Second Generation

4. Edward Coffey Jr. was born circa 1701 in Essex Co., VA.

He is thought to be a twin of John but not yet proven. His birth year is estimated but considered to be fairly accurate. His father's will stipulated that neither he nor John were to receive land until they reached age 16 provided their mother was deceased or at 18 if she lived.

We know that mother Ann lived to remarry and have other children, so it is safe to assume that Edward - at least - received his portion at age 18. He sold that land to brother John in 1737. If we subtract 18 years from 1737 then we get the year 1719 when he came to own the land. Again, subtract 18 years from 1719 and we get 1701 as his year of birth.
Edward probably died after 1774 in Albemarle Co., VA.

Edward Coffey Jr. and Grace Cleveland were married between 1737 and 1740.

There is no proof of the children of Edward and Grace. It is speculated that Cleveland, husband of Elizabeth Coffey, and who appears in Orange and Albemarle county records from 1762 to 1774, and perhaps also in 1791, is one of their sons. He may also be the Cleveland Coffey who had a land entry in 1778 on Zack's Fork of Lower Creek in Burke Co., NC

Benjamin is also another possible son. He was born in VA in 1763 and is on the Burke Co., NC census from 1790 to 1850 (Caldwell in 1850). His wife was Leah, born about 1760 in VA. The Leah Coffey who married Francis Hickman on Apr. 19, 1798 in Jefferson Co., TN may be their daughter.

The problem with this Benjamin being a son of Edward and Grace is that Grace would have been 47 when he was born, in that era somewhat late in life for a woman to have a child.

The other possible children of Edward are James, who is on the 1785 census for Botetourt Co., VA and William, found in a few records of Montgomery Co., VA from 1781 to 1785. The likelihood also exists that these are children of Peter and Susannah Coffey of Prince Edward Co., VA. No proof of either being factual has been found.

The William Coffey of Buckingham Co. tax lists from 1783 to 1797 is probably Peter's son.

Other possible children of Edward is Jesse, in Wilkes Co., NC from 1779-1786, and Isaac or Isaia Zarrah, also in Wilkes Co. from 1782 to 1796. The Jesse in Wilkes Co. up to 1786 could well be the one in the Pendleton Co., SC census of 1790 and 1800. He was the father of six boys: Cleveland, Edward, Joel, Elijah, Elisha and John. The use of the names Cleveland and Edward adds to the possibility that Jesse was a son of Edward. In the 1800 census he was over 45 meaning that he would have been born in 1755 or before. He is not on the 1820 census of Pendleton Co., but a Nancy (over 45) is. This could have been his wife since Jesse died prior to 1810. Grace Cleveland, daughter of Alexander Cleveland and Mildred Presly, was born on 1 September 1716 in Gloucester Co., VA.

Edward Coffey Jr. and Grace Cleveland had the following children: