Peter Coffee Sr. (abt. 1705 - bef. 1771)

Born about 1705 in Ireland

Descendants

Died before 16 Sep 1771 before about age 66 in Prince Edward, Colony of Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Eleanor Colson [send private message] and Scott Kendall [send private message]

Biography

Peter Coffee Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

Big Y700 YDNA Haplogroup R-BY69385 Earliest Known Ancestor.

Peter Coffee was born about 1705 in Ulster, Ireland. He arrived at the Newport docks on the prison galley "Forward" from Liverpool England in 1730. Peter had spent two years on the prison ship in Liverpool harbor while waiting for the vessel to fill with passengers and prisoners before sailing to America. NOTE: See research notes about controversy over which of two Peter Coffees found in the area this man was

After arriving in Newport, Peter Coffee spent a month or two in Potomac Prison before being released as an indentured laborer. In 1735, he became the overseer on the Matthews tobacco plantation in Prince Edward County, Virginia. The 1838 court records in Prince Edward County indicate he was fined for abusing a servant woman. He gained his freedom in 1744.

He married the daughter of the plantation owner, Susannah Matthews, about 1739 in Prince Edward, Virginia, and later became master of the plantation. NOTE: need citation for marriage

Peter and Susannah are found in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia by Jan 1741 when daughter Frances' death is recorded in the register.

Children:

1. Mary; married James Kendall on 25 Feb 1745, so born around 1730? ^[1]
2. William, b ca 1738, married Mary McAllister, died in 1798/99; listed on 1755 tithables list after father Peter and before brother Peter, age 16+
3. Frances; died 5 Jan 1741 Overwharton Parish Register, 1720 to 1760; https://archive.org/details/virginiaoverwhar00will/page/28/mode/2up
4. Peter; b. ca 1739 - 1804; listed on 1755 list of tithables so probably age 16+; listed after father and brother, William
5. James; born 27 Feb 1741 - died before 1771 ^[2]
6. Lydia, born 25 Jan 1742 - died after 1771 ^[3]
7. Benjamin; born 9 Oct 1743 - died before 1771 ^[4]
8. Joshua; 1744 - 1797
9. Hannah; died 1814; married James Weakly
10. Catherine; married John Thomas
11. Elizabeth; died after 1771. "Bettie"

He died on 6 Sep 1771 in Prince Edward, Virginia.

WILL OF PETER COFFEE, SR: January 31, 1771

^[5]

I, Peter COFFEE of Prince Edward and Parish of St. Patrick's, very sick and in a low condition but of perfect mind and memory

• My just debts to be paid as soon as convenient
• To my wife Susanna COFFEE - the land and plantation whereon I now live, and my horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep and all other moveable effects, during her widowhood or well managing of the same. But if she proves careless or wasteful of the effects, then the executors to dispose of the effects as they shall think fit, for the benefit of my surviving children. Notwithstanding the legacies which I will hereafter mention, I will that she pay the legatees, at her discretion.
• To my son William COFFEE - 150 acres on Vaughans Cr in P, to be laid off agreeable with the course now begun, it being the same tract he already obtained a deed for, only with some additional alterations.
• To my sons Peter COFFEE and Joshua COFFEE, and to my daughters Catharina Thomas and Mary Kindal - 5 shillings sterling, each.
• To my daughter Hannah Weakly - 10 pounds at my daughter Bettie's death.
• To my daughter Lydia COFFEE - 15 pounds at my daughter Bettie's death.
• To my daughter Elizabeth COFFEE - the land and plantation whereon I now live, at her mother's death, during her natural life, and at her death, to be sold.
• To my grandchildren then lliving - the rest of the estate, if any remain, to be equally divided among them.
• Executors: my wife & son William COFFEE.

• signed - Peter COFFEE.
• Witness - Thomas Brooks, James Weakly, Hannah (x her mark) Weakly.

At P Court of Sept 16, 1771, the will of Peter COFFEE deceased was presented in court and proved by Thomas Brooks and James Weakly and OR. The executors were granted a certificate for obtaining probate.

