The Proeger Family · Generation 9 — Earl's earliest known

Nancy Harshbarger

Widow of David Coffman · living 1779

Nancy Harshbarger

Probable

Widow of David Coffman · living 1779

Sources
2
Images
2

Research status

Evidence: On 22 March 1779, read from the image, Nancy Harshbarger affirmed that Martin Cofman was the true heir of David Cofman deceased and gave up her thirds of the land; the docket calls it the widow's dower relinquished. Weak or missing: She is David's widow only by that dower release; no record calls Martin her son, so she is only possibly his mother; her maiden name, birth and death are not found. Not yet confirmed. Know more? Confirm or correct this →

Life in the order the records give it

Census1779
By 1779 she was married to Henry Hershberger (Harshbarger). His will was proved on 28 February 1788, with Martin Coffman as an executor and later guardian of his eight younger children S1350

Family parents, marriages, children, siblings

Parents
Martin's mother: POSSIBLE only. She swore that Martin was David's heir, which a mother would do, but a stepmother could have sworn the same. What is weak or missing: no record calls Martin her son, and none gives her maiden name, her birth or her death. Know more? Use “Add to this record”

Open questions what is probable, weak or missing — confirm or correct it

Probable
Probable confirm or correct → Research status: PROBABLE as the widow of David Coffman. On 22 March 1779 she “affirmed that Martin Cofman is the true heir of David Cofman Deceased” and gave up “her thirds of all the Land”; the docket calls this “the Widows Dower relinquished” S1349. A widow's thirds are her dower, so she was David's widow. Added 5 October 2026

Photos & documents 0 photos · 2 documents

Documents (2)

Documents · 2 page images all documents

Retrieved from the UNT Libraries' Portal to Texas History, or — for the University of Texas Cactus yearbooks — from Texas ScholarWorks. Each thumbnail opens the full page scan, which can also be downloaded. The quoted text is the OCR that ships with the scan, copied verbatim; the page image is the authority.

Cited on this card S1349 S1350 Card added 2026-10-05

In the record Generation 9 — Earl's earliest known

Nancy Harshbarger · Sources

Citations

Sources cited on this card

2 of the record's sources are cited here. The numbering is the record's own; the full list, with where else each is cited, is at Sources.

  1. S1349Affidavit of Nancy Harshbarger, 22 March 1779 — Proprietor’s office papers (Dunmore/Shenandoah surveyors’ book). FamilySearch image 3:1:3Q9M-CSKJ-SSM6-R. Read from the image, 5 October 2026. “This Day Came Nancy Harshbarger before me … and affirmed that Martin Cofman is the true heir of David Cofman Deceased … NB the said Nancy Harshbarger allso give up her thirds of all the Land.” Martin Hall, J.P. Witnesses Martin Cofman, Philip Sammer, Adam Comer, Mikel Comer. Docket: “Cofmans plan 282 acs. Martin Cofman proved to be Heir at law, the Widows Dower relinquished.” Confirmed Image held at familytree-docs/coffman/ph3-dunmore-surveyors-1779-nancy-harshbarger-affirms-martin-heir-of-david-dower.jpg.
  2. S1350Shenandoah County Will Book, pp. 239–240 — probate of the will of Henry Hershberger, 28 February 1788. FamilySearch image 3:1:3Q9M-C9PF-HF35. Read from the image, 5 October 2026. The will was “exhibited by Martin Kauffman & John Hackman Exors therein named”; the executors’ bond is signed by Martin Coffman, John Hockman, Joseph Strickler and Peter Fox. In 1790 Martin Coffman was guardian of Henry’s eight younger children. Confirmed Image held at familytree-docs/coffman/ph3-shen-wb-henry-hershberger-will-probate-martin-kauffman-exor.jpg.

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Compiled for the Proeger family

Living adults appear by name and relationship, with the year only: no full date of birth and no home town on any page that search engines index, and a living person’s own page is kept out of search engines. Minors appear by name only — no date of birth, no birth year, no age, no school, no place, no address, no other identifying detail. A minor may be named and may appear in a family photograph; nothing further about them is published. Where it is not established whether someone is an adult or a minor, the minor rule applies.

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