COE and BLANSETT FAMILIES
The following is a collection of email correspondence between various family members about the connection between the COE and BLANSETT families. Note: There are quite a few photos on this page, so it may take awhile for all of them to load.
At the bottom of this page is a list of resources and web page links to where you can find out more about the Coe and Blansett families.
| =================== Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 9:23 AM Hello Carl: I saw your message on MORANDOL-L re: COE family. Do you have any info regarding Benjamin Franklin COE [ Sr. or Jr.] and Jane BLANSETT in Missouri? Norman Blansett =================== |
 Benjamin Franklin Coe Oct. 1, 1850 ~ Sept. 16, 1931 Photo taken 1898 Submitted by Carl Coe |
Carl Robert Coe wrote:
Norman,
Nice to hear from you. I have a complete history of Benjamin Franklin Coe Jr and Sr.
Jr. is the Frank Coe mentioned in my previous posting. Sr. was a brother of Thomas Richard Coe.
Your best sources would be George Washington Coe, "Frontier Fighter" (University of New Mexico Press, 1934) and Robert M. Utley, "Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life" (Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 1989).
Check here for some posted info on the family:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?Utley::coe::886.html
It might be of interest to know that President George W. Bush descends from this family.
[Editor's note: Towards the bottom of this webpage are links to various famous people related to the Coe family.]
Attached is a list of members of this Coe family who married in Schuyler and Scotland Counties, MO. [Editor's note: List not available at the time of creating this webpage.]
Please let me know if I can be of further help.
Thank You,
Carl Robert Coe
====================
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 9:42 PM
To: 'Carl Robert Coe'
Subject: FW: Skeleton in the closet ? RE: FW: Benjamin Franklin Coe
Hello Carl:
| Thanks for the information. You may want to rattle this skeleton and see if these people are correct. Norman Blansett Date: 2005/12/18 Sun PM 07:24:20 EST Benjamin Franklin Blansett's father was Benjamin Franklin Coe jr.. The son of Benjamin Franklin Coe jr. (I believe his name was Wilbur Coe) later tried to refute that in his book, but we have a letter from a relative that remembers Benjamin Franklin Coe sr. coming over and visiting, their was never a question at the time of who the father was. Jane Blansett had worked as a servant in their house when she got pregnant. Benjamin Franklin Coe jr., was then shipped off with his Uncle to New Mexico. My parents have this letter, but I just have the notes from it. Benjamin Franklin Blansett would not talk about either his Father or Mother. [Editor's note: See farther down to see scans of this actual letter.] |
 Benjamin Franklin Coe, Jr. in New Mexico Submitted by Carl Coe |
=======================
From: "Carl Robert Coe"
Date: 2005/12/30 Fri AM 07:01:45 EST
To: Norman Blansett
Subject: RE: Skeleton in the closet ? RE: FW: Benjamin Franklin Coe
| Norman, Very nice to hear from you. Yes, the information is correct and it was Benjamin Franklin Blansett's father Frank Coe who was played by Charlie Sheen in the movie "Young Guns." I believe Jane Blansett also had a daughter our of wedlock. Luther Edward Coe, of the original post you responded to, is assumed to have been fathered by Frank Coe or one of his brothers. His brother Lewis Wetzel Coe lived beside the Crapson family when Luther was born in 1873, I believe also the year Benjamin Franklin Blansett was born. Luther's mother is assumed to be Julia Ann Crapson, a young single woman in the Crapson home and Osborne M. Crapson's sister. Luther Coe was known as Luther Edward Crapson while he was in Schuyler County. He later changed his name to Coe, perhaps for his biological father. I have attached a photo of Luther Coe with his wife Mary Walker. She was also from Schuyler County. [Editor's Note: Attached photo can be seen at the right.] I would be delighted to hear back from you. |
 Luther Coe & wife Mary Walker Submitted by Carl Coe |
Thank You,
Carl
| ======================= [Editor's note: The previous email was also forwarded by Norman Blansett to Sabrina Petersen, and this is her reply.] Date: 2005/12/30 Fri PM 05:01:41 EST Norman, Lastly, this is a picture of Mary Jane Blansett and her husband Royal Maynard. She was the other illegitimate daughter that Carl Coe mentioned. [Editor's note: Attached photo can been seen at the right.] Sabrina ======================== |
 Mary Jane Blansett & Royal Maynard - After 1914 Submitted by Sabrina Petersen |
From: Norman Blansett
To: Sabrina Petersen
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 4:50 PM
Subject: Re: RE: Coe confirmation
Hello Sabrina:
Thank you very much for the 2 photos and the information. [Editor's note: Pictures not available when creating this webpage.]
Norman Blansett
========================
[Editor's note: Norman Blansett sends a note to Carl Coe that he recieves from cousin Tweeti.]
From: Norman Blansett
Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 7:56 PM
To: Carl Coe
Subject: [Fwd: Re: RE: Coe confirmation]
Hello Carl:
This msg. is from my cousin in n/w New Mexico.
Norman Blansett
Date: 2006/01/01 Sun PM 01:29:08 EST
To: Norman Blansett, Sabrina Petersen
Subject: Re: RE: Coe confirmation
And the pot thickens. The Coe Family ended up here in Aztec and had the first threshing machine. Knew the Blancetts ----there were 5 Coe men mentioned in our history. George, Frank, Jap, Al and Lou. I have no idea how they were related. These boys were rough and rowdy here also and part of the Blancett posses from time to time, I think.
Josiah and Elizabeth Blancett had a daughter named Jane. Don't know if it is the same one or not mentioned by Carl Coe. Jane would have been a sister of Moses, Truman, John and Enos if she is the same one.
Tweeti Blancett
=========================
Date: 2005/12/31 Sat PM 09:28:41 EST
From: Carl Coe
To: Norman Blansett, Sabrina Petersen
Subject: Coe Family
Norman,
Thank you for the kind reply. We are talking about the same family. George is George Washington Coe, born July 13, 1856, at Brighton, IA, son of Thomas Richardson and Margaret Ann (Tracy) Coe. He moved from Schuyler County, MO, to New Mexico in the 1870s and rode with Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County War. His book "Frontier Fighter" (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1934) 220 p. is a Western classic.
| Frank is Benjamin Franklin Coe, born Oct. 1, 1850, in Marshall County, VA,
son of Benjamin Franklin (brother of Thomas Richardson Coe) and Annie (Kerr) Coe. He is
thought to be the father of Benjamin Franklin Blansett. He also rode with the Kid during
the Lincoln County War; played by Charlie Sheen in the movie "Young Guns." His
son Wilbur Coe wrote the book "Ranch on the Ruidoso, 1871-1968" (New York:
Knopf, 1968), 294 p. Jap is Jasper Newton Coe, born March 31, 1852, in Marshall County, VA, brother of Frank and cousin of George. Also participated in the Lincoln County War. See Robert M. Utley, "Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life" (Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 1989). |
 Wilbur Franklin Coe Oct. 4, 1893 - Nov. 1968 Portrait painted 1955 Submitted by Carl Coe |
Al is Albert M. Coe, born Jan. 28, 1844, in Marshall County, VA, brother of Frank and Jap and cousin of George. Settled on the Ruidoso River in New Mexico in the 1870s with his brothers and cousin. Died May 16, 1912, at Anthony, Dona Ana County, NM. Buried at Story Cemetery.
| Lou is Lewis Wetzel Coe, born Dec. 8, 1837, in Marshall County, VA,
brother of Frank, Jap, Al, and cousin of George. Lived beside the Crapson family in
Schuyler County, MO, in 1870. Went to New Mexico with his brothers and cousin in the
1870s. Possibly father of Luther Edward (Crapson) Coe. Not mentioned in Tweeti's email was brother James Austin Coe, born Jan. 13, 1842, in Marshall County, VA. He settled on the Ruidoso River with his brothers and cousin and is mentioned in the turmoils of 1880s New Mexico. So notable were the Coe boys, George and Frank are mentioned in the official Texas biography of Billy the Kid: http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/MM/fmccd.html The grandfather of these boys was Philip Coe, who was born September 21, 1784, in Washington County, PA. His first cousin Daniel Coe, who was born Mar. 3, 1801, in Washington County, settled here in Union County, OH, in the 1830s, where he built the county's first grist mill. He is the ggg grandfather of President George W. Bush -- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=coe&GSfn=daniel&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=10038220& I have attached a photo of George Coe, taken in his later years. [Editor's note: Attached photo mentioned is seen at right.] |
 Photo of George Coe Submitted by Carl Coe |
I would be delighted to hear back from you.
Carl
========================
Date: 1/1/2006 6:29 AM
From: Janet Wright
Norman and all,
Thanks for the continuing saga of the Blansett/Blancett/Coe families, Norman. I find it fascinating that Frank Coe Jr knew (in the biblical sense, apparently) Jane Blansett in Missouri and then his brothers ended up knowing the Blancetts in New Mexico. Carl's latest email about all the Coe brothers doesn't say whether Frank Jr, the alleged father of Benjamin Franklin Blansett, also went to New Mexico with his brothers. Carl, can you clear that up? Do you have a death date for Frank Jr? I will add him to my database. Thanks!
To answer questions about how the two Blansett/Blancett families are related - at this point we can't say. The New Mexico group trace back to Josiah Blancett b 1801 in Kentucky, and the Missouri ones trace (pretty convincingly) back to John Blanchet (b before 1710) of Amelia County, Virginia. Josiah must have been a descendant of John Blanchet from the DNA evidence of the Blancett Family DNA project, but we don't know exactly how. It seems extremely unlikely that the two groups were aware of each other as kin, and I suppose the Coes just thought Blancett was a pretty common name since you find it everywhere!
Janet Wright
==========================
Date: 01/01/2006 8:16 AM
From: Carl Coe
To: Janet Wright and others
| Janet, Very nice to hear from you. Frank Coe was indeed part of the family that moved to New Mexico. In April 1871 Frank Coe and Albert M. Coe, with others, departed from Independence, MO, and headed down the Santa Fe Trail for New Mexico. This was two years before Benjamin Franklin Blansett's birth. In 1876 Frank Coe purchased part of the Dick Brewer Ranch on the Ruidoso River. As you will recall, Brewer was killed by Buckshot Roberts at Blazer's Mill, April 4, 1878, while riding with Billy the Kid and the Coe boys, one of the central events in the movie "Young Guns." George Coe lost his trigger finger in the same battle. |
 "Young Guns" movie poster Submitted by David Statler |
| Frank Coe died in September 1931 on his Ruidoso ranch. The farm went to
his only son Wilbur Coe and his daughter-in-law, New Mexico State Senator Louise Coe. So,
if Benjamin Franklin Blansett was fathered by Frank, it must have been a long pregnancy or
he slipped back to Missouri some time in 1872 or 1873 to get Jane Blansett in a family
way. There is no mention of anyone named Blansett or Blancett in George Coe's
autobiography, which details every facet of his long and eventful life and mentions nearly
everyone with whom he came into contact. George Coe and Lewis Wetzel Coe left Lou's Queen City, MO, farm on May 1, 1874, with Lew Feltner and Newt Brown, Lou Coe's brother-in-law. Since George was just seventeen at the time, Lou asked for and received his uncle Thomas Coe's blessing to take him along. Tom also lived at Queen City. They were met along the way, with Lou's cattle in tow, by Lou's brother Al Coe who became their guide. The group landed on the Sugareet River in New Mexico, Aug. 8, 1874. |
 Louise Holland Coe New Mexico State Senator Submitted by Carl Coe |
The Coe boys eventually ended up with adjoining ranches on the Ruidoso. After Frank's ranch was Jasper Coe's home place, known as the Bonnell Ranch. Next to Jap's ranch was George Coe's ranch, which he settled in 1885. Al Coe's ranch was just below the others on the Penasco River, all at Glencoe, NM.
 The Coe Ranch - Clencoe, NM Submitted by Carl Coe |
 The Coe Ranch House - Clencoe, NM Submitted by Carl Coe |
The Coe boys did move back and forth between Schuyler County, MO, and Lincoln County, NM. Lou Coe located at Fort Stanton, NM, in the 1860s, taking up a homestead in Lincoln County near the fork of the rivers Bonita and Hondo, where Hondo, NM, is located today. In 1866 he sold the ranch to Joe Storm and returned to Schuyler County. In 1873 he sold out, purchased a herd of cattle, and headed back to Lincoln County with cousin George Coe the following May.
Is it possible that Benjamin Franklin Coe Sr. fathered Benjamin Franklin Blansett? Jane Blansett was reportedly a servant in his Schuyler County home when she became pregnant and was nearly his age.
I hope this is helpful.
Carl Robert Coe
======================
Date: 01/01/2006 9:50 AM
To: Janet Wright and others
From: Norman Blansett
Hello All:
I found this on the internet.
Norman Blansett
984. COE, George W. Frontier Fighter: The Autobiography of George W. Coe, Who Fought and Rode with Billy the Kid. As Related to Nan Hillary Harrison. Boston, New York & Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin & Riverside Press, 1934. xiv [2] 220 pp., frontispiece portrait, photographic plates. 8vo, original grey cloth. Lower free endpaper browned where a newspaper clipping was laid in, otherwise very fine and fresh in very good d.j. (slightly chipped). Clipping (in acid-free mylar) from an English newspaper (1941) laid in, with article “Aged Rancher Who Fought with Billy the Kid Dies,” reporting Coe’s death in Roswell, New Mexico, at the age of 85.
First edition, first printing (with date 1934 under imprint on title). Adams, Burs I:86; One-Fifty 32. Campbell, p. 70: “Coe is anxious to correct inaccuracies and quash false rumors.” Dobie, p. 140. Dykes, Kid 195: “It has the ring of truth.” Guns 458: “Scarce.... Though a good friend of Billy the Kid, the author was never considered an outlaw. As a participant in the Lincoln County War, he gives...a fairly accurate account.” Herd 498. Howes C534. Rader 863. Saunders 2822. The author arrived in New Mexico in 1874, traveling from Iowa with a herd of cattle. Before becoming embroiled in the Lincoln County War, he worked on his cousin, Lou Coe’s ranch. After the turmoil ended, in 1884 he set up his own ranch adjacent to Frank Coe. “Keleher reports that Coe ‘was not in any sense of the word an outlaw,’ and Adams says he ‘was never considered an outlaw,’ but others with equal or better firsthand knowledge of the facts felt differently” (Thrapp I, p. 295). $385.00
985. COE, George W. Frontier Fighter.... Boston, New York & Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin & Riverside Press, 1934. Another copy. Other than minor rubbing to joints, fine, in very good d.j. (price-clipped and with a few minor chips and tears). $360.00
986. COE, George W. Frontier Fighter.... Boston, New York & Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin & Riverside Press, 1934. Another copy. Binding moderately worn (primarily to spine, which is a bit dark), endsheets slightly browned, dust jacket not present. Signed in ink by Coe beneath frontispiece portrait. Carl Hertzog’s copy, with his bookplate on front pastedown. $330.00
987. COE, George W. Frontier Fighter.... Boston, New York & Cambridge: Houghton
Mifflin & Riverside Press, [1934]. xiv [2] 220 pp., frontispiece portrait,
photographic plates. 8vo, original grey cloth. Other than slight outer wear, very fine in
near fine d.j. (very light wear). Signed by Coe and with his notation of his age at the
time of the photograph. Front pastedown with ink ownership inscription of Frank W. Little
of Seattle, Washington, indicating acquisition of the book in February 1941. Small printed
label of Cobean Stationery Co. of Roswell, New Mexico, on lower pastedown.
First edition, second printing (without date 1934 under imprint on title). $250.00
988. COE, George W. Frontier Fighter.... Boston, New York & Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin & Riverside Press, [1934]. Another copy. Signed by Coe beneath frontispiece portrait: “Geo. W. Coe Glencoe New Mex Dec 25-1938 age 82.” Binding moderately worn and with a few spots and small stains, a few small spots to fore-edges, front hinge cracked, first signature a bit loose. Only one inside flap of the d.j. is present. Laid in is a newspaper clipping with a contemporary review of the book. $220.00
989. COE, George W. Frontier Fighter.... Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, [1951]. xiv [2] 220 pp., frontispiece portrait. 8vo, original maroon cloth. Binding lightly stained, tape stains to first and last leaves and endpapers, pencil ownership inscription of Joel Palmer. Dust jacket slightly worn and with some light staining on back panel. Second edition. $20.00
990. COE, Urling C. Frontier Doctor. New York: Macmillan Company, 1939. ix [3] 264 pp., tailpieces. 8vo, original green cloth. Top edge foxed, endpapers browned. Good to very good copy, in slightly foxed d.j. First edition. Dobie, pp. 69-70: “Lusty autobiography full of characters and anecdotes.” Guns 459: “One chapter, entitled ‘Horse Thieves and Rustlers,’ relates the author’s experiences in doctoring shot-up rustlers.” Smith 1854. Coe worked in Eastern Oregon in the early 1900s. $50.00
991. COE, Wilbur. Ranch on the Ruidoso: The Story of a Pioneer Family in New Mexico, 1871-1968.... With an Introduction by Peter Hurd. New York: [Designed by Carl Hertzog for] Alfred A. Knopf, 1968. xviii, 279 [3] pp., color frontispiece after a painting by Peter Hurd, color plate of Coe by Peter Hurd, plates (photographic), maps by José Cisneros. 8vo, original red cloth over green cloth. Very fine in near fine d.j. (slight wear). Author’s signed presentation copy to Carl and Vivian Hertzog: “November 9, 1968. To my dear friends Carl & Vivian. Thanks for your wonderful work of design on this book. With love Wilbur Coe.” Beneath is publisher’s inscription to Hertzog “And with love too from the publisher. We don’t make books like this one anymore...Coe Ranch 12 September 1975.” Laid in are a signed photograph of Louise Coe, a couple of related newspaper clippings and xerox copy of author’s TLs in regard to the book. First edition. Dykes, Fifty Great Western Illustrators (Cisneros 56), (Hurd 60). Guns 460. Lowman, Printer at the Pass 222: “Both the binding and dust jacket are rich, colorful, and appropriate. The title-page is exceptionally well done. A period atmosphere is achieved, in part, by the use of horse-and-buggy type, which Hertzog loaned the publisher. The maps were drawn by José Cisneros.” The story of the Coe clan of pioneer ranchers in New Mexico overlaps the early history of New Mexico Territory and the transition to statehood. $220.00
992. COE, Wilbur. Ranch on the Ruidoso.... New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1968. Another copy. Light staining to edge of upper cover, otherwise fine in lightly foxed d.j. $85.00
993. COE, Wilbur. Ranch on the Ruidoso.... New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1968. Another copy. Fine, without the d.j. $40.00
=================================
Date: 01/02/2006
To: Carl Coe and others
From: Janet Wright
I certainly can't shed any light on the question of whether Benjamin Franklin Coe Sr or Jr was father of Benjamin Franklin Blansett. And that is not a question that DNA data will answer any time in the future either! But, as we appear to have two fairly contradictory accounts here, there are a couple of details I would like to nail down, from Carl and Sabrina, if you are willing.
And Sabrina Petersen had earlier said:
"Benjamin Franklin Blansett's father was Benjamin Franklin Coe jr.. The son of
Benjamin Franklin Coe jr. (I believe his name was Wilbur Coe) later tried to refute that
in his book, but we have a letter from a relative that remembers Benjamin Franklin Coe sr.
coming over and visiting, their was never a question at the time of who the father was.
Jane Blansett had worked as a servant in their house when she got pregnant. Benjamin
Franklin Coe jr., was then shipped off with his Uncle to New Mexico. My parents have this
letter, but I just have the notes from it. Benjamin Franklin Blansett would not talk about
either his Father or Mother."
So, I have these questions for both of you:
1. You both say that Jane Blansett had worked in the Coe household. What is the source of
information for this fact? Do we have dates for this?
2. Sabrina, do you have any details about the letter you refer to? Who wrote it, and to whom, and when? It sounds as though Coe Sr acknowledged Benjamin Franklin Blansett as his descendant, but is there anything specific about him claiming to be little Frank's grandfather?
[Editor's note: See farther down to see scans of this actual letter.]
3. Carl, I'm puzzled by your comment that Jane Blansett was nearly the same age as Benjamin Franklin Coe Sr. The birth date I have for Jane is abt 1843 based on census data, and the birth date I have for Benjamin F Coe from the 1870 census (Schuyer Co Mo, in which his age was 55) was 1815. Can you verify Coe Sr's birth date? (Jane did later marry David Watkins who was born in 1808, so we know age was not much of a factor to her, but I just want to verify what facts we can.)
4. I note that Benjamin F Coe [Sr] and wife Anna, both 66, are listed in the 1880 census for Schuyler Co., Missouri. This really doesn't distinguish between the versions, but it does help explain why Benjamin Franklin Sr would be available to "come over and visit," and also makes plausible the idea that Frank Jr might have "slipped back to Missouri in 1872 or 1873 to get Jane in a family way..." Carl, do you have a death date for Senior, and did he live in Schuyler county until his death? Did HE leave a will?
Thanks! This is an interesting puzzle that will never be completely solved, but it is fun to do the sleuthing.
Janet
===========================
Date: 01/02/2006
From: Carl Coe
To: Janet Wright
Janet,
Very nice to hear back from you. You raise some interesting questions.
My source of Jane Blansett's age was Norman Blansett's information. He has her birth listed as 1823. In checking the 1880 Schulyer County census, I see that her birth is listed as 1842. That puts her more in Frank Coe's age group; he was born Oct. 1, 1850, in Marshall County, VA.