Page 141 Inventory and appraisement. Agreeable to court order, we appraized the personal estate of Peter Coffee dec'd. Items memtioned include: 11 cattle, 3 bee hives, 2 books, 3 beds & furniture. total value not given. Signed Nov 15, 1771 - Henry Walker, Robert Jennings, John Mucleroy. Recorded at Nov court, 1771

Suits brought against estate

Suit brought by Joshua Coffee in 1777 against William Coffee, exr of Peter Coffee: ^[6] Joshua claimed that his father and asked him to move to a portion of his plantation land which he did. He claimed that he had made considerable improvements. When Peter died, Joshua said he was deprived of his gift and right in the land by the conditions of the will. The will directed the land to be given to Susannah and upon her death, to his sister Elizabeth. Joshua said in his letter to the court that Peter had either forgot his gift or was influenced by some person unknown when he wrote his will. Summoned were William Coffee, Susannah Coffee and Elizabeth Coffee. There is a page with William Coffee asking his attorney to handle it and has his signature. I could not find a resolution to this case in these files. Holmes-16158 20:03, 12 October 2022 (UTC)

Another suit was brought to chancery court of Prince Edward County about 1823 by Phillip Matthews [son of William?] against all of the heirs of Peter Coffee, Sr. ^[7] This file has a lot of information about the descendants of Peter, who they married and their children. Holmes-16158 16:06, 14 October 2022 (UTC)

Apparently, Phillip Matthews orates in his letter that at the time of his death, Peter was in possession of a tract of land that was to be sold and money distributed to his representatives after his wife and daughter Elizabeth died. He learned that this same tract of land had been held by John Thomas (probable husband of Catherine) who and since rented out the same and received money in rent. Phillip had purchased some of the debts? [This part is unclear] and was asking for a fair distribution after sale of the land which Peter had intended. All persons listed were ordered to appear in court on 6 Apr 1824. Many lived out of state now and several, such as Peter, Jr. were now dead. Eventually, a commission straightened it out and determined who should get what amounts.

Named: 1. Peter Jr - John Coffee; Joshua Coffee; Abraham Heard and wife NOTE: Peter, Jr. was named first - was he the oldest?

2. Joshua Coffee - John Coffee, Joshua Coffee, Simpson Harris and wife [Polly]

3. William Coffee - Abner Coffee, David Coffee; Joshua Coffee, son of William; Moses Land? and Dicy his wife; William Inge and Edith his wife; Thomas Tibbs and Matilda his wife; Mensen James and Aggy his wife

4. Hannah Weakly [wife of James] - Robert Weakly; William Weakly; Joshua Weakly; Benjamin Weakly; John Weakly; Nelson McDowell and wife Lucky; David Jones and Polly his wife

5. Catherine Thomas [wife of John?] - John Thomas, William Thomas, Mary K. Thomas; William Arnold and wife Elizabeth; Thomas Thomas and Sarah his wife and sons Peter and John Thomas, sons of Thomas

6. Mary Kendall (wife of James) - Benjamin McDowell and wife Lydia

7. Lydia Coffee

Research Notes

Please add any information that will help on this profile. In particular we need sources pertaining to the Matthews tobacco plantation and whether Peter Coffee was the overseer. We are also interested in any DNA data.

• "It's unclear when Peter Coffee (Coffey) came to this country as there are several versions. One is that Peter Coffee was the same Peter Coffey who came from Newgate (England) on the ship "Forward Galley" which sailed October 28, 1730 and arrived on the Potomack in January 1731. This Peter was apparently one of those taken from Newgate Prison and shipped to the Colonies to atone for their crimes by penal servitude in the plantations. Lest anyone think he was some sort of heinous criminal let us remember that it was common then to put a person in prison for stealing a loaf of bread! Generally they served 7 years but a notation in his record says 14 years. This could possibly be the same Peter Coffee that settled in Prince Edwards County but I doubt it as some of his children were born as early as 1718. A more likely version is that Peter Coffee came from Ireland by way of England, married Susannah Matthews soon after arriving and settled first in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County and then in a portion of Amelia County that later became Prince Edward County. The Overwharton Parish Register in Old Stafford County, VA mentions children born there in the early 1740's. Peter received a Virginia Land Patent of 220 acres in Amelia County, Sept 20, 1748." ^[8]

• 1730/1731 - A Peter Coffee is mentioned in King George County, VA court records ^[9] NOTE - This appears to be a different Peter Coffee to me. The Peter Coffee who was transported arrived in Port South Potomac, Virginia in Jan 1732 per The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage by Peter Wilson Coldham
  • King George County, Virginia; County Court Order Feb 1730: In the case of action of debt between John Murdock Pet. and Moses Webb deft, Peter Coffee his security
  • Same, 2 Apr 1731. Peter Coffee being bound for his appearance at this court for abusing his servant woman named Jane Lewis and appearing to the court to be a person of ill behavioor, it is ordered that he remain in custody of th sheriff till he give bond and security for his good behavior. Peter Coffee and John Triplett came into court and entered into recotgnizance and promised to pay to our Sovereign Lord the King 30 lbs current money to be levied as aforementioned if Peter Coffee be of good behavior for a year and a day.

• 1730-1732. Peter Coffee who was transported from prison in London to Virginia. ^[10] Summarized by Frank Villeret Coffee, Jr.
  • He was held in Newgate Prison after being tried and convicted in Oct 1730
  • Sentenced to transportation to the American colonies for 14 years.
  • 18 Oct 1730 - put onboard the Patapscoe which never left.
  • Between Oct 1730 and Dec 1731, he was moved from Patapscoe to the Forward
  • The Forward sailed in Dec 1731 and arrived in Port South Potomac, Virginia in Jan 1731 [old style]/Jan 1732 with modern dating.

• ca 1745. Peter and Susannah moved from Stafford to Amelia County, VA which became Prince Edward County in 1754

• 1747 - 1 Dec 1747. Thomas Drumon [Drummond] and Elizabeth his Wife of County of Prince William, Dutingging Parish, and Peter Coffey and Susannah his wife of county of Amelia, Buckingham Parish to John Baily of Washington Parish, Westmoreland County, land in Westmoreland County [not specified], bounded by William Saxton and Randolph Davenport. Original patent of John Manning in 1697 to George White in 1698 to Thomas Drummond in 1713. ^[11] NOTE: some researchers have Susannah's middle name as Drummond. What is the relationship?

• 1748 - Peter is listed as an early settler of Prince Edward Co, Va, "Virginia Magazine", v. 22, p. 95: "Peter Coffey -
  • 220 acres, Vaughans Creek, 20 September 1748...
  • 192 acres Vaughans Creek, 20 September 1748."

• 1754 - In a poll taken by John Nash Sr. for the House of Burgess is listed - Peter Coffee

• June 1755 - List of tithables between Bush and Buffalo Rivers, taken by Thomas Scott - Peter Coffee - 1; William Coffee - 1; Peter Coffee, Jr.- 1. Total of 3. ^[12]

• 11 Apr 1758 • Prince Edward County, Virginia. On 11 Apr 1758, Peter Coffee of Prince Edward County signed his name when he sold to Peter Coffee Jr., 192 acres at the head of Vaughan’s Creek and Cubb Creek and also 150 acres on Vaughan’s Creek “I now live on”.

• 1763 - "History of Prince Edward County, Virginia", Peter Coffee, et al, attended Vestry meeting 15 August 1763...and their land was processioned between Sawney's Creek and Vaughan's Creek from Wilkes Road to the county line. Holmes-16158 14:48, 28 April 2022 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ Overwharton Parish Register, page 31
2. ↑ "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRZ-NFZ : 28 January 2020), Peter Coffee in entry for James Coffee, 1741.
3. ↑ "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRH-WJ4 : 28 January 2020), Peter Coffee in entry for Lydia Coffee, 1742.
4. ↑ "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRZ-JMX : 28 January 2020), Peter Coffee in entry for Benjamin Coffee, 1743.
5. ↑ From wills of Prince Edward, VA page 132
6. ↑ Digital images can be found here: https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=147-1771-007#img
7. ↑ Prince Edward County, Virginia chancery records index; index 1830-020; 94 pages in file
8. ↑ Email from Chris Rakoci
9. ↑ Peter Coffee and his descendants, Gene Brewington, page 71
10. ↑ The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage 1614 - 1775. Peter Wilson Coldham, Editor. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore. 1988. Page 167
11. ↑ Westmoreland County, VA Deed Book #10, pp. 393 - 394.
12. ↑ Ancestry.com: Virginia Tax Records [database on-line].

• Wills of Prince Edward, VA, page 132.
• Virginia Magazine, v. 22, page 95, Peter Coffey listed as an early settler of Prince Edward County, Virginia.
• History of Prince Edward County, Virginia
• The Overwharton Parish Register in Old Stafford County, VA
• US and Canada Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
• Virginia Land Records
• http://www.coffey.ws/familytree/CCCNewslettersOnline/BCL069.pdf
• Coffee Family
• Will of Peter Coffee
• Indictment for forgery
• Trial for forgery
• Trial for forgery
• Origins: Coffey/Keogh Families by Fred Coffey
• Coffey/Coffee Surname Project Y Chart