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Provided by Sue Coffman Brown In a memorandum from an old Bible found in the home of John A. Coffman, a grandson of Andrew Jackson Coffman, Russellville, Tennessee, David Harmon Coffman went from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. David lived on Walker Creek, Montgomery County, Virginia in 1775. He settled in Tennessee in 1783. Through land grants issued by North Carolina, he was surveyed 200 acres of land on February 1, 1785, on an order dated October 23, 1783 for a tract situated in Greene Country on the south side of Lick Creek. This part of North Carolina became Greene County, Tennssee when the state was formed in 1796 Later this county was subdivided and this land became part of Jefferson County in 1792. David purchased an additional 200 acres from William Lovell. Also in 1795, he received a 200 acre grant in Hawkins County, Tennessee. He gave to his sons Lovell and Jacob 450 acres in Jefferson County and 200 acres in Hawkins County (1800). David entered land in Limestone County, Alabama February 11, 1818. He evidently did not move to Alabama until after 1823 as the deed dated June 23, 1823 gave his residence as Jefferson County, Tennessee. His will was filed in Limestone County, Alabama, Will Book 4, page 477. The will was dated June 12, 1833 and filed March 31, 1835 shortly after his death. His children were named in his will. He served in the American Revolution as an officer, and was granted the above stated land for his services during the war. The family is believed to have been of Mennonite belief, but later changed to Primitive Baptist. Records of the Bent Creek Baptist Church in what is now Hamblen County, Tennessee show the names of several of David's children. However, his name is not on the rolls of the church. In the memorandum from the old Bible referred to above, it also states that David built a rambling two-story log dwelling and raised a family. So well was this house built that it still stands. It is in what is now Hamblen County, Tennessee, about a mile above Russellville and is listed as an historical site. An article printed in Old Homes of Hamblen several years ago had this to say of David's home in Tennessee: "Coffman liked the quiet serentiy of this section and despite the fact that the land was infested with Indians, decided to erect home. He chose for the site a plot of ground near Russellville surrounded by primeval forest and in the distance could be seen great mountains looming against the sky. Here, after months of wary toil, he built a rambling two-story log dwelling and reared a family of noble sons and daughters." His house, built of hewn logs more than a century and a half ago, still stands one mile above the village by the old stagecoach road. Nearby stood the old log church house which was the second Baptist church to be organized in what is now Tennessee, and was pastored by Tydence Lane in 1785. This sturdy old church has long since been torn down. There was a gallery built in the back of the house for the benefit of the slaves of that day. This house was built in 1783 and is now open to the public as an historical site. One of the sons of the builder (David Harmon Coffman) of this home was Andrew Jackson Coffman. He was born, reared and died in this home, passing away in 1864, and his grave is in Bent Creek Cemetery. This descendant married an English girl in 1812 and they too gave to the section a number of noble sons and daughters. Andrew Coffman was a man of considerable influence in his community, prominent in church and civic affairs. He was licensed to preach and frequently would walk many miles through the wild section to preach the gospel and to conduct funerals. He was likewise a soldier, and when Andrew Jackson called for an arm to settle the English, Andrew Coffman walked to Nashville to join Jackson's forces. He was with Jackson at New Orleans where he learned to love and respect this old warrior. Jackson came to visit Coffman and spent a day and night with him at the old home near Russellville. Equally as intersting and historic as the old Coffman home is the building now used by the Coffman family as a barn. This was at one time the church of the community, and in it Andrew Coffman preached many a sermon. The church was founded in 1785, is built of logs like the old home, and is in perfect condition. It was used as the community church until it became too small for the growing community, and it was then laboriously moved to the rear of the Coffman home where it still stands. Here can be found many interesting antiques, sufficient to start a real museum. There are, of course, old spinning wheels, early tools used in the erection of the home and church, but he most interesting and historic is an old iron chest which belonged to General Longstreet, Confederate Lieutenant General, who abandoned it after taking out the contents following his encounter with federal troops in a skirmish between Bulls Gap and Russellville, and in direct line of the Coffman house. General Longstreet spent the night at the Coffman home after the battle. After the battle, James Edward Coffman, owner of the home at the time, and his daughter Nannie (then a small child), discovered a wounded soldier near the scene of the battle, took him to their home and cared for him until he died. Later through a blue homespun coverlet, they located his relatives in North Carolina. This soldier was buried in the Coffman plot and his grave is still cared for by members of the family. Other relics to be found there is a compass used by Andrew Coffman in surveying plots of land in the surrounding country. It is more than 125 years old. There is also an old threshing machine, the first brought to this section, and it is still suitable for use. Many intersting stories could be related about the old home and the former church building. Both have stood the tests of time, both have gone though many severe winters and blasts of hot weather, served as shelter and protection against hostile Indians and enemies of war, but with it all they still stand a monument and interesting addition to historic Hamblen County and East Tennesee. Sources of Information: North Carolina Land Grant within the State of Tennessee Warrant #331 dated September 23, 1781, Book 65, page 451, Grant #278, Greene County; North Carolina Land Grant within the State of Tennessee Warrant #1069 dated November 18, 1795, Book 89, page 140, Grant # 162, Greene County; Virginia Military Records - Montgomery County, Virginia; Deed of Gift to Andrew, Jefferson County, Tennessee, Vol Q. p. 341-342, dated October 2, 1823; Deed to Jacob Coffman, Hawkins County, Tennessee, Book 3, p. 488-489, dated December 24, 1808; David's will, Limestone Cunty, Alabama Will Book 4, p. 475, July 12, 1833; Old Huntsville Land Office Records and Military Warrants - Alabama Land; Alabama Archives Book - Alabama Soldiers vol. 1 1975; Book "From Across the River"; Virginia Historical Magazine Vol. 12, p. 332-333; Citizen Tribune Newspaper, July 11, 1986, Russellville Article; Boddie Historical Southern Families, Vol. 1 (Lovell Family of Westmoreland). In 1774 when David Harmon was 23, he married Mary Ann Elizabeth LOVELL, daughter of Robert LOVELL (1730-) & Sarah MARSHALL, in Fauqueir County, Virginia. Born in 1754 in Virginia. They had the following children:
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