Sixth Generation

1964. Jesse Calton Coffey was born on 21 April 1821 in Watauga Co., NC. He appeared in the census on 16 June 1900 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC.⁷⁴²⁵ Jesse died on 28 August 1904 at the age of 83 in Watauga Co., NC and was buried at Middle Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC.^7426,7427

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

"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 4th 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 drunkness and non attendance to meeting, evidence sufficient for exclusion which was done".

From Heritage of Watauga County 1849-1984, section Jesse Calton and Nancy Raines Coffey Family, p.144:

"The markers erected over the graves of Jesse Calton Coffey and Nancy Raines Coffey read that they were born in 1821 and 1822 respectively. However, this couple is listed in the 1870 census for Watauga County, and there the ages of both is said to be forty. Calton is known to be the son of Reuben and Rachel Hayes Coffey and, since Reuben's age found in the 1850 Census indicates that he himself was born in 1805, it is not likely that he had a son born in 1821.

"Calton did marry extremely young, as he was only 16 (actually age 20 [sic]) when he eloped with Nancy Raines in 1846. Nancy was the daughter of Henry Raines of Cocke County, Tennessee. Nancy said that she was baptized in the waters of the Pigeon River, which flows through that county. Jesse Calton and Nancy had seven children. Jesse Calton Coffey served in the Confederate Army. He and Nancy are buried in the Middle Fork Cemetery above Tweetsie Railroad. His son James and his wife Mary are also buried there. Nancy (Raines Coffey) was the first person to be buried in that cemetery.

The old homeplace of Jesse Calton and Nancy is now (1984) occupied by Mrs. Nora Broyhill. It is located just below Tweetsie Railroad."

Jesse Calton Coffey and Nancy A. Raines were married in 1846. They appeared in the census on 14 September 1850 in Polk Co., TN.⁷⁴²⁸ They⁷⁴²⁸ appeared in the census on 4 July 1860 in Fines Creek, Haywood Co., NC.⁷⁴²⁹ Jesse and Nancy⁷⁴²⁹ appeared in the census on 27 June 1870 in Blue Ridge Twp., Watauga Co., NC.⁷⁴³⁰ They⁷⁴³⁰ appeared in the census on 9 June 1880 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC.⁷⁴³¹ Nancy A. Raines, daughter of Henry Raines and Abigail White, was born on 30 September 1822 in Cocke Co., TN.⁷⁴³² Nancy died on 14 January 1899 at the age of 76 in Watauga Co., NC and was buried at Middle Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Boone, Watauga Co., NC.^7433,7434

From Heritage of Watauga County 1849-1984, section Nancy Reins Coffey, p.146:

"The subject of this sketch was born in 1823 in Cocke County, Tennessee and was married to J. Calton Coffey in the year 1846. She professed faith in Christ at the early age of 16 and joined the Baptist Church and then was baptised in the limpid waters of the Pigeon River. She lived a consistent Christian life for 60 long years. Nancy was the mother of three sons and four daughters, all of whom are married and have large families. She was the mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother of eighty-two children.

Aunt Nancy, as we called her, was stricken with paralysis on January 8, 1899 and died January 14, 1899 at 11:00 am. She bore up under the strong grasp of the fatal disease without a murmuring word. About four weeks before her death she conversed freely with her friends and her aged husband upon the subject of religion, telling them that her stay here was ready and willing to depart. She told her many friends that she was going home to glory, where sickness and death and pain are not known and where Christ with his own soft hands would wipe away all tears.

Thus another fireside is made lonely by the rude hand of death, another seat is vacant at the church house and daughters can no more meet mother here on earth no more will they bask in her smiles; no mother to speak words of comfort, no mother to fan the fever heated brow. She has crossed the river, a word to the aged husband, weeping friends. Cast all your troubles on him who is able and willing to bear them all for us, for he has said in his word, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Blessed thought that we have a friend, that will help us to bear our sorrows and burdens."

This was a eulogy by William Elrod.

Jesse Calton Coffey and Nancy A. Raines had the following children: