The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Birth: 1748 / Shenandoah / VA Death: Apr 1796 Edom / Rockingham / VA
Qualifying Service Description:
Jacob was logically b., in Frederick Co, Virginia (VA) from which Shenandoah Co, was formed -1772. During 1779 he joined a (VA) militia company raised in Rockingham Co, (formed 1778 from Augusta) now, at Edom, VA situated betw., the county seat, i.e., Harrisonburg and town of Broadway. The 1789 Census of Virginia, Vol I, Springfield, VA, pg 653, records Jno. Coffman a son of Jacob Coffman. See: source: Mil. Service, NSSAR Record Copy for Frederick E Fox, SAR No. 35173
Additional References:
SAR Patriot Index Edition III (CD: PP2210, Progeny Publ, 2002) plus data to 2004 Rev War service proved as a Private within a company raised for [Augusta County (VA) militia]; source, appl. for NSSAR Nat'l. No. 176016 approved on Jan 22, 2010
Author: Bruce A. Buehler
Jacob Coffman was born about 1748 and died about April 1796. Little is known about his actual service or battles that he might have fought. He was a Private in the Virginia line under Captain Froman. A signed affidavit, in the Virginia Military Records, report Jacob Coffman was paid 13 Pounds and 4 shillings for his service. The certificate was delivered to Captain John Froman on 4 October, 1775.
Following the war little is known regarding the number of children he and his wife Elizabeth had during their marriage. His will record was one of the many records that were burned by the Federal soldiers carrying out Order #89 issued by General Sheridan, on 4 October 1864. Sheridan’s order read in part “to burn all property within five miles from the place where Major Meigs was killed”. The only documents remaining were the Index References. Analysis of various other documents was used to determine and identify two of his sons Martin and John.
The Index References of Jacob and Elizabeth indicate he received four land grants. The Land Grants were given in 1784, 1785 and two in 1794. Over the years Jacob Coffman accumulated a sizable amount of additional property. Tax Records in 1792 indicate Jacob declared as Personal Property in District No. 6 of Jacob Lincoln, on Linville Creek in Rockingham County, VA of three horses. In 1787 and 1795 Tax Records shows him paying taxes on 180 acres in District No. 6. The signed affidavit stated Jacob Coffman was a man who owned considerable real estate of 1,000 -1,200 acres lying in the neighborhood of Edom, Rockingham County, VA. (Linville Creek) Rockingham was organized in 1777 – 1778 at that time it was part of Augusta County, VA.
Through discovery an interesting document was found titled The Tenth Legion Tithables Rockingham Division, 1792. It reads in part “This Company is taken from the Linville Section and it is a large company. Jacob Lincoln, its Captain was a Great Uncle of the President’s Father. The President’s Father was born there. Jacob Lincoln had four slaves but the Company, as a whole, is rather short on slaves. There was probably more opposition to slaves on Linville Creek than any other section. A large number of Mennonites and Baptist lived there.” Jacob Coffman was not
only a farmer, but also a Baptist Minister. He is listed with his oldest son Martin. Additionally, the Coffman’s owned larger tracts of land on Linville Creek near Wengers Mill; I suspect Jacob took his grain to Wengers Mill.
Jacob and Elizabeth are buried in Rader’s Cemetery in Edom, VA. The Rockingham County, VA Index of Wills or Fee Book, Page 57, Dated April 1796 shows the will of Jacob Coffman was filed for record, and the filing fees were paid. His will was burned ; no further records are found.
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