Fourth Generation

55. Reuben Coffey was born on 16 September 1759 in Albemarle Co., VA. Reuben served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.^140,141

Reuben Coffey's Pension Application No. S46916

"We first marched to Ramsours Mill in Lincoln county, North Carolina the day after the Battle there. And while here met General Rutherford and General Thomas Sumpter and their army. The Tories being then departed our Regiment marched home and then generally engage in security after the Tories ___ several small engagement with them. The British and Tories having collected in force, and marching towards Virginia as far as Burke County, North Carolina. We ___ them and they retired towards Kings Mountain. Our commanders were Col. Benjamin Cleveland Col. William Campbell Col. Isaac Shelby & Col. John Sevier - we overtook and fought the British & Tories on Kings Mountain in South Carolina, defeated them on Saturday the 7th day of October 1780. We remained on the Battle ground until Sunday the next day and then marched with the Prisoners up to one Col. Mallins in Rutherford County, North Carolina. We then marched about three miles to a widow Bicker staffs [sic] with a court martial was held and condemned and hung nine of the Tories. We after marched through Burke County Wilkes county and toward the Moravian Towns. The main army marched to the Moravia Towns & guarded the British & Tories." He appeared in the census in 1790 in Wilkes Co., NC.¹⁴² He appeared in the Census of Pensioners in in Wayne Co., KY on 1 June 1840¹⁴³ Reuben died on 9 June 1842 at the age of 82 in Wayne Co., KY and was buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery in Oil Valley, Wayne Co., KY.^144,145,146

Reuben is often confused with his uncle of the same name. His uncle married Sally Scott.

This Reuben was in the Rev. War. and received a pension. He fought at the battle of Kings Mt. under Benjamin Cleveland, a first cousin. Reuben lived in Wilkes Co from 1778-1797, on the north side of Warrior Gap. He was in Burkes Co. from 1797 to 1810 on Blair's Fork, and in Wayne Co., KY from 1819 until his death on Jun. 9, 1842.

From National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 34, 1945-1946, page 62:

(S46916, N.C. service, Ky. Agcy.; Cert. 22363 issued 31 Oct. 1833, Act 7 Jun 1832 at $40 per an.). He apld 28 Aug 1832 from Wayne Co., KY. B. 16 Sep 1759 in Albemarle Co., Va and lived there 15 yr. Moved to Wilkes Co., NC near head of Adkin [sic] River where he lived for 14 yr; then to Burk [sic] Co for 22 yr. Moved to Wayne Co Ky. Reuben was at King's Mt. Lewis Coffey was brother. Osborne Coffey, 1759-1840, Va. service, buried at Middleburg, Casey Co., KY with wife, Milly Nightingale (no dates). Source: National Genealogical

From Amherst County, Virginia in the Revolution, page 116

Coffee, Reuben, -- Wayne Co., Ky., Aug. 28, 1832: b. Albemarle Co., Va., Sept. 16, 1759. His father moved to Amherst 1764. He testified that he vol. under Capt. Moses Guest, Major Winston, Col. Benjamin Cleveland & was in the battle of King's Mountain. Moved with his father to Wilkes co., N.C.; settled in Bucks Co., N.C. & after 22 years moved to Wayne Co., Ky. His claim was allowed. (See also DAR Patriot Index).

From A Century of Wayne County, Kentucky, page 8; 1939; Augusta Phillips Johnson

Reuben and Lewis Russell Coffey were Revolutionary soldiers. Reuben came to Wayne County in 1800 where he settled in Elk Spring Valley. He received a pension for his services. His applications states that he was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, September 16, 1759. He moved to Amherst County where, in 1777, he volunteered for "as long as my country needs my service," with Captain Moses Guess, under Major Joseph Winston, Colonel Benjamin Cleveland. He also served with Colonel Isaac Shelby. He was at the Battle of King's Mountain. After the war, he went to Wilkes County, North Carolina, and thence to Wayne County, Kentucky.

Reuben Coffey and Mildred "Millie" Morris were married circa 1782 in Virginia.

The wife of Reuben is not found in any record. But, tradition has it that her name was Millie Morris. Reuben is listed as having 10 children, but the census of 1800 in Burke Co. would indicated that there was another male child born between 1790 and 1800.

Many of Reuben's children lived in Wayne Co., KY, and some descendants still live there today.

From Joe Newbrough, Jr., 708 Betz Ave., Jefferson, LA 70121

Child of James and Elizabeth Cleveland Coffey; d. 9 Jun. 1842 in Wayne Co., KY. Married 18 Oct 1815 in Burke Co., NC. Was private in Revolutionary War, Battle of Kings Mt., Divorced Nancy Cooper 14 Feb. 1837. b. 16 Sep;. d. 9 Jun 1842 in Wayne Co., KY. Married Mildred 18 Oct 1815. Children were: 1) Rachel C., m. Burnett Elam, ca. 1820; 2) Elenor, b. 1783, m. Joel Hinson [sic] [Hysaw]; 3) Sara (Sally), b. 1785, m. Joseph Owens; 4) Elizabeth (Betzy), b. 1786, m. Thomas Sumpter; 5) James C., b. 1790, m. Sarah Sumpter; 6) Charles Oliver, b. ca. 1793 in Burke Co., NC, m. 18 Oct 1815 in Burke Co., NC to Dunis?, Mildred "Molly" Morris/Mary Sally Ramsey. Died 23 Jan 1889 in Menard, TX; 7) Mary C., b. 1793, m. Giddins; 8) Austin, b. 1796, m. Eliz. Garner 1819 in Burke Co., NC; 9) Naoma, b. 1805, m. Summers Wright; 10) Anna C., b. ca. 1888, m. Simon Washington Owens.

Mildred "Millie" Morris was born in 1761 in Albemarle Co., VA. Mildred died in Wayne Co., KY in 1842 and was buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery in Oil Valley, Wayne Co., KY in 1842 .¹⁴⁷

Reuben Coffey and Mildred "Millie" Morris had the following children: