Fifth Generation

303. Jordan Coffey was born circa 1780 in Virginia. He appeared in the census on 1 June 1830 in Amherst Co., VA.¹⁰⁷⁹ He appeared in the census in 1840 in Amherst Co., VA.¹⁰⁸⁰ Jordan died in Virginia before 1860.

Neither Jordan nor Betsy appeared in the 1860 census record.

DNA testing of descendants show that genetically Jordan was a Toliver/Talliferro.

Jordan Coffey and Elizabeth "Betsey" Rippetoe¹⁰⁸¹ were married on 21 March 1803 in Amherst Co., VA.¹⁰⁸² They¹⁰⁸² appeared in the census on 17 September 1850 in Amherst Co., VA.¹⁰⁸³

From the 1825 will of William Coffey, son of John and Jane Graves Coffey:

"It is my desire & request that my Executors hereafter named shall rent to Jordan Coffey my tract of land whereupon the said Jordan has lived the said Jordan paying to them for the benefit of my Estate five pounds per annum so long as my Executors shall think it prudent to rent it to him but if my Executors shall think it right to sell the said tract of land the proceeds of the said is to go to the rest of children hereafter named."

Some researchers believe that Jordan was a grandson of William through his daughter Jane and her relationship with an unknown male. Others think that his father was Benjamin Hawkins Fitzgerald, who eventually married Jane. Jordan often tried to use the Fitzgerald surname in official records, but the surname Coffey was also entered. Logic would indicate that if he were Benjamin's natural son then Benjamin would likely have claimed him. [In 2010 known through DNA testing of descendants to have been the son of a Taliaferro]

"Item I give to Edmund F. Coffey and James Montgomery in trust & to their successors for the benefit of my daughter Jane Fitzgerald and the legitimate children of her body one half of my tract of land in Nelson County on Cub Creek containing by estimation two hundred and fifteen acres the said tract of land to be equally divided according to quantity and quality. The other moiety of the said last mentioned tract of land I give to my said trustees herein before mentioned & to their successors for the benefit of my son William Coffey during his natural life, at his death to return to the rest of my children or those which I shall name hereafter, each to hold the part they now live on. " [emphasis mine]

Other of William's daughters had illegitimate children, but Jane was the only one mentioned thusly.

Elizabeth "Betsey" Rippetoe, daughter of Peter Oglesby Rippetoe and Millie Hamilton, was born circa 1778 in Virginia. Elizabeth died in Virginia before 1860.

Jordan Coffey and Elizabeth "Betsey" Rippetoe had the following children: