RHEA-L Archives

From: Norma Lewis <>
Subject: [RHEA] Rheas in Augusta County
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 14:47:21 -0700

Continued: Martin Luther Coyner and Elizabeth Rhea ~

The family of her sister (Thomas and Ann Turk) objected to Elizabeth
marrying Martin Coyner, giving as a reason that he was a German and would
make her work too hard, as she had been reared tenderly in the lap of
luxury. To which she replied she would marry Martin Coyner if she had but
one dress to her back (it should be noted the Germans probably objected as
much as the Scotch-Irish, as they insisted all their children marry German,
this was the first Scotch-Irish marriage in this family. Several of
Martin's brothers spoke only German in their homes up to the mid-1800s and
all were Lutherans, but this branch of the Coiner/Coyner family is noted
for rebelliousness, one grandson returning to VA from Indiana to fight for
the South in 1860.

Elizabeth was of pure Scotch-Irish blood, descended on her father's side
from Archibald, 3rd Duke of Argyle, Scotland, so renowned in that
country and England; and on her mother's side from the Binghams of New
York, who had founded Binghamton, Broome County, in that state. She was
born near Raleigh NC on 10 Nov. 1765, and "received a thorough education.
She was distinguished for her wifely duty, noble qualities and christian
piety. Positive when duty called her, kind and loving, yet firm in ruling
her children, graceful in manner and ladylike in speech, neat in person and
tidy in her house, and withal a model among Augusta County housewives; a
perfect help-mate to her honored husband, raising seven strong, handsome,
intelligent Virginia sons and two beautiful Southern daugthters. She lived
to see them all married and happy and died where she had lived," 24 Aug. 1841
and is buried at Mossy Creek Presbyterian Church cemetery (I've been there,
it is a beautiful old cemetery near the Creek, only one of two places in
the world where one can still catch brown speckled trout, the other place
is in Scotland, makes me wonder if some Scotsman seeded that creek)
Martin died 9 Feb. 1842, buried beside Elizabeth at Mossy Creek and nearby,
their hero grandson, Samuel Brown Coyner who was killed in the Civil War.
His story can be found on Valley of the Shadow site. Their daughter, Sarah,
did marry James Bell and three of their six sons were killed in the Civil
War. Their son, David, on the other hand, was a military chaplain for the
North and before the war he published a book, of which I have a copy, about
mountain men in the far west (1846).

I've heard that every Scotsman tries to link to the Duke of Argyle so I
don't know if this family is really descended from him. It would be
interesting to research but I've heard it is very difficult. This is one of
my favorite branches in the Coiner/Coyner family and I've followed them
into the "west", including OH, IN, IA. There is said to be an oil portrait
of Martin Coyner and a swatch of Scot tarleton among the family in IN saved
from the progenitors of this family.
Norma

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• [RHEA] Rheas in Augusta County by Norma Lewis <>