| Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | Third Generation15. Thomas Coffey was born on 7 March 1742 in Essex Co., VA. He appeared in the census in 1790 in Wilkes Co., NC.39 Thomas made his will on 29 January 1825 in Wilkes Co., NC and it was proven in Thomas died in April 1825 at the age of 83 in Wilkes Co., NC and was buried at Harpers Chapel Cemetery in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC.40,41,42 October 1825 in Wilkes Co., NC.43,44 Extracts from Heritage of Caldwell County: Thomas was first married to Aliza Smith and they had six children. Betsy, the oldest child married David Allen and settled about one mile north of Patterson, but moved to Owen County, Indiana about 1828. John, who married Hannah Wilson, also moved to Indiana. Thomas, who married first a Coffey and second Nancy Pendley, settled about two miles above Patterson. James, who married Delilah Ferguson, settled about three miles down the river from his father's plantation. He died at the home of his son in Kings Creek about 1840. Polly who married a distant relative William Coffey and settled about eight miles away on Buffalo Creek. She died about 1828. Smith who married Hannah Boone, a niece of the legendary Daniel, lived in the section that is now Lower Creek. Many of his family moved to Cherokee County. Thomas and his second wife Sally Fields had eight children. They are: Martha, who married James Dowell, settled first on Mulberry and later moved to Indiana. William who married Annie Boone, a sister to Hannah on October 18, 1804, was born November 27, 1782. Annie was born July 26, 1785. They settled on Mulberry where he died May 21, 1839 and she died January 16, 1876. They are buried in the Dowell Family Cemetery. Reuben, married Polly Dowell, and built a home on her father's place. Reubin was born September 15, 1785. About 1832 Reuben and his family moved to Indiana. Elijah, who married Polly Hull, and first settled about two miles above Patterson. About 1835 he moved to Georgia. Sallie married Thomas Stewart and settled on Johns River. Lewis who married Harriet Powell moved to Owen County, Indiana. Larkin, who was born February 18, 1800, first bought David Allen's farm about one mile above Patterson, but in 1833 he too moved to Owen County, Indiana, where he died January 12, 1881. McCaleb, born August 22, 1803, married on February 5, 1828, to Elizabeth Collett (March 8, 1809--July 9, 1887), and settled about one mile above Patterson. He died February 17, 1881 and both he and his wife are buried at Harper's Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery. (Sources: Coffey, Lawrence. Thomas Coffey and His Descendants, Arthur J. Preston, History of Watauga County.) Will of Thomas Coffey. Wilkes county, North Carolina. In the name of God, Amen. I, Thomas Coffey, of Wilkes County and State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last . will and testament, viz: First, I commend my spirit to God who gave it and my body to the grave and as to my worldly property, both real and personal, that shall remain after my just debts are paid, I lend it to my beloved wife Sarah Coffey for her use during, her natural life or widowhood and what remains after her death or the end of her widowhood to be equally divided amongst my children, viz: my dau. Elizabeth Allen, my son John Coffey wife and children, my son Thomas Coffey, my son James Coffey, my dau. Mary Coffey, my son Smith Coffey, my dau. Patsy Dowell, My son William Coffey, my son Reuben Coffey, my son Elijah Coffey, my dau. Sally Stewart, my son Lewis Coffey, my son Larkin Coffey, and my son W. Caleb Coffey. Provided never the less that if my said wife should marry again that then and case she shall have an equal share with one of my children. I here by appoint two of my sons, viz: Smith Coffey and William Coffey executor of this my last will and testament. Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us the 29th day of February A.D. 1825. Proved at October term 1825 on oath of The will of John is recorded in Will Book 3, p21, Wilkes Co., NC An Inventory of the Estate of Thomas Coffey, Deceased Six negroes, six head of horses, twenty-one head of cattle, about thirty head of bogs, two sheep, three plows, eight hoes, two axes, one foot adze, one drawing knife, one cutting knife, one scythe, one sickle, one chisel, one handsaw, two pair, of plow gears, two bells, two jugs, seven old hogsheads, two powdering tubs, one washing tub, three kegs, one honey stand, one flour tub, two water pails, one churn, one loom and gears, two cotton wheels, threee flax wheels, one check reel,one pair of cards, one set of spools for warping, one rifle, one shot gun, one clock, two desks, one bureau, four chests, one looking-glass, three tables, one water stand, one candle stand, one book case and a small quanity of books, one