John R. Coffee (1772 - 1833)

Born 2 Jun 1772 in Prince Edward, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Donelson) Coffee — married 2 Oct 1809 in Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 7 Jul 1833 at age 61 in Florence, Lauderdale, Alabama, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Theresa thunderbird Coffey [send private message]

General Coffee's Route to New Orleans

Biography

John Coffee is Notable.

General John Coffee served for Tennessee in the War of 1812
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Brigader General John Coffee (1772-1833) married Andrew Jackson's niece, Mary Donelson on 2 Oct 1809 in Davidson County, Tennessee. ^[1]

Military Service

General John Coffee served with the United States of America during the Creek War
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He was active in the Creek War, and in the attack on Pensacola in the autumn of 1814. He was distinguished in the battles near New Orleans. He took part in the bitter night fight of Dec23, which Jackson jokingly called a 'fandango' replying to a British boast that they would dine in New Orleans by Christmas. In the main battle he commanded the line nearest the swamp He fought alongside Andrew Jackson at the battle of Horseshoe Bend.

In March, 1817, he was appointed surveyor of public lands.

Research Notes

Note: From Wikipedia:

John Coffee (June 2, 1772–July 7, 1833) was an American planter, and military leader.

Born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, Coffee was a merchant and then a partner in land speculation with Andrew Jackson. Coffee married Mary Donelson, a relative of Jackson's wife Rachel, in October 1809.

At the beginning of the War of 1812, Coffee raised the 2nd Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Riflemen, comprised mostly of Tennessee militiamen (and a few Alabamians). In October 1813, the 2nd was combined with Col. Cannon's Mounted Regiment and the 1st Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Gunmen to form a militia brigade of mounted infantry, and Coffee was promoted to brigadier-general and placed in command. Under Jackson's command, he led his brigade at most of the battles of the Creek War: the Battle of Tallushatchee, the Battle of Talladega, and the Battles of Emuckfaw and Enotachopo Creek, where he was seriously wounded, and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. He then led his brigade at the Battle of New Orleans, where they played a key role.

He later moved to Alabama and Florida, and died near Florence, Alabama.

Coffee County, Alabama, Coffee County, Georgia and Coffee County, Tennessee are named in his honor.

Note: Researchers often confuse this General John Coffee with General John E. Coffee the U.S. Congressman from Georgia. General John Coffee, also known as "Tennessee John" and John E. were first cousins.

Brig. General John Coffee was Andrew Jackson's chief of cavalry and mounted troops during the Indian campaigns and the War of 1812.

General Jackson said of him after the Battle of New Orleans: "John Coffee is a consummate commander. He was born so, but he is so modest that he doesn't know it."

John Coffee is buried in Coffee Cemetery, Lauderdale Co. Alabama

Sources

1. ↑ "Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNHX-63N : 4 December 2014), John Coffie and Mary Donelson, 02 Oct 1809; from "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing p. 96, Davidson, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

• Lauderdale County Alabama Cemeteries: Coffee Cemet; Surveyed March 22, 1969 by the late William Q. Hill, Lauderdale County Alabama Cemeteries: Coffee Cemetery

• Find A Grave: Memorial #24618894, citing Coffee Cemetery, Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama, USA

• Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography; Volume: Vol. VI, page 675

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Coffee

Acknowledgments

• This person was created through the import of indygrandma.ged on 02 January 2011.