Nathan Coffey was born before 1760 in either Rowan County, North Carolina, or Albemarle County, Virginia. Genealogists have long contended that he was the son of Chesley Coffey and Jane (Cleveland) Coffey. Details about this family can be found in the book, “James Bluford Coffey: His Ancestors and Descendants in America, Volume II –Ancestors”, by Marvin D. Coffey, 1984 (p. 98-103). There is no evidence from the legal records of North Carolina or Virginia that either Chesley Coffey or Jane Cleveland existed.

The only hint at their existence comes from a Family Bible record, written in 1895, in which Eliza (Coffey) Porter stated that her grandfather, Joel Coffey (died 1789) was the son of Chesley Coffey and Jane Cleveland. I wrote an article, “The Chesley Coffey Family”, by Timothy E. Peterman, 1981, which was never actually published, but which has become widely distributed, in which I defended the contention that Chesley Coffey and Jane Cleveland were the parents of Joel, Salathiel, Chesley (1755-1818), Nebuzaraden, and Nathan. This is significant because it debunked an old DAR application that showed Joel Coffey and Martha Sealey as the parents of our Nathan. The DAR has since closed the lineage that connects Joel Coffey to Nathan Coffey (1760-1823) as father-son. 

For the benefit of the reader, I will quote in detail from my December 1981 article (with abbreviations added):

Proof Argument:

“My intent in writing this essay is to express my reasons for believing that Chesley Coffey and Jane Cleveland were the parents of Joel Coffey (d. 1789), Salathiel Coffey (d. 1784), Chesley Coffey (1755-1818), Nebuzaraden Coffey (1757-1797), and Nathan Coffey (1760-1823). During the 1790s, the families of these men moved from Wilkes County, North Carolina to Madison County, Kentucky, and then to Green County, Kentucky. Their residences in Green County, Kentucky were located in the portion of that county that became Adair County, Kentucky, and finally Russell County, Kentucky. The only record found thus far pertaining to the elder Chesley Coffey is a piece of paper now in the hands of Calvin Reese Porter, on which his grandmother, Eliza (Coffey) Porter, a granddaughter of Joel Coffey (d. 1789), wrote that the said Joel was a son of Chesley Coffey and Jane Cleveland. To date, no other evidence has been found that even hints at the existence of the elder Chesley Coffey. Therefore, this essay will not contain a clear-cut proof that Joel, Salathiel, Chesley, Nebuzaraden, and Nathan were sons of Chesley Coffey, but rather will contain an analysis of the families of Joel, Salathiel, Chesley, Nebuzaraden, and Nathan Coffey and an analysis of why they were probably brothers. This essay contains an assumption that if the five were brothers and if Chesley Coffey and Jane Cleveland were the parents of Joel Coffey, then they were the parents of the other four as well. At the end of this essay, there will be a brief discussion of how Chesley Coffey and Jane Cleveland probably relate to the rest of the Coffey and Cleveland families.

1. Joel Coffey - Last Will and Testament of Joel Coffey who died in 1789 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. His Will was proven in count on July 1789 and is as follows:

In the name of God amen –I, Joel Coffee, of North Carolina and County of Wilkes tho weak in body yet perfect in mind and memory constitute this my last will and testament, I give my soul to God my redeemer and my body to be buried in a decent manner and after my just debts are paid I dispose of my worldly goods as follow, to wit, I give to my wife, Martha, the plantation whereon I now live and all my household furniture and two Negroes namely, Harry and Teg, and all my stock of horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs enduring her natural life or widowhood, I also will that as much of my land be sold by my Executor to pay my debts. The remainder of my land to be equally divided among my sons, Cleaveland, James, Joel, and Nathan and the rest of my Negroes to be equally divided among all my children to wit, Cleaveland, James, Joel, Nathan, Caty, Jane, Sealy, and if my wife is at present with child, for it if it live to share an equal part with the rest and at the death or marriage of my wife for what I give her to be equally divided among all my children my present estate to be improved and kept together till my youngest child come of age or marry. Nebuzaraden Coffee and my son Cleaveland Coffee Executors. I acknowledge this my last will and testament made this 27th day of April 1789-

 Joel Coffee (his mark)

A number of things can be learned from this will:

• Martha, the wife of Joel, was expecting a baby in April 1789. If we assume that she was no older than 50 at the time, 1739 would have been her earliest possible birthdate. Fifty is an extreme upper limit for childbearing years and she was probably a few years younger, born no earlier than 1745.
• In naming his executors, Joel Coffee referred to Cleveland as ‘my son Cleavland Coffee’. He referred to Nebuzaraden only as ‘Nebuzaraden Coffee’. Considering that this Nebuzaraden was not named in the will, nor referred to as ‘my son Nebuzaraden’, it is quite unlikely that he was a son of Joel Coffee. If he had been disinherited, chances are Joel would not have named him executor.
• Chances are that Cleavland Coffee was the eldest son. Because he was an executor, we can assume he was born in 1768 or earlier. If his mother was born in 1745, he was probably born no earlier than 1760.
• If Cleavland was born in 1768, his mother, Martha, was probably born no later than 1753. His father, Joel was probably born no later than 1750. We can be reasonably certain that Martha was born between 1745 and 1753. If she was born in this time period, her husband, Joel, was probably born between 1740 and 1750, although he could have been born much earlier.
• The children named in the will were probably born between 1760 and 1790. A critic might argue that the children were considerably older because Joel did leave the land to his sons. However, we must remember that this was Joel Coffee’s last chance to have any say in the division of the land. Joel implied later in the will that at least some of the children had not attained their majority.

1. A woman named Eliza (Coffey) Porter (born March 10, 1825) left some notes written sometime before 1900, which refer to the family of Joel Coffey:

My Father was Nathan Coffey, son of Joel Coffey. His Mother’s maiden name was Martha Step, daughter of Joseph and Katherine Step. His grandmother’s maiden name was Weatherspoon.

My father’s Brothers were Joel, James, Cleavelin, and Nebuzaridan. His sisters were Katherine, Jane, and Celia.

In these records, we find a family that is exactly identical to the family found in the will of Joel Coffee, with the exception of Nebuzaraden. Considering that Martha was expecting a baby at the time of the Will, that baby could have been Nebuzaraden.

2. On a paper entitled ‘Family Record of Nathan Coffey’, we find written:

Nathan Coffey, son of Joel and Martha S. Coffey was born January the 10, 1788 in North Carolina.

Sarah M. Coffey his wife was born Oct 26, 1789, North Carolina.

3. The notes of Eliza (Coffey) Porter identify Sarah M. Coffey as the daughter of Daniel Meredith. Nathan Coffey and his brother, James Coffey, owned a Bible dated 1814. The following are some excerpts from it:

• Nathaniel Coffey and Sally Coffey were married November 13, 1806.
• Nathaniel Coffey was Borne January the 10th 1788.
• James Coffey borne March 13, 1774.
• Betsey, his wife, borne May 12, 1781.
• Marthy Coffey, Mother of Nathan Coffey, Died September 25, 1816.
• Cleveland Coffey Died October 29, 1814.
• James Coffey Died May 5, 1826.
• Nathan Coffey Died Sept. 19, 1834.

5. Descendants of Nebuzaraden Coffey give his birthdate as August 29, 1790. However, because his father died prior to July 1789, his birthdate was probably August 29, 1789.
6. The 1810 census of Adair County, Kentucky shows Cleveland Coffey as born between 1765 and 1784. This narrows his birthdate to 1765-68.

6. James Coffey married Betsey Coffey in about 1806. She was supposedly the daughter of Nathan Coffey (1760-1823). The birthdates of his older children suggest that he was married once before. He might be the James Coffey who married Sarah Coffey on August 30, 1794, in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Many genealogists have claimed, without proof, that Joel Coffey (d. 1789) was born in 1730. They also claim that his wife was a Martha Sealey born in 1737. As shown earlier, we can be fairly certain that Martha was not born as early as 1737. We can be certain that (the purported) Joel Coffey (1730-1789) and Martha Sealey are identical to Joel Coffey (d. 1789) and Martha Step (d. 1816) because the same will was used as evidence for the names of the children in both cases. The genealogists who claim that Joel was born in 1730 also claim that he was the father of Nathan Coffey (1760-1823). It is interesting to note that both birthdates are round numbers exactly 30 years apart. Both dates were probably estimates that became accepted as fact. Those who initially estimated Joel’s birth year as 1730 probably put the year of his birth that early to account for a son born in 1760. In reality, Joel Coffey was probably not born that early.

2. Salathiel Coffey – He died in 1784 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. The County Court Minutes reveals some interesting facts:

• 28 July 1784 –It is ordered by the court that Letters of Administration be granted Elizabeth Coffee on Estate of Salathiel Coffe, dec’d. Joel Coffee and Nathan Coffee, securities.
• 29 July 1784 –Inventory of Estate of Salathiel Coffe returned by the Administrix and ordered recorded.
• 26 October 1784 –It is ordered by the court that the Perishable Estate of Salathiel Coffe be sold by the sheriff according to law.

3. Elizabeth Coffee was evidently the widow of Salathiel. Though no children were named in the above records, this does not preclude the possibility of there being children. If he had any family, it is quite possible that his family would have moved to Green County, Kentucky with the rest of the family.

There were three siblings, Newton, Eli, and Elizabeth ‘Graney’ Coffey, who settled in Green County, Kentucky during the 1790s, along with the rest of the Coffey family. The father of these three was probably one of the five Coffeys suspected of being brothers or possibly a sixth brother. Considering that the names of any possible children of Salathiel Coffey are not known, it is interesting to consider the possibility that he was the father of Newton, Eli, and Elizabeth ‘Graney’ Coffey. Before I proceed any further, I will reveal the identities of these Coffey siblings:

• Newton Coffey was born in 1773 in what is now Wilkes County, North Carolina. In 1802, he married Sarah Muridith (Meredith) in Adair County, Kentucky. Between 1810 and 1818, they settled in what is now Montgomery County, Illinois.
• Eli Coffey was born May 8, 1775. On Mar. 22, 1801, he married Mary Coffey, a daughter of Nathan Coffey (1760-1823), in Green County, Kentucky. According to tradition, they were first cousins. Eli Coffey died on July 18, 1833.
• Elizabeth ‘Graney’ Coffey was probably born between 1775 and 1784. On Mar. 17, 1801, she married Rutherford Coffey, a son of Nathna Coffey (1760-1823), in Green County, Kentucky.

1. The marriage bond and consent for Rutherford Coffey and Elizabeth ‘Graney’ Coffey reveals some interesting relationships:

• The bond was between Rutherford Coffee and Eli Coffee.
• The consent for ‘Graney’ was given by Elizabeth Coffey, Newton Coffey, and Eli Coffey.
• Because the full name for ‘Graney’ was actually Elizabeth ‘Graney’ Coffey, we know that the Elizabeth who gave consent was probably not a sister. Because she could not have given consent for herself, we can conclude that the Elizabeth who gave consent was her mother. Newton and Eli must have been brothers. Because consent was given, ‘Graney’ was probably younger than age twenty.

2. Eli named a son Newton Eli Coffey. One of Newton Eli Coffey’s sons, Robert Coffey, married Sarah Coffey, a granddaughter of the elder Newton Coffey. According to tradition, the two were 2nd cousins. The name ‘Newton’ is peculiar to the families of Newton and Eli Coffey and was not used by any of the other Coffeys of Adair County, Kentucky. We can conclude that the name probably came from the family of Elizabeth, the mother of Newton and Eli.
3. The probability of Newton, Eli, and Elizabeth ‘Graney’ being the children of Salathiel Coffey (d. 1784) is strengthened by the fact that Newton named a son, Cleveland Salathiel Coffey and that Eli named a son, Salathiel Coffey.
4. If Salathiel were the father of Newton, Eli, and Elizabeth ‘Graney’, he was probably born no later than 1755, because Newton was born in 1773. Elizabeth was probably born no later than 1758.

2. Chesley Coffey, Jr. - Chesley Coffey was born on November 19, 1755. He married Margaret Baldwin… They moved to near Knoxville, Tennessee during the 1780s. They moved to Adair County, Kentucky in the vicinity of the rest of the Coffey family, between 1800 and 1810. In 1811 or 1812, they moved to Maury County, TN. Chesley Coffey died there on September 18, 1818. He had nine children: Nathan Coffey, Polly Coffey, Isaac Coffey, Gracie Coffey, John Coffey, Joel Coffey, Felicia Coffey, Jake Coffey, and Landon Coffey.

3. Nebuzaraden Coffey – According to most reports, Nebuzaraden Coffey was born in 1757. In about 1780, he married Elizabeth Hayes. In 1794, he moved to Madison County, Kentucky, where he died in 1797. His will was proved on March 7, 1797. The children listed were: Joel, Sary, Polly, Fieldin, Sail, Nias, Hays, Betsey and Ruth. Most of these were nicknames. The proper names were probably: Joel, Sarah, Mary, Fielding, Salathiel, Ananias, Hayes, Elizabeth and Ruth (or Rutherford). The order of birth is undetermined. According to another report, there were two other sons: Louis and James.

If Joel Coffey married as early as 1793, he was probably born no later than 1775. This would put the marriage date for Nebuzaraden Coffey and Elizabeth Hayes in the early 1770s. If this was the case, Nebuzaraden might have been born a few years earlier than in 1757.

4. Nathan Coffey - Nathan Coffey was supposedly born in 1760. He married Mary Saunders, supposedly just before 1785. She was supposedly born in 1770. They moved from Wilkes County, North Carolina to Green County, Kentucky during the 1790s. Nathan Coffey supposedly died in 1823 in Jackson County, Alabama.

According to DAR records, Nathan Coffey was a son of Joel Coffey (d. 1789). As mentioned in the section on Joel Coffey, this idea has been entirely discredited.

The children of Nathan Coffey were: Mary “Polly” Coffey, Rutherford Coffey, Absolem Coffey, Joel Coffey, Elizabeth Coffey, Grace Coffey, William Saunders Coffey, Nancy Coffey, and Catherine Coffey.

If Mary, Rutherford, and Elizabeth were born as early as records suggest, then Nathan Coffey must have married Mary Saunders in the late 1770s. Nathan Coffey was probably born between 1755 and 1760. Mary Saunders was probably born between 1760 and 1765.

5. Hints that the Five Coffeys Were Brothers

1. Geography –The five came from Wilkes County, North Carolina and their families all lived in close proximity in Adair County, Kentucky.
2. Each of the five used the same names in their families, some of which are quite unusual. These names are: Chesley, Nebuzaraden, Salathiel, Cleveland, Nathan, and Joel.
3. Joel Coffey named Nebuzaraden Coffey as his executor. The only Nebuzaraden of age in 1789 was the one who died in 1797. This is a strong clue that they were brothers.
4. Joel Coffey and Nathan Coffey were both securities for the estate of Salathiel Coffey. The only Joel and Nathan who were of age in 1784 were Joel Coffey who died in 1789 and the Nathan Coffey who was born about 1760. This is a strong clue that the three were brothers.
5. Regardless of whether Joel Coffey (d. 1789) was the son of Chesley Coffey, the fact that remains that his descendants carried a tradition of having a Chesley in the family. Therefore, Chesley was indeed a family name in the Joel Coffey family. This suggests an affinity to Chesley Coffey (1755-1818). Considering that Chesley Coffey (1755-1818) was born into the same generation as Nathan (1760-1823), Nebuzaraden (1757-1797) and probably Salathiel (d. 1784) and Joel (d. 1789), chances are that if indeed there is a kinship between Chesley (1755-1818) and the other four, that kinship is brotherhood.

6. A Clue to their Parentage.

1. Eliza (Coffey) Porter left another note entitled, ‘History of Nathan Coffey’:

Nathan Coffey was the son of Joel Coffey and Martha (Step) Coffey, was grandson of Chesley and Jane (Cleveland) Coffey, natives of Virginia. But the grandparents removed to North Carolina in an early day and settled on the Yadkin River where the parents of our subject was born and raised and married…

This note is not proof that Joel Coffey was the son of Chesley Coffey, because the note was written almost one hundred and fifty years after Joel Coffey was born. Yet, this note is a strong implication that Chesley Coffey and Jane Cleveland were the parents of Joel. In the other notes left by Eliza (Coffey) Porter, her memory was quite accurate.

2. There are other reasons to believe that Chesley Coffey and Jane Cleveland were the parents of Joel, Salathiel, Chesley, Neburaraden, and Nathan:

• Cleveland became a very prevalent name within this Coffey family and has been carried forward for many generations. Considering the degree to which this name was used, it seems very likely that the name was the maiden name of a common ancestor.
• The fact that Chesley Coffey (1755-1818) carried the name ‘Chesley’ makes it easier to believe that his father could have been a Chesley Coffey.
• If Joel Coffey (d. 1789) was the eldest brother and was born between 1745 and 1750, then Chesley Coffey was probably born between 1720 and 1730. Jane Cleveland was probably born between 1725 and 1735.

1. Kinship to other Coffeys -

There was another Coffey family that moved from Wilkes County, North Carolina to south central Kentucky (Wayne County). This family, headed by James Coffey, was probably closely related to the Chesley Coffey family.

James Coffey was born around 1728. He died in Sep. 1786. He married Elizabeth Cleveland in the late 1740s. They were from Orange County, Virginia. In 1750, they moved to Albemarle County, Virginia. In 1764, they moved to Amherst County, Virginia. In 1776, James and his brother, Thomas, moved to Wilkes County, North Carolina. That same year their brother, Benjamin Coffey, moved to the area that became Burke County, North Carolina in 1777. James Coffey became a Baptist missionary in 1757.

The family of Chesley Coffey was also quite involved in the Baptist Church. So strong are the parallels between the two families that someone once suggested that Joel Coffey (d. 1789) was a son of James Coffey. The only problem with this theory was that James’ son, Joel, was born in 1769.

Chesley Coffey was NOT a brother of James Coffey. James was the eldest of nine children. The others were: William, John, Edmund, Reuben, Winnefred, Elizabeth, Thomas, and Benjamin. These were the children of John Coffey and Jane Graves.

Chesley Coffey was NOT a brother of John Coffey. John Coffey was the son of Edward Coffey and Ann Powell (daughter of Thomas Powell and Mary Place). Edward Coffey died in 1716 in Essex County, Virginia, leaving five children: John, Edward, Martha, Austin, and Elizabeth. There is a possibility that John and Edward were twins. They were born between 1700 and 1705. Martha and Austin were born in 1705 and 1712. Elizabeth was born about 1714. This family moved up the Rappahannock River, eventually settling in Spotsylvania, Orange, and finally Albemarle County, Virginia.

• Edward Coffey married Grace Cleveland.
• John Coffey married Jane ‘Jean’ Graves.
• Martha Coffey married Joshua Stapp. It is possible that they were relatives or even ancestors of the Martha Step who married Joel Coffey (d. 1789).
• Austin (or Austus) Coffey married a Shenault.
• Elizabeth Coffey married John Cleveland.

If Chesley Coffey was born between 1720 and 1730, there is no way that Grace Cleveland (b. 1716) could be his mother. Therefore, we can rule out Edward Coffey (Jr.) as the father of Chesley Coffey, unless Edward was married before his marriage to Grace Cleveland. Austin Coffey could have been the father of Chesley Coffey, but there are no records that indicate anything about the family of Austin Coffey. Chesley Coffey was, nonetheless, probably somehow related to Edward Coffey (d. 1716 in Essex County, Virginia).

2. Kinship to the Cleveland Family

According to a letter written by Rice Coffey (1766-1853), a son of Elizabeth (Cleveland) Coffey, his grandfather was an Alexander Cleveland. The identity of this Alexander Cleveland has never been proved beyond doubt, with regard to his relationship to the Cleveland family of Virginia. There is much information on the Clevelands in an article entitled, ‘Virginia Cleveland Ancestor Discovered’, by George A. Martin. This article was published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 46, Number 3, Sep. 1958. Beginning at the second paragraph, it was written as follows:

Roger Cleveland, the ancestor of the Clevelands of Virginia, came to America prior to the 16th of November 1670 and settled in Gloucester County, Virginia. Concerning his English background, nothing is known, as a check of over seven hundred printed English parish registers at the Library of Congress failed to reveal any record f his birth or baptism.

CHILDREN OF ROGER AND DORCAS CLEVELAND

Elizabeth Cleveland, baptized 31 Oct 1684

Alexander Cleveland, baptized 31 July 1687

CHILDREN OF ALEXANDER CLEVELAND, SR. AND HIS WIFE MARY

1. Alexander Cleveland, Jr., baptized 25 May 1712
2. John Cleveland, born July 31, baptized 24 August 1714
3. Grace Cleveland, born September 1, baptized 30 Sept 1716
4. William Cleveland, born February 23, baptized 22 March 1718
5. Benjamin Cleveland, born November 21, baptized 28 November 1721

The fact that the above John Cleveland married Elizabeth Coffey and that Grace Cleveland married Edward Coffey (Jr.) make it quite likely that either Alexander Cleveland, Sr. or Jr. was also the father of Elizabeth (Cleveland) Coffey.

Jane (Cleveland) Coffey could not have been the daughter of Alexander Cleveland, Jr. or John Cleveland, because neither named her in their wills. William and Benjamin Cleveland would have been too young to have been the father of Jane Cleveland. The more likely possibilities are that:

• Jane Cleveland was a younger daughter of Alexander Cleveland, Sr., whose baptism was not entered into the parish registers of Gloucester County, Virginia.
• Records hint that Roger Cleveland had a son, John, born before baptism records were kept in Gloucester County, Virginia. Perhaps John was the father or grandfather of Jane Cleveland.

The Clevelands moved from Gloucester County, Virginia to Spotsylvania County, Virginia prior to 1734. If the Clevelands made this move in the mid-1720s, Jane and Elizabeth Cleveland could have been born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and likewise omitted from the Gloucester County, Virginia parish registers. They could very possibly be younger daughters of Alexander Cleveland, Sr.

The families of Chesley Coffey and James Coffey were apparently close on a social basis. Yet, the kinship between Chesley and James could have been no closer than the first cousin. However, the social bond between the two families would have been a lot stronger if Jane and Elizabeth were sisters.

End of original Proof Argument.

Since writing the above article in 1981, some additional information has come forward:

1. As of 2004, DNA testing of the Y-chromosome has become a useful tool for determining patrilineal kinship. Fred Coffey, a great-grandson of the Rev. Newton Eli Coffey, has taken the Y-chromosome test from Family Tree DNA in Houston, TX. His DNA is a perfect match to several patrilineal descendants of John and Jane (Graves) Coffey. This stands as conclusive proof that Fred’s earliest proven patrilineal ancestor, Eli Coffey (1775-1833), was part of the Edward Coffey (died 1716) family. Since Edward is not known to have had brothers in Virginia, this is a powerful indication that the Chesley Coffey family, as outlined in the above article, was descended from Edward Coffey and Ann Powell.
2. But how does Eli Coffey and all of the Coffeys of Russell County, Kentucky fit into the picture? A possibility not considered in the above article is that Chesley Coffey may have been a posthumous son of Edward Coffey. But how do we explain the absence of record in North Carolina? Perhaps Chesley died ca. 1760 and his widow, Jane (Cleveland) Coffey, remarried. All of the records in Rowan, Surry, and Wilkes County, North Carolina could be entered under a different surname.

The real problem might be Chesley himself. Consider that Edward Coffey and Grace (Cleveland) Coffey were married ca. 1734, bought land in Albemarle County, Virginia, and briefly owned land in Anson County, North Carolina. They lived until the 1770s. The only probable child of theirs, as suggested by Marvin D. Coffey, was Cleveland Coffey of Albemarle County, Virginia. Cleveland’s wife was named Elizabeth. She was probably Elizabeth Franklin, daughter of Benjamin Franklin (died 1751, Albemarle County, Virginia). A Power of Attorney recorded in Adair County, Kentucky on Oct. 10, 1810 (Adair County, Kentucky Deed Book B, p. 418) proves that Elizabeth (Franklin) Coffey (who died before Oct. 5, 1807) was the mother of Gracie Coffey, who married Rutherford Coffey on Mar. 17, 1801 in Green County, Kentucky. If part of the Coffey family of Adair County, Kentucky was descended from Edward and Grace (Cleveland) Coffey, perhaps all of the Coffey family in Adair County, Kentucky was descended from Edward and Grace.

3. Cleveland Coffey was probably an older brother to Joel, Salathiel, Chesley, Nebuzaradan, and Nathan.
4. Salathiel Coffey’s wife was probably Elizabeth Gore, daughter of James Gore (Will was probated Oct. 29, 1784, Kershaw County, South Carolina) and Elizabeth (Dowden) Gore (Will was probated Apr. 9, 1789, Chester County, South Carolina), who moved from Maryland to Chester County, South Carolina before the Revolutionary War. Compiled Revolutionary War Service Records show that on Jul. 24, 1776, a Salatheal Coffey enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of the South Carolina Continental line. He served under Col. William Thompson. There is no indication of rank, nor of time served. The card number referenced was 37194930. His name was copied from a book, with the following details given in reference to an asterisk:

This book appears to have been copied (from original rolls) in the Office of Army Accounts under the Paymaster General, U.S.A., who was authorized by Congress, on July 4, 1783, to settle and finally adjust all accounts whatsoever between the United States and the officers and soldiers of the American Army. (Journal American Congress, Vol. 4, page 237.) R. & P. 436,786.” Following this, Vol. 9 page 50 was written in.

Since there is only one Salathiel Coffey known to have lived in America and he died in Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1784, we could assume that the Revolutionary War record belonged to him. Thus far, neither the DAR nor SAR has registered Salathiel Coffey as a Revolutionary War soldier or patriot. The South Carolina State Archives has no record of his service. The “Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution”, by Bobby Gilmer Moss, lists:

• Coffey, Nathaniel - He enlisted in the Third Regiment on 24 July 1776. N.A. 853

With the exception of the first name, this is a perfect match to the National Archives record for Salatheal Coffey. This service may have belonged to either Nathaniel or Salathiel. An internet posting claimed that Sale Coffey of South Carolina was a Tory. I have seen no evidence of this. If true, this would be surprising, considering the Patriot character of the Coffey and Cleveland families.

Elizabeth (? Gore) Coffey married second to Pierce (or Pearce) Noland. Chester County, South Carolina Minutes of the County Court, 1785-1799, by Brent H. Holcomb and Elmer O. Parker contains the following entry on Jan. 30, 1794 (Order Book B, p. 255, of the original record):

• Elizabeth Noland Late widow of Selathial Coffey & Pearce Noland, Plaintiff against James Mannion Gore Defendant –Jury…

The construction of this sentence implies, not only that Elizabeth was the widow of Selathial Coffey, but that she was also the widow of Pearce Noland. However, the original is reported to add a comma after the word Coffey, which would imply that both Elizabeth Noland and Pearce Noland were plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The 1787 tax list of Wilkes County, North Carolina showed that the Pierce Nowland household contained one male over 21, 5 males under 21, and 3 females. The 1790 census of Wilkes County, North Carolina (p. 122) showed the Pierce Noland family as 2-3-4, thus containing unidentified males of the right age to be Newton and Eli. The 1800 census of Wilkes County, North Carolina (p. 55) showed the Pierce Noland family as 11120-01010. This household contained two males born 1755-74, one female born 1755-74, one male born 1774-84, one male born 1784-90, one female born 1784-90, and one male born 1790-1800. There is no indication that Pearce Noland had a wife before Elizabeth. Putting the 1787 tax list, 1790 and 1800 censuses together, one can count 9 children of Elizabeth:

1. _____ Coffey (born 1766-74 (? Newton Coffey)

2. _____ Coffey (born 1774-84 (? Eli Coffey)

3. _____ Coffey or Noland (male born 1774-87, gone by 1800)

4. _____ Coffey or Noland (female born before 1787, gone by 1800)

5. _____ Coffey or Noland (female born before 1787, gone by 1800)

6. _____ Coffey or Noland (male born 1784-87, still at home in 1800)

7. _____ Coffey or Noland (male born before 1787, gone by 1790)

8. _____ Noland (female born 1787-90, still at home in 1800)

9. _____ Noland (male born 1790-1800)

Elizabeth (? Gore) Coffey married Pearce Noland in 1784 or later. Unless there were twins, I doubt that any more than three of the children born before 1790 were Nolands. There was probably an undetermined son and daughter of Salathiel Coffey who either died or left home by 1800. Pierce Noland was named in the 1796 will of his father, Peter Noland (Wilkes County, North Carolina Will Book 1, p. 485). On Nov. 4, 1797, Pierce Noland, Executor of the will of Peter Noland, sold 52 acres to Moses Noland, another son of Peter. The deed was witnessed by Wm Johnson, Henry Noland, and Newton Coffey (Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Book D, p. 362). This stands as primary evidence that Newton Coffey was in fact closely associated with Pierce Noland, thus making it quite plausible that Newton Coffey was a stepson of Pierce Noland, and thus a son of Salathiel Coffey.

