Hatfield & McCoy
Museum
(formally in Renfro Valley, Ky.)
Now located at:14 Hustonville Street, Liberty, Kentucky
Mailing Address P.O. Box 211 Liberty, Kentucky
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You are cordially invited to attend the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of the Hatfield & McCoy Museum, Thursday June 6th, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in its new location at 14 Hustonville, St. in Liberty, Kentucky 42539 with the Casey County Court House in front and Liberty City Hall in back of the Museum
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For more information call Fred McCoy @ 606-669-0364 or Shelia McCoy @ 669-4334
or go to: www.fredmccoy.com
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Admission $10.00
U.S. Military Veterans- No Admission Fee (we started to put "FREE" but doesn't sound right, as veterans have paid in full.)
Thank - You for your service in protecting us and our Country!
Law Enforcement, EMS and Fire - No Admission Charge
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The Real Hatfield and McCoy
Authenticated Museum est.1975
The Hatfield and McCoy Museum has moved from its previous location in Renfro Valley, Ky. to its new and permanent location in honor of Jim McCoy to: 14 Hustonville Street in Liberty, Kentucky 42539
Grand Opening will be June 6th, 2023, with all the artifacts that were on display at our previous location and many newly collected items not pictured.
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The largest collection of Hatfield and McCoy artifacts, collectables and memorabilia in the world, owned by original Hatfield and McCoy descendants and family members.
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Hatfield and McCoy Museum
Owned and Operated by original Hatfield and McCoy descendants
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Attempting to understand our past is sometimes a difficult task. Especially when we look at our history, we can appreciate the great difficulties and hard times our ancestors endued, Civil War, Family Pride and Morals.
About Us
The Hatfield and McCoy Museum is located in Liberty, Kentucky. It is not affiliated with any other Museums or attractions and is an entity all its own. The Hatfield & McCoy Museum was "unofficially" established back in 1975 by Ella Jane McCoy and Cora Lea McCoy, displaying items to friends and neighbors.
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In 1975 Cora McCoy convinced Ella Jane McCoy to place some of her Hatfield & McCoy items on display at the family-owned Blackberry Super Market, in Ransom, Kentucky.
In May 1976 after Willis Hatfield and Jim McCoy shook hands and officially (Buried the Hatchet) "Peace Treaty", mom and grandma combined their many Hatfield and McCoy artifacts and memorabilia creating an even larger public display.
The locals or general public were not excited or affected by the display as they had grown up living with and hearing all the feud stories. However, for all those from other states that would visit loved ones in Pike County, Blackberry, and the Matewan area, the local country store became well known as the place to see.
This small exhibit put together by Ella Jane McCoy (my grandmother) and Cora McCoy (my mother) was the only thing close to a Hatfield and McCoy Museum at the time, but Shelia and I think of it as the "official" starting point of the first Hatfield and McCoy Museum ever.
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Some years later there would be a Hatfield Museum open inside a small mobile home in Sara Ann, West Virginia, by Henry and Jean Hatfield, displaying mostly Hatfield memorabilia and photos. (Hatfield Museum pictured above.)
Blackberry, Kentucky
Since Ella Jane's husband Phillip was the son of Nancy Hatfield and Asa McCoy who were married in 1875, their collection consisted of original items, artifacts, and memorabilia from both feuding families.
When Ella Jane and Cora McCoy first begin showing family heirlooms there was no thought or intentions of ever opening a so called "Museum". They were merely placing some of their Hatfield and McCoy items on display. Items my grandmother Ella Jane had kept in the old barn loft for years, not wanting to discard even one item.
So, we like to think that the starting date of our Hatfield and McCoy Museum was "officially 1975" when Ella and Cora put out the first H&M display at the Blackberry Super Market, on Blackberry Creek in Ransom, Kentucky. After all a Museum is defined as a place where items and artifacts of historical significance are stored or exhibited.
My grandfather Phillip McCoy had no use for any so-called Hatfield and McCoy items. Other than the items independent value on its own. Many times, taking various items on barter, trading his Blacksmithing work or services for tangible items such as guns, livestock, coal, even property, etc.
My grandfather left the collecting to my grandmother, who many times would ask grandpa, "where" or "who" a particular item had come from. After grandpa would tell her, she would say, "Oh that's so and so's daughter or son", or "they're related to so and so, I think I'll keep that for my collection."
My grandfather passed away in 1969 before my grandmother. My grandmother Ella Jane McCoy would pass away the same year as Jim McCoy in 1984, she would leave her entire Hatfield and McCoy collection to my father and mother, Bobby & Cora McCoy. My father like my grandfather had very little interest in the Hatfield and McCoy items or the feud for that matter.
I had done a book report on the Hatfield and McCoy Feud in the fifth grade and had become fascinated by the Hatfield and McCoy Feud and history, especially that of my grandfather with him having a Hatfield mother and a McCoy father.
After my grandmother had passed my dad told my mother she could have his mother’s H&M collection to do with the family heirlooms what she wanted. It was almost like an obsession with my mother and me. She collected anything Hatfield or McCoy and I was her accomplice. If there was a Hatfield or McCoy throwing anything away, mom would ask for it. An old broken-down chair, iron, whatnots off the mantle, it didn't matter.
I remember us having old chairs stacked up to the roof in the barn loft with a piece of masking tape on them stating where the chair had come from or who it once belonged to. Everyone knew that mom had turned into this big collector of Hatfield and McCoy items, and she was always so appreciative when someone brought her something, that they would go out and look for more items for her. It seemed like everyone was bringing her H&M items, not for a museum, just because they knew it made her so happy. I guess you could say, "mom was a hoarder before, there were hoarders". The thing about my mother was she only hoarded specific items, they had to be Hatfield, McCoy or something related to either family. (Even though dad never took a big interest in the feud or collecting, he did buy items thoughout the years as gifts for mother, some with real significance to the feud and some not, but all related to the Hatfields and McCoys.)
After dad passed away and with mother aging, she begin to pass out various family heirlooms. With Shelia and I being the most notorious for assisting my mother in collecting Hatfield and McCoy artifacts and memorabilia and with the blessings of my siblings, we acquired or inherited the majority of her's and ma McCoy's collection, donating the items to the Museum.
Approximately 2012 mother, Shelia and I opened a Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky, displaying the family's collection. In 2022 we bought two adjoining buildings in Liberty, Kentucky to be the permanent forever home of the Hatfield and McCoy collection. Our Hatfield and McCoy Museum now houses the largest collection of Hatfield and McCoy artifacts and memorabilia on public display in the world, bar none.
This collection features a wide array of historically significant guns, artifacts, and personal items of so many of those involved in, associated with, or related to, someone in the Hatfield and McCoy Feud or maybe just from being a Hatfield or McCoy.
With thousands of items now in the collection, in fact like we have mentioned previously and are so proud to boast about, this collection constitutes not only "one of the finest collections of rare historical Hatfield and McCoy collections on public display, but the undisputed largest collection of Hatfield and McCoy artifacts actually owned by both Hatfields and McCoys in the world today!
Question we get ask quite often is: Why did you guys decide to move the Hatfield and McCoy Museum to Liberty, Kentucky?
Good question, as most people know the famous feud took place in Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia, which is where Shelia and I were born and raised. What a lot of people don't know is that in 1976 the oldest living McCoy who was James "Jim" McCoy the son of Uriah McCoy of the Kentucky McCoys of Stingtown, Ky. and Willis Hatfield the only living son of Devil Anse Hatfield of Sara Ann, W.V. met at the McCoy Cemetery at Hardy Kentucky, dedicated a huge monument honoring six of Randall and Sarah McCoy's children who are buried there. Jim McCoy and Willis Hatfield shook hands signifing a "Peace Treaty" and the official end to the famous feud. Photos were taken and printed in the local newspapers.
It was called the "Burying the Hatchet Ceremony"
Years after the Peace Treaty was recognized Jim McCoy came to Liberty, Kentucky to visit two of his daughters, Spicie (McCoy) & Elliott Roberts and Marie (McCoy) & George Vance who lived in Liberty, Kentucky.
With Jim McCoy dying in Casey County, Kentucky Shelia once asked Jim's grandson Jimmy how his grandpa ended up in Liberty, Ky. Jimmy said, "years before my grandfather died, he was down there visiting his daughters when he got sick and they took him to Doctor John Price. Grandpa really liked that Doctor, and they became good friends. Grandpa basically moved to Liberty because he was getting old and trusted Doctor Price. He felt Doctor Price was an excellent Doctor." We say, "Doctor Price was a friend till the end", because on February 11th 1984 at the Casey County Hospital in Liberty, when Jim McCoy took his last breath setting beside him was his Doctor and good friend Dr. John Price. So, we thought with the history Jim McCoy had with Liberty and Casey County, Ky. it would be a excellent location to relocate our Hatfield and McCoy (collection) Museum to.
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The Hatfield and McCoy Museum consist of two buildings joined together with two floors of exhibits in each of the buildings, consisting of a space totaling over 13,500 sf of artifacts, exhibits and memorabilia. Visitors enter through the front door off Hustonville St. which has the Casey County Court House in front, and Liberty City Hall behind the Museum. So, it is not hard to find.
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The Hatfield and McCoy Museum was originally established in 1975 inside the Blackberry Super Market on Blackberry Creek in Ransom, Kentucky.
Half of the Museum is now located in the original Liberty Post Office building and the other half is located in what was once the Five and Dime store in downtown Liberty, Kentucky.
The Museum’s Mission is to promote and preserve the history of the Hatfield and McCoy Famous Feud 1861-1891
Admission to the Museum is $10.00
We encourage the young and old, school groups and civic organizations to come visit and enjoy learning about the Hatfield & McCoy history. We actively seek items relating to the Hatfield and McCoy families as well as the famous feud, so they can be preserved and exhibited for future generations.
If you’d like to get involved with the Hatfield and McCoy Museum there are a variety of ways you can help out!
If you’d like to help today, you can make a donation online using Paypal or Cash app
A great way to get involved is to become a Patron Member or Volunteer.
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Museum- A building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited.
Many museums are “Not for Profit”, however many of those are publicly funded or exist because of a trust that has been established in order to ensure their existence. Unfortunately, some privately owned museums are self-supporting and incur the responsibility of supporting themselves, therefore charging an admission to the museum, just in order to keep the lights on. “For Real” operating a museum is no different than operating any other business, as there are bills to pay.
There are electric bills, property taxes, insurance, heat and air bills, as well as repairs and upkeep of the building and property, not to mention the artifacts, displays, etc. So sometimes it’s not out of greed, but pure necessity that museums charge an admission fee.
While the Hatfield and McCoy Museum is mostly a History Museum there are many items that could border the natural history, science, technology and even artistic. Our goal has been to collect, preserve, interpret, protect and display items from the past associated, or connected to Hatfield & McCoy History.
Our family has acquired items, artifacts, and memorabilia to preserve, (never restore) but research and share the items in exhibit form with others who may have the same interest. It is and always has been to collect and display as many items and artifacts of our heritage as possible. With many of the museum’s artifacts having been passed down from generation to generation we have been entrusted to be the curators and custodians of these precious gems. Some authentic, some replicas to show how the item looked or would have been used back during that time in history.
We want our visitors to be engaged in whatever exhibit they may be viewing at our museum, to give them a better understanding and promote the enjoyment of sharing the physical attributes of artifacts and items of history. We want our museum to help teach, inspire and connect people and communities while also correcting stories from the past when relating to family and feud history.
Along our journey collecting Hatfield and McCoy memorabilia we found ourselves also collecting other items of interest, so we have added other exhibits in the same buildings that houses our H&M Collection:
Bonnie and Clyde Exhibit (UNDER CONSTRUTION)- is a small replica of the authentic Bonnie and Clyde Museum in Gibsland, Louisiana. Many of our Bonnie and Clyde items, memorabilia were actually purchased directly from Perry Carver, the owner of the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum in Gibsland, La.
(Of course, nothing beats seeing the real place or things. This is just our private collection of Bonnie and Clyde items and relics. If you have never visited Hwy 154 where Bonnie and Clyde were killed, or the Ambush Museum in Gibsland, Louisiana, we highly recommend it. Perry Carver, owner of the Museum is a great host and very knowledgeable when it comes to Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. We just wanted to add this exhibit to our museum for those who may never get the chance to visit Gibsland.)
Popcorn and Dennis Sutton Moonshine Exhibit- This exhibit is mostly credited to Dennis Sutton, but also has on display items related to, or purchased directly from, Popcorn’s wife Pam Sutton, his son Solomon Sutton and one of his daughters Sky Sutton along with other family and friends of the infamous moonshining Popcorn Sutton.
Casey County History & Hero’s Exhibit - (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) This Exhibit is in reference to Casey County’s History and Hero's with the entire exhibit, more specific, one entire room of our Hatfield and McCoy Museum to the History and artifacts of Casey County, and to the Heroes of Casey County- living or deceased.
Veterans Exhibit (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) - This Exhibit is dedicated to Veterans who are serving or have served in any branch of the US military at any time. It is a room dedicated to honor them. They enlisted or answered the draft knowing they were willing to give their life protecting their country. For that, we owe them a debt we could never repay.
Log Cabin Exhibit- This exhibit is to illustrate how early pioneers such as the Hatfield and McCoy families lived back in the 1800’s.
Local Art Exhibit (under construction)
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| This photo appeared in the newspaper, the story said, STILL IN USE after at least a century is this old well on the homeplace of Uriah McCoy of Burnwell, Ky. Occupants of a 100-acre tract of the McCoy land are Uriah’s’ granddaughter, Rosa B. (McCoy) Wolford and her husband, Luther M. Wolford, retired N&W Railway employee, seen drinking water from the well. They have a modern brick home nearby at the forks of a road on Mill Creek, which leads over a mountain for one and a half miles to Hardy, Ky. |
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| The newspaper headlines read: Hatfield’s and McCoy’s 0fficially Bury the Hatchet “Peace Treaty” Saturday May 1st, 1976, Granite Bible, marks end of bitter feud The local newspaper showed the McCoy Monument above and had a brief story about the dedication of the Monument and the last two living relatives of both families who were living during the bad years. Devil Anse Hatfield’s only living son Willis and Uriah McCoy’s son, known as “Jim” McCoy. Jimmy (McCoy) Wolford at the time was 40 yrs. old and his goal in the beginning was to have an annual gathering at the McCoy Cemetery, much like the Hatfield and McCoy celebrations over the last few years, the attendance soon diminishes to the point that the event was canceled all together. But for a one man show Jimmy Wolford made his mark, with the help of Joe and Lenard McCoy and his grandfather Jim McCoy. Jimmy told the local and national news he wanted to butcher a hog, (pun intended), and eat, drink, play some good ol hillbilly music and be merry, where our ancestors once spilled blood. Let’s all join hands and look to the future, Jimmy (McCoy) Wolford said. Some people thought Jimmy’s gathering of the Hatfields and McCoys was just too risky to attend. I remember the subject came up at the gossip corner at dad and mom’s country store. When one of the regulars asked the guy delivering the newspapers what he thought about the gathering? He said, “All hell could break lose,” another ol timer standing around said, I agree that’s why I ain’t going. In the end, it was a grand thing that Jimmy Wolford had planned, orchestrated and accomplished. In the beginning when Willis Hatfield then 87 years old, the last living son of Devil Anse Hatfield was asked to attend in order to represent the West Virginia Hatfield’s he said, “I treat the McCoys the same as Hatfields, but I reckon I’ll stay home, sometimes it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.” One ol timer said, “he’s referring to his ol man Devil Anse.” I can recall many of those who would stop by the store to get gas, groceries or even a candy bar commenting about the upcoming monument dedication and peace treaty. The closer it got to that day, the more talking there was, “there’s going to be killings over this, people were saying”. I expected people to start taking bets just anytime. Some people who were not Hatfield’s, McCoys, Smiths, Phillips, Mounts, Statons, Wallace, Dempsey, Vance, Mayhorn, Rutherford, Cline, Cunningham, Stratton, Gillespie, Ellis, Varney, Chambers, Whitt, Carpenter showed little interest, but those with family names familiar from years past were wondering what if anything was going to take place. The stone was a great addition and attention getter for the deceased McCoy children. We asked Jimmy about the wrong birthdate for Randall McCoy Jr. being on the stone? Was it an accident or did you change the date to make the boy look older so as to not make Devil Anse look so bad? Randall McCoy Jr. was born in 1867 and was only 15 years old when Devil Anse assassinated him. But on the stone his date of birth was put as 1864 making him 18 years old. Jimmy said, he had no idea the wrong birthdate had been inscribed on the stone, which would leave one to believe that those at the Hatfield Monument Company in Sara Ann, West Virginia, either by mistake or in attempt to make Devil Anse not look as bad for killing a 15-year-old boy changed the birthdate intentionally. With those parties now deceased it’s one of those things we’ll never know. Excerpt from: (Monument for a Murderer) “Devil” Anse told his guys to dismount; at least twenty-three in number, most of these men were the same ones who were in his gang of Wildcats. You could see the rancor and malice in “Devil” Anse’s eyes as he told them to strip down “butt-necked”. That was just another way to show his power and remove whatever dignity the boys may have had left. He told them, “You came into this world naked, you can go out the same way.” “Devil” Anse then told his men to tie the three boys to the trees. Then he directed each man as to whom he wanted them to kill. He then told the three McCoys they could pray if they wanted to, and at this point the three brothers realized that Anse Hatfield wasn’t just trying to scare them. He was really going to kill them. As the three boys begin to pray the shots rang out. The spite and hatred were as evident on “Devil” Anse’s face as the paw paw leaves that floated to the ground with every shot and shake of the trees. It sounded like a small war. All the men fired an exorbitant number of bullets into the McCoy’s. Finally, when the smoke cleared, there was Tolbert and Pharmer slumped over “riddled with bullets”. “Crazy” Jim Vance said, “Those boys are bleeding like a stuck pig," laughing as if it was funny. He was giving reference to the pig again. Then everyone’s attention turned to the third McCoy, just a teenage boy. It was 15-year-old Randall Jr. or “Bud” as most knew him. He was next to the youngest son of Randall and Sarah McCoy. He was still standing, with not a mark on him. It was the way “Devil” Anse had it planned. He had told everyone whom to shoot and no one was given Randall Jr’s name, he was still among the living. Remember, when the fight was taking place a couple of days earlier; Randall Jr. hadn’t done anything; it was actually William his brother who had attempted to separate Tolbert and Ellison. Everyone knew that the boy was innocent of any wrongdoing; he wasn’t involved in the fight. “Devil” Anse walked over to Randall Jr. and said, “If you’ll get on your knees and beg, I will let you live.” Randall Jr. looked at his brothers then looked “Devil” Anse Hatfield right square in the eyes and said, “To Hell with you Hatfields." “Devil” Anse turned to walk away, then unprovoked quickly turned back around and shot the youngest boy of the three. Upon emptying his pistol into Randall Jr., he mounted up and rode off back towards West Virginia. “Cap” Hatfield looked at the others and said, “Now boys, that right there was “A Real McCoy.” Supposedly, that’s where the old saying, “The Real McCoy,” comes from. |
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| Shelia McCoy, posing for pictures with the famous McCoy Monument during the research and writing of their first Hatfield and McCoy Book, Monument for a Murderer. |
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| Fred McCoy, posing for pictures with the famous McCoy Monument during the research and writing of their first Hatfield and McCoy Book, Monument for a Murderer. |
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| Hatfield & McCoy dedicating the Monument at the McCoy Cemetery, "Official Peace Treaty" by the oldest living Hatfield & McCoy and dedication of the McCoy monument at the McCoy cemetery on Blackberry Fork near Hardy, Ky., in 1976, L-Willis Hatfield, of Logan County, W.V., the last surviving son of "Devil Anse" C- Rosa (McCoy) Wolford and R-Jim McCoy of Burnwell, Ky. Uriah McCoy’s son. This picture and newspaper story confirm there was a truce’s, “peace treaty” recognized on this day and any so-called treaty to follow would be solely for the media coverage and attention. Jimmy Wolford had done something many people had tried to do for many years since the feud, he himself brought the two families together to signify a truce to any fighting of the past between the two families and states. Of course, there was marriