Sixth Generation

1971. Eliza Virginia "Jenny" Coffey⁷⁴⁶⁶ was born on 2 November 1849 in Watauga Co., NC. She lived with her daughter Nancy A. Edmisten in Watauga Co., NC on 10 January 1920.⁷⁴⁶⁷ She lived with her daughter Nancy A. Edmisten in Watauga Co., NC on 26 April 1930.⁷⁴⁶⁸ Eliza died of cardio-renal conditions on 30 October 1936 at the age of 86 in Boone, Watauga Co., NC and was buried at Boone City Cemetery in Boone, Watauga Co., NC on 1 November 1936.^{7469,7470,7471,7472}

Eliza Virginia "Jenny" Coffey and William Franklin "Bill" Ray were married on 28 November 1867. They appeared in the census on 19 August 1870 in Ashe Co., NC.⁷⁴⁷³ They⁷⁴⁷³ appeared in the census on 16 June 1880 in Watauga Co., NC.⁷⁴⁷⁴

In Watauga County Heritage 1849-1964, p.315, there is a passage by Margaret H. Norris, who cites the family Bible and family records. It reads as follows:

"Jennie was born a Coffey and married William (Bill) Ray from Ashe County (NC) around the Elk Knob area. Jennie and Bill had children Nancy, John, Etta, Mollie, Jerry, Lelia, and Lizzie. Bill and his son John took Granny Ray to Wyoming during the gold rush days to make their fortune. When this did not work out, Granny Ray and some of the smaller children came back to North Carolina and she lived out her life. As a child I had lots of blonde curls and Granny Ray was always asking for a curl. A cousin and I decided to grant her wish and he gave me a hair cut. Needless to say, we were both soundly spanked. Bill and John stayed in the West and are buried there. John lived around the Jackson Wyoming area and worked as a guide in the Park and surrounding area."

Mrs. Norris goes on to say that she walked over the Jackson area in 1976 trying to find someone who knew where her "great-uncle John" might have worked or lived because he had fascinated her with stories about the West. William Franklin "Bill" Ray was born on 2 October 1842 in Ashe Co., NC.

From researcher Barbara Manning, Greenville, MS William died in Lincoln Co., WY on 18 March 1901 and was buried at South Lincoln Cemetery in Diamondville, Lincoln Co., WY in March 1901 .⁷⁴⁷⁵

Eliza Virginia "Jenny" Coffey and William Franklin "Bill" Ray had the following children:

+5778	i.	John Alexander Ray.
+5779	ii.	Nancy Ann "Nan" Ray.
5780	iii.	Jeremiah Franklin "Jerry" Ray was born on 27 December 1872 in Ashe Co., NC. Jeremiah died in North Carolina on 26 March 1902.
5781	iv.	Mary Jane "Mollie" Ray was born circa 1875 in North Carolina.
5782	v.	Henrietta "Etta" Ray was born circa 1878 in North Carolina.
5783	vi.	William McIver "Willie" Ray was born circa 1880.
5784	vii.	Ellen Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ray was born in 1883.
5785	viii.	Lillie Victoria Ray was born in 1886.