Fourth Generation

47. Nathan Coffey was born in 1760 in Rowan Co., NC. Nathan died in Jackson Co., AL in 1823.

Perhaps Nathan was the fifth child of Chesley and Jane. He was born 1760, or earlier, and was a Revolutionary War soldier. He probably married Mary before 1780. Birthdate of children may be several years off.

Some descendants of Nathan began spelling their surname Coffee, particularly those of William Saunders Coffey and his son, William, Jr.

Nathan and Mary were married in 1785, probably in Wilkes Co., NC.¹¹⁶

Some researchers add a child named Appleton, but this is likely Absolom.

Nathan's family went to Kentucky and settled mainly in Adair Co. Some of them moved further south, and Nathan died in Jackson Co., AL in 1823.

Nathan and Mary (Saunders) Coffey

Daughters of the American Revolution records report that Nathan Coffey was born in 1760, that Mary Saunders was born in 1770, and that the two were married in 1785. However, considering that one of their sons was born between 1770 and 1780, it seems likely that they were born several years earlier. Mary was supposedly the daughter of William Saunders. Although D.A.R. records show Nathan as a son of Joel Coffey and Martha Sealey, he was probably a son of Chesley and Jane (Cleveland) Coffey.

Nathan Coffey was either born in what is now Wilkes Co., N.C., or else he moved there with his parents from Virginia, while he was still a youngster. He was a private in the North Carolina Militia during the Revolutionary War. During the 1790's, Nathan Coffey and a number of his relatives settled in Green, later Adair Co., Ky. Shortly after 1820, he moved to Jackson Co., Ala., where he died in 1823. Mary (Saunders) Coffey supposedly died in 1838 in Kentucky.

Nathan and Mary (Saunders) Coffey had 9 children: Rutherford, Elizabeth, Mary, Absolem, Joel, Grace, William, Nancy, and Catherine.

Rutherford Coffey was born between 1770 and 1780. He married Elizabeth "Graney" Coffey on Mar. 17, 1801. He settled in Jackson Co., Ala.

Elizabeth Coffey was born on May 12, 17881. She married her first cousin, James Coffey. She died in 1837.

Mary "Polly" Coffey was born on Dec. 7, 1785. Information on her family can be found in the story on Eli and Mary Coffey.

Absolem Coffey was supposedly born in 1788. He married first to Mary Lusk and second to Nancy Chadwick. He probably settled in Jackson Co., Ala. Joel Coffey was supposedly born on Aug. 3, 1790. He married Mary Knox in 1817. He died in 1850.

Grace Coffey was supposedly born in 1793. She married a Marlow. William Saunders Coffey was supposedly born in 1795. He married Elizabeth Schuyler.

Nancy Coffey was supposedly born in 1797. She married Richard Lockett. Catherine Coffey was supposedly born in 1799. She married John Baxter.

Sources: D.A.R. records, census records, and the James Coffey Family Bible This work was prepared for Wilkes County Heritage by Timothy E. Peterman Mary Saunders was born (date unknown).

Nathan Coffey and Mary Saunders had the following children: