Family Genealogy

1. John Coley, of Great Munden, Hertfordshire England;

     2.  Samuel Coley, of Milford, Conn.

        3. Thomas Coley, Sr., bapt 4/20/1657 Conn

            4. Thomas Coley, Jr., bapt 4/8/1696

                5. Robert Coley, 

                    6. Francis Coley, of Charles City Co., VA 

                        7. Francis Coley, (Jr?) b: 1798 d: 25 Sep 1874

                            Sarah "Sally" VAUGHT b: 24 Jul 1800 d: 15 Dec 1879

2.. Samuel Coley who came to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1631,  

     married  Anne Prudden in 1640 and they had seven children--

     three sons and four daughters. All of his children settled close 

     around Milford with their parents but Thomas, born April 20,     

     1657, and married Martha Stream, and migrated to Virginia.  

     He had two sons, Thomas, (Jr?) baptized  4/8/1696 and Samuel, 

     baptized 11/1/1702 and  died February  2, 1703/1704.  It is 

     believed our Virginia Coleys originated from Thomas, son of 

     Thomas, who, among his children could have been Francis, 

     Julius, Robert, Charles and Isham Coley, these  sons migrating 

     to NC., but, of course, this is still on the research list to be 

     connected at a later date. 

   3. Coley, Thomas, bapt 20 Apr 1657; md Martha Streme, 

       had 2 sons. This is the Coley that we cannot find any thing 

       else on, if he moved or had any other children.  One of his 

       sons died at a very young age and one more is listed. The 

       following is believed to be his children, but is not proven, 

       other than Thomas and Samuel: 

 4    Coley, Thomas bapt 4/8/1696,  believed to have the 

      following sons:  

     5.    Coley, Charles of Charles City County, VA 

           & Halifax County, NC

      5.    Coley, Robert of Charles City County, VA 

            & Halifax County, NC

      5.    Coley, Francis of Goochland County, VA

      4.  Coley, Samuel, bapt 11/1/1702; died 2/6/1703/04

  5. Robert Coley having sold land in Charles City County, VA in 1771

       moving to Halifax County, NC leaving a will dated 25 June 1785  

       naming his wife, Frances and two sons, Francis and William.  No  

       information available at this time on William. 

      6.. Francis Coley, born 14 Sept 1757 in Charles City County,   

             VA., died on  Sept 1840 Certain Record Books link him to a  

             Francis CORLEY of Trousdale County, but Census records 

             show a Francis Corley of Trousdale County and also a Francis  

             Coley of Smith County.  Francis died 19 Sept 1840 in Smith  

             County, before Macon County was formed in 1842, and he

             is believed to be buried in a stone marked grave in the    

             Coleytown Cemetery in Macon Co., TN.

              The earliest found record of Francis Coley in Tennessee was    

             a Land grant # 6874 for 50 acres  on record in Smith Co.,  

             dated Sept 19, 1827, which probably was made a part 

             of Macon County when it was formed in 1842 from Smith 

             and Sumner Counties.

             He served in the Revolutionary War as a private having 

            fought in the Battle of Brier Creek in Savannah, Ga.,  

            and in the Battle of Guilford, N. C. A copy of his  War 

            Record obtained from the Washington, D. C. Archives 

            is available on another page.

            It is unknown when he got  married or to whom.  The 

            following are believed to some of his children:

            7)  Coley, Abraham, born abt 1784; 

                  md Sarah Hightower 28 June 1803

                  in Brunswick County, VA.

           7)   Coley, daughter, born abt 1788

           7)   Coley, daughter, born abt 1792

           7)  John C., born abt 1795

          7)  Francis, born 15 May 1798

3. Francis Coley of Wythe County, Virginia was born 15 May 1798, a son of Francis Coley of Halifax County, NC. and also Smith County, TN.  The marriage records of Wythe County certify that on May 28, 1824 he  was united in marriage with Sarah Vaught, who was born July 24, 1800. Francis Coley died at his home on September 25, 1874.  The cause of death is listed as "consumption", a disease kknown in our time as tuberculosis.  His widow, Sarah, died December 15, 1879.  Both are buried in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery.

A deed recorded in the Wythe County Clerk's office establishes the fact that on October 8, 1831 Francis Coley purchased from Isaac and Sarah Miller one hundred eighty six (186) acres of land, located in the Speedwell Magisterial district of Wythe County.  A full surveyor's description is recorded in the deed, and the grantors acknowledge receipt of full payment in the amount of three hundred and fifty ($350.00) dollars.

Being industrious and frugal Francis and Sarah were able to have a

comfortable, if not luxurious living and here they reared a family 

of five sons and five daughters. Their children are hereinafter listed

in order of birth, with date of death also given where same is known.  To the right of each name is indicated the subsequent section in 

which a further account of each may be found.  The same system 

of reference is used in each following section.

                             Their children were:

Thomas K.                          Nov 20,1825            Unknown

Amanda J.                           Mar 30,1828         Mar 13, 1916

Juliett Mary                       May 23, 1829        July 29, 1897

Christopher Kendrick         Mar 2, 1831          Feb 21, 1902 

Jefferson Franklin               Feb 6, 1833           Oct 22, 1885

James Newton                     Feb 6, 1835           May 22, 1921

Eliza Catherine                   Nov 9, 1836           Mar 16, 1902

Sarah                                  Circa 1838             Unknown 

Nancy Margaret                 April 3, 1842          Mar 15, 1912

Isaac S.                               Aug 5, 1845            May 18, 1864    

4. Thomas  K. Coley

Thomas was the oldest of Francis' and Sarah's children.  In the 

census of 1850 his age is recorded as 25 and he listed his wife 

Emaline, age 21, and two daughters, Frances and June.

It is this writer's understanding that Thomas Coley moved to 

Tennessee before the Civil War, but at this time the writer 

does not know to what  point in Tennessee, nor is there 

presently available any further information  regarding

his family.

A photograph on the back of which his sister Catherine, Mrs. 

Rufus Umberger, had written Thomas Coley-1901 indicates 

that he was living in the early years of the 20th Century, but 

no further information is presently known. 

4. Amanda J. Coley

"Mandy" was born March 30, 1828.  In 1851 she became 

the wife of William W. Flanagan.  They lived near Crockett, 

Virginia, and Amanda is believed to have been the mother 

of four sons.  Amanda died March 13, 1916 and is buried 

beside her husband in King's Grove Church Cemetery.  A 

well-preserved stone marks the site of their graves.

4. Juliett Mary Coley

"Mary" was born May 23, 1829.  She lived and died a spinster, 

making her home with her parents and continuing at the home 

place after the death of her mother in 1879 until her own death 

on July 29, 1897.  According to land records of 1895 she inherited 

60 acres of her father's farm.  She is buried beside her parents and

her youngest brother in the cemetery of Zion Lutheran Church.

4. Christopher Kendrick Coley

C. K. Coley was born March 2, 1831.  Although the public schools 

of his time  left much to be desired, he was a studious type of 

person and made the best possible use of such educational 

facilities as were available.  Probably he also received private instruction from the ministers of his church.

During the sessions of 1851 - '52 and 1852 - '53 he attended 

Virginia Collegiate Institute at Salem, Virginia.  On March 14, 

1851 Virginia Collegiate Institute was granted a charter by the 

Virginia Legislators incorporating it as Roanoke College.

On November 9, 1854, C. K. Coley and Lydia Copenhaver, 

daughter of John and Rebecca (Kegley) Copenhaver, were 

united in marriage by the Rev James A. Brown.  He engaged 

in farming.

In 1859 he purchased 12 1/2 acres of land from his parents 

and the land records of 1863 show that he owned an adjoining 

tract of 177 1/2 acres in the Speedwell District.  Here he, his 

wife and their older children lived until some years after the 

Civil War.  After the death of John Copenhaver in 1873, C. K. 

Coley bought the interests of several of his wife's brothers and 

sisters.  Land records of 1895 show that he then owned 

 181 3/4 acres in Speedwell District; 182 3/4 acres in Black 

Lick District, or a total of 364 1/2 acres.

C. K. Coley served in the Confederate Army from 1861 to 1865, 

having  been promoted to the rank of Corporal in the early period 

of the conflict. 

  At the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, his regiment, (Company B, 

29th Virginia Infantry Regiment) was assigned to guard duty, and perhaps fortunately, was not a participant in the famous but fateful charge led by  General Pickett.

Always proud of his service in the "lost cause of the Confederacy", 

C. K. Coley  some years later attended a "Confederate-Yankee" 

reunion at Gettysburg, and also the unveiling of the Lee Monument 

in Richmond, Virginia.

After General Lee's surrender at Appomattox, C. K. Coley returned to his home and family and engaged in farming and teaching.  For many years he conducted a one-room school, a type widely known in all parts of our country during a long period of time.  A schoolhouse located about one mile from his home came to be known locally as "The Coley School House".  Unquestionable the education provided was of the "readin', writin', and 'rithmetic taught to the tune of a hickory stick" variety, but despite its limitations, it provided a firm foundation on which the youth of that day were able to make their individual adjustments and contributions to their time.  In later years C. K. Coley was on the faculty of the Rural Retreat Academy where the curriculum was more expanded. 

In 1870 C. K. Coley demolished the house in which he had lived and built the substantial frame house which remains in very good condition today.  An interesting feature of the house is a "circle" on the ceiling of the room to the right of the front entrance.  It was painted by one Waymond Sutton, who temporarily "down on his luck", asked permission to provide this decoration in exchange for board and lodging while working on the project.  It is my understanding, however, that C.  K. gave him additional financial compensation.

C. K. Coley held public office, Commissioner of Revenue for the Western portion of Wythe County, for a period of several years.  He was an active churchman, in early life at Zion Church, and then after moving nearer to Rural Retreat in the mid 1880's at Hawkin's Chapel, now Grace Lutheran at Rural Retreat.  Here he was a member of the Church Council and Treasurer of the Congregation at the time of his death.

After the death of his wife, Lydia in 1898, he continued at his home, living with his youngest son and the latter's family until death claimed him on February 21, 1902. He was buried beside his wife in Mountain View Cemetery at Rural Retreat.

C. K. and Lydia Coley were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth Florence, William Marion,  Les Johnson,  Virginia Alice,  Sarah Caroline, John Francis, and Laura Polle? 

4.  Jefferson Franklin Coley 

     Jefferson F. Coley was born February 6, 1833.  During the Civil    

     War he served in Company E. 29th Virginia Infantry Regiment.  

     He was twice wounded, first in the Battle of Drury's Bluff in

     1864, and, second, in the Battle of Five Forks in 1865, the 

     latter wounding resulting in his loss of one arm.

    Following the war he returned to his home in Wythe County, where  

    he engaged in farming.  He married Margaret Widenor.  There were  

    the parents of the following children: 

     5.  Joseph Crockett  Coley, "Joe" married Lucy Hedrick.  They had  

         one son, Elbert, who married Brooke Phillippi.  All four moved 

         to Nebraska, probably around 1912.  Elbert and Brooke had 

         no children.  

          At this writing Albert may be living, but his wife and parents 

         are deceased and are buried in Nebraska. 

      5.  George W. Coley, went to Nebraska when he was about 21 

           years of age.  There he married.  He was the father of two  

          daughters, about whom I have no information. 

     5 . Jefferson Heath  Coley, "Heath" spent his life in the Rural 

          Retreat Community  except for a few years during which 

          he operated his own contract building buisiness.  He 

          married Emma Greever Neff, youngest daughter of Daniel 

          and Jane Scott Neff, and a sister of my mother.  Heath and 

          Emma Coley had two sons, Billie Ray, who died in infancy, 

          and Ralph Lynn, born August 31, 1900.

         6.  Ralph Lynn Coley, graduated from Rural Retreat High School 

              and attended  Roanoke College for one year.  He married Eva 

              Mildred Kidd, and engaged in farming and business activities 

              at Rural Retreat.  He died in November 1980; his widow died 

              some years later.  They, as well as Ralph's parents and 

              brother, are buried in Fountain View Cemetery at Rural  

              Retreat.

   5.  Frances Coley, "Fannie" was never married.  In her later years she 

        lived with her sister, Elizabeth in Nebraska, and is buried in that  

        state.

   5.  Elizabeth Coley, "Lizzie" married Fontaine Flanagan, son of   

        William W and Amanda Coley Flanagan.  They lived and died in  

        the state of Nebraska without issue. 

   5.  Stephen S. Coley, "Steve" born December 11, 1870, like two of his 

        brothers settled in the mid-West.  He had one son, Ferdinand, 

        who died without issue. 

