Sixth Generation

1184. John Jack Coffey was born circa 1808 in Virginia. He appeared in the census in 1840 in Amherst Co., VA.⁴⁶⁴⁴ He appeared in the census on 1 June 1880 in Amherst Co., VA.⁴⁶⁴⁵ John died in Amherst Co., VA on 14 December 1888 cancer^{4646,4647,4648}

1840 census, Amherst Co: 2 males under 5, 2 males 5 and under 10; 1 male 30 and under 40; 1 female under 5, 1 female, 5 and under 10; 1 female, 30 and under 40

John Jack Coffey and Elizabeth Susan "Betsey" Duff⁴⁶⁴⁹ were married on 18 January 1830 in Amherst Co., VA.^4650,4651 They^4650,4651 appeared in the census on 17 September 1850 in Amherst Co., VA.⁴⁶⁵² They⁴⁶⁵² appeared in the census on 31 July 1860 in Amherst Co., VA.⁴⁶⁵³ John and Betsey⁴⁶⁵³ appeared in the census on 22 August 1870 in Amherst Co., VA.⁴⁶⁵⁴

"John Jack Coffey, Sr. was too old to be directly involved in the Civil War, but his sons were just the right age. On 22 April 1862, many of the Coffeytown boys were in Gordonsville, possibly selling tobacco or fruit (prices in Gordonsville were artificially inflated since it was a railroad center for the Confederacy and there were many soldiers hungry for non-military food). Up until this time the boys had stayed out of the war. As long as Stonewall was in charge, they weren't too concerned. Charles E., John Jack, Jr., Henry L. (son of Henry and Elizabeth Coffey), James (oldest son of Billy), and William (son of Billy) all enlisted as Privates in Co. E, 13th VA Regiment Infantry. Col. Walker enlisted them, perhaps at gun point. The Confederate States instituted a draft in April, 1862 and these Coffeys stumbled into some serious recruiters in Gordonsville. The record shows that most attended one or a few of the drills and then disappeared, some being listed as deserters. Charles was AWOL on 1 June 1862 and there is nothing in their records until May, 1864 when he "re-enlisted". Family legend has it that they hid from the recruiters but were discovered, routed out of the bushes and drafted. They were farmers, not soldiers. Stonewall Jackson, who had kept the Yankees confounded for some time, especially in the Shenandoah Valley, was mortally wounded 11 May 1863. This was a severe blow to the Confederacy, and his absence soon allowed Sheridan to ransack the Valley, bringing the War to the doorstep of Coffeytown. In 1862 it was all about States Rights. In 1864, it was personal.

Somehow, John Jack Coffey, Jr. and Charles E. Coffey were "transferred" to Co. F, 50th Regiment, VA Infantry in May, 1864. According to the Compiled Service Records at the Archives, Charles E. and John Jack were captured 12 May 1864 at Spottsylvania Courthouse (some records show the place of capture as The Wilderness, which coincides with family legend. The Wilderness Battle, which extended into the battle at Spottsylvania Courthouse, was over by 12 May, and it may have been only then that they were noted by Confederates as missing. During these battles, Lee was not aware of the exact number of Confederates he had available). They were taken to Belle Plains, VA and shipped to Elmira, NY as Prisoners of War. The record shows John Jack shipped on 30 July 1864, but Charles was sent 2 August 1864. They were both released 23 June 1865, about 2 months after Lee's surrender at Appomatox, under General Order #109, after taking the "Iron Clad Oath" of allegiance to the United States. John Jack is listed as having auburn hair, blue eyes, 5'-9" tall, and fair complexion. Both Charles and John Jack, Jr. were married before the war began and were probably happier than most upon their release."

"Daniel Rufus Coffey served in the local defense (Virginia Reserves) and is not known to have ever seen action. He was 15 when the war began." Elizabeth Susan "Betsey" Duff, daughter of Joshua Duff and Besley , was born in 1806 in Fluvanna Co., VA.⁴⁶⁵⁵ Elizabeth died in Amherst Co., VA on 14 August 1871 cholera^4656,4657

John Jack Coffey and Elizabeth Susan "Betsey" Duff had the following children:

John Jack Coffey and Virginia C. "Jenny" Campbell were married on 1 April 1875 in Rockbridge Co., VA.^4658,4659

"John Jack took a young wife, 25 year old Virginia C. Campbell of Rockbridge County, called “Jenny”. Virginia had come to the cabin, so the legend goes, to take care of Betsey during her sickness. Apparently there were no children by the second marriage, but the couple is thought to have informally adopted some Staton children. In this marriage record, John Jack's parents are listed as J and E Coffey, Jordan and Elizabeth. At the time, he was 64 years old.

"A few months later, he and 'Billy' bought the 1335 acres called 'Cooper's Place' evidently named after John Cooper, an early trapper who lived in the area. It was this purchase which firmly fixed Coffeytown as a defined piece of real estate in Amherst County. This was John Jack and Billy's solidification of the family as a group, by ensuring, finally, full control over the land on which they lived. Now more permanent houses could be built." They^4658,4659 appeared in the census on 1 June 1880 in Amherst Co., VA.⁴⁶⁶⁰ Virginia C. "Jenny" Campbell was born circa 1850 in Rockbridge Co., VA.

John Jack Coffey and Virginia C. "Jenny" Campbell had the following children: