 29, 1877 in Cherokee Co., and was married there on Jul. 2, 1903 to Nora Texie Bryson. Nora was born Jun. 28, 1885 in Cherokee Co. and died there on Feb. 13, 1971. Virgil died Oct. 10, 1964. Both are buried at Moss. Their children were Cornelia, Roscoe and Hattie. Perhaps they had more. Virgil registered for the WW1 draft in Marble, Cherokee Co. on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and black hair. He gave his age as 39 yrs., born Dec. 29, 1877. He was a farmer at Marble and named Mrs. Nora Coffee [sic] of Marble as his nearest relative.

Emma was born Mar. 19, 1879, probably in Cherokee Co., and died there on Sep. 27, 1964. She married William Jackson Barton, born May 24, 1872 in Georgia, on Oct. 17, 1894. William died in Marble on Dec. 18, 1960. Both are buried at Moss. They likely had children but I have not yet searched for them. William also probably registered for the WW1 draft but I have not yet found his registration card.

Squire Morgan was the fourth child, born Jan. 2, 1882 in Cherokee Co., and died of cardiac arrest in Marble on Dec. 17, 1971. He is also buried at Moss. Morgan Squire Coffee [sic] registered for the draft on Sep. 12, 1918 in Cherokee Co., NC. He was of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair. He was 36 years old, born Jan. 2, 1882. He was a farmer at Marble, Cherokee Co. He named Elizabeth Coffee of Marble as his nearest relative. I have not determined if Elizabeth was his mother or his wife. I have not yet found any other information about him.

William Edgar, born Jun. 20, 1886 in Cherokee, died of a coronary occlusion on Sep. 25, 1959 at Marble. He married c1910 to Lucy Ashe, born c1886 in NC. Together they had at least nine children: Gene, Harold T., Carl Lee, William Wade, Ora Bell, James Woodrow, Lenora, Marvin and Dorothy May. William registered for the draft on Jun. 5, 1917 in Marble, Cherokee Co., NC. He was 30 yrs. old, born Jun. 25, 1882 in Cherokee Co. He was a farmer at Marble and was described as being of medium height with slender build, blue eyes and light colored hair.

Stedman M. Smith Coffey, born Sep. 14, 1889 in Macon Co., NC, died Jul 16, 1987 in Marble. He married on Jan. 10, 1909 to Ethel M. Adams. Ethel was born Mar. 23, 1891 in Cherokee Co., and died Jan. 29, 1971 in Marble. Both she and Stedman are buried at Moss. Their children were Stella, Blanche, John Lee, Rev. Clyde, Vance, Vesta and Mildred. Smith S. Coffee [sic] registered for the draft in Marble, Cherokee Co., NC on Jun 5, 1917. He was described as being of medium height and slender build with brown eyes and black hair. He gave his age as 27 yrs., born Sep. 14, 1889 in Macon Co., NC. He was a farmer who lived with his wife and two children at Marble.

Frank was the last child born to "Lee" and Elizabeth Jane. He came into the world on Dec. 5, 1896 in NC and died Nov. 18, 1983 in Buncombe Co. He married Mary E. Craig c1922. Mary was born Sep. 21, 1906 in NC and died May 5, 1994 in Cherokee Co. Both are buried at Moss. Their children were Lucille and Jean. Frank registered for the draft in Marble, Cherokee Co., NC on Jun 5, 1917. He was described as being of medium height and build with dark blue eyes and dark hair. He gave his age as 21 yrs., born Dec. 5, 1896 in Cherokee Co., NC. He was a farmer at Marble, unmarried and cared for his mother.

Please contact me via e-mail or comment here to correct or add to this information

















Sources: Death certificates; Cherokee Co. Marriages 1860-1905;

James David Coffey

James David Coffey was born Nov. 2, 1837 in Monroe Co., IN and died Mar. 3, 1899 in Owen Co., IN. He was a son of Archelaus & Rachael Wilson Coffey; Archelaus a son of James D. and Hannah Alloway Strange Coffey.

James was the second child and first son born to Archelaus and Rachel. He married (date not known) Martha Jane Coffey, a daughter of Isom and Martha Smock Coffey.


Martha was born Jan. 2, 1841 in Monroe Co., IN and died in Owen Co., IN on March 26, 1899. She and James were second cousins, both descended from Reuben and Sarah (Sally) Scott Coffey.

James and Martha had at least two children: John, born c1863 of which nothing more is known. Their second child was Rosa Etta, born Mar. 8, 1868, died Mar. 22, 1920.


Rosa Etta married James Abraham Pauley, born Jun. 15, 1861 in Monroe Co., IA, and died on Sep. 30, 1943 in Albia, Monroe Co. He was the son of Solomon P. and America Smock Pauley. They had three children, one of which died young. The other two were daughters, Doris, born c1901 and Margery, born c1905.

James and Rosa are buried in Hickory Grove cemetery, Monroe county, Iowa.

James' father, Archelaus, was a native of Wilkes Co. in North Carolina who came to Monroe Co., IN with his parents in 1834. He lived there until 1860 when he moved to Owen Co. He and Rachel were married in Ashe Co., NC in 1834, the year the family departed for Indiana. For more information about Archelaus see Tales of Pioneers: History of Owen County, Indiana, Vol. II published by the Spencer, IN Chamber of Commerce in 1963.

The photographs and updated birth, marriage and death dates for the James David Coffey family are courtesy of Roxanna Crail, a great-granddaughteer of Rosa Etta Coffey Pauley.

Lorenzo Dow

A friend, after reading my blog about Bailey Eliphalet Chaney, wrote to me about the eccentric preacher Lorenzo Dow who labored in the continental wilds shortly after the Revolutionary War.  Lorenzo Dow  lived from 1777-1834.  At one time his autobiography was second only to the Bible in sales.   According to Wikipedia, Lorenzo was one of the most popular names in America in the 1850 census.

Looking through my Edward Coffey Project files, I found only one Coffey with given name of Lorenzo Dow.  This Lorenzo was a son of William Wiley and Mailnda Emeline Little Coffey, born Sep. 12, 1852 in Indiana.  He married Martha J. Wilson, born Oct. 28, 1854 in Gentry Co., and died May 13, 1938 in Stanberry, Gentry Co.  Lorenzo died on Mar. 20, 1920 in Cooper Twp., Gentry Co. 

Martha was the daughter of Sidney and Mary Cooper Wilson.  She and Lorenzo are both buried in the High Ridge Cemetery at Stanberry.

There is another Lorenzo Coffey in my file, but I do not have a middle name for him.  He was born in 1832 in North Carolina, a son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey.  He married Eliza Corder and had at least two children; Wayland and Nora.

Lorenzo Dow Carr, born c1832 in Virginia, married a lady by the name of Margaret who produced at least three sons, one named Alexander D. Carr, born Feb., 1861.  He married Alice E. Coffey on Apr. 17, 1884 in Nelson Co., VA.  Alice was the daughter of Joseph C., Jr. and Nancy Jane Coffey Coffey.

Then, there's Langston Lorenzo Estes, a son of Elijah and Zebiah Walker Wentworth Estes.  Langston was born in Nov., 1839 in North Carolina.  Langston received his name - at least the Langston part - from his grandfather, Langston Estes who married Mary "Polly" Moore.  The only reason these Estes families are in my file is because of a marriage between Lance Estes, a son of Reuben and Delphia Atkins Estes and Elizabeth Coffey c1803 in North Carolina.  Elizabeth was the daughter of James Coffey, Jr., and Mary "Mollie" Moore.

Lorenzo does not seem to be a popular name in a population of nearly 4000 Coffey men in my file, plus a few thousand other male given names in colateral lines.

The Estes and Moore families, along with the Coffeys were some of the earliest settlers in the Globe Valley of western North Carolina, in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain.

George Washington Coffey (1870-1940)

I recently found a death certificate for George Washington Coffey, born Dec. 15, 1870, died Nov. 10, 1940 in West Virginia. The certificate lists his father as Marval [sic] Coffey, and his mother as Mary Ann Coffey.

In my files I have Mary Ann Coffey, daughter of Marvel and Nancy E. Pendley Coffey, born Jun. 10, 1850 in Caldwell Co., NC, died Jan. 15, 1910, also in Caldwell Co. Until now I did not know who her husband, and father of her children was: John Kelley, born c1869; George Washington, and Elizabeth G., born Oct. 6, 1873.

But, now I'm confused [not unusual at all!]. Who was Marvel descended from? Did the informant for George's death certificate make a mistake and give his grandfather's name instead?

Please contact me if you can help!

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Update Mar. 31, 2012

Marvel and Nancy Pendley Coffey were enumerated in the 1850 and 1860 Kings Creek Twp., Caldwell Co., NC census with a daughter named Mary. In 1850 she was 11 months old and in 1860 she was 12 years old.  In 1870 the family was still in Kings Creek Twp., and Mary, now aged 20, was enumerated as a "domestic servant."

