To: Karl-Heinz Bernardy, Koblenz, Germany From: Darby Chiles, Upland, California, USA Dear Karl, I am having great difficulty locating information about my great grandfather, who immigrated to the USA in the nineteenth century. I am wondering if you might have any ideas which could be helpful since I note that you live in Koblenz, the very geographic region which I am struggling. I would appreciate any thoughts for research which might occur to you based upon my rather sketchy information. Thank you for reading this e-mail and for what ever response you may feel is appropriate. Sincerely, Darby Chiles The following hand written information was copied by Inez McKnight Fitzpatrick on 14 May 1950 directly from The Old Coblenz Bible: "John Coblenz born at Berncastel in Rhenish Prussia, Europe, September 28, 1818 and married to Ann Fitzpatrick, born at Dublin, Ireland in Europe, August 18, 1834 married, March 8, 1852 by Rev. Ticknor, at Livingston, Sumter County, Alabama Anna Maria Coblenz mother of John Coblenz died Trinity Sunday June 1, 1860 aged 72 years Christopher Fitzpatrick father of Mrs. Coblenz died October 24, 1865 aged 64 yrs & 10 months" And my further notes which seem accurate, to the best of my ability: Berncastel was and is a small town in the rich wine growing valley of the Moselle River and is located about twenty miles from the border of Luxembourg and France to the west and about 40 miles from Coblenz, Germany to the east. Coblenz is located at the "confluence" or where the Moselle River flows into the Rhine River and is the origin of the name of the town, Coblenz in the German or Confluentes in the French language. Coblenz is just upstream from the well known bridge of Remagen over the Rhine River where the American Army was the first of the allies to actually enter the country of Germany during World War II. A great grandson of John Coblenz, Frank Rogers Chiles, was in the U. S. Army during that war and was killed in The Battle of The Bulge in 1945. Frank is buried in a military cemetery at Aachen, Germany. It is interesting to note that Frank was buried in 1945, just a few miles from where his great grandfather was born in 1818. It is highly unlikely that Frank even knew the name or the birthplace of his great grandfather, but I guess that he did sort of finally come home. The Empire of France extended as far east as Coblenz until the defeat of Napoleon around 1814 when the city of Coblenz became part of Prussia. I can't help but wonder if the turmoil of the war may have had something to do with the family emigrating at that time. The sound of the name of John's mother (Anna Maria) may also suggest a French influence but informal local Alabama history refers to John Coblenz as German. The name of the town is handwritten and spelled "Berncastel" in The Old Coblenz Bible, not the German spelling of "Bernkastel". Other family records use what may be a more French like spelling of the family name "Coblens". The family name, when spelled "Coblenz", is a form frequently used by the Amish. "Koblenz" is the more typical spelling in the German language. Historians claim European Jews would frequently insert a "t" before the last letter in their family name, symbolizing the Catholic cross, as a means of helping to avoid persecution. The spelling of Coblentz is used on the marriage licenses of both Anne [marriage (2) to Stephen Basson] and Mollie to Frank Chiles. Or it may be simply a series of misspellings of the family name. John Coblenz, was killed while defending the home of a friend against a post war mob of political "night riders". While searching for more details about what has been called The Coblenz Incident, I was fortunate to meet a local historian and long time resident of Sumter County who worked at the Sumter County Courthouse for many years. She graciously spent considerable time with me at the Julia Tutwiler Library while she recalled so much specific and detailed information about the Coblenz Incident. She said the killing occurred in the front room of what is now known as The Yarborough House, which is still standing nearby and just to the west of her present home, in Emelle, Alabama. The intruders broke through the front door of the house and John blasted the first men through the doorway with a double barreled shotgun. Before John had time to reload, the next men through the door shot and killed John. The story about when and where John Coblenz was killed seems to have been told in many different ways by different people over the years following his death. Variations in the story about what has become known as The Coblenz Incident seem to have proliferated and many versions have been told to make whatever political point was desired at the time of telling. It is reasonably certain that John was shot and killed while defending the home of a friend against a mob of "night riders" on the night of 13 Aug 1869. The story has been told and retold many times by people claiming the killing occurred in a number of different locations and circumstances. It was a political event involving even the state legislature. Even intentionally misleading newspaper accounts were printed. One account claims the Smith Flats Section in the town of Livingston may be the location. The Coblenz Incident has been said to have been a water shed political event in the rough and tumble of The Reconstruction Period in Sumter County, Alabama, following The War for Southern Independence. I have searched extensively and found many comments claiming various occupations and social status for John Coblenz, but found no negative allegations about the man, by anyone, regarding his activities preceding the killing. Perhaps he was a peaceable man who just happened to be in the wrong place.