Third Generation

10. Rev. James Coffey³⁰ was born on 4 July 1729 in Essex Co., VA.
The date of July 4 comes from records of researcher David A. Strange, but no source is given. No earlier research has more than a year date.

James made his will on 13 September 1786 in Wilkes Co., NC and died before the end of

Will of James Coffey. Wilkes County, North Carolina.

In the Name of God Amen.

I James Coffey of Wilkes County and State of North Carolina being sick & weak in body; though of sound and disposing mind and memory; and calling to mind that it is ordained for all men to die; do make and nominate this my last will and testament,Viz:

First I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it. And my body to be buried in a desent manner at the discretion of my executors. And as to what worldly goods that pleased Almighty God to bless me with I give and despose of that in the following manner (To wit).

It is my will and desire that my loving wife Elizabeth Coffey the whole of my Estate both real & personal (that shall remain after paying my just debts and furneral expenses) during her natural life.

Item:I give and bequeath to my daughter Betty Whitesides, my son John Coffey, my son James Coffey, my son Reuben Coffey, my son Abious Coffey, my son Ely Coffey, my son Rise Coffey, my daughter Martha Durram, my son Joel Coffey, my son Lewis Coffey, and the heirs of my son Archelus Coffey; the whole of my estate both real and personal of all kinds whatsoever: that shall remain after my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid: to be equally divided amongst them at the decease of my wife Elizabeth Coffey That is to say allowing all the heirs of my deceased son Archelius Coffey jointly a part equal to one of my children and __ __ of ____ equal share __ my own children.

I do nominate and appoint my son John Coffey and my son Reubin Coffey executors of this my last will and testament and do hereby disannul all former wills and ratify and confirm this to be my last will and testament; in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Six.
His
Signed Sealed published and declared James X Coffey
in presence of Mark
Wm. Lenoir
Peter Holt State of North Carolina
Benjamin Coffey Wilkes County October 1786

The within Will was duly _____ in open court by oath of William ______ Esq. a subscribing there to and ordered to be recorded.

Teste: Wm. Lenoir

No. 209, Jan Term 1787, INVENTORY, James Coffee, Senr. decd by John Coffey, 620 acres of land, Melatto wench and 2 children (not named) money due estate: One note on Samuel Slone, Rice Coffey, Benjamin Stroder, Cleveland Coffey, John Townson, Thomas Coffey, James Coffey, Junr. [Source: Wilkes County, North Carolina Will Abstracts, Book One, 1778-1799, Published by Wilkes County Genealogical Society, Inc., PO Box 1629, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.] 1786 at the age of 57.³¹
James is one of the better researched of the known children of John and Jane Graves Coffey. He was referred to as Reverend because he was a Baptist minister in Wilkes Co., NC.

Many researchers have assumed that James and Elizabeth were married in Orange Co. about 1750, and more specifically Aug. 30, 1750. However, no source has been given for this date, and a record has not been found in Orange Co. marriage records.

James can be found on the Orange Co. "List of Tithable's" in 1749, but not in 1754 meaning that he and Elizabeth moved soon after their marriage.

The first deed record found in Albemarle Co. is dated 1758. They bought 124 acres from James' father John, at the head of the middle branch of the Hardware River. (Many early Albemarle Co. records are missing making it impossible to determine the exact date that James settled in Albemarle Co.)

James did enter land on July 26, 1765 for 262 acres "on the head branches of Meechums River, under the Ragged Mountains." This date is probably much later than actual purchase because James had already moved to Amherst Co. the year prior to that date.

James made his will on Sep. 13, 1786 and it was proved Oct. 26 in Wilkes Co. All of his children are named except he mentions the "heirs of my son Archelaus." This indicates that Archelaus died prior to Sep. 1786.

Elizabeth is said to have gone to TN with her son Rice where she died about 1827, at about 100 years of age.

From Virginia DAR Book; Big Blue Book, 1970, page 469

James Coffey -- Born 1726 Ireland; Died 1813 Wilkes County, North Carolina; Married 1746, Prince Wm. Co., Va., Elizabeth Cleveland, born 1728, died 1828.

James Coffey served as a Private under Capt. Alexander Peoples. Five of his sons were Revolutionary soldiers. (Penn. Archives, 5th Series Vol. VI, p. 57). He resided in Pennslvania during the Revolution.

The accuracy in this version of the DAR biography is questionable.

Some researchers have mistakenly given James the middle name of Bluford or Edwen or Erwin.

Rev. James Coffey and Elizabeth Cleveland were married circa 1750 in Orange or Albemarle Co., VA. Elizabeth Cleveland, daughter of Edward Coffey and Grace Cleveland, was born in February 1727. Elizabeth died in Bedford Co., TN between 1826 and 1827.

Cleveland researchers believe that Edward was the father of Elizabeth because her mother Grace eventually married Edward Coffey. Not really a good basis for believing that. If birth years are close to accurate, Grace would have been about 10 yrs old when she became pregnant with Elizabeth.

The book, A century of Wayne County, Kentucky, 1800-1900 by Augusta Phillips Johnson, page 9, reads: "Reuben, Lewis Russell, and James Coffey were sons of the Rev. James Coffey and Elizabeth Cleveland, sister of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, [emphasis mine] who was with Shelby at King's Mountain.

Rev. James Coffey and Elizabeth Cleveland had the following children: