COFFER AND PEARSON FAMILIES

Transcription

1 Historic Marker Proposal drafted by Corazon Sandoval Foley on January 13, 2015 editing the earlier drafts of May 27, 2012 and July 4, 2014 to include Coffers, Pearsons and Black History in Burke. COFFER AND PEARSON FAMILIES (in front of Burke Centre Library) Near Burke Centre Library is the 1728 land grant by Lord Fairfax to the Coffer family, prominent early settlers in the Burke area. Thomas Withers Coffer (ca ) was Vestryman of Truro Parish with George Washington and George Mason. His son Francis Coffer III (ca ) helped establish Providence (now Fairfax City). His grandsons Thomas Coffer (ca ) served as Captain in the War of 1812 and Francis Coffer IV (ca ) willed his land and freedom to five slaves on the eve of the Civil War. The emancipated Pearson Family became leaders of the Burke black community for many years, donating land and labor for the Little Zion Baptist Church, Cemetery, and the Pearson Colored School deed from Arundell to Coffer (DB E2:202) land grant from Lord Fairfax to Francis Coffer (NN:174) 3. Thomas Withers Coffer Will (DB V3:233) 4. Francis Coffer 1805 (trustee for establishing Providence, now Fairfax City) Will of Francis Coffer - land bought from Arundle to Thomas Coffer (WB L:156) 6. Fairfax Genealogical Society/Ancestry.com records War of 1812 Captain Thomas Coffer (and his brother Francis Coffer IV who was an Ensign) 7. Hannah Coffer and Silas Burke (Will Thomas Coffer (DB V3:233) 8. March 30, 1861 Will by Francis Coffer IV (Z: 339) Donation of land for Pearson Colored School Donation of land for Little Zion Baptist Church and Cemetery purchase by Burke Conservancy (Deed (DB 4360:606) Date for Downey Home Fairfax County Government Report Note: The Coffer Home was once named Locust Hill and Roscrea but there is no original source only report by Nan Netherton in her book Memories of Beautiful Burke page 92 but Netherton was in error in reporting that the land was first patented by the Ward family. The land was first patented on 18 February 1744 by Moses Simpson (NN F:211); On 15 January 1787 probate of will by Moses Simpson bequeathing 323-acres to be divided between nephews George and Joseph Simpson (WB E1:184). CA 1800, George Simpson land sale to John Arundell (C2:246 reported missing by Fairfax County Judicial Center). Included in this documentation is 4 November 1803 land sale from Arundell to Francis Coffer (III) (DB E2:202) Note: Documentation in my book Burke Vignettes, by Corazon Sandoval Foley copyright 2012 that I donated to Fairfax County Public Libraries & available at Amazon.com. 1

2 Deed of Sale from Arundell to Francis Coffer (III) (DB E2:202) 2

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4 Land Grant and Pohick Church with George Washington/Mason and Thomas Withers Coffer 378-acre land tract received by Francis Coffer (Copher) from Lord Fairfax in Coffers as prominent Burke early settlers: Thomas Withers Coffer was a Vestryman in Truro Parish with pew#5 behind George Mason. Francis Coffer (III) was a founder of Fairfax City. Hannah Coffer married Silas Burke. See my book on Little Zion Baptist Church and the Case of Loving. 4

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6 Fairfax County Government Record of Coffer/Triplett Truro Parish Deed, listing Washington, Mason. 6

7 Will of Francis Coffer land bought from Arundle to Thomas Coffer (WB L:156) 7

8 18 Thomas Coffer Captain in War of 1812 (Fairfax Genealogical Society Listing with link to pay list) 8

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10 U.S., War of 1812 Service Records, about Thomas Coffer Name: Thomas Coffer Company: Rank - Induction: Rank - Discharge: 57 REGIMENT VIRGINIA MILITIA. CAPTAIN CAPTAIN Roll Box: 42 Microfilm Publication: M602 10

11 U.S., War of 1812 Service Records, about Thomas Coffer Name: Thomas Coffer Company: Rank - Induction: Rank - Discharge: 60 REG'T (MINOR'S) VIRGINIA MILITIA. CAPTAIN CAPTAIN Roll Box: 42 Microfilm Publication: M602 11

12 U.S., War of 1812 Service Records, about Francis Coffer Name: Francis Coffer Company: Rank - Induction: Rank - Discharge: 60 REG'T (MINOR'S) VIRGINIA MILITIA. ENSIGN ENSIGN Roll Box: 42 Microfilm Publication: M602 12

13 Hannah Coffer married Silas Burke: Will by Thomas Coffer with daughter Hannah Burke (WB Z1:368) 13

14 1850 Census with Silas and Hannah Burke 14

15 March 30, 1861 Will by Francis Coffer (IV) (Z:339) 15

16 Southern Claims Commission Testimony by William Pearson that Coffer was a white man who recognized him and his brothers as his children. 16

17 Pearson Donation of Land for Pearson Colored School 17

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19 Pearson Donation of Land for Colored Church/Cemetery 19

20 Genealogy of Mrs. Mary Goins Roots Fourth Generation: Coffers in Burke: Francis Coffer IV Phillis Pearson Fifth Generation: Coffer-Pearsons of Burke: Charles Pearson - wife Sarah Sixth Generation: Coffer - Pearsons of Burke Francis Coffer Pearson married Annie Seventh Generation: Coffer Pearson - Jeffrey of Burke Mary Bell Pearson married Thomas Jeffrey Eighth Generation: Coffer Pearson Jeffrey - Goins of Burke: Annie V. Jeffrey (widow of Norman Wright) married James Goins (2 nd husband) Nineth Generation: Coffer Pearson Jeffrey Goins Roots of Burke: Mary Goins married William Roots Francis Coffer Pearson (son of Charles Pearson; Mary Goins Roots (daughter of Annie V. Jeffrey who was daughter of Mary Bell Pearson Jeffrey, who was daughter of Francis Coffer Pearson). 20

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22 1976 Sale of Coffer Home Land from Downey to Burke Centre Partnership (DB 4360:606) 22

23 Map of Downey Land with Coffer Home 1976 Deed from Downey to Burke Centre Partnership 23

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25 Page 92 of Nan Netherton s book on Memories of Beautiful Burke on Locust Hill The 1803 Deed from Arundell to Francis Coffer (III) mentioned: containing one hundred and ninety four acres, two rood and 38 poles, be the same more or less and all houses, buildings, orchards. The Coffer Home was probably built on top of the house(s) already in existence by 1803 but there is no original source for this analysis. An architectural analysis of the home indicated that the home was rebuilt in the late 19 th century. 25