| Benjamin Franklin Coe Sr died June 28, 1893, at Farmington, San Juan County, NM. Both Benjamin Franklin Coe and his brother Thomas Richardson Coe are listed in the 1880 census of Prairie Twp., Schuyler County, MO. Benjamin Franklin Coe apparently moved to Farmington to be with his sons who had moved there in Oct. 1881 to escape the devastation of the Lincoln County War. Frank Coe returned to Lincoln County where he stood trial for murder; was acquitted and returned to San Juan in July 1882 with the threshing machine mentioned in Tweeti's email. Frank Coe returned to the Ruidoso in 1883 and purchased the Dick Brewer Ranch; joined on Nov. 15, 1884, by his cousin George Coe and his wife Phoebe Alice Brown, who he had married Nov. 16, 1879, in San Juan County. Thomas Richardson Coe died May 2, 1902, in Schuyler County, MO, and was buried at Tarr Cemetery, Queen City. |  Left to Right: Phoebe Alice (Brown) Coe, George Washington Coe, Benjamin Franklin Coe, Helena Anna (Tulley) Coe Photo taken 1925 Submitted by Carl Coe |
| Is it possible Frank Coe returned to Schuyler County in 1872 or 1873 to
impregnate Jane Blansett? Possibly. As mentioned in the previous email, Frank and his
brother Albert Coe hired themselves out as teamsters and left Independence, MO, in April
1871 headed for New Mexico via the Santa Fe Trail. According to George, enroute Albert
decided to return home. Frank then elected to join a buffalo hunting party. Albert
returned to New Mexico the following year and established a hauling service between Fort
Union and Fort Stanton. He made a enough money in the process to purchase a ranch on the
Sugarite. He was joined there by Jasper Coe and his wife Ada J. Saunders, who he had
married Aug. 19, 1873, in Schuyler County, MO. They were joined there Aug. 8, 1874, by
Ada's brother Ab Saunders; George W. Coe; Lewis Wetzel Coe and his wife Elvira A. Brown,
who he married Dec. 10, 1865, in Schuyler County, MO; Elvira's brother Newt Brown and Lou
Feltner. According to George, Frank Coe also joined the family on the Sugarite in the
summer of 1874. So, where was Frank from the time he joined the buffalo hunt in 1871 and
when he joined the family on the Sugarite in August 1874? During the Coes' stay in San Juan County, George states that he "decided to sell out and go back to my old home in Missouri." On arriving in Queen City, he mentioned that he was relieved of his gun by the town marshal. "We all went out to my father's farm and received a hearty welcome . . . Al Coe from Penasco, New Mexico, was there also . . . Frank Coe had removed to the Ruidoso Valley in Lincoln County." He stated that while they were there Frank wrote to him and requested that he rejoin him back on the Ruidoso. He said that he and Phoebe headed back to New Mexico, stopping off in Santa Fe to visit with Governor Wallace on the way. He said as they arrived back in Lincoln County he overheard the murmurs of "There goes old George Coe. He was Billy the Kid's best friend . . ." Does anyone know the birth date of Benjamin Franklin Blansett? I have attached a photo of Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Coe Jr and his wife Anne Helena Tully. [Editor's note: Attached photo can been at the right.] |
 Benjamin "Frank" Coe, Jr. & wife Helena Submitted by Carl Coe |
I would be delighted to hear back from you.
Carl Robert Coe
============================
Date: 01/02/2006
To: Carl Coe, Janet Wright, and others
From: Sabrina Petersen
This is all very interesting! I think Janet is correct, we will never know for sure, but at least we can piece a few things together.
Benjamin Franklin Blansett was born May 1, 1873. He died November 30, 1945 in Washington State. Most of his adult life, he was known as "Frank". He never talked about either of his parents. He had a falling out with his Mother (Jane) when he was about 16 years old. My Grandmother (Frank's daughter-in-law) did genealogy, and him about his family, but besides giving the names, he would say no more. He told her it was none of her business. She did not leave it at this, and she wrote many relatives in Missouri to find out more. The letter that I had previously mentioned, was one of these correspondences that were passed down to my parents. All I have is a synopsis from this letter, and the fact that it was written by a "Great Aunt". (As a side note, I have inherited the next generation of genealogy. So some of the references that either my parents or my Grandmother have are sometimes not completely labeled.) I will have my parents dig this letter out, and send on a copy as soon as possible.
| I also have heard a very romantic version of the Frank Coe and Jane
Blansett tryst. This came from a trip that Mary Jane Minard. (Jane Blansett's and Solomon
Bass's daughter, which she gave to a distant relative to raise when the child was around 3
years old.) In about 1930, Mary Jane went to Missouri to try to find some of her
relatives. She did find the Bass's and some Blansett's (not sure which ones). Some of the
Bass children remembered Jane and remembered the happenings. Their account told of how
Jane worked at the Coe family house. That she and Frank had met and fell in love. Then
Jane became pregnant. They weren't sure why Jane and Frank never married, but knew that
Frank had left (they stated with his "Uncle Tom") to New Mexico. They remembered
when Jane lived with them that Benjamin Franklin Coe Sr. would come over and see little
Frank. Once Benjamin Sr. passed away though, the Coe's never came around. Obviously there are some flaws in this story, but it is still interesting, so I thought I would pass it along. I have looked though the family pictures that I have scanned, but there are no pictures of Benjamin Franklin when he was young. I will look through some old albums as well, to see if I can find anything. In the meantime, I did find a good snapshot of Benjamin Franklin Blansett and his wife Mary Shinn. This photo was taken in 1942. [Editor's note: Attached photo can been seen at the right.] |
 Benjamin Franklin Blansett and wife Mary Submitted by Sabrina Petersen |
Thank you to everyone who is going through this, and trying to piece it together. It is a fascinating story so far. I'm looking forward to the next revelation!
Sabrina
======================
Date: 01/02/2006
To: Sabrina Petersen and others
From: Carl Coe
Sabrina,
Thank you very much for the kind reply and the photo of Benjamin Franklin Blansett. There is certainly nothing in his appearance that would prevent him from being Frank Coe's son. But then again my Japanese friends tell me they think we all look alike. Jane Blansett obviously believed Benjamin Franklin Coe to be her son's father to give him Frank's name. I have attached a photo of George Washington Coe taken in 1926 in New Mexico. Do you see any family resemblances?
[Editor's note: Attached photo of George Washington Coe (1926) can been seen farther down on this webpage.]
Your mention of Benjamin Franklin Blansett's birth date rang a bell. Another fatherless child associated with the Coes was born in Schulyer County, MO, the same month: Luther Edward Crapson, who later changed his name to Luther Edward Coe. He was born May 7, 1873, most likely to Julia Ann Crapson, a 26-year-old single woman who lived a couple of houses from the Coes.
Luther Crapson was raised by Charles and Melvina Hale of Fabius Township, Schuyler County, and is listed in their home as a seven-year-old servant in the 1880 census (1880 US Census, Schuyler County, MO, ED 154:27). He changed his name to Coe before 1898.
He married August 2, 1898, in Randolph County, MO, Mary S. Walker, born May 1874 in Schuyler County, MO, daughter of Thomas and Patience (Roup) Walker (Randolph County, MO, Marriages, 6:139). He lived at Cairo, MO, at the time of marriage. They were married at the Walker home by William Baker, Justice of the Peace.
With brown hair, blue eyes, medium height and build, Luther named Osborne M. Crapson of Queen City, Julia Ann Crapson's brother, as his nearest relative when he registered for the draft during WW I. A barber, Osborne Crapson was born May 28, 1856, in Schuyler County, son of Greenberry and Susanna (Duvall) Crapson. He married May 4, 1884, Louisa J. Williams, born May 4, 1856, in Logan County, IL, died January 6, 1906, in Queen City. He died May 11, 1938, in Queen City. Burial was at Tarr Cemetery, not far from Thomas Richardson Coe.
In the 1870 census of Salt River Township, Schuyler County, Osborne M. Crapson, age 14, is living in the home of his mother Susanna (Duvall) Crapson. The father Greenberry Crapson died in 1859. Also in the home were children Julia Ann and Greenberry Baldwin Crapson, as was grandson William Grisham, son of daughter Susan Crapson who married Dr. William A. Grisham. The family of Lewis Wetzel Coe lived a couple of houses away (1870 US Census, Schuyler County, MO, p. 390).
Lewis Wetzel Coe was born December 8, 1837, in Marshall County, VA, oldest son of Benjamin Franklin and Annie (Kerr) Coe. Marshall County, VA, is the same county where the Crapsons lived before heading West (1850 US Census, Marshall County, VA, p. 312). Marshall County borders Greene County, PA, where the Crapsons lived before moving to Marshall County. The next county south is Wetzel County, named for frontiersman Lewis Wetzel. Lewis Wetzel Coe married Elvira A. Brown, Dec. 10, 1865, in Schuyler County. It was Lewis Coe who left Schulyer County for New Mexico, May 1, 1874, with George Coe, Newt Brown, Ab Saunders, Lewis Feltner, and a herd of cattle in tow.
Luther Coe died July 20, 1935, in San Antonio, TX (Bexar County, TX, Deaths, 6:471). No parents are listed on the death certificate. The cause of death is listed as heart disease. His body was taken to Oakland Cemetery, Moberly, Randolph County, MO, for burial. The funeral was conducted at 6:30pm, Wednesday, July 24, 1935 (Moberly Monitor, July 24, 1935).
How's that for adding to the mix?
Below is a list of the children of Benjamin Franklin Coe and Anne Helena Tully.
I hope this is helpful.
Carl Robert Coe
CHILDREN:
SYDNEY COE - 11/ /1882 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COE / ANNE HELENA TULLY
ANNIE L COE - 04/ /1884 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COE / ANNE HELENA TULLY
WINNIE F COE - 04/ /1886 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COE / ANNE HELENA TULLY
WILBUR FRANKLIN COE - 10/04/1893 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COE / ANNE HELENA TULLY
EDITH L COE - 10/ /1895 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COE / ANNE HELENA TULLY
HELENA C. COE - / /1901 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COE / ANNE HELENA TULLY
Benjamin Franklin Coe's wife Helena Tully Coe, surrounded by their daughters.
(starting at left) Edith Coe Rigsby, Anne Coe Titsworth, Sydney Coe Bonnell, and Helena
Coe LeMay
Note: The daughters would be half sisters of Benjamin Franklin
Blansett
Submitted by Carl Coe
=======================
Date: 01/02/2006
To: Carl Coe, Janet Wright and others
From: Sabrina Petersen
I just spoke with my Father. They are still looking for the letter, but he did clarify who it was from. It was from his Aunt Lola, which would be Benjamin Franklin Blansett's oldest daughter. She lived in Missouri her entire life.
My Father also remember one other thing. He said that when his grandfather (Frank Blansett) was 17 or so, he went to New Mexico, to "visit his father". If Benjamin Franklin Sr. and Jr. were living there at the time, it could have been either. He returned after about 6 months, and the only thing he ever said about it was, "I'll just make it on my own." He would never say anything else about the trip, his father, or anything.
Thought these were two more interesting things to put in the pot.
Sabrina
========================
Date: 01/03/2006
To: Carl Coe, Janet Wright and others
From: Tweeti Blancett
Bet the Coes and Blancetts knew each pretty well, since Moses Blancett was appointed by Lew Wallace as a territorial marshall for this area. (San Juan, Rio Arriba, and Taos Counties today.)
Tweeti
========================
Date: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 12:41 PM
From: Norman Blansett
To: Sabrina Petersen, Carl Robert Coe
Hello All:
I have " Lola" as Lola Juanita BLANSETT b 18 March 1895 Chapel, Putnam, Mo. to Benjamin Franklin Blansett and Mary Jane Shinn.
Norman Blansett
=======================
From: Sabrina Petersen
To: Norman Blansett; Carl Robert Coe
That's her. She married a man named George Ball. I do not have a birth date for him, but he apparently died in a mining accident November 9, 1934. They had two children, Frank and Caleb.
Sabrina Petersen
========================
From: Carl Coe
To: Sabrina Petersen
Sabrina,
Below is an excerpt from Drew Page's "A Sideman's Life." Since Frank Coe appears to have been your gg grandfather, I thought you might find it interesting.
