Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2098, Eli Coffey, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
N. C.
Coffey, Eli
R. 2098
Born in Va
CONTENTS

State of Tennessee
McMinn County
County Court May term 1839
On this 6 th day of May 1839 personally appeared Eli Coffey a resident of McMinn County and State of Tennessee in Open Court, before the Worshipful County Court for the County of McMinn aforesaid, now sitting, the same being a Court of record, aged Seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named Officer and served as hereinafter stated.
That he entered the Service of the United States as a Substitute in the room and place of one Thomas Field, who was his uncle by marriage, and who had a large family dependent upon his daily labor for subsistence. Said Field was drafted for three Months. Some time, as declarant believes, in the latter part of the Winter or in the Spring of the year 1780 in the State of North Carolina, Wilkes County, at which time declarant entered the Service under Capt. John Barton, for but during the time was occasionally under the Command of other Captains, namely, Capt. Rags, Mosen, Guest, & John Beverly, who were all Commanded by Col. Benjamin Cleveland at that time also a citizen of Wilkes County N.C.
Declarant was engaged as a Scout after the Tories in the Counties of Wilkes, and Burke.
During the term of his Service he was sometimes permitted to visit his Father. Sometimes was detached from the enemy in detached parties, to be upon active duty when required and when danger threatened from the collection of the enemy.
In this manner he served out his term of Three Months and was regularly discharged.
He again entered the Service of the United States as a horse man he thinks in the fall of the year 1781

He was a Substitute for his Brother Melvin Coffey who was drafted to go against the Cherokees, and who was never sighted. He entered the Service as above in Wilkes County in the State of North Carolina under Capt. John Bury & Lieutenant Isbell, of Wilkes. Col. Miller of Rutherford Col. Joseph McDowell & Genl Charles McDowell of Burke. They rendezvoused at Pleasant Garden, Burke County N.C. crossed the Mountain at the head of Swannano. Marched down Swannano and crossed French Broad River, the Big and Little Pigeon Rivers, and Tuckasegee at an Indian Town called Tuckasegee, took the Town, crossed the Tennessee River and head waters of the Hiwassee, passed through various parts of the Cherokee Nation, and took and burnt down other Indian Towns to wit, the Overhill Towns, the Valley Towns and the Shoemake Towns and then returned home and was regularly discharged at the expiration of the three months the time for which he had entered. These services were all rendered before he was eighteen years old and at a time when he was not subject to Military duty and his discharge was obtained by his Father, and he does not know what has become of them.
He was born in Albemarle County Virginia on the first day of March 1764. From Virginia he accompanied his Father to Wilkes County, North Carolina, where he resided when the above mentioned services were performed. He went to Kentucky in the year 1784 and returned to Wilkes the succeeding year, whence he removed to Wayne County Kentucky and thence to McCreary County, Tennessee, where he now resides.
He states that he has a record of his age at his house. I was not acquainted with any of the regular officers of the Revolutionary war, never having served with any. But was acquainted with all those Kentucky names by him, as his Officers.

He states that he is acquainted with Robt Frazier Henry Bradford and Nely Chrisman in his present neighbourhood, who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
He further states that he has no documentary evidence of his services and knows of no person by whom he can prove the same except Martin Durham a citizen of Wayne County Kentucky whose statement is herewith submitted.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present. And declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Eli Coffey
We Robert Frazier a clergyman residing in the County of McMinn and State of Tennessee and Henry Bradford and Nely Chrisman residing in the same County and State, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Eli Coffey who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed } Robert Frazier the day and year aforesaid } Henry Bradford Nely Chrisman

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Robert Ingersoll - who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of McMinn aforesaid and that Henry Bradford and Wesley Christian who have also signed the same are residents of the same County and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Elizah Hunt - L. C. B. J. H. Lockhart Pleasant Barnes, J. P.
I John B. Jackson Clerk of the County Court of McMinn County. Tennessee, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Eli Coffey for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the 6 th day of May 1839
J. B. Jackson Clk
34.908. Eli Coffey Tennessee
Mrs B. Emerson, N. Haver, Aug. 3, 1879.

an RECEIVED
3098
P. O.
Eli Coffey
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Jan 17 1840
Tenn.
Eli Coffee
Washington St.
Pension Agt.
Guaranteed Pay
Hon. J. W. Blackwell H. R.
William Blackwell

Washington Jan. 16 th 1840.
Sir
I hope you will excuse me for asking you to have the claim of Eli Coffer reconsidered. Please to examine the enclosed letter from Sam l Frazier Esq. and return it to me again. As to any statement of Mr. Eli Coffer, I know him well, and would rely upon his Honor in any thing he would say. He states that the troops to which he belonged - scattered for a time, but that they collected again, and were regularly discharged. If it is thought necessary to have Mr. Coffer's statement on oath, or any other testimony on the subject, please to inform me of the nature of the testimony, necessary to obtain a pension for him. I am confident that he would not, knowingly - make a false statement.
I have the Hon. to be
Respectfully,
Your St. Servt.
J. M. Blackwell
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Pen. Agt.

Dec 22 '41
Eli Coffey Dear Sir
L. Edwards Esq
Pension office
H. J. Campbell H.R.
Copy taken. Washington
2 p.m. W. St. Dec 23 d

Washington Dec r 22 d 1841.
J. L. Edwards Esq r , Sir,
Eli Coffey of McMinn County Tennessee, has on file in your office, certain papers, as proof of his being a Revolutionary pensioner. My object is to present his case to Congress - and will thank you to enclose me the papers - retaining a Mem o of what you commit to my care.
Very Respectfully V. O. Smith.
Thos. J. Campbell No. Repts.

Eli Coffee . Athens, Tennessee
Rev. claim - papers sent some time ago. Report immediately to Hon. F. J. Campbell H. Rep June 16. '41

Eli Koffey Tennessee
Rejected
See let. 29 th Nov. 1839
J. B. Emerson
let to H. and J. W. Blackwell 5. 1839 do. do. 18 June 1840.
did not perform six months actual service
let 16 June 1841 R. on V. I. Campbell. C. H. sent to same Dec. 14. 1841
Act 7 June 1832
2098

Dec 4
El Coffee
J. L. Richards
Pension Agent
J. W. Blackwell H. R.
Dec 5 '77 C. D.

Washington Dec th 4 th / 1839.
Sir,
Mr. Thos. Emmerson of Law. left with you some pension papers belonging to Eli Coffer. You will please do me the favour to give me some information on the subject. Can the pension be obtained; are the papers correct; if not, what is wanting. Your attention to the above, will Sir, very much oblige
Yours Ob t Serv t
J. M. Blackwood
Mr. — Edwards.

Aug. 3
Thos. B. Emmerison Athens Zen

Wayne County, Kentucky February 25th 1837.
This day Master Durham, a citizen of Wayne County, Ky. said, Age 80, or 82 years. Appeared before me, Joshua Oats, a Justice of the peace for the said Co. & made oath, that he was well acquainted with Eli Coffey, in the Revolutionary war. To wit, In Wilkes Co, North Carolina, but now a citizen of McMinn Co, Tennessee. And that some time in the year 1780, or in 81, he the said Coffey entered into the service of the United Colonies, But he this deponent has no recollection or does not recollect whether he the said Coffey was a volunteer, or a substitute. But believes he the said Coffey went with him to Captain John Reynolds, the place of rendezvous, he this deponent further knows, he the said Coffey marched with him in the service of the Revolutionary war, & is very positive he the said Coffey was in the service. & thinks the age of the said Coffey, was at the commencement of his service 17 or 18 years. And he this deponent further states that the said Coffey, sometime in the year of 1781, or 82, entered into the Indian war on a campaign under Gen. Charles McDowell, & has no recollection how long the said Coffey was in the service of the United Colonies.

I in this document believes the said Coffey performed the said hours of duty, from info- rmation at the time, living in the same part of the country with the neighbors & friends of said Coffey. Sworne to the date above before me.
Jo n Satterly J.P.
State of Kentucky
Wayne County, set
I, William Simpson, clerk of the Wayne county court do certify that I am well acquainted with Master Dunham , whose name appears in the foregoing instrument of writing, and that said Dunham is a man of respectability and that full faith and credit are due to all his statements when on oath; And I further certify that Joshua Datto Esq., whose name appears also to said instrument, is an acting justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Wayne, duly commissioned and qualified according to law, that full faith & credit are due all his official acts, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be
m.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of said court to be affixed hereat at my office in Monticello on this 4 th day of February 1839 44 th year of the Commonwealth William Simpson Atty By J. S. Christian D.