Sixth Generation

1369. Reuben Wetzel Coffey Sr. was born on 4 July 1832 in Nelson Co., VA. He lived with his parents in Nelson Co., VA on 22 August 1850. Reuben enlisted on 19 March 1862 in the Nelson Light Arty Regt., VA Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA.⁵¹⁴⁰ He appeared in the census on 1 June 1900 in South River Dist., Rockbridge Co., VA.⁵¹⁴¹ Reuben Sr. died on 3 December 1903 at the age of 71 in Rockcastle Co., KY and was buried at Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lexington, VA.⁵¹⁴²

Reuben Wetzel Coffey Sr. and Sarah Jane Wood⁵¹⁴³ were married on 16 December 1852 in Nelson Co., VA.^5144,5145 They^5144,5145 appeared in the census on 17 June 1860 in Glenwood, Rockbridge Co., VA.⁵¹⁴⁶ They⁵¹⁴⁶ appeared in the census on 31 August 1870 in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA.⁵¹⁴⁷ Reuben and Sarah⁵¹⁴⁷ appeared in the census on 2 June 1880 in Pedlar Dist., Amherst Co., VA.⁵¹⁴⁸

Sarah Jane Wood and Reuben Coffey began their married life in Nelson County, VA. By 1860 they were living in Rockbridge County, VA with the first two of their six children. Reuben went back to Nelson County and enlisted at Massies Mill on 10 March 1862 in Rives Battery, copies of his pay slips indicate that he was a shoemaker.

His request to return to Nelson County to secure provisions for his family was signed by J. Walter Boyd. In 1897 Reuben and Sarah Jane were living with a son in Rockbridge County when Sarah died. Reuben died in December 1903; both are buried in unmarked graves in Rockbridge County VA.

Their children were:

George Washington 1853-1928 married Sarah Frances Coffey, of Amherst Co. they had eight children.

Dicey Jane 1854-1929 married Sidney Baxter Fitzgerald in Nelson County. He was a son of John Preston and Sophie Ramsey Fitzgerald. they had thirteen children. They relocated to WVA, where they are both buried.

Mary Susan 1863-1960 married Schuyler Coffey of Amherst County. They too are buried in Rockbridge County, in unmarked graves.

Florence Virginia 1869-1939 married William Jackson Sorrells; she is my direct link to the Coffey family. They were the parents of three daughters and six sons. Their last surviving child died at age 97 in 1993.

Reuben Wetzel 1871-1951 married Mollie Ward and had eight children. They are buried in rockbridge Co.

Rose Maywood Coffey 1873-1946 married Noah Rice Blackwell, they lived in Augusta County where they raised ten children and are buried there. This Coffey family did not produce any famous people, or wealthy people, but this family seems to be strong on longevity.

Submitted by Jarrett Wilson Harlow. Written by: Carol Hite Harlow. Sources: marriage, birth, census and death records of Nelson, Amherst and Rockbridge Counties, and family histories.

Sarah Jane Wood was born on 13 August 1835. Sarah died on 19 September 1897.

Reuben Wetzel Coffey Sr. and Sarah Jane Wood had the following children: