Name:

Misc. Notes

All data is indicated as "unproven". It is not known if Eli and Newton Coffey were really brothers, although it seems a reasonable inference given the date and place of their births and the use of the name "Newton". (Also possibly "Eli" is a masculine form of "Elizabeth"?)

See notes for his (presumed) father, Chesley COFFEY, for more discussion.

THE DEATH OF SALATHIAL:

Salathial apparently died a violent death, but to date no one has offered a clear understanding of what happened and why. Following is the best I have been able to find:

This is taken from an article in the Coffey Cousins' Clearinghouse newsletter of June 2009, and is in turn based on part of a book written by Maureen Joan Coffey Donald and Donna Beryl Coffey McDonald. They are writing about their ancestor Nebuzaraden, and his brothers Joel, Salathiel, Nathan, and Chesley Junior. Also mentioned is an Archelaus Coffey, who would be a second cousin of the brothers:

"The Wilkes County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of 1784 cites a 'riot'. Chesley Jr. along with John William Crosswaite, Joseph Strapp (Step), Nimrod Shenault, Elias Powell and Archelaus Coffey were involved in a civil disturbance in which Salathiel, John and Archelaus were killed. The court ordered Patrick Hambrck be paid for carrying Nathan Coffey to the Burke Jail. At this time Nathan Coffey disappeared from Wilkes County tax lists."

(Next section is partially an expansion of the above.)

CCC NEWSLETTER, 1988:

"Wilkes County Riot Trial of 1784, by Frank Crosswhite:

"Information is needed on the 'riot' for which Nathan Coffey and Joel Coffey were indicted in Wilkes County, North Carolina, in 1784. If Joel and Nathan had been riding with Salathial Coffey on some activity which resulted in a civil disturbance, and if Salathiel were killed, it would be only natural for Joel and Nathan to stand as security for widow Elizabeth when she obtained letters of administration for her dead husband. She obtained such letters on 28 Jul 1784, the very day they signed bonds for Elizabeth's administration of her dead husband's estate. Coincidence? The affair carried over to the next court session in late October 1784 when it was ordered that the sheriff sell Salathiel's perishable estate (Oct. 26). On Oct. 28, Livingston Isbel obtained letters of administration on John William Crosswhite's estate and on the very same day he filed suit against Nathan Coffey. Another 'coincidence' – the death of Archelaus Coffey may have occurred at about the same time as those of Salathiel Coffey and John Crosswhite, since Archelaus' widow's name appears on the tax list instead of his.

"Copies of deeds show John Wm. Crosswhite's lands to have been in the Beaver Creek/King's Creek region which would have fallen into Captain Isbel's district which had only 83 heads of families as late as the 1787 census. This is where Joel Coffey and Isaac Nebuzaraden Coffey lived as well as Mastain Durham, Coleby Rucker, a number of Whitherspoons and Stapps, as well as a number of families of Calton's. This would also seem to be the district where Archelaus lived before he died, but I (Frank) am uncertain where Salathiel owned land if he was indeed a landowner.

"The court records of 1784 cited above, all occurred in the Wilkes County Court of Pleas and Quarters. Suspected felons would be arraigned by this court but would be remanded for trial to the district court which sat in Burke County for the region which included Wilkes. That a felon may have been involved is strongly suggested by the fact the Wilkes Co. Court which met in the summer of 1785 ordered that Patrick Hambrick be paid for carrying Nathan Coffey to the Burke jail.

"At the time of the riot, Ben Cleveland had to give up his Yadkin farm, "The Roundabout". Draper's "KING'S MOUNTAIN" book states The Roundabout was lost to someone with a better title. At this point, Nathan Coffey seems to disappear from the Wilkes County tax lists, as does Ben Cleveland.

"Joel had a brother, Chesley Coffey Jr., who married a Baldwin from a Burke Co. family accused of being Loyalists. Also indicted as suspected Torries in Burke Co. were Joseph Step (Stapp) and Nimrod Shenault. Joseph was most certainly a descendant of Martha Coffey Stapp and the numerous Powells of Burke County also seem to have been related to Ann Powell Coffey. Elias Powell was a young loyalist militiaman from Burke who served as personal orderly to British Colonel Patrick Ferguson during the Battle of King's Mountain. He cleaned and cared for Ferguson's body after the patriot's defiled it. Chesley Coffey Jr. may have lost his residence in Burke Co. and moved to Wilkes at a time when Whigs openly displaced Torries from their land. An analysis of the Coffey families of Burke and Wilkes Counties prior to 1799 is reserved for another discussion.

LFC NOTES: WILKES COUNTY COURT RECORDS:

There are several references in court files and will books regarding Elizabeth as administrator of Salathial's estate. Her name is shown as "Elizabeth X Coffee", indicating she could not write. See additional references in notes below.

1787 CENSUS, WILKES COUNTY, NC:

Elizabeth Coffey is found in Capt. Thomas Farguson's district. There are no males between the ages of 21 and 60 (consistent with the death of Salathial in 1784). There are two males under the age of 21 (those would be Richard and Salathial Jr.). There is 1 female of any age (obviously Elizabeth). They have 3 slaves. One black is between the ages of 12 and 50, and the other two are either under age 12 or over age 50.

Misc. Notes

CAUTION: Do not have any real evidence that the maiden name of Elizabeth was “NEWTON”. It may have been Elizabeth NOLAND? or Elizabeth GORE? or Elizabeth FRANKLIN? However I have left it alone for the time being.

See the following. But note that Tim Peterman takes exception, and his note is at the end:

NOTE: Virgil O. Coffee provided the following essay to me in a letter dated 18 January 2004. Virgil had found this material while searching for data on his own ancestry. He has been trying to find the ancestors of his great-grandfather, Larkin Coffee. A Y-DNA test of Virgil and myself match on 36 of 37 markers, proving that we have a common ancestor. Caution: The following was copied from a handwritten document, which was in turn copied from something else. There is no guarantee that all names, etc., have retained their original spelling. (Fred Coffey, 14 Sep 2006)

"ANOTHER VIEW ON THE MAIDEN NAME OF ELIZABETH, WIFE OF SALATHIEL COFFEY"

ESSAY BY DANA ANN MIRELES:

"Although some researchers have postulated that the maiden name of Elizabeth, wife of Salathial Coffey (who died about 1784 in Wilkes County, NC) was Noland or Gore, other research gives a different view on her maiden name.

The Coffey family that Elizabeth married into probably originated in early Virginia. Certain assumptions on this family have been generally accepted by most researchers as not fully proven. The assumptions are as follows:

1. A Chesley Coffey married a Jane Cleveland

2. They had at least five sons, Chesley Jr, Joel, Nathan, Nebuzaraden, Salathiel.

3. Nathan married Mary. Salathiel married Elizabeth

4. Salathiel and Elizabeth's children included at least Newton, Eli and Grace.

5. Nathan and Mary's children included at least Rutherford and Mary.

6. Of the above children Eli married Mary and Rutherford married Grace. They were first cousins.

Names and places in early court documents were spelled in different ways. For consistency this essay will use the following spelling for names and places, unless quoting from a document or record; Coffey, Eli, Nathan, Nebuzaradan, Noland, Pierce, Rutherford, Salathiel.

POSSIBLE MAIDEN NAMES FOR ELIZABETH COFFEY:

First, it is unlikely Elizabeth's maiden name was Noland. In the minutes of the county court of Chester Co, SC, January 1794 (we find that) Elizabeth Noland late widow of Salathiel Coffee and Pearce Noland is a plaintiff in a case against James Mannion Gore, defendant. The reading of this record would only indicate that Elizabeth was married to Salathiel Coffee and is now probably the wife of Pearce Noland.

Second, it is unlikely that Elizabeth's maiden name was Gore. The will of Elizabeth Gore of Chester Co. SC, 25 Nov 1788, in part reads "…to my beloved daughters Mary Sanders, Easter Wood and Elizabeth Knowling…". The name Noland is often seen as Navland, Nolan, Knowland and Knowling in court records. This Elizabeth Knowling is more likely the wife of Sampson "Nolan" who witnessed the above will of Elizabeth Gore. In a Chester Co. deed of March 1784, Sampson Noland and Elizabeth Noland, his wife, sold land to Patrick McGriff on the Sandy River.

SALATHIEL COFFEY

The following is known about Elizabeth and Salathiel Coffey. In Wilkes Cy, N.C., 27 July 1784, an administrative bond was issued on the estate of Salathiel Coffey deceased. Elizabeth Coffey was administratrix and Joel and Nathan were bondsmen. There is mention of Salathiel Coffey in several other records in North and South Carolina. In Burke Cy, N.C. in 8 September 1778, in the miscellaneous papers of civil and criminal cases, an attachment was issued in the case of James Reddy vs. Salathiel Coffey. An historical account of a skirmish occurring during the Revolutionary War, about June 1780, on Broad River, Chester Co., S.C. involved the commander of a Tory scout. This commander's name was Sale Coffey. Although the Coffey family and the Cleveland family were staunch Whigs and many served their country on the American side in the Revolutionary War, it is an interesting thought that perhaps one served the British side.

NOLAND FAMILY:

A short genealogy of the Noland family may help in understanding their relationship to the Coffey, Gore and Saunders families. The Gore, Noland, and Saunders families were originally from Frederick Cy, Md, and that part of Virginia directly across the Potomac. They lived near each other and intermarried. About 1768 there was a migration of these people from the Frederick Co. Md. Area into North Carolina and eventually down into South Carolina. Examination of court records in Maryland will produce a wealth of information for those researchers interested in connecting these families further.

PIERCE NOLAND:

Pierce Noland, second husband of Elizabeth Coffey, was the son of Peter Noland of Wilkes Co., N.C. Peter Noland died about 16 April 1796 in Wilkes Co. N.C. In his will, he names daughters Martha Carrell, Delilah Davis, Sarah Carroll, sons Henry, Moses and Pierce. Pierce was one of the executors of his father's will, along with John Brown. On 4 November 1797 "Pearce Noland" executor of Peter Noland deceased sold to his brother Henry Noland 50 acres on Beaver Creek, Wilkes Co., N.C. This land was where Pierce Noland then lived and was part of a larger tract of 200 acres that was granted to Joel Coffey who sold it to Peter Noland about 1789. This deal was witnessed in part by Newton Coffey, supposed son of Salathiel and Elizabeth Coffey. The above Joel appears to be one of the sons of Chesley Coffey and brother to Nebuzaradon, Nathan and Salathiel. Peter Noland may also have been the father or the brother of the Sampson Noland mentioned as a witness in Elizabeth Gore's will. In March 1784, Peter Noland of Camden District, S.C. sold to Sampson Noland of the same county land on the Sandy River, Chester County, S.C.

Pierce Noland apparently did not leave a will and died shortly after his father Peter. An inventory of Pierce Noland's estate is found in Wilkes Cy. N.C. will book in 1797 but with no month or day. It is assumed he died late 1797/1798. Pierce Noland was married previous to his marriage to Elizabeth Coffey. His son Pierce Noland and again John Brown were executors of his estate.

From just these few land records, it can be seen that the Coffeys and Nolands were moving back and forth from early Wilkes and Burke County areas in North Carolina to the Chester County, South Carolina area, buying and selling land. These families migrated down from Maryland and continued to stay close to one another in North and South Carolina. There are many other court records on these people in the above mentioned states, too numerous to mention in this short essay.

THE FIVE SONS OF CHESLEY COFFEY, SR.:

It is known that one of the sons of Chesley Coffey Sr. died in Wilkes Co. N.C. Joel Coffey died 1799 and Salathiel Jr. died 1784. It is known that another son, Chesley Coffey Jr., left the North Carolina area about 1780 and moved to Tennessee and that son Nebuzaradon Coffey moved to Madison County, Kentucky about 1794. We have left son Nathan Coffey whose whereabouts in early North and South Carolina has never been fully accounted for. His movements and that of his wife Mary are important to the evidence that points to his sister-in-law Elizabeth Coffey's maiden name.

NATHAN COFFEY:

The 1782 tax lists of Wilkes Cy. N.C. shows three Coffeys in Capt. Sloans District; Joel, Isaac and Nathan. In Burke Cy. N.C. there are names of many Coffeys, including Chesley, Salathiel, Joel and Nathan. In a Burke Cy. suit of the State vs Nathan Coffey, March 1783, he is found guilty. There are other records in the Wilkes and Burke Cy areas on Nathan Coffey; unfortunately the court records do not give any particulars on what the cases involved.

On 7 January 1793, Nathan Coffey appears in Chester Co. S.C. deeds when John Gore and his wife Mary sell to Nathan Coffey of Chester Co. SC. 126 acres of land. The names in this deed are interesting for they show close ties to the Gore and Noland families. One of the bounding land owners is Sampson Noland. The land was originally conveyed by Jachariah Isbill to James Gore, deceased and by James Gore in his last will and testament to the above John Gore. This man is John Ashford Gore, son of James Gore. Philip Gore proved this deed.

On 4 February 1794, Sampson Noland conveyed to Nathan Coffey, both of Pinckney District, Chester Cy. S.C., 50 acres of land on the Sandy River.

On 14 October 1795, Nathan Coffey and his wife Mary Coffey sell to Eliazer Gore, 126 acres sold to Nathan Coffey in January 17903. This deed shows Nathan and his wife Mary in Chester Cy. S.C. in 1795. Both Nathan and his wife Mary sign the deeds with their marks. Nathan's mark looks like a loop or half bow and Mary's mark is a crossed T. Jeremiah Kingsly and Patrick McGriff witnessed this deed. The deed was not recorded in Chester County until February 1805.

There is another brief mention of land that Nathan owned. On 28 December 1802, Jeremiah Kingsley and John Humphries, both of Chester District, S.C., enter bond to make title to land conveyed from Nathaniel Coffey to Charlotte Kingsley. This was probably the other 50 acres that Coffey owned on Sandy River.

Sometime after 1793 Nathan Coffey moved from Chester Cy. S.C. to Green Cy. Ky. In the second census of Kentucky, 1800, Nathan and Elizabeth Coffey appear in separate households. There appears to have been a migration of Coffey families from the Carolinas to Kentucky in the late 1790's and early 1800's. Tax lists and county records, particularly for Adair, Green and Wayne counties, Kentucky, gives the names of many of the Coffeys of North and South Carolina.

MARRIAGE RECORDS OF GREEN CO, KY:

Examination of the original marriage bonds of Green Cy. Ky. establishes the relationships of Elizabeth Coffey and Nathan Coffey's children. The abstracted marriage records published do not always show the exact wording, often the original document will give additional information important for proving genealogies. There are four marriage bonds or documents that were examined. The original spelling and wording are recorded exactly as written:

1. Reatherford Coffee and Ely Coffee give bond for the marriage between Reatherford Coffee & Elizabeth Coffee. Bond date is 17 March 1801 and both Reatherford Coffee and Ely sign their names with their marks and seals. The signatures are Retherford Coffee and Eli Coffee.

2. The consent for this marriage reads "this is to satisfy that I have no objection against Retherford Coffee marry my daughter Gracey Coffee given under my hand and sele this (Day is very hard to read, it could be 14 or 17 March 1801). Test: Ely Coffey, Newton Coffey, signed Elizabeth Coffey (with her seal).

3. Ely Coffey and Newton Coffee give bond for the marriage between Ely Coffee and Mary Coffee; bond date is 17 Mar 1801. Again Ely and Newton appear to sign their own names and use their marks and seals.

4. The consent for this marriage reads "this is to certify that I am of age over twenty one years old and see willing to marry Ely Coffey given under my hand and seal March the 12th 1801. Test Newton Coffey, Reatherford Coffey (signed) Mary Coffey (with her seal).

Possible conclusions from these marriage records:

1. These people could write their names, and had their own marks and seals.

2. Rutherford's wife's name was Elizabeth Gracey (probably Grace) Coffey and she is referred to in succeeding court records as Gracey.

3. Gracey's mother's name was Elizabeth Coffey and she gave consent for her daughter's marriage to Rutherford Coffy.

4. Mary Coffey was at least 21 years of age, which would put her birth date at 1780 or earlier.

Under the assumptions stated in the beginning of this article and from the information contained in the Green Co, Ky, marriage records:

If Elizabeth and Salathiel Coffey were the presumed parents of at least Newton, Eli and Grace, the marriage consent of Elizabeth Coffey for Grace, stating that Grace is her daughter, would confirm that Newton and Eli were also children of Elizabeth and Salathiel Coffey.

ELIZABETH COFFEY AND NATHAN COFFEY:

It is known that Elizabeth Coffey Noland was in Chester Co. S.C. in 1794 by the court records of her suit with James Mannion Gore. It is also known that Nathan Coffey and his wife Mary were in the same county in 1793 and sold their land by 1795. Both Elizabeth and Nathan appear as head of households in Green Cy, Ky, in 1806. It would seem logical if Salathiel and Nathan were borthers, that Nathan's widowed sister-in-law, Elizabeth Coffey, after the death of her second husband, Pierce Noland, followed Nathan and some of the other related families to Kentucky, particularly Green, later Adair counties.

Why did she go by the name Elizabeth Coffey instead of Noland? Her children by Salathiel lived with or near her. She likely had no children by Pierce Noland and it may be that she simply preferred to use Coffey.

It can be shown by the deeds of Adair Co., Ky, that the Nathan Coffey of South Carolina mentioned above, is the same one appearing in land records of Adair and Green counties, there were two other Nathan or Nathaniel Coffeys in the 1790's and early 1800's. One of these had a wife Sally – probably the Nathaniel born 1788 and died in 1834, married to Sally Meredith and in Adair County by 1806. His father was Joel Coffey, brother to Nathan. The other Nathan had a wife Betsy, probably the Nathan born 1780 and married to Elizabeth Gilbreath. His father was Chesley Coffey, Jr., another brother to Nathan Coffey. The land records show that the only Nathan that signed with a mark was Nathan Coffey, Sr; referred to as Sr. and signing his deeds with a loop or half bow. Other Nathan Coffeys had reference in their land deeds to their wives, Sally or Sarah and Betsy or Elizabeth. Interestingly, in Nathan Coffey Srs. land records, there is no reference to Mary, his wife. Perhaps she died in S.C. before Nathan Coffey Sr. moved to Kentucky.

ELI NEWTON AND RUTHERFORD COFFEY:

The following court records show the close relationship between Eli, Newton, and Rutherford Coffey to Nathan Coffey, Sr. In Adair County, Ky., 23 August 1802, Nathan Coffey and Eli Coffey witness a deed from Benjamin Bristow to Jack Coffey for land in Cumberland Co., Ky. On 2 May 1803, Nathan Coffey of Adair Cy, Ky, sells to John Cox for $266.00, 86 acres on Reynolds Creek, a branch of Russell's Creek. Nathan Coffey signs his name Nathaniel Coffey with his mark a loop or half bow. There are other documents in Adair Cy. with Nathan Coffey / Nathaniel signing his name with his mark.

On 3 October 1805, Newton Coffey appears in court records of Adair Cy, Ky. Ephraine Ellison of Adair Cy. Appoints Newton Coffey of Adair Cy. To act as his attorney to receive an obligation from William Dula and Thomas Robbins of Wilkes Cy, N.C. Witnesses were Joel and Ely Coffey.

In an indenture, 18 October 1809, Levi Conover and Jane his wife sell to Reatherford Coffey, assignee of Nathan Coffey land in Adair Cy. Ky on Russell Creek.

ELIZABETH COFFEY'S ESTATE:

The settlement of Elizabeth Coffey's estate is mentioned in an Adair Cy. Ky. court record, dated 5 October 1807, "on the motion of Reatherford Coffee who and according to law and executed and acknowledged bond with Nathan Coffee, Joel Coffee, and George Bellow his securities in the penal sum of 100 lbs conditioned to the admin of the estate of Elizabeth Coffee deceased is granted him." This record shows both Nathan and his son Rutherford involved in the administration of the estate of Elizabeth Coffey. The Joel Coffey is most likely a nephew of Nathan and cousin to Rutherford.

ELIZABETH COFFEE'S MAIDEN NAME:

The court document that establishes Elizabeth Coffey's maiden name is also found in Deed Book B of Adair Cy. Ky. It reads as follows: "Whereas by the will of the late Benjamin Franklin of Albermarle Coy. State Virginia We the heirs of the late Elizabeth Coffee of Adair County State of Kentucky are entitled to one third part of the above mentioned Benjamin Franklin's Estate now in the hands of James and William Sudduth as executors of (the estate?) of the late Patience Sudduth deceased, formerly Patience Frandlin Wife of the said Benjamin we the underwritten being at a distance so as makes it (in)convenient for us to attend to the settlement we therefore have thought to appoint Benjamin Dowell our attorney in fact and every payment made to him shall be as obligatory as if made to us. Given under our hand, and seals, this 7th day of October 1810." This document is signed Retherford Coffey and Martin Gryden.

The Benjamin Franklin referred to in the above document wrote his will on 17 August 1751, in Saint Anns Parish, Albermarle Co., Va. It reads in part "Item to Patience wife one third of my estate. Iten to four daughters Elizabeth, Anne, Mary, Dorcas remainder of estate to be divided equally on the day of their marriage or their coming of age whichever comes first to be paid to them by my executors." Patience Franklin was one of the executors. The inventory was taken 12 November 1751.

There are some questions that the above documents raise. Benjamin Franklin had four children, all daughters. Yet the estate settlement refers to three heirs, Rutherford Coffey for his wife Gracey is one of them and the other mentioned is Martin Grider (sometimes Gryder). There are several possibilities:

1. Only three of the daughters lived to maturity and had children to inherit.

2. Two of the heirs referred to above were Martin Gryder (sometimes Grider) and Rutherford Coffey.

3. There is no mention of Elizabeth Coffey's other children Newton and Eli. It may be possible that Rutherford was acting for all of Elizabeth Coffey's children in the settlement of her father Benjamin Franklin's estate, not just for his wife Gracey.

