| My research on Marcus Cofer is only just beginning. I am told, by an online cousin, that at one time he lived in a cave near Hanging Rock, North Carolina. The cave is now called Mark Cofer's Kitchen. He is said to be buried in Salisbury, Forsyth County, North Carolina. There are few documents relating to Marcus. One is a copy of the original Social Security card application of his eldest son Joseph. His parents are listed as Mark Coffer and Rosa Tatum and his place of birth as Walnut Cove, Stokes County, North Carolina. Another record is the 1880 Tenth Federal Census. On page 8 of the listing for Meadows Township (Enumeration District 252), Stokes County, North Carolina, the following information is to be found: Cofer, Marcus-W-M-25-head of family-married-Farmer-"idiotic"-cannot read-cannot write-born NC-father born NC-mother born NC Cofer, Rosa C.-W-F-23-wife-married-keeping house-cannot read-cannot write-born Va-father born Va-mother born Va Children: Jos. W.-5 & Bud-3. Rosa is listed as a widow on the 1900 Census for Bethania Township, Forsyth County, North Carolina. Children are Joseph-19 [actually John?], Mager-13, and Sadie-6. Birth months and years are entered as unknown for Rosa and all children. Was Sadie perhaps the only one home when the census enumerator came by? I was not able to find any other individual on any neighboring census page that did not have a birth month and year listed. In 1900, Rosa is listed as a widow. On the 1910 Census she is listed as divorced and living in the Stokes County, North Carolina household of her mother. Rosa died in 1935 and is buried somewhere in the vicinity of Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina. Another source says she was buried in Rockingham County.. I believe "Bud" is Lewis Cofer who married Becky Bales. On the 1900 Census for Meadows Township there is a listing for "L. T. Cofer," b. Nov. 1877 and his wife "R. J." [Rebecca Jane] with a daughter Mattie J., b. May 1898. On the 1900 Census Joseph Coffer is on page 12 of the listing for Danbury P.O., Stokes County, North Carolina. His wife's name is given as Lilley [Lillie Tilley], with children Rose J., b. June 1897 [Rosa died in 2000] & George W., born Feb. 1899. Marcus is listed as Marquis L. on the 1870 Stokes County Census and Lafayette on the 1860. The appearance of the name Marcus in the South dates from at least 1789, when a child was named Marcus Lafayette Sharp in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette. Rosa is listed as Rozella on the 1870 Stokes County Census and as Rosy on the 1860 Halifax County, Virginia Census. Rosa is said to have been a religious Jew. She was the daughter of Joseph D. and Mary Ann Tatum. Return to My HomePage |
| Cave-Dwelling Idiot?! |