The Hatfield-McCoy feud is one of the most infamous conflicts in American history. It lasted for decades and claimed lives on both sides, including at least six McCoys and five Hatfields, among others. It’s a tale of violence, betrayal, and deep-rooted hatred that still echoes through American folklore. This article delves into the shocking events that led to this legendary dispute.
38. The Roots of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud: The Founding Families (Pre-1863)
The Hatfield-McCoy feud was a product of generational tension. The Hatfields of West Virginia, descended from Joseph Hatfield, and the McCoys of Kentucky, descended from William McCoy (born around 1750), had deep-rooted animosity. These two families would collide in the 19th century over land, politics, and personal disputes, setting the stage for the infamous conflict.
37. The Civil War Divides the Families (1861-1865)
The Hatfields and McCoys were divided during the Civil War. The Hatfields, led by William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield, were pro-Confederacy, while Randolph “Ole Ran’l” McCoy and his family supported the Union. Their conflicting loyalties deepened their animosity, a division that would last long after the war ended, fueling future tensions.
36. The Rise of Devil Anse Hatfield (1863)
William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield, born in 1839, rose to prominence in the late 19th century as the leader of the Hatfield family. A Confederate veteran, he married Levicy McCoy, with whom he had several children. Devil Anse became infamous for his leadership in the feud and his influence over the Hatfields.
35. The First Incident of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud (1863)
During the Civil War, tensions escalated when William Francis, a Union supporter, led a group that shot Mose Christian Cline, a friend of Devil Anse Hatfield. Though Cline survived, Anse vowed revenge. Later, Confederate Home Guards ambushed and killed Francis. Anse took credit, intensifying the hostility between the Hatfields and McCoys.
34. The Killing of Asa Harmon McCoy (January 7, 1865)
Asa Harmon McCoy, a Union soldier, was murdered near his home just thirteen days after leaving the army. Confederate guerrillas claimed responsibility, and McCoy family tradition accuses Jim Vance, Devil Anse Hatfield’s uncle. Asa’s death further fueled the Hatfield-McCoy feud, deepening the bitter divide between the two families for years to come.
33. The Rise of Randolph “Ole Ran’l” McCoy (1865)
Randolph “Ole Ran’l” McCoy, born in 1825, was the leader of the McCoy family. A Union supporter during the Civil War, McCoy was known for his strong moral principles and the deep loyalty he inspired in his family. McCoy married Sarah McCoy and had 16 children, including the notable Roseanna McCoy.
32. The Hog Theft Allegation (1878)
Many years after Asa’s murder, the feud reignited over a hog. Randolph McCoy claimed Floyd Hatfield stole it, arguing the ear notches matched McCoy markings. Justice of the Peace Anderson “Preacher Anse” Hatfield ruled in Floyd’s favor, swayed by Bill Staton’s testimony. This decision further deepened family tensions.
31. Roseanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield’s Romance (Late 1870s)
In the meantime, Roseanna McCoy fell in love with Johnse Hatfield, Devil Anse’s son, and moved in with the Hatfields in West Virginia. However, she later returned to her family. Their relationship deepened the feud, as the McCoys disapproved of their union, leading to further conflicts between the two warring families.
30. McCoy’s Hog Trial Retaliation and Killing of Staton (1880s)
Despite the Romeo and Juliet story blossoming, the McCoy’s didn’t forget about the hog trial. Since the case went to Hatfield Justice of the Peace, of course he ruled for his family based on Bill Staton’s testimony. In June 1880, McCoy brothers Sam and Paris killed Staton. However, they were later acquitted, claiming self-defense, further escalating the violent tensions between the Hatfield and McCoy families.
29. Johnse Hatfield’s Arrest and Rescue (1880-1881)
Back to the love story… When Johnse tried to reunite with Roseanna, the McCoys arrested him on bootlegging charges. Roseanna warned Devil Anse, who led a rescue party to free him. Despite her loyalty, Johnse abandoned the pregnant Roseanna and married her cousin, Nancy McCoy, in 1881, further fueling tensions between the families. Roseanna killed herself shortly after.
28. The Gubernatorial Election Conflict (1880)
The Hatfields and McCoys became politically entangled in the 1880 gubernatorial election. The McCoys supported the Democrat candidate, while the Hatfields backed the Republican candidate. This rivalry only deepened the hatred between the families, as each used their political power to influence the outcome and maintain their respective family’s honor.
27. Election Day Attack on Ellison Hatfield (August 7, 1882)
During a Kentucky election day, a drunken fight broke out between Ellison Hatfield and three McCoy brothers—Tolbert, Phamer, and Bud. Ellison was brutally stabbed 26 times and shot. The McCoy brothers were arrested by Hatfield constables and taken toward Pikeville, but Anse Hatfield had other plans for justice.
26. Revenge Killing of the McCoy Brothers (August 9, 1882)
Before reaching Pikeville, Anse Hatfield’s vigilantes intercepted the McCoy brothers and took them to West Virginia. When Ellison succumbed to his wounds, the Hatfields executed the three brothers by tying them to pawpaw bushes and firing 50 shots. Their bullet-riddled bodies marked a turning point in the deadly feud.
25. Ambush of Larkin McCoy (1883)
After the execution of his brothers, Larkin “Lark” McCoy, the second son of murdered Asa McCoy, was targeted. A West Virginia posse, allegedly led by the Hatfields, ambushed and killed Larkin. The McCoys saw this as further proof of the Hatfields’ lawlessness, intensifying their desire for retribution.
24. The Murder of John and Henderson Scott (Mid-1880s)
Determined to stop Randall McCoy, Anse Hatfield sent gunmen to ambush him and his son Calvin. However, the gunmen mistakenly killed Randall’s nephews, John and Henderson Scott, instead. This senseless killing fueled even greater animosity and prompted Perry Cline, a McCoy ally, to seek legal action against the Hatfields.
23. Legal Indictments and Perry Cline’s Revenge (Mid-1880s)
Perry Cline, Martha McCoy’s brother, leveraged his political influence to reinstate charges against Anse Hatfield and his men. He also issued rewards for their capture, seeing this as an opportunity for revenge after losing a lawsuit to Anse over thousands of acres of land years earlier.
22. Flogging of Mary Daniels (1886)
Acting constable Cap Hatfield and family friend Tom Wallace broke into Bill Daniels’ home and viciously flogged his wife, Mary, who was Jeff McCoy’s sister. They suspected her of warning Jeff’s family about danger. This brutal act enraged Jeff, setting off another violent chain of events in the feud.
21. Killing of Jeff McCoy (1886)
Jeff McCoy, wanted for the murder of mail carrier Fred Wolford, learned of Mary Daniels’ flogging and sought revenge. He and Josiah Hurley tried to capture Tom Wallace, but Wallace escaped. While fleeing, Jeff was shot dead by Cap Hatfield and Tom Wallace along the banks of Tug Fork.
20. Murder of Tom Wallace (August 1887-1888)
Jake and Larkin McCoy attempted to arrest Tom Wallace for assaulting Mary Daniels, but he escaped from jail. A year later, Wallace was found murdered—likely by McCoys seeking revenge. This act continued the relentless cycle of violence between the Hatfields and McCoys, ensuring the feud’s bloody legacy lived on.
19. The New Year’s Night Attack (January 1, 1888)
In the early hours of New Year’s Day, Cap Hatfield and Jim Vance led a group of Hatfields to the McCoy cabin. As the family slept, the Hatfields opened fire. The McCoys awoke in chaos, grabbing their weapons and returning fire. The attackers then set the cabin ablaze.
18. The McCoy Family’s Escape (January 1, 1888)
As flames spread, the McCoys fled. Randolph hid in a pig pen while most children escaped into the woods. Calvin and Alifair were shot and killed near the family well. Sarah McCoy was beaten but survived. Forced into the wilderness, the family suffered frostbite before relocating to Pikeville for safety.
17. Rising Tensions and State Involvement (1880-1891)
Between 1880 and 1891, the feud claimed over a dozen lives. The conflict escalated so much that the governors of Kentucky and West Virginia threatened to send militias into each other’s states. In response, Kentucky Governor S. B. Buckner dispatched Adjutant General Sam Hill to investigate in Pike County.
16. The Manhunt Begins (January 1888)
Following the New Year’s Massacre, Deputy Sheriff Frank Phillips led a posse, including two McCoys, Bud and Jim McCoy, to capture Anse’s group. Their first target, Jim Vance, was killed after resisting arrest. Philipps’ posse raided Hatfield homes, capturing several and killing three more Hatfield supporters before reaching Grapevine Creek.
15. The Battle of Grapevine Creek (January 19, 1888)
At Grapevine Creek, Anse and his men ambushed Philipps’ posse. A battle broke out, but the Hatfields were eventually captured. Deputy Bill Dempsey was executed after surrendering. Later, on August 24, 1888, eight Hatfields and their allies, including Cap and Johnse Hatfield, were indicted for Alifair McCoy’s murder during the New Year’s Massacre.
