1st Marriage Charlotte Pratt
February 1829
in Livonia, Livingston County, New York.


2nd Marriage Caroline Reed
March 27th 1833
in Livonia, Livingston County, New York.

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The Gazette
Livonia, Livingston County, New York.
Friday, April 23, 1897

Benjamin Coy, whose death was announced in the Gazette of the 9th inst., was born at Tunbridge, Orange county, Vt. Aug. 3I, 1806. His father, Reuben Coy, came to Livonia when Benjamin was five years old. We. have heard him tell of his ride over the Green mountains, sitting in the lap of his sister, who sat in the wagon chair of the lumber wagon, drawn by oxen, in which they traveled to their new home. His first home in this town was in a log house just west of the John Adams farm. His father, not long after, built a log house which stood where Mrs. James Martin's house now stands. He went from his home to live, for a couple of years, with Mr. David George, whose house was where the Joel Stone house now stands. When 14 years old he went to live with Mr. George Pratt, in the village, to learn leather and shoe making. In February, 1829, he married Miss Charlotte Pratt, who died in October, 1832. On the 27th of March, 1833, he married Miss Caroline Reed, a daughter of Wheeler Reed of Richmond. They began housekeeping in the house where Lemon Gibbs now lives. He engaged in business with George Pratt soon after his first marriage, and in the spring of 1839 he purchased what was then known as the Orange Woodruff farm and moved into the house where James Jerome now lives. After living there one year he removed to the farm known as the Hardy Woodruff farm, where he lived for sixty two years. In the winter of 1833 he united with the Presbyterian church of Livonia, in company with the late Backus Gibbs and some time in the 30's he was made chorister, which position he held for a series of years. He was ordained deacon in 1863 and remained in active service in this capacity to within three years of his death. Mr. Coy was a member of the first Sunday school organized in Livonia. At 80 years of age he possessed such vigor that he enjoyed a walk to and from the village of Livonia, often preferring it to driving. In the summer of 1888 he met with an accident which deprived him of the sight of an eye, the shock of which was felt during the remainder of his life, but he attended church quite regularly until the last two years. Mr. Coy always took a great interest in politics and current events, having voted for eighteen presidents and he was proud of having been able to cast his ballot for McKinley. He failed gradually during the winter. His intense suffering confined him to the bed for the last two weeks of his life, but the end came peacefully and painless. Benjamin Coy was a man of honor, and his life was one of usefulness.

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