Fifth Generation

510. Reuben Coffey was born in 1805 in Burke Co., NC. Reuben died in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC in December 1892. White Springs Cemetery in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC in December 1892 .

Reuben was a Baptist Minister. They are found in Pleasant Grove Church records in Cocke County, TN from June 1840 to December 1850.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Cocke Co., TN Minutes:

"3 Sat June 1840 Church met at P. Grove. Sermon by James M. Bryan. 1st opened for members. received by Experience "Amy" Col'. Reuben Coffey and wife Rachel by letter. Also Russle Allen and wife Luiso without letter. 2"- 3" - 4" - 5"- granted Bro Reuben Coffy, License to preach. Jos Mannind Mod G. E. McNabb Clerk."

"Sat. before 4 sat. July 1840. Church met P. Grove. After sermon appointed the following Brethern as delegates to the association at Clay Creek. Reuben Coffy, George McNabb, Wm. Vinson John Weaver, Vinet Fine, Wm. Green. & Garrett McNabb. G. E. McNabb Clerk".

"9 Sept 1840 Church met at P Grove. Sermon by El Jos Manning 1st opened for member, received by Experience Nancy Scroggins, & Catherin Scroggins and Jane Jenkins by letter. 2"- 3" - 4" - 5" agreed that Bro Reuben Coffee sit in counsel with the bretherine there to receive members"

"21 Aug. 1841 Church met at P. Grove Sermon by El Jos Manning..Agreed to set Reuben Coffey for examination and ordination if found qualified and appointed Joseph Manning Mod G. E. McNabb, Clerk".

"sat. Nov. 1841 Church met at P. Grove. Sermon by El Ephraem Moore. Met again on Monday, for the purpose of examining and ordaining Bro Reuben Coffy, as minister - took the question, was unanimous. he came forward was examined & ordained by the Presbytery Elders E. Moore & J Manning Jos Manning Mod G. E. McNabb Clerk."

"Met on Monday 3d of May 1842..Came forward for ordination, by prayer and laying on of the hands of our Presbytery ministers present E. Moore Jos Manning & Reu- ben Coffy Met at knight received experience Polly Walker. Jos Manning Mod G. E. McNabb Clerk."


"20 Augt 1842 Church met at P. Grove Sermon by El Reuben Coffy. "

"8 Oct 1842 Church met at P. Grove Sermon by El Reuben Coffy" Reuben continued to minister on Oct.1, Oct. 22, Nov.5 in 1842.

"Complaint of Reuben Coffy brought before the church against Bro James Mathes for killing Abraham Dentons Jacke and appointed Bro William Vinson, Wm. Greene & G. E. McNabb to invite him to attend our next meeting. Granted let- ters of dismipion to Sophy and William Davis. Excluded Bro George Fry for not obeying an order from the church for his attendance. Granted Rebecca Camrey letter of dismission."

Reuben continued to minister on Jan.1, Jan.9, Feb.4, Mar.3, Mar.25, Apr.29, May 28, June 3, Aug.9, Aug.26, Aug.29, Sept.2 in 1843.

"4 Sat June 1843..John Weaver, Joseph Sutton, Wm. Vinson, Reuben Coffy, Elias Sisk, Anderson McMahan, Joseph Padget, Redmon McMahan as delegates to the general association to be held at P. Grove. commencing the last Friday in Aug- ust nest."

"15 July 1843 Church met at P. Grove Sermon by Bro. Wm. Wall 1st opened for members. received by Experience Calton Coffee, ." (Calton was Reuben's son).

"2 Sat Dec. Church met at P. Grove. The church took into consideration the adoption of Rules of de- corum for the government of our church. Appointed Bro Elias Sisk, Ruben Coffy, Jos Manning & G. E. McNabb to draft Rules and present them at our next meeting on Sunday."

"2 Sat Jan 1844 Church met at Bro John Weavers..Rules presented and adopted. 5” granted letter of dismission to R. Coffy, Rachel Coffee, Calton Coffee, Samuel Green & Miry Rollens."

