Notes

Note N427 Index

Possibly living in northern Louisiana.

Notes

Note N428 Index

Birthdate calculated from information on gravestone. Alternate date of 29 Sep 1781 appears in Clay Coy book.

Notes

Note N429 Index

Gives his age as 73 years, 6 months and 10 days. Casts some doubt on the "fact" that he died in Illinois.

This cemetery is located in Section 12 of Lime Creek Township in Washington County, Iowa, about one quarter of a mile north of the thown of Wellman, Iowa. It is a very old cemetery, with one of the founders of Wassonville, Iowa being buried thre. His name was Henry Wasson. To reach this cemetery, go north on G-38 (or Ginkgo Avenue) approximately one-quarter mile north of Wellman and turn west at a farm yard and continue following a tiny winding road that will take you to the south entracne to the cemetery. It has been well kept and surrounded by many trees but a fence is on all sides of it with two wooden gates that one can open easily.

The Coy gravesite is the seventh stone in the fifth row of graves, starting from the west. There is a cement rectangle about 7' by 10' tall, which is almost entirely underground there. He is buried on the very SW corner of that rectangle.

His daughter Hester McCallister is in the next row (row six), beyond a tree. Her stone is the 19th in that row.

Notes

Note N430 Index

Birthdate calculated from age recorded on grave stone and date of death.
According to tradition, he was born in Maryland of Scotch parentage, his parents having emigrated to America through Wales. Moving westward, he went by Boone's Wilderness Road, down the great Appalacian Valley to the headquarters of the Cumberland Gap. The region afterwards to be known as Tennessee and Kentucky was then filled with the exploits of Daniel Boone and stories of fierce savage Indian warfare. In these adventurous times, the Coys were to take their part as pioneers.

Benjamin Coy, settling in Nelson county, Kentucky, came to know Daniel Boone well, and to engage in hunting with him. Boone's old rifle and powder horn were possessions of the Coy family for many years.

In 1820, Benjamin Coy moved from Kentucky to Illinois, settling near what is now Springfield on the Sangamon River. Here they were neighbors and friends of the Lincoln family.

In 1828, the Benjamin Coy family moved once more, this time to Henderson Grove, Knox county, Illinois, about four miles northwest of the present site of Galesburg, this according to source 1.

According to information on his gravestone, he served in the war of 1812.

The latest evidence of Benjamin in Kentucky is the report of a jury trial at Bardstown, Nelson county, Ky, where Benjamin was awarded $150.01.

The first mention of Benjamin in Iowa is in the 1849 Iowa census, which lists Benjamin and six members of his family.

The 1820 Kentucky Census does not list Benjamin.

Based on work of Anne Sonne, possible siblings of Benjamin are...
Daniel Coy m Betsy Countryman 29 Apr 1788 Nelson county Ky
(A Daniel appears in 1810 Ky Census, Hardin county, page 291)
(A Daniel appears in 1820 Ky Census, Hardin county, page 76)
Phoebe Coy m Alexander VanWinkle 12 Apr 1791 Nelson county Ky
Matthew Coy m Mary Brown 3 or 8 Jul 1797 Nelson county
Huldah Coy m Josiah Horton Bond 6 Apr 1796 Nelson county
William Coy m Abigail Brown 29 Feb 1820 Nelson county
(A William appears in 1810 Ky Census, Hardin county, page 292)
(A William appears in 1820 Ky Census, Hardin county, page 76)
AnneSonne's contact info is AnneSonne@aol.com.

1810 Nelson County KY census breaks down family this way:
2 Males <10 (Mathew, Urban)
1 Male 10-26 (Benjamin)
1 Male >46 (Benjamin's Father?)
1 Female <10 (?)
1 Female >46 (Benjamin's Mother?)
Nothing that fits Benjamin's wife Nancy

1830 Knox County IL census breaks down family this way:
1 Male 5-10 (maybe Benjamin B, although he is probably 3 yr old)
2 Males 20-30 (Matthew D, 27 and Urban D, 20)
1Male 40-50 (Benjamin, 50)
2 Female 5-10
2 Female 10-15
1 Female 40-50 (Nancy, 48)

1849 Iowa Census doesn't break down family into age groups, just gives total of 6 persons. Listed just below John McAlister.
Not named in father's will.

Notes

Note N431 Index

Possibly the Benjamin Coy listed in the database of "Illinois Black Hawk War Veterans", having the rank Private and who enrolled in J. Ferguson's company at Gums Fort.

Notes

Note N432 Index

Occupation: Laborer

Notes

Note N433 Index

Appears in the 1850, Lime Township, Washington county Iowa Census.
Homesteaded in Sidney County, Iowa, E 1/2 of SW 1/4 of Section 12, T69N, R42W, awarded certificate 2247 on 15 June 1855. Doesn't seem like he ever lived there, though