historic marker proposal drafted by corazon sandoval foley on …€¦ · map of downey land with...

1 131013Revision of 120527Submission of Documentation for Coffer Home Historic Marker – Cora Foley

Historic Marker Proposal drafted by Corazon Sandoval Foley on May 27, 2012 and edited on July 4, 2014 to include Coffers, Pearsons and Black History in Burke.

COFFER FARM (or HOME) This was part of the Coffer farmland purchased in 1803 by Francis Coffer III (ca 1748 – 1817), a trustee in establishing Providence (now Fairfax City). He expanded the 1728 land grant from Lord Fairfax that established the Coffers as prominent early settlers in the Burke area. His son Thomas Coffer (ca 1770 - 1859)

served as Captain in the War of 1812 while the brother Francis Coffer IV (ca 1783 – 1861) willed his land and freedom to five slaves on the eve of the Civil War. The emancipated Pearson Family became leaders of the Burke black community for many years, donating land and labor for the Little Zion Baptist Church, Cemetery and the Pearson Colored School.

1. 1803 deed from Arundell to Coffer (DB E2:202)

2. 1728 land grant from Lord Fairfax to Francis Coffer (NN:174)

3. Thomas Withers Coffer Will (DB V3:233)

4. Francis Coffer 1805 (trustee for establishing Providence, now Fairfax City)

5. 1817 Will of Francis Coffer - land bought from Arundle to Thomas Coffer (WB L:156)

6. Fairfax Genealogical Society/Ancestry.com records – War of 1812 Captain Thomas Coffer (and

his brother Francis Coffer IV who was an Ensign)

7. Hannah Coffer and Silas Burke (Will Thomas Coffer (DB V3:233)

8. March 30, 1861 Will by Francis Coffer IV (Z: 339)

9. 1874 Donation of land for Pearson Colored School

10. 1876 Donation of land for Little Zion Baptist Church and Cemetery

11. 1976 purchase by Burke Conservancy (Deed – (DB 4360:606)

12. 1790 Date for Downey Home – Fairfax County Government Report

Note: The Coffer Home was once named “Locust Hill” and “Roscrea” but there is no original

source – only report by Nan Netherton in her book “Memories of Beautiful Burke” page 92 but

Netherton was in error in reporting that the land was first patented by the Ward family. The

land was first patented on 18 February 1744 by Moses Simpson (NN F:211); On 15 January

1787 probate of will by Moses Simpson bequeathing 323-acres to be divided between

nephews George and Joseph Simpson (WB E1:184). CA 1800, George Simpson land sale to

John Arundell (C2:246 – reported missing by Fairfax County Judicial Center). Included in this

documentation is 4 November 1803 land sale from Arundell to Francis Coffer (III) (DB E2:202)

Note: Documentation in my book “Burke Vignettes, 1728 – 2012” by Corazon Sandoval Foley

©copyright 2012 that I donated to Fairfax County Public Libraries & available at Amazon.com.


1. 1803 Deed of Sale from Arundell to Francis Coffer (III) (DB E2:202)


2. 1728 Land Grant and Pohick Church with George Washington/Mason and Thomas Withers Coffer

378-acre land tract received by

Francis Coffer (Copher) from Lord

Fairfax in 1728.

Coffers as prominent Burke early settlers:

Thomas Withers Coffer was a Vestryman in

Truro Parish with pew#5 behind George Mason.

Francis Coffer (III) was a founder of Fairfax City.

Hannah Coffer married Silas Burke. See my

book on “Little Zion Baptist Church and the

Case of Loving.”


Fairfax County Government Record of Coffer/Triplett Truro Parish Deed, listing Washington, Mason.


3. 1817 Will of Francis Coffer – land bought from Arundle to Thomas Coffer (WB L:156)


18 Thomas Coffer Captain in War of 1812 (Fairfax Genealogical Society Listing with link to pay list)


U.S., War of 1812 Service Records, 1812-1815about

Thomas Coffer

Name: Thomas Coffer

Company: 57 REGIMENT VIRGINIA MILITIA.

Rank - Induction: CAPTAIN

Rank - Discharge: CAPTAIN

Roll Box: 42

Microfilm Publication:

M602

http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4281&enc=1



Thomas Coffer

Name: Thomas Coffer

Company: 60 REG'T (MINOR'S) VIRGINIA MILITIA.

Rank - Induction: CAPTAIN

Rank - Discharge: CAPTAIN

Roll Box: 42


M602




Francis Coffer

Name: Francis Coffer

Company: 60 REG'T (MINOR'S) VIRGINIA MILITIA.

Rank - Induction: ENSIGN

Rank - Discharge: ENSIGN

Roll Box: 42


M602



Hannah Coffer married Silas Burke:- 1857 Will by Thomas Coffer with daughter Hannah Burke

(WB Z1:368)


1850 Census with Silas and Hannah Burke


March 30, 1861 Will by Francis Coffer (IV) (Z:339)


Southern Claims Commission Testimony by William Pearson that “Coffer was a white man who recognized him and his brothers as his children.”


9. 1874 Pearson Donation of Land for Pearson Colored School


10. 1876 Pearson Donation of Land for Colored Church/Cemetery


Genealogy of Mrs. Mary Goins Roots

Fourth Generation: Coffers in Burke:

Fifth Generation: Coffer-Pearsons of Burke:

Sixth Generation: Coffer - Pearsons of Burke

Seventh Generation: Coffer – Pearson - Jeffrey of Burke

Eighth Generation: Coffer – Pearson – Jeffrey - Goins of Burke:

Nineth Generation: Coffer – Pearson – Jeffrey – Goins – Roots of Burke:

Francis Coffer IV – Phillis Pearson

Charles Pearson - wife Sarah

Francis Coffer Pearson married Annie

Mary Bell Pearson married Thomas Jeffrey

Annie V. Jeffrey (widow of Norman Wright) married James Goins

(2nd husband)

Mary Goins married William Roots

Francis Coffer Pearson (son of Charles Pearson; Mary Goins Roots (daughter of Annie V. Jeffrey who was

daughter of Mary Bell Pearson Jeffrey, who was daughter of Francis Coffer Pearson).


1976 Sale of Coffer Home Land from Downey to Burke Centre Partnership (DB 4360:606)


Map of Downey Land with Coffer Home – 1976 Deed from Downey to Burke Centre Partnership


Page 92 of Nan Netherton’s book on “Memories of Beautiful Burke” on “Locust Hill”

The 1803 Deed from Arundell to Francis Coffer (III) mentioned: “containing one hundred and ninety four acres, two rood and 38 poles, be the same more or less and all houses, buildings, orchards….”

The Coffer Home was probably built on top of the house(s) already in existence by 1803 but there is no original source for this analysis. An architectural analysis of the home indicated that the home

was rebuilt in the late 19th century.

historic marker proposal drafted by corazon sandoval foley on …€¦ · map of downey land with...

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