"2d Sat Feb. Church met at Bro Wm. Vinsons. Sermon by R. Coffy. Bro Miller informed the church of a disturbunce be- tween Bro Carvel & Sister Coffy. appointed Bro Miller and Ely McMahan to invite them to meeting to answer for said disturbunce. Same committee to invite Bro Cernel to attend the next meeting to answer a report of drunk- nep."

"2 Sat Mar... refer- ence of last meeting Bro Cernel came forward and made humble confession the church forgave him- Sister Green made every thing satisfactory."

Reuben continued to minister on Jan.24, Feb.2, Mar.7, Apr.1, & May 11 in 1844.

Reuben continued to minister on Feb.3 in 1845. No more ministry was recorded in 1845.

2" Sat July 1846 Church met at P. Grove..Whereas report say that Bro Ransen Coffy has been marking some sheep that were not his, that he drove William Rains yearling home."

24" July 1846 The case against Reuben Coffee for marking sheep and driving home a yearling. No proof being brought to that effect, except in his favor. He had driven Wm. Rains yearling home but through mistake. Wm Rains came to Coffey's house told him the yearling wa his and Bro Coffee freely gave it up. Every circumstance being put to the church he was honorably acquitted."

Reuben ministered on Aug. 2 1846.

"2 Sat May 1848 Church met at P. Grove..Bro R. Coffy confessed using too much rough language and prayed forgivness for the same, which was granted."

"22 July 1848 Church met at P. Grove..Bro R. Coffy to invite Bro Calton Coffy and invite him to attend on Wednesday after the 4" Sunday in Augt at P. Grove to answer a charge of misconduct."

"31 Augt. 1848 Church met at Pleasant Grove..took up case of Calton Coffe, refered to next meeting".

2" Sat Sept 1848 Church met at P. Grove..case of B Bro Calton Coffy, charge drunknep and non attendance to meeting, evidence sufficient for exclusion which was done".

"10 Feb 1849 Church met at P. Grove..a letter of dismission to sister Nancy Coffee."

2 Dec 1850: "granted Bro R. Coffy & wife Rachael and Eli McMahan letters of dismission R. Coffee Mod protem".

"2 sat. Nov. 1853.granted a letter of dismission to Nancy Caffee".

From A History of Watauga County, North Carolina by John Preston Arthur:

Reuben Coffey, sick of living in a turmoil with his neighbors, had left the Globe, Caldwell County and moved to a house on Meat Camp, Watauga, NC, but needing some household articles he had left at his Globe home, returned during this winter, accompanied by his daughter, Millie, who was riding a white horse. Robbers had taken all of McCaleb Coffey's (Reuben's brother) horses. Reuben did not know this. However, on their way down the mountain, Reuben and his daughter met the two men, who said they were from Michigan and had escaped from prison. They were not in uniform, neither were they armed. Reuben had a gun and arrested them, after which he took them by McCaleb Coffey's house to David Miller's, one mile away, hoping to get Miller to go with him and then to Camp Mast on Cove Creek, but Miller excused himself, and Reuben went on alone with his prisoners.

When they got to the intersection of the turnpike with the old Morganton Road, about two miles above Shull's Mills, one of the prisoners called Reuben's attention to some rude benches standing on one side of the road, and when he looked in the direction indicated the other seized his gun, while his companion struck Reuben a blow on the back of his head with a heavy stick. In the ensuing scuffle the two overcame Reuben and took his gun away from him. At that moment, after having tried to shoot him (and failing only because the cap snapped), they heard Wilson Beech, a boy, returning at a gallop from the mill, so they ran off and escaped.

Reuben Coffey and Rachel Hayes were married. They appeared in the census on 9 October 1850 in Cocke Co., TN.²⁰⁶¹ They²⁰⁶¹ appeared in the census on 7 June 1860 in Buncombe Co., NC.²⁰⁶² Reuben and Rachel²⁰⁶² appeared in the census on 15 June 1880 in Globe, Caldwell Co., NC.²⁰⁶³ Rachel Hayes, daughter of John Hayes and Millie Medaris, was born in 1807 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC.²⁰⁶⁴ Rachel died in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC on 5 February 1885.

Reuben Coffey and Rachel Hayes had the following children: