Name/Title
Painting of John CoffeeEntry/Object ID
A.0016Description
Portrait of John CoffeeArtwork Details
Medium
Oil on CanvasSubject
John CoffeeSubject Person
John CoffeeContext
John Coffee was born in Virginia in 1772 on the tobacco plantation of his father, Joshua. Upon his death in 1797, Joshua left his son 5 enslaved people. John Coffee used the proceeds of the sale of these 5 enslaved people to purchase land on the Cumberland River near Nashville, TN, where he relocated in 1798 along with his mother.
In Nashville, Coffee was a merchant and land surveyor, and partner of future President Andrew Jackson. In 1809, Coffee married Mary Donelson, niece of Andrew Jackson. Mary was gifted a plantation by her father, which they named Sugar Tree Forest. In 1810, Coffee assisted in surveying the townsite of Huntsville. Coffee's plantation in Florence was known as Hickory Hill. In 1830, 80 enslaved people lived at the plantation along with Coffee and his family. Coffee died in 1833, but his wife Mary kept the plantation going. In 1840, 76 enslaved people lived at the plantation, and by 1850 there were 77 enslaved people.