fire shovel, one pair of tongs, one set of firedogs, four pots, two ovens, two skillets, one pot rack, a small quanity of shoe tools ,one ten-gallon pot, one coffee mill, one coffeepot, three candlesticks one tin sugar box, seven glass bottles, one cupboard tolerably furnished with basins, dishes, plates, cups, knives and forks, one dozen chairs, six beds, furniture and bedsteads, one claw hammer, one iron wedge, two men's saddles, one woman's saddle, one bridle, one smoothing iron, one meal sifter, one pair of steelyards, and five stands of bees. Smith Coffee, North Carolina, Wilkes County, October term, 1825-The above inventory returned on oath by the executors. R. Martin, Clerk Burke County Court Records, April Session 1795 5 May 1795 John Litten Jones to James Gittins 125 pds 150 ac place known by name Richlands on Yadkin River incl. Ellises impvt. Wits: G. Hulme, Chas. Gordan, John Witherspoon. (s) John Litten Jones. 3 Nov 1795 Ord John Coffey, Thomas Coffey senr., David Allen, Hezekiah Stratton, Michael Israel, Abraham A. Strange, Benjamin Coffey, Reuben Coffey, Eli Coffey, William Hulme, Charles Gordan, junr., Ambrose Coffey, Robert Epperson, James Epperson, James Gitings, William Parham, Thomas Fields, Owen Humphrey view Bridle Way turning out Warrior Gap Road bet Ambrouse Coffeys & Eli Coffeys, up Yadkin River and water course that widow Mills lives on to forks paths leads to Mulberry, New River & Richlands; ord Daniel Yarnell, James Demoss, William Demoss, Owen Humphry, Robert Epperson, Eli Coffey, Reuben Coffey, Hezekiah Strutton, John Coffey, Lewis Demoss, Thomas Ellison, Wm Hulme, Thomas Coffey, Mastin Durham George Hulme, Charles Gordan view waggon road on S side Yadkin River at Maj Genrl Lenoirs to Indian Grove Gap. Thomas and Elizabeth were married circa 1762, probably in Albemarle Co., VA. After the death of Elizabeth, Thomas, his second wife Sarah and children moved to Wilkes Co., NC. This was between 1775 and 1780, and the family settled on the upper waters of the Yadkin River where they remained until Thomas' death in 1825. According to Laurence Coffey, Thomas "...was buried in Hull Hill graveyard..", and after Sarah died, she was buried next to him. "Years later the cemetery became neglected, and almost lost..." Laurence and cousin Newell Sanders "...had their remains removed to Harper's Chapel burying ground, where a suitable monument was placed above them." Elizabeth Smith was born in 1744 in Albemarle Co., VA. Elizabeth died in Albemarle Co., VA in 1776 and her burial place is unknown to me.45 Elizabeth's father was Thomas Smith of Albemarle Co., VA Thomas Coffey and Elizabeth Smith had the following children:
Thomas Coffey and Sarah "Sally" Fields46 were married in 1778/9. Thomas was born Mar. 7, 1742 in Essex Co. His family has been documented in the Laurence Coffey book (see previous reference). He married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Smith with whom he had six children. The minutes of the Albemarle Baptist Church show that in 1773 Thomas and Elizabeth were listed as members. Sometime between 1775 and 1780, and after Elizabeth died, Thomas married Sarah (Sally) Fields. Between 1778 and 1780 the family moved to Wilkes Co., NC and settled on the upper waters of the Yadkin River below the present day town of Patterson (now in Caldwell Co.). He entered land first in Jan. 1779 for 25 acres and lived there for the rest of his life. Thomas and Sally had nine more children, and he died in 1825. Laurence Coffey wrote that Thomas' son Jesse died single, and Jesse is not mentioned in Thomas' will. However, there is a marriage record of a Jesse Coffey to Winifred Crumpton on Dec. 22, 1821 in Wilkes Co. Larkin Coffey was bondsman. Jesse has not been proven to be a son of Thomas, but he is of the right age, and since Larkin was a son of Thomas and just a few years younger than Jesse, it seems likely that he is. Two sons of Thomas, Smith and William, married nieces of Daniel Boone. Thomas, son of John and Jane Graves Coffee, b 7 Mar 1742, Essex Co.; d Apr 1825, Wilkes Co., NC; m1 Elizabeth, Albemarle Co., VA, m2 Sarah (Sally) Fields, c1778/9, in Albemarle Co. Children by Elizabeth were: Eliz., m David Allen; John, m Hannah Wilson; Thomas married a Coffey; James, m Delie Ferguson; Mary (Polly), m William Coffey; and Smith m Hannah Boone. Thomas and second family moved about 1775-80 to Wilkes Co., NC where he lived until his death. Children by Sally were: Martha, m. James Dowell; William, m Annie Boone; Reuben A., m Polly Dowell; Elijah, m Polly Hull; Sally, m Samuel Stewart; Lewis, m Harriet Powell; Jesse, d unmarried (?); Larkin, m Catharine Wilson; and McCaleb, m Eliz. Collett Feb. 5, 1828. Source: History of Watauga. Thomas Coffey and Sarah "Sally" Fields had the following children:
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