Tag Archives: Valentine Wall Hatfield

Johnson Hatfield Property in Logan County, WV (1884-1892)

18 Thursday Feb 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The following land information is derived from Land Book 1880-1886 and Land Book 1887-1892, as well as deed books, at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Johnson Hatfield

No property listed in land books for 1865-1881.

On January 28, 1882, Anderson and Vicy Hatfield deeded 200 acres at Lick Fork of Grapevine Creek to Johnson Hatfield (all of Logan County) for $250. Began at a large rock near the creek bank just above the garden field at the mouth of Lick Fork, thence running out to the center of the point above Lick Fork…to the head of Lick Fork and down the top of the ridge between Grapevine and Thacker Creek… Anderson and Vicy Hatfield signed the deed. Justice Valentine Hatfield witnessed the deed on January 28, 1882.

No property listed in land books for 1883.

1884-1885: Magnolia District

Johnson Hatfield, Jr.

200 acres Lick Branch, Grape Vine $1.25 per acre no building $250 total

Johnson Hatfield, Sr.

200 acres Lick Branch, Grape Vine $1.25 per acre no building $250 total

[Note: Two entries exist in the land book for a Johnson Hatfield (Sr. and Jr.) in 1884-1885; this is likely the same person and the same property.]

1886: Magnolia District

No entry for him.

1887: Magnolia District

Nancy Hatfield

300 acres Grapevine, Sandy River $1.25 per acre no building $375 total

[Note: This property was transferred from Johnson Hatfield. Presumably, “Nancy Hatfield” is Johnse’s wife, the former Nancy McCoy.]

1888: Magnolia District

No entry for Johnson or Nancy Hatfield.

[Note: In 1888, Johnson Hatfield, Jr. transferred 500 acres on Grapevine, Sandy River (two tracts) worth $1.25 and total value of $625 to J.D. Sergeant of Philadelphia, PA.]

1889: Magnolia District

No property listed.

1890: Magnolia District

Nancy Hatfield

147 acres H.R. Fk Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $147 total

[Note: This may be Johnse’s wife, Nancy.]

1891: Magnolia District

No property listed.

[In 1891, “Jo Hatfield & wife” transferred 258 acres on Left Hand Fork Ben Creek worth $1 per acre and with total value of $258 to H.R. Phillips, trustee. This may or may not be Johnse Hatfield.]

Valentine “Wall” Hatfield Property in Logan County (1874-1893)

13 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The following land information is derived from Land Book 1873-1874, Land Book 1880-1886, Land Book 1887-1892, and Land Book 1893-1899 at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Valentine Hatfield

No property listed in 1865-1873.

1874: Magnolia District

84 acres Beech Creek, Sandy River $5.25 per acre no building $441 total

144 acres Double Camp Branch, Beech $0.10 per acre no building $14.40 total

[Note: Regarding the latter tract, the book reads “entered on Books and corrected.”]

1875: Magnolia District

84 acres Beech Creek, Sandy River $5.25 per acre no building $441 total

144 acres Double Camp Branch, Beech $0.25 per acre no building $36 total

1876: Magnolia District

84 acres Beech Creek, Sandy River $5.25 per acre no building $441 total

144 acres Double Camp Branch, Beech $0.10 per acre no building $14.40 total

1877: Magnolia District

The record is blank.

1878: Magnolia District

48 acres Beech Creek $5.25 per acre no building $141 total

144 acres Double Camp Branch, Beech Creek $0.25 per acre no building $36 total

1879: Magnolia District

No records for this year.

1880-1881: Magnolia District

84 acres Beech Creek $5.25 per acre no building $441 total

144 acres Double Camp and Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $36 total

1882: Magnolia District

The Hatfield page is missing

1883: Magnolia District

The record is blank for this year.

1884-1885: Magnolia District

84 acres Beech Creek, Sandy River $5 per acre $50 building $420 total

144 acres Double Camp, Sandy River $1 per acre no building $144 total

1886: Magnolia District

84 acres Beech Creek, Sandy River $5 per acre $15 building $125 total

114 acres Double Camp, Sandy River $1 per acre $75 building $280 total

1887: Magnolia District

84 acres Beech Creek $5 per acre $50 building $420 total

144 acres Double Camp, Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $144 total

1888: Magnolia District

44 acres Beech Creek $5 per acre $50 building $220 total

144 acres Beech Creek $1 per acre no building $144 total

[Note: In this year, Wall Hatfield transferred 40 acres of the 84-acre tract to Doc Mahon.]

1889: Magnolia District

No property listed.

[In 1889, he transferred 89 acres on Beech Creek worth $1 per acre and total value of $89 to Ephraim Hatfield. Also, transferred with others 126 acres on Beech Creek worth $1 per acre and total value of $126 to J.D. Sergeant of Philadelphia.]

1890: Magnolia District

No property listed.

[Note: Wall Hatfield died on February 13, 1890 at Frankfort, KY.]

1891: Magnolia District

Jane Hatfield

84 acres, Beech Creek, $2 per acre, no building, $168 total

[Note: “Entered with 1 yr B tax.”]

1892-1893: Magnolia District

Jane Hatfield

84 acres, Beech Creek, $2.50 per acre, $40 building, $210 total

Anderson Hatfield Property in Logan County (1869-1893)

12 Friday Feb 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The following land information is derived from Land Book 1866-1872, Land Book 1873-1874, Land Book 1880-1886, Land Book 1887-1892, and Land Book 1893-1899, as well as various deed books, at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Anderson Hatfield

[Property listed in name of Levecy Hatfield in 1869, Levica Hatfield in 1870-1871, Levisa Hatfield in 1872, 1874, and 1876, Levitna Hatfield in 1873, Lavisa Hatfield in 1875, Levica Hatfield in 1889, Lovicy Hatfield in 1890-1891, Lovica Hatfield in 1892, and Levicy Hatfield in 1893.]

No property listed in land books for 1865-1867.

On October 19, 1867, George* and Nancy Hatfield of Pike County, KY, deeded 100 acres on Mate Creek to Levicy Hatfield of Logan County, WV, for five hundred dollars. The property began in the upper end of Mash Field and extended to the mouth of Meadow Branch. Witnessed by JP William Tiller on October 19, 1867.

No property listed in the land book for 1868.

1869: Magnolia Township

100 acres Mates Creek $4.20 per acre no building $420 total

55 acres Mates Creek $2.10 per acre $75 building $136.50 total

[Note: Based on the land book, both tracts were acquired in 1869 from George Hatfield of Kentucky. Also, the 55-acre total value figure did not include the value of the building. Note the actual date of purchase for one of the tracts was 1867, as per the deed.]

1870: Magnolia Township

100 acres Mates Creek $4.20 per acre no building $420 total

55 acres Mates Creek $2.10 per acre no building $136.50 total

1871-1872: Magnolia Township

100 acres Mates Creek $4.20 per acre no building $420 total

55 acres Mates Creek $2.10 per acre no building $115.50 total

[Note discrepancy in the valuation for the 55-acre tract.]

1873: Magnolia District

100 acres Mates Creek $5.25 per acre no building $441 total

55 acres Mates Creek $4.20 per acre no building $420 total

1874: Magnolia District

100 acres Mates Creek $4.20 per acre no building $420 total

55 acres Mates Creek $2.10 per acre $115.50 total

On December 29, 1874, Anderson and Lovicy Hatfield sold 200 acres to Polly Hatfield (all of Logan County) for $780 on Mates Creek. Began at the foot of the north hill at the upper end of the old Mash Field, a conditional corner between Ephraim Hatfield and Anderson Hatfield to the mouth of Meadow Branch to include all the land that George Hatfield had deeded to Lovicy Hatfield. Anderson and Lovicy signed the deed using an “x.” Justice of the peace Valentine Hatfield witnessed the deed on December 29, 1874.

[Note the original 100 acres from the 1867 deed has now become 200 acres.]

1875: Magnolia District

100 acres Mates Creek $4 per acre $50 building $400 total

55 acres Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $13.75 total

1876: Magnolia District

100 acres Mates Creek $4 per acre no building $400 total

55 acres Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $13.75

[Note: In 1876, according to the land book, Anderson Hatfield transferred 200 acres on Mates Creek worth $0.25 per acre and with a total worth of fifty dollars to Polly Hatfield; the deed is dated 1874 (see above); the 1878 land record corrected the acreage to 55 acres by order of P.A. Counts]

1877: Magnolia District

No records available for this year.

On July 2, 1877, Anderson and Lovicy Hatfield deeded 150 acres at Double Camp and Road forks of Mates Creek for $75 to Floyd Hatfield (all of Logan County). Began at the back line of the John Green survey below Double Camp, then up the main ridge to the top of the point above Road Fork, thence to John Green survey line. Anderson and Lovicy signed the deed using an “x.” Justice of the Peace Valentine Hatfield witnessed the deed on July 2, 1877.

On December 24, 1877, Anderson and Levisa Hatfield deeded 1500 acres on Grapevine Creek to James Vance, Jr. (all of Logan County) for $1400. Began near the mouth of Wolf Pen Fork, thence to the top of the mountain between Grapevine and the river, thence with mountain to dividing ridge between Grapevine and Beech Creek, thence to head of Thacker Creek, thence down ridge between Thacker and Mates Creek… References the ridge between the Wolf Pen and Mill Seat Fork. Anderson and Levicy signed the deed using an “x.” Justice Valentine Hatfield witnessed the deed on December 24, 1877.

1878: Magnolia District

Anse Hatfield owned no property in 1878.

[In 1878, as per the land book, Anderson Hatfield transferred 150 acres on Double Camp and Road Fork of Mate to Floyd Hatfield worth twenty cents per acre and with a total worth of $20. Records showed this as “transferred from Anderson Hatfield.” Note: The deed (above) shows the transfer as 1877.]

1879: Magnolia District

No records exist for this year.

1880-1881: Magnolia District

As per land book, Anse Hatfield owned no land.

On December 9, 1880, Anderson Hatfield, Lovicy Hatfield, Elias Hatfield, and Henry Mitchell deeded 200 acres on Wolf Pen Fork of Grapevine Creek to Robert Cox (all of Logan County) for $200. Anderson Hatfield, Lovicy Hatfield, Elias Hatfield, and Henry Mitchell signed the deed. Justice of the peace Valentine Hatfield witnessed the deed on December 10, 1880.

1882: Magnolia District

The Hatfield page is missing from the land book.

On January 28, 1882, Anderson and Vicy Hatfield deeded 200 acres at Lick Fork of Grapevine Creek to Johnson Hatfield (all of Logan County) for $250. Began at a large rock near the creek bank just above the garden field at the mouth of Lick Fork, thence running out to the center of the point above Lick Fork…to the head of Lick Fork and down the top of the ridge between Grapevine and Thacker Creek… Anderson and Vicy Hatfield signed the deed. Justice Valentine Hatfield witnessed the deed on January 28, 1882.

1883: Magnolia District

Records for this district are blank.

1884: Magnolia District

37 acres Tug River $1 per acre no building $37 total

2900 acres Grape Vine, Tug River $1.25 per acre $50 building $3625 total

[Note: In 1884, Anse transferred 100 acres to Daniel Christian on Grape Vine and Sandy River worth $1.25 per acre with no building and valued at $125. In 1884, Anse transferred 150 acres on Beech Creek and Sandy River to Jacob Francesco worth $1 per acre with no buildings and total value at $150. This latter tract states “by A. Hatfield by P. Mayhorn” and adds that “books don’t show A. Hatfield is owner.” Anse is not named in the 1884 deed to Jacob Francesco.]

1885: Magnolia District

37 acres Tug River $1 per acre no building $37 total

2750 acres Grapevine Creek and Tug River $1.25 per acre $50 building $3437.50 total

[In 1885, he transferred 50 acres on Sandy River to Moses Christian worth $1.25 per acre with a total worth of $62.50. In 1885, he transferred 100 acres on Grapevine Creek to Samuel Mayhorn worth $1.25 per acre with a total worth of $125.]

1886: Magnolia District

No property listed for him in 1886.

[In 1886, he transferred 500 acres on Pigeon Creek to James Ferrell worth $1.12 per acre with a total worth of $500. This note referenced him as “A. Hatfield Sr.” In 1886, he transferred 25 acres on Tug River to E.S. Murphy worth $1 per acre and a total worth of $25. In 1886, he transferred 340 acres on Beech Creek to Harrison Steel valued at $2.25 per acre and with a total worth of $765. This latter note stated: “2 years back tax and with interest; transferred from Ans Hatfield.”]

1887: Magnolia District

37 acres Tug River $1 per acre no building $37 total

2360 acres Grape Vine $1.25 per acre $50 building $2950 total

[Note: For both entries, the record reads: “one yr bk tax & interest.” In 1887, he transferred 69 acres on Sandy River worth $1 per acre and total worth of $69 to James Mounts. In 1887, he transferred with others 100 acres on Sandy River worth $1 per acre and total value of $100 to Charles R. Mounts. In 1887, he transferred 200 acres on Beech Creek to Harrison Steel worth $1 per acre and total value of $200.]

1888: Logan District

[On April 10, 1888, Lewis S. Steel sold 200 acres on Island Creek to Vicie Hatfield for $900. Deed Book L, p. 53.]

[On May 1, 1888, Anse and Levicy Hatfield agreed to a quit claim deed for mineral rights to 600 acres in the head of Island Creek to Stuart Wood for $1, and fifty cents per acre once surveyed and the title perfected. Deed Book K, p. 158-159.]

[On May 10, 1888, L.D. and A.E. Steel sold 250 acres on Island Creek to Levicy Hatfield for $500. Deed Book L, p. 52.]

1888: Magnolia District

No property listed for him, but a note in 1893 lists back taxes owed for:

Anderson Hatfield

2656 1/2 acres Grapevine Creek $3.50 per acre no building $9297.75 total

[Note: In 1888, he transferred 300 acres on Grapevine, Sandy River worth $1.25 per acre and total value of $375 to J.D. Sergeant of Philadelphia, PA. In 1888, he transferred along with others 1385 acres on Sandy River worth $1.25 per acre and total worth of $1632 to J.D. Sergeant.]

1889: Logan District

Levica Hatfield

250 acres Island Creek $1 per acre no building $250 total

200 acres Island Creek $1.40 per acre no building $280 total

1889: Magnolia District

Anderson Hatfield

2656 1/2 acres Grapevine Creek $3.50 per acre no building $9297.75 total

[On April 9, 1889, Anse and Levisy Hatfield deed to James E. Price, trustee, for $825 the mineral rights of 821 acres on Island Creek. Deed Book 47, p. 67-70.]

[On September 6, 1889, Anse Hatfield deeded all of the timber on his Island Creek property to the Little Kanawha Lumber Company for $352. References Anse having the right to put in a grist mill at the splash dam. Deed Book O, p. 410-411.]

1890-1891: Logan District

Lovicy Hatfield

250 acres Island Creek $1 per acre no building $250 total

200 acres Island Creek $1.40 per acre no building $280 total

[On November 21, 1891, Anse and Levicy Hatfield deeded to Stuart Wood and J.A. Nighbert for one dollar a right of way for splashing timber at the 821 acres. References Conley Bottom, the mouth of Dempsey Branch, and Conley’s Creek. Deed Book M, p. 189.]

1890-1891: Magnolia District

Anderson Hatfield

2656 1/2 acres Grapevine Creek $3.50 per acre no building $9297.75 total

1892: Logan District

Lovica Hatfield

250 acres Island Creek $2 per acre no building $500 total

200 acres Island Creek $5 per acre $500 building $1000 total

[On June 18, 1892, Anse and Levicy deeded to G.R. Buskirk for $2 his timber on 400 acres. Deed Book Q, p. 370.]

1892: Magnolia District

Anderson Hatfield

2656 1/2 acres Grapevine Creek $3.50 per acre no building $9297.75 total

1893-1894: Logan District

Levicy Hatfield

250 acres Island Creek $2 per acre no building $500 total

200 acres Island creek $5 per acre $500 building $1000 total

1893: Magnolia District

Anderson Hatfield

2656 1/2 acres Grapevine Creek $3.50 per acre no building $9297.75 total

[Note: In 1893, the tract at Grapevine Creek was noted: “entered with 5 yrs back taxes and interest.”]

1894: Magnolia District

Anderson Hatfield

2656 1/2 acres Grapevine Creek $3.50 per acre no building $9298 total

*George Hatfield (1804-1883), son of Ephraim and Anna (Musick) Hatfield; father of “Preacher Anse” Hatfield.

NOTE: Many discrepancies exist between the land books and deeds for Anderson Hatfield.

Ephraim Hatfield Property in Logan County (1865-1885)

02 Tuesday Feb 2021

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The following land information is derived from Land Book 1866-1872, Land Book 1873-1874, Land Book 1880-1886, and Land Book 1887-1892 at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Ephraim Hatfield

1865-1867: Magnolia Township

70 acres Murphys Branch, Mate Creek $0.50 per acre no building $35 total

125 acres Meadors Branch, Mate Creek $0.50 per acre no building $62.50 total

115 acres Mate Creek $6.00 $200 building $690 total

45 acres Double Camp $2.00 no building $90 total

20 acres South Side, Mate Creek [added in 1871, five years back tax]

24 acres Straight Fork $3.00 per acre no building $72 total

84 acres Beech Creek $5.00 per acre no building $420 total

1868: Magnolia Township

The book contains no entries for Magnolia Township)

1869-1872: Magnolia Township

70 acres John Murpheys Branch, Mate Creek $0.52 per acre no building $36.75 total

[125-acre tract was gone by 1869, bestowed to Nancy Varney, who had 125 acres on “Meadow” Branch worth $0.52 1/2 in 1869]

115 acres Mate Creek $6.30 per acre $200 building $724.50 total

45 acres Double Camp $2.10 per acre no building $94.50 total

20 acres South Side, Mate Creek $0.52 1/2 per acre no building $10.50 total

24 acres Straight Fork $3.15 per acre no building $75.60 total

84 acres Beech Creek $5.25 per acre no building $441 total

1873: Magnolia District

70 acres John Murpheys Branch, Mate Creek $0.52 per acre no building $36.75 total

[Note: The above building was likely noted in error.]

113 acres Mate Creek $6.30 per acre $200 building $724.50 total

[Note: The 115-acre tract is likely noted as 113 acres in error.]

45 acres Double Camp $2.10 per acre no building $94.50 total

20 acres South Side, Mate Creek $0.52 1/2 per acre no building $10.50 total

24 acres Straight Fork $3.15 per acre no building $75.60 total

84 acres Beech Creek $5.25 per acre no building $441 total

1874: Magnolia District

115 acres Mates Creek $6.30 per acre $200 building $724.50 total

45 acres Double Camp $2.10 per acre no building $94.50 total

20 acres S Side Mate Creek $0.52 per acre 1/2 no building $10.50 total

24 acres Trough? Fork $0.15? per acre no building $75.60 total

[Note: He transferred the 84-acre tract to Valentine Hatfield]

1875: Magnolia District

115 acres Mates Creek $4.00 per acre $45 building $460 total

45 acres Double Camp of Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $11.25 total

20 acres Double Camp $0.25 per acre no building $5.00 total

24 acres Strat Fork $0.25 per acre no building $6.00 total

1876: Magnolia District

115 acres Mate Creek $0.25 per acre no building $11.25 total

45 acres Double Camp Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $5.00 total

20 acres Double Camp Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $6.00 total

24 acres Straight Fork $0.25 per acre no building $18.75 total

1877: Magnolia District

Records are missing for this year.

1878: Magnolia District

15 acres Mates Creek $4.00 per acre $25 building $60 total

20 acres Double Camp Branch Mate Creek $0.25 per acre no building $5.00 total

24 acres Strate Fork Mate Creek $0.25 per acre no building $6.00 total

368 acres Mates Creek $0.10 per acre no building $36.80 total

[Note: In 1878, Ephraim transferred one tract of 100 acres on Mate Creek worth four dollars per acre containing a $25 building with a total worth of $400 to Smith and Patterson Hatfield. He also transferred one tract of 50 acres on Nashes Buck? Hollow Double Camp worth twenty-five cents per acre with no building and total worth of $12.50 to Floyd Hatfield.]

1879: Magnolia District

Records are missing for this year.

1880: Magnolia District

15 acres Mates Creek $4.00 per acre $25 building $60 total

20 acres Double Camp Branch Mate Creek $0.25 per acre no building $5.00 total

24 acres Strate Fork Mate Creek $0.25 per acre no building $6.00 total

68 acres Mates Creek $0.10 per acre no building $36.80 total

[Note: In 1880, Ephraim transferred 300 acres from the 368-acre tract to Ellison Hatfield. Note also that he died before the 1880 census.]

1881: Magnolia District

15 acres Mates Creek $4.00 per acre $25 building $375.00? total

20 acres Double Camp Branch Mate Creek $0.25 per acre no building $99.00 total

24 acres Strate Fork Mate Creek $0.25 per acre no building $200.00

68 acres Mates Creek $0.25 per acre no building $109.00

[Note errors in total valuation for his property.]

1882: Magnolia District

The Hatfield page is missing from records.

1883: Magnolia District

Records are missing for this year.

1884: Magnolia District

15 acres Mates Creek $5.00 per acre $40 building $75 total

20 acres Double Camp Branch $1 per acre no building $20 total

68 acres Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $68 total

[Note: The 50-acre tract was listed under Ephraim, Sr. and was transferred from Floyd Hatfield. The 114-acre tract was transferred from a commissioner.]

1885: Magnolia District

15 acres Mates Creek $5 per acre $40 building $75 total

20 acres Double Camp Branch, Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $20 total

68 acres Mates Creek $1 per acre no building $68 total

1886-1888: Magnolia District

No property is listed for 1886, 1887, and 1888.

Hatfield-McCoy Feud Prisoners (1889-1890)

08 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by in Hatfield-McCoy Feud

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In December of 1887 and January of 1888, Frank Phillips and his posse captured nine members of the Hatfield faction accused of murdering various members of Randolph McCoy’s family. Captured persons included Selkirk McCoy, Mose Christian, Tom Mitchell, Valentine “Wall” Hatfield, Doc Mahon, Sam Mahon, Andy Varney, Plyant Mahon, and L.D. McCoy. In November of 1888, detectives captured Hatfield partisan Alex Messer. The following information is derived from Kentucky State Penitentiary records:

VALENTINE HATFIELD

NAME: Valentine Hatfield

SEX OR COLOR: White Male

CRIME: Murder

SENTENCE: Life

COUNTY SENT FROM: Pike

TERM OF COURT: August 1889

RECEIVED: January 2, 1890

NO. OF COMMITTAL: 73

AGE: 56

HEIGHT: 6′

WEIGHT: 162

COMPLEXION: Fair

COLOR OF EYES: Yellow

COLOR OF HAIR: Dark

EDUCATION: Com.

NATIVITY: Ky

OCCUPATION: Farmer

PREVIOUS HABITS: Int.

SOCIAL RELATION: M

SUNDAY SCHOOL: No

DESCRIPTION: Book 2, page 117

FORMER CONVICTIONS: —

HOW AND WHEN DISCHARGED: Died February 13, 1890

MARKS, SCARS, ETC.: Mole on left side of neck; ____ in front of neck; scars on right knee and shin; some varicose veins on legs; two dark moles on outside left thigh

ALEXANDER MESSER

NAME: Alexander Messer

SEX OR COLOR: White Male

CRIME: Murder

SENTENCE: Life

COUNTY SENT FROM: Pike

TERM OF COURT: August 1889

RECEIVED: September 7, 1889

NO. OF COMMITTAL: 420 (or 419)

AGE: 52

HEIGHT: 5’8 ¼”

WEIGHT: 158

COMPLEXION: Fair

COLOR OF EYES: Blue

COLOR OF HAIR: Grayish

EDUCATION: None

NATIVITY: Ky

OCCUPATION: Farmer

PREVIOUS HABITS: Temp.

SOCIAL RELATION: M

SUNDAY SCHOOL: Yes

DESCRIPTION: Book 2, page 78

FORMER CONVICTIONS: —

HOW AND WHEN DISCHARGED: —

MARKS, SCARS, ETC.: 2nd finger of left hand scarred at end; scar on each knee; great toe on right foot crooked and badly scarred where it joins foot; great number of scars behind left shoulder; scars in small of back; scar under right nipple; scar on right side

DOC MAHON

NAME: Doc Mayhorn

SEX OR COLOR: White Male

CRIME: Murder

SENTENCE: Life

COUNTY SENT FROM: Pike

TERM OF COURT: August 1889

RECEIVED: January 2, 1890

NO. OF COMMITTAL: 74

AGE: 35

HEIGHT:   5’9 ½”

WEIGHT: 156

COMPLEXION: Fair

COLOR OF EYES: Blue

COLOR OF HAIR: Sandy

EDUCATION: Com.

NATIVITY: W.Va

OCCUPATION: Farmer

PREVIOUS HABITS: Int.

SOCIAL RELATION: M

SUNDAY SCHOOL: No

DESCRIPTION: Book 2, page 118

FORMER CONVICTIONS: —

HOW AND WHEN DISCHARGED: —

MARKS, SCARS, ETC.: Vaccine mark on right arm; scar inside right wrist; small scar outside right hip

PLYANT MAHON

NAME: Plyant Mahorn

SEX OR COLOR: White Male

CRIME: Murder

SENTENCE: Life

COUNTY SENT FROM: Pike

TERM OF COURT: August 1889

RECEIVED: January 2, 1890

NO. OF COMMITTAL: 75

AGE: 37

HEIGHT: 5/10 ½”

WEIGHT: 148

COMPLEXION: Fair

COLOR OF EYES: Blue

COLOR OF HAIR: Sandy

EDUCATION: Com.

NATIVITY: W.Va

OCCUPATION: Farmer

PREVIOUS HABITS: Temp.

SOCIAL RELATION: M

SUNDAY SCHOOL: No

DESCRIPTION: Book 2, page 118

FORMER CONVICTIONS: —

HOW AND WHEN DISCHARGED: —

MARKS, SCARS, ETC.: Vaccine mark on right arm.

Sources:

Eddyville Prisoner Description Book 1889-1910, Roll No. 7009897

Eddyville Prisoner Register 1885-1910, Roll No. 7008244

Frankfort Prison Cell House Register 1883-1919, Roll No. 7010207

Frankfort Prison Sentence Register 1874-1894, Roll No. 7010211

Frankfort Prisoner Descriptions 1887-1906, Roll No. 7009898

Frankfort Register of Prisoners 1848-1893, Roll No. 7009891

Frankfort Register of Prisoners 1880-1911, Roll No. 7009892

Interview of Jean Hatfield at Sarah Ann, WV (2001), Part 4

01 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by in Cemeteries, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In 2001-2002, I wrote a series of popular stories for the Logan Banner that merged aspects of well-known Hatfield-McCoy books written by Otis Rice and Altina Waller in the 1980s. I had previously enjoyed Rice’s narrative and Waller’s analysis; I did not conduct any new research. Even though I believed the definitive Hatfield-McCoy Feud book remained unwritten, my purpose in writing these stories was not a step toward writing a book; my purpose in writing these stories was to revisit the narrative with some analysis for Banner readers. My hope was that readers would see what I saw: first, fascinating history (or folk story) for its own sake; second, the power of history to create a popular type of tourism.

I was fortunate during this time to meet Jean Hatfield. Jean, born in 1936, operated a Hatfield family museum at Sarah Ann, WV. Jean was not a native of West Virginia but had lived her entire adult life locally and had personally known several of Anderson Hatfield’s children. I really appreciated her desire to promote regional history. She “got it.” She inspired me. Anytime that I drove up Route 44, I stopped to visit Jean at the museum. She was always welcoming. Knowing her reminded me that every Hatfield (and McCoy) descendant is a source of information–-and that for the most part they have yet to tell the story in their own words. Three notable exceptions include The McCoys: Their Story by Truda Williams McCoy (1976), The Tale of the Devil (2003) by Coleman Hatfield and Bob Spence, and The Hatfield and McCoy Feud After Kevin Costner: Rescuing History (2013) by Thomas Dotson.

What follows is Part 4 of my interview with Jean, which occurred on August 7, 2001:

What kind of house did Johnse have?

Probably just a frame house.

I don’t know much about what he did for a living.

I really don’t know either. There’s not that much on him. Maybe he just spent his time chasing ladies. I don’t even know what type of work he did. But he had to work. He worked for his father, for one thing. But now there’s some of his grandchildren still living. But I’m like you, he’s not as good looking as most of the other boys were. But then when you’re like eighteen years old, everybody’s good looking at eighteen.

I wonder what Devil Anse thought about people taking his photo?

There was just always somebody wanting to take his picture. Now this is by Life magazine. They done a story.

I love the one in his hat.

That’s a very rare one. And the one with the long rifle. Because most of the time in the pictures you see him with his little shotgun. But that has the long rifle. I think that’s the muzzle-loading type.

Not nearly as many photos of Randolph McCoy.

This one here, when we did the McCoy monument, they didn’t have any pictures. We had gathered up quite a few of the McCoys and we made a collage picture and that one was in it. That’s the one mostly you see of him is that one. But I have a couple here somewhere when he was younger but it’s not a very clear copy. But he looks very sad and very old and very sick in that one. But he was like thirteen years older than Grandpa, though.

Did your husband hold any grudges?

No.

Was he raised to?

Oh no. He says on the History Channel tape that he went to school with McCoys and he never did have any animosity towards any of them. In fact, our postmaster down here, she was a McCoy before she married. And she and I get along real good.

So not all of Devil Anse’s brothers were involved in the feud…

Well now, like Wall Hatfield, he wasn’t concerned in it nowhere and they took him before a jury and found him guilty of murder, which he didn’t do. And he died in the pen just not long after he got in because he just couldn’t handle penitentiary life. And he’s buried down under that highway. The highway went over the graves of the prisoners that were buried there. Isn’t that terrible? That’s what the family said. Uncle Allen Hatfield from Beech Creek was one of his children. That’s where that come from.

Where did they bury Ellison Mounts?

I think he’s buried over at Hatfield Cemetery at Matewan. That’s where Grandma and Grandpa’s mother and father is buried. Ephraim. He was buried there.

Are they marked?

Yeah. I think they have a small marker is all. Devil Anse’s father was Big Eph Hatfield and she was Nancy Vance. That’s where Uncle Jim come in at. That was her brother. So that would have been Grandpa’s uncle. He loved Grandpa so well, he would kill for him, that was all there was to it. And Grandpa didn’t have to tell him. He went out on his own and done it. I think that had a lot to do with it. In all that I read, Grandpa’s personality just didn’t seem like he was that type of a person.

Did they ever talk about him doing things like singing or whittling?

He was a joker. Like my mother-in-law said, Tennis had give her a new diamond ring. And she was out helping Grandpa milk the cow and she was showing him her pretty ring and he said, “I’d just soon have a pewter button.” He was always joking with people and things like that. Now my mother-in-law was a very scary person. And if he’d a been a mean person she wouldn’t have stayed around him. But her and Tennis lived with them until they had two children. He couldn’t have been very threatening.

Who had the home when it burned?

Tennis. He inherited it from his momma. It burned after she passed. That was on the land that he inherited. All of the children got a certain amount of land.

Did Devil Anse sell out in Mingo County?

Yeah. Cline got it. He just let him have it all and he moved over here.

Who owned the old property where the cemetery is in Mingo County?

That’s part of the other estate, I’d say, Ephraim. That would be part of his. Delorme and up in that area was where they were all at mostly. Delorme, Red Jacket. I don’t know a whole lot about Mingo County. And we lost one of our good little relatives over there: Dutch Hatfield. He used to be chief of police of Matewan and he knew everybody. And him and Henry was really close together and they passed within a year of each other. But he was pretty well up on all of the relatives and who was whose child and all of that.

Why was Cap’s family not buried with the other Hatfields?

Cap and Grandpa and the boys, seems like there was a rift there all the time. He was at Grandpa’s funeral but they hadn’t had much dealings from what I can understand. So when he died he just wanted to be buried on his own land. They started their own little cemetery down there. They may have had some people die before that and buried them there.

Where is Johnse buried?

Johnse is buried up here.

Any of his wives buried with him?

No.

That’s sad that he had so many wives and none are buried with him.

Yeah. That’s a lesson to those men. Better find one and be loyal to them.

I hope someone can figure out how to make this tourism work here.

If you happen to see them down at the Chamber of Commerce, you ask ‘em about a road up here. See if we can get it changed some way. Because if they’re going to use this for tourism they’re going to need to be able to locate it. This is 44. 18 miles from the boulevard to the top of the mountain—that’s as far as 44 goes. And they’re advertising it through the rest stop areas. And Sarah Ann’s not even on the map. Stirrat is.

They don’t have it together in the county seat either.

No. I think it’s one group pulling against another group and if they don’t get together nothing gets done.

Have you ever seen that play in Beckley?

No. I’ve had people say it’s good. I don’t like to stay overnight away from home. I’m a home body.

***

Jean died in 2011. I miss seeing her when I drive up Route 44.

Paw Paw Incident: Dan Whitt Deposition (1889)

20 Saturday Apr 2019

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Dan Whitt’s deposition regarding the affair:

IMG_9744.JPG

The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness Dan Whitt who proves that [he] knows the Defts Doc & Plyant Mayhorn. Knew the three McCoy Boys. Saw them on head Blackberry. Ance, Cap, & Jonse Hatfield, C. Carpenter, Alex Messer were there with me. I saw Defts at Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s was there when we came down the creek to that place, do not remember whether they had any arms or not. All the balance of us had arms. Defts. was somewhere above there when we formed line do not remember whether they got in line or not. Do not remember how Defendants crossed the river. Saw them on the West Virginia side. Had no trial at the mouth of Blackberry. Defendants went to the school house on Mate Creek where the McCoy boys were taken. Do not remember that the Defendants had guns or was armed. There was arms there and they was handled through each other. When Aunt Sally come Ance objected to her seeing the boys but consented afterwards. Wall told Aunt Sally that if they were bothered they would shoot the boys as full of holes as a sifter bottom. Myself, Ance Hatfield, Cap, & Jonce Hatfield, Alex Messer, Jo Murphy, Tom Mitchel C. Carpenter Doc & Sam Mayhon Moses Christian and Jeff Whitt crossed over river into Ky with the McCoy boys we crossed in a flat boat we took them up the bank and up the river a piece to a flat place and there surrounded them and set down and some one said something about a shooting match and I told them if that was what they was for I would leave and me and Sam Mayhorn, Jeff Whitt, & Moses Christian run and got 15 or 20 steps away and the guns fired. The boys was tied together. After the shooting the balance all come to where we was on the bank of the river and we all crossed back together in the boat and when we got to the mouth or Just up in the mouth of Mate we found Wall Hatfield, Elias Hatfield, Plyant Mahon, & Elijah Mounts. They was near the sign board. Wall Hatfield there. Saw the crowd that had been near the river to protect each other and never tell anything that had happened that night. I was indicted for this offense and my father in law got a letter from McKenner saying that if I would come in and give up and tell all I knew about the case he would dismiss the indictments against me and I should not be prosecuted. The prosecution has been dismissed against me. I did not take the oath. We left Ance Ferrells in West Va, that is me, Ance, Jonce, & Cap Hatfield, Alex Messer, C. Carpenter, Jo Murphy, Tom Mitchel, Bill Tom Hatfield, & Jeff Whitt with the agreement to go and Hang the McCoy boys. We staid all night at Farmans store at the mouth of Blackberry in Pike Co Ky. We had no agreement with the Mayhon boys to hang the McCoy boys and they knew nothing of the agreement made at Ance Ferrells. I said at the Jail that I would give same amount to know which one of the Mayhon boys was across the river…[cropped]

Paw Paw Incident: Andy Varney Deposition (1889)

14 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Andy Varney’s deposition regarding the affair:

IMG_9738.JPG

The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness Andy Varney who proves that he knows Defts Wall, Ance, Cap, & Jonce Hatfield, C. Carpenter, Alex Messer. Knows the McCoy boys. I first saw them over on Blackberry just a little above Rev. Anderson Hatfield. Saw Ance, Cap, Jonce, Wall, and Defts. Do not remember seeing defendants with any arms. I next saw them at the river. Was at the school house on Mate creek Tuesday evening to the best of my knowledge the defts had arms there. Guns, I think. The crowd come to Elias Hatfields about 11 oclock. Wall, Elias, Jonce, Ance, Cap, Alex Messer, and the defts they were all armed. They were all there next morning. I was Lying on the porch when the parties came to Elias Hatfield. I saw these two Mayhorn boys there. I staid there all night. I had a gun. I was guarding the prisoners while at school house on Mate. Some one told me he had a summons for a sufficient guard. I have been staying at old man McCoy’s. I was indicted with defendant but the case has been filed away. I was behind all the way down Blackberry Creek with Harrison Steele.

Paw Paw Incident: Floyd Mounts Deposition (1889)

04 Thursday Apr 2019

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Floyd Mounts’ deposition regarding the affair:

IMG_9723.JPG

Floyd Mounts

I know Don and Jeff Whitt. Jeff said at the Jail Door Just after the __ of Wall Hatfield that if he swore Wall, Plyant and Dock Mahorn went across the river where the boys were killed he was mistaken, and that he was served and didn’t know what he was doing and that they were not there.

Paw Paw Incident: Ellison Mounts Deposition (1889)

04 Monday Mar 2019

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Culture of Honor, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Ellison Mounts’ deposition regarding the affair:

IMG_9727.JPG

Ellison Mounts

I was present at the time the 3 McCoys were killed. They were killed on the Ky side of the river opposite a little drain, or maybe a little above it. Neither Plyant Mayhorn nor Dock Mayhorn were present at the time or place where the McCoy boys were killed.

X Ex

Ance, Cap, & Johnce Hatfield, Charley Carpenter, Dan Whitt, Mose Christian and Sam Mayhorn, Jeff Whitt, Alex Messer and myself were present when the killing was done. Jeff Whitt, Dan Whitt, Mose Christian and myself were not ___ present when the Guns were fired. we were 15 or so steps away. After we got across the river Ance called on Wall to Swear them to keep secret what had occurred that nights and Wall did so.

Re Ex

[I cropped the bottom of the page in my photo]

Paw Paw Incident: Randolph McCoy Deposition (1889)

16 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Pikeville

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Randolph McCoy’s deposition regarding the affair:

IMG_9737.JPG

The Court of Ky

Vs.

Anderson Hatfield & other Defts.

Pltffs Bill of Exceptions

Be it remembered that on the trial of Doc Mayhorn and Plyant Mahon under the above styled prosecution the following proceedings was had.

The Commonwealth introduced and has worn as a witness Randolp McCoy, who proves that he is 63 years old that he is the father of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Randolp McCoy, they are now dead, was on Blackberry Creek in Pike County Ky at the August Election 1882 says that the boys in custody about 2 oclock on that day staid on the Election grounds about two hours they then went up to Floyd McCoys and staid until nearly night and then went to John Hatfields house and staid all night. They were in custody of Tolbert Hatfield a Justice of the Peace and Floyd Hatfield special Constable. Defents Doc and Plyant Mayhon are sons in law of Wall Hatfield. My boys was next morning started toward Pikeville in Pike County under a guard of six or seven men and was taken by Wall and Elias Hatfield and then turned back down [page torn] stopped at the mouth of Dial [page torn] his boys was then placed in a large corn sled while there. Anse Hatfield and his squad come up. Defendants was with them when they come up. they had with them country Rifle guns. Dials branch is from a ¼ to ½ miles from where Wall Hatfield came to them. Defendants were there all the time from the time they come to the corn sled. the crowd stopped at old Jerry Hatfield and Charley Carpenter got a rope and tied my three boys together. then went down the creek to Rev. Anderson Hatfields and defendants and all stopped there and got dinner. Knows Ance, Cap & Johnson Hatfield. they was there. Alex Messer was there. After Dinner Devil Ance stepped out and said “all of Hatfields frirends form a line” Ance Cap Jonce two Defts. Alex Messer Chuck Murphy was all in the line. Defts had arms (Guns I think). this was Aug 8 1882. My boys was then by this squad marched down the creek toward the river. This is the last time I ever saw them alive. I was on the road from Pikeville home they day my boys was buried. There was quite a crowd at the corn sled. There were a great many persons who were not interested several had guns. If I am not mistaken the first time I saw defendants was at the mouth of Dials branch. I may be mistaken but do not think I am. I saw no one catching horses in pasture at Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s. If I did I do not know who they were. The defts. were present when my boys were tied at Jerry Hatfield’s above Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s. When Devil Ance at the Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s called for the Hatfield friends to fall into the line the defts. went into the line and they were I think both armed with rifles and guns. The boys were then taken down the creek toward Tug river still tied together. I never saw them alive again.

State v. Ephraim Hatfield (1871-1872)

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Timber

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In 1871-1872, Ephraim Hatfield was accused of stealing “with force and arms” twenty saw logs valued at fifty dollars from James Allison in Logan County, WV. Most likely, the Ephraim Hatfield of this record is Ephraim “Big Eph” Hatfield (c.1811-c.1881), father to Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield. Other possibilities include Ephraim Hatfield (b. c.1851), son of John Hatfield, and Ephraim Hatfield (b. c.1856), son of Valentine “Wall” Hatfield.

56

Grand jury indictment for Ephraim Hatfield, who stood accused of stealing twenty “saw logs” from James Allison valued at fifty dollars on 10 April 1871. Logan County, WV. Page 1.

57

Page 1 (back). Note: This event is not related to the Hatfield-McCoy Feud.

64

Summons for Ephraim Hatfield to appear for the Fall Term of Court 1872 in Logan County, WV. Dated June 15, 1872. Page 1

65

M. Jackson served summons to Ephraim Hatfield on 20 July 1872. Page 1 (back)

Paw Paw Incident: James M. McCoy Deposition (1889)

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Hatfield-McCoy Feud

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is James M. McCoy’s deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9739

The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness James M. McCoy an uncle to the boys killed say the boys in the corn sled on Blackberry Creek. They were not tied do not know who all was ____ did not see the Mayhorn Boys there, they come shortly afterwards with Ance Hatfield and his crowd. Defendants was armed with Rifle guns. The next time saw defts was when line was formed at Rev. Anderson Hatfields. Defts. fell into line saw them cross the river with the McCoy boys. The Mayhons was along and was armed. Never saw the McCoy boys alive anymore. Saw them after they were killed. There is a road running down the river from where the boys were killed it is about 100 yards from where the boys was killed to the road. I then lived just below the mouth of Peter. A great many people was on Blackberry on Tuesday. Most all the neighborhood both in Ky and West Va was there. They came with Ance Cap & Jonce Hatfield Carpenter Messer & others. first saw Defts at the sled at the old house. The dets. went into the line that was formed at Rev. Anderson Hatfields. The three McCoy boys crowd in a skiff with Wall Carpenter Johnce Ance & Murphy.

Paw Paw Incident: James McCoy Deposition (1889)

30 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is James McCoy’s deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9720.JPG

The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness James McCoy who proves that he is brother to Tolbert, Randolp (sic) Jr. and Pharmer McCoy. Saw them Aug 9, 1882 on Mate Creek in the state West Va. Saw them on Blackberry Creek on Election day. Jo Hatfield, Mathew Hatfield and Floyd Hatfield had charge off them on that day. First saw them next day at Rev. Anderson Hatfield about 12 o’clock. They were tied arm and arm and all tied together. Saw several persons there. Saw Defendants there. They had guns. I think Rifle guns. Soon after I got there Bad Ance formed a line and said let all Hatfield men or friends fall into line. Deft. fell in to line. Doc had a gun. Am not sure that Plyant Had any gun. Ance said when the Prisoners were brought out we will take charge of them now. The whole crowd then went down Blackberry Creek toward the river. Witness went along about 1 ½ miles. Ance said to me I had no business further down and I stopped. Ance further said that he had a notion to tell the officers along that he had no further use for them. I went to Mate Creek in West Va. where my brothers was in a School house Wednesday Aug 9th 1882. I saw Bad Ance, Cap, Jonce Hatfields Defendants Doc & Plyant Mayhorn, Alex Messer, Tom Mitchell and some others. Defendants had guns some times. I left there about 3 o’clock p.m. Went down to mouth Mate Creek staid a few minutes at Sam Simpkin’s. Then went to Asa McCoy’s at mouth Sulphur. I saw Wall with a papers. Do not know what it contained and heard Wall call for signers. Saw Plyant walk up to Wall but can not say whether he signed it or not. Saw Plyant with Wall & Elias Hatfield and Elijah Mounts that evening late at the mouth Mate Creek. They went up river. Saw them again just after dark pass down by the mouth of Sulphur. I was there and they had not been gone by perhaps 20 minutes when I heard a volley of guns or pistols fired on the Ky side of the river about ½ way between Mouth Sulphur and Mate Creek but on the opposite side of the river from Sulphur. My brothers was dead when I found them. Anderson Ferrell went with him to find them. Found on the Ky shore short distance from river in a sink or flat all tied together and to two Paw Paw Bushes. Tolbert had one hand over his head. Made an examination of my brothers and found Pharmer shot 16 times. Randolph with the whole top of his head shot off. Six or seven shots in Tolbert. We removed them in a sled. They were all burried (sic) in one coffin. Elias Hatfield had a gun as they passed me at the mouth of Sulphur there was one horse in the crowd was considerably excited at times. The officers had the boys in charge for murdering Ellison Hatfield. There were a great many men along who had guns that are not indicted. There was six or seven guards and some that were not guards along with my brothers. I do not know where any one objected to my brothers being brought to Pikevill or not. I can not tell all the parties who had guns. Ellison Hatfield died about 2 ½ or 3 oclock Wednesday Aug 9, 1882. The men who taken the corps of Ellison Hatfield to Elias Hatfields was a part of the men he had seen at the school house. My brothers were found dead in Pike County Ky. Wall Hatfield is the brother of Ance, Elison & Elias Hatfield, and the father in law of the defts. When I saw my brothers at Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s there was also present Ance, Cap, Johns, Wall & Elias Hatfield. Carpenter, Dan Whitt, Messer, Murphy, Mose Christian and defts. When I found my brothers dead they were tied together and to two paw paw bushes. When Wall, Elias, & deft. Plyant Mahorn found me near the mouth of Sulphur at dark they were passing from the direction of Joe Davis’ at mo. Blackberry and going in the direction of the mouth Mate. From Jo Davis’ to mouth of Sulphur is about ½ mile, and from Sulphur to mouth Mate is about ½ mile. From the point where my brothers were found dead in Pike Co Ky is _____ in WVa immediately opposite is about 125 yards. As soon as they passed me near the mouth of Sulphur I ___ my horse pulled some grass and fed him, went back and sat down on the porch, and the firing directly began. I think it was 20 minutes after they passed until the firing began. I think I heard 50 shots. After the volley ceased there was one loud shot.

***

Written in the margin: Soon after this I went down to Ferrell’s and ___ Simpkins and myself went and found my brothers.

Paw Paw Incident: James McCoy Deposition (1889)

20 Saturday Oct 2018

Posted by in Culture of Honor, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Plyant Mayhorn’s deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9720.JPG

The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness James McCoy who proves that he is brother to Tolbert, Randolp (sic) Jr. and Pharmer McCoy. Saw them Aug 9, 1882 on Mate Creek in the state West Va. Saw them on Blackberry Creek on Election day. Jo Hatfield, Mathew Hatfield and Floyd Hatfield had charge off them on that day. First saw them next day at Rev. Anderson Hatfield about 12 o’clock. They were tied arm and arm and all tied together. Saw several persons there. Saw Defendants there. They had guns. I think Rifle guns. Soon after I got there Bad Ance formed a line and said let all Hatfield men or friends fall into line. Deft. fell in to line. Doc had a gun. Am not sure that Plyant had any gun. Ance said when the Prisoners were brought out we will take charge of them now. The whole crowd then went down Blackberry Creek toward the river. Witness went along about 1 ½ miles. Ance said to me I had no business further down and I stopped. Ance further said that he had a notion to tell the officers along that he had no further use for them. I went to Mate Creek in West Va. where my brothers was in a School house Wednesday Aug 9th 1882. I saw Bad Ance, Cap, Jonce Hatfields Defendants Doc & Plyant Mayhorn, Alex Messer, Tom Mitchell and some others. Defendants had guns some times. I left there about 3 o’clock p.m. Went down to mouth Mate Creek, staid a few minutes at Sam Simpkin’s. Then went to Asa McCoy’s at mouth Sulphur. I saw Wall with a papers. Do not know what it contained and heard Wall call for signers. Saw Plyant walk up to Wall but can not say whether he signed it or not. Saw Plyant with Wall & Elias Hatfield and Elijah Mounts that evening late at the mouth Mate Creek. They went up river. Saw them again just after dark pass down by the mouth of Sulphur. I was there and they had not been gone by perhaps 20 minutes when I heard a volley of guns or pistols fired on the Ky side of the river about ½ way between Mouth Sulphur and Mate Creek but on the opposite side of the river from Sulphur. My brothers was dead when I found them. Anderson Ferrell went with him to find them. Found on the Ky shore short distance from river in a sink or flat all tied together and to two Paw Paw Bushes. Tolbert had one hand over his head. Made an examination of my brothers and found Pharmer shot 16 times. Randolph with the whole top of his head shot off. Six or seven shots in Tolbert. We removed them in a sled. They were all burried in one coffin. Elias Hatfield had a gun as they passed me at the mouth of Sulphur, there was one horse in the crowd was considerably excited at times. The officers had the boys in charge for murdering Ellison Hatfield. There were a great many men along who had guns that are not indicted. There was six or seven guards and some that were not guards along with my brothers. I do not know where any one objected to my brothers being brought to Pikevill or not. I can not tell all the parties who had guns. Ellison Hatfield died about 2 ½ or 3 oclock Wednesday Aug 9, 1882. The men who taken the corps of Ellison Hatfield to Elias Hatfields was a part of the men he had seen at the school house. My brothers were found dead in Pike County Ky. Wall Hatfield is the brother of Ance, Elison & Elias Hatfield, and the father in law of the defts. When I saw my brothers at Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s there was also present Ance, Cap, Johns, Wall & Elias Hatfield. Carpenter, Dan Whitt, Messer, Murphy, Mose Christian and defts. When I found my brothers dead they were tied together and to two paw paw bushes. When Wall, Elias, & deft. Plyant Mahorn found me near the mouth of Sulphur at dark they were passing from the direction of Joe Davis’ at mo. Blackberry and going in the direction of the mouth Mate. From Jo Davis’ to mouth of Sulphur is about ½ mile, and from Sulphur to mouth Mate is about ½ mile. From the point where my brothers were found dead in Pike Co Ky is _____ in WVa immediately opposite is about 125 yards. As soon as they passed me near the mouth of Sulphur I ___ my horse pulled some grass and fed him, went back and sat down on the porch, and the firing directly began. I think it was 20 minutes after they passed until the firing began. I think I heard 50 shots. After the volley ceased there was one loud shot.

Written in the margin: Soon after this I went down to Ferrell’s and ___ Simpkins and myself went and found my brothers.

For more information about this incident, follow these links:

http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/785?tour=55&index=3

http://wvpublic.org/post/three-mccoys-killed-hatfields-kentucky-august-8-1882#stream/0

http://hatfield-mccoytruth.com/2017/04/22/in-hatfield-country-blackberry-creek-in-the-1880s/

Paw Paw Incident: Plyant Mahon Deposition (1889)

19 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by in Culture of Honor, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Plyant Mayhorn’s deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9733.JPG

PLYANT MAHORN

The defendant had sworn as a witness Plyant Mahorn who proves that I was at Doc Mayhorn house on Beech Creek when Eaf Hatfield came and said that Ellison Hatfield had been stabbed shot and killed and that his father had Wall Hatfield had sent word for them to send him his horse and Doc went down to Wall’s House. He was away from home and at the mouth of beech. I went back home and got my horse and at the request of Wall’s wife who is my mother in law me and Doc took Wall’s Horse to him. We found him near the mouth of Beech Creek some ten miles above Blackberry. We all concluded we would come down and see Ellison that at that nor no other time was there any thing said by him or by Wall or any other person in his presents that they was to be any harm done to any person. That he did not know who had hurt Ellison until he got to Blackberry Creek. Then they learned who it was and that they had taken Ellison out and they then heard that the boys that had cut and shot him. Ellison was to have a trial up on Blackberry that day and they that is he and Doc and some others concluded to go up and hear the trial. They went up and Just above Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s they met quite a crowd coming down the creek with the McCoy boys. Ance, Capt., Jonce, Wall & Elias Hatfield, C. Carpenter, Alex Messer, & others were along. I reined my horse and of the ___ and let them pass and fell in behind. They went on down to Rev. Anderson Hatfield when they all stopped for dinner me, Doc, John C. France, Mose Christian and perhaps others turned our horses in the pasture below the house and after dinner we got tired waiting for trial and went down into the field to catch our horses and while or as we came up through the field with our horses the crowd was going down around the field. We come out and soon got on our horses and went on down. When got to the mouth of Blackberry I seen the McCoy boys sitting on a log. Me and Doc went across to McFannin’s store and I went in. Did not see them cross the river. Doc was in the yard and I heard they had crossed and [I cropped bottom of photo] an hour me and Doc got on our horses and went on down to Anderson Ferrell’s where Ellison Hatfield was and staid there and helped to wait on him all night. Did not see the McCoy boys until next morning. Went to the school house. Was there a short time. Did not see Mrs. McCoy there. Was back there again that evening and did not see her there. He did not see her over there. Was only at the school House twice. Had no gun nor pistol from the time I left home during the whole time I was gone. Was not across the river in Kentucky any more until after the Boys was killed. Had no understanding with any one nor did I know that such a thing was to be done. He heard no intimidation from any one that the boys were to be killed. That he went up the river with Wall & Elias Hatfield and Elijah Mounts to Jo Davis and staid a short time and went back and went just below the mouth of Sulphur ___ heard the firing of guns or pistols. I said to Mounts want (sic) in the worlds does that mean and Mounts said I don’t know. I was shocked. Did not know what __ ____. Went on down River and up Mate. Me & Doc staid at Henry Mitchell’s all night next went and helped bury Ellison and went across the hill home. Remained there at work until we was brot over here I had at no time any purpose of mind in me or any intention of doing harm to the McCoy boys or any one else. I was a good friend to the McCoy boys. Never had any thing against them when we met them coming down blackberry __ between Rev. Andersons once what called the waste hous it was about ¼ mile above Andersons me and them Did not hear an owl hoot or a person hoot like an owl between the time we left Jo Davis and the time the crowd from over the river come to us on Mate that he heard nothing that was said between Jo Davis Wall & Elias Hatfield. He was ten or 15 steps away at the time. My brother Sam and Dock went with me to the mouth of Beech and we left with Wall about day. It is about 3 miles from Wall Hatfields to the mo. Beech.

Written on left margin (and marked through): We left home on Tuesday and got a ___ ____ of Br__ where Wall was about daylight.

For more information about this incident, follow these links:

http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/785?tour=55&index=3

http://wvpublic.org/post/three-mccoys-killed-hatfields-kentucky-august-8-1882#stream/0

http://hatfield-mccoytruth.com/2017/04/22/in-hatfield-country-blackberry-creek-in-the-1880s/

Allen Hatfield of Beech Creek, WV (1970s)

11 Tuesday Sep 2018

Posted by in Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan, Tazewell County

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My name is Deanna Hatfield and tonight I would like to share with you a West Virginian, Allen Hatfield, who the community of Beech Creek honored and loved. Allen was born October 11, 1877. He was the youngest child of the pioneer couple, Wall Valentine Hatfield and Jane Maynard Hatfield, who settled on Beech Creek in 1861, the year that the Civil War broke out in this country. His parents had settled at the mouth of Grapevine Fork of Beech Creek. They had occupied a log cabin near the present site of Lawrence Hatfield’s home. He was the nephew of Captain Devil Anse Hatfield, clan leader in the famed Hatfield-McCoy Feud, and a first cousin of Willis Hatfield, the only surviving child of that family.

