Mary Elizabeth Tuttle, "Bettie", and Finley Patterson Coffey were married the 23 Sept. 1869. This union proved to be a most long and happy happy one broken only by the death of Bettie after 61 yeas, six months and 28 days of maried life. Few couples in our country have lived together longer or set higher standards of Christian and family relationships that they. Bettie and Finely were married by Rev. G. W. Ivey who was serving the Lenoir Circuit of the South Carolina Conference at Littlejohn Church. Their marriage certificate is registered in the Lenoir Courthouse.
Their children were: Rufus Gamewell (Game) (15 Dec. 1870 - 9 April 1939) m. first to Florence Houck (19 Fe. 1876 - 5 April 1943) and second, Minnie Welch; Robert Calvin (Bob)(14 May 1872 - 8 July 1936) m. Palestine (Pallie) McHan (30 Nov. 1883 - 25 April 1922); Sarah Lucinda (Lula) (3 Dec. 1873 - 25 Nov. 1948) m. Thomas Jefferson Loftain; Wilborn Haywood (Woodie) (9 Feb. 1876 - 25 June 1891) died young with walking typhoid; John Hill (Hill) (8 Nov. 1877 - 15 Mar. 1965) m. Dess (Dessie) Cunningham (25 May 1899 - 9 Jan. 1979); Cora Estelle (Telle) (16 July 1879 - 20 Feb. 1971) m. George Avery Link (27 Feb. 1876 - 19 Mar. 1955); William Finley (Wlll) (10 Mar. 1881 - 23 Sept. 1972) m. Annie Mae Smith (8 Feb. 1886 - 22 Oct. 1975); Lannese Tuttle (Lannie)(1 July 1884 - 4 Apr. 1964) m. Ethel R. Lovelace (6 Dec. 1894 - 2 Jan. 1935); Nancy Alice (9 Jan. 1890 - 9 Feb. 1983) m. Hardin Corpening Suddreth (8 Aug. 1886 - 29 July 1967; Mary Vestal (10 Sept. 1892 - 8 Feb 1981) m. Henry Ward Beecher Anderson (7 May 1898 - )1; and Davis Eugene (Gene) (15 May 1896 - 6 Dec. 1935 m. Etoy Green.
Mary Elizabeth Tuttle was a daughter of Lucinda Puett (2 Oct. 1819 - 17 Mar. 1910) and Robert Gaius Tuttle (15 May 1817 - 22 July 1884).
R.G. Tuttle served as Deputy Sheriff of Caldwell Co. from 1841 to 1852 when he became Sheriff, and office he held until 1866.
Lucinda and R.G. Tuttle's children were: Willian Anson (Billy) (5 Jan. 1842 - 27 Sept. 1879); John A Tuttle (1844 - 14 Oct. 1863); Marcus Gamewell (1846 - 20 Oct. 1870); Robert Murchison (8 Mar. 1849 - 1923); Mary Elizabeth (11 Sept. 1851 - 20 Apr. 1931); Nancy Carolina (10 Jan 1854 - 10 Mar. 1939); Lucius Haywood (1857 - 23 Mar. 1930); Magruder Hill (7 April 1859 - 27 June 1934); and Davis Beauregard (29 Oct. 1861 - 11 June 1947). Lucinda and R.G. Tuttle are buried in Littlejohn Cemetery in Caldwell Co., NC.
Finley P. Coffey was a son of Sarah Cottrell, "Sally", (1 May 1812 - 25 Mar. 1894) and Welborn Coffey (14 May 1807 - 27 Nov. 1897). (The name Sally is found in her father's will and on her gravestone.) Sally and Welborn were married Jan. 2, 1832.
Their children were: William Rufus (17 Nov. 1832 - 7 Dec. 1920), m. Harriet Moore (3 May 1835 - 2 Feb. 1918); Myra Emeline (dates unk), m. Robert Shearer (dates unk); Thomas Milton (1835-12 Aug. 1863), a private resided in Caldwell Co. where he enlisted at age 27, Mar. 20, 1862.
Thomas Milton was present or accounted for until wounded in the breast and captured at Gettysburg, Penn., July 1, 1863. There he was hospitalized where he died of wounds Aug. 12, 1863.
Minerva Jane (20 Dec. 1844 - 10 Oct. 1934) m. Rev. John Nelson (19 May 1841 - 22 May 1915); James Grayson (1839 - 24 Aug. 1863 resided in Caldwell Co. where he enlisted at age 22 on July 15, 1861.
John Grayson was present or accounted for until wounded in the left arm and captured at Gettysburg, Penn., July 1-4, 1863. His left arm was amputated and he was hospitalized at Gettysburg until his transfer to Davis Island, New York Harbor, July 17-19, 1863 where he died of his wounds on Aug. 24, 1863.
John Calvin, a twin, (30 Apr. 1848 - 27 Feb. 1930) m. Nancy Caroline Tuttle (10 Jan. 1854 - 10 Mar. 1839); Finley Patterson, a twin, (30 Apr. 1848 - 13 Apr. 1937) m. Mary Elizabeth Tuttle (11 Sept. 1851 - 20 Apr. 1931); and Charlotte Caroline (2 Dec. 1851 - 18 Mar. 1944) m. J. Richmond Moore (16 Mar. 1849 - 13 Sept. 1921).
The twins, Finley P. and John C. were very much alike in appearance, and their identity was often mistaken. Their wives, the Tuttle sisters, also looked a lot alike.
Finley P. and John C. were both farmers.
John C. was noted all over the county for his fine farms on Mulberry.
Finley P. Coffey's farm was in Gamewell, N.C. He was born and reared in the Mulberry community, where he attended the public school of the county. He completed his education at the Boone Academy in Boone, N.C. and later took a short course at Wake Forest College. He studied for the ministry and did some supply preaching along with visiting the public schools in the area for devotional talks to the students.
Along with numerous others in the county, Gamewell had a Post Office in the community, established Oct. 17, 1881, with Finley P. Coffey appointed the first Postmaster. He served until Jan. 29, 1887, when Lucius H. Tuttle was appointed.
The house Mary Elizabeth and Finley Coffey raised their family in has recently been torn down and replaced with a new housing developement. The house was located in Gamewell, N.C. on Highway 18 between Morganton and Lenoir, N.C. and was an old landmark from another century. The house was built by John Puett for him and his wife Mary Vestal, the parents of Lucinda Puett Tuttle. The logs were hand hewd and the house was built with slave labor many years before the War between the States.
Mary Elizabeth was brought up in the Methodist denomination and remained a Methodist, even though Finley P. was a Baptist. She is listed as a member of Littlejohn Church in register which begain in 1872.
on 27 Oct. 1912, Mary Vestal and Eugene were joined by Baptism and vows, administered by Rev. J.J. Eads. On the same register are the names of Cora Estelle and Alice Coffey who had joined earlier.
John Hill Coffey joined the Littlejohn Church in1883. Finley P. Coffey remained a Baptist all his life.
The Lenoir Baptist Church, now the First Baptist Church, was organized Aug. 18, 1889. "Eleven persons presented letters, becoming charter members. Also F.P. Coffey, R.G. Coffey, R.C. Coffey and Sarah L. Coffey gave their names as desiring to join the organization as soon as they could get their letters from their respective churches."
Lanese Coffey joined a Baptist Church in Swain Co. 7 Sept. 1910. In 1959 he and Will F. joined Gamewell Methodist Church, by transfer of their letter.
Mary Elizabeth died at her home in Gamewell, surrounded by all 10 of her children. Services were conducted by her pastor, Rev. Roy Houts and Rev. R.E. Hardaway, her husband's pastor.
Finley P. died at the home of a daughter, Estelle Link, on Virginia St., Lenoir, N.C. Services were conducted by Rev. R.E. Hardaway, his pastor, and he was buried in the Littlejohn's Church Cemetery, where he had buried his wife in 1931.
Sources: Marriage certificate, Thomas Coffey and his Descendants, by Laurence H. Coffey - 1931, North Carolina Troops 1861-1865 by W. T.
Jordan hr., Vol. 7, page 537; Lenoir News-Topic clipping, by Nancy Alexander; R.G. Tuttle's Will; Littlejohn Church register; History of the First
Baptist Church, by Historical Committee - Lenoir; Obituaries from the Lenoir Topic 1931 and 1937; and the Moore History in the Morganton,
N.C. Library.
Mary Elizabeth Throneburg