| Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | First Generation1. Edward1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 was probably born in Ireland circa 1670. He is found in deed of record on 11 November 1714 in St. Ann Parish, Essex Co., VA when he sold 118 acres to John Barbee.12 Edward purchased 200 acres in St. Ann Parish, Essex Co., VA on 16 July 1716.13 Edward died in Essex Co., VA circa 20 November 1716.14 "Edward Coffey lived in St. Ann's Parish, Essex Co.,VA. In November, 1714, he sold part of his land (bought from Augustine Smith) on Occupation Creek to Thomas Warren. His wife, Ann Ester Powell, is a witness to this transaction. Edward died in 1716 and Ann died in 1744. After Edward's death his widow, Ann, married Robert Dulin and they had two sons." (Source not recorded) "Lease and release, dated 10 and 11 Nov. 1714. Edward Coffey of St. Ann's Parish, Planter, sells John Barbee of the same parish for 5000 lbs. of 'lawful sweet scented tobacco' 118 acres, which land Coffee bought of Augustine Smith and is on branches of Occupation Creek, adj. to land of Thomas Warren, on E. side of Chickahomony Path, the land of Col. Francis Gouldman 'to corner red oak and white oak corner to Mr. Severley his Great Tract...'. Signed Edward Coffey, Witnessed by Tho. Ramsey, Saml. Stallord, Robert Parker. Ann Coffey, wife of Edward, relic. her dower rights. Rec. 11 Nov. 1714." (Source not recorded) "Deed 16 July 1716. John Moseley, Planter, of St. Anns Parish sells John Coffee and Edward Coffee, Planters, of same Parish, for 6000 lbs. of tobacco, 200 acres commonly called Moseleys Quarters, in St. Anns Parish, on E. side of a branch of Occupation, a small branch of Gilsons, adj. land belonging to Mr. Matrum Wright and land formerly belonging to Tho Button. Signed John Moseley. Witnessed by Salvator Muscoe, John Staton, Peter Holland. Rec. 18 July 1716." (Source not recorded) Edward Coffey and Ann Powell were married in 1700 in Essex Co., VA.15 There is no proof of parentage of Edward. A myth has exploded onto the internet that a John Coffey and Mary Joliffe (variously spelled), are his parents, but no documentation has yet appeared in any of these reports. More information concerning this myth is given below. Following Edward's death, Ann Powell Coffey married a Mr. Dooling (found as Duling, among others0 and gave birth to several more children. Some sources for additional information are: Coffey Cousins' Newsletters, Mar. 1993; Dec. 1995; Dec. 1996; Karen D. Utley, 1442 Rawson t., Sanger CA 93657; Bettie Albright, 15 Many Ln., Black Mountain, NC 8711; Jessie Coffey, 510 Westview Ave., Lockland, OH 45215 103575.2667@compuserve.com) On 18 July 1716, Edward and John Coffey, sons of Edward, purchased 200 acres from John Mosley of Essex Co., Mosley's Quarters, for 8000 lbs. of tobacco. Source: Coffey Cousins newsletter of March, 1993. 14 Feb 1716: Edward writes will. 20 Nov: Wills to John, Edward, Marther, Ann, Annister, Elizabeth, and his wife Ann, land, cows, etc. The bond listed Thomas Graves as one of those involved in bonding of wife Ann as administratrix. Land to sons if 16 and mother dead, or 18 if mother living. No mention of which one had to be 16/18, may have been twins. Date is evidently date of filing the will. Source: Coffey Cousins newsletter, March, 1993. Will is recorded in Essex Co., VA Will and Deed Book 14, page 669, dated Nov. 20, 1716. See also the Index to Wills and Administrations, Library of Virginia, Deeds and Wills No. 14, 1711-1716, Reel 6, page 689-690. The John Coffee - Mary Jolliffee - Rebecca Ireland Myth [Coffee, Jack K. "The John Coffee - Mary Jolliffee - Rebecca Ireland Myth."Coffey Cousins' Clearinghouse. Jack Coffee, 1998. Web.] In 1960 George C. Greer published his reference, Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666. In that work, Greer wrote that John Coffee came to Virginia in 1637 as the indentured servant of one Nicholas Hill. In 1969, Nell M. Nugent, in her work, Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, Vols. I-III, transcribed the same information, but recorded the name as John Coffin or John Scoffin. Marvin Coffey, in his work of 1984, James Bluford Coffey, His Ancestors and Descendants in America, wrote that he went to the original records, and found that Nugent had copied the name correctly; e.g., Coffin in one place, and what appears to be Scoffin in another. Marvin observed that whatever the name, it is not Coffee or Coffey! Many Coffee/Coffey genealogists have accepted that John found in Greer's work was the earliest Coffee in America. Some researchers have given him a wife, often two wives; either Mary Jolliffe or Rebecca Ireland. Records found, in York Co., VA, mention a William Ireland, in that county from 1633-1648. And, there is a John Jolliffee in Nansemone and Isle of Wight counties in 1653 (see Nugent). But, after all of the research, by literally hundreds of Coffee/Coffey researchers over several decades, no one has related any credible evidence that 1) there was a John Coffee/Coffey in that time frame, and 2) that a Mary Jolliffee or Rebecca Ireland ever existed. Edward is first found mentioned in the 1699 will of William Mosely. The will was proved in Essex Co., VA on April 16, 1700, and in September, 1700 Edward received his "freedom, corn, and clothes" from the Mosely estate. Mosley transported many indentured persons to Virginia from about 1660 until the 1690's. Edward was likely one of his servants. Edward Coffee/Coffey remains as our earliest known ancestor in America. Prior to his death, Dr. Marvin Coffey revisited the Edward Coffey/Mary Jolliffee question at my request (jkcoffee). He