Jacob Coffman- the Frontiersman 1780-1852

Nick Cimino at his 4th Great Grandparents Gravesite 1993
Hillsborough Cemetery, McDonough County, Illinois

This is a picture of me in July of 1993 when we stumbled upon the Hillsborough Cemetery in McDonough County, Illinois. I had no idea that so many of the Coffmans were buried in this cemetery. Our little family of four was just wandering the countryside near La Harpe in a rented Nissan Altima. We knew the Ketchams were buried in La Harpe Cemetery but we did not know where the Coffmans were buried.

We knew that some of Alfred Coffman's family had been buried in Wesley Chapel Cemetery before he moved to California. We had hoped to find Jacob and Eary Coffman and William and Elizabeth Coffman there too but were very disappointed to find that they were not in the same cemetery as the family of Alfred Coffman so we just kept driving around. The kids were starting to weary of the endless rows of corn. Something told me to turn down the road by Hillsborough Cemetery. I am not sure what it was that led me down that road. I really felt at the time that my ancestors wanted us to find them. I still do.

Hillsborough Cemetery, McDonough Co., IL; corner of 100 E and 2150 N; Section 19 Blandinsville Twp. Inscriptions: Eary, Wife of J. Coffman, Died July 25 1855, Aged 70 yrs. 6 mos.; Jacob Coffman, Died Mar 26, 1852, Aged 71 yrs. 5 mos. 11 days.

The Coffman family saga continues this week with the pioneer of Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri, Jacob Coffman 1780-1852.  The vital information for Jacob Coffman and his wife and children is presented below:

Modified Register for Jacob Coffman

First Generation

      1. Jacob Coffman  was born on 15 Oct 1780 in , , Germany. He died on 26 Mar 1852 in , , Illinois. He was buried in Hillsborough Cem, McDonough, Illinois.

Jacob married Eary Fowler  daughter of Thomas Fowler and Dorcas on 18 Apr 1805 in , Washington, Kentucky. Eary was born on 7 Jan 1785 in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. She died on 25 Jul 1855 in Laharpe, Hancock, Illinois, USA. She was buried in Hillsborough Cem, McDonough, Illinois.

They had the following children:

               2 F         i.  Elizabeth Coffman  was born on 24 Jan 1806 in , Washington, Kentucky. She died on 19 Oct 1892 in Illinois, USA.

Elizabeth married John Lathrop  on 27 Jan 1827 in Howard, Missouri, USA. John was born about 1805 in London, , England. He died in 1880 in Hancock County, Illinois.

               3 F         ii.  Nancy Coffman  was born about 1807 in , Washington, Kentucky. She died after 1880 in Texas, United States.

Nancy married (1) Joseph Thompson Atchison  on 20 Feb 1822 in Hamilton, Illinois, USA. Joseph was born on 8 Jan 1789 in Port Tobacco, Charles, Maryland, United States. He died on 11 Apr 1864 in Hamilton, Illinois, United States.

Nancy married (2) Major Hungate  on 28 Apr 1823 in Hamilton, Illinois, United States. Major was born on 6 Jan 1805 in Washington, Kentucky, United States. He died on 28 Mar 1891 in Andrew, Missouri, United States.

Nancy married (3) Isaac Kelly  on 14 Aug 1843 in Andrew County, Missouri, USA. Isaac was born in 1806 in North Carolina, United States. He died in 1898 in Texas, United States.

               4 F        iii.  Mary Coffman  was born on 23 Nov 1808 in , Washington, Kentucky. She died on 25 Apr 1891 in Stronghurst , Henderson Co., Illinois. She was buried in Hillsborough Cem, McDonough, Illinois.

Mary married Isaac Crenshaw  son of Daniel Crenshaw and Celetia Cook in 1823 in , , Kentucky, United States. Isaac was born on 15 Nov 1803 in Warren, Georgia, United States. He died on 29 Jul 1880 in Bedford, Henderson County, Illinois. He was buried in Hillsborough Cem, McDonough, Illinois.

               5 M      iv.  Leroy Coffman  was born on 15 Nov 1810 in , Washington, Kentucky. He died on 16 Aug 1886 in , Worth, Missouri. He was buried in Fletchall Cem, Worth, Missouri. 

Leroy married Dorcas Groshong  daughter of Jacob Groshong and Katherine McCoy on 9 Apr 1829 in , Adams, Illinois. Dorcas was born on 18 Jul 1808 in , St. Charles, Missouri. She died on 9 Sep 1878 in , Worth, Missouri. She was buried in Fletchall Cem, Grant City, Missouri.

               6 M       v.  Thomas Fowler Coffman  was born on 11 Jan 1813 in Washington County, Kentucky, USA. He died on 3 Oct 1892 in Willows, Glenn, California, USA. He was buried in Willows, Glenn, California.

Thomas married Alice Seybold  daughter of Jesse Seybold on 13 Oct 1831 in , McDonough, Illinois. Alice was born on 22 Aug 1815 in , Washington, Kentucky. She died on 28 Dec 1901 in Willows, Glenn, California. She was buried in Willows, Glenn, California.

               7 M      vi.  William Fowler Coffman  was born on 30 Jul 1815 in Washington County, Kentucky, USA. He died on 11 Sep 1905 in La Harpe, Hancock County, Illinois, USA. He was buried in Hillsborough Cem, Blandinsville Township, McDonough County, Illinois, USA.

William married Elizabeth Wilson  daughter of James Wilson and Elizabeth Raley on 18 Dec 1837 in Mcdonough, Illinois, USA. Elizabeth was born on 27 Feb 1816 in , Washington, Kentucky. She died on 27 Oct 1893 in La Harpe, Hancock, Illinois. She was buried in Hillsborough Cem, McDonough, Illinois.

               8 F       vii.  Dorcas Coffman  was born on 22 Sep 1817 in , Washington, Kentucky. She died on 14 Nov 1897 in Woodland, Yolo, California. She was buried on 16 Nov 1897 in I.O.O.F. Cem., Capay, Yolo, California.

Dorcas married Charles Duncan  on 10 Nov 1833 in , McDonough, Illinois. Charles was born on 3 Jan 1806 in ,, Tennessee. He died on 19 Sep 1885 in Willow Slough, Yolo Co., California.

               9 M     viii.  Henry Coffman  was born about 1818 in , Washington, Kentucky.

             10 M      ix.  Alfred Coffman  was born on 12 Jun 1823 in Hamilton, Illinois. He died on 28 Aug 1897 in Elk Grove, Sacramento, California. He was buried on 30 Aug 1897 in San Joaquin Cem, Sacramento, California.

Alfred married (1) Sarah A. Pemberton  on 1 Feb 1844 in Andrew Co., Missouri. Sarah was born on 10 Jun 1823 in , , Kentucky. She died on 17 Apr 1863 in , , Illinois. She was buried in Wesley Chapel Cm, Hancock, Illinois.

Alfred married (2) Elsie E. Howard  in 1866 in , , Illinois. Elsie was born in Jan 1834 in Tennessee. She died on 29 Aug 1907 in Oakland, Alameda, California.

The story of Jacob's life is more than just a disparate bunch of names, dates and places.  However, you can see just from the vitals above that this family spread out over the Midwest and the West with many ending up in my home state of California.  This aspect of the story has echoes of manifest destiny, prospecting for gold and a virtual family reunion sponsored by dozens of family historians throughout the course of three centuries.

No image of Jacob Coffman is known to have survived so his gravestone serves as his profile image on my Cimino and Harrington Ancestors Tree at Ancestry.com.

Tom Tucker of Port Townsend, Washington took this photo while visiting Blandinsville in 1985, he and his wife cleaned the headstones for Jacob and Arey. JACOB COFFMAN DIED Mar. 26, 1852 Aged 71 yrs. 5 Mos. 11 ds.

My notes on Jacob Coffman are 1) a compilation of research by other genealogists, 2) transcriptions of original records and 3) some of my musings and analysis on both of the above.

NOTES FOR JACOB COFFMAN 1780-1852

!BIOGRAPHY: History of Sacramento County, 1890, by Winfield J. Davis, CA State Library #qc979.453 D2; mfm#C115 #13 Book 2382; p. 479 From sketch of his son, Alfred Coffman: "The father Jacob, a native of Germany, came to this country when four years old [1784] and settled in Kentucky, where they subsisted by digging the ginseng and selling it, and hunting deer and dressing their skins. He was well acquainted with Daniel Boone."

"He moved to Illinois, and was there during the Black Hawk war [1832], in which he took part.  He was the first man to settle in Burlington, Iowa, which place he found while swimming the Mississippi River after Indians for whom he had a deadly hatred. [I have found no record to substantiate this claim, however Isaac Crenshaw, a neighbor and son-in-law of Jacob's, did lead a party of Illinois settlers to the Burlington area.  I have not yet checked early land claims but the histories of the area do not mention Jacob Coffman.]

"When sixty-two years of age [1842] he moved to Missouri, to a town called Jamestown, five miles from St. Joseph [Buchanan County].   He became so fond of frontier life that he followed it until his death, which occurred in Illinois, at the age of seventy-two years. He shot his last deer in Illinois, while on horseback, shortly before his death. His son Alfred has the old rifle with which he killed the deer.  Seven of the children of Jacob Coffman are living, the youngest [Alfred Coffman] being sixty six years of age."

CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF THE LIFE OF JACOB COFFMAN

!BIRTH: Recollection by Edith Lucile Stewart Venning, 1903-1994. "The Coffmans must have come to America quite early, my great-great-grandfather and my great-great-grandmother being born in Virginia before 1800."

Perhaps the best source that we have on the birth date and birthplace of Jacob Coffman is the 1850 census wherein it was recorded that he was age 70.  By subtracting 70 from 1850 we are able to approximate a birth year of 1780.  The 1850 census also says that he was born in Virginia. However, it is not uncommon for people that were born in Europe to claim that they were born in the U.S.

A conflict regarding Jacob's own account of the birthplace is found in this 1890 account from his son, Alfred Coffman: "The father Jacob, a native of Germany, came to this country when four years old and settled in Kentucky..."

The Alfred Coffman version of the story would place his arrival in Kentucky about 1784 but keep in mind that this story is in conflict with Alfred's own account of his father's birthplace as Kentucky in the 1880 census.

The recollections of the other children regarding the birthplace of their father only add to the confusion.  For example, my ancestor, William Fowler Coffman 1815-1905 or another informant stated in the 1880 census that his father was born in Germany and in the 1900 census it was stated that his father was born in Kentucky.  Unfortunately, he was the only child of Jacob Coffman to live long enough to be enumerated in the 1900 census.

The 1880 census for the second daughter Nancy Coffman Kelly does not have an entry in the parents birthplace column.

The birthplace given by the other children for their father in the 1880 census are as follows: Elizabeth Coffman Lathrop - Germany, Mary Coffman Crenshaw - Germany, Leroy Coffman - Virginia, Thomas Coffman - Virginia, Dorcas Coffman Duncan - Virginia, and last but not least Alfred Coffman - Kentucky.

The confusion between Virginia and Kentucky might be explained by the fact that Kentucky originated out of Virginia.  When Jacob Coffman was born in 1780, the thirteen colonies had declared their independence and were still in the middle of the revolutionary war.  The first permanent white settlement  was established by James Harrod in 1774 near the present city of Harrodsburg.  Daniel Boone settled Boonesborough in 1775. In 1780 Kentucky County, Virginia had been divided into Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln Counties but they were still part of Virginia.

SOURCE: Interactive Kentucky Formation Maps
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~george/countyformations/kentuckyformationmaps.html

The only other source that we have for the birth date is the grave marker in Hillsborough Cemetery which states: Died Mar 26, 1852, Aged 71 yrs. 5 mos. 11 days.  Using a date calculator in Personal Ancestral File, we arrive at a birth date of 15 Oct 1780 which is the date that I am currently using on his profile at Ancestry.com.

These two records support a birth year of 1780.

Very little is known of the early life of Jacob Coffman.  Alfred Coffman's account of his father's early life states: "settled in Kentucky, where they subsisted by digging the ginseng and selling it, and hunting deer and dressing their skins. He was well acquainted with Daniel Boone."  So it appears that Jacob Coffman and his father were living the life of a frontier family in Kentucky.

Jacob Coffman's granddaughter gave this account of the early life in Kentucky:

 "...The grandparents of Mrs.  DeWitt, Jacob and Ezra (Fowler) Coffman, were born in Kentucky, and he was a son of Jacob Coffman, a native of Germany.  When Jacob Coffman, Mrs. DeWitt's grandfather was three years old the family started for Illinois, and when they reached the Illinois side of the Ohio River they were attacked by the Indians and old grandfather was killed.  His wife, two sons and a negro servant escaped, fled to the woods and kept on traveling until the crow of a rooster told them they had reached a white settlement.  They finally made their way to McDonough County, where they entered land from the government, but none of the survivors ever forgot their terrible experience with the hostile Red Men." 

SOURCE: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois & History of Hancock Co. Scofield Vol. 11; pg. 1186 Sketch of Aaron DeWitt.

The wife of Aaron DeWitt was Sarah Coffman, daughter of William Fowler Coffman and Elizabeth Wilson.  Sarah was a sister of my second great grandfather, Archibald Coffman 1850-1935.  She may have garbled the story a bit.  The three year old that was traveling to Illinois was probably her father, William Fowler Coffman.  The obituary of William F. Coffman tells the following version of the story:

"William F. Coffman was born in Kentucky, July 30, 1815.  When he was three years of age the family removed to Jefferson county, Illinois where they remained twelve years, when in 1830 they came to this vicinity where he has since resided." 

SOURCE: LaHarper, LaHarpe, Illinois, 15 Sep 1905

The kernel of truth in Mrs. DeWitt's story was that the father of Jacob Coffman also known as Jacob was killed by Indians.  For further discussion of this story, please read my previous blog on the topic at this address: http://www.ancestorpuzzles.com/2017/01/using-dna-to-trace-18th-century-german.html

There is no 1800 census of Kentucky from which to draw information about Jacob Coffman.

Washington County, Kentucky shown in relation to adjacent counties.

Jacob Coffman first appears in the written record at age, 25 when he marries in Washington County, Kentucky in 1805.

!MARRIAGE: 1805; Marriage Book I:61 Washington Co. KY; Know all men by these presents that we Jacob Coffman and John Hungate are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency the Governor of Kentucky in the sum of fifty pounds current money to the payment of which ____ and truly to be made to the said Governer [sic] and his successors we bind our selves our heirs to jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and sealed this 18th day of April 1805. The condition of this obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended between the above bound Jacob Coffman and Arey Fowler for which a license has issued now if there be no careful cause to obstruct the said marriage then the obligation to be void or else to remain in full force and virtue. Witness John Reed           Jacob Coffman   Seal                             John Hungate    Seal

A similar version of the MARRIAGE record above was also found in the Bounty Land file from National Archives in the form of an affidavit from the widow of Jacob Coffman. The widow is named in the file as Arah Coffman, whose maiden name was Arah Fowler. On the 29th of March 1855, she stated that she was "duly married to Jacob Coffman in the year 1805 in the County of Washington and State of Kentucky by one William Long authorized by law of said State to celebrate marriages and that at this time she is the widow of  said Jacob Coffman who departed this life in the year 1852.

Washington County Marriage Book Volume 1, Page 61
Received from Washington County Clerk in 1993

We were lucky enough to get the name of the father of Arey Fowler from this record: Marriage Book 1:61, Washington Co., KY; "This is to let you know that I am willing for a marriage to take place between Jacob Coffman and my daughter Arey Fowler. Given under my hand this 17th day of April 1805. Thomas Fowler. Teste: Nathan Ward & Jno. Hungate." [Nathan Ward is married to Thomas Fowler's daughter, Lucy. John Hungate was married to Mary Coffman who was probably related to Jacob Coffman.]

!CENSUS: 1810; Jacob and family were residing in Washington County, Kentucky in 1810 and enumerated as follows:
Name Jacob Coffman
Home in 1810 (City, County, State) Washington, Kentucky
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 1 [Jacob age 30]
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 3 [Elizabeth 4, Nancy 3, and Mary 2]
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25 1 [Arey age 25]
Number of Household Members Under 16 3
Number of Household Members Over 25 1
Number of Household Members 5

!RESIDENCE: 1818-1829 Jefferson County, Illinois per son William's obituary Shawneetown, Jefferson Co. per daughter Mary's obituary.

Here are the exact quotes:

"When [William Fowler Coffman born 1815] was three years of age the family removed to Jefferson county, Illinois where they remained twelve years, when in 1830 they came to this vicinity where he has since resided" per WFC obituary.

"[Mary Coffman] came to Illinois with her parents in 1818, settling in Jefferson county, near Shawneetown.  Was married to Isaac Crenshaw in 1823...." per Mary Crenshaw obituary.

!CENSUS: 1820; Hamilton County was created 8 February 1821 from White County. This census record for White County, Illinois seems to fit with ages and genders known for the family:
Name Jacob Coffman
Home in 1820 (City, County, State) North of West, White, Illinois
Enumeration Date August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10         4 [Leroy age 10, Thomas 7, William 5 and Henry 2]
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 1 [Jacob age 40]
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 1 [Dorcas 3]
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 3 [Elizabeth 14, Nancy 13, and Mary 12]
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44 1 [Arey age 35]
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture 1
Free White Persons - Under 16 8
Free White Persons - Over 25 2
Total Free White Persons 10
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other 10

!RESIDENCE: 1823 Son Alfred says he was born in Hamilton Co., IL in 1823.

Apparently Jacob Coffman got into a bit of a scrape with the law in Hamilton County as evidenced by the following story posted on Ancestry.com by user dwtophat:

"November 1, 1823, Judge Wilson convened court at 7:00 o’clock a.m. to try Jacob Coffman and William Hungate for murder.  This was the first murder trial in Hamilton County.  Defendants Coffman and Hungate put themselves upon their county, whereupon a jury was called, composed of the following men: Mastin Bond, Henry Krisell, John Anderson, Adam Crouch, Nicholas Tramell, Lawrence Stull, Jarrett Garner, Gilbert Griswold, John Richy, Anthony Richy, Daniel Benbrooks, and Ambrose Maulding, who heard the evidence, and returned a verdict finding Jacob Coffman and William Hungate not guilty of murder; and they were promptly discharged. This must have caused another riot, for on the same day the Grand Jury indicted John Hardisty, John Townsend, John Flint, Charles Hurd, Stephen Parker, Samuel Hogg, Sr., Samuel Hogg, Jr., Major Hungate and Charles Hungate “for a riot”.  They were all admitted to bail at $50.00 bond each.  A new Judge, Thomas C. Browne, came to hold court, and on May 28, 1824 all of the defendants, except Samuel Hogg, Sr., were tried before a jury of Hamilton County men who promptly returned a verdict of not guilty, and Judge Browne then dismissed the case as to Samuel Hogg, Sr."

This story appears to have been extracted from an online transcription of court records found here:
http://www.carolyar.com/Illinois/Govern/CircuitCourt.htm.  This webpage cites as a source the following: From: Goshen Trails, Vol. 5; #2; #3; Hamilton County Historical Society Bulletin 1969;
Reprinted with permission.

An online transcription of the Hamilton County history section of The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887) is found at the following URL: http://hamilton.ilgw.org/hist1887/hist01.htm
Jacob Coffman is listed as an early settler of Hamilton County, Illinois on page 244.  Further into the chapter on page 248 William, Charles and Christopher Hungate were listed as early settlers.  Another copy of that chapter is posted here: http://genealogytrails.com/ill/hamilton/history_settlement.html

The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887) is also found online at the Internet Archive [archive.org].
https://archive.org/details/historyofgallati00chic

Page 285 of that history book explains that Jacob Coffman and William Hungate were charged with killing a man named Taylor.  "Taylor was charged with being a thief, and the accusation was that they pursued and shot him." But as we know from the description above Jacob and William were found not guilty.

These stories just help to show that the Coffmans and Hungates were friends, family and fellow travelers from Washington County, Kentucky to Illinois.

!CENSUS:1830 Illinois, McDonough Co., Township 7N- Range 4W; Jacob Coffman, head; male 50-60 [Jacob 50]; 1 female 40-50 [Eary 45]; 1 male 15-20 [Thomas 17]; 2 males 10-15 [William 15 and Henry 12]; 1 female 10-15 [Dorcas 13]; 1 male 5-10 [Alfred 7]; The following children were not enumerated in the household in 1830: Elizabeth 24, Nancy 23, Mary 22 and Leroy 20.

!CENSUS: 1830 Illinois, Schuyler Co.; There is a Jacob Coffman listed on pg. 96 line 22 per index found by Jane Risser.

!OCCUPATION: 1830 "At the special election held August 7, [1830] in the several Magistrate's Districts...In the Third district...were elected...Francis Reading and Jacob Coffman, Constables; History of McDonough County, IL, by S.J.  Clarke, Springfield, IL, D.W. Lusk, State Printer and Binder, 1878, p. 22, SUTRO mfm 292-reel 56-book218

!RESIDENCE: 1830 "Came to McDonough 1830 and erected a cabin on section 8, Blandinsville Township.  After a few years residence removed to Missouri." History of McDonough Co. IL, Continental historical co., 1885, p. 861, SUTRO mfm 292-reel 56-book 219; 1907 history lists him as living on section 3, Historical Encyclopedia of IL and History of McDonough Co., Alexander McLean, Editor, Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1907, p. 670 SUTRO mfm 292-reel 55- book 217

Section 8 is due north of Blandinsville.  The township is in the northwest corner of McDonough County.
SOURCE: www.usgwarchives.net/maps/illinois/il1875/MCDONOUG.JPG

!OCCUPATION: 1832-1836; Jacob Coffman was either a party in court cases or a juryman, 1832 to 1836 in Fountain Green Township; History of Hancock Co., 1880 Gregg, pg. 819.

!MILITARY: 1832; Served as private in Black Hawk War [1832] in McDonough County battalion of mounted rangers commanded by Major Samuel Bogart.  Received from the government a bounty of eighty acres of land.  History of McDonough Co. IL Continental historical co., 1885, p. 119, SUTRO, mfm 292-reel 56-book 219.  The Bounty Land file from the National Archives clarifies that the 80 acres was in addition to a warrant that he received for 40 acres at an earlier date so in all he received warrants for 120 acres for his Black Hawk War service.  Not bad for eighty five days of service.

!MILITARY: 1832 "I certify that Jacob Coffman volunteered as a Mounted Ranger into the service of the United States on the Eleventh day of June 1832, and served as a private in my company in the Odd Battalion, commanded by Major Samuel Bogart, and discharged therefrom on the Fourth day of Sept. 1832.      Given under my hand this 14th day of Sept. 1832.                              Peter Butler Capt. The information above was received from the National Archives.  The image above was posted on Ancestry.com by Tom Tucker.

!RESIDENCE: 1833; Jacob and Eary's daughter, Dorcas married Charles Duncan in McDonough Co. 10 Nov 1833; IGI-IL p. 5133; Jan 1992.

!CENSUS:1840 Not in Mc Donough most likely in Buchanan County, Missouri.  St. Joseph, Missouri is the major city of Buchanan County.

Daughter, Elizabeth's husband was from Leavenworth, Missouri. The Geographic Names server lists: East Leavenworth Missouri in Platte County which is just south of Buchanan County.

Son Alfred's biography mentions that his father, Jacob Coffman resided in Jamestown, Missouri five miles from St. Joseph.

The 1840 Census index listings below show Jacob with his sons, Thomas Fowler Coffman and Leroy Coffman in Nodaway Township, Buchanan County, Missouri.

• 1840 COFFMAN JACOB Buchanan County MO 152 Nodaway Township Federal Population Schedule MO 1840 Federal Census Index MOS4a534748 
• 1840 COFFMAN LEROY Buchanan County MO 152 Nodaway Township Federal Population Schedule MO 1840 Federal Census Index MOS4a534943 
• 1840 COFFMAN THOMAS F. Buchanan County MO 152 Nodaway Township Federal Population Schedule MO 1840 Federal Census Index MOS4a534949   

The family statistics for 1840 read as follows:
Name Jacob Coffman
Home in 1840 (City, County, State) Nodaway, Buchanan, Missouri
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 1
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59 1 [Jacob age 59 or 60]
Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59 1 [Arey age 55]
Free White Persons - Under 20 1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 1
Total Free White Persons 4
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves 4

Alfred Coffman would have been 17 years old in 1840 but he appears to have not been accounted for in this family.  The male 5 thru 9 and the male 20 thru 29 are a bit of a mystery.  William F. Coffman, age 25, was married in 1837 but he has not yet been located in an 1840 census record.  Possibly he was residing with his father, Jacob Coffman and his wife had not yet joined him in Missouri. If this is William Coffman, one of his children might have been in the household but the mystery remains.

!RESIDENCE: 1842 "When sixty-two years of age [1842] he moved to Missouri, to a town called Jamestown, five miles from St. Joseph [Buchanan County]." per biography.

!CENSUS:1850 IL McDonough Co., p. 256a house 372; occupation farmer;age 70; b. VA; Eary, age 65 b. MD

!DEATH-BURIAL: Hillsborough Cemetery, McDonough Co., Illinois; corner of 100 E and 2150 N; Section 19 Blandinsville Twp.; inscription: Jacob Coffman, Died Mar 26, 1852, Aged 71 yrs. 5 mos. 11 days  

One of my Coffman cousins has been working on this family for as long as I have and she provided me with the following leads.  There are definitely more hours to be spent on Jacob Coffman but I leave you with these leads in closing.  MORE TO COME!

----Original Message Follows---- From: Jane Risser jrisser#earthlink.net To: Nick Cimino ncimino#hotmail.com Subject: Jacob Coffman & Siblings? Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2002   Here's what I've found re: possible siblings and parents of Jacob Coffman:  By following the Hungates,(remember John Hungate was a witness at Jacob's' wedding to Eary, Washington Co. KY 1805): 1) William Hungate m. Sally Coffman, Mercer Co. KY 8 JUL 1800, (The Hungate Family, vol.2, by Carroll Paul Hungate, MD. Kansas City, MO). Mercer county is next to Washington county.  Wm. and Sally are in Hamilton Co. IL by 1827.  Jacob's son Alfred is b. Hamilton 1823. 2)  Mary Coffman m. Col. John Hungate 1795 Mercer Co. KY. 3) 1810 Mercer County, KY Fed. census: John Hungate, Wm. Hungate, Joseph Hungate and Charles Hungate living next to or with one another.  Also listed, separately, Isaac "Caughman".  [This online, un-indexed, and much of it is illegible-JR]. 4) History of Hancock Co. IL 1880, Gregg p. 819: ;"...parties in cases or jurymen: ...Jacob Coffman......Charles Hungate succeeded to the docket in 1836." 5) History of Hancock Co. IL vol 2 p. 1186 Aaron DeWitt marries [1]Mary Hungate, dtr of Charles and Catherine Hungate...m. [2] Sarah Coffman.  Apparently, there are court records in Mercer Co. stating the Elizabeth Veach, binds out her sons in 1794 to be apprenticed.  It reads in part "...with the consent of Elizabeth Veach, bind out their son Isaac Coffman, son of Elizabeth Coffman and orphan of Christopher Coffman, (dec'd)..."  It looks like Elizabeth was the widow of Christopher Coffman and remarried a Veach.   [I have not seen these records-JR]  From 1992 KY Ancestors v27-3p. 154, submitted by Thomas G. Herwer: Jacob's parents were Elizabeth Clarke and Samuel Coffman.  Jacob apprenticed to a Springfield hatter in Washington Co.[Sources?]  I have seen work of another researcher who states she found Jacob Coffman, Wm. Hungate and Betsy Veatch (dtr of Elizabeth and 2nd husband, with husband Andrew Vance) in 1820 White Co. IL p. 388.  [Have not confirmed this-JR]  Second Census KY 1800 Franklin County (formed May 1, 1795 from Mercer, Shelby, and Woodford co.s): Jacob Coffman and heirs Coffman, Aug 10, 1801  IGI Germany:  Jacob Fried. Wilhelm Kauffmann christened 14 Nov 1781 Konigsberg, Brandenburg, Prussia, son of Christoph Kauffmann and Sophie Bannin. From church records of Sankt Marien Kirche, Konigsberg.  I've read that Germans often had multiple baptismal names and used different ones for different purposes ( public, official, and personal or familial).  Are Samuel and Christopher Coffman the same person?  Researcher Tina Mitchell, whom I hope to hear from this week, has as children of Christopher/Samuel: --Mary  b. abt. 1778 VA or KY [ KY formed from VA July 1790-JR] --Christopher --Jacob b. 15 May 1781 --Isaac --Sarah (Sally) b. abt 1786 VA or KY, d. aft 1860 Hamilton Co. IL.  She also says she has seen many court records that list the father of these children as Christopher.[ Hope she'll share!].  So, in closing, the above is what I'm working with.  There is a lot to confirm or refute, many leads however.   Jane

Using DNA to Trace 18th Century German Immigrants

Are you struggling to identify the origins of your eighteenth century immigrant ancestors? DNA may prove to be a useful tool in supplementing genealogical records for these early immigrants.  Last week I wrote about my maternal grandmother, Elaine Coffman and her baby book from her first few years in New York City.

I was well acquainted with my grandmother and her sister, Vivian Coffman McGrath.  I also know their half brother, Ernest Ellsworth Coffman, Jr. who we call "Uncle Ernie".  We have a wealth of knowledge about the Coffman line but it starts to get a little shadowy when we start to trace back to the original German immigrant in the early days of Kentucky.

I feel very fortunate that Uncle Ernie  was agreeable to taking a y-DNA test to trace the Coffman line further back.  I got to know Uncle Ernie as a young lad.  Occasionally I would see him when he would visit "Gram Elaine" in Lake Tahoe.  We started to correspond and then email each other after I began the Coffman genealogy research.  I love his writing style and am fortunate to have several of his stories that I have added to the family history archive.   I ordered a y-DNA test for Uncle Ernie before Christmas and we are anxiously awaiting the results of the test from Family Tree DNA.

There is a pretty well developed database for the Coffman family at the following webpage sponsored by Family Tree DNA: Kauffman/Coffman/Kaufman Project - Y-DNA Classic Chart.

There is an ancestor on the list who has some history which seems to fit with some of the stories that have been passed down in our Coffman line.  Here are the specifications for the test of interest: 

Kit Number: 316309; Paternal Ancestor Name: Jacob Coffman, death 1792, KY; Country of Origin: Germany; Haplogroup: I-YP1084

Starting with Uncle Ernie, here is the path to that German immigrant:  Ernest Ellsworth Coffman Jr. 1932 CA> Ernest Ellsworth Coffman Sr. 1879 IL-1934 CA>Archibald Wilson Coffman 1850 IL-1935 CA> William Fowler Coffman 1815 KY-1905 IL > Jacob Coffman 1780 Germany or KY- 1855 IL > Jacob Coffman, the original immigrant from Germany.

We are fortunate to have several oral histories that were preserved about the early origin of our Coffman line.

"The father Jacob, a native of Germany, came to this country when four years old and settled in Kentucky, where they subsisted by digging the ginseng and selling it, and hunting deer and dressing their skins.  He was well acquainted with Daniel Boone.  He moved to Illinois, and was there during the Black Hawk war [1832], in which he took part.  He was the first man to settle in Burlington, Iowa, which place he found while swimming the Mississippi River after Indians for whom he had a deadly hatred. When sixty-two years of age he moved to Missouri, to a town called Jamestown, five miles from St. Joseph [Buchanan County].   He became so fond of frontier life that he followed it until his death, which occurred in Illinois, at the age of seventy-two years. He shot his last deer in Illinois, while on horseback, shortly before his death. His son Alfred has the old rifle with which he killed the deer.  Seven of the children of Jacob Coffman are living, the youngest being sixty six years of age."

SOURCE: History of Sacramento County, 1890, by Winfield J. Davis, CA State Library #qc979.453 D2; mfm#C115 #13 Book 2382; p. 479 From the sketch of Alfred Coffman, son of Jacob Coffman 1780-1855

I never ceased to be amazed that our Coffman family was written up in an early history of Sacramento County.  I was born in Sacramento in 1954 and I did not realize that Alfred Coffman had come to California in 1875 and that his nephew, Archibald Coffman, followed his uncle to California prior to 1880.  I was practically dumbfounded when I learned that Alfred Coffman was one of the founders of Elk Grove High School where my wife, Robin Harrington, graduated about one hundred years later.

I have found no record to substantiate the claim that Jacob Coffman 1780-1855 was the first man to settle in Burlington, Iowa, however Isaac Crenshaw, a neighbor of Jacob's, did lead a party of Illinois settlers to the Burlington area.  I have not yet checked early land claims but the histories of the area do not mention Jacob Coffman.  There are several other statements that I have been attempting to prove over the years.  The service in the Black Hawk War was has been substantiated by a bounty land claim. The relationship with Daniel Boone is  little more difficult to prove.

The most interesting aspect of this oral history is the deadly hatred of Indians.  This attitude toward Indians might be explained by the following story by another descendant of Jacob Coffman 1780-1855.

"...The grandparents of Mrs. [Aaron] DeWitt, Jacob and Ezra (Fowler) Coffman, were born in Kentucky, and he was a son of Jacob Coffman, a native of Germany.  When Jacob Coffman, Mrs. DeWitt's grandfather was three years old the family started for Illinois, and when they reached the Illinois side of the Ohio River they were attacked by the Indians and old grandfather was killed.  His wife, two sons and a negro servant escaped, fled to the woods and kept on traveling until the crow of a rooster told them they had reached a white settlement.  They finally made their way to McDonough County, where they entered land from the government, but none of the survivors ever forgot their terrible experience with the hostile Red Men."    

SOURCE: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois & History of Hancock Co. Scofield Vol. 11; Chicago, Illinois : Munsell Pub. Co., 1921; Salt Lake City, Utah : Digitized by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2009; page 1186 in the sketch of Aaron DeWitt.

The wife of Aaron DeWitt was Sarah Coffman, daughter of William Fowler Coffman and Elizabeth Wilson.  Sarah was a sister of my second great grandfather, Archibald Coffman 1850-1935.  She may have garbled the story a bit.  The three year old that was traveling to Illinois was probably her father, William Fowler Coffman.  The obituary of William F. Coffman tells the following version of the story:

"William F. Coffman was born in Kentucky, July 30, 1815.  When he was three years of age the family removed to Jefferson county, Illinois where they remained twelve years, when in 1830 they came to this vicinity where he has since resided." SOURCE: LaHarper, LaHarpe, Illinois, 15 Sep 1905

There are elements of these stories which bear some similarity to the following story about a Jacob Coffman who was an early settler in what is now Anderson County, Kentucky.

JACOB COFFMAN, FIRST ANDERSON COUNTY PIONEER
"Jacob Coffman was one of the first, it not the first, to build his cabin or fort, in what is now Anderson county. His fort, or strong cabin (It was not one of the large stations or forts), stood on the corner lot made by what is now Woodford and Main streets, the lot now (1928) occupied by the Presbyterian church. This cabin was put up between February 3, 1780 and June 23, 1780, the time he made his 1,000 acre entry, the second entry using the term, "adjoining his settlement and around the same." Here Coffman lived from 1780 until his death by Indians in 1792.

"As to where he came from, the records of Anderson and Franklin counties are silent. Quite a number of Dutch settlers came to Kentucky at a very early date, and he may have been one of these..."

"Jacob Coffman, Sr., was killed in 1792, and there were several versions of his death, how it occurred and where. Mr. W. S. McBrayer gave the writer the version that many old people thought the Indians did not kill him, but that Samuel Arbuckle killed him in order to get his land, and that he was killed near the brick residence of John C. McBrayer on the Clifton pike. Samuel Arbuckle did finally get the title to the lots of Jacob, Jr., and Hannah, and the greater part of Nellie's, but the records show that he got it many years after the death of Jacob, Sr., and that he paid prices for it that compared with prices paid for other similar land in the community."

"The most reasonable version of Jacob, Sr.'s, death heard by the writer, and it was heard many times years ago, was that he and his wife were walking not far from Coffman's Station one Sunday afternoon when they discovered two Indians not far away and apparently approaching them. Coffman sent his wife to the station to bar the doors, as he thought the Indians did not intend harm and he could get rid of them. He walked to where they were and some talk occurred, but suddenly the Indians clubbed him to death and scalped him. The alarm was given and a number of people got together under the command of Major Herman Bowmar living in Woodford county, and a deputy sheriff living in that county, came and tried to track the Indians. but could find no trace of them. (Collin's History, Vol. 2.)"

"The summer and fall of 1792 saw the last incursion into any part of central Kentucky, and the killing of Coffman here, and of a Mr. Todd in South Frankfort, were the last killings by Indians."

SOURCE: Ancestry.com. A history of Anderson County [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: McKee, Lewis W.. A history of Anderson County. Baltimore: Regional Pub. Co., 1975. The 1975 version was a reprint of A History of Anderson County Begun in 1884 By Major Lewis W. McKee, and concluded in 1936 By Mrs. Lydia K. Bond; Published by Roberts Printing Co., Frankfort, 1936.

One of the facts that Lewis McKee added to his narrative was that the widow of Jacob Coffman and her daughter, Nellie [AKA Eleanor] moved to Clay County, Missouri, where they were living on June 2, 1830, when Nellie sold the residue of her land to Samuel Arbuckle for $1,200.  Jacob Coffman 1780-1855 was known to have been in Buchanan County Missouri with some of his sons for a short time in the 1830's.  Several of his descendants are known to have been born in Buchanan County and the 1830 census shows a Jacob Coffman.

Several of my Coffman kinfolk have already latched onto this Jacob Coffman from the Anderson County, Kentucky history.  I will be contacting them for an explanation of their rationale. Perhaps the DNA results will help us solve this mystery.  We can only hope!

William Fowler Coffman, Born 1815 Kentucky - Died 1905 Illinois

As preparation for the big reveal of my uncle Ernie Coffman's y-DNA, we will focus this week on Ernie's second great grandfather, William Fowler Coffman. He was born 30 July 1815 in Kentucky and died in Hancock County, Illinois on September 11, 1905.  I took this photograph of his headstone in 1993.  The stone appears to have been added much later than 1905.

!BIRTH: 1815 Kentucky;  "...William and Elizabeth (Wilson) Coffman [were] born in Kentucky [and] came when children with their parents to Illinois at so early a day that Indians were still plentiful in the state."  per Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois & History of Hancock Co. Scofield Vol. 11; pg. 1186 Sketch of Aaron DeWitt.  The source of this information was probably Sarah Coffman, daughter of Wm. F. Coffman and Elizabeth Wilson and wife of Aaron De Witt.

!RESIDENCE:1818-1830 Jefferson County, Illinois; "When he was three years of age the family removed to Jefferson county, Illinois where they remained twelve years, when in 1830 they came to this vicinity where he has since resided" per obituary.

 !CHURCH: 1831; United with the Baptist church at New Hope in McDonough County at 16 years of age per obituary.

!MARRIAGE: 1837; McDonough County Marriage License; COFFMAN, WILLIAM to WILSON, ELIZABETH         18 Dec 1837; Book   A/Page  21     License 162 ; "They were married by the Rev. John Logan, a worthy Baptist divine and one of the earliest pioneer preachers in Illinois. " per wife's obituary.

!RESIDENCE: 1838-1841 Illinois; Mary Jane b. IL 1838; Sarah b. IL abt 1841.

!CENSUS: 1840; His father, Jacob Coffman and his brothers, Thomas and Leroy are in Nodaway Township, Buchanan County, Missouri in the 1840 census.  He apparently followed them to Missouri in 1841. According to the story told by Alfred Coffman in his Sacramento County biography they were residing in Jamestown, five miles from St. Joseph. His actual location in 1840 is currently unknown.

!RESIDENCE: 1841-1845 Missouri;  daughter Julia was born in Andrew County,  Missouri 13 November 1845.  Andrew County is directly north of Buchanan County as shown in the image below.

"In 1841 they removed to Missouri, but four years later returned to Illinois, resolved to make it their permanent home. " per wife's obituary.

!CENSUS:1850; Illinois, McDonough Co. p. 256 Family 370 William 35 KY farmer $600, Elizabeth 34 KY, Mary J. 12 IL, Sarah E. 10 IL, Aritney 7 (f) IL, John A.  4 MO, Archabold 4/12 IL, Joel Goodrin 17 KY

!CENSUS:1850; McDonough Co., IL;p.507, line 370;GS#007689.

LN HSE FAM NAME                  AGE SEX BIRTHPLACE OCCUPATION REAL ESTATE
27  370  370 Coffman William        35   M         KY  Farmer  $600
28  370  370 Coffman Elisabeth      34   F         KY
29  370  370 Coffman Mary J         12   F         IL    X
30  370  370 Coffman Sarah E        10   F         IL    X
31  370  370 Coffman Aritney?        7   F         IL    X
32  370  370 Coffman John A [should be Julia]           4   M         MO
33  370  370 Coffman  Archabole  4/12   M         IL

!LAND: 1850-1851; McDonough County, Illinois Land Records; The following series of land transactions appear to be related to Section 18, in the Northwest quarter of Township 7 Norther and Range 4 West; the first name is the grantor and the second name is the grantee.

!LAND: 1850; McDonough County, Illinois Land Records; Lucy Ward and others to Wm. and A. Coffman; Dec. 25, 1850 and January 6, 1851; Book O, Page 320; Pt Deed

!LAND: 1851; McDonough County, Illinois Land Records; Wm. Coffman and wife to Alfred Coffman; January 1, 1851 and January 6, 1851; Book O, Page 321; Pt Deed

!LAND: 1851; McDonough County, Illinois Land Records; Alfred Coffman and wife to William Coffman; January 1, 1851 and January 6, 1851; Book O, Page 322; Pt Deed

!LAND: 1851; McDonough County, Illinois Land Records; William Coffman and wife to S.L. Charter; January 1, 1851 and January 6, 1851; Book O, Page 323; 10 acres North East Corner; Deed

!CENSUS: 1855; Illinois State Census Collection, 1825-1865 http://www.ancestry.com  about William Coffman Name: William Coffman Census Date: 1855 Residence State: Illinois Residence County: McDonough Residence Township: Township 7 Roll: ILSC_2192 Line: 14; The listing shows William and Alfred Coffman residing in Township 7 North, Range 4 West.  The tick marks show the following listing.  The names and ages have been inserted for comparison purposes.  The listings and tick marks show one male under 10 [Archibald, age 5]; one male 30 to 40 [William, the father 40]; four females 10 to 20 [Mary Jane 17, Sarah 13, Eary Ettna 12, Julia Ann 10]; one female 30 to 40 [Elizabeth, the mother 39].

!LAND: 1854; McDonough County, Illinois Land Records; William Coffman and wife to Jos R. Fullerton; January 15, 1854 and January 9, 1855; Book W, Page 123; Pt Deed

!LAND: 1854; McDonough County, Illinois Land Records; William Coffman and wife to Jos R. Hunt; May 15, 1854 and August 22, 1854; Book V, Page 170; Pt Deed

!LAND: 1859; McDonough County, Illinois Land Records; Elias Green to William Coffman; Nov 15, 1859 and April 4, 1859; Book L-M, Page 342; Pt Deed

!CENSUS:1860 Durham Twp., Hancock Co., IL; LDS film #803184, FHL book p. 62 Page 954 P.O. Durham, Enum. 18 August 1860, Dwelling 5004, Family 4870

William 45 KY farmer REAL ESTATE $2400 PERSONAL PROPERTY $930,
Elizabeth 44 KY,
Mary Jane 21 IL (married),
Sarah 19 IL,
Arietta 17 MO,
Julia A. 14 MO,
Archibald W. 10 IL,
Catherine 7 IL,
Luella 5 IL,
Douglas 1 IL.

!BIOGRAPHY: The Pecks of Hancock County, Illinois by Annabelle Witt Linneman "The William Coffman family with their six daughters and two young sons lived in a one room log house nearby and before long, [Christopher Columbus Peck aka Lum] was courting 18 year old Julia." [Reference 1860 census, Durham Township, Hancock Co., Illinois]

!LAND-RESIDENCE: Durham Twp. Pioneers by Suzanne Miller; pg. 9 William Coffman owned land Section 34 Durham Twp. 1860's & 1870's. Wife Elizabeth. Children: Mary Jane, Sarah, Arietta, Julia, "Archibald, Luella, & Douglas.

!CENSUS: 1870; a line by line search of Durham Township in 1870 failed to reveal William Coffman.  Perhaps the Coffman family was traveling in July 1870 or perhaps they were missed by the census enumerator.

!LAND-RESIDENCE: 1874 Map of Durham Twp. north east quarter of section 34; Illustrated Historical Atlas of Hancock County, Illinois, 1874; Published by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, Illinois. pg. 70.  In 1874, William Coffman owned most of the of the north east quarter of Section 34, Durham Township, Hancock County, Illinois.

!CENSUS:1880 Durham Twp., Hancock Co., Illinois  Source: FHL Film 1254211  National Archives Film T9-0211     Page 98C                  

NAME Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace

William COFFMAN      Self             M M W 63 KY  Occ: Farmer Fa: GER Mo: ENG
Elisabeth COFFMAN   Wife             F M W 62 IL  Occ: Keeping House Fa: KY Mo: KY
Sarah COFFMAN       Dau  F S W 38 IL  Occ: At Home Fa: KY Mo: KY
Frank ONEIL       GSon M S W 13 IL  Occ: Farmer Fa: PA Mo: IL

!RESIDENCE: 1886 Durham Twp.  7N 6W, LaCrosse, NE 1/4 of Sec. 34; Directory of Hancock Co. Illinois, 1886; FHL 977.343 E4d.

!CHURCH: 1886 East Durham Christian Church

!LAND: Deed record Volume 113, page 213; Geo. Locke and Mary Locke, his wife of the town of La Harpe, County of Hancock, State of Illinois for... sixteen hundred dollars in hand paid convey and warrant to Wm. Coffman of the town of Durham, County of Hancock, State of Illinois the following described real estate: Lot No. 13 in the subdivision of the southwest quarter of section number twenty two (22) in Township seven (7) north of range five (5) west; SOURCE: Deed records v. 112-113 1881-1895; Family History Library; United States & Canada Film #954291

!RESIDENCE: 1888-1905 LaHarpe, IL

!RESIDENCE: 1891; William Coffman owned Lot 13 in La Harpe.  This was adjacent to the George Locke property on the east and James McCallister property on the east and fronted the highway. He also owned a 23 acre parcel in Durham Township, Section 6. It was a portion of the northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter. E.J. Smith owned 56 acres of the west half of section 6 and bordered William Coffman on the south. SOURCE: 1891 Plat book of Hancock County, Illinois / compiled and published by Alden, Ogle & Co., page 89.

!NEWSPAPER: La Harper 11 Aug 1893      Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Springer of Carthage, visited with Elias Brandon's family, at Blandinsville, Sunday and Monday and returning visited their good friends Mr. and Mrs. P.D. Williams and spent the night with their old Pilot grove neighbors, Wm. Coffman and family.  John's visit about town was all too short.  He has friends here by the score, who failed to meet him.

!WIFE'S DEATH: Elizabeth Wilson Coffman, wife of William F. Coffman, died on 25 October 1893 at their home in La Harpe, Hancock County, Illinois.  Her obituary tells a great deal about their life together. 

!OBITUARY: From the LaHarper or The Quill, LaHarpe, IL    Elizabeth Coffman was born in Washington county, Kentucky, February 27, 1816 and died at her home in LaHarpe, Illinois, Oct. 28, 1893 at the age of 77 years, 8 months and 1 day.    She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Wilson.  She came with her parents to Illinois in 1833.  They settled in McDonough county in what was then known as "Jobe's Settlement."  This became a typical pioneer home, the hearth glowed with genial warmth and all was hospitality and good cheer.  Here in the bloom of womanhood, surrounded by parents, brothers, and sisters, she became affianced to a young man, also hailing from her old neighborhood, who had come out west to try his fortune and build up a family.  The wedding took place Dec. 7, 1837 and she became the wife of Mr. Wm. Coffman.  They were married by the Rev. John Logan, a worthy Baptist divine and one of the earliest pioneer preachers in Illinois.  They started on life's journey with bright hopes and cheerful hearts.  They resolved to make the most of the situation and to endure all the evils in order to enjoy the sweets of pioneer life.  In 1841 they removed to Missouri, but four years later returned to Illinois, resolved to make it their permanent home.    Mrs. Coffman became the mother of nine children, two sons and seven daughters, two of the daughters died before attaining womanhood and four, Mrs. O'Neil and Mrs. Earlywine, Eary Ettna and Luella preceded her to the better world, Mrs. O'Neil and Mrs. Earlywine leaving small children.  Mrs. Coffman cared for these children during their tender age and lavished upon them the wealth of her motherly affection.  Her two surviving daughters, Mrs. Dewitt and Mrs. Peck and one son, Alfred D. Coffman, live in Hancock county, and all have been most devoted to their mother in her last illness.  One son, Archibald D. Coffman, lives in California.  She also leaves her surviving husband.    Faithful indeed have they kept their marriage vows.  For over half a century have they loved cherished and assisted each other along life's journey.  She was always kind and hospitable and with all possessed a cheerful disposition. In all the varied circumstances, come what might, she was equal to the occasion and maintained a cheerful mien and a happy spirit.   These noble qualities endeared her to a host of loving friends and made her home agreeable and pleasant to all about her.  She was a devoted wife a kind mother and a noble friend.  From childhood to old age she had practiced those virtues which dignify human character and adorn the Christian.  Those who knew her best loved her most.  Let us keep her memory green until we too are called hence.

!CENSUS: 1900; Name:Wm Coffman
Age:84
Birth Date: Jul 1815
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1900: La Harpe City, La Harpe Township, Hancock County, Illinois
Race: White
Gender:  Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Kentucky
Mother's Birthplace: England
Occupation: Retired Farmer
Ownership: Owned a house, free of mortgage
Neighbors:
Household Members:

Name Age
Wm Coffman 84
Sarah De Witt 59

Sarah De Witt was the daughter of William F. Coffman.  She was born October 1840 in Illinois and she was a widow and had no children according to this census record.

!LAND: Deed Book 143, page 381, The grantor, Wm. Coffman, widower of this city of La Harpe in the County of Hancock, State of Illinois for consideration of love and affection and one dollar convey and quit claim to Sarah E. Dewitte of this said County of Hancock and  State of Illinois all interest in the following described Real Estate to wit:

Lot Thirteen in the subdivision of the South West quarter of Section 22 in Township seven (7) north of range five (5) west according to plat thereof recorded in the recorders office of said county in plat book #3, page 58

!BIRTH-DEATH-BURIAL: Hillsborough Cemetery, McDonough Co., IL; corner of 100 E and 2150 N; section 18, Blandinsville Township; inscription: William F. Coffman July 30, 1815 - Sept 11 1905; on same stone as Elizabeth, his wife. Printed in the Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois; Volume XVII; Blandinsville Township by Duane Lester, Good Hope, Illinois, no date, Printed by Schuyler - Brown Historical and Genealogical Society and the The Schuyler Jail Museum;  Remarks:

"This cemetery was established in 1849 at the same time that the Hillsborough Baptist Church congregation was organized.  A frame church building was built immediately south of the cemetery and stood at that location for several years.  Present condition of the cemetery grounds is good; the area is regularly maintained, well fenced, and most stones are in relatively good repair, although, many are badly weather-worn; some are broken.  At least two stones were located that were completely unreadable due to wear and damage. "

!OBITUARY: From the LaHarper, LaHarpe, IL 15 Sep 1905  William F. Coffman Died--At his home in this city, 8 o'clock Monday evening, Sept. 11, 1905, William Fowler Coffman, aged 90 years, 1 month and 13 days.    William F. Coffman was born in Kentucky, July 30, 1815.  When he was three years of age the family removed to Jefferson county, Illinois where they remained twelve years, when in 1830 they came to this vicinity where he has since resided.  He united with the Baptist church at New Hope in McDonough county at 16 years of age and has been doing Christian service all through his life, not only professing discipleship but doing his Master's work to the best of his ability.  None doubted his sincerity.  There being no Baptist church near LaHarpe he united with the East Durham Christian Church in 1886, and later removed his membership to LaHarpe.  He was zealous in Christ's cause, and a worker in the church.  He had a kindly interest in his fellow man, recognizing the brotherhood that made all men akin.  He was honest in action, honest with himself as well as with his God and his fellow man.  His life was rightly lived from early youth and to this may be attributed the attainment of his many years and the good health he always has enjoyed.  He was married to Miss Elizabeth Wilson in 1837.  Eight children were born to them, four of whom are living. Mrs. Sarah Dewitt who has lived with him since the death of Mrs. Coffman some ten years ago.  Mrs. C.C. Peck, now of Augusta, Archibald of Oakland, Cal., and A. Douglas Coffman of Graceville, Minn.  There were born twenty-one grandchildren, fourteen of whom are living and fifteen great grandchildren.    Mr. Coffman came to this city from South Durham about seventeen years ago. He has been quite feeble for a year or so and of late was unable to get around without assistance.  Last Friday he fell from his chair and while it did not seemingly cause him serious injury, he rapidly declined and passed away at 8 o'clock Monday evening.    The funeral services were held at the Christian church Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock, Eld. Huff officiating, and the burial was at Hillsborough, four miles east of this city.  The floral offerings were beautiful.

!WILL: Online will records were searched on 13 March 2017 but not record was found; "Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-K6Y2-3?cc=1834344&wc=SFKP-T36%3A162590601%2C163259501 : 20 May 2014), Hancock > image 6 of 358; county courthouses, Illinois.  This was an index page for the "C" surnames.

The following articles are also part of my series on Coffman Family History:

http://www.ancestorpuzzles.com/2017/01/using-dna-to-trace-18th-century-german.html

http://www.ancestorpuzzles.com/2017/02/archibald-coffman-alaska-miner-and-mare.html

http://www.ancestorpuzzles.com/2017/01/an-unknown-father-ernest-coffman-1879.html

http://www.ancestorpuzzles.com/2017/01/uncle-ernie-coffman-his-story-and-his.html

Coffman Records in Mercer County, Kentucky

Coffman Records in Mercer County, Kentucky

Compiled by Nick Cimino, League City, Texas April 2017

DRAFT DOCUMENT FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT

Many other genealogists have subscribed to the theory that the father of Jacob Coffman 1780-1852 (buried in McDonough County, Illinois) is Christian Coffman AKA Christopher Coffman who appears to have died in Mercer County, Kentucky in the 1780s.  There is a profile for Christian Coffman in the Family Search family tree at the following URL: https://familysearch.org/tree/person/MQTC-T18/details

According to the Family Search Wiki: Mercer County was created 17 October 1785 as a Virginia county from Lincoln County. County seat: Harrodsburg. Mercer County became a county in the state of Kentucky upon the formation of that state in 1792.

Lincoln County was created on 1 May 1780 as a Virginia county when Kentucky County (Virginia) was abolished to form Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln counties.

Kentucky County, Virginia was created in 1776 from Fincastle County.

Fincastle County was created in 1772 from Botetourt County.

Botetourt County was created 7 November 1769 from Augusta County.

Augusta County was created 1 August 1738 from Orange County.

The following records were transcribed by Nick Cimino, in April 2017, League City, Texas ancestorpuzzles[at]gmail.com; Transcriber's notes in brackets [ ]. Underlining was added for emphasis of key names and phrases.

[The following transcription of a deed was received from David Coffman in April 2017, DJmodem[at]hotmail.com]

Mercer County, Kentucky, Deeds, Book 2, Page 446 - The deposition of Edward Davis taken this 8th day of February 1796 at the house now occupied by Isaac Coffman in Mercer County for the purpose of establishing the place whereon the improvement was made in the year 1774 that was claimed by Isaac Taylor deceased which deposition was taken by virtue of an order of the Court of Mercer County between the heirs of said Isaac Taylor deceased of the one party and James Speed, John Lillard and Henry French of the other part, the said James Speed, John Lillard and Henry French having acknowledged legal notice of the taking the deposition aforesaid, before us Thomas Freeman and Garrett Darland Commissioners appointed by the Court aforesaid for the purpose of taking the said deposition and the said Edward Davis having been duly sworn saith: That in February 1780 he was in company with Silas Harlan and they went by the place where Isaac Coffman now lives and the said Harlan showed this Deponent an Improvement which stood near the Spring now used by the said Isaac Coffman and told him it was an Improvement belonging to Isaac Taylor and that him the said Harlan had made it for the said Taylor. This deponent further saith that he was afterwards directed by the said Harlan to purchase the same improvement above said from the said Isaac Taylor and told this deponent that he expected the claim could begot cheap as the improvement had cost Taylor only 3 pounds which he had paid to him the said Harlan for the making of the improvement. This deponent further saith that he was a near neighbor to aforesaid Isaac Taylor and is well satisfied that he the said Taylor never was in this state either before or since the making of the improvement. Question by James Speed: when did you understand this aforesaid sum of 3 pounds was paid by Isaac Taylor to Harlan? Answer: I understand (but cannot tell by whom) that the money was not paid by Harlan until after the battle at the Point [Pleasant], which was the fall of 1774, and further the deponent saith not.

SOURCE: Virginia tax payers, 1782-87, other than those published by the United Stated Census Bureau By Augusta B. Fothergill and John Mark Naugle 1940; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978. This book is online at Family Search Books but I had to visit a Family History Center to download my PDF copy.

Name of Tax Payer, Poll, Slave, County

Coffman, Abraham, 1, 0, Hardy

Coffman, Christopher 1, 0 Berkeley

Coffman, Isaac, 1, 1, Berkeley

Coffman, John, 1, 0, Montgomery

Hungate, John, 1, 0, Botetourt

Hungate, William, 1, 0, Botetourt

[It is notable that Isaac Coffman was the only slave holder but he only had one slave. The proximity of Isaac Coffman and Christopher Coffman in Berkeley County, Virginia may indicate relationship. Christopher and Isaac are also found in proximity in Mercer County, Kentucky records. The original tax records should be reviewed to see if they appear to pay their taxes at the same time.]

SOURCE: The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Vol. 20, No. 58, 1922 Frankfort, Kentucky [Google Books]; Early Marriage Records of Mercer County, Kentucky

SURNAME: COFFMAN

page 10, 20 Jun 1788 Wm. Veatch and Elizabeth Coffman, Minister: Rice

page 14, 12 Nov 1794 John Hungate and Mary Coffman, Minister: Rice

page 15, 8 Jan 1795 John Hungate and Polly Coffman, Minister: Rice

page 16, 3 Aug 1796 Isaac Coffman and Mary Calvert, Minister: Rice

page 20, 8 Jul 1800 Wm. Hungate and Sally Coffman, Minister: Rice

SURNAME: HUNGATE see the three above; no more found

[It is notable that the name of the minister is identified in this version of the Mercer marriage records. This minister should be researched further to find out what his role was in the Mercer County community.]

SOURCE: Marriage Bonds And Consents, 1786-1810, Mercer County, Kentucky; Compiled and Published by: Alma Ray Sanders Ison and Rebecca Wilson Conover, Harrodsburg, Kentucky, July, 1970; digitized book at FamilySearch.org. This book is online at Family Search Books but I had to visit a Family History Center to download my PDF copy.  I have added a few hyperlinks to the original records referenced in these transcriptions by Ison and Conover.

1787- Veitch, William and Elizabeth Coffman, June 19, 1787

Bondsman: Isaac Coffman

Consent: The bride writes consent for the license to be issued

Teste: Vincent Wren and Dan Veitch

[Some researchers have theorized that Elizabeth Coffman is the widow of Christian Coffman and that Isaac Coffman is her brother-in-law.  One can also make the assumption that Dan. Veitch is a close relative of William Veitch. See the full transcription of the consent granted by Elizabeth Coffman transcribed below.]

Bond URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YXSH-RJ?i=64&cc=1804888

The consent follows two images beyond the bond.]

1792- Stilts, Frederick and Racheal Goldman, May 30, 1792

Bondsman: John Goodnight

Bride's guardian: Henry Goldman

Teste: James Coffman

1795- Hungate, John and Polley Coffman, January 25, 1795

Bondsman: Charles Hungate

Bride's mother: Elizabeth Coffman, who certifies bride's age is 21. [It is notable that the bride’s mother is described as Elizabeth Coffman rather than Elizabeth Veitch.

 Teste: Major Farris

Bond URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-Y6SM-R1?mode=g&i=125&cc=1804888

Consent URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-Y6S9-W9?i=126&cc=1804888

1800- Hungate, William and Salley Coffman, July 8, 1800

Bondsman: Job Hale, who certifies that bride is 21.

Bond URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YJLC-X?mode=g&i=565&cc=1804888

Consent URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YJG1-5?i=564&cc=1804888

Stoghill, John and Mary Coffman, April 22, 1801

Bondsman: Nicholas Myres

Consent: Isaac Kaufman and Anne Kaufman

Teste: Henry Kaufman

[The parents of Mary Coffman appear to be Isaac Coffman and his wife, Anne. Is this Annie French?]

Bond URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YJLW-3?mode=g&i=657&cc=1804888

Consent URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YJ29-G?mode=g&i=658&cc=1804888

Steen, Nathan and Sally Hale, April 15, 1807 [Nathan Steen later marries Anne Coffman daughter of Isaac Coffman. Nathan Steen is also a bondsman in 1808 marriage bond of Rachel Coffman below.]

Bondsman: John Hayes

Bride's mother: Hannah Hale

Teste: Elias Passmore

Steen, Nathan and Anne Coffman, March 12, 1808

Bondsman: Isaac Coffman

Bride's father: Isaac Coffman

Teste: Henry Coffman

Bond URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YX9Y-ZN?i=842&cc=1804888

Consent URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YX9B-3M?i=843&cc=1804888

1808- Brooks, Jesse and Rachel Coffman, April 5, 1808

Bondsman: Nathan Steen

Consent: Travis C?) Coffman

Teste.: Nathan Zachery

Bond URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5Z6-X36

Consent URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YX9Y-P4?i=875&cc=1804888

[Ison and Conover made an error in transcription as Isaac Coffman also signed this consent.]

SOURCE: Mercer County Loose Marriage Papers

A table of contents of the Mercer County Loose Marriage Papers is found here:

https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/135068?availability=Family%20History%20Library

This is the general index to early Coffman marriages:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YF3N-C7?i=54&cat=135068

Consent granted by Elizabeth Coffman is at the following URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-YXSC-5J?mode=g&i=66&cc=1804888

Citation: Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954  Microfilm # 004705523 ; Image  67 of 1177

[Transcription of permission to marry by Elizabeth Coffman, June 19, 1787]

This is to certify that you have my approbation in granting a license to Mr. Wm. Veitch the bearer hereof to Marry me. Given under my hand this 10th day of June 1787 signed Elizabeth Coffman [no mark so she was apparently able to write her signature.]

Mr. Tho. Allen Clk. ----sp?

Test. Vincent Wren

Dan. Veith x his mark

[The original image was attached to Family Search profile for Elizabeth Clarke  9N3V-XBN by Nicholas Cimino1]

Reason This Source Is Attached:

Per Ison and Conover, 1970 [See full citation above]: No official approval to marry was given to those under twenty—one years of age unless they had the consent of their parents, grandparents or guardians. Most often these consents were in written form, in the handwriting of the individual giving consent or, if he was unable to write, in the handwriting of a relative or neighbor. A prospective bride who wrote her own note of consent for the license to be issued was either a widow or a woman who was above twenty-one years of age. [It appears that most genealogists are presuming that Elizabeth Coffman was a widow rather than a woman over the age of consent.  It is notable that other consents by the prospective bride actually include an explicit statement that she is a widow and this consent by Elizabeth Coffman does not state that she is a widow.]

Some additional marriages in the loose papers that Ison and Conover appeared to miss are the following as evidenced by the Family Search citations which are copied below:

Bond: "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5Z6-HF3  : accessed 24 April 2017), Isaac Coffman and Mary Calbert, 02 Aug 1796; citing Mercer, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 191,842. No consent was found.

Bond: "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5Z6-ZT9  : accessed 24 April 2017), Henry Coffman and Sarah Neals, 08 Oct 1802; citing Mercer, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 191,842.

Consent: "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5Z6-ZT3  : accessed 24 April 2017), W Henry Coffman and Sarah Neale, 08 Oct 1802; citing Mercer, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 191,842.

 [Note that the Madison County Courthouse is referenced as the location of these records. This appears to be an error in transcription.]

THE ESTATE OF CHRISTIAN COFFMAN AKA CHRISTIAN KAUFFMAN

An original Minute Book record has been attached to the Family Search Tree for the profile of Christian Kauffman, 1750 – 20 June 1787 • Person ID: MQTC-T18 by Nick Cimino.

URL: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4T-6W53

The source of this minute book is Family Search microfilm #007901429; Image # 72 of 1150. The date of the record looks like it could be 1791 but the number 1 is written very strangely.

A transcription was made as follows: [From Image 71] At a Court held for Mercer county on Tuesday the 23rd Aug. 1791; Present: John Irvine, Samuel McDowell, James Speed and Robert Mosly, Gentlemen;  [here begins transcription of Image 72 from the upper left hand corner] Administration on the Estate of Christian Coffman Dec'd Granted to Martha Veatch, William Veatch and Isaac Coffman they giving bond with Ab'm Banta, ----- [sp?] McClure Sec'y in the Penalty of 100 lbs. [sp?] Cond'r --[sp?] Whereupon they took the Oath --[sp?]

SOURCE: United States, Kentucky, Mercer - Court records; Order books, v. 1-2, 1786-1793; Film #7899116; Transcriptions were made from handwritten Order Book which is available as digitized microfilm images at FamilySearch.org.

[Volume 1] URL: https://familysearch.org/search/film/007899116?cat=434368

[Index page Image 9 of 555. This index is alphabetized by Plaintiff.  There is not a separate Defendant index. Other names in the orders are not indexed.]

[Plaintiff Index] Caughian v. Jennings 216; Coffman v. Campbell 299

[Index page Image 12 of 555] Hungate Charles 472;

 [Page 216 is on Image 126]; May the 27th 1788;

John Jouett came into Court and undertook for Jonathan Jinnings at the suit of John Coughran in an Action of Trespass...

[Page 299 is on Image 167] [From Top of Page] March the 25th 1789 - Present Alexander Robertson and Samuel Taylor Gentlemen

[Towards Bottom of Page]

Isaac Coffman......Plt}    against   John Campbell….Deft} Upon a Petition

   The Defendant though solemnly called came [not] Judgement [sic] is therefore Granted the Plaintiff against the said Defendant for one pound eighteen shillings Current money and also his Costs by him in this behalf expended and the said Defendant in Mercy etc.

[Page 472 is on Image 261] February the 23rd 1790

On the motion of Margaret Divine Widow and relict of John Divine Deceased who made Oath as the Law directs certificate is granted her for obtaining Letters of administration on her late husbands Estate in due form she giving Securety [sic] whereupon She with John Brown her securety [sic] (who was Sworn touching his personal estate) entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of two hundred pounds Conditioned as the Law directs ~

   Ordered that John Kirkland, Charles Hungate, Joseph McCollister and John Hale or any three of them being first sworn do appraise in Current Money the personal Estate (and Slaves if any) of John Divine Deceased and that the Administratrix return an Inventory thereof to the Court as the Law directs ~

[Other items of interest] [Not yet viewed]

Deeds 2, 7, 18, 22, 26, 27, 32, 58, 59, 63, 70, 97, 99, 104, 140, 150, 155, 162, 166, 184-188, 288-291, 308, 309, 313, 349-353, 358, 359, 362, 363, 405, 406, 408, 409, 446, 449, 450, 454, 458, 459, 462, 463, 467, 470, 471, 473, 506, 507, 510, 511, 515-517

Rodes [Roads sp?] 127-129, 140, 184, 186, 191, 154, 403, 404, 409, 411, 415, 451, 471, 473-475, 509, 510

Sheriff 2, 102, 138, 303, 307, 321, 330, 439, 477

Surveyor Record etc. 3, 58, 194

Surveyor Road 20, 21, 22, 91?, 106, 134, 137, 138, 139

[Defendants of interest] French vs. Coffman 296, 306, 330, 331, 375; Hall vs Veaytch 224; Martin vs. Coffman 53, 91, 103; McForse[sp?] vs. Coffman 175, 183; Sheels Ex’r vs. Coffman 124 [Not yet viewed]

[Volume 2 begins on Image 289]

[Index page for “C” surnames begins on Image 293 but there were no Coffman listings. This appears to be an index of plaintiffs only.]

[Index page for “H” surnames begins on Image 295] Hungate vs. Higgins 369

[Page 369 appears on Image 486 of 555]

John Hungate…Plt. against Robert Higgins and Jacob Tucker… Deft.] In Debt

This day came the Defendant Jacob by his Attorney and acknowledges the Plaintiffs demand against him for Seventy five pounds Current money. It is therefore considered by the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the said Defendant Jacob Seventy five pounds Current money and also his Costs by him in this behalf expended and the said Defendant in Mercy etc.

[Searching the index for defendant names found the following:] Bull vs Coffman 139; Clever vs. Coffman 233, 322; Logan vs. Coffman 251, 383;

[Page 139 appears on Image 370 of 555] January the 25^th 1792

Bennett Bull… Pltf} against Isaac Coffman…Deft} Upon Petition

By consent of the parties It is ordered that the Suit be Dismissed each party paying their own costs ~

[Page 233 appears on Image 417 of 555] August the 24^th 1791

On the motion of Benjamin Clever by his Attorney legal notice being proved for a Judgment upon a bond for the Delivery of property against Isaac Coffman and Thomas Allin, upon hearing the parties by their Attornies. It is the opinion of the Court that the said Bond is illegal, that the motion of the said Benjamin be quashed and that he pay to the Defendants Isaac and Thomas their costs by them in this behalf expended etc.

[Page 322 appears on Image 463 of 555] March the 27^th 1792

On the motion of Benjamin Clever by his Attorney It is ordered that the Clerk when Execution is Ordered by the said Benjamin against Daniel Veach, Isaac Coffman and Thomas Walker upon a judgment obtained on the rules by the said Benjamin against them that he issue the same with Interest to be computed after the rate of five PrCentum PrAnnum from the first day of March 1787 until paid and the Costs ~

[Searching the index for defendant names found the following:] Burke v. Veach 9;

 [Page 9 appears on Image  303 of 555] May the 27^th 1790

George Berks…Pltf} against Daniel Veach…Deft} In Case

This day came the parties aforesaid by their attornies and thereupon came also a Jury To wit William Morrow, Samuel Gibb, Bernard Gains, Edward Worthington, Henry Higgins, Peter Kenney, James Robinson, Claborn Harlow, Matthew Rice, Timothy Corn, Charles Chatwell and George Hart who being Elected and Sworn well and truly to Inquire what damages the Plaintiff had Sustained by reason of the Premises upon their oath do Say that the Plaintiff hath Sustained Damages by reason thereof to Six [continued on Image 304] Pounds Twelve Shillings Current Money besides his Costs~~ It is therefore considered by the Court that the Plaintiff do recover against the Defendant the damages aforesaid by the Jurors in their Verdict aforesaid assessed and also his Costs by him in this behalf expended and the said Defendant in mercy etc.

[Searching the index for defendant names found the following:] Ohare vs. Veach 261, 272, 293

[Page 261 appears on Image 432 of 555] August the 26^th 1791

Michael Ohare…Pltf} against Daniel Veach} Upon a Petition

   On the motion of Plaintiff by his Attorney an Alias Summons is awarded him against the Defendant returnable here etc. ~~

 [Page 272 appears on Image  438 of 555] September the 27^th 1791

Michael Ohare…Pltf} against Daniel Veach} Upon a Petition

Ordered that the suit be continued until the next Court for the return of the Plaintiffs summons ~~

 [Page 293 appears on Image  448 of 555] November the 23^rd 1791

Michael Ohare…Pltf} against Daniel Veach} Upon a Petition

Judgment herein is granted the Plaintiff against the Defendant for four pounds ten shillings Current money and his Costs~~

Wills 16, 75, 116, 134, 144, 164, 176, 199, 226; [Not yet viewed]

 Boon vs. Harrod 50, 102, 120, 137, 186, 198, 213, 255, 25, 264, 278, 291, 311, 359, 394; [Not yet viewed except one transcription below. It is interesting to note that these two famous fellows were involved in a legal dispute.  A Google search failed to return any articles explaining the nature of this legal dispute between Daniel Boone and James Harrod.]

[Vol. 2, Page 50 is found on Image 326 of 555] August the 25^th 1790

Daniel Boon…Pltf} against James Harrod} Upon a Petition

Ordered that these suits be continued until the next session

Bulger vs. Rice 51, 1102, 120, 138, 186, 199, 210-215; [Not yet viewed]

Berks vs Rice 56, 58, 85, 122, 140, 187, 199; [Not yet viewed]

Guardian 392 [Not yet viewed]

United States, Kentucky, Mercer - Court records; Order books, v. 3, 1793-1801; Film # 007899117 [Not yet viewed]