Sixth Generation

1236. Peter Demastus was born circa 1829 in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA.¹¹²⁴ He lived with his parents in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA on 13 February 1860. Peter enlisted in Lamkin's Virginia Amherst-Nelson Light Artillery Battery circa 1861 at Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA. He died in the Civil War.¹¹⁵⁴

Peter was a member of Lamkin's Battery, Amherst-Nelson Light Artillery Regiment, Virginia.

Organized in the town of Massies Mill, Nelson County, Lamkin's Battery was enlisted September 3, 1861. Dispatched to Richmond for training, the battery was ordered to Coosawhatchie, South Carolina on January 1, 1862 to guard the critical railroad link between Charleston and Savannah. The unit first experienced combat at Pocotaligo, S.C. on October 22, 1862. After almost two years in S.C., Lamkin's men returned to Virginia in the fall of 1863 and were assigned to Haskell's battalion of artillery, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Their last battle was at Amelia Court House, VA. The unit was muster out on Apr. 9, 1865.

Other members of the unit from Massies Mill were Alfred Coffey, David Coffey, Edmund Coffey, Harrison Coffey, James Coffey (2), Jesse Coffey, John Coffey, Joseph Coffey, Moses Coffey and Rodney Coffey.

Peter Demastus and Mary "Polly" Monroe were married on 27 April 1861 in Nelson Co., VA.¹¹⁵³

"Mary Monroe married Peter Demasters April 27, 1861 in Nelson Co., VA. Peter served in Lamkins Battery of the Nelson Artillery, Confederate States of America and died at an unknown location, on an unknown date during the War Between the States. Peter and Mary had one daughter, Alice Peter Demasters. Mary married Edmond F. Coffey Sept. 3, 1867, after which, Edmond raised Alice as his own daughter. Mary was living at the time of the 1900 U.S. Census for Nelson Co., VA, but did not appear in the 1910 U.S. Census, so it could be assumed that Mary died between June 23, 1900 and April, 1910. Mary and Edmond had two children together; they were Henry Thomas and Anna Coffey."
Mary "Polly" Monroe, daughter of George Monroe and Margaret Elizabeth Coffey, was born in April 1832 in Virginia. She appeared in the census on 23 June 1900 in Nelson Co., VA.¹¹⁵¹ Mary is buried at the Henry Thomas Coffey Cemetery in Tyro, Nelson Co., VA . Her date of death is unknown.¹¹⁵²

Peter Demastus and Mary "Polly" Monroe had the following children: