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- [S743] Public Member Trees, aa good photos & records, Hatfield/McCoy feud, Report from Adj Gen Office... Perry Anderson Cline.
Record for Perry Anderson Cline (122) facts
Hatfields and McCoys
Perry Cline married Martha A. McCoy on September 19, 1868 in Pike County, Kentucky. Perry's sister, Martha Cline, married Asa Harmon McCoy. Asa McCoy was killed by the Logan Wildcats, a Confederate guerilla unit led by William Anderson "Devil Ance" Hatfield while on furlough from the federal army during the Civil War. It is unknown whether this incident was involved in the feud. However, Perry Cline's later involvement in the perpetuation of the feud is well documented.
The following is an excerpt from the book, Clines and Allied Families of the Tug River Region, by Cecil Cline and Harry Dale Cline (by permission from Author Cecil Cline):
Perry was a lawyer, deputy sheriff and deputy jailer in Pike County, Kentucky during the Hatfield McCoy Feud. [In 1858], he inherited a large tract of land in Logan County, Virginia (WV) from his father and was considered to be wealthy. In the early 1870's, he was accused of stealing timber from the property of Devil Ance Hatfield [leader of the Hatfield Clan]. The court decision of 1877 awarded Hatfield all of Perry's land in Logan County as damages. This was the beginning of Perry's hatred for the Hatfields in general and Devil Ance in particular. He relocated to Pikeville, Kentucky, established himself with the influential powers and developed a close relationship with "Ranel" McCoy [leader of the McCoy Clan] and the clan that he controlled. After Perry became deputy sheriff, he was instrumental in obtaining warrants to arrest the Hatfields and bring them back to Kentucky for trial. Perry is considered to be a prime force in keeping the feud alive.
arlene2335added this on 3 Jun 2012
jes21r4originally submitted this to Rhoden Family Tree on 22 Jun 2011
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McCoy Children
Asa Harman McCoy born in 1828 - married Martha "Patsy" Cline.
Martha "Patsy" Cline born in 1830 in Pike Co,KY -died on 4 Nov 1907 in Pike Co,KY - married Asa Harman McCoy.
They had the following children:
Mary M. McCoy born 15 Feb 1851 in Pike Co, KY.
Jacob McCoy born 18 May 1853 in Pike Co, KY - died 9 Nov 1899.
Larkin McCoy born 29 Jul 1856 in Pike Co, KY - died 14 Sep 1930.
Asa H. "Bud" McCoy born in 1857 - died Sep 1890.
Lewis Jefferson "Jeff" McCoy born Oct 1859 in Pike Co, KY - died in 1866 in Pike Co, KY.
Nancy L. McCoy born in 1865 - died in 1901.
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Asa Harman McCoy
1. Ancestry.com Web Site; Isaac Toler search, 18 Jan 2002, submitted by Melinda Allen, mallen8486@aol.com.
Rebecca Browning; born on 14 Mar 1871; married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield son of William Anderson "Devil Anse" and Levisa Chafin Hatfield, on 28 Oct 1890.
Nancy L. McCoy; born in 1865; died in 1901; daughter of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy.
Married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield on 14 May 1881 in Pike Co, KY.
2. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa McCoy search, 5 May 2002, submitted by Unknown, jhat@usa.net.
Asa Harman McCoy; born in 1828; married Martha Cline; children: Mary M,Jacob, Larkin, Lewis Jefferson, Nancy, and Asa H. McCoy.
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Martha "Patsy" Cline
1. Ancestry.com Web Site; Isaac Toler search, 18 Jan 2002, submitted by Melinda Allen, mallen8486@aol.com.
Rebecca Browning; born on 14 Mar 1871; married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield son of William Anderson "Devil Anse" and Levisa Chafin Hatfield, on 28 Oct 1890.
Nancy L. McCoy; born in 1865; died in 1901; daughter of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy; married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield on 14 May 1881 in Pike Co, KY.
2. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa McCoy search, 5 May 2002, submitted byUnknown, jhat@usa.net.
Asa Harman McCoy; born in 1828; married Martha Cline; children: Mary M,Jacob, Larkin, Lewis Jefferson, Nancy, and Asha H. McCoy.
3. Ancestry.com Web Site, Ephriam Hatfield Search, 14 Sep 2002, submitted byShelia Adkins-Powell, sadkinspowell@neo.rr.com.
Jacob Cline; born abt 1788 in Montgomery Co, VA; married Nancy Fuller.
Nancy Fuller; born abt 1810 in VA.
Daughter, Martha "Patsy" Cline; born in 1830 in Pike Co, KY; died on 4 Nov1907 in Pike Co, KY; married Asa Harman McCoy.
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Mary M. McCoy
Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Mary M. McCoy; born on 15 Feb 1851; daughter of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy.
Married William Daniels on 22 Nov 1866 in Pike Co, KY.
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Jacob McCoy
Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Jacob McCoy; born on 18 May 1853 in Pike Co, KY; died on 9 Nov 1899; son of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy.
Married:
1. Elizabeth Vance on 8 Apr 1875 in Pike Co, KY
2. Ruth Christian on 4 Jan 1880.
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Larkin McCoy
Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Larkin McCoy; born on 29 Jul 1856 in Pike Co, KY; died on 14 Sep 1930; son of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy.
Married Mary Elizabeth Coleman on 13 Aug 1875 in Pike Co, KY.
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Lewis Jefferson "Jeff" McCoy
Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Lewis Jefferson "Jeff" McCoy; born on 13 Oct 1859 in Pike Co, KY; died during feud in 1886 in Pike Co, KY; son of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy.
Married Sarah Wolford on 30 Oct 1880 in Pike Co, KY.
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Nancy L. McCoy
"Genealogy of WV-KY Hatfields" page 192. - Johnson Hatfield born in 1862, died on 19 Apr 1921.
Married:
1. Nancy McCoy on 14 May 1881
2. Rebecca Browning on 28 Oct 1890 - divorce 28 Jul 1896
3. Roxie
4. Nettie Toler
"Descendents of Ephriam Hatfield", familytreemaker.com - Page 8 of 10; Johnson Hatfield, b 1859, died 19 Apr 1921.
Married:
1. Rose Ann McCoy Apr 1880
2. Nanncy McCoy
3. Rebecca Browning 28 Oct 1890 - divorce 28 Aug 1896
4. Roxie Browning
5. Nettie Toler
3. Ancestry.com Web Site; Isaac Toler search, 18 Jan 2002, submitted by Melinda Allen, mallen8486@aol.com.
Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield son of William Anderson "Devil Anse" and Levisa Chafin Hatfield.
Married:
1. Rebecca Browing - born 14 Mar 1871 - married 28 Oct 1890
2. Nancy L. McCoy - born 1865 - died in 1901; daughter of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy - Hatfield on 14 May 1881 in Pike
Co, KY.
4. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa McCoy search, 5 May 2002, submitted byUnknown, jhat@usa.net.
Asa Harman McCoy; born in 1828; married Martha Cline; children: Mary M, Jacob, Larkin, Lewis Jefferson, Nancy, and Asa H. McCoy.
Daughter, Nancy McCoy
Married:
1. Johnson Hatfield: children Stella & Anderson
2. Frank Phillips
5. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa McCoy search, 5 May 2002, submitted by Unknown, slassen@infoave.net.
Nancy McCoy; born in 1865; died in 1901 in Pike Co, KY; buried in Phillips Cemetery, Phillips Branch, Left Fork of Peter Creek, Pike Co, KY; divorced Johnson Hatfield in 1888.
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Asa H. "Bud" McCoy
1. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Asa H. "Bud" McCoy; born in 1862 in Pike Co, KY; killed by cousins in late 1890's; son of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy;
Married Nancy Christian, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Mounts Christian.
2. 1880 Census, Pike Co, KY, Blackberry District, Page 711D; Listed as Asa McCoy, age 24, born in KY, farmer, head of household.
arlene2335added this on 2 Jun 2012
jdshmm1originally submitted this to All the People from A to Z on 4 Apr 2011
Geneology information for Asa Harmon McCoy & Martha Patsy Cline-McCoy
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Asa Harmon McCoy and Martha Cline--Notes from coalexchange.com
[These notes are from a WV/KY genealogy page at:
Asa Harman McCoy was born in 1828. He married Martha "Patsy" Cline.
Martha "Patsy" Cline [Parents] was born in 1830 in Pike Co,KY. She died on 4 Nov 1907 in Pike Co,KY. She married Asa Harman McCoy.
They had the following children:
F iMary M. McCoy was born on 15 Feb 1851 in Pike Co, KY.
M iiJacob McCoy was born on 18 May 1853 in Pike Co, KY. He died on 9 Nov 1899.
M iiiLarkin McCoy was born on 29 Jul 1856 in Pike Co, KY. He died on 14 Sep 1930.
M ivAsa H. "Bud" McCoy was born in 1857. He died in Sep 1890.
M vLewis Jefferson "Jeff" McCoy was born on 13 Oct 1859 in Pike Co, KY. He died in 1866 in Pike Co, KY.
F viNancy L. McCoy was born in 1865. She died in 1901.
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Asa Harman McCoy
1. Ancestry.com Web Site; Isaac Toler search, 18 Jan 2002, submitted by Melinda Allen, mallen8486@aol.com.
Rebecca Browning; born on 14 Mar 1871; married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield son of William Anderson "Devil Anse" and Levisa Chafin Hatfield, on 28 Oct 1890.
Nancy L. McCoy; born in 1865; died in 1901; daughter of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy; married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield on 14 May 1881 in Pike
Co, KY.
2. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa McCoy search, 5 May 2002, submitted by Unknown, jhat@usa.net.
Asa Harman McCoy; born in 1828; married Martha Cline;
children: Mary M, Jacob, Larkin, Lewis Jefferson, Nancy, and Asa H. McCoy.
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Martha "Patsy" Cline
1. Ancestry.com Web Site; Isaac Toler search, 18 Jan 2002, submitted by Melinda Allen, mallen8486@aol.com.
Rebecca Browning; born on 14 Mar 1871; married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield son of William Anderson "Devil Anse" and Levisa Chafin Hatfield, on 28 Oct 1890.
Nancy L. McCoy; born in 1865; died in 1901; daughter of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy; married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield on 14 May 1881 in Pike
Co, KY.
2. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa McCoy search, 5 May 2002, submitted by Unknown, jhat@usa.net.
Asa Harman McCoy; born in 1828; married Martha Cline; children: Mary M, Jacob, Larkin, Lewis Jefferson, Nancy, and Asha H. McCoy.
3. Ancestry.com Web Site, Ephriam Hatfield Search, 14 Sep 2002, submitted by Shelia Adkins-Powell, sadkinspowell@neo.rr.com.
Jacob Cline; born abt 1788 in Montgomery Co, VA; married Nancy Fuller.
Nancy Fuller; born abt 1810 in VA.
Daughter, Martha "Patsy" Cline; born in 1830 in Pike Co, KY; died on 4 Nov 1907 in Pike Co, KY; married Asa Harman McCoy.
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Mary M. McCoy
1. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Mary M. McCoy; born on 15 Feb 1851; daughter of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy;
married William Daniels on 22 Nov 1866 in Pike Co, KY.
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Jacob McCoy
1. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Jacob McCoy; born on 18 May 1853 in Pike Co, KY; died on 9 Nov 1899;
son of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy;
married first, Elizabeth Vance on 8 Apr 1875 in Pike Co, KY;
second, Ruth Christian on 4 Jan 1880.
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Larkin McCoy
1. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Larkin McCoy; born on 29 Jul 1856 in Pike Co, KY; died on 14 Sep 1930;
son of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy; married Mary Elizabeth Coleman on 13 Aug 1875 in Pike Co, KY.
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Lewis Jefferson "Jeff" McCoy
1. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Lewis Jefferson "Jeff" McCoy; born on 13 Oct 1859 in Pike Co, KY; died during feud in 1886 in Pike Co, KY;
son of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy; married Sarah Wolford on 30 Oct 1880 in Pike Co, KY.
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Nancy L. McCoy
1. "Genealogy of WV-KY Hatfields" page 192.
Johnson Hatfield born in 1862, died on 19 Apr 1921,
married first, Nancy McCoy on 14 May 1881;
second, Rebecca Browning on 28 Oct 1890;
third, Roxie
J. Browning, on 28 Jul 1896 (divorced); and fourth, Nettie Toler.
2. "Descendents of Ephriam Hatfield", familytreemaker.com. Page 8 of 10.