Carl
| ======================== Date: 01/04/2006 All, Below are a few books with information on Frank and George Coe. Additionally, I have actually attached the photo of George to this email. [Editor's note: Book listing can be found at the bottom of this webpage. Attached picture can be seen at the right.] Thank You, ======================= |
 George W. Coe - 1926 Submitted by Carl Coe |
Date: 01/06/2006
From: Carl Coe
To: Sabrina Petersen, Janet Wright and others
All,
I have been asked about dates of birth and death so that databases could be updated. I would be happy to provide information.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN7 COE (Philip6, Philip5, Benjamin4, Joseph3, Benjamin2, Robert1) was born June 4, 1814, in Marshall County, VA, second child of Philip and Salome (Ogle) Coe. He lived at Moundsville, Marshall County, VA, and in the early 1850s moved to a farm near Queen City, MO. Later in life he went to Farmington, NM, where he died June 28, 1893. Benjamin Coe's father Philip Coe, who was born September 21, 1784, in Washington County, PA, was the seventh child of Philip and Abigail (O'Connor) Coe.
| He married January 22, 1837, in Marshall County, VA, Annie Kerr, born
October 12, 1814, died May 2, 1899, at Farmington, San Juan County, NM, daughter of Hugh
and Mary (Jolly) Kerr. Children (b. in Marshall County, VA): 1. Lewis Wetzel, b. Dec. 8, 1837. Settled on the Ruidoso River in New Mexico. |
 Benjamin Franklin Coe Glencoe, NM - 1922 Submitted by Carl Coe |
THOMAS RICHARDSON7 COE (Philip6, Philip5, Benjamin4, Joseph3, Benjamin2, Robert1) was born November 22, 1822, in Marshall County, VA. Moved in the 1850s to Brighton, Washington County, IA, and then on to Queen City, Schuyler County, MO. Enlisted Sept. 3, 1864, at Lancaster, MO, to serve with Capt. John W. Baker’s Schuyler County Militia and Dec. 6, 1864, at Lancaster to serve with Company K, 39th Volunteer Infantry, Union Army. He died May 2, 1902, in Schuyler County and was buried at Tarr Cemetery, Queen City.
He married (1) Nov. 27, 1851, in Belmont County, OH, Margaret Ann Tracy, born March 30, 1822, died Jan. 5, 1863, in Schuyler County, MO; (2) Sept. 13, 1863, in Schuyler County, MO, Mary Ann Brower, died Dec. 18, 1864; (3) July 2, 1867, in Schuyler County, Sarah A. E. Seemster; (4) Nov. 15, 1869, in Schuyler County, Harriet Brower.
| Children (b. in Marshall County, VA): 1. Benjamin Franklin, b. Sept. 5,
1854; d. Oct. 14, 1854. This is an extraordinary family. Family members include US President George W. Bush; Country Music Legend David Allan Coe; Captain William (Cyrenius J.) Coe of the notorious Coe Gang of the Oklahoma Neutral Strip; Deacon Daniel Coe, founder of Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA; noted television evangelist Jack Coe of Oklahoma City; and Kevin Coe, the infamous South Hill Rapist of Spokane, WA. [Editor's note: Towards the bottom of this webpage are links to a lot of the above famous people related to the Coe family.] I hope this is helpful. Carl Robert Coe |
 George Washington Coe Displaying the finger he lost in the shoot-out with Buckshot Roberts during the Lincoln County War. Frank Coe was later tried and acquitted of Roberts' murder. In the movie "Young Guns," Doc Scurlock is shown loosing his finger in the battle. In the movie, much of George Coe's real-life role is played by Lou Diamond Phillips as Chavez-y-Chavez, a fictional character. Submitted by Carl Coe |
=======================
Date: 01/07/2006
From: Sheree Blansett Hutson
To: Carl Coe
Subject: Letter from Lola Blansett Ball re: Jane Blansett and Frank Coe
Carl,
After talking to my sister Sabrina last night, I read some of the emails between you regarding Jane Blansett and Frank Coe. I didn't realize that Sabrina was looking for the letter about Jane Blansett and Frank Coe. I made a photocopy of the original letter sometime in the 1970's. The original was in my parent's possession, but they haven't been able to find it lately, so my copy may be the only one in existence. I have attached scanned copies for you to post on the Blansett website. You have my permission to post it and/or email it, as you see fit (btw, my father agreed to this also). The letter was addressed to a daughter of Mary Jane Blansett Bass, who was the 1/2 sister of Benjamin Franklin Blansett and was written by Lola Blansett Ball, who then gave the letter to my grandmother (Ethal Irene Wilsey Blansett married to Seward Warren Blansett, son of Benjamin Franklin Blansett). Lola Blansett Ball was my grandfather's sister, a daughter of Benjamin Franklin Blansett and Mary Jane Shinn.
On the first page of the letter there is a notation right above the words "Dear Cousin." I wrote that back in the 70's at the time I photocopied the letter. It is a note to myself to tell me who the letter was addressed to. I got this information from my father, Seth Blansett. In the body of the letter Lola refers to various relatives. All the references to "my father" and "my father's aunt" can get a bit confusing. I have notes that say who I believe those people to be, although Sabrina may have more current information. I've retyped the relevant portions of the letter here with the names added in parentheses:
Paragraph 2:
I knew my father (Benjamin Franklin Blansett) had a sister (Mary Jane Blansett,
illegitimate daughter of Solomon Bass and Jane Blansett and adopted by Beeler in 1878) but
that is all, my father's Aunt Lucinda Chambers (daughter of Peter and Margaret
Blansett)-who was Jane Blansett's sister had told me tthat, and said her mother ageve her
away to some people (Beeler)...
Paragraph 3:
No, my father (Benjamin Franklin Blansett) and your mother (Mary Jane
Blansett/Bass/Beeler) did not have the same father, my father's father's name was Frank
Coe.
Attached you will find the nine page letter. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Sheree Blansett Hutson
[Editor's note: Below are the attached pages of the letter. Just click on the small thumbnail picture to see the full-sized version.]
 Page 1 |
 Page 2 |
 Page 3 |
 Page 4 |
 Page 5 |
 Page 6 |
 Page 7 |
 Page 8 |
 Page 9 |
=======================
[Editor's note: End of email conversation.... for now!]
Books about the Coe and Blansett families - compiled by Carl Coe:
 |
Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen & Outlaws by Jay Robert Nash - 1994 - 584 pages Page 507 - Coe, George Washington. Frontier Fighter: The Autobiography of George W. Coe. ... Coe, Wilber. Ranch on the Ruidoso: The Story of a Pioneer Fami ... |
 |
The Great Range Wars: Violence on the Grasslands by Harry Sinclair Drago - 1985 - 340 pages Page 64 - Frank Coe, the Ruidoso farmer, was well acquainted with Roberts. In the past they had been neighbors on the Ruidoso. ... |
 |
Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life by Robert M Utley - 1991 - 302 pages Page 35 - But he could not have resided with a Coe for more than a month. He arrived on the Ruidoso about the end of October 1877. He and others sprang Jesse Evans ... |
 |
When We Were Young in the West, True Stories of Childhood: True
Histories of Childhood by Richard Melzer - 2003 - 348 pages Page 324 - Wilbur Franklin Coe: Bravely Defying His Handicap 1 Wilbur Coe, Ranch on the Ruidoso: The Story of a Pioneer Family in New Mexico, 1871-1968 (New York: ... |
 |
Drew's Blues: A Sideman's Life with the Big Bands by Drew Page - Music - 1980 - 264 pages Page 17 - We left Ruidoso in big style. Everybody was there to see us off, ... And Coe autographed some pictures for me: "Frank B. Coe, ... |
 |
Such Men As Billy the Kid by Joel Jacobsen - 2001 - 340 pages Page 78 - The trail reaches the Ruidoso at the present-day hamlet of Glencoe, on the Coe ranch. From there it is a relatively short ride across a much narrower ridge ... |
 |
The Boys' Book of the West by Amy Hogeboom - Travel - 2005 - 428 pages Page 267 - ... the Ruidoso River sings its pleasant tune just back of the rambling, ... “Billy the Kid,” says Coe, “lived with me for a while soon after he came to ... |
 |
The Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography by Dan L Thrapp - 1991 - 544 pages Page 112 - ... although nevera Chisum employee, and reached the George Coe farm in the Ruidoso Valley, where he remained some time. The Kid was employed eventually by ... |
 |
The Story of the Outlaw a Study of the Western Desperado by Emerson Hough - 2005 - 432 pages Page - There are living three eye-witnesses of what happened at that time : Frank and George Coe, ranchers on the Ruidoso to.day, and Johnnie Patten, cook on ... |
 |
Billy the Kid, the Legend of El Chivato: The Legend of El Chivato by Elizabeth Fackler - Fiction - 2003 - 516 pages Page 507 - ... she died in Ruidoso in 1946, leaving a manuscript praising John Chisum. ... George and Frank Coe returned to their farms, where their descendants live ... |
| Carl Robert Coe has also compiled and written his own 2 volume set on the
Coe family history called the "The Coe Families of Maryland and Virginia." This volume set is the Winner of the 2002 Maryland Historical Society Parker Prize as the best published work on Maryland Family History. This is a hard-bound, limited edition, library-quality, two-volume set. The definitive work on Coes with Southern roots, it is simply a must for every Coe family, those related to them and for those interested in the history of this unique American family. The 145-page index makes locating literally thousands of Coes and hundreds of persons of other surnames nearly effortless. Fully documented. * From Thomas Coe who was at Jamestown in 1608; - Over 100 pages of photos some dating back to the 1840s. |
 Contact
author Carl Coe about |
Websites that contain more Coe and Blansett family related information:
* Pike County, Maryland - Early Pioneers and Settlers 1815 - 1850:
- Coe, Rouce
- Coe, William
* Ghotes of Virginia:
- Rev. William Gwynn Coe and The Convention of Accomack
* Online Archive of Terry's Texas Rangers:
- Philip Houston Coe
Carl Coe provided these links and photos for more infomation about "famous" people related to the Coe families:
 George W. Bush |
George W. Bush - President of the United States &
GGG-Grandson of Daniel Coe: - http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?president,bush::coe::751.html |
||||
 David Allen Coe |
David Allan Coe - Country Music Legend: - http://www.officialdavidallancoe.com/bio.html |
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| No Photo Available |
"Captain" William Coe - Army man turned Outlaw: - http://www.ptsi.net/user/museum/robbers.html Note
from Carl Coe:
|
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 Deacon Daniel Coe |
Deacon Daniel Coe - Founder of Coe College, Cedar Rapids,
Iowa: - http://www.coe.edu/aboutcoe/history.htm |
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 Jack Coe, Sr. |
Jack Coe, Sr. - Evangelist - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Coe - http://www.transworldevangelism.com/aboutjcoe.html - http://jonasclark.com/jack_coe.htm - http://healingandrevival.com/BioJCoe.htm |
||||
 Kevin Coe |
Kevin Coe - Accused and arrested of being the South Hill
Rapist, Spokane, Washington: - http://www.justicedenied.org/issue/issue_25/kevin_coe.html |
||||
 Carl Robert Coe |
Carl Robert Coe - Author and Genealogist: | ||||
| ©2006 by Norman Blansett Site Design by StatlerWeb Webspace provided by Tripod Last Update: March 05, 2008 |
