Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Abraham Cofer

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Descendants of Abraham Cofer

Generation No. 1

1. ABRAHAM¹ COFER was born August 05, 1802 in North Carolina, and died November 04, 1892 in Roane County, Tennessee. He married FRANCES MALVINA WILLIS March 04, 1829 in Roane County, Tennessee, daughter of WILLIAM WILLIS and FRANCES ?. She was born March 16, 1809 in Tennessee, and died January 26, 1880 in Roane County, Tennessee.

Notes for ABRAHAM COFER:
1857 TAX LIST - 16TH CIVIL DISTRICT
COFER, Abraham; 150 acres - value $1200

1850 ROANE COUNTY CENSUS
1569
Coffer, Abram, 47, Farmer, Land Value of $700, NC
Frances M., 41, TN
Louisa J., 19, TN
Mary M., 17, TN
Susan C., 16, TN
Frances M., 13, TN
Simeon, 11, TN
Martha, 6, TN
William J., 5, TN
Infant (female), 6/12, TN

1860 ROANE COUNTY CENSUS
16TH DISTRICT, WEBSTER, TN
1915-1773
COFER, Abraham; 58; m; w; Farmer; 2000; 1000; NC
Frances M.; 51; f; w; TN
Martha W.; 17; f; w; TN
Wm. J.; 15; m; w; Farming; TN

1870 ROANE COUNTY CENSUS
16TH DISTRICT
129-127
COFER, Abraham; 68; m; w; farmer; 1500; 1000; NC
Francis M.; 61; f; w; keeping house; TN
LAWSON, Sila; 23; f; w; Domestic Servant; TN

1880 ROANE COUNTY CENSUS
122-122
Cofer, Abraham, w, m, 77, head, retired farmer, NC VA VA
Wm. J., w, m, 35, son, farmer, TN NC TN
Mary J., w, f, 34, dau-in-law, TN TN TN
Catherine M., w, f, 10, gr.dau, fever, TN TN TN
William S., w, m, 8, gr. son, TN TN TN
Mary C., w, f, 6, gr.dau TN TN TN
Stephen J., w, m, 4, gr.son, TN TN TN
Abraham F., w, m, 1, gr.son, TN TN TN

The only other Cofer's in the 1880 Census are a Zachariah Cofer, 32, and his family, and a Thomas Cofer, 68, and his family.

Abraham was born Abraham Copher, he didn't start using the spelling "Cofer" until later in life.

The following is Abraham Cofer's Last Will and Testament:

Abraham Cofer left a will. It is recorded in Estate Book "I" page 293-294
County Court Clerk's office of Roane County, Tennessee.

The will is dated 31 August 1883. January 1893
It is proven and recorded

I, Abraham Cofer, do make and publish this as my last will and testament,
hereby revoking and making void all others by me at any time made.

I direct that my funeral expenses be paid as soon after my death as possible
out of any moneys that I may die possessed of or may come into the hands of
my executor.

I give and bequeath to my daughter, Louisa J. Tedder, $300 cash and a
certain piece or parcel of land containing thirty acres more of less valued
to her at $100 in a deed this day make and ascribed to her.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary M. Crow, $400 cash.

I give and bequeath to the heirs of my daughter Susan C. Absent $400 cash
and is to be divided equal among her heirs, and I direct them to pay to said
heirs their equal proportion of the said $400 as they become of age together
with the interest that may accrue on the said $400.

I this day give by deed to my daughter Francis M. Geasland one piece or
parcel of land containing 96~ acres more or less valued by me at $1,000,
which is all I intend her to have out of my bounty.

And to my daughter Martha W. Harvey, I have heretofore given her $700 cash.

I this day give by deed to my son William J. Cofer, one piece or parcel of
land containing 92% acres more or less value by me a $1,000 which is all I
intend him to have out of my bounty.

I give to my three daughter Louisa J. Tedder, Mary M. Crow, and the heirs of
Catherine C. Absent the $200 named in the deeds of Francis M. Geasland and
William J. Cofer extra of the $400 given to each of them to be equally
divided between them.