Johnson Hatfield, b 1859, died 19 Apr 1921,
m first in Apr 1880, Rose Ann McCoy;
second, Nancy McCoy;
third on 28 Oct 1890, Rebecca Browning;
fourthon 28 Aug 1896 (divorced), Roxie Browning;
fifth, Nettie Toler.
3. Ancestry.com Web Site; Isaac Toler search, 18 Jan 2002, submitted by Melinda Allen, mallen8486@aol.com.
Rebecca Browning; born on 14 Mar 1871; married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield son of William Anderson "Devil Anse" and Levisa Chafin Hatfield, on 28 Oct 1890.
Nancy L. McCoy; born in 1865; died in 1901; daughter of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy; married Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield on 14 May 1881 in Pike Co, KY.
4. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa McCoy search, 5 May 2002, submitted by Unknown, jhat@usa.net.
Asa Harman McCoy; born in 1828; married Martha Cline;
children: Mary M, Jacob, Larkin, Lewis Jefferson, Nancy, and Asa H. McCoy.
Daughter, Nancy McCoy; married first Johnson Hatfield; second, Frank
Phillips.
Children by Johnson Hatfield: Stella and Anderson.
5. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa McCoy search, 5 May 2002, submitted by Unknown, slassen@infoave.net.
Nancy McCoy; born in 1865; died in 1901 in Pike Co, KY; buried in Phillips Cemetery, Phillips Branch, Left Fork of Peter Creek, Pike Co, KY; divorced
Johnson Hatfield in 1888.
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Asa H. "Bud" McCoy
1. Ancestry.com Web Site, Asa H. McCoy search, 31 Jan 2003, submitted by slassan@infoave.net.
Asa H. "Bud" McCoy; born in 1862 in Pike Co, KY; killed by cousins in late 1890's;
son of Asa Harman and Martha Cline McCoy; married Nancy Christian, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Mounts Christian.
2. 1880 Census, Pike Co, KY, Blackberry District, Page 711D.
Listed as Asa McCoy, age 24, born in KY, farmer, head of household.
arlene2335added this on 3 Jun 2012
fiddlestix2007originally submitted this to Riffe Family Tree on 22 Aug 2008
Notes give sources and describes family.
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Nancy Mccoy, Johnse Hatfield, and Frank Phillips
[These notes are from "Descendants of William McCoy" webpage at: familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/p/r/e/Clara-Preston]
145. NANCY L. 4 MCC OY (ASA HARMON 3, DANIEL 2, WILLIAM 1, ARCHIBALD A, JOHN B, ALEXANDER C) was born Abt. 1865 in Kentucky, and died 1901. She married (1) JOHNSE HATFIELD May 14, 1881 in Pike Co., KY, son of WILLIAM HATFIELD and LEVISA CHAFFIN. He was born January 06, 1862 in Kentucky, and died April 19, 1922 in Logan Co., WV. She married (2) FRANK PHILLIPS, SR. September 05, 1895 in Pike Co., KY, son of WILLIAM PHILLIPS and MAY KING. He was born July 27, 1861 in Pike Co., KY, and died July 12, 1898 in Phillips Branch, Peter Creek, Pike Co., KY.
More About NANCY L. MCC OY:
Burial: 1901, Phillips Cemetery, Peter Creek, Pike Co., KY
Notes for JOHNSE HATFIELD:
Virginia Murdered Caught
Publishers Press Dispatch
Williamson, WV, July 20, Deputy United States Marshall Dan Cunningham, with two detective aids, late on Monday night, on Poplar Creek, in this county, captured the notorious Johnson Hatfield. Hatfield was taken by surprise and surrendered. He was hurried to Kentucky. Hatfield was wanted for the part played by him at the time the McCoy home was burned and a defenseless woman, Alafair McCoy, and a male member of the McCoy function (sic faction) were killed by the Hatfields in the time of the vendetta on News Year’s night, nine years ago. Since then a charge of murder has stood against him, and a large reward has been offered for his arrest. He had outwitted the constables time and again. It was reported here this morning that deputies were after Hatfield’s father, Devil Anse, and others of the clan, and that serious trouble seemed imminent.