The 1820 census of Wilkes County, North Carolina (p. ___) showed the family of Pearce Noland as 000011-01101- This household contained one male born before 1775, one female born before 1775, one male born 1775-94, one female born 1794-1804, and one female born 1804-10.

The 1830 census of Wilkes County, North Carolina (p. ___) showed the family of Pearce Noland as 100000001-000010001- This household contained one male born 1760-70, one female born 1760-70, one female born 1800-10, and one male born 1825-30. Pearce Noland and wife were probably a bit older than this. Estimated birth years of 1755-60 are probably closer to the truth. This would allow his wife, assuming that she was still Elizabeth (? Gore) (Coffey) Noland, to have been the mother of the children born in the 1770s, as reported in the earlier censuses.

A man named Pierce Noland appeared on the 1803 tax list of Mississippi Territory, which at the time included what is now Mississippi and Alabama.

The will of Elizabeth (Dowden) Gore named a daughter, Elizabeth Noland. This Will was witnessed by Sampson Noland, who is also known to have had a wife named Elizabeth. A question remains over whether the Elizabeth (Gore) Noland was the wife of Sampson Noland or the wife of Pierce Noland.

Probate records for Elizabeth (? Gore) (Coffey) Noland would probably prove whether she was the mother of Newton Coffey and Eli Coffey. Early tax lists of Adair County, Kentucky show Eli Coffey as Eliazar Coffey. Worthy of note, James and Elizabeth (Dowden) Gore had a son named Eliazar Gore. Worthy of note, both Newton Coffey and Eli Coffey named a son Salathiel.

Regardless of whether the Gore connection proves valid, there is plenty of evidence that both Salathiel Coffey, Nathan Coffey, and possibly a few of the other Coffey “brothers” appear in the records of Chester County, South Carolina.

Service: Nathan Coffey was a private in the North Carolina Militia. This is proven by pay voucher No. 5038 in the Morgan District. He was paid nine pounds, thirteen shillings and sixpence by the State of North Carolina on Oct. 18, 1784.

The Wilkes County, North Carolina militia was under the command of Col. Benjamin Cleveland (1738-1806) during the Revolutionary War. The Regiment under his command was nicknamed the “Wilkes County Bulldogs”, which made history in the noteworthy Battle of Kings Mountain (Oct. 7, 1780). This battle is considered by many historians to have been the turning point of the Revolutionary War in North Carolina. Gen. Nathaniel Greene became convinced of the value of militia in the battlefield. Once this momentum got started, Cleveland’s battlefield opponents under the command of Gen. Cornwallis found themselves surrendering at the Battle of Yorktown.

Benjamin Cleveland’s nickname was the “terror of the Tories”. Many of the men under his command were his relatives, including most of the Coffeys in Wilkes County, North Carolina. There is, however, no evidence that any of the Coffeys actually served under Col. Cleveland at King’s Mountain. Benjamin Cleveland was a grandson of both Edward Coffey, Sr. and Alexander Cleveland, Sr. If Nathan Coffey was the son of Chesley and Jane (Cleveland) Coffey as described above, and if their connections to the broader Coffey and Cleveland families are valid, Nathan Coffey was a double first cousin to Col. Benjamin Cleveland.

Cleveland became a popular given name within the Coffey family, all the way down to my great-great uncle, Cleveland Cleophus Coffey (1874-1958) of Wayne County, Iowa.

The “Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution”, by Bobby Gilmer Moss has two entries for men named Nathan Coffey:

• Coffey, Nathan - He served under Captain Anderson Thomas during 1778, C.S.; A.A. 1335; O268.
• Coffey, Nathaniel - He enlisted in the Third Regiment on 24 July 1776. N.A. 863.

As mentioned in the Background section, the National Archives considers the service of the latter Nathaniel Coffey to belong to Salathiel Coffey. None of the South Carolina services has ever been registered by either the DAR or SAR for Nathan Coffey (bef 1760-1823).

Nathan Coffey made a sworn statement on Nov. 6, 1827, which provides quite a few insights into his service, plus corrects his death date:

State of Alabama - Jackson county

Before me, Robert McCarney a Justice of the Peace for said county personally appeared Nathan Coffey at the home of William S. Coffey in said county on the 6th day of November 1827 and being first sworn on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God deposes and says:

That he was acquainted with Solomon Campbell in the years 1777 and 1778, that he was then in the service of the United States commanded first by General Greene afterward by General Marion, while under the command of General Greene he was of the tenth Regiment North Carolina continental line in a company commanded by Capt. Jarvis in which service he remained this witness thinks about eighteen months, when he was attached to the command of General Marion in the same line in which service he remained this deponent thinks about eighteen months. That afterward in the year 1780 this deponent was again in the army of the United States with said Solomon Campbell at the battle of Kings Mountain and in guarding the prisoners to the Moravian towns and know him to be the same Solomon Campbell who was in the service previously in 1777 & 78 as above stated. That said Campbell was about six feet and a little upwards, about twenty or twenty-one years of age in 1777 from appearance, that he was known by the name of Sol. Campbell and was so called generally by his acquaintances; that the same Solomon Campbell is now present and has the appearance of being upwards of Seventy years of age, is a tall lean man, hairs a good deal white a little inclined to be bald, has a mole immediately above his left eye, at the lower part of his eyebrow. And further, this deponent says not.

Sworn to & subscribed before me the 6th of November 1827) Nathan Coffey X his mark

Witness Robert McCarney, Justice of the Peace

Although all of the events pertain to the service of Solomon Campbell, the reader gets the impression that Nathan Coffey was speaking from his own memory, which implies that he was there. Nathan Coffey likely had an almost identical service record.

