Paw Paw Incident: James McCoy Deposition (1889)

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Alex Messer, Anderson Ferrell, Appalachia, Asa McCoy, Blackberry Creek, Bud McCoy, Cap Hatfield, Charlie Carpenter, clerk, crime, Devil Anse Hatfield, Doc Mayhorn, Elias Hatfield, Elijah Mounts, Ellison Hatfield, feuds, Floyd Hatfield, G.W. Pinson, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Joe Hatfield, Johnson Hatfield, Kentucky, Mate Creek, Matthew Hatfield, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Pikeville, Plyant Mayhorn, Preacher Anse Hatfield, Sam Simpkins, Tolbert McCoy, Tom Mitchell, Valentine Wall Hatfield, West Virginia

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

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 9^th 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/

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Aaron Adkins Deed to Moses Adkins (1906)

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Aaron Adkins, Appalachia, clerk, E.G. Reed, Francis Adkins, genealogy, Guyandotte River, Harts Creek District, Harvey Elkins, history, Lincoln County, Little Harts Creek, Moses Adkins, Nary Adkins, notary public, Robert Hager, West Virginia

Deed Book 59, page 481, Lincoln County Clerk’s Office, Hamlin, WV. Note: The deed references “a school house lot.”

Deed Book 59, page 482, Lincoln County Clerk’s Office, Hamlin, WV.

Harts Creek District Board of Education Deed to John E. Fry (1905)

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Appalachia, Big Ugly Creek, board of education, Charles Adkins, clerk, genealogy, Harts Creek District, history, John E. Fry, justice of the peace, Lincoln County, Nancy E. Fry, Robert Hager, Ross Fowler, Squire Toney, West Virginia

Deed Book __, page __, Lincoln County Clerk’s Office, Hamlin, WV.

Deed Book __, page __, Lincoln County Clerk’s Office, Hamlin, WV.

Caleb Browning Deed to Bertha Browning (1908)

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Appalachia, Bertha Browning, Big Branch, Caleb Browning, Caney Branch, Charles Adkins, clerk, genealogy, George Browning, Guyandotte River, Harts Creek, history, Jack Browning, Jacob Adkins, Joseph Browning Jr., justice of the peace, Lincoln County, Robert Hager, Warren Browning, West Virginia, Willy Browning

Deed Book __, page 396, Lincoln County Clerk’s Office, Hamlin, WV. Justice of the Peace Charles Adkins, a resident of Caney Branch, is my great-great-great-grandfather.

Deed Book __, page 397, Lincoln County Clerk’s Office, Hamlin, WV.

Joseph Fry to Hamilton Fry Deed (1848)

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Appalachia, Big Ugly Creek, clerk, Crispin S. Stone, genealogy, Hamilton Fry, history, Joseph Fry, Joshua Butcher, justice of the peace, Lincoln County, Logan County, Surilda Fry, Virginia, West Virginia, William Straton

Deed Book C, page 265, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.

Deed Book C, page 266, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.

William Straton Deposition (1890)

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Appalachia, Aracoma, Ashland, civil war, clerk, George E. Bryan, history, Island Creek, Joseph A. Dempsey, Kentucky, lawyer, Logan, Logan County, Ralph Steel, Stuart Wood, Tazewell County, Virginia, West Virginia, William Straton

On October 7, 1890, William Straton, former clerk of Logan County, (West) Virginia, provided a deposition in a timber lawsuit. His deposition includes valuable recollections of his life during the Civil War and of the destruction of Logan County’s courthouse and records. So here it is:

Then came William Straton, another witness introduced by the plaintiff, being of lawful age and being by me first duly sworn deposes and says in answer to the following questions:

State your age, residence, and occupation?

I am 69 years old, and live at Logan Court House, W.Va., and am a lawyer.

State if you know who was clerk of the County Court of this County from 1861 to 1865?

I was the clerk during that time.

Did you have any deputy in said office during that time? If so, who?

I had a deputy, George E. Bryan. I might have some other deputy but if I did I have forgot all about it.

Which stayed in the office and attended to the business during that time, and especially in 1862, you or your said deputy George E. Bryan?

I was about the office myself very little during the year 1862, or any other time during the war. My deputy George E. Bryan stayed about here and about home more than I did, and during all of that time there was but little business done in the office anyway. It appears to me that it was in the winter 1862 and 1863 that they burned the Court House and clerk’s office.

What become of the records of marriages kept in said office in 1862?

There were some books such as deed books and order books carried to Ralph Steel’s on Island creek in the summer of 1861 and put there for safe keeping. But I don’t think the record of marriages was taken there but was left in the clerk’s office with most of the books and papers belonging to said office. I was not here at the time but the common understanding  afterwards was that all the books and papers were burned.

State if you know whether the said George E. Bryan is dead or living and if living where is he at this time?

The last I knew of him he was living at Ashland, Ky. I have never heard of his death.

Cross Examined.

Where did you live during the latter part of 1862 and the year 1863?

I lived at Logan Court House.

Where did your family live during that time?

Here.

When was it you speak of taking your family from here to Tazewell Co., Virginia?

I took my family, I think it was, in November 1862 as refugees to the County of Tazewell.

How long did your family remain there?

Until the fall of 1865.

And further this deponent saith not.

Source: Stuart Wood v. Joseph A. Dempsey (1889), Logan County Circuit Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.

Franklin Pierce Roach

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Bertie Camden Roach, Charles Philip Roach, circuit clerk, civil war, clerk, Demaris Roach, Franklin Pierce Roach, Franklin Pierce Roach Jr., genealogy, Henry H. Hardesty, history, Ira McDowell Roach, John Kenna Roach, Maggie Roach, Monroe County, Nellie Roach, Oceana, R.A. Brock, Reuben R. Roach, Richmond, Sarah Roach, Virginia, Virginia and Virginians, West Virginia, William Roach, Wyoming County

From “Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Franklin Pierce Roach, who resided in Wyoming County, West Virginia:

The Roach family is of English descent. Reuben R. Roach, who was grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1790; his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ball, about 1794. Their son, William Roach, father of Franklin P. Roach, was born in Monroe county, Va., May 17, 1822. He has always been looked up to as one of the leading citizens of his county, having filled several offices of trust, among them the office of sheriff for several terms, and is now U.S. Commissioner. During the war, he was a gallant soldier; he and his wife now reside in Wyoming county, W.Va. Mrs. Roach, whose maiden name was Nellie Cook, was born in Wyoming county June 13, 1828; they married there Feb. 13, 1845, the issue of this union being Franklin Pierce Roach, of whom this record is made. He was born at Oceana, W.Va., April 15, 1856; in 1872 he was appointed page of the Senate, W.Va., serving through two sessions; in 1875 he was elected doorkeeper of the Senate, though but 18 years old, being the youngest man who has ever filled that office. March 23, 1876, he was united in wedlock to Demaris Cook, who was born in Wyoming county, July 14, 1857. Their children have the following record: John Kenna, born Jan. 5, 1877; Bertie Camden, June 12, 1879; Ira McDowell, Oct. 6, 1881; Maggie, May 9, 1884; Charles Philip, Sept. 21, 1886; and Franklin P., Jr., July 15, 1889, died May 20, 1890. Mr. F.P. Roach was elected, Oct., 1884, to the office of clerk of Circuit and also County Court, in Wyoming county; both offices he is filling at present time with an ability that proves him fully entitled to the trust and confidence placed in him by his fellow citizens. The county can boast of no more honorable gentleman among her citizens than himself and father.

Source: Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 (Richmond, VA: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, 1888), p. 837-838.

Chapmanville Township officers (1868)

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Appalachia, C.S. Stone, Chapmanville Township, clerk, genealogy, history, John Gore, John Hale, John McCloud, justice of the peace, Logan County, overseer of the poor, road supervisor, school commissioner, supervisor, Theophilus Fowler, treasurer, U.S. South, West Virginia, William A. Stollings

Chapmanville Township officers elected 22 October 1868, November 1868. Commissioners Record Book 1 (p. 112), Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.

Thomas Buchanan

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4th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry, assessor, Charles B. Buchanan, clerk, coal, Eliza Ann Buchanan, Floyd Buchanan, genealogy, George Buchanan, Guyandotte River, Henry H. Hardesty, history, James Buchanan, John Buchanan, Lillie May Buchanan, Logan, Logan County, Mary Buchanan, R.A. Brock, Raleigh County, recorder, Tazewell County, Thomas Buchanan, timbering, Virginia, Virginia and Virginians, West Virginia

From “Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Thomas Buchanan, who resided at Logan Court House, West Virginia:

Was born in Tazewell county, Va., Nov. 26, 1821; his wife, nee Mary Ellis, in Logan county, W.Va., Oct. 12, 1817; they were joined in wedlock in her native county, July 27, 1843. The only child of this marriage is Floyd Buchanan, who was born in Logan county, W.Va., Feb. 24, 1849; he was married in this county June 10, 1869, to Eliza Ann Williams, who was born in Raleigh county, W.Va., June 9, 1852. The children of this union are: Charles B., born Aug. 22, 1870; Thomas, born March 28, 1873; Mary, born May 19, 1876, died Jan. 6, 1888; John, born Feb. 8, 1879, died Dec. 24, 1887; James, born Jan. 10, 1882; George, born Jan. 20, 1885, died Dec. 23, 1887; Lillie May, born Feb. 27, 1889. The Buchanan family is one of the oldest and most highly honored in Logan county. During the late war the subject of this sketch enlisted in the 4th W.Va. V.C.; served through the war as second lieutenant, and was honorably discharged in 1865, at Wheeling. As a private citizen he has filled many offices of trust. He was appointed assessor by State Auditor, held the office two years; was then elected recorder of Logan county, and held this office two years; was next elected clerk of the court, which office he also held during two years, and was at the same time clerk of board of supervisors. He was postmaster for six years, and has at one time held seven offices of importance. No man in the county stands higher, or is more beloved by his acquaintances. He owns extensive coal and timber lands in Logan county, where he now resides at his beautiful home on Guyandotte River, near Logan Court House; this town is his post office.

Source: Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 (Richmond, VA: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, 1888), p. 821-822.