Hatfields/McCoys (Part 1)
Hatfields/McCoys (Part 1). The next blog (Part 2) is a modern day tragedy involving a Hatfield McCoy descendent.
Tug Fork, West Virginia
HatfieldsThe Civil War tore apart families, but the hope was we could mend this polarized country when it ended. The McCoy family lived on the Kentucky side of Tug Fork. The Hatfields lived on the West Virginia side. The majority of the Hatfields and McCoys fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, with the exception of Asa Harmon McCoy, who fought for the Union. Asa McCoy joined a company called the Pike County Guards.
Asa Harmon McCoy
William Francis led the Pike County Guards when they attacked and shot Mose Christian Cline, a friend of Devil Anse Hatfield. Although Cline survived his wounds, Devil Anse Hatfield vowed to retaliate. One year later (in 1863), a group of Confederate Soldiers ambushed and killed William Francis as he was leaving his house, and Devil Anse Hatfield took credit for the deed.
The violence between the Hatfield and McCoys started when Asa McCoy was murdered near his home, by a group of Confederates called the Logan Wildcats, as he returned from the war. Devil Anse Hatfield was a suspect, but it was later confirmed he had been sick at home at the time of the murder. It was widely believed that his uncle, Jim Vance, committed the murder.
The Hatfield’s uncle, known as “Crazy Jim” Vance was one of the most violent perpetrators in the feud.The second homicide in the feud occurred in 1878, over a pig. (Keep in mind that while court was over 1 pig, there had been previous allegations back and forth over stolen animals.) Floyd Hatfield, a cousin of Devil Anse Hatfield, had the hog, but Randolph McCoy claimed it was his. Randolph said the notches on the pig's ears were McCoy, not Hatfield, marks. The matter was taken to the local Justice of the Peace, Anderson "Preacher Anse" Hatfield, who ruled for the Hatfields based on the testimony of Bill Staton, a relative of both families. (Bill was Randolph McCoy’s nephew, but also a brother-in-law of Ellison Hatfield.)
Preacher Anse Hatfield was a first cousin to Devil Anse Hatfield. They were given their nicknames because of their temperament. In June 1880, Bill Staton was killed by two McCoy brothers, Sam and Paris, who were later acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.
The feud escalated after Roseanna McCoy entered into a relationship with Devil Anse's son Johnson, known as "Johnse." Roseanna left her family to live with Johnse and the Hatfields in West Virginia. Roseanna eventually returned to the McCoys, but when the couple tried to resume their relationship, Johnse was arrested by the McCoys for outstanding Kentucky bootlegging warrants. He was freed from McCoy custody only when Roseanna made a desperate midnight ride to alert Anse. Devil Anse organized a rescue party. The Hatfields surrounded the McCoys and took Johnse back to West Virginia before he could be taken to court the next day.
Nancy McCoyThe winner was Jonse Hatfield, and the loser was Roseanna McCoy. Even though she betrayed her family to protect him, Jonse abandoned the pregnant Roseanna for her cousin, Nancy McCoy, whom he wed in 1881. Perhaps it’s significant to note that Nancy was the youngest daughter of Asa Harmon McCoy. Asa was the Union soldier, whose murder ignited the feud. (Nancy wasn’t a winner, as 16-year-old Nancy ended up being bull-whipped by two of the Hatfield relatives. She’ll get back at Jonse eventually—keep reading.) Roseanna’s baby died of the measles and it’s said she died of a broken heart.
As you can imagine, the McCoys are torqued. On an election day (during the heat of politics), in 1882, Ellison Hatfield (Devil Anse’s brother) and a third brother, get into an argument with Roseanna McCoy’s younger brothers (Tolbert, Phamer and Bud). The McCoys murdered Ellison by stabbing him 26 times and then shooting him.
Paw paw bushesTolbert, Phamer and Bud McCoy were initially arrested by Hatfield constables. Secretly, Devil Anse Hatfield organized a group of vigilantes and intercepted the constables with their McCoy prisoners before they reached Pikeville. The McCoy brothers were taken by force to West Virginia and tied to pawpaw bushes, where each was shot numerous times (a total of fifty shots fired). Their bodies were described as "bullet-riddled."
About 20 men, including Devil Anse Hatfield, were indicted. But all of the Hatfields eluded arrest. As you can imagine, this angered the McCoy family. So, they took their cause up with Perry Cline, who was married to Martha McCoy. Perry used his political connections to reinstate the charges and announce rewards for the Hatfields' arrest. Perry and Devil Anse had a history. A few years earlier, Perry Cline had lost a lawsuit against Devil Anse over the deed to thousands of acres of land, escalating the increasing hatred between the two families.
The murders continue…
In 1886, Jeff McCoy killed a mail carrier named Fred Wolford. The acting constable Cap Hatfield, and a friend named Tom Wallace, shot Jeff on the banks of the Tug Fork as he attempted to swim across and escape. (Tom Wallace and Cap Hatfield were the Hatfield relatives previously involved in beating 16-year-old Nancy McCoy with a bull’s tail.) Tom Wallace was found dead in the spring of 1887.
Tom Wallace was Devil Anse Hatfield’s right hand man, and had a reputation for being abusive. He was married numerous times.How else can we stir the pot?
Devil’s son, Jonse Hatfield, continued to cheat on Nancy McCoy, so she divorced him and married Frank Phillips, an arch enemy of the Hatfields. Phillips once rode with Jesse James. He was now appointed as a sworn officer by the Governor of Kentucky to end the brawl.
Frank PhillipsKentucky Special Officer Frank Phillips captured a deputy named Bill Dempsey who had been supporting the Hatfields, and executed him on the spot. Phillips was not held accountable for this. While the story is generally that Crazy Jim Vance was shot when he refused to surrender, some accounts suggest Phillips executed Jim rather than taking him into custody. Frank Phillips was also a womanizer, but Nancy McCoy remained with him, until he was shot and killed in a brawl over a woman.
No situation is so bad, you can’t make it worse…
The New Year's Night Massacre of 1888. Cap Hatfield and Jim Vance led several members of the Hatfield clan to surround the McCoy cabin and opened fire on the sleeping family. The cabin was set on fire in an effort to drive Randolph McCoy into the open. He escaped by making a break for it, but two of his children were shot and his wife Sarah was beaten and almost killed. Testimony indicated that “Crazy Jim” Vance had beaten Sarah McCoy badly with a rifle butt as she reached for her wounded daughter. Randolph McCoy's son Calvin and daughter Allaphare were killed during the raid. With his house burning, Randolph and his remaining family members were able to escape to the woods; his children, unprepared for the elements, suffered frostbite.
Randall and Sarah “Sally”McCoy had 17 children, but most were dead before Randall passed. 5 died as a result of the feud, either murdered by a Hatfield or executed for murdering a Hatfield. Randall lived to be 89 years old.
Devil Anse Hatfield and his wife Levisa had 13 children, but none died as a result of the feud. Devil Anse lived to be 82 years old. Devil had siblings and relatives who died in the feud. It’s interesting that the patriarchs driving the feud lived long lives while their extended families suffered.A few days after the New Year's Massacre, a posse led by Pike County Deputy Sheriff Frank Philipps rode out to track down Devil Anse Hatfield's group, across the border into West Virginia. Two McCoys were members of Philipps' posse (Bud and one of Randolph's sons, James McCoy). The posse's first victim was Jim Vance, who was killed in the woods after he refused to be arrested. Philipps then made other successive raids on Hatfield homes and supporters, capturing many and killing another three Hatfield supporters, before cornering the rest in Grapevine Creek on January 19, 1888.
Devil Anse HatfieldUnfortunately for Philipps, Devil Anse and other Hatfields were waiting for them with an armed group of their own. A battle ensued between the two parties, and the Hatfields were eventually apprehended. A deputy, Bill Dempsey, was wounded and executed by Frank Philipps after they surrendered. On August 24, 1888, eight of the Hatfields and their friends were indicted for the murder of Allaphare McCoy (Randolph's young daughter), killed during the New Year Massacre. They included Cap Hatfield, Johnse Hatfield, Robert and Eliiot Hatfield, Ellison Mounts, French Ellis, Charles Gillespie, and Thomas Chambers. Seven received life imprisonment, while the eighth, Ellison "Cottontop" Mounts, was executed by hanging and buried in an unmarked grave within sight of the gallows.
Ellison “Cottontop” MountsThe tragedies mount:
Who was Ellison? Ellison Mounts is believed to be the illegitimate son of Ellison Hatfield, the brother of Devil Anse who was killed in the Election Day confrontations between the families. Ellison’s mother was Harriet Hatfield, a first cousin of Ellison Hatfield. Ellison was described as being mentally handicapped, and it was believed that he had been bribed to confess to the murder of Allaphare McCoy, encouraged by the belief that his known disability would give him a lenient sentence.
Thousands attended Ellison Mounts hanging in Pikeville. The scaffold was in the open, but its base was fenced in to comply with laws that had been passed which prohibited public executions. The hanging site is the current location of a classroom building of the present day University of Pikeville. With his last words, Ellison claimed that: "The Hatfields made me do it. " No one had been sent to the gallows in Pike County for forty years, and after Ellison, no one ever was again.
It was largely believed Cap Hatfield had killed Allaphore McCoy. Cap eluded justice. He escaped from the Logan (Mingo) County Jail, likely with help from his father Devil Anse Hatfield, and was never brought to justice.
Which brings me to the next blog, the one I intended to write, involving a, not surprisingly conflicted, descendent of the McCoys and Hatfields.
Thanks for listening,
Frank
We’ve been to Luckenbach, Texas, on a nice summer afternoon. It’s a river in the middle of the country, with a stage facing picnic tables-- spaced out so people can visit and listen to music. There is also a stand that sells cold beverages. Doesn’t that sound nice…
Tug Fork, West Virginia
HatfieldsThe Civil War tore apart families, but the hope was we could mend this polarized country when it ended. The McCoy family lived on the Kentucky side of Tug Fork. The Hatfields lived on the West Virginia side. The majority of the Hatfields and McCoys fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, with the exception of Asa Harmon McCoy, who fought for the Union. Asa McCoy joined a company called the Pike County Guards.
Asa Harmon McCoy
William Francis led the Pike County Guards when they attacked and shot Mose Christian Cline, a friend of Devil Anse Hatfield. Although Cline survived his wounds, Devil Anse Hatfield vowed to retaliate. One year later (in 1863), a group of Confederate Soldiers ambushed and killed William Francis as he was leaving his house, and Devil Anse Hatfield took credit for the deed.The violence between the Hatfield and McCoys started when Asa McCoy was murdered near his home, by a group of Confederates called the Logan Wildcats, as he returned from the war. Devil Anse Hatfield was a suspect, but it was later confirmed he had been sick at home at the time of the murder. It was widely believed that his uncle, Jim Vance, committed the murder.
The Hatfield’s uncle, known as “Crazy Jim” Vance was one of the most violent perpetrators in the feud.The second homicide in the feud occurred in 1878, over a pig. (Keep in mind that while court was over 1 pig, there had been previous allegations back and forth over stolen animals.) Floyd Hatfield, a cousin of Devil Anse Hatfield, had the hog, but Randolph McCoy claimed it was his. Randolph said the notches on the pig's ears were McCoy, not Hatfield, marks. The matter was taken to the local Justice of the Peace, Anderson "Preacher Anse" Hatfield, who ruled for the Hatfields based on the testimony of Bill Staton, a relative of both families. (Bill was Randolph McCoy’s nephew, but also a brother-in-law of Ellison Hatfield.)Preacher Anse Hatfield was a first cousin to Devil Anse Hatfield. They were given their nicknames because of their temperament. In June 1880, Bill Staton was killed by two McCoy brothers, Sam and Paris, who were later acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.
The feud escalated after Roseanna McCoy entered into a relationship with Devil Anse's son Johnson, known as "Johnse." Roseanna left her family to live with Johnse and the Hatfields in West Virginia. Roseanna eventually returned to the McCoys, but when the couple tried to resume their relationship, Johnse was arrested by the McCoys for outstanding Kentucky bootlegging warrants. He was freed from McCoy custody only when Roseanna made a desperate midnight ride to alert Anse. Devil Anse organized a rescue party. The Hatfields surrounded the McCoys and took Johnse back to West Virginia before he could be taken to court the next day.
Nancy McCoyThe winner was Jonse Hatfield, and the loser was Roseanna McCoy. Even though she betrayed her family to protect him, Jonse abandoned the pregnant Roseanna for her cousin, Nancy McCoy, whom he wed in 1881. Perhaps it’s significant to note that Nancy was the youngest daughter of Asa Harmon McCoy. Asa was the Union soldier, whose murder ignited the feud. (Nancy wasn’t a winner, as 16-year-old Nancy ended up being bull-whipped by two of the Hatfield relatives. She’ll get back at Jonse eventually—keep reading.) Roseanna’s baby died of the measles and it’s said she died of a broken heart.As you can imagine, the McCoys are torqued. On an election day (during the heat of politics), in 1882, Ellison Hatfield (Devil Anse’s brother) and a third brother, get into an argument with Roseanna McCoy’s younger brothers (Tolbert, Phamer and Bud). The McCoys murdered Ellison by stabbing him 26 times and then shooting him.
Paw paw bushesTolbert, Phamer and Bud McCoy were initially arrested by Hatfield constables. Secretly, Devil Anse Hatfield organized a group of vigilantes and intercepted the constables with their McCoy prisoners before they reached Pikeville. The McCoy brothers were taken by force to West Virginia and tied to pawpaw bushes, where each was shot numerous times (a total of fifty shots fired). Their bodies were described as "bullet-riddled."About 20 men, including Devil Anse Hatfield, were indicted. But all of the Hatfields eluded arrest. As you can imagine, this angered the McCoy family. So, they took their cause up with Perry Cline, who was married to Martha McCoy. Perry used his political connections to reinstate the charges and announce rewards for the Hatfields' arrest. Perry and Devil Anse had a history. A few years earlier, Perry Cline had lost a lawsuit against Devil Anse over the deed to thousands of acres of land, escalating the increasing hatred between the two families.
The murders continue…
In 1886, Jeff McCoy killed a mail carrier named Fred Wolford. The acting constable Cap Hatfield, and a friend named Tom Wallace, shot Jeff on the banks of the Tug Fork as he attempted to swim across and escape. (Tom Wallace and Cap Hatfield were the Hatfield relatives previously involved in beating 16-year-old Nancy McCoy with a bull’s tail.) Tom Wallace was found dead in the spring of 1887.
Tom Wallace was Devil Anse Hatfield’s right hand man, and had a reputation for being abusive. He was married numerous times.How else can we stir the pot?Devil’s son, Jonse Hatfield, continued to cheat on Nancy McCoy, so she divorced him and married Frank Phillips, an arch enemy of the Hatfields. Phillips once rode with Jesse James. He was now appointed as a sworn officer by the Governor of Kentucky to end the brawl.
