Elizabeth (Cleveland) Coffey (1727 - 1827)

Born 27 Feb 1727 in Gloucester, Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of James Edwin Coffey — married 1750 in Orange Co., VA

Descendants

Died 1827 at about age 99 in Bedford, Tennessee, United States

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Elizabeth (Cleveland) Coffey migrated from Virginia to Tennessee.

Biography

Elizabeth was born in 1727 at Blue Run, Orange County, VA. Her father was Alexander Cleveland and mother Grace Cleveland.based on reasonable ages for her mother Grace to have a child and for Elizabeth to marry.^[1] The Find A Grave birth date of 27 Feb 1727 is unlikely since Elizabeth's mother was only about 10 then, and Elizabeth must have been at least 16 to marry in 1750.^[2] The source of that birth date is probably a letter dated 9 Feb 1897 from Col. A.M. Coffey to his daughter which said (quote): "My grandmother Coffey was a Cleveland and lived to be one hundred years old."^[3]

Marriage and Children

Elizabeth married James Edwin Coffey, son of John COFFEY and Jane/Jean GRAVES, on 30 Aug 1750 at Orange County, Virginia, USA. This marriage date was actually a deed—there is no record of their marriage. Known children (surname COFFEY):^[4]

1. Elizabeth 'Betsy' Coffey - b. 1751; d. 1811; m. Robert WHITESIDE
2. John Reid - b. 1753; d. 27 Dec 1825; m. Dorothy 'Dolly' EMUNDSON
3. Archelaus/Achilles - b. 1755; d 1783; m. Rebecca WILSON
4. James Edwin , Jr - b. 1757; d. 1794; m. Mary MOORE
5. Martha Durham - b. 1756 - 1826)
6. Reuben - b. 16 Sep 1759; d. 9 Jun 1842; m. Mildred 'Millie' MORRIS
7. Ambrose - b. 1 Oct 1762; d. Sep 1818; m. Mildred MOORE
8. Elijah - b. 1 May 1763; d. 5 Sep 1847; m. Hannah ALLEN
9. Rice - b. 17 Apr 1766; d. 24 Jul 1853; m. Sally BRADFORD
10. Joel - b. 1770; d. Dec 1826; m. Martha Patsy SEALEY
11. Martha 'Patsy' - b. 1768; d. 12 Aug 1826; m. Mastin DURHAM
12. Lewis Russell Coffey - 18 Nov 1772; d. 29 Sep 1850; m. Abigail Bedent MOORE^[5]

They lived mostly in Albemarle, Virginia until 1759 when they moved to Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Death and Legacy

Elizabeth died in 1827 at Bedford, Tennessee^[6] and is buried at Buried in Old Salem Cemetery, Bell Buckle, Bedford Co., Tennessee (No marker).^[7]

The photo shown here cannot be of James and Elizabeth Coffey. Photography had not been invented before they died.

Research Notes

Descendants of Jacob and Mildred White Cleveland have, for many years, embraced the traditional opinion that Jacob's line was from Jeremiah < Alexander < Roger/Alexander. Recent research and educated genealogical supposing by Grace Lee Smith Green has provided other interesting and, in many cases, more logical possibilities about the early origins of this line of Clevelands. Because Grace is a careful, thorough, and meticulous researcher, her theories are not to be taken lightly.

Previously the concept was that there were two main Caucasian Cleveland lines in the United States: the Northern Line and the Southern Line. According to Grace's theory, however, there are actually two Southern lines, sired by half-brothers John and Alexander Cleveland, both sons of Roger Cleveland.

Those holding with the idea of Roger Cleveland as the original immigrant of the Southern Line are already familiar with the fact that he had three children, supposedly by only one wife (Dorcas): John, Alexander, and Elizabeth. John, though, seemed to slip into genealogical oblivion with only a parish notation that he had a daughter named Elizabeth. Roger's daughter, Elizabeth, did not warrant even a notation. Alexander assumed the sole responsibility for advancing the Southern Line of Clevelands.

Grace's research has fleshed out John's role in our early history. Roger's son by a marriage previous to his marriage to Dorcas (?Alexander), John was probably the son of a Miss Rowzee/Rousey, whom Roger had married in England c1650. John was born c1675. Roger later married Dorcas (?Alexander), by whom he had Elizabeth (1684) and Alexander (c1687).

Alexander's wife was previously thought to be Mildred/Milly/Mary Presley. However, Grace's research indicates that there was no Mildred/Milly Presley and that Alexander's wife was Mary, surname unknown.

Alexander's children had been thought to be Jeremiah (supposedly the father of Jacob and his brother Reuben), Alexander, John, Grace, William, Benjamin, Jane, Elizabeth, and Micajah.

Grace's research, however, indicates that Alexander had no son named Jeremiah and that the Reuben previously indicated as a son of Jeremiah did not exist. The confusion about Jeremiah Cleveland, which eventually was printed as fact in the 1899 Cleveland genealogy, may have happened when a Cleveland descendant, Peter Cleveland, stated that his great-grandfather was named Jeremiah, a fact that was true because his maternal great-grandfather was Jeremiah White (Mildred's father), not a Jeremiah Cleveland. The first son of Jacob and Mildred was also named Jeremiah since in that period, the English custom was to name the first son after the mother's father (contrary to the Irish custom of naming the firstborn son after the father's father).

The last three children previously attributed to Alexander (Jane, Elizabeth, and Micajah) also had different histories, according to Grace's research:

Elizabeth, who married James Coffey, was probably the illegitimate daughter of Grace Cleveland, according to research by Allen Poe, a North Carolina researcher who found a Deed of Gift from Alexander Cleveland. Since Grace eventually married Edward Coffey, he may have been Elizabeth's natural father, but there is no proof. (Edward Coffey's will is needed here.) If Elizabeth was indeed illegitimate, someone had to put up bond (probably her parents). Otherwise Grace would have been forced to reveal the name of the father, or she would have gone to jail. This record should be among Virginia County records somewhere, unless the bond was destroyed ~ or not yet filed and still in someone's attic or basement.

Micajah, according to Grace's research, was actually the son of John (son of Roger). Jane (who married Chesley Coffey) was actually the daughter of another son of this John, also named John.

This second John (son of John, grandson of Roger) had two children by a Miss Rhyse/Rice: Jane and the Jacob who married Mildred White.

The differences are outlined in the following charts:

Traditional

Parents: Alexander or Roger and Dorcas Cleveland

John Cleveland

ALEXANDER CLEVELAND

Elizabeth Cleveland

Parents: Alexander and Milly Presley Cleveland

JEREMIAH CLEVELAND

Alexander Cleveland

John Cleveland

Grace Cleveland

William Cleveland

Benjamin Cleveland

Jane Cleveland

Elizabeth Cleveland

Micajah Cleveland

Parents: Jeremiah and Sarah Mimms Cleveland

JACOB CLEVELAND (m. Mildred White)

Reuben Cleveland

New Information

Parents: Roger and --?-- Rowzee/Rousey (?) Cleveland

JOHN CLEVELAND

Parents: Roger and Dorcas (?Alexander) Cleveland

ALEXANDER CLEVELAND

Elizabeth Cleveland

Parents: John and --?-- Cleveland

Elizabeth Cleveland

JOHN CLEVELAND

Micajah Cleveland

William Cleveland

Parents: Alexander and Mary Cleveland

Alexander Cleveland

John Cleveland

Grace Cleveland

William Cleveland

Benjamin Cleveland

Elizabeth Cleveland, who married James Coffey, was actually the illegitimate daughter of Grace Cleveland. Parents: John and --?-- Rhyse/Rice Cleveland

Jane Cleveland

JACOB CLEVELAND (m. Mildred White)

(No Reuben Cleveland here at this time.)

Why are there such major discrepancies? We eager researchers latch onto the 1899 genealogy and subsequent printed research gleaned from it, and in an excited genealogical rush, we are prone to accept everything as historical gospel. The fact of the matter is that the 1899 genealogy is indeed an extremely worthy resource, and Edmund Janes Cleveland and Horace Gillette Cleveland are surely to be thanked and commended for their Herculean work. However, there are definite omissions and errors in their work ~ especially as pertains to the Southern Lines. Edmund and Horace were Northern Liners, who in many cases relied on faltering memories and family rumors for their Southern Line information.

As the saying goes, however, faded ink is better than a weak memory. Grace Green is not one to accept traditional information when there is documentation available ~ documentation that may have been previously disregarded because it contradicted the 1899 genealogy. In some cases, she admits she has no actual proof ~ just a preponderance of circumstantial evidence that seems more in line with her thinking than with that of Edmund and Horace.

We shouldn't feel too guilty about our inclinations to accept the 1899 genealogy as the definitive authority on all Cleveland history. No less a respected historian as Lyman Draper did the same thing. However, now that Grace broken through the restrictive boundaries of traditional acceptance, I hope we all will shed our genealogical complacency and do some back-tracking and additional research to find the true histories of our ancestors. Copyright 2001 by Vikki L. Jeanne Cleveland ~ All Rights Reserved

Deed of Roger Cleveland. Submitted by Grace Lee Smith Green

Old Rappahannock County Deeds & Wills 1677-1682 Part II pp 236-237 Nover Cort 79 Know all men by these prsents that I Symon Miller of the County of Rappae: Boatewright, for a valuable consideration already received have sold unto Roger Cleaveland of the Pish of Abington in the County of Glocester, Plantr, a parcell of land conteyning foure hundred and forty acres lying on the North side of Rappae: River and adjoyning to the land of Mr. Cornelius Reynolds on the East side of the said Reynolds his land, and soe running East to the River to two marked Beeches, from thence North into the woods to a marked red Oak, and from thence West to a marked red Oak, and from thence South to the place wherre it begins to a marked Locust tree in the line of the said Cornelius Reynolds, as the Pattent of the said Land at more large maketh appeare; To have & to hold the said Foure hundred acres of land and forty together with all woods Timber water profits and implements soever to the same belonging from me the said Symon Miller or my heires to the said Roger Cleaveland and his heires from time to time paying the rights and services to our Soveraigne Lord the King, And the said Miller doth hereby for himself his heires grant that he at all times hereafter shall possess & enjoy the said land wthout molestation of him the sd Miller his heires or assignes & whereas I the sd Miller have received bond or the said Cleaveland for ye payment of ye value of the sd Land upon paymt. whereof this convayance to remaine in full force & virtue and upon non paymt at the severall daies appointed, this to be void & of no force. In Witness wee have set our hands and Seales this 4th of Novembr: 1679

Signed sealed & delivd in prsence of us Cor: Reynolds, Jno Rowzie, Simon Miller, Margaret her (X) mark Miller

Recognitr in Cur com Rappae: 5 die Novis 1679

Know all men by these prsents that I Margaret Miller doe ordaine Cornelius Reynolds my lawfull attorney for me & in my name to acknowledge on Convayance of land granted by my Husband & me to Roger Cleaveland bearing date the 4th November 1679 to the said Roger Cleaveland his assignes as Witness my hand & seale this 4th of Novembr: 1679

Test Jno. Rowzie, Elizb her (X) mark Lawthland, Margaret her (X) mark Miller

Recordatr x3 die Novis 1679

Roger moved to that part of Spottsylvania Co VA, that in 1734, became Orange Co VA Ref: Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial VA, Vol 58, p 254, Virginia State Library, Richmond, VA. also Spottsylvania County VA Records by Crozier, p 17; Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Sources

1. ↑ Vikki L Jeanne Cleveland, "Cleveland Family Chronicles," 2001; giving "Elizabeth Cleveland, who married James Coffey, was actually the illegitimate daughter of Grace Cleveland" per research of Grace Lee Smith Green. [1]
2. ↑ Find A Grave, memorial 163321350, Rev James Coffey; giving bio which says "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."
3. ↑ Andre Cuffez, Coffey Genealogy 3 (Internet Archive: 2019), "Coffey data, page 2," p 233; giving letter by Col. A.M. Coffey.
4. ↑ Grace Lee Smith Green, "Descendants of Roger Cleveland," (Grace Green's Genes, 25 Oct 2010). [2]
5. ↑ Leonard Coffey, Coffey Cousins' Clearinghouse. (Issue 115, Dec 2009, page 3) accessed October 14, 2015; giving "Lewis Russell Coffey (1772-1850) a son of James and Elizabeth (Cleveland) Coffey. Lewis Russell Coffey married Bidant Moore." "New Cousins."
6. ↑ Find A Grave Index, 1600s-current, Elizabeth Cleveland Coffey, memorial ID:113416365, maintained by Theresa/Thunderbird584. Originally created by: Sleepy Hill. Record added: Jul 06, 2013. [3]
7. ↑ Burial information provided by Miss Mary Bass for the 1976 Bedford County Cemetery Survey by Helen & Timothy Marsh.

• W . T. "Bill" and Pearl Dungan, Descendants of Salathiel Coffey, 1961.

Other Cleveland Resources:

Cleveland Family Forum

Edmund Janes Cleveland and Horace Gillette Cleveland

Original Immigrants of Northern Clevelands

In Memory of L. Jeanne Cleveland

The Cleveland Connection to Black Hawk Down: SSG William David Cleveland, Jr.

The Cleveland Coat-of-Arms

Colonel Benjamin Cleveland

"Sweet Lips: The Battle of King's Mountain"

President Grover Cleveland

Early History of the Cleveland Family

The Cleveland/Cromwell Connection

The Prevost Novel on "The Natural Son of Cromwell"

More Genealogical Links

Rooting Out Your AnceStory: A Primer for Beginning Genealogy

Acknowledgements

WikiTree profile Cleveland-518 created through the import of Leehawk201202171001146495.ged on Feb 18, 2012 by Chilton Hawk. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Chilton and others.

Thank you to Stephanie Sanchez for creating Cleveland-850 on 3 Nov 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Stephanie and others.