4. Elizabeth Coffey's other children may have already received any portion of inheritance due them.

More research is needed to clarify Elizabeth Coffey's settlement records. Possible conclusions from Adair and Albemarle Court Records. If we continue under the assumptions stated in the beginning of this essay the following conclusions can be reached:

1. The marriage records of Green Co. and Adair Co. Ky establish the relationship of Elizabeth Coffey to her daughter Grace and by that connection to her sons Newton and Eli.

2. Elizabeth Coffey wife, first of Salathiel and second Pierce Noland, moved with her children Newton, Eli and Grace from either North or South Carolina to Greeen, later Adair Co., Ky around 1800. She most likely came with or followed her brother-in-law Nathan Coffey.

3. Nathan and his son Rutherford along with Elizabeth Coffey's son Newton were involved in the settlement of Elizabeth's part of her father Benjamin Franklin's estate. And Rutherford acted for his wife Grace as one of the heirs of her mother Elizabeth Coffey.

4. The court records of Adair Cy. Ky establish Elizabeth Coffey as the daughter of Benjamin and Patience Franklin of Albermarle Co., Va.

It is not possible in this short essay to provide an in-depth genealogy of Elizabeth Franklin Coffey. There is a wealth of information contained in the court records of Albermarle Co., Va. And other early Virginia counties for those interested researchers. It is to be noted that the Franklin family from which Elizabeth was descended, was intimately involved with and lived close to the early family of Edward Coffey and Alexander Cleveland of Virginia."

COMMENTS FROM TIM PETERMAN

Following text is extracted from a note from Tim Peterman, dated 17 Jan 2009. In part this comments on the above essay:

My understanding is that Elizabeth Franklin married Cleveland Coffey, known to be a son of Edward Coffey & Grace Cleveland. Cleveland & Elizabeth (Franklin) Coffey then named their daughter, Gracie. If Cleveland's widow, Elizabeth, never remarried, this would explain why she was identified as Elizabeth Coffey in the Kentucky documents made between 1800 & 1807.

If Elizabeth (Franklin) Coffey was the widow of Cleveland Coffey, it would leave undetermined the maiden name of Elizabeth, who married Salathiel Coffey & then Pearce or Pierce Noland. Does anyone know the nature her suit against James Manning Gore? I find it highly unlikely that she was the same Elizabeth who gave consent for Gracie, because I really doubt that she would have reverted to the name of her first husband. I think that Salathiel's widow would have signed her name Elizabeth Noland if she had been the one to give consent.

I also found it interesting that in one of the early tax lists of Adair Co., KY, Eli Coffey is called Eliazer Coffey. James Gore of Chester Co., SC named a son Eliazer Gore.

I will admit that the Sampson Noland witnessing the will of Elizabeth (Dowden) Gore does suggest that James' daughter, Elizabeth, did in fact marry Sampson Noland, which would make it impossible for the widow of Salathiel & presumed wife of Pearce Noland to be a member of the Gore family.

I looked over Wilkes Co., NC records, but did not find an estate for Pearce or Pierce Noland in the 1797/98 book. The docs I found all referred to the estate of Peter Noland. I think the index may have inadvertently referred to the inventory as that of Pierce Noland, but upon examination was Peter Noland's inventory. Then, I found Pearce Noland in the 1800 census of Wilkes Co., NC, with sons the right age to have been Newton Coffey & Eli Coffey. The fact that Newton Coffey witnessed a deed of Pearce Noland is by far the strongest link I have found between Newton Coffey and the families of Salathiel Coffey & Pearce Noland.

I still put a (?) in front of the surname Gore for the wife of Salathiel. I am open to suggestions, but seriously doubt that she was the above mentioned Elizabeth (Franklin) Coffey. I think that a thorough study of Albemarle Co., VA records from around 1807 to 1810 might prove who all of her children really were.

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 contain 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 Co., NC showed that the Pierce Nowland household contained one male over 21, 5 males under 21, and 3 females. The 1790 census of Wilkes Co., NC (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 Co., NC (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 bef 1787, gone by 1800)

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

6. _____ Coffey or Noland (male born 1784-87, 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 (Wilke s Co., NC 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 Co., NC 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 Co., NC (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 Co., NC (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 1 755-60 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 Co., KY 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.

Tim

Name: Salathial COFFEY

SALATHIEL COFFEY