New York Times March 12, 1900
Hatfield Must Go To Prison
Murderer of a Woman in a Feud to Serve Life Sentence
Special to the New York Times
Frankfort, KY, March 11 - After ten years Johnson Hatfield must go to prison for life for the murder of Alifair McCoy. This marks another step in the Hatfield-McCoy feud, which created a reign of terror in Kentucky until ten years ago, and has broken out at intervals since, but only in the way of individual killings. Most of the leaders have either been convicted or have been shot to death. The case of Johnson Hatfield was affirmed by the Court of Appeals yesterday. His victim was a woman. He was convicted in Pike County, and given a life sentence and has fought the case desperately to the end. Hatfield was indicted in Pike County for the murder of Alifair McCoy in August 1888 and also was indicted for having previously conspired with others to kill her. Hatfield had ten years of freedom before he was finally apprehended. He was arraigned for trail the first time in September, 1898, when he obtained a change of venue to Floyd County on the ground of prejudice. Hatfield then appealed from the life sentence of the Floyd Circuit court on the ground of errors in instruction. The Court of Appeals in a decision by Judge Burnam sustains the verdict. The case is notable as being one of the few successful convictions in the feud, yet of all the men accused of murder not one has ever been hanged.
Note: Ellison Mounts was hung for the murder of Alifair February 18, 1889.
Washington Post, April 22, 1922
“Devil Anse’s” Son Dead
Johnst Hatfield Served Term for Killing McCoy Clan Member
Williamson, WV, April 21 - Johnst Hatfield, son of the late “Devil Anse” Hatfield, and an active participant in the Hatfield - McCoy feud of years ago, died in his mountain cabin at Wharncliffe, near here, late last night. When the feud was at its height Johnst, who was known as “Devil Anse’s” right-hand man in the war on the McCoys, was captured by Kentucky authorities in West Virginia and hurried across the Tug River. He was convicted in Kentucky of the murder of a member of the McCoy clan and served thirteen years of a life sentence.
More About JOHNSE HATFIELD:
Alternate/Nickname: Johnse/Johnson
Cause of Death: Heart attack while riding a horse
Notes for FRANK PHILLIPS, SR. :
Excerpt from Wheeling Register February 4, 1888
The Facts About the Hatfield McCoy Border War
A Daisy Letter.
“On December 13, last, I received the following from Frank Phillips, which is evidently in the hand writing of P. A. Cline: “Office of Perry A. Cline, Attorney and Counsellor at Law, Office Back of Court House, Pikeville, KY, December 13, 1887
“To His Excellency, Governor Wilson”
“Dear Sir - Inclosed Please find 15 dollars to Pay feese Due your office upon the issud of, State Warrants for the following named Parteys, Want for Anderson Hatfield Cap Hatfield Jose Danil Whitt Albert McCoy (Kirks sons) Please send warrant to this Place to Frank Phillips the agent appanted by the governor of Kentucky as to Elias Hatfield and Andy Varney we Do not Care for Did not intend to interrupt them Some of the parteys is Dead & Some Gone and Left the County the reason they was named in the requestion was they wer all Jointly indicted and Just Copeyed the indictment so if we want any others of the Partys we will send for the warrants here after
Yours Respectly, “Frank Phillips”
Bluefield Daily Telegraph 1897
After a Desperado
Thirty Men in Pursuit of Frank Phillips
Welch, WV, June 21 - Thirty men, all armed with Winchester rifles, passed through here yesterday morning, bound for Buchanan County, VA, where they will attempt to arrest the desperado Frank Phillips. Trouble of the most serious nature is expected, for Phillips is in the wilds of Buchanan County, backed by at least one hundred desperate men who are fighting for their homes. The order for Phillips’ arrest has been issued by the United States district court of Virginia on the charge of violating an injunction in the case of Henry C. King against citizens in Buchanan County, VA, Pike County, KY, and McDowell and Mingo Counties, WV. It is sought to recover 500,000 acres of land from farmers and others. Phillips’ fame as a desperado extends throughout the Kentucky mountains, where he took a leading part in the famous Hatfield - McCoy feud.