Almost until the day of his death, Allen carried a sadness in his heart over the death of his father in the days of the famous feud. His father, a peaceable man, was not an active member of the fighting group of the Hatfields during the trouble between his family and the McCoys but was named in warrants along with two of his sons-in-law, Doc and Plyant Mayhorn. Allen Hatfield, but ten years old at the time, remembered that his father Wall, thinking that he had nothing to fear in the courts of Kentucky, wrote the prosecuting attorney of Pike County that he and his sons-in-laws wished to surrender in Pikeville and stand trial for crimes for which they were accused. Allen Hatfield recalled the incident from his boyhood, including the feud. His father did go to Pikeville to voluntarily stand trial and clear his name but he was convicted by a prejudiced jury, the son remembered, and was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Kentucky State Prison in Frankfort. After sentencing, he lived about one year and his burial place is still unknown today. The two Mayhorns served several years and were later pardoned.

One of his fondest memories was that of his mother Jane who took over the management of the home and did a good job of raising a large family after her husband was taken from her. She did chores around the homestead. A great and interesting conversationalist in his adult years, he liked to tell of how he and his friends made bows and arrows–arrows consisting of straight pieces of wood with a horseshoe nails attached as the spike. He became an excellent marksman with the bow and arrow and later with his first rifle as he helped to provide squirrels and other wild game for the family table.

The early years of Hatfield’s life were marked by sadness as a result of the loss of his family in the feud. But his hours spent in the great outdoors hunting and fishing provided a therapy that led to his development to splendid manhood. He was several years old when the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company built an extension from Virginia to southern West Virginia and Mingo County, which still was Logan County at that time.

In 1899, Hatfield was married to Martha Bell Murphy, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Steele) Murphy. She had just turned fourteen when he proposed and her family thought she was too young to wed. The young couple sort of eloped the night of April 8, 1899, to Allen’s home where they were married by Allen’s brother, Ellison, a country preacher and a granny doctor, as he later recalled. Late that summer, he amassed enough lumber to build their first home—a one-room abode that was erected next to the hillside just north of the present homestead. Allen Hatfield made most of his furniture and his wife tended a garden and dug ginseng to help the family fortune.

During the ensuing years, the Hatfields had eleven children, two of whom preceded them in death. Lawrence Hatfield, who married Dollie Kiser, is now retired and lives with Dollie on Beech Creek at the mouth of Grapevine Fork. Estel Hatfield, who married Virginia Varney, lived with his dad and still lives in the old homeplace. Estel is an agent for the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company. Major Hatfield, who married Mildred Friend, is employed as an agent also for the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company in North Tazewell, Virginia. Rosa Hatfield, married Wayne Simpkins, lives on Beech Creek on Right Hand Fork. Goldie Hatfield married Gordon Smith, and they make their home below Grapevine Fork on Beech Creek. Mamie Hatfield married Charlie Simpkins and makes her home in Rockville, Maryland. Glendeen Hatfield married Douglas Berlin, and they make their home in Louisiana. Etta June Hatfield, never married and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Erma Hatfield married Forest Baisden, and she lives in Williamson, West Virginia. Milda Hatfield, deceased, was a retired school teacher and was never married. Joseph Chester Hatfield, died at six months old.

In 1914, Allen bought from his brother Smith a grocery store at the old homeplace and moved the merchandise to a small building at his home. He built a large home later and it was there that most of the children were born. He expanded his business to a larger store building, which still stands, and then he erected the present homeplace. During his early merchandising days, Hatfield was compelled to haul his goods from the railway station at Devon by team and wagon for the roads had not been built and most of the rough team tracks was through the creeks. It was a problem in the wintertime to get through the streams as they were filled with ice. After the county built a road up Beech Creek, he retired his team and wagon and switched to a gasoline-powered vehicle to haul and deliver his goods. He learned carpentry in the early years of his marriage and continued this art until 1964 when he retired. Hatfield was a 57-year member of the Hugh C. Boyd Lodge No. 119 AF & AM at Matewan and received his 50-year service award from the Grand Lodge of West Virginia in 1970. The lodge, when he became a master mason, was known as Thacker No. 119. It was located at Thacker, West Virginia. It later was moved to Matewan. He also belonged to the Beni Kedem Temple of Charleston, being a 50-year member of the Shriners. He also received the honorary commission of a Kentucky Colonel on April 10, 1972. He had been a member of the Devon Church of Christ since 1916 and sponsored the building of the present church that stands near his home on Beech Creek.

In his years of selling groceries, Hatfield said he never lost but 50 dollars in bad debts. He was proud of his heritage, a leader in his community, and in his active life a crack shot with a rifle, pistol, and shotgun. His hunting and fishing kept the table supplied with food. He won beef, hogs, turkeys, and chickens in the old-time rifle matches that were so popular in the Beech Creek area years ago. He and the former Martha B. Murphy were married 71 years before her death on May 25, 1970. His life might have been used as the subject by the poet who wrote, “Let me live by the side of the road and be a friend to man.” Allen Hatfield had spent a lifetime doing just that, living beside a little country road on Beech Creek and being a friend to mankind. On March 2, 1975, Allen was taken to the Williamson Memorial Hospital for ailments associated with his advanced age. He then was released and re-entered the hospital on April 18 in critical condition. On Friday, May 2, 1975, the community of Beech Creek lost one of the dearest old-timers that was ever known. Allen Hatfield, 97, prominently-known Mingo pioneer citizen, retired merchant of Beech Creek, died at 3 a.m. in the Williamson Memorial Hospital of a lingering illness. Funeral services were scheduled at the Chambers Funeral Home Chapel with his beloved ministers Clyde Kiser and Raymond Hatfield officiating. Burial took place in the family cemetery behind the homeplace on Beech Creek. His grandsons and great-grandsons were his pallbearers. Allen would have wanted it this way. Simple.

NOTE: Some of the names may be transcribed incorrectly.

Paw Paw Incident: Doc Mayhorn Deposition (1889)

07 Friday Sep 2018

Posted by in Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Doc Mayhorn’s deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9740IMG_9741

Dock Mayhorn

I was at home in bed asleep when Walls boy come and said that Ellison had been cut shot and killed and that he wanted his horse ____ to him. We took the horse and went down to Wall at the mouth of Beech. Wall wanted us to go and help get his brother away from where he was shot. We did not know until we got down to Black Berry who had cut and shot Ellison. We then consented that we would go up and hear the trial, and ___ up the creek. I met Ans and th__ ____ the McCoy boys in charge in the ford above Rev. Anderson Hatfields house. I __ my horse out of the road and they passed on. I followed down to Rev. Anderson Hatfields They stopped there for dinner. I ___ my horse in the pasture ___ ____ walk to John Hatfields and got my dinner I was not present at Anderson Hatfields when the line was formed. After dinner I went to ___ my horse and as I started back to the house with my horse I saw the crowd moving down the road and down the creek. I went down to the mouth of the creek and stopped at the store house for ___ one ____ We then crossed the river and went down to Anderson Ferrills and staid there all night. I was up at the school house next day __ had no arms nor any pistol. either that day or the day before. I was not across the river with the crowd that killed the McCoy boys. I didn’t have anything to do with killing those boys nor did I aid or assist in doing so.

Examined

Clucl Murphy ____ me up his ___ and I _____

For more information about this incident, follow these links:

http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/785?tour=55&index=3

http://wvpublic.org/post/three-mccoys-killed-hatfields-kentucky-august-8-1882#stream/0

http://hatfield-mccoytruth.com/2017/04/22/in-hatfield-country-blackberry-creek-in-the-1880s/