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Note: RUBEN COFFEY (1759-1842), the pensioner, was the fourth son of Rev. James Coffey and wife Elizabeth Cleveland, and a nephew of Ruben preveding. This younger Ruben came to Wilkes County N.C. about the time of the Rev. War, and rendered his service from Wilkes Co., he m. about 1782, probably in Wilkes, where he lived at that time and some years thereafter. According to the manuscript notes of the late Dr. L. U. Coffey of Lenoir, N.C. the maiden name of the wife of Reuben Coffey the pensioner was MILDRED* MORRIS, but this seems to be a purely traditional statement. However, there was a Morris family in Wilkes county at this time. From cencus records it appears that Millie was at least four years older that Ruben, so it is possible that she could have been a young "war widow" when he married her. They had at least nine children, and it is just possible that there might have been one more (born after 1800). Rubin resided in Wilkes county for about 14 years after his marriage, on the north side of Warrior Gap, directly adjoining the Burke county line. About 1797 he moved over into Burke county and settled about five miles south of his former residence. He purchased from John Coffey (either his brother or his uncle) a 400 acre plantation on Blair's Fork of Lower Creek, Burke, (Now Coldwell Co.) this tract now lies just outside the northern limits of the town of Lenoir, in a suburs called Valmead. For many years it was well known as the Gen. Cornelious Clarke place, and though the old house burned many years ago, the approximate site is marked by the Clarke Fam. cemetery, now used as a community burying ground by the residents of Valmead area. Ruren Coffey sold this plantation in March 1819 to Jeremiah Clarke (fa. of Gen. Clarke), and immediately thereafter removed to Wayne county, Kr., where he lived until his death in 1842. Reuben and Millie Coffey had at least 4 sons and 5 daughters. Dr. Coffey gave an obviously incomplete list, partially in error. He named four dau. - Nancy, Millie, Martha and Elizabeth - but does not state who they married. He also named 4 sons - James, Lewis, Reuben, and Oliver Cromwell - but the Ruben is plainly an error for Benjamine since Dr. C. gives the name of "Rubins" wife as Exea Sophronia Stubbs a patent error for Stepp. It is possible that there may have been a son Alfred, as one Alfred Coffey, not otherwise identified, witnessed the 1819 deed by which Reuben sold out in Burke County. From the cencus returns of 1790 (Wilkes Co.) and 1800 (Burke Co.) the family of Reuben and Millie Coffey appears as follows. Born by 1784 - one Daughter. Born 1784/90 - one son (James), two daughters. Born 1790/1800 - three sons (Benjamin, Oliver, perhaps Lewis or Alfred, two daughters. It is not likely that more than one child could have been born after 1800, since at that time Millie was at least 45 years old. Some accounts list Oliver and Cromwell as two different sons of Reuben the pensioner; but it seems more likely that there was one son named Oliver Cromwell Coffey. This is a traditional name in the Cleveland family, who clamed (wholly with out proof) descent from Lord- Protector Cromwell. The Sumter and Stepp families were near neighbors of Ruben Coffey on Blairs Fork; the Ramseys lived a little further west, but still on the waters of Lower Creek, and were connected with the Sumters by marriage. THOMAS STEPP was liveing here during the Revolution, and must be either the father or the grandfather of Exea who married Ben Coffey. I have not positively identified the dau.s of Ruben the pensioner, but I think that the dau. Eliz. is probably the Eliz. ________, who was born. ca 1789, m. ca 1810, Thos. Sum(p)ter, and removed to Wayne county, KY. Benjamine Coffey and his wife Exea Stepp were cousins in some degree. Benj. grt. grand. fa. John Coffey had a sister Martha Coffey who M. Joseph Stepp (often spelled Stapp), son of Abraham and Dorothy (Moss) Stepp of Essex county, Va. Joshua and Martha removed to Orange County, Va., from many of their descendence later migrated to Burke and Wilkes counties, North Carolina, about the time of the Revolutionary War.
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