Frank PhillipsKentucky Special Officer Frank Phillips captured a deputy named Bill Dempsey who had been supporting the Hatfields, and executed him on the spot. Phillips was not held accountable for this. While the story is generally that Crazy Jim Vance was shot when he refused to surrender, some accounts suggest Phillips executed Jim rather than taking him into custody. Frank Phillips was also a womanizer, but Nancy McCoy remained with him, until he was shot and killed in a brawl over a woman.No situation is so bad, you can’t make it worse…
The New Year's Night Massacre of 1888. Cap Hatfield and Jim Vance led several members of the Hatfield clan to surround the McCoy cabin and opened fire on the sleeping family. The cabin was set on fire in an effort to drive Randolph McCoy into the open. He escaped by making a break for it, but two of his children were shot and his wife Sarah was beaten and almost killed. Testimony indicated that “Crazy Jim” Vance had beaten Sarah McCoy badly with a rifle butt as she reached for her wounded daughter. Randolph McCoy's son Calvin and daughter Allaphare were killed during the raid. With his house burning, Randolph and his remaining family members were able to escape to the woods; his children, unprepared for the elements, suffered frostbite.
Randall and Sarah “Sally”McCoy had 17 children, but most were dead before Randall passed. 5 died as a result of the feud, either murdered by a Hatfield or executed for murdering a Hatfield. Randall lived to be 89 years old.
Devil Anse Hatfield and his wife Levisa had 13 children, but none died as a result of the feud. Devil Anse lived to be 82 years old. Devil had siblings and relatives who died in the feud. It’s interesting that the patriarchs driving the feud lived long lives while their extended families suffered.A few days after the New Year's Massacre, a posse led by Pike County Deputy Sheriff Frank Philipps rode out to track down Devil Anse Hatfield's group, across the border into West Virginia. Two McCoys were members of Philipps' posse (Bud and one of Randolph's sons, James McCoy). The posse's first victim was Jim Vance, who was killed in the woods after he refused to be arrested. Philipps then made other successive raids on Hatfield homes and supporters, capturing many and killing another three Hatfield supporters, before cornering the rest in Grapevine Creek on January 19, 1888.
Devil Anse HatfieldUnfortunately for Philipps, Devil Anse and other Hatfields were waiting for them with an armed group of their own. A battle ensued between the two parties, and the Hatfields were eventually apprehended. A deputy, Bill Dempsey, was wounded and executed by Frank Philipps after they surrendered. On August 24, 1888, eight of the Hatfields and their friends were indicted for the murder of Allaphare McCoy (Randolph's young daughter), killed during the New Year Massacre. They included Cap Hatfield, Johnse Hatfield, Robert and Eliiot Hatfield, Ellison Mounts, French Ellis, Charles Gillespie, and Thomas Chambers. Seven received life imprisonment, while the eighth, Ellison "Cottontop" Mounts, was executed by hanging and buried in an unmarked grave within sight of the gallows.
Ellison “Cottontop” MountsThe tragedies mount: Who was Ellison? Ellison Mounts is believed to be the illegitimate son of Ellison Hatfield, the brother of Devil Anse who was killed in the Election Day confrontations between the families. Ellison’s mother was Harriet Hatfield, a first cousin of Ellison Hatfield. Ellison was described as being mentally handicapped, and it was believed that he had been bribed to confess to the murder of Allaphare McCoy, encouraged by the belief that his known disability would give him a lenient sentence.
Thousands attended Ellison Mounts hanging in Pikeville. The scaffold was in the open, but its base was fenced in to comply with laws that had been passed which prohibited public executions. The hanging site is the current location of a classroom building of the present day University of Pikeville. With his last words, Ellison claimed that: "The Hatfields made me do it. " No one had been sent to the gallows in Pike County for forty years, and after Ellison, no one ever was again.
It was largely believed Cap Hatfield had killed Allaphore McCoy. Cap eluded justice. He escaped from the Logan (Mingo) County Jail, likely with help from his father Devil Anse Hatfield, and was never brought to justice.Which brings me to the next blog, the one I intended to write, involving a, not surprisingly conflicted, descendent of the McCoys and Hatfields.
Thanks for listening,
Frank
We’ve been to Luckenbach, Texas, on a nice summer afternoon. It’s a river in the middle of the country, with a stage facing picnic tables-- spaced out so people can visit and listen to music. There is also a stand that sells cold beverages. Doesn’t that sound nice…
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