Mary "the daughter" is said to be the mother of three children without benefit of marriage: John Kelly, born c1869; George Washington, born Dec. 15, 1870, died Nov. 10, 1940 in Williamson, Mingo Co., WV; and Elizabeth Jeanette "Lizzie," born Oct. 6, 1873 died May 18, 1958 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.

There is a marriage record in Mingo Co., WV for John K. Coffey to Mary Crotts on which John names his parents as "Marvel & Mary Ann Coffey."

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jeanette was married first to Julius F. Barnett* on Nov. 18, 1893 at Kings Creek. On Nov. 8, 1911 she married Frank Wilson** at Granite Falls in Lovelady Twp., Caldwell Co.  Elizabeth died on May 18, 1958 at Lenoir.  The informant named on her death certificate was Mrs. Nellie Triplett, Lizzie's daughter, born to the Julius Barnett marriage.  The certificate names Lizzie's mother as Mary Ann Coffey but the father's name was "Not Obtainable."

So, I now have two of Mary's children who claim Marvel and Mary Ann Coffey as their father.  The third child only names Mary Ann as the mother.

Now, when Mary, the "domestic servant," appeared in the 1870 census, she was apparently the mother of the child John Kelly, age 1 year in that census.   Four years later, Mary "the daughter" married William Zachariah Maltba*** and lived with him until her death in 1910.

In the 1880 Caldwell Co. census, Zacariah [sic] Maltba and wife Mary A., had children (among others): John K., age 11; George, age 9 and Elizabeth, age 6, all of which appear to be the same children attributed to Mary Ann by documents mentioned herein.  Although not enumerated with the Coffey surname, they were much too old to have been children resulting from the Zachariah and Mary Ann union.

So, what are we to make from all this?  Mary who married Zachariah Maltba named Marvel Coffey as her father.  Was Mary's father also the father of her first three children?  Was there another Marvel?  Was Mary "the domestic servant" another Mary Coffey?  Was Mary "the daughter" also Mary "the domestic servant?"

The Maltba family remained in Kings Creek the remainder of their lives.  Elizabeth "Lizzie" remained in the Kings Creek area during her marriages to Barnett and Wilson while the two boys, John K. and George Washington moved on to West Virginia.

Anyone have this figured out?

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 *Groom's Name: Julius F. Barnett Groom's Birth Date: 1866 Groom's Birthplace: Groom's Age: 27 Bride's Name: Lizzie Coffey Bride's Birth Date: 1873 Bride's Birthplace: Bride's Age: 20 Marriage Date: 18 Nov 1893 Marriage Place: Kings Creek Twp, Caldwell, North Carolina Groom's Father's Name: Thos. H. Barnett Groom's Mother's Name: Sarah Barnett Bride's Father's Name: Bride's Mother's Name: Mary Ann Maltba Groom's Race: White Groom's Marital Status: Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: White Bride's Marital Status: Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M74468-8 System Origin: North Carolina-EASy Source Film Number: 590346 Reference Number 

 **groom's name:N. F. Wilson groom's birth date:1862 groom's birthplace: groom's age:49 bride's name:Lizzie Barnett bride's birth date:1874 bride's birthplace: bride's age:37 marriage date:08 Nov 1911 marriage place:Granite Falls, Lovelady Twp, North Carolina groom's father's name:Jacob Wilson groom's mother's name:Margaret Wilson bride's father's name: bride's mother's name: groom's race:White groom's marital status: groom's previous wife's name: bride's race:White bride's marital status: bride's previous husband's name: indexing project (batch) number:M74461-8 system origin:North Carolina-EASy source film number:590349 reference number


***groom's name:Wm. Z. Maltba groom's birth date:1853 groom's birthplace: groom's age:21 bride's name:Mary A. Coffey bride's birth date:1849 bride's birthplace: bride's age:25 marriage date:25 Nov 1874 marriage place:Caldwell, North Carolina groom's father's name:Jonathan Maltba groom's mother's name:Sarah Maltba bride's father's name:Marvel Coffey bride's mother's name:Nancy Coffey groom's race: groom's marital status: groom's previous wife's name: bride's race: bride's marital status: bride's previous husband's name: indexing project (batch) number:M74468-7 system origin:North Carolina-EASy source film number:590345 reference number:bk 3