These are two or more different families. Two different Theophilus Colemans (one from Virginia who married Abigail Robison in August of 1801 in Stokes County, NC, and had resided in Surrey County, NC, during the Revolution (7th regiment) and is listed in the Nash County, NC census for 1790. He disappeared during the War of 1812 and no one knows what became of him. But I'm sure if we check the military records, we'll find him in there.
https://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/revolution_nc_seventh_regime....
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YY8-S57Y?i=6&...
The other ("our", ie. my ancestors' acquaintance, neighbor, and/or possible relative) Theophilus was born in Edgecombe, Co., NC, according to his own testimony. He further stated that he and his father relocated to what later became known as Columbus County, married in 1786 and had a large family of children there with wife, Keziah, remained in Columbus County until he died in 1843 leaving a will mentioning his wife and naming many if not all of their children.
Theophilus of Columbus County is mentioned in the history of Edgecombe County as being a soldier (2nd Lieutenant) with their outfit, a minute-men militia. All which aligns with his official statement found within his and Keziah's pension claims filed in Columbus Co., NC.
"On November 28, 1776, Green Bell was appointed captain by Congress, John Bryant, Jr., lieutenant, and Theophilus Coleman second lieutenant."
https://archive.org/details/historyofedgecom00turn/page/n107/mode/2...
In the 1790 US census for Bladen (later Columbus) County, on page (or image) 5 of the document, we find Theophilus "Coalsman" along with John (x2) Coalsman, Moses Coalsman, and a man named Coalman Niles. It's an eleven-page document, and that was as far as I got.
On the same page nearby we find several "Folks" families, a name which is scattered throughout, along with many names found in my family tree (Hilburn, Elkins, Powers, Nobles, etc.).
And my favorite surprise discovery: "Indignation Flowers" (next to Goldsbury Flowers, lol).
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YY8-SLQ2?i=4&...
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We have two different Kissiah/Keziah Faulks(?). Different generations, the younger one (born 1785) married our already well-documented Dempsey Coleman and is named in his will along with their children.
In 1850 Mississippi (Smith County) we find Arick (age 49), Levi (28) and Keziah (65) together. Arick and Levi are Dempsey's children.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6SK3-3GT?i=70&...
The older Faulk(?) lady married our Theophilus Coleman who drew a pension and died leaving a will in Columbus County. Theophilus's wife, Keziah, stated they were married in 1786, and listed all of their surviving children (many were grown and married in 1843, and Theophilus himself had been quite aged).
I couldn't say for certain at this point, if either one was actually born a Faulk. Finding proof for it would be difficult, although it's certainly possible and other genealogists believe so. But regardless, Dempsey's wife and Theophilus's wife were two different people.
The Theophilus from Virginia was married in Stokes County, NC, to Abigail Robison (herself from Surry Co., NC), with their own four children. Abigail migrated out of the state, remarried and had two more children with Robert Hamilton. I find no evidence (yet, anyway) of Abigail ever filing for a military widow's pension.
Judging from the records I've reviewed, it was fairly common for widows of pension-drawing veterans to have their claims denied, at least initially. And coming up with the required documentation, for an elderly person who may frequently be disabled or someone burdened with caring for children, can be awfully daunting, a real hardship. Those who succeeded are to be admired, as many of them fought for literally years while suffering in poverty and poor health.
I have a feeling Keziah didn't live long after her husband's death. Asa Coleman (age45, born 1805) in the Madison County, Mississippi census for 1850, stated he was born in Mississippi. I don't see how that is possible but it's a common error, so I'd take it with a grain of salt. I haven't studied the family of Theophilus Coleman of Columbus County much further than what I've reported here already. If I had more time I would try to find out what happened to his wife and all the children and grandchildren, following his death.
I could go on and on, but I'm satisfied that they are not the same person. I'm seeing two distinctly different Theophilus's and two different Keziahs or as spelled in Dempsey's will "Kissiah" (which I pronounce, Keesha, lol). I realize Keziah is the most common spelling. And wills are notorious for misspelling the names of family members. So I wouldn't be concerned if it got changed back to how it was before.
I also discovered another Dempsey, yesterday while checking out Theophilus's will. So...a lot to keep straightened out. But no more than usual, imho.
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Lastly I simply can't comment at this point on the two 'Keziahs nee Coleman' (or, Mrs. Jernigans), as I've yet to see any proof or compelling evidence for the existence and marriages of either of them. But then neither have I gone looking for them, so I probably just missed it. The latter may show up somewhere in the county marriages records, which I'll browse through again later today. I often see all of these surnames and many people of interest, among those pages. Columbus County is wonderful in that they were careful to record the names of parents for both brides and grooms.