followed up with the this information: [Coffey, Marvin D., Dr. "John Coffee (Coffey) - Mary Jolliffe." John Coffee (Coffey) - Mary Jolliffe. N.p., 2000. Web. 29 Dec. 2014.] "Peter Rigllesworth had a will in which he mentions a daughter Mary. It has been said that this Mary married John Jolliffe but I have seen no record to substantiate it. John Jolliffe appears in the deed records of Nansemond and Isle of Wight cos., VA in 1653 and in Lower Norfolk co. in 1661, the latter being just a renewal of the patent of 1653. I have not yet seen a list of John's children or that he had a dau. named Mary, but I think it likely he did. "The record of a John Coffee(y) arriving in Elizabeth City co. VA in 1637 with a patentee being Nicholas Hill was misread as the original record clearly says "Coffin". I have found no Coffee(y), John or otherwise in early or middle 1600s in Elizabeth City co., Norfolk co. or any closely surrounding ones, except for a John Coffe(?) on an inquisition or jury in Surry co. in 1669. There was also in the same county an Anthony Koffey(?) on a jury in 1654 and a John Coffer in 1665. The ? after the first two names is not mine, it is of the person recording it from some original. It indicates that this person could't read it and was guessing at the spelling. There is also a John Coffin in Isle of Wight co. in 1697 and several Coffers, including a John about this time. "Going further north in Virginia the records of Northumberland and Lancaster cos. have several Coffins, Coffers and Coffee(y)s in the mid to late 1600s and early 1700s. None of these seems to be a John except a John Coffin or Coffins in 1669-70. In the early 1700s we find Edward Coffee(y) in Essex co. and later his sons John & Edward, Jr. in Spotsylvania and other counties. "In sum I have seen nothing to demonstrate that there was a John Coffee(y) in the area where this Jolliffe family lived or a Mary who married a John Coffee(y). If anyone should have any further records on this matter I would appreciate them corresponding with me as I would like to solve this problem. Finally, it should be noted that even if there were a Mary Jolliffe-John Coffey marriage there seems to be no connection with Edward in Essex co. who was most likely an immigrant and indentured servant, and not a son of some Coffey already in Virginia." ---- "Two other possible children of Edward are James Coffey, found on the 1785 Botetourt Co., VA census, and William Coffey, found in some records of Montgomery Co., VA from 1781-1785. They could also be children of Peter and Susannah Coffey of Prince Edward County. "Other possible children of Edward are Jesse, found in Wilkes Co., NC 1779-1786, and an Isaac or Isaiah Zarrah, also in Wilkes Co., 1782-1796. Daraleen Wade believes that Isaiah, Isaac and Zarrah are all one man, e.g., Nebuzaradan. Jesse is likely the one on the Pendleton Co., SC census of 1790 and 1800, andthe father of six sons: Cleveland, Edward, Joel, Elohah, Elisha and John who moved to Rabun Co., GA in 1821. The use of these names strengthen the probability that Jesse was a son of Edward. "Jesse's full name could be Jesse Cleveland Coffey. He is also likely the 'Captain Coffey' of the Militia District in Wilkes Co. from 1778 to 1782. He was also likely at Boonesboro, KY in 1777. "James is probably the one found on the 1782 tax list of Montgomery Co. He was the father of Margaret Coffey, born 1775/6 in Virginia, and married Jan. 1, 1794 in Montgomery Co. to Moses Beavers. James was deceased at the time of the marriage, and surety, and witness to the marriage was Thomas O'Bryan who had married Jane Coffey in 1787. Jane was probably the wife of James because Thomas O'Brian's will in 1821 listed Margaret as his step daughter." [See Coffey, Marvin D. James Bluford Coffey: His Ancestors and Descendants in America. Ashland, Or.: M.D. Coffey, 1984. Print.] Ann Powell16, daughter of Thomas Powell and Mary Place, was born between 1683 and 1685 in Essex Co., VA. Ann died in Essex Co., VA between October 1744 and December 1744.17 The following is a copy of that will, extracted from Essex County Wills, 1743-1747. Pages 232-34. Will of Ann Duling of the County of Essex in the Parish of St. Ann's, being very sick, dated 30 Oct. 1744. To my son William Duling one feather bed and furniture which he now hath in his possession. To my daughter Annisters Coffe one feather bed and furniture which I now have in the house and one brown heifer and also one spotted heifer unto her son James Coffe. Also one dish and two basons unto my daughter Annisters Coffe, also helfe the corn that is made on my plantation this year and one pott and one frying pan and one water pail, also one chist, my least chist, also five head of hogs. To my son Thomas Duling one feather bed and furniture which he now hath in his possession, and one gray hors and one cow and yearling. All the remainder of my estate to be equally devided amongst all my children herein not bequeathed. My son William Duling and my daughter Annisters Coffe executor and executrix. Ann (A) Duling Wit: Wm. Taylor, William Dobson. 18 Dec. 1744. Presented in Court by Annister Coffe, esecutrix, and William Duling executrix. Proved by both the witnesses. Pages 234-35. Bond of Annister Coffee and executrix of Ann Duling. For £500 sterling. 18 Dec. 1744. Securities, William Duling and Robt. Farmer. Annister (A) Coffee 18 Dec. 1744. Acknowledged. Pages 254-55. Ann Duling. Inventory. No total valuation. Nathl. Fogg Signed by William Duling and Ann Ester (A) Coffey, executors. 19 Feb. 1744 (1745). Returned Edward Coffey and Ann Powell had the following children:
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