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Note: 1.1.2.1.1.2 Elizabeth Easley, b. 15 August 1790, Pittsylvania Co., VA--d. 24 June 1880, Aumsville, Marion Co., OR. Bur. Aumsville Cemetery, Aumsville, Marion Co., OR. m. 11/13 September 1810, Cumberland Co., KY, Nebuzarden/Nebuzaradon T. Coffey, b. 29 August 1790, Wilkes Co., NC--d. 20 January 1867, Aumsville, Marion Co., OR, son of Joel Coffey. Bur. Aumsville Cemetery. Data provided by Daraleen Wade to Jeanne Easley Sides from Oregon Donation Land Claims, History of Silverton County, and family records. 1.1.2.1.1.2.1 Cassandra Coffey, b. 23 August 1811, Pilot Knob, KY--d. 18 January 1885. m. Joseph Blackerby. 1.1.2.1.1.2.2 Martha "Patsy" Coffey, b. 7 July 1813, Cumberland Co., KY--d. 17 May 1903, Aumsville, Marion Co., OR. m. 4 October 1849, Marion Co., OR., William Porter, widower of her sister Sarah. 1.1.2.1.1.2.3 Thomas Coffey, b. 17/27 October 1815, KY--d. 1 July 1859. m. Lucilla J. Baker. 1.1.2.1.1.2.4 Mary "Polly" Coffey, b. 27 January 1818, KY--d. 1870. m. Walter H. Tucker. 1.1.2.1.1.2.5 Sarah Coffey, b. 1 May 1820, Simpson Co., KY--d. 20 November 1848. m. 26 November 1840, Pike Co., IL, William Porter. 1.1.2.1.1.2.6 Catherine Jane Coffey, b. 13 November 1822, KY--d. 13 February 1850. m. Stephen Porter. 1.1.2.1.1.2.7 Sidney J. Coffey, b. 19 April 1825, KY. 1.1.2.1.1.2.8 German J. Coffey, b. 17 November 1827, KY--d. 1874. 1.1.2.1.1.2.9 Elizabeth Coffey, b. 8 March 1830. m. Wm. Wilshire Bristow. 1.1.2.1.1.2.10 Denton D. Coffey, b. 28 May 1832--d. 8 March 1851. 1.1.2.1.1.2.11 Louisa Coffey, b. 22 May 1834. 1.1.2.1.1.2 Elizabeth Easley, b. 15 August 1790, Pittsylvania Co., VA--d. 24 June 1880, Aumsville, Marion Co., OR. Bur. Aumsville Cemetery, Aumsville, Marion Co., OR. m. 11/13 September 1810, Cumberland Co., KY, Nebuzarden/Nebuzaradon T. Coffey, b. 29 August 1790, Wilkes Co., NC--d. 20 January 1867, Aumsville, Marion Co., OR, son of Joel Coffey. Bur. Aumsville Cemetery. Data provided by Daraleen Wade to Jeanne Easley Sides from Oregon Donation Land Claims, History of Silverton County, and family records. 1.1.2.1.1.2.1 Cassandra Coffey, b. 23 August 1811, Pilot Knob, KY--d. 18 January 1885. m. Joseph Blackerby. 1.1.2.1.1.2.2 Martha "Patsy" Coffey, b. 7 July 1813, Cumberland Co., KY--d. 17 May 1903, Aumsville, Marion Co., OR. m. 4 October 1849, Marion Co., OR., William Porter, widower of her sister Sarah. 1.1.2.1.1.2.3 Thomas Coffey, b. 17/27 October 1815, KY--d. 1 July 1859. m. Lucilla J. Baker. 1.1.2.1.1.2.4 Mary "Polly" Coffey, b. 27 January 1818, KY--d. 1870. m. Walter H. Tucker. 1.1.2.1.1.2.5 Sarah Coffey, b. 1 May 1820, Simpson Co., KY--d. 20 November 1848. m. 26 November 1840, Pike Co., IL, William Porter. 1.1.2.1.1.2.6 Catherine Jane Coffey, b. 13 November 1822, KY--d. 13 February 1850. m. Stephen Porter. 1.1.2.1.1.2.7 Sidney J. Coffey, b. 19 April 1825, KY. 1.1.2.1.1.2.8 German J. Coffey, b. 17 November 1827, KY--d. 1874. 1.1.2.1.1.2.9 Elizabeth Coffey, b. 8 March 1830. m. Wm. Wilshire Bristow. 1.1.2.1.1.2.10 Denton D. Coffey, b. 28 May 1832--d. 8 March 1851. 1.1.2.1.1.2.11 Louisa Coffey, b. 22 May 1834. 1860 Census Name: E Coffey Age in 1860: 70 Birthplace: Virginia Home in 1860: Sublimity, Marion, Oregon Gender: Female Head of Household: N Coffey Household Post Office: Sublimity Often when we think of the long trip made by the Porter's and Coffey's on the Oregon Trail we think of the men, their trials and tribulations. however, I'd like to share some thoughts and historical tidbits about the grandmothers, aunts and other ladies who weren't just along for the ride. These women worked every bit as hard as the men and their roles were just as critical. They were the heroines of the trail, and at the same time, everyday women who's hard work and dedication became legendary. The eldest woman to make the trip was Elizabeth, the wife of Nebuzaradon Coffey, and the mother of eleven children. She was 58 years old that year. Although she had no young children to care for, there is no doubt that it was a long, hard trip for her. She had five grown daughters and eleven grandchildren with her in the same wagon train. I am sure she had her hands full and probably did a lot of worrying about her many children and grandchildren on the trip. However, it must have been very comforting to have so many of her family around her. Cassandra Coffey was her oldest daughter on the trip at age 37. she was married to Joseph Blackerby, a physician and had three boys along, ages 14, 12 and 7. Martha Coffey, the next child was 35 and was known as Patsy. she was unmarried We don't know if she traveled in her parents wagon or with one of her siblings. she eventually married her deceased sisters husband William Porter. Mary Coffey was 30 years old and was married to Walter Tucker and had two children on the wagon train, ages 7 and 2. Sarah Coffey was 28 years old and married to William Porter, she had 4 children with her, 3 sons age 7 and 3 and an infant, and a daughter age 5. Unfortunately she passed away shortly after arriving in the Willamette Vally, OR. Catherine Coffey age 26, married to Stephen Porter, she had two children with her, a daughter age 3 and a son age 1. On the other side of the family, Nancy Porter, age 26, married Horatio Holmes. she was the sister of the Porter brothers and part of this same family of women. She had four children with her, a son of 9, a daughter of 7 and sons ages 5 and 2. The journey started on April 7, 1848, but preparations were underway long before the wagons pulled out. These preparations began 8 or 9 months before the date of departure. The spinning, weaving and sewing had to be completed. Clothes were needed which would last up to a year. The larger the family, the more clothing that was needed. In those days the women made everything from the underclothes to outer garments and winter wear. Linen needed to be purchased or maybe even woven and sewed for the wagon cover and sacks made up for food and storage. They also had to make a muslin cover to help keep them warm and dry on the crossing. They had to be sure there was plenty of bedding. Some of the food stuffs they probably prepared themselves might have included dried fruit, apples, peaches,etc. They needed to make plenty of soap and other needed items to last the trip and through their first winter in Oregon. They undoubtedly packed only the barest of essentials and personal items, as well as much needed medicines. These choices must have presented them with many hard choices and much indecision. The group left on time with a train consisting of more than twenty wagons drawn by oxen in yokes. Fortunately, they experienced no loss of life, but records indicate much hardship along the way. I cannot imagine wearing a long skirt sweeping that dusty and muddy ground, always in the way. Add to that the difficulty of cooking over an open fire, and trying to wash dishes with precious little water at times. It has been reported from other sources that women and children's clothing was inadequate for the extremes of the weather. They had made their husbands and sons weather proof coats but not those who they believed would be riding in the wagon all the way. the women and children walked most of the way as it was more comfortable than the bone jarring ride in the wagon. Water was scarce so washing and cleaning was kept to a inimical, which must have been hard on those parents with babies who needed clean diapers. The constant days of toil, the hardships of this form of traveling with the caring for children and all of their needs must seem endless to these ladies. The cooking, the washing, tending campfires, looking out for the children, the infrequent bathing and generally enduring exposure to the hot, dry areas or cold, or rainy areas must have been especially troubling. This migration lasted six months. Often when we think of the long trip made by the Porter's and Coffey's on the Oregon Trail we think of the men, their trials and tribulations. however, I'd like to share some thoughts and historical tidbits about the grandmothers, aunts and other ladies who weren't just along for the ride. These women worked every bit as hard as the men and their roles were just as critical. They were the heroines of the trail, and at the same time, everyday women who's hard work and dedication became legendary. The eldest woman to make the trip was Elizabeth, the wife of Nebuzaradon Coffey, and the mother of eleven children. She was 58 years old that year. Although she had no young children to care for, there is no doubt that it was a long, hard trip for her. She had five grown daughters and eleven grandchildren with her in the same wagon train. I am sure she had her hands full and probably did a lot of worrying about her many children and grandchildren on the trip. However, it must have been very comforting to have so many of her family around her. Cassandra Coffey was her oldest daughter on the trip at age 37. she was married to Joseph Blackerby, a physician and had three boys along, ages 14, 12 and 7. Martha Coffey, the next child was 35 and was known as Patsy. she was unmarried We don't know if she traveled in her parents wagon or with one of her siblings. she eventually married her deceased sisters husband William Porter. Mary Coffey was 30 years old and was married to Walter Tucker and had two children on the wagon train, ages 7 and 2. Sarah Coffey was 28 years old and married to William Porter, she had 4 children with her, 3 sons age 7 and 3 and an infant, and a daughter age 5. Unfortunately she passed away shortly after arriving in the Willamette Vally, OR. Catherine Coffey age 26, married to Stephen Porter, she had two children with her, a daughter age 3 and a son age 1. On the other side of the family, Nancy Porter, age 26, married Horatio Holmes. she was the sister of the Porter brothers and part of this same family of women. She had four children with her, a son of 9, a daughter of 7 and sons ages 5 and 2. The journey started on April 7, 1848, but preparations were underway long before the wagons pulled out. These preparations began 8 or 9 months before the date of departure. The spinning, weaving and sewing had to be completed. Clothes were needed which would last up to a year. The larger the family, the more clothing that was needed. In those days the women made everything from the underclothes to outer garments and winter wear. Linen needed to be purchased or maybe even woven and sewed for the wagon cover and sacks made up for food and storage. They also had to make a muslin cover to help keep them warm and dry on the crossing. They had to be sure there was plenty of bedding. Some of the food stuffs they probably prepared themselves might have included dried fruit, apples, peaches,etc. They needed to make plenty of soap and other needed items to last the trip and through their first winter in Oregon. They undoubtedly packed only the barest of essentials and personal items, as well as much needed medicines. These choices must have presented them with many hard choices and much indecision. The group left on time with a train consisting of more than twenty wagons drawn by oxen in yokes. Fortunately, they experienced no loss of life, but records indicate much hardship along the way. I cannot imagine wearing a long skirt sweeping that dusty and muddy ground, always in the way. Add to that the difficulty of cooking over an open fire, and trying to wash dishes with precious little water at times. It has been reported from other sources that women and children's clothing was inadequate for the extremes of the weather. They had made their husbands and sons weather proof coats but not those who they believed would be riding in the wagon all the way. the women and children walked most of the way as it was more comfortable than the bone jarring ride in the wagon. Water was scarce so washing and cleaning was kept to a inimical, which must have been hard on those parents with babies who needed clean diapers. The constant days of toil, the hardships of this form of traveling with the caring for children and all of their needs must seem endless to these ladies. The cooking, the washing, tending campfires, looking out for the children, the infrequent bathing and generally enduring exposure to the hot, dry areas or cold, or rainy areas must have been especially troubling. This migration lasted six months.
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