14. Supreme Court Ruling and Sentencing (1888)
The U.S. Supreme Court became involved due to due process concerns (Mahon v. Justice, 1888). It ruled 7-2 in favor of Kentucky, allowing the trials to proceed. All eight Hatfields were convicted—seven received life sentences, while Ellison “Cottontop” Mounts was executed by hanging and buried in an unmarked grave.
13. Fate of the Imprisoned Hatfields (1888)
Valentine “Uncle Wall” Hatfield, overshadowed by his brother Anse, died in prison after his family refused to attempt his release. Doc Mahon and Pliant Mahon each served 14 years. Pliant later reunited with his ex-wife, who had remarried but left her second husband to be with him again.
12. Ellison “Cottontop” Mounts’ Execution (1890)
Ellison attempted to retract his confession, claiming he was coerced, but his plea was denied. Thousands attended his hanging in Pikeville, though laws required fencing around executions. His last words were, “The Hatfields made me do it.” His execution marked the last hanging in Pike County, permanently ending public executions there.
11. National Attention: The Feud Becomes a Symbol (1891)
The Hatfield-McCoy feud reached national attention in 1891. The violence and bloodshed captured the public’s imagination, making the families infamous. The feud became a symbol of rural American violence, drawing attention from the media and solidifying the Hatfields and McCoys in American folklore. The legacy of the feud would last for generations.
10. The End Johnse Hatfield and the Feud Trials (1901)
The fighting between the Hatfields and McCoys subsided after Mounts’ hanging. However, trials continued for years. In 1901, Johnse Hatfield was convicted for his role in the New Year’s Massacre and sentenced to life in prison, marking the final major trial of the infamous family feud.
9. The McCoys and Hatfields: The Lasting Impact
Even after the feud’s legal resolution, bitterness lingered in the Appalachian region. The violence permanently scarred the McCoys and Hatfields, and the feud became a cautionary tale. For decades, families struggled to reconcile their pasts, but many remained divided long after the official end of the conflict.
8. Family Feud Game Show (1979)
The Hatfields and McCoys united for a special week-long taping of Family Feud. The McCoys won three out of five games, but the Hatfields earned more money. To even the winnings, the McCoys’ total was adjusted. A live pig was kept on stage throughout the competition as a prize.
7. Historic Site Restoration and Driving Tour (1999)
A major restoration project funded by the Small Business Administration preserved feud-related sites in West Virginia and Kentucky. A self-guided Hatfield-McCoy Feud Driving Tour was created, featuring gravesites, Valentine Hatfield’s cabin, and the McCoy homeplace. The tour includes an audio CD, maps, and historical markers for key locations.
6. Hatfield-McCoy Reunion and Cemetery Lawsuit (2000-2002)
In 2000, descendants Bo and Ron McCoy organized a reunion that drew over 5,000 attendees. In 2002, they filed a lawsuit against a private landowner to gain access to the McCoy Cemetery, which holds graves of six family members, including five killed during the feud.
5. Truce and Modern-Day Recognition (2003-Present)
On June 14, 2003, McCoy descendants and Reo Hatfield of Virginia signed an official truce in Pikeville, Kentucky, symbolizing reconciliation. The feud’s legacy continues through tourism, the Hatfield-McCoy Trails for all-terrain vehicles, and a musical comedy dinner show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, celebrating the families’ infamous history.
4. The 2012 TV Miniseries Renewed Interest in the Feud
The 2012 television miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys,” starring Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton, brought the feud back into the public eye. The miniseries was a dramatized account of the historical events, drawing attention to the two families’ complex relationships and bloody history. It sparked renewed interest in the infamous rivalry. There are also a number of literature, film, and TV references to this famous feud.
3. Devil Hatfield’s Military Role
Devil Anse Hatfield’s role as a Confederate soldier was significant to his leadership in the feud. His military experience gave him strategic insight and helped him command loyalty from his family. He died on January 6, 1921, at the age of 81. He passed away from pneumonia at his home in Stirrat, West Virginia. He was buried in the Hatfield Family Cemetery.
2. Ole Ran’l McCoy’s Harsh Leadership
Randolph “Ole Ran’l” McCoy was known for his unwavering moral code and stern leadership. His deep resentment for the Hatfields was rooted in his family’s honor. McCoy’s leadership and pride led to the escalation of violence. He died on March 28, 1914, at the age of 79 from natural causes in Pike County, Kentucky, and he was buried in the McCoy Cemetery in Hardy, Kentucky.
1. The Role of the Law in the Feud
The law had little power over the Hatfields and McCoys, with both families often taking justice into their own hands. Local law enforcement was frequently unable to control the violence, and the conflict often occurred outside the reach of legal authorities. This lawlessness of the late 1800s contributed to the ongoing cycle of violence.