Samuel Coffield
The first Coffield in our family was Samuel Coffield who was born about April 15, 1804 (based on the ages in the Death Record1, although census records show various years) in Virginia. He apparently had two wives. Samuel Coffield and Catharine Nimerick were married September 16, 1824, in Licking County Ohio2. All the children were Catharine's:
Elizabeth (Betsey Jane), born 1825 who married William Higgins
Margaret, born May 8, 1830
Clara, born about 1831 who married Jacob (Jake) Debolt
Jacob, born December 14, 1832 who married Elizabeth Stull
It is said in Margaret's obituary3 that there were five girls although I can only identify three definitively. A fourth sister could be Arvilla who married Perry Higgins and the fifth girl is still a mystery.
The 1830 Ohio census, Bennington Township, Licking County lists
Sam'l Coffield
1 male 20-30 [Samuel would have been 26]
2 females under 5 [Elizabeth would have been 5, Margaret 2 months]
1 female 5-10 [4th sister??]
1 female 30-40 [Catherine would have been 32]
The 1840 US census, Licking County, Hartford Township, page 29 shows Sam'l Coffield, farmer:
1 male 5-10 [Jacob, 7]
1 male 40-50 [Samuel would have been 36]
1 female under 5 [?]
3 females 10-15 [Margaret 10; Elizabeth, 15; Clara, 8?]
1 female 40-50 [Catharine, 41]
1 female 80-90
Catherine died November 23, 1846, age 47 years, 10 months, and 23 days4 which means she was born about December 31, 1798. She and Samuel are buried in Houck Cemetery on Columbus Road (US 36), west of Centerburg in Knox County, Ohio.
The 1850 Ohio census, page 100, Hilliar Township, Knox County lists
Samuel Coffield, 49, farmer, born Virginia [he would have been 46]
Elizabeth, 24, born Ohio [daughter]
Jacob C., 10?, born Ohio [he would have been 18]
Clarissa, 17, born Ohio
Samuel Coffield married Elizabeth Higgins on March 13, 18595. The ceremony was performed by Enock Nichols, Justice of the Peace.
The 1860 Ohio census, page 338, Hilliar Twp., Knox County lists
Samuel Coffield, 64, real estate of $468, born Va. [he would have been 56]
Elizabeth, 56, born NY [wife]
Lucy Higgins, 18, born Ohio [Elizabeth's daughter by previous marriage]
Son Jacob had married in 1859 and two daughters (Margaret, 30, and Clarissa, 28) were living with another daughter, Elizabeth, 35, who had married William Higgins in 1852.
Samuel Coffield died on November 27, 1867 (age 63 years, 7 months, 12 days) in Centerburg. He was a farmer and died of apoplexy1. He resided in Hilliar Township. This would indicate that he was born April 15, 1804. The Knox County Cemetery Records6 say that he died November 20 instead of November 27 ( I checked the tombstone which says November 20 as well).
The 1880 Ohio census, page 660, Hilliar Twp., Knox County lists
Elizabeth Coffield, 74, born NY, father born in NY, mother born in NY
Lucy Higgins, 37, daughter, born Ohio, father born Vermont, mother born NY
Elizabeth Higgins Coffield died January 9, 1881 (age 78 years, 2 months) in Hilliar Twp. According to the death record7, the cause of death was a tumor. She was born in New York and resided in Hilliar Township.
Source Notes
1. Knox County Ohio Death Records, Book 1, page 6.
2. International Genealogy Index, LDS records.
3. Margaret Coffield obituary clipping.
4. Knox County Ohio Cemetery Records, Catherine Stull.
5. Knox County Ohio Marriages, Samuel Coffield and Elizabeth Higgins,1808-1875, page 208.
6. Knox County Ohio Cemetery Records, Samuel Coffield.
7. Knox County Ohio Cemetery Records, Elizabeth Coffield.