The remainder of my property of which I may be possessed at my death which I
have not already disposed of, I give equally to my daughters, Louisa J.
Tedder, Mary M. Crow and the heirs of Catherine C. Absent and Martha W.
Harvey after paying all lawful claims against my estate, and lastly I do
hereby nominate and appoint Benjamin A. Tedder to be my sole executor to
execute this my last will and testament and having full confidence in his
honesty and business capacity I allow him to execute the same without giving
bond and security by returning inventories as is required by law or making
settlement with the Court Clerk as is required by law believing as I do that
he can adjust and settle the same with the other legatees without incurring
that expense. However, I expect and allow him to keep an account of all
expenses and necessary trouble that he may be compelled to bestow in
attending to the business of my estate and retain in his hands such

a reasonable amount as will satisfy the same to be subtracted from the
general fund before final disposition is made. Also I having confidence in
John W. Crow and Mary M. Crow, whom I have appointed guardians for the heirs
of Catherine C. Absent I allow them to settle the same with the said heirs
without returning inventories or settling with ten County Court Clerk
without giving bond as required by law and I allow them the same privilege
as I allow my executor.

In witness whereof I do to this my will set my hand this the 31st day of
August 1883.

Abraham Cofer

Attest:
John C. Cooper - (He appeared to prove this instrument on 12
December 1892)
A.G. Watson - (He appeared to prove this instrument on 12
December 18932)

State of Tennessee Roane County
Roane County Court January Term 1893

There was the foregoing last will and testament of Abraham Cofer produced in
open court and its execution and declaration duly proven by the oath of John
C. Cooper and A.G. Watson the subscribing witnesses thereto and adjudged by
the court to be the last will an testament of Abraham Cofer deceased and
admitted to probate and ordered to be certified and recorded.

Witness my hand at office Jany 1st Monday 1893
J.C. Pope Clk.

The following is an article in the Newspaper that Abraham's son-in-law, Stephen A. Geasland before Abraham died. The clipping was found in a Cofer Bible in the possession of Ted Cofer (now deceased), from Rockwood, Tennessee, and was given to a compiler in 1962. The article was copied and sent to Tina on 09/07/1999.

ONE OF THE OLDEST

Abraham Cofer, now living in the sixteenth district of Roane County at
Cooper's Landing on Big Emory River was born August 5, 1802 in Rockingham
County, N.C., and moved to East Tennessee in 1814, while quite a youth and
settled on the headwaters of Emory River in Morgan County on what is, at he
present time, better known as the Scott's farm.

In the year of 1815, he move to Roane County, Tennessee on the waters of Big
Emory River, near Cooper's Landing and has remained there ever since the
above date.

He was married in 1829 to Frances M. Willis of Tennessee, near Emory Gap and
in view of the town of Harriman, but at that time a vast wilderness. In
1829, soon after his marriage, he moved to Illinois and remained there one
year; wasn't favorable impressed with the country and returned to Tennessee
in 1830 and has remained here ever since as a farmer on Emory River.

He has had in family twelve children, seven dead, and five yet living. In
1880, his wife died and he has made his home, ever since, with one of his
son-in-laws, S. A. Geasland, on Big Emory River. He can walk about, read, or
converse with anyone. His mind appears to be good, as well as his eye sight;
in fact more so than most people of his age.

He has been a member of the Baptist Church for several years, says he has
read his Bible through four times and advocates the doctrines of Baptism
strongly. May his days be many. S.A.G.

More About ABRAHAM COFER:
Burial: Unknown, Bowers-Geasland Cemetary in Roane County, TN
Property: 1871, Abe owned a 210-acre farm on Emory River.

More About FRANCES MALVINA WILLIS:
Burial: Unknown, Bowers-Geasland Cemetary in Roane County, TN
Cause of Death: Lung Disease

Children of ABRAHAM COFER and FRANCES WILLIS are:

	i.	MARGARET J.² COFER, b. 1830; d. 1830.
2.	ii.	LOUISA JANE COFER, b. May 11, 1831; d. January 18, 1918, Roane County, Tennessee.
3.	iii.	MARY MANERVA COFER, b. Abt. 1833, Tennessee; d. Unknown.
4.	iv.	SUSAN CATHERINE COFER, b. November 13, 1834; d. July 04, 1879.
5.	v.	FRANCIS MALVINA COFER, b. February 25, 1837; d. June 10, 1919.
	vi.	WILLIAM SIMEON COFER, b. January 08, 1840; d. July 15, 1855.

More About WILLIAM SIMEON COFER:
Burial: Unknown, Bowers-Geasland Cemetery, Harriman, TN

6.	vii.	MARTHA WASHINGTON COFER, b. 1842; d. 1899.
7.	viii.	WILLIAM JACKSON COFER, b. May 27, 1844, Roane County, Tennessee; d. January 04, 1928, Harriman, Roane County, Tennessee.
	ix.	AMANDA COFER, b. January 01, 1850; d. Unknown.
	x.	INFANT COFER, b. May 27, 1854; d. July 10, 1855.

More About INFANT COFER:
Burial: Unknown, Bowers-Geasland Cemetary in Roane County, TN

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