Benjamin Coffey was born 1747 in Spotsylvania County, VA, died 4 Jan 1834 in Hawkins County, TN, son of John Coffey and Jane Graves. Benjamin’s grandparents were Edward Coffey and Ann Powell. His wife may have been Mary “Polly” Hayes, a sister to George Hayes, who married Mary Judith Mills.

Mills and Coffeys moved to Hawkins County about 1809 from Wilkes County, NC. They lived on War Creek on the north side of Clinch Mountain. Benjamin had served in the Revolution in 1777 from Burke County, NC in a Cherokee uprising. He helped to build Crider’s Fort. He served again in 1781 from Wilkes County at the Battle of Kings Mountain.

Census records indicate that Benjamin Coffey had five sons and four daughters. The only child I have documented for him was:

John Coffey, born 15 Oct 1776 in Rowan County, NC.

John married Elizabeth Rucker 1 Mar 1804 in Wilkes County, NC. John died 15 Mar 1845 in Grainger County, TN.

Elizabeth Rucker, daughter of Colby and Sarah Rucker, was born 6 Jan 1887 in Wilkes County, NC, died 22 Mar 1855 in Grainger County, TN.

Their ten children were:

Ausburn, Colby, Benjamin, Nancy, John Jackson, Elizabeth, Sarah Lucinda, Margaret, William M. and Catherine.

Submitted by Bennie L. Coffey Loftin, Kiowa, OK.