Family: (Generation 8) DAR applications have traditionally shown that Nathan Coffey was born in 1760 in Anson County, North Carolina and that he died in 1823 in Jackson County, Alabama. These applications show that in 1785, he married Mary Saunders, who was born in 1770 in Wilkes County, North Carolina, and died in 1838 in Kentucky. These applications show that their daughter, Mary “Polly” Coffey, was born on Dec. 7, 1785. I left the birth years off my application for Nathan Coffey and Mary Saunders, but retained the Dec. 7, 1785 birthdate for Mary Coffey, simply to match the DAR application. The birth years of 1760 and 1770 were obviously estimates. Neither the DAR nor SAR checked off any of these birthdates as valid. The only thing that census records can tell us directly about Nathan and Mary (Saunders) Coffey is that both were born prior to 1765. We can learn more about the estimated birth years for Nathan and Mary, by looking at known birth years for their children.

The birthdate of their daughter, Mary Coffey has been reported as Dec. 7th of 1780, 1782, and 1785. These appear to be based on abstracts of the Eli Coffey Family Bible. Later census records make the following estimates: 1810 (1784-94), 1820 (1775-94), 1830 (1780-90), 1840 (1780-90), 1850 (1783-84), 1860 (1781-1782), and 1870 (1780-81).

A birthdate of Dec. 7, 1780, for Mary, conflicts with that of her sister, Elizabeth (May 12, 1781). Before she got married on Mar. 17, 1801, Mary Coffey signed a consent form on Mar. 12, 1801, stating that she was over the age of 21, which implies a birthdate prior to Mar. 12, 1780. Assuming that Dec. 7 was her real birthday, this makes Dec. 7, 1779, the most plausible birthdate for Mary.

The main drawbacks to a birthdate as early as Dec. 7, 1779, are twofold: 1) most censuses from 1810-1870 suggest a later birthdate; 2) her youngest child, Reuben Coffey, was born Feb. 12, 1830. If Mary was born on Dec. 7, 1779, she would have been 50 when her youngest son was born. This is highly unlikely, although not absolutely impossible. Census records have been known to be wrong and if a pattern of inconsistency is observed, the reported ages can be disregarded, especially if better information to the contrary can be found. A genealogical “rule of thumb” is that when two documents suggest different dates for an event, the document closest in time to the event is probably more accurate. People remember dates better if they pertain to a recent event. Children are more aware of each other’s ages than adults. In 1801, a discerning eye could have told the difference between a 15-year-old girl and a 21-year-old. In 1850, the difference between a 64-year-old woman and a 70-year-old woman would be less obvious. Some have suggested that Mary lied about her age. This is possible, but improbable for several reasons: 1) if caught, the county officials that authorized the marriage would have been subject to a fine, 2) she was marrying her first cousin. Eli Coffey, Mary Coffey, Rutherford Coffey (her brother), Newton Coffey, Gracie Coffey, and Elizabeth (Franklin) Coffey were apparently all present when this was going on. The same clerk drew up the marriage bonds for both Eli and Mary, as well as Rutherford and Gracie. The bonds for both are dated Mar. 17, 1801. With so many Coffeys present, I doubt that she would have lied, 3) she and Eli chose to get married right in their home county. If a couple were going to falsify something, they would have probably traveled at least to an adjoining county, if not further.

The age of Rutherford Coffey was reported in the 1820 census as 26-45, thus indicating a birth year of 1775-94. The age of Rutherford Coffey was reported in the 1830 census of Jackson County, Alabama as 50-60, thus indicating a birth year of 1770-80. The 1799 tax list of Green County, Kentucky indicated that Nathan Coffee had a son age 16-21 (born 1778-83). If Mary was born in Dec., 1779, Rutherford was probably born in 1778.

The age of Absolem Coffey is usually reported as ca. 1788. By 1800, Rutherford Coffey had left home. Nathan Coffey was not taxed on any males age 16-21. This indicates that Absolem was born after 1784. In 1802, Nathan Coffey was taxed on a male age 16-21, an indication that Absolem was born in 1786 or earlier. Absolem witnessed one of his father’s deeds dated Apr. 23, 1804.

Various DAR applications state that Mary Saunders was the daughter of William Saunders (or Sanders). This has never been documented. This might be merely an assumption, based on the fact that Nathan and Mary (Saunders) Coffey named their youngest son, William Saunders Coffey. The fact that they named their eldest son, Rutherford Coffey, coupled with the fact that none of Nathan’s presumed brothers used Rutherford as a given name, is a strong hint of Rutherford ancestry in Mary Saunder’s background.

Nathan Coffey and Mary Saunders were probably married a few years prior to 1779. Nathan Coffey was probably born in the mid-1750s, with Mary Saunders born a few years later. Nathan Coffey was not listed in either the 1790 or 1800 censuses. The court minutes of Chester County, South Carolina show that Nathan Coffee was there in 1794 and 1795. The 1797 tax list of Madison County, Kentucky contained Nath’l Coffy. The 1799 tax list of Green County, Kentucky contained Nathan Coffe. Nathan Coffey made deeds in Adair County, Kentucky, dated May 2, 1803, Apr. 23, 1804, and Apr. 6, 1805. His wife did not sign any of these deeds, which would make one speculate that she died beforehand. Yet, the 1810 and 1820 censuses show a female of the right age to be Mary (Saunders) Coffey.

The 1810 census of Adair County, Kentucky (p. 5) showed the Nathan Coffee family as 01211-01101. This household contained one male born before 1765, one female born before 1765, one male born 1765-84, two males born 1784-94, one female born 1784-94, one male born 1794-1800, and one female born 1794-1800. This is not a perfect match. Since Rutherford hasn’t been found in the 1810 census, one could speculate that the male born 1765-84 was Rutherford. However, Rutherford’s wife and 4 children (born 1804-10) were omitted, so this probably was not Rutherford. Absolem was enumerated separately. The 1810 census seems to indicate that Nathan had two other sons, whose names have been lost to history. They could have been farm hands. Earlier tax lists of Green County, Kentucky and Adair County, Kentucky do not suggest the presence of two extra sons.

The 1820 census of Adair County, Kentucky (p. 6) showed the Nat Coffey family as 000001-00201. This household contained one male born before 1775, one female born before 1775, and two females born 1794-1804.

Nathan Coffey supposedly died in 1823 in Jackson County, Alabama. He was shown on Adair County, Kentucky tax lists until 1823, after which he is gone. This is probably the source of Nathan’s estimated death year of 1823. The year of his death would be better stated as “after 1823”. If he really died in 1823, it is doubtful that he moved to Alabama, unless he died as soon as he arrived. His disappearance from Adair County, Kentucky tax records may have been caused by his move to Alabama, rather than his death. Nathan Coffey died after Nov. 6, 1827. We know this because, on this date, Nathan Coffey of Jackson County, Alabama made a sworn statement regarding the Revolutionary War service of Solomon Campbell. No trace of Nathan Coffey can be found in the 1830 census. One of Nathan’s sons, William S. Coffey, is known to have lived in Shelby County, TN briefly during the 1820s. The records of Shelby County, TN have not been checked yet for Nathan’s estate. Decatur County, Alabama was created from Jackson County, Alabama in 1821 and in 1825, merged back into Jackson County, Alabama. Nathan Coffey is supposedly buried at Old Sauta, an early settlement west of Scottsboro (“Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots in Alabama”, by Louis Milam Julich, Daughters of the American Revolution). Old Sauta was located on Indian Land until 1830. White settlers had no deed to their land and nothing to probate, if they died before that time. No probate records for Nathan Coffey can be found, either in Alabama or Kentucky. Most of his children: Rutherford, Absolem, Joel, William, and Nancy (Coffey) Lockett were living in Jackson County, Alabama in the 1830 census. Nathan’s widow, Mary (Saunders) Coffey was probably living in the home of her youngest daughter, Nancy.

The 1830 census of Jackson County, Alabama (p. 87) showed the Richard Lockett family as 100001-110011001- This household contained one female born 1760-70, one male born 1790-1800, one female born 1790-1800, one female born 1800-10, one female born 1820-25, one male born 1825-30, and one female born 1825-30.

Mary (Saunders) Coffey is reported to have died in 1838 in Kentucky. This deathplace would be unlikely if she moved with her family to Alabama in the 1820s. The best evidence regarding their children is a newspaper article, published in the “Semi-Weekly News” on Jun. 24, 1910. This article, published in a Texas newspaper, was based on an interview with the family of Milton S. Coffey of Omaha, Morris County, Texas, on the occasion of his wife’s 88th birthday. I have only seen an abstract of this article. The article stated:

Uncle Milt’s grandfather, Nathan Coffey, was a Virginian and served seven years in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather had 4 sons and 4 daughters, namely, Retherford, Joel, Appleton, and William, Gracie, Polly, Elizabeth, and Katherine. Polly married a cousin named Coffey, Katherine married a Baxter and Elizabeth married a cousin by the name of James Coffey.

The value of such secondary sources is tested by how well the predictions of the source match primary records that can be found. Nancy (Coffey) Lockett was omitted from this list. Absolem was reported as Appleton. Although primary evidence linking Nathan Coffey to most of his children has not been found, records pertaining to the above children have been found, and they are associated with one another in various ways that makes it likely that they are siblings.

Nathan Coffey and Mary (Saunders) Coffey had nine children:

1. Rutherford Coffey (born ca. 1778, died after 1830/ before 1840 in Jackson County, Alabama), married on Mar. 17, 1801, in Green County, Kentucky to his cousin, Gracie Coffey (died after 1811, daughter of Elizabeth (Franklin) Coffey). A DAR application shows his wife as Celia Coffey.
2. Mary “Polly” Coffey (probably born Dec. 7, 1779, died Mar. 10, 1872, in Russell County, Kentucky), married Mar. 17, 1801, in Green County, Kentucky to her cousin, Eli Coffey (born May 8, 1775, in Wilkes County, North Carolina, died Jul. 18, 1833, in Russell County, Kentucky, probably son of Salathiel and Elizabeth (Gore) Coffey).
3. Elizabeth “Betsey” Coffey (born May 12, 1781, died 1837), married on Mar. 4, 1804, to her cousin, James Coffey (born Mar. 13, 1774, in Wilkes County, North Carolina, died May 5, 1826, son of Joel and Martha (Step) Coffey).
4. Absolem Coffey (born ca. 1784-86, died after 1840 in Jackson County, Alabama), married Sep. 20, 1808, in Adair County, Kentucky to Polly Beard. A DAR application shows him with two wives: Mary Lusk and Nancy Chadwick.
5. Joel Coffey (born Aug. 3, 1790, died Aug. 23, 1850, in Titus County, TX), married Jan. 5, 1818, to Mary “Polly” Knox. [age 16-26 in 1810 with father].
6. Grace Coffey (born ca. 1792, died after 1810), married Oct. 29, 1809, in Adair County, Kentucky to John Harlow.
7. Catherine Coffey (born ca. 1794, died ?), married John Baxter. [age 16-26 in 1810 with father, age 16-26 in 1820 with father].
8. William Saunders Coffey (born Feb. 21, 1795, died Oct. 13, 1875, in Lavaca County, TX), married before 1826 to Elizabeth Schuyler (born Mar. 20, 1808, died Apr. 26, 1871, in Lavaca County, TX) [age 10-16 in 1810 with father].
9. Nancy Coffey (born ca. 1797, died after 1830/ before 1840), married Feb. 15, 1823 in Adair County, Kentucky to Richard Lockett. [age 10-16 in 1810 with father, age 16-26 in 1820 with father].