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Hatfield and McCoy Feud
Favorites · January 28, 2023
· The Hillbilly Files: Charles Gillespie Recalls 1888 New Year’s Day Massacre
New years day massacre- 134 years ago - Charles Gillespie own words-Hatfield and McCoy feud
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Barbara Cherep
All of this wasn’t a confession from the hand of Gillespie, it was a newspaper article printed after his arrest telling it was his confession. But, no one knows if it was or wasn’t. Or was it just more drummed up New York yellow journalism.
By the way, been to Wellston and there is no record of Gillespie. I’d also wondered why Gillespie was captured in Virginia, why would they take him to Ohio and not to Kentucky first where he was wanted. None of that makes any sense in the scheme of things.
Another thing, if Gillespie wrote a jail house letter, why would he mention Johns relationship with Nancy? Johns left out west in April or May of 1888. Nancy according to their divorce, left Johns after he left to go out west. She shacked up with Phillips and became pregnant. John’s divorced her. She never contested.
The supposed confession was in October 1888 in the newspapers by a Lon Campbell who arrested Gillespie. For states evidence Gillespie supposedly gave his confession.
Mind you not, go to Cabell County and look at court arrest records. Gillespie was a troubled young man with a gun. Just saying. Show the hand written confession please written in Gillespie hand ?????.
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Barbara Cherep
Printed in the paper October 1888 Gillespie who was wanted for murder, says he was walking about town and doing his thing, only sleeping in the jail at night. It says he struck up a deal with county attorney to be released from charges.
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Edited
Barbara Cherep
Also in the Oct 1888 St Louis news Gillespie was said to say only 6 men on that raid not 9 as in his first supposed confession.
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Barbara Cherep
In the trial transcripts the neighbor of Randall testified only 6 men walked by his home that night.
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David Hatfield
Barbara Vance Cherep and none of the 6 were identified Jim Vance
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Edited
David Hatfield
Thanks Barbara Vance Cherep ????
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Cam Lusk
Interesting! I was surprised to hear Wellston, OH mentioned. That's where I live.
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David Hatfield
If Jim Vance was the leader how come there were never any charges against him..never any charges
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Andrew O Hunter
Can y'all figure out how the heck I'm related to you.
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The comment David Hatfield is replying to has been deleted.
David Hatfield
Hatfield and McCoy Feud Have to wonder what he got out of his confession...I think that when Jim Vance was murdered by Frank Phillips is when Jim was named as part of the feud...they say he was involved in just about everything but no changes
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Debbie McCoy Autry
David Hatfield He didn’t live long enough. The cabin burning was New Year’s Eve and by January 7 Jim Vance was dead.
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David Hatfield
Debbie McCoy Autry not onenof the witness who saw the young men riding back from the NY cabin fire mentioned Jim Vance...TJ Vance
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Debbie Darby
Very interesting. Love to read and hear about both these families.
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Ryan Hardesty
Well, I have my problems with that Charles Gillespie "confession." Basically, Charlies was a minor player in the feud events. In 1888, Dan Cunningham, bounty hunter, captured Charlie and for some reason took him to Ironton, Ohio and the home of Alf Burnet, of the detective agency. According to the stories, Alf's wife befriended Charlie and coaxed a confession out of him, which was subsequently published in the local newspaper. The main thrust of Charlie's confession is to place the blame for the killing of Alifaire McCoy onto Ellison Mounts. Oddly enough, instead of coming back to Kentucky for trial, Charlie disappeared and was never heard from again. Can't even find him in the census or other records. Also, after his confession, Cunningham captured Mounts and brought him back to Pikeville, where HE supposedly confessed, though his confession differs significantly from the confession of Gillespie in very important ways. Clearly both confessions can't be true. The Gillespie confession was used to drag Mounts into the feud (his name had never been mentioned before as having any involvement in feud events) and then Mounts's confession was used to hang him, even though there were no witnesses against him and the only witness called at trial, Sally McCoy, insisted that Cap Hatfield and killed Alifaire and that she did not see Mounts at the home that night. So I don't believe that Gillespie made this confession. I believe that Cunningham wrote it and placed it in the newspapers. There's not even any evidence that Cunningham even captured Gillespie. Looks like a hoax to me. But that's just opinion and theory.
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Andrew O Hunter
Ellison looks a lot like cotton top mounts.
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Andrew O Hunter
Debbie McCoy Autry you know I don't know.
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Kim Hevlin
planning on a visit in may, wondering how to see all of the places? is it on a map/guide? thanks for sharing this
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Author
Hatfield and McCoy Feud
Kim Hevlin, We highly recommend that you contact the good folks at Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce in Williamson, Mingo County, WV at 304-235-5240; and also call Logan County Chamber of Commerce, Logan, WV at 304-752-1324. Don’t forget to call Pike County Tourism at Pikeville, KY at 606-432-5063; and Hatfield McCoy Convention & Visitors Bureau in Logan, WV at 304-752-6020.
Each of these contacts can provide you with all kinds of good information, i.e., Hatfield-McCoy brochures, rack cards, landmark and historic site maps, tourism tips, season activities, souvenirs, shopping opportunities, restaurant options, Hatfield-McCoy Trail info, canoe and kayak rentals, four-wheeler rentals, camping and lodging contacts, and much more.
Choose adventure. Visit the land of the Hatfields and McCoys. You’ll never regret it!
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Edited
Kevin McMahan
That was very interesting. Thank you for sharing
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Author
Hatfield and McCoy Feud
Kevin McMahan , we thought it was pretty interesting too. Thanks for writing.
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Robert C Smith
b nice to check out Adkins’s cemetery. research. @ pigeon ck wv. Delbarton
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