Robert John Coffey (1842 - 1901)

Born 15 Dec 1842 in Saint John, St. John, New Brunswick, Canada

Husband of Demis Hattie (Burnham) Coffey — married 13 Nov 1867 in Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont, USA

Died 9 Jul 1901 at age 58 in Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont, USA

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Biography

Robert John Coffey was born 15 December 1842 in Saint John, Saint John County, New Brunswick, Canada,^[1] son of John Coffey and Mary McGillian,^[2] or 'Gilliland'.^[3]

At the breaking out of the war of the rebellion he was living in Montpelier and was one of the first volunteers from that town. He first enlisted in Co. F, 2nd VT. Regt., but receiving a chance to enlist in Co. F, New England Guards of Northfield he enlisted May 3, 1861, for three months and participated in the first important battle of the war at Big Bethel, June 10, 1861. In a few days after his return from the three months' service on Sept. 10 he enlisted for three years in Co. K, 4th Regt., and at the organization of the company he was made 3rd sergeant and was always on duty until disabled by a wound Oct. 16, 1863, during which time he was engaged in the battles of Lee's Mills, several day battles in front of Richmond under General McClellan, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Banks Ford, Gettysburg, Funkstown and many skirmishes. At Banks Ford, he captured during the battle two confederate officers and five soldiers for which gallant exploit he has been awarded a medal of honor by Congress. While on picket duty near Centerville, he was badly wounded and disabled for further service and was mustered out at Brattleboro in 1864 with the remnant of the men that left the town three years before over one thousand strong.^[1]

Robert John Coffey married, 13 November 1867 in Montpelier, Washington, Vermont, Demis Harriet Burnham.^[4]

They had one child:

1. George Burnham Coffey, b. 7 September 1872^[5]; d. 28 May 1874.^[6]

They adopted Ellen Maria "Nellie" Burnham, daughter of Demis's brother George Julian Burnham, after the death of his first wife.

Robert John Coffey was the first superintendent of the Vermont Soldiers Home in Bennington, Bennington, Vermont (est. 1887), until his death.

He died 9 July 1901 in Bennington^[7] and is buried in Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Ullery, Jacob G. Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont. Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894. Pages 76-7.
2. ↑ Death record of Richard Coffey, 1874: "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-69P9-H7R?cc=1784223&wc=MFVC-3M9%3A1029360001 : 22 May 2014), 004093903 > image 1573 of 5824; Citing Secretary of State. State Capitol Building, Montpelier.
3. ↑ Death record of Alexander Coffey, 1904: "Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M2-X9S3-K?cc=1987653&wc=Q8ZY-CXD%3A324710701%2C325224601%2C1583515604 : 24 June 2015), Washington > Middlesex > Deaths 1897-1936 vol 3-6 > image 60 of 519; citing various town clerks and records divisions, Vermont.
4. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9398-35SS-4G?cc=1784223&wc=MFVW-JWL%3A1029374601 : 22 May 2014), 004542971 > image 1131 of 3920; Citing Secretary of State. State Capitol Building, Montpelier.
5. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-69P9-B91?cc=1784223&wc=MFVC-3M9%3A1029360001 : 22 May 2014), 004093903 > image 1531 of 5824; Citing Secretary of State. State Capitol Building, Montpelier.
6. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-69P9-T8Q?cc=1784223&wc=MFVC-3M9%3A1029360001 : 22 May 2014), 004093903 > image 1532 of 5824; Citing Secretary of State. State Capitol Building, Montpelier.
7. ↑ Obituary. Barre Evening Telegram (Barre, VT), 10 July 1901. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn98060035/1901-07-10/ed-1/seq-1/.
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22703/robert-john-coffey: accessed 24 December 2023), memorial page for Robert John Coffey (15 Dec 1842–9 Jul 1901), Find a Grave Memorial ID 22703, citing Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.