More About FRANK PHILLIPS, SR. :
Burial: 1898, Phillips Cemetery, Peter Creek, Pike Co., KY
Cause of Death: Gunshot wound
Children of NANCY MCC OY and JOHNSE HATFIELD are:
i. WILLIAM ANDERSON 5 HATFIELD, b. August 1882; d. Unknown, Egypt. More About WILLIAM ANDERSON HATFIELD:
Burial: Unknown, Egypt
Military: Navy
ii. STELLA HATFIELD, b. January 1886; d. Unknown. More About STELLA HATFIELD:
Cause of Death: Died Young
Children of NANCY MCC OY and FRANK PHILLIPS are:
256.ii i. JESSE JAMES 5 PHILLIPS, b. February 19, 1892; d. Unknown. iv. GOLDA PHILLIPS, b. September 1897; d. Unknown; m. RED RAYBURN; d. Unknown.
arlene2335added this on 2 Jun 2012
fiddlestix2007originally submitted this to Riffe Family Tree on 23 Aug 2008
Internet notes include some newspaper articles on Johnse Hatfield and Frank Phillips.
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Report from the Adjutant General of Kentucky, 1888
1888
Report from the Adjutant General of Kentucky, 1888. [Sam E. Hill]
Kentucky Senate
Tuesday, March 6, 1888.
Legislative Document No. 2
On motion of Mr. Smith, the following communication from the Governor, and accompanying correspondence, was ordered printed and laid on the desks of members, viz:
Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Executive Department,Frankfort,
March 5, 1888.
Hon. J. W. Bryan, Speaker of the Senate:
SIR: In compliance with a resolution of the Senate adopted February 11, 1888, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the official correspondence between the Governor of West Virginia and myself, in relation to the Pike county troubles, and also of the Adjutant-General’s report thereon.
Very respectfully,
S. B. Buckner.
[Only the Report of the Adjutant General of Kentucky reproduced below, see Kentucky Documents, 1888 for complete correspondence]
Frankfort, Ky., February 6, 1888.
Gov. S. B. Buckner:
DEAR SIR:
.....Pursuant to your order of the 29th ult. I left Frankfort that night and proceeded to Pike County to investigate the border warfare between the Hatfields, of Logan County, of West Virginia, and the McCoys, of Pike County. I reached Pikeville the night of the 31st, and remaining till the morning of the 3d, made diligent inquiry into the origin and history of the feuds, and from the most reliable sources I gathered the following facts, viz: Some time previous to the August election, 1882, the Sheriff of Pike county appointed Tolbert McCoy a special bailiff to execute some bench warrants on Johnson Hatfield, which warrants had issued on indictments found against said Hatfield in the Pike Circuit Court for misdemeanors, and which warrants the Sheriff himself had been unable to execute. Tolbert McCoy, with two of his brothers, made the arrest of Hatfield under the warrants and started to Pikeville with their prisoner, when they were intercepted by an armed force of the Hatfields, who had been informed of the arrest by some friends, and who immediately crossed the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy, and, taking a nearer route than that traveled by McCoy and his prisoner, intercepted them and rescued the prisoner. Soon afterwards, at the August election, 1882, several of the Hatfields crossed over to the Kentucky side to attend the election, as was their custom, when, during the day, "Big" Ellison Hatfield, brother to Anderson Hatfield, the present leader of the Hatfield band, and Tolbert McCoy, engaged in a fight, which was provoked and urged on by Hatfield, who was a very large man, and far over-matched McCoy, who was a man of small stature. McCoy soon found that he was over-matched, and drew his knife and commenced stabbing Hatfield, notwithstanding which, Hatfield continued to hold the advantage, and was in the act of braining McCoy with a large stone which he had, when McCoy’s brother came to his assistance and shot Hatfield with a pistol.
.....The McCoys, who had participated in that fight, were arrested by the Pike county authorities, and were being detained in custody to await the result of Hatfield’s wounds, when Anderson Hatfield and his gang took them by force from the custody of the Kentucky authorities and carried them across Tug, near where they detained them till Ellison Hatfield died, some 36 to 48 hours, when they brought them back to the Kentucky side, and, tying them to papaw bushes, shot them to death. The McCoys thus slain were three in number, all brothers, and sons of Randolph McCoy, one of them being but fourteen years old, whom the Hatfields accused of complicity in the wounding of Ellison Hatfield. For this murder of three McCoy brothers the grand jury of Pike County, at the next term of the Pike Circuit Court, returned three indictments against each one of the twenty-three persons. Bench warrants were repeatedly issued on said indictments and were as often returned "not found," notwithstanding many of the persons indicted frequently crossed to the Kentucky side, but on such occasions they were numerically so strong and so well armed as to successfully resist arrest, even if it had been attempted. Thus matters rested for some five years, the Hatfields, in the meantime, taking an active interest in Kentucky elections and admonishing the Sheriff, in whose hands the bench warrants might, at such time, happen to be, to stay away from the precinct or voting place on the east side of Pike county and contiguous to the Tug, which they were in the habit of visiting on election occasions, on the day of their contemplated visit, or, if he should attend, to leave the bench warrants for their arrest behind; and their admonitions were heeded till Frank Phillips, whom your Excellency designated as the agent for Kentucky to receive the persons named in your requisition upon the Governor of West Virginia for certain ones of said indicted parties, was appointed Deputy Sheriff; when on one occasion, when an election was approaching, they sent word to Phillips to keep away from said election, as they wanted to attend, or, if he attended, to leave the bench warrants against them behind, for if he was there with the bench warrants they would kill him. Phillips replied that his official business demanded his presence there that day, and that he would be there, and would have the bench warrants, and if they came he would either take or kill them.
.....Phillips went to the election and the Hatfields approached within gunshot and fired a volley up through the brush, stampeding all but some eight or ten persons; the plucky little Sheriff remained till late in the evening, but, plucky as he is, he did not feel that he could accomplish their arrest.
.....Nothing further of an eventful character occurred in the history of the vendetta till last fall, when Frank Phillips, with two or three men, crossed over into Logan county to receive the prisoners who, he said, he supposed had by that time been arrested under warrants issued by Gov. Wilson, based upon your requisition; but learning, after he had crossed the State line, that no warrants had been issued, or at least that no arrest had been made, and meeting with Tom. Chambers, who is said to have taken a prominent part in the murder of the three McCoy brothers and two others, all three of whom were included in the indictments, he could not resist so good an opportunity to arrest them, and so he did arrest them and brought them back to Pike county, where they, were served with the bench warrants and placed in jail. To avenge that invasion and arrest, as it is supposed, the Hatfield crowd, on the night of January 1st, ult., crossed the Tug Fork in force, penetrated Pike county a distance of seven miles till they reached the peaceful mountain home of old Randolph McCoy, which they surrounded and demanded a surrender. The faithful watch dog had given warning, however, and old man McCoy and his son Calvin, about twenty-seven years old, arose (the family had retired for the night) and made hasty preparations for the best defense possible against such heavy odds, and to the heavy volleys of the assailants returned a vigorous fire and held them at bay for some two or three hours, and until the house, which had been fired from without, was almost ready to fall, when the young man leaped out and ran towards the corn crib, having said to his father that if he could reach the crib he would cover the father’s retreat to the same point, and he believed from that retreat they could yet drive the marauders off; but when about half-way from the dwelling to the crib he fell dead with a ball through his brain. The old man then seized a double-barrel shot-gun and leaped out, discharging both barrels at the enemy, who, somewhat disconcerted for a moment, did not fire upon him till he was well out in the darkness, and, although they fired several shots at him, he escaped unhurt.
.....In the meantime, one of the party had commanded his unmarried daughter, who occupied a room somewhat detached from that occupied by her parents, to make a light, but she replied that she had neither fire nor matches. The command was repeated, and, upon her failure to comply, she was shot through the left breast and instantly killed, though she begged piteously for them not to execute their threat to shoot her for failing to make light, assuring them that it was not in her power to comply with their command. The old mother rushed from her room to go to her daughter; whereupon she was struck upon the head, knocked down and beaten into insensibility, and left for dead upon the porch-at least, with part of her person on the porch. The assailants withdrew just before the house was ready to fall at one end, first closing what little of the door shutters which had not been shot away, with the evident purpose of burning the remaining members of the family; but, after they were gone, another daughter, about eighteen years old rescued some bedding, upon which she placed the body of her dead sister, the almost lifeless form of her mother, and two children of Talbert McCoy-a boy about seven years old and a little hunchback girl about five-where they remained till the neighbors arrived, about daylight. The heroic girl had her feet badly frost bitten, from which she has not yet recovered, and she could not avoid weeping freely as the old lady detailed to me, in her presence, the horrors of that terrible night. The little boy, too, is worthy of special mention, for when he emerged from the burning dwelling, when it was almost ready to fall, he thought of his little crippled sister, who was still in the house, and he re-entered and again came forth leading her by the hand; nor did he even cry during the whole of the battle. Mrs. McCoy impressed me as a candid, honest old lady, and was still unable to walk when I saw her, on account of several of her ribs being broken near the spinal column.
.....About the 8th of January, Frank Phillips, with a number of Kentuckians, again crossed the Tug Fork to arrest the outlaws and bring them to justice, when they were fired on by old man Jim Vance and Cap. Hatfield; and in the fight which resulted old man Vance-who is said to have been the most desperate man in that entire section, and a fast friend of the Hatfields-was killed, but Cap. Hatfield made his escape.
.....Subsequently, Phillips and party made another incursion into Logan county, and were again fired upon (without warning this time); and in the fight which ensued, one Dempsey, of the Hatfield party, was killed, and Bud McCoy, of the Phillips party, was severely wounded. In the two forays made by Phillips and his party during the present year they succeeded in capturing six more of the indicated parties, all of whom were brought safely over into Pike, served with warrants of arrest, and confined in the Pike county jail, making nine in all of the twenty-three indicted persons now confined in the Pike county jail, and awaiting trial for the murder of the McCoy brothers.
.....The charge that the vendetta originated during the war is not sustained by the facts; for while it is true Hurmer McCoy, a brother of Randolph McCoy, was murdered after his discharge and return home from the Union army, his murder was attributed to old James Vance, and none of his kindred ever attempted, so far as I could learn, to avenge his death; and Johnson Hatfield, son of Anderson, has since married his daughter. The McCoys and Hatfields belong to the same political party, hence the feud is, and has been from the start, personal and political. The assertion that Anderson Hatfield and his sons, Johnson and Cap., are reputable, law-abiding people, is not sustained, for the stories of their lawlessness and brutality, vouched for by credible persons, would fill a volume; while, on the other hand, old man McCoy and his boys are represented as law-abiding, honest people by reputable men, who have known them long and intimately, and the young man, Calvin, who was murdered on New Year’s night, is spoken of in terms of the highest commendation, and I was repeatedly told that Pike county did not contain a young man of better character or habits. I advised our people to remain upon our side of the State line, and assured them of your Excellency’s active sympathy for them in all lawful measures to uphold the law and punish crime, and that you would exert the influence of your high office to maintain the law and to punish offenders against it; but told them that you were especially desirous that they should do nothing which would give the officials of West Virginia just cause of complaint.
.....I took the initial steps towards organizing accompany of State Guards at Pikeville, there being plenty of good material there for the purpose, and in which I feel confident we will secure for the State Guard the service of an excellent company; and I sought to impress them with the fact that their arms would be used only by command of the civil authority in maintaining the peace and dignity of our Commonwealth in the rigid enforcement of her laws.
Respectfully submitted.
Sam. E. Hill,
Adjutant-General.
arlene2335added this on 2 Jun 2012
fiddlestix2007originally submitted this to Riffe Family Tree on 28 Aug 2008
The official KY version of the Hatfield-McCoy feud.
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McCoy, Nancy Louisa
Nancy McCoy arlene2335added this on 2 Jun 2012 denisemn1957originally submitted this to Denise Marie Newman on 19 Oct 2008 |
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Cline, Martha Patsy
Martha Patty Cline arlene2335added this on 3 Jun 2012 chrisann59originally submitted this to Scattered Leaves of Our Family on 3 Jun 2012 |
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Phillips, Bad Frank
Bad Frank Phillips arlene2335added this on 2 Jun 2012 Donna McCoyoriginally submitted this to McCoy Family Tree on 3 May 2009 |
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martha patty cline mccoy and grandaughter golda phillips.
20230627GHLn- Pasted from front Media Details to empty Notes:
martha patty cline mccoy and grandaughter golda phillips.
arlene2335added this on 3 Jun 2012 whitefangfloriginally submitted this to Howell, hatfield, McCoy, Jude,scott on 26 Mar 2012
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20231230GHLn- Above replaced by cleaner pic:
Peggy Altizer Mynes
27 Dec 2023
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- [S1720] Public Member Trees, N/A, Public Member Trees, a new rotation 20130407 Source nolonger available 20180204 RVA Database online.
Record for Franklin Bad Frank Phillips (23) facts
20240121GHLn- edited
Bluefield Daily Telegraph 1897, Thirty Men in Pursuit of Frank Phillips
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1889 - 1952 (62 years)
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