    5. Elvina  Coley, "Venie" was the youngest of Jefferson and Margaret 

        Coley's children.  She was the second wife of J. Martin Hicks, but 

        had no children of her own.  She is buried near the village of 

        Crosocloso,(?) Virginia. 

4. James Newton Coley, "Jim" was born February 6, 1835, exactly 

    two years younger than his brother, Jefferson.  Like three of his 

    brothers he served in Company B, 29th Virginia Infantry Regiment.  

    In later years he was a successful farmer and for a considerable 

    period held an elective office in Speedwell Registorial District.  

    Land records of 1895 show that he owned a farm of 150 1/2 acres. 

    James N. Coley was twice married.  His first wife was Sarah Litz.  To 

   this union were born four children: a son, Stard S., who died in  

    infancy; two daughters, Ella ; Frances ; and a son  James Rufus 

    After the death of his first wife, James N. Coley married Mary 

    Kirtin, by whom there was no issue. James N. Coley died at his  

    Wytheville home on May 22, 1921.  Alongside his first wife, 

    his infant son, and unmarried daughter, he is buried in the 

    Zion Church Cemetery.

    5. Ella Coley 

     Ella Coley married Riley Sult.  They had four children, James 

     Henry, Ida,  Anna and William Emmett.  Ida and Anna Sult 

     married brothers of the surname Weiseger. 

     5. Frances Coley 

     "Fannie" was never married and lived in her father's home her 

    entire life. I remember her quite well and have often marveled 

     at the harmony which prevailed in the Jim Coley home.  He and 

    "Cousin Fannie" were faithful Lutherans; the step-mother a very 

    devout Roman Catholic.  On Sundays the three walked together

    to their respective places of worship, but by common consent    

     religious differences were never discussed in their home.

    5.  James Rufus Coley 

    "Rufe" married _______________Hedrick.  They were the parents of 

    five daughters: Stella, Lettie, Gertrude, Lida, and Elsie; and two 

    sons, Ernest and Richard 

    6.  Ernest Coley, though married, died around 1918 without  

         surviving children. 

    6.  Richard Coley, born in November 1900 in Wythe County, died in 

        Bedford County in 1945.  He married Gladys Fuqua, and they had 

        one son, James S. Coley, now living near Lynchburg, Virginia.  

        James S. Coley had two sons, Ernest and Stephen, also living 

        near Lynchburg,  Virginia.

4.  Eliza Catherine Coley  

"Catherine" born November 9, 1836, was the second wife of Rufus Umberger  of Wytheville, and the mother of seven children: Emory, Lettie, Nancy, Frances, William, Stuart and Solomon. 

  Catherine Umberger died March 16, 1902.  Among her grandchildren living now are Ivan Umberger, son of William; and Homer B. Umberger, Miss Virginia Umberger, and Mrs. Edith Dean, children of Solomon.  All live at Wytheville, Virginia.

4.  Sarah Coley 

  In the census of 1850 Sarah Coley's age is given as 12.  Therefore I conclude that she was born since 1838.  She was the wife of Michael Wisely, but to my knowledge the couple had no children.  Nor have I been able to determine when Sarah died or where she is buried.

4.  Nancy Margaret Coley

"Nancy" was born April 3, 1842.  She married Michael Miller and lived at Crockett, Virginia.  Three children were born to this union: William, Mary and Sarah.  Nancy died March 15, 1912.   

4.  Isaac S. Coley  

"Ike" the youngest child of Francis and Sarah, was born August 5,

1845. He lived in the home of his parents until his eighteenth 

birthday in 1863 when he became eligible for service in the Confederate Army.  Like his older brothers he served in 

Company B of the 29th Virginia Infantry Regiment.

On May 18, 1864 he was killed in the Battle of Gold Harbor.  

His body was returned to his Wythe County home and he was 

buried in the Zion Church Cemetery.

The leather billfold found in Isaac Coley's pocket is the only 

momento which I have of him, a silent reminder of a great 

uncle who died in defense of a principle which he and his 

brothers believed to be guaranteed in the Constitution of 

our country.

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The above Information was compiled by Mrs. Peggy Jo Hurst and written by a son of William Coley, who was a son of Christopher K. Coley, who failed to mention his name, and received from Mrs. Diane Keeton.

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