BURKE HISTORY: COFFER HOME - fairfax county stories

BURKE HISTORY: COFFER HOMEPOHICK LIBRARY CONVERSATIONST. PATRICK’S DAYMARCH 17, 2013130317Presentation by:CORAZON SANDOVAL FOLEY

POHICK REGIONAL LIBRARY (1987)Pohick Regional Library (built 1987) and Rolling Valley Shopping Mall acrossOld Keene Mill Road were constructed on part of the Jerman family farm.The farm was located on part of the land grant by Lord Fairfax to James Keenon 21 November 1741.

POHICK REGIONAL LIBRARY (1987)

KEENE/JERMAN HOME

KEENE/JERMAN HOME

KEENE/JERMAN HOME

Lord Fairfax Land Grants in BurkePohick Library is on landonce owned by James Keene.

James Keene Land Grant - 1741

James Keene Land Grant - 1741

Lord Fairfax Land Grants in Burke

THE COFFER LAND GRANT - 1728

THE COFFER LAND GRANT - 1728

The 1728 Land Grantto Francis Coffer (I)Inherited by Francis (II)(who died in 1744) andwas acquired by brotherThomas Withers Coffer.The Coffer Family Tree

Coffer Land#1 Near George MasonThomas Withers Coffermoved family toBurke area from landIn the Potomac areanear George Mason.

Coffer Land #1 and Mount Vernon

Thomas Withers Coffer, Vestryman ofTruro Parish with George Washington• Truro Parish was the ecclesiastical jurisdiction ofthe Anglican church in colonial Virginia withjurisdiction originally over all of Fairfax County.The parish had its central church at the TruroChurch and the parish was named for the parishin Truro in Cornwall. The parish was created onNovember 1, 1732 from Hamilton Parish. It wasdivided twice: in 1748, Cameron Parish wasformed and in 1764 Fairfax Parish was created.After 1765, Truro Parish covered southern FairfaxCounty until disestablishment ended the parishsystem between by 1786.

Thomas Withers Coffer – Service inTruro Parish, 2 nd Pohick Church

Second Pohick Church of Truro ParishI sat at pew#5 to enjoy the same view of Thomas Withers Coffer in Pohick Church.

Second Pohick Church

Second Pohick Church

Second Pohick Church

Pohick Church Historical Marker

Coffer Land Grant - 1728

Coffer Land Acquisition in Burke Area

Thomas Withers Coffer (ca 1713-1781)Sold Pew in Second Pohick ChurchIn 1774, Thomas WithersCoffer sold his pew#5 inSecond Pohick Churchas part of his family’s moveto Burke area and servicewith the Payne’s Churchbuilt on Ox Road.Edward Payne in 1776led building of churchas part of Truro Parish;it was destroyed byFederal troops who usedits bricks for winter hearths.Jerusalem Baptist Churchis on its original foundations.

Thomas Withers Coffer Joined Payne’sChurch Nearer to his Burke Area home• The old Payne’s Church on Ox Road has beenreplicated and consecrated on May 1, 1934, as TruroEpiscopal Church in Fairfax City.

Jerusalem Baptist Churchon Site of Payne’s Church

The 1728 Land Grantto Francis Coffer (I)Inherited by Francis (II)(who died in 1744) andwas acquired by brotherThomas Withers Coffer.The Coffer Family Tree

Third Generation – Francis Coffer (III),Trustee helping to establish Fairfax City

Second Coffer Home purchased 1803 –Indenture on tenth day ofNovember 1803 betweenJohn and Jemima Arundelland Francis Coffer (III) of$1,000 for parcel of landcontaining some 194 acres,two rood and 38 poles, andall houses, buildings, orchards,gardens, meadows, woods,underwoods, ways, waters,Watercourses, profit commodities,hereditaments & appurtenances.Note: A pole = 272.25 square ft.There are 40 poles in a rood and160 poles in an acre.A rood = ¼ acreFrancis Coffer (III)

Thomas Coffer in 2 nd Coffer Home, 1810By 1810, Thomas Cofferhad moved into the 2 ndCoffer Home that waspurchased in 1803 by hisfather, Francis Coffer (III)from the Arundells. Hisfamily of 6 was still growingas he and wife Anne hadeight children.The family had 9 slaves.

Francis Coffer (III) Household, 1810In 1810, the household ofFrancis Coffer (III) with sixfamily members, did notinclude the family of hiseldest son, Thomas. Itincluded Francis (III), hiswife Catherine Gunnell Coffer,his brother, Joshua Coffer,his second son Francis (IV),and two younger daughters.They had 18 slaves.

The 1728 Land Grantto Francis Coffer (I)Inherited by Francis (II)(who died in 1744) andwas acquired by brotherThomas Withers Coffer.The Coffer Family Tree

Thomas and Francis (IV) Coffer served(as Captain & Ensign) in War of 1812

Thomas Coffer in 1817 Inherited 2ndHome Bought by Francis Coffer (III)Bequeath unto my son Thomas Coffer one tract of land I bought of John Arundell

Francis Coffer (IV) inherited in 1817the 1728 Land Grant from Lord FairfaxBequeath unto my sonFrancis Coffer (IV)land on which I nowlive [1728 land grant&1 st Coffer Home inthe Burke area;Francis (IV) = 34 years]Bequeath untomy daughterCatherine onenegro girlnamed Phillis.[Phillis = 12 years]

The Coffers ownedlarge landholdingsIn Burke in 1860 whenFIVE generations ofCoffers have ownedproperty in theBurke area sincethe 1728 land grantby Lord FairfaxTo Francis Coffer (I).Coffer Lands in 1860 in Burke

The 1728 Land Grantto Francis Coffer (I)Inherited by Francis (II)(who died in 1744) andwas acquired by brotherThomas Withers Coffer.The Coffer Family Tree

Thomas Coffer Will - 1857Thomas Coffer Will signed16 May 1857:I give to Joshua Coffer andArmistead Coffer land onwest side of Francis Coffer (IV)and east to land of heirs ofSilas Burke…Remainder to be equallydivided between William Coffer,Hannah Burke, Jane Burke,Elizabeth Selecman, ThomasCoffer and John Coffer…Executors include Levi Burke,brother of Silas Burke andhusband of Jane Coffer Burke.

Joshua Coffer – Son of Thomas CofferJoshua Coffer was born on 21 October 1814 and died 22 March 1862 in Richmond, after some30 days of imprisonment by the Confederates, according to his daughter, Ella Coffer Hall.He, wife Hulda, son Joshua, daughter Ella were buried in family cemetery of 2 nd Coffer Home,along with his father, Thomas Coffer, and his uncle, Francis Coffer (IV).

Joshua Coffer’s Family in 1860

Joshua Coffer Buried in FamilyCemetery on Coffer Home Site

Ella Coffer Hall Committed SuicideElla Coffer Hall (1859-1908) was the Last Coffer to be born & raised in the2 nd Coffer Home, as well as buried in the Coffer Family Cemetery in the home site.

Joshua’s Daughter Ella Coffer MarriedM. D. Hall who Inherited Coffer Home

Coffer Home Sold to William Downey

Coffer Home on Site of WoodsCommunity Center, Burke Conservancy

Coffer Home on Site of WoodsCommunity Center, Burke Conservancy

Coffer Home Historical Marker

Coffer Home Historical MarkerMy petition for thehistorical markerfor the Coffer Homehas gathered wayover 500 signaturesand my target of1,000 signaturesis attainable.PLEASE SUPPORTTHE HISTORICALMARKER FOR THECOFFER HOMEAND LOCAL HISTORYEDUCATION FORTHE YOUTH OFBURKE, VIRGINIA!!!THANK YOU.CORA FOLEY

Coffer Home Historical Marker

Driving Trail of Burke History

DRIVING TRAIL OF BURKE HISTORYPinn Centerand Hulda Coffer2 nd Coffer HomeSilas Burke HomeWife Hannah Coffer BurkeLittle Zion Baptist Churchand Francis Coffer (IV)

Driving Trail of Burke History

A. COFFER HOME

B. LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

Little Zion Baptist Church–Historic SiteLZBC in Inventory of History Sites but without Historical Roadside Marker

LZBC Historic Marker ProjectIn July 2010, I startedpetitioning for a historicalroadside marker to honorthe remarkable history ofLittle Zion Baptist Church andthe Pearson Colored School.The Greater Little Zion BaptistChurch (GLZBC) was working on“Burning the Mortgage”project that was successfullyCompleted in October 2012.GLZBC is leading the historicalmarker project and I providedresearch support to honorthe legacy of the Coffers, thePearsons, and Reverend Bailey.

LZBC/Pearson Colored School (1874-1946)

LZBC/Pearson Colored School (1874-1946)

C. Silas Burke House (ca. 1824)Silas Burke died of a stroke on 14 September 1854, leaving his estate to wife Hannah CofferBurke (1800-1895), daughter of Thomas Coffer, and who had resided in the 2 nd Coffer Home.

Silas Burke Historical Marker

D. Burke’s Railroad StationWhen the Orange and Alexandria Railroad was constructed in the late 1840s, the railroad stationwas named Burke’s Station after Silas Burke who donated a right-of-way to the railroad company.

E. Copperthite Racetrack (1908-1917)Now Burke NurseryCopperthite Racetrack horse racing attracted fans from Alexandria & DC.

Copperthite Racetrack (1908-1917)Henry Copperthite in 1897 bought the Silas Burke house. His racetrack made Burke into asocial hub and summer getaway with special trains from DC, Alexandria, Richmond & others.

F. Lee Chapel Methodist Church/Cemetery (1871-1951)Lee Chapel built in 1871 and named in honor of General Robert E. Lee.Due to the ill-fated proposal to build the Burke National Airport (later Dulles),the church was closed for the final time in October 1951.

G. Keene’s Mill (1796 – 1800)James Keene built a saw and grist mill between 1796 and 1800, that wasInherited in 1849 by William Keene who in 1855 stabbed Lewis Hall; bothwere drunk. Most sensational crime case in pre-Civil War Springfield area.William Keene was convicted and sent to State Penitentiary in Richmond.

H. Keene/Jerman Home (1840s)Pohick Regional Library and the Keene/Jerman Home are located Ion site ofLand grant to James Keene (or Keen) by Lord Fairfax on 21 November 1741.

POHICK REGIONAL LIBRARY (1987)Pohick Regional Library (built 1987) and Rolling Valley Shopping Mall acrossOld Keene Mill Road were constructed on part of the Jerman family farm.The farm was located on part of the land grant by Lord Fairfax to James Keenon 21 November 1741.

James Keene Land Grant - 1741

I. Sydenstricker Methodist ChurchSydenstricker United Methodist Church was built in 1909 by Rev. ChristopherSydenstricker, uncle of Nobel Prize Winner Pearl Sydenstricker Buck.

Sydenstricker SchoolhouseOriginally known as Pohick School#8 and known as “The Little Red Schoolhouse” was builtaround 1901, burnt and rebuilt in 1928; closed in 1939 as last one-room schoolhouse inoperation in Fairfax County. Accepted 2012 in Virginia’s National Register of Historic Places.

J. Pinn Community Center

Pinn Center Historical Marker

History of Pinn Center• In 1887, Hulda Coffer (1840-1903) sold 34acres to David R. Pinn for $114.• At that time, Black Citizens had a difficult timebuying land because White Citizens oftenrefused to sell to them. The Coffer family andblack-white relationships are importantelements in the history of the David R. PinnCenter and Little Zion Baptist Church.

David Pinn and Hulda Coffer (1887)37 Acres for$114Deed of Sale

K. St. Mary’s Catholic Church (1858)St. Mary’s Church was built in the 1850s to support Irish railroad workers. ItIs located on Ox road, originally an Indian trail widened to gain easier accessto copper deposits found in northern regions of Fairfax County. The FairfaxStation Railroad Museum is located nearby on Fairfax Station Road.

St. Mary’s Historical MarkerCatholic workers employed in railroad began work on structure in 1856; dedicated 1858.Here, under the direction of Clara Barton, the idea of the Red Cross was developed.

Fairfax Railroad Station MuseumThe first Fairfax Station depot was built by Irish immigrants in 1852. In 1975, local citizensworked to save the old railroad depot. The museum was dedicated in 1987 & opened in 1988.

L. Jerusalem Baptist Church (1840)on site of Payne’s Church

Burke Lake Park instead of AirportBurke Lake was created on land requisitioned in the 1950s by the federalgovernment for the ill-fated plan for Burke International Airport.

Failed Airport Plan Changed Burke

Other Sites: Burke School, WPA ProjectBuilt in 1939 as part of Public Works Administration,begun by President Franklin Rooseveltduring the 1930s depression, and has been usedfor special education programs since 1954

Other Sites: Burke United MethodistBurke United Methodist Church was built in 1979 to house congregationthat used the old Burke station as a church for some 50 years since 1929.

Cultural Site: Sikh Foundation

Cultural Site: Ekoji Buddhist Temple

Cultural Site: Durga Hindu Temple

Little Zion Baptist Church/PearsonColored School Historical Marker

Coffer Home Historical Marker

Coffer Home Historical MarkerMy petition for thehistorical markerfor the Coffer Homehas gathered wayover 500 signaturesand my target of1,000 signaturesis attainable.PLEASE SUPPORTTHE HISTORICALMARKER FOR THECOFFER HOMEAND LOCAL HISTORYEDUCATION FORTHE YOUTH OFBURKE, VIRGINIA!!!THANK YOU.CORA FOLEY

Coffer Home Historical Marker