Husband Gideon Lea Sr
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: 14 Jul 1777 - Orange County, Virginis
Wife Ann Caffery
Born: 1756
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: unknown
Mother: Elizabeth Candler
Children
1 F Eleanor Lea
Born: 7 Dec 1786 - Virginia
Christened:
Died: 1 Mar 1847
Buried: - Sugar Grove Cemetery, Jacksn Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Spouse: Samuel Davidson
Marr: 14 Feb 1807 - Campbell County, Virginia
General Notes: Husband - Gideon Lea Sr
Spouse 1: From Sue Elfving: Supposedly children all girls. Info from Richard Eugene Warren Family Tree, weblist@mtnclimbers.com John Carter, Surety. Consent Provided by Merry Carter, father of the bride.
Supposedly children all girls. per Jo Anne Prewitt, excerpts from "The Cafferys of Louisiana" by Philip F. Dur Marriage date (approximate) from CAFFERY FAMILY, 1737 - 1900, PART I, © circa 1900, by Col. Charles S. Caffery
THE CAFFERY FAMILY, 1737 - 1900, PART I, © circa 1900, by Col. Charles S. Caffery Marriage bond: CHARLES CAFFERY NANCY DAVISON (daughter of James Davidson who provided consent ) 05 May 1800 Campbell; John Davidson and Charles were bondsmen; witnessed by John Davidson Marriage bond: CHARLES CAFFERY NANCY DAVISON (daughter of James Davidson who provided consent ) 05 May 1800 Campbell; John Davidson and Charles were bondsmen; witnessed by John Davidson Per chancery records, in Morgan County, TN in 1828 (regarding estate of John Caffery in chancery records in 1842 when land was sold)
From Sue Elvfing: Virginia Marriages: Bedford County Marriage Bonds
Spouse 2:
Marriage Date:
Marriage Location:
Orange County
Source Information:
Dodd, Jordan. Virginia Marriages to 1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1997. Original data: Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Virginia.
1810 Lynchburg, Campbell, Va
Name:
[Gideon Lea]
Free White Males 10 to 15:
Free White Males 16 to 25:
Free White Males 45 and Over:
Free White Females 10 to 15:
Free White Females 16 to 25:
Free White Females 26 to 44:
Free White Females 45 and Over:
Numbers of Slaves:
Number of Household Members Under 16:
1820 Fairfield, Highland, Ohio
Gideon Lea (Next to Samuel Davidson and Jacob Lane)
Enumeration Date:
Free White Males - 45 and over:
Free White Females - 45 and over:
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture:
Free White Persons - Over 25:
Total Free White Persons:
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other:
General Notes: Wife - Ann Caffery
John Caffrey Sr did have a daughter Sally and she married John Hunter. The Anny Lea mentioned in John Caffrey's will was the d/o of John Caffrey's wife Elizabeth by a first husband. This proven by a copy of a letter written in 1828 letter (image 22-23) wherein Eliner KINGTON (d/o of John) states that "Biram Lay's mother was one of my mother's first children and when my Father died he let mothers a child's part." So I assume they are speaking of the Anney Lea who received a 40 shillings legacy from John Caffrey and who also stated she (Anney) had already received her legacy years ago from the executrix...and has no further interest." This would indicate that John CAFFREY's wife was married to someoneelse first and had at least one child Ann(ey), maybe others. This Anney was probably born by 1780 or earlier since John Caffrey's other children were getting married by 1800 or possibly a little earlier. I set her age at 21 at marriage.
Notes: Marriage
Husband Charles Caffery
Born: 1722
Christened:
Died: 1808
Buried:
Father: Charles Caffery
Mother: Sarah Carter
Marriage: 10 Dec 1786 - Bedford County, Virginia
Other Spouse: Sarah Warren - 1745
Wife Rebekkah Carter
Born: 1773 - Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William Merriman Carter
Mother: Frances Leftwich
Children
1 F Elizabeth Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Valentine K Leftwich
Marr: 9 Feb 1815 - Bedford County, Virginia
2 F Frances Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Willis Jones
Marr: 12 Sep 1833 - Bedford County, Virginia
3 F Nancy Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Robert Elliott
Marr: 16 Dec 1806 - Bedford County, Virginia
4 F Narcissa Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Adam Elliott
Marr: 16 Jan 1821 - Bedford County, Virginia
5 F Charlotte Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Richard M Scruggs
Marr: 4 Nov 1823
Spouse: Tuball Early
Marr: 1 Nov 1825 - Bedford County, Virginia
6 F Juliet Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Edmond Hewitt
Marr: 16 Nov 1807 - Bedford County, Virginia
General Notes: Husband - Charles Caffery
Jhn Carter surety for marriage bond.
Chancery record search:
Bedford County, April 28,1859:
Rebecca Caffery v James Elliot etc
90 miles a little more then a mile East of Liberty (obtained Oct 1784)
Rebecca moved to Ohio, remarried....never receiver dower...from property of Charles Caffery
2 children living
Charlotte Caffery (Early)
Julitte Caffery (Hunts?)
Nancy Caffery deceased, (M Robert Elliot)
K Leftwich, married Elizabeth Caffery, deceased
Adam Elliot m Narcipa? Caffery
Frances Caffery
Bedford County, Apr 27, 1870
REBECCA CAFFREY ETC v AARON FUQUA ETC Rebecca Carter is maiden name
--------------------------------------------------------------------
See essay in fathers entry.
Marriage to Rebecca Carter: John Carter provided security, consent of Merry Carter father of the bride.
1810 Bedford County, Va
Name: Rebekah Caffery
County: Bedford
State: Virginia
Free White Females 10 to 15: 2
Free White Females 16 to 25: 2
Free White Females 45 and Over: 1
Numbers of Slaves: 7
Number of Household Members Under 16: 2
Number of Household Members Over 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 5
1755 Sept 10: Charles Caffery, Location: Albemarle County. Description: 370 acres on both sides of Beaver Creek a branch of the Fluvanna. Source: Land Office Patents No. 31, 1751-1756 (v.1 & 2 p.1-751), p. 683 (Reel 29). Part of the index to the recorded copies of patents for land issued by the Secretary of the Colony serving as the colonial Land Office. The collection is housed in the Archives at the Library of Virginia.
General Notes: Wife - Rebekkah Carter
Maiden name from Leftwich-Turner Familes of Virginia
1810 Bedford County, Va
Name: Rebekah Caffery
County: Bedford
State: Virginia
Free White Females 10 to 15: 2
Free White Females 16 to 25: 2
Free White Females 45 and Over: 1
Numbers of Slaves: 7
Number of Household Members Under 16: 2
Number of Household Members Over 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 5
Notes: Marriage
Husband Charles Caffery
Born: 1722
Christened:
Died: 1808
Buried:
Father: Charles Caffery
Mother: Sarah Carter
Marriage: 1745
Other Spouse: Rebekkah Carter - 10 Dec 1786 - Bedford County, Virginia
Wife Sarah Warren
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - Charles Caffery
Jhn Carter surety for marriage bond.
Chancery record search:
Bedford County, April 28,1859:
Rebecca Caffery v James Elliot etc
90 miles a little more then a mile East of Liberty (obtained Oct 1784)
Rebecca moved to Ohio, remarried....never receiver dower...from property of Charles Caffery
2 children living
Charlotte Caffery (Early)
Julitte Caffery (Hunts?)
Nancy Caffery deceased, (M Robert Elliot)
K Leftwich, married Elizabeth Caffery, deceased
Adam Elliot m Narcipa? Caffery
Frances Caffery
Bedford County, Apr 27, 1870
REBECCA CAFFREY ETC v AARON FUQUA ETC Rebecca Carter is maiden name
--------------------------------------------------------------------
See essay in fathers entry.
Marriage to Rebecca Carter: John Carter provided security, consent of Merry Carter father of the bride.
1810 Bedford County, Va
Name: Rebekah Caffery
County: Bedford
State: Virginia
Free White Females 10 to 15: 2
Free White Females 16 to 25: 2
Free White Females 45 and Over: 1
Numbers of Slaves: 7
Number of Household Members Under 16: 2
Number of Household Members Over 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 5
1755 Sept 10: Charles Caffery, Location: Albemarle County. Description: 370 acres on both sides of Beaver Creek a branch of the Fluvanna. Source: Land Office Patents No. 31, 1751-1756 (v.1 & 2 p.1-751), p. 683 (Reel 29). Part of the index to the recorded copies of patents for land issued by the Secretary of the Colony serving as the colonial Land Office. The collection is housed in the Archives at the Library of Virginia.
General Notes: Wife - Sarah Warren
tree).
Sarah Warren married Charles Caffery, JR., brother of Rachel Caffery (children of Charles Caffery, SR. and Sarah Carter) This is derived from excerpts from "The Cafferys of Louisiana" by Philip F. Dur and information handed down in the family.
Sarah was the wife of Charles Jr. as shown by the Will of James Warren
Notes: Marriage
Husband Charles Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Sarah Carter
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M John Caffery
Born: 1720 - Goochland County, Virginia
Christened:
Died: 1790 - Campbell County, Virginia
Buried:
Spouse: Elizabeth Candler
Marr: 1758 - Bedford County, Virginia
2 M Charles Caffery
Born: 1722
Christened:
Died: 1808
Buried:
Spouse: Rebekkah Carter
Marr: 10 Dec 1786 - Bedford County, Virginia
Spouse: Sarah Warren
Marr: 1745
3 F Ann Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
4 F Rachel Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
5 F Mary Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Charles Caffery
The earliest Cafferys of whom we have records are as follows:
I. Charles Caffery took out lands in Albermarle County, Va. in 1737. Recorded in Order Book No. 17-PP338.
Charles Caffry, 300a, Goochland Co., both sides of Moor Creek, a branch of the Rivanna River (p 399), 10 June 1737. Albemarle County was Created 1744 from Goochland & Louisa
Albermarle Court Records
Court held Sept 11, 1746
P167 Deed with livery, seisen and receipt from Charles Caffrey to John Grills ordered recorded. Sarah, wife of Caffery, relinquishes dower.
Albemarle County Court held Feb 13. 1746/47
Ordered a road cleared from Charles Caffreys on the Black water to cross the Fluvanna to John Harveys road. Hands of sd. Caffray, John Hunt, Thomas Hunt,Martin Kelly,Thomas Cooper, John Caffray and Charles Lynch do clear. Charles Lynch overseer.
II. Tomas Caffery, died June 26, 1744 South Carolina History Magazine Vol. XX
III. Patrick Caffery married Esther Rice in First Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Oct. 11, 1736. He was buried in Hunterston West, N. J. 1757. Caroline County, Va. Order Book, Aug. Court 1772 ordered Patricks name be added to list held by John Minor.
IV. Charles Caffery - takes out lands - Henrico County, Va. 1739 in tenth precinct, about ten (10) miles below Richmond on James River and named as processor along with Darby Enroughty and William Whitlow his neighbors.
V. Hugh Caffery, in Nov. 1750 Order Book 30 August County, Va. West of Albemarle) took out 220 acres. This could have been Me son of Charles but his name only appears in this citation. Charles and Patrick or Tomas may have been brothers. Tomas died 1744 evidently without issue. There is no other mention of Patrick in Caroline County or any other Virginia County, so that Patrick and his wife Esther probably moved into N. J. as we find a Frances Ann Caffery, wife of Jonothan Corey Cornfield in Anton, N. J. in 1845.
What Charles Caffery did with his lands on the James, just below Richmond, is not known. He left no evidence of his sojourn there. We know that James Warren had settled in Albermarle on Ivy Creek, a branch of More's Creek, in 1736 and that Charles' homestead adjoined him. James Warren was about the same age as Charles and in all probability they were friends before settling at Charlottesville. We find Warrens in nearly every colony. Some were Irish and some were English, but they were usually people of means and took a leading part in moulding the political trend of those around them. James came from Old Rappahanock in the year 1736. Albemarle was still a part of Goochland County and sparsely settled. It was close to the western limits of safety against the Indians. Settlers usually arrived in groups of families so that they could quickly put up shelter against the elements and provide adequate positions of readiness consisting of stockades and bastions affording flanking fire against surprise attacks. Danger of attack increased after Bradock's defeat. The woods had to be cleared for crops as well as providing fields of fire in case of attack. Each family furnished carpenters, woodsmen, simple metal workers and above all, farmers.
Charles had two sons, John and Charles and three daughters, Ann, Mary and Rachael. James Warren also had several children of about the same ages. As far as known, Ann, Mary and Rachael never married. This was very unusual for women were scarce on the frontier. John was born about 1720 and Charles about Two years later.
The wife of Charles was named Sara but nowhere is her maiden name recorded. There is a tradition naming Sara Carter as the wife of young Charles, son of Charles, but we know that Charles, Jr. married Sara Warren as shown by the Will of James Warren and we know that John, son of Charles, brought suit in Campbell County Court, 1784, regarding his mother, Sara's dower rights. The two Charles had wives named Sara. This fact does not clarify matters but the senior Sara may have been a Carter. Perhaps some light will come from future research.
Lands were taken out in Albemarle in 1755, Book 3, tenth (10) September - 370 acres and Book 34 - 400 acres by Charles Caffery. This was the second and last home established by our pioneer ancestor. Nothing is known of his activities at this place. He left as he came --out of the great deep, into the great deep. Our Caffery ancestors came from County Fermanaugh on Lake Enniskellern, North Ireland. We can only judge him by his deeds and the fruits of his labors. Maybe his daughters married but nothing is recorded thereof. Virginia made it very difficult for Presbyterians. Marriages could only be recorded with Parish Anglican Priests who were State Officials. Presbyterians were not recognized. Catholics were not permitted to enter let alone practice their religion.
Mary Caffery and Rachael Caffery were witnesses March 26, 1765 to a transaction in making the purchase of a negro slave by Charles Caffery from James Warren of Amerest. The Caffery sisters were then about forty years of age. So it may be presumed that they never married.
To get some idea of the lapse of time since Charles Caffery and James Warren in 1737, started their project on Moore send Ivy Creek, about eight miles from the present City of Charlottesville.
As the second generation Caffery daughters never married so far as we know, we are concerned only with John and Charles. John's wife was named Elizabeth but her maiden name is not revealed in his Will or anywhere else.
The descendants of Barnabus Caffery believe that she was Elizabeth Chandler, while the Thomas sisters believe that she was a Candler. It is only a matter of one small "h", but the two families are far apart. There are many Chandlers. The name occurs many times in Colonial Penn and Va. but Candler is very rare.
John and Mary Caffery, in 1782, conveyed 200 acres of land to John Candler and the name appears in other places too but no Chandlers. There is also a Candler Mountain and Candler Town near the present City of Bedford, Va. So Candler has arbitrarily been chosen for Elizabeth. Its a painless and easy way to select ones great-grandmother so we pass this on to posterity until some more diligent researcher comes through with better evidence.
There is no evidence of the marriage of either John or Charles. They were both Presbyterians and their marriages were probably recorded by a circuit rider minister. Most of these records were lost as they were carried about in saddle bags from place to place. The Bible of Barnabus - the only one in existence does not give these statistics.
The Caffery home on land on both sides of Beaver and Possum Creek has passed from the memory of his descendants and neighbors and there is no way of ascertaining the facts. The Cafferys have truly been penalized for not belonging to the Orthodox and State religion. The D. A. R. refuses to accept a line without proof of marriage so we are disbarred from joining the D. A. R. through the Caffery line. There still remains the Donelson,
Stockley and Mathews. Many other lines too, through the distaff side. In fact, every other line but the Murphy line, which does not go back beyond 1794.
Charles Caffery, Jr. in about 1745 married Sara Warren. Sara's sister Elinor was married in 1749 by Rev. Robt. Rose, an Episcopalian Minister, in Amelia County. Sara's marriage was unrecorded because the man she married was not an Episcopalian.
John and Charles were active members of the frontier life. They were not men of wealth like some of the Cavaliers of the Tide-water and lower James but were law abiding and strong family men. They followed their father out of Albermarle and into Bedford County.
In 1754 John at about thirty was appointed Constable of Bedford County.
In 1755, Charles Jr. was appointed surveyor of Lynch's Road from Possom Creek to Beards' Road. This road was later extended through Randolph Bolling Road to Thomas Ferry. In 1760 he took the oath as Ensign to the Governor. These two brothers were true products of the frontier. After 1755 this frontier was penetrated in many places by marauding Indians. One was constable of a new and sometimes lawless country, the other a surveyor. It was such men as these who held the perimeter of our civilization and gave those within a sense of security. John died in 1790 at about seventy and Charles 1808 at about eighty. They willed their goods to children who remained in Va. but this patrimony was pitifully small.
As to the second generation reared in Virginia, there are the three sons of John who carry on the name and tradition of this pioneer family who are only about fifty years out of Ireland at the half century mark. John, born 1756, was appointed by the Governor as a Captain of Militia in 1782. His regiment was commanded by Col. Charles Lynch with Wm. Henderson as Major. Major Henderson afterwards went to Tennessee with Col. Donelson and Col. Robertson. His fellow officers in Bedford, were Josiah Bullock, James Bullock, James Adams, Thomas Reynolds, Moses Fuqua, James Galloway, William Jordan and John Clayton.
Charles Caffery, born in 1758, enlisted in a regiment of Virginia Light Dragoons, served three years as a private soldier and was discharged in 1782.
This generation was born and reared in Bedford County within a few miles of the present City of Lynchburg which was named for and founded by Col. Charles Lynch, the Quaker who gave us the Lynch Law.
They had some education as demonstrated in later years. Tradition says that John, at an early age, went to work for Col. John Donelson in his iron foundry, located on the Pig River where he lived on an estate called the Markham. The Iron works nearby was called "The Bloomery".
Young John of Bedford worked in this smelting plant as an apprentice. He couldn't have been more than sixteen when he started this work. Some uninformed writer has stated that he was a blacksmith. Had this author known anything of early iron smelting he should have known that the blacksmith of those days compared with the highest paid expert foreman in the steel plants of today.
So if young John was a blacksmith at that age, he was a boy wonder. Be that as it may, he evidently had time for a bath and change of clothes in the evening, for he courted the second eldest daughter of his boss and married her before he was nineteen. Tradition says that they eloped; even so, the marriage was recorded at Amherst County Court House, twenty-fifth of October, 1775.
We bring to your attention the following facts relative to some of John Donelson's children - Elizabeth Donelson married Col. Thomas Hutchins - John Donelson, Jr., married Mary Purnell and their daughter married Gen. John Coffee, Jackson's Chief of Staff at the Battle of New Orleans. Jane Donelson married Col. Robert Hays and William Donelson married Charity Dickerson. Rachael married Andrew Jackson.
As mentioned before, Charles, born 1756, second son of John Caffery, Constable of Bedford and pioneer married Dec. 10, 1786, Rebeka Carter, daughter of Merriwether Carter and Frances Leftwich, daughter of Augustine Leftwich. This marriage is recorded in the Quaker Archives of Virginia. The children of this alliance were all girls. Afterwards they intermarried with the Leftwichs. These descendants are the only known Caffery descendants still living in Virginia. They are listed in chart shown in appendix.
A second marriage of Charles is recorded in Campbel County, August 6, 1799. Nothing is known of their descendants.
Barnabus, for some unknown reason, called William, in his father's Will of 1790, married March 16, 1784, in Amelia County, Agnes Jennings, daughter of William Jennings. There is no question of the authenticity of Barnabus or his name. He was known as such in the old Barnabus Caffery Bible, still in the possession of the Thomas Family of Bedford. Cousin Geils, in a letter dated 1924, to Bethia Caffery, quotes from the Caffery Bible as follows:
Charles Caffery, born Oct. 1758
Barnabus Caffery, born Nov. 31, 1759
Juliette Caffery, born 1789 (she is a daughter of Barnabus. Note from Geils Thomas)
Nancy Caffery, born 1787 (another daughter of Barnabus).
At the present, the history of Barnabus is shadowy. He has been located in South Carolina. He did not go to Tennessee with Captain John, but he did go to Kentucky and remained there for some years. He, or his descendants, went West as far as Webster Groves, Mo. Mrs. Adelle Fowler Hoyt of Jacksonville, Florida, is descended from Barnett Caffery, born 1815. There can be no question of his authenticity as his children have the Christian names common to all Cafferys, such as Sarah Willcox, Charles, John, Thomas Jefferson, Nancy and Elizabeth.
Barnett, born 1815, was born years after birth of Barnabus' first child, Juliette, therefore, it may be assumed that Agnes Jennings died and Barnabus remarried. This would also explain Phillipe Scott Caffery, born 1811. This line is shown in Appendix. It should be reconstructed after further research.
Charts of married daughters are shown in Appendix.
The only descendants personally known to this compiler, are Cousin Geils and Bessie Thomas of Bedford and Roanoke. Cousin Geils' grave was visited recently in Bedford in the old Barnabus Caffery home site now owned by the Lowery family. No Cafferys are buried there.
This completes the Caffery saga of Virginia from 1737 to 1780, less than half a century. So far as is known, Charles Caffery was the last man of the name to close the Virginia gate.
Many facts remain hidden that would make this a complete story with a proper introduction of the principle actor, Charles of Charlottsville but facts that are buried cannot be resuscitated. We must not lose sight of the time element involved.
This all happened on the fringe of a new Colony. Life was rugged and severe. Austerity was their daily diet and danger from savages was ever present. It took stamina to live such a life. It is easy to understand how men can become habituated to a life of hardships for the male reverts to some of his animal proclivities in a surprisingly short Lime but not so women. Fighting the elements for survival was not easy. Bearing children and preparing three meals a day consisting mostly of wild game and corn meal must have been monotonous. Housekeeping was probably held to a minimum. There were few clothes and these must be made by hand. Water was to be had only in creeks and springs. Wells came much later. It was worse than in Pre-historic times for the cave woman did have some security, as the entrance to the cave was easily defended against invasion. It is doubtful if anyone in the whole frontier country ever suffered from obesity or diabetes. As for time - we don't realize how far back in history this scene was enacted for Captain John Caffery was born 1756. He was only two years older than Dauphin of France, afterwards Louis XVI. At this time France was just past its zenith. The Aristocrats only thought of revelry by night and play-boy games by day. This too, was carried on, on a reduced scale in Tidewater, Virginia. Louis XVI was married when he was 16 and John Caffery a little later when he was l9. Here the parallel stops for Louis was guillotined at 39 and John, at 39 was in Natchez, Mississippi, surrounded by twelve beautiful children.
The expedition from Watauga to Nashville is difficult to understand. These people left a frontier settlement to plunge deeper into unknown territory.
John Donelson, the head and promoter of this hegira, had an established home and business. He was a surveyor by profession as was Washington. He also was a member of the House of Burgesses. Being seven years older than Washington and far removed from the scene of action in the Revolutionary Wary, he probably took little part in this war but he was very active as an Indian Commissioner. He undoubtedly had authority-from the Governor, who was then Patrick Henry, to raise such a large number of men and launch them on an expedition which could have no direct bearing on the war, which was not yet over. Lands were purchased from the Indians with promises and treaties by the big operators such as Donelson, and then subdivided for little buyers. It was similar to the present practice of subdivisions. Even so, it is difficult to ~ rationalize such thinking. Here was a man who had everything. Wealth, position, a wife and eleven children and at the age of fifty he liquidated his property, put all his goods, his wife and about fourteen children and sons-in-law, a couple of hundred friends and followers on flat boats and plunged into an unknown country where he knew every step would be contested by sniping savages. Two thousand miles of unchartered water routes. Columbus himself knew that he was safe until he hit dry land, but these people had to move as an armored flotilla. Such an undertaking took daring and infinite preparation. Wautauga settlement was built as a place of departure. It took years to build the fleet of flat boats for the timbers had to be hewn and seasoned. Crops had to be grown to provide rations for the journey. They left in very cold weather so that warm clothing had to be transported to the settlement. It was like going camping for the rest of your life. Theodore Roosevelt has given many interesting incidents of this voyage in his "Winning of the West". He is unstinting in his praise of the man who organized, commanded and carried into execution this gigantic voyage.
John and Mary Caffery returned overland to Virginia after sojourning a couple of years in Nashville for we know that John was appointed Captain of Bedford Militia in 1782 and Donelson, the eldest son was born in Bedford, 1786.
The overland road between Nashville and Bedford was little better than an Indian trail. Most of the distance was by foot so one had to be in prime physical condition to attempt it. Col. Donelson set out on horseback in 1785 to go back to Virginia when he was set upon by Indians or brigands and murdered.
Captain John and Mary and the children returned to Tennessee, in 1787. It was their last visit home. They bode farewell to old John, the pioneer, his brother Charles and other members of the family. There were no Donelsons left in Virginia.
After the death of Col. Donelson the Tennessee Colony went into an eclipse for awhile. The whole Colony had to be evacuated to Kentucky for reasons of security. The Colony missed the steady hand and mature judgment of that great did Captain and empire builder and saved itself by retreating to safer grounds. So we find the widow Donelson surrounded by her large family of children and grandchildren. When they left Virginia, the youngest daughter, Rachael was but tend years of age.
After the death of John Donelson, the mantle of leadership fell upon the shoulders of Andrew Jackson. He was adopted into the Donelson family and he was the guiding spirit of those times and that place and afterwards of all the States.
His activities were varied and many. He was a lawyer and great soldier and a merchant. His defamers said that he dealt in negroes but this was never proven. He did buy goods by the boatload and resold at retail through agents.
John Caffery went early to Natchez, Mississippi, as Jackson's agent and remained there where all the twelve Caffery children grew into manhood and womanhood before eventually leaving the family nest.
We know little concerning the lives of John and Mary Caffery in Mississippi territory. Never anything dramatic or flamboyant so much as touched their lives. They were both mater-of-fact, down to earth God fearing fatalist of the Presbyterian faith. John carried an Indian bullet in his hip and Mary carried the cruel scars of fish teeth with which she was raked during her two years as a captive of the Choctaws. In spite of torture, the savages never broke the spirit of this proud woman. The daughter of a race of leaders and chieftans going back into Irish and Scottish history, The Douglas Tartan, hers by right of inheritance was never worn by a braver warrior. John Caffery was not theatrical by natured. He was the placid type. He didn't care for riches or famed. He was not a John Donelson or Andrew Jackson but met adversity with courage and fitting action. His business position ink Natchez was an important one for he was respected and honored by all.
Natchez, at the time was the Capitol of the Southwest frontier. It was the distributing point for goods destined for the Colonies still under the Spanish and French flags.
Natchez was a thriving community made-up of the cream of the Carolina's and Virginian Aristocracy as well as the cut-throat river rats who preyed on honest merchants and settlers. The Cafferys were in Natchez with the first settlers. It was later, after much trading, that such beautiful and fabulous homes were built on the Bluff and in the nearby lands.
Where there is no other yardstick to measure a family, there is always the reflection cast in the mirror of associates. The eight Caffery daughters married men of sterling character. To mention a few - Abram Green, son of Thomas Marston Green who came from the Virginia Tidewater, House of Burgesses and otherwise prominent.
Judge Peter Van Dorn's family were Holland Dutch Aristocrats. The Van Dorn Castle was the retreat of Kaiser Willbelm.
The three Walker brothers were from Virginia where they were ornaments of early Virginia history, one of whom commanded a regiment when George Washington was its Lt. Colonel. They go back to ancient Scotland where they were allied with Highland Kings. From the children of these sisters, came five or six general officers of the Confederate Army, two U. S. Senators, one Governor, Doctors, Editors, etc., and from the sons came another U. S. Senator, a U. S. Ambassador, Judges, lawyers, planters and various leaders, and after all the fledglings had left the Natchez nest, and the old people faded away with hardly a trace of their earthly existence, Mary returned to Nashville to remain with her beloved sister, Rachael. She is buried at the Hermitage.
So ended this quarter century on the Banks of the Mississippi River. Many lives had been lost, sorrows and hardships endured but the frontier had been carried West nearly a thousand miles.
In 1808 we find the three Caffery brothers; Donelson, Jefferson and John located at a small trading center called Franklin on the Bayou Teche, a stream that flows into the Atchafalaya Bay at Patterson West of New Orleans. Why these mountain men ever selected this low swampy country as a permanent abode is hard to answer. The principle crop was sugar cane but none had actual experience in farming in that rich alluvial soil. They were again in the front wave of a Western drive and undoubtedly would have pushed on towards the border, had not an uninviting flat country lay before them.
Accompaning the brothers were other of Irish extraction. John Murphy, a 1794 Protestant Irsh imigrant married into the distinguished Hoskins family of Edenton, North Carolina. Before entering the Caffery, Donelson, Jackson vortex, he was a teacher of Latin and Greek.
Also Alexander Porter, born in Ireland, who came to this country after seeing his father executed by the British troops.
Alexander Porter was a man of wealth, education and culture. His brother married Sally Murphy the daughter of John Murphy. Donelson Caffery married her sister, Lydia in 1818.
Judge Porter was a lawyer with a wide and excellent reputation. He was the first Senator to represent the State of Louisiana in Washington.
These three were neighbors for twenty years along the Banks of the Bayou Teche on what has always been known as ''The Irish Bend".
Among others in this early settlement were the Hugers, Trastour, Vincents, Fosters, Oliviers, Lacys and others.
Donelson Caffery had a small plantation and for three years before his death was Judge of St. Mary Parish.
Donelson carried on a continuous correspondence with his relatives in Tennessee, his sisters and General Jackson which are now on file in the Library of Congress in Washington. He was not satisfied with the country or its climate, Lydia Murphy, his wife, gave birth to eight children, only three lived to maturity. He knew that the climate had something to do with this high casualty rate. He made two or three trips North to Tennessee, Ohio and Missouri, and selected Cincinnati as the place he wanted to move to. In his Will, he requested his brother, John and his brother-in-law, John Murphy, to take his widow and remaining children there. He died in 1835 at the age of forty-nine years of pneumonia. Only three children survived the fevers of this malarial country so that the widow Caffery found herself helpless and alone. Her slaves worshipped her but she was incapable of operating a plantation with slave labor.
The mystery man of the family was John Caffery. All the brothers had come to the Teche as a team and remained as such for a short time. John Caffery married a Miss Smith, the daughter of a New England merchant.
None of the Caffery men of this generation were long lived. It was the shortest of any generation since the Caffery's landed from Ireland. Taking them compositely, they were brave, honest, and serious. They had qualities to be admired and emulated but they would never have hit the front pages, if such had existed. Dramatics was foreign to the Caffery pattern.
In the birth of Donelson Caffery II, nature reached a climax for he possessed all the good traits of his ancestors plus their humility, facility and volubility of speech. A keen sense of humor and gift of analyzing the complex and reducing the complex to its simpler, component parts. Coupled with these traits was a compelling and magnetic personality.
On top of all the confusion of the Caffery home, the Civil War broke like a black cloud. All the boys went into the Army and the women folk managed somehow to keep alive despite semi-starvation and the ever-present insecurity. The whole responsibility fell upon Donelson who had two Plantations to manage besides fight a war at the same time. The strain and worry would have killed an ordinary man but he was not an ordinary man. Responsibilities and multiple duties only developed a strong character and increased his capacity for work and endurance. Lee's surrender only brought to the South a cessation of actual fighting. The cold war in the form of confiscation of property, humiliation in disfranchisement and actually putting in power a black puppet government as a punitive measure looking towards the liquidation of about eight million white citizens. This is what Donelson Caffery and his fellow countrymen faced in sixty-five. It was a grim task but these people were equal to it and met it face to face. This cold war lasted twice as long as did the hot war but victory crowned their sacrifice and efforts for in these ten years their country was redeemed from the carpet baggers and their black stooges. And less than twenty years later, Donelson Caffery took his place along side of the Union Veterans in the U. S. Senate and commanded their respect and sometimes won their esteem and affection. About fifteen miles up the Bayou Teche near Jeanerette, Francis Du80se Richardson settled with his bride 8ethia Liddell. They were both born near Woodville, Mississippi, close to the Louisiana line. Their two families had immigrated from South Carolina after the revolutionary war. The Richardson family had suffered the same fate as the Cafferys in Franklin. Only two children out of eight survived the ravages of fever and Bethia Lidell was the victim of a cruel fall the full length of her stairway. She left only the two children, Bethia and Frank. Frank went into the confederate army at fourteen and Bethia went to school in Franklin. She grew up at Bayside among her first cousins who were as close as sisters.
There was Kate Richardson who married John Taylor. Kate P. Richardson who married John Avery. [ed: I reproduce this as I received it. I'm not sure what to make of it.]
When Bethia Richardson was about twenty-one and Donelson Caffery was thirty-two they met in Franklin and it wasn't long before they fell in love. The young couple was in favor of an early marriage but Bethia's father opposed on the grounds of the disparity in their ages and the fact that Donelson was not an active church member nor a teetotaler. The Richardsons were decidely puritanical Methodist and the Cafferys were still Presbyterian in belief. As a result, their engagement was broken for two years. During that time, love letters were exchanged until Mr. Richardson relented and the marriage was consented in 1869.
The Caffery family was about the same as many others in this time and locality. Maybe more numerous than most and also more isolated for we were a mile and a half out of town which was a long distance during the rainy season. There were no sidewalks on the roads outside of town and even foot raffle was sometimes impossible. Donelson's family grew up in two parts, the elder and younger. The boys born 1870-72 and 74 were almost grown men when the younger children came along. My brother John was the meridian member, born in~1876, the younger half in '79, '82 and 89. Of the two girls, the older, Gertrude, belonged to the first half and Bethia, the second half. It was almost like two families with John in the middle. I can hardly remember my oldest brother, Donelson as a young man for he was twelve years my senior. By the time I was six, he had graduated from South Western Presbyterian College in Tennessee and was taking law at Tulane in New Orleans. The other two boys, Frank and Earle had been to College but neither one would stay for his degree. So they came home and worked in different capacities on the plantation. My father was not the dictator type. He never selected the work for any of his children. He wanted these boys to complete their education, but if they wanted to come home, he welcomed them back and permitted each to select his particular job. No salary was ever discussed, each took what he needed. But we were not extravagant minded as money was always scarce and I doubt if either of the boys spent more than thirty dollars a month. As part of the second team our life was extremely simple. About eight every morning the whole family assembled for breakfast which started usually with fruit in season. If it was figs, each peeled a soup plate full, the sugar and cream were added. The same for peaches, strawberries and blackberries and cantaloupe. This was followed by steak and hominy and coffee au fait. Coffee was brought from New Orleans by the 100 pound sack, usually a blend of Mocha and Java. About ten pounds was parched once a week and it was ground fresh every morning in a small grinder attached to the wall and this was brewed in a French drip coffee pot. Naturally it was black and strong but there were only two or three tablespoons full of this essence in a cup. Three-quarters ways slowly boiled hot milk. In the wintertime when fresh fruit was not to be had, then there were buttermilk hot cakes with newly made cane syrup. This newly made syrup was superior to any on the market today. It was not too sweet but had a rare flavor and alluring taste and aroma. It had no keeping qualities for it soured in four or five months, when the weather turned warm. I believe that my father was more proud of the syrup and brown sugar made in his sugar factory than he was over winning his most important law cases. The growing of the sugar cane and its processing into syrup, molasses and sugar was his avocation. Unfortunately it was not a paying one for it consistently ate up his law fees. To get back to a daily schedule, there was morning prayer always held in the downstairs bedroom. Only the immediate family participated, that is, my father and mother, side by side and all of us younger children, my two sisters included, on either side of them around the bed. My father always said a prayer and we joined in the Lords Prayer. Then each child rose and kissed both parents and then they arose too and the days work was begun. The older boys probably served their apprenticeship in the family prayers when they were younger. There were usually four horses saddled each morning. My father and older brother went off to the law offices in Franklin and the other two brothers to the fields and sugar mill. Earl had been up since the break of dawn getting his different gangs out to assigned tasks. Until eleven, when I went with the family to Washington, we were taught by our next door neighbor, Miss Clara Wilson. She was a very refined old maid who taught the three of us, Liddell and Bethia. Its a wonder we ever learned to read properly for we did as we pleased. When I arrived in Washington I was placed in the third grade. After skipping a grade later on, I was nearly sixteen before completing "rammer school. School lasted until about two when we skipped home through a side gate and the whole family assembled for the principle meal of the day. This was preceded by a blessing said by my father, then he carved whatever meat we had. This was quite a job for seldom were there less than twelve at the table.
Before I was born, we lived in the old Caffery home near the Bayou, but in 1883, my father bought "Haifleigh" on the opposite side of the road from the Bayou. My grandmother Lydia Murphy died in 1881, the year before I was born so there were the older children, my grandmother and aunts. One of them, Aunt Helen Richardson, my mother's half sister lived with us and taught the older children. Aunt Helen afterwards was a famous Methodist Missionery in China, being President of the McTyiere Girls School of Shanghai, where she taught the three famous Soongsisters. My father was a small eater and none of us were gluttons, neither were we epicurians. Nearly everything we ate was home grown. Meat was fresh killed daily. Every year we fattened many hogs which were slaughtered and cured on the place. Old Uncle Jake was our chicken man and he always had droves of chickens and turkeys. We grew our own corn meal but had to buy flour. The dining room table stretched almost the entire length of the dining room. There was a huge fan swung from the ceiling with a rope passed through a pulley on the back wall. This was ~ pulled by a little colored boy during the meal to keep the flies away. These are called Punkas in the Orient. Maybe that is where the idea originated. There was no haste ink dispatching the food and food was seldom the main topic of conversation but current questions of the day were discussed without heated arguments. The children were usually the listeners and never monopolized the conversation. It was just a happy crowd of people who enjoyed each other's presence and society. My father was always''Mr. Caffery," or "dear" and my mother was always "wife." After dinner each one took off on his own. My father usually took a short rest or nap. We were a family of readers. Our library had all the classics and we seldom missed a day in reading them. We seldom played cards as they were taboo by the Methodist Church. In the afternoon we would ride our ponies for we each had one. We had to curry them but Horace was hostler as well as gardener and he fed and watered them. I do not remember being bored as there was always something to do. That was especially true of my father. I don't believe he was ever bored in his life. He was keenly interested in everything. He would ride over his plantation and he knew every foot of it. Drainage was quite a problem in this flat country. The highest land was about ten feet above sea level. My brother Frank was a drainage engineer and installed a system of ditches and a pump to pump the low lands. As darkness came on, about ten kerosene lamps were lighted and distributed around the downstairs. The supper was put on the table by my mother, assisted by the girls and younger boys. All the servants left about four. It looked like a caravansary leaving the place, women and girls and each carrying a basket on her head. Uncle Jake and Horace stayed until dark for Uncle Jake had to put his chickens and turkeys to bed and Horace had to milk and feed his cows and horses. These two servants had been slaves belonging to my grandmother, Lydia Murphy. Uncle Jake was the carriage driver and Horace was the yard boy. He was about my father's age and accompanied him on all his trips to Texas and during the war he exposed himself constantly to Yankee fire. He was courageous and faithful. After Uncle Jake's death, Horace was the dean of the family servants and known as Uncle Horace. He was intelligent and a first class raconteur with a keen sense of humor. He entertained us as children with tales of his travels and he always prefaced his stories 'when me and your "Pa", etc.!'
Oil lamps don't lend themselves to late hours and as a rule, we were all in bed by nine o'clock. The older members usually talked or read until later. Many a time a book kept my father and older brothers up all night. Not so my mother for she was an excellent sleeper. This typical day was about 1890 and at the time my father was fifty-five years of age. Except for his rheumatism, he was in perfect health. HE could ride horse-back for days and was the equal of any of his grown sons in pulling a boat. In his varied and active life there was no room for boredom or regret. He loved to go out onthe Gulf of Mexico in his sloop-rigged boat. Sometimes my mother and sisters and cousins went along on short trips to Cote Blanche Island and Avery's Island.
Husband Charles Caffery
Born: 1772
Christened:
Died: 1818
Buried:
Father: John Caffery
Mother: Elizabeth Candler
Marriage: 5 May 1800 - Campbell County, Virginia
Wife Nancy Davidson
Born: 1782
Christened:
Died: After 1830
Buried:
Father: James Davidson
Mother: Jane Cockrane
Children
1 M John Caffery
Born: 1809 - Virginia
Christened:
Died: Bef 1850
Buried:
Spouse: Elizabeth Davidson
Marr: 20 May 1830 - Campbell County, Virginia
2 M Barney Caffery
Born: 1815 - Campbell County, Virginia
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Charles Caffery
Robert Wright's will was written about 1816, and Charles was a witness. In deposition in 1820, Nancy had mentioned that Robert Wright had advised her to use Stephen Perrow to handle her husbands estate. So I assume Charles died about the same time as Robert Wright (1818).
In 1842, Campbell A Davidson signed a purchase bond with John Davidson (who married Polly Caffrey) when John purchased the land at public sale belonging to John Caffrey who died 1790. Campbell A Davidson also purchased the interest of the two sons, John and Barney, of their deceased father Charles Caffrey, son of Old John Caffrey. After John Davidson purchased the land (1842) , he gave the commissioner instructions to execute a deed to Robert Rebelay and David Davidson. This land was the 223a by survey dated 14 Dec 1754 Bedford Co, formerly Albemarle, on both sides of Beavers Creek on the south side of the Fluvanna.
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Campbell County tithes:
Charles Caffery first showed in 1790, born about 1772 based on year he first showed on father John's tithe. He also appears 1790 thru 1814 not located in 1796 or 1803. Not searched in 1808 or after 1814..He shows a tithe in 1792, 1793, 1794.
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Per Polly Davidson law suit against Robert Wrights estate, William Davidson's deposition, Charles was alive in 1816. (in that Wrights will was made in 1816 and CHarles was a witness to the will).
A James Davidson and a John Davidson , along with John Wily, Thomas Wiley, Thomas Nunnally were witnesses regarding will of Col Samuel Hairston, Gent., in 1782 per Campbell County, Virginia Will Book 1, 1782-1800. Note: In 1781, Samuel Hairston purchased of Charles Caffery, Jr., a large tract of land on the east branches of Beaver Creek, both sides of the main road, lying on a spur of Long Mountain for 10,000 pounds, and shortly afterwards sold 300 acres of it lying on the creeks branches, beginning at Brown's and Lynch's dividing lines on the west side of Cooper's Mountain, to Willkiam Hawkins.
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Some internet trees show this Charles is same as one born in 1758 -- that married Rebekah Carter. A Rebekkah Cafferey is listed in Bedford in 1810 and 1820. Did they divorce? Could this Charles be a son?Also they apparently had children AFTER Charles and Nancy marriage. I believe that Charles (who married Rebekkah) is an Uncle. John was surety (Charles Jr who married Rebekkah, Charles SR had died by then).
Supposedly he had a brother John (not shown on fathers will). Maybe John had a son Charles?
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There is a Charles Caffery in 1791 Campbell County tithes (and one in Bedford too)
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There is a Nancy Caffry in 1820 census -- and John C Caffrey in 1830, that seems to include all the people in Nancys plus Johns wife. So that would lend evidence to John being Nancy and Charles son.
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See essay under grandfather Charles:
"Charles Caffery, born in 1758, enlisted in a regiment of Virginia Light Dragoons, served three years as a private and was discharged in 1782. "
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from Sue Elfving :
Charles Caffrey left two sons, Barney and John. They are first named in the plaintiff's bill (image 3) in Chancery Suit 1842-016. The plaintiff's bill just states Charles died leaving 2 children as if there were only 2 children. It does not give the year when Charles died.
This would also seem to reinforce the idea that this Charles is not the same as the one who married Rebecca Carter.
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General Notes: Wife - Nancy Davidson
Nancy is a definite daughter of a James. She could be the daughter of the elder James. She married Charles Cafferey who also was associated with other Davidson marriages. Yet at the time, James and Joseph were bondsman and witnesses -- but not for the following:
-MARGARET DAVIDSON married HENRY GODSEE in 1810 (married by Samuel D) Charles Caffrey (James son-in-law) was bondsman, a John D was witness,)
-JOHN DAVIDSON married POLLY CAFFERY 13 January 1803 Campbell, Charles Caffery & John Thomas witness)
- SAMUEL DAVIDSON married ELENDER LEE 2-14-1807 Gideon Lea, father of the bride, Samuel and Charles Coffey were bondsmen….Charles Coffey witness.Looking thru Internet trees…Elender Lea's mother was Sally Ann Caffery. John Caffrey's will, Campbell Co., Va filed Oct 7, 1790 shows Charles and Sally, so I assume they are brother and sister.
I am assuming that Nancy took in children of her Uncle David. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1820 census, Campbell County , Va
Nancy Caffry 1100000011
1 male under 10 (Barney), b 1810-1820
1 male age 10-15 (John), b 1805-1810
1 female 16-25, b 1795-1804
1 female age 26-45 (Nancy), b 1775-1794
1830 census, Campbell Co, Va
John C Caffrey
1 male, age 15-20, (Barney) b 1810-1815
1 male, age 20-30 (John C), b 1800-1810
1 female, age 20-30 (Elizabeth?) b 1800-1810
1 female, age 40-50 (Nancy), b 1780-1790
Husband Richard M Scruggs
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: 4 Nov 1823
Wife Charlotte Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Charles Caffery
Mother: Rebekkah Carter
Other Spouse: Tuball Early - 1 Nov 1825 - Bedford County, Virginia
Children
Husband Tuball Early
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: 1 Nov 1825 - Bedford County, Virginia
Wife Charlotte Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Charles Caffery
Mother: Rebekkah Carter
Other Spouse: Richard M Scruggs - 4 Nov 1823
Children
Husband John Kingston
Born: - Henry County, Virginia
Christened:
Died: 21 Mar 1831 - Morgan County, Tennessee
Buried:
Marriage: 21 Jan 1792 - Campbell County, Virginia
Wife Eleanor Caffery
Born: 10 Mar 1766 - Virginia
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John Caffery
Mother: Elizabeth Candler
Children
General Notes: Husband - John Kingston
General Notes: Wife - Eleanor Caffery
The Anny Lea mentioned in John Caffrey's will was the d/o of John Caffrey's wife Elizabeth by a first husband. This proven by a copy of a letter written in 1828 letter (image 22-23) wherein Eliner KINGTON (d/o of John) states that "Biram Lay's mother was one of my mother's first children and when my Father died he let mothers a child's part." So I assume they are speaking of the Anney Lea who received a 40 shillings legacy from John Caffrey and who also stated she (Anney) had already received her legacy years ago from the executrix...and has no further interest."
Husband Valentine K Leftwich
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: 9 Feb 1815 - Bedford County, Virginia
Wife Elizabeth Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Charles Caffery
Mother: Rebekkah Carter
Children
General Notes: Husband - Valentine K Leftwich
Groom Name: Valentine Leftwich
Bride Name: Elizabeth Caffery
Marriage Date: 9 Feb 1815
County: Bedford
State: Virginia
Reuben Crawford, security
Husband Willis Jones
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: 12 Sep 1833 - Bedford County, Virginia
Wife Frances Caffery
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Charles Caffery
Mother: Rebekkah Carter
Children
General Notes: Wife - Frances Caffery
Willis Jones & Frances Caffery, Valentine K Leftwich, surety, Married by William Harris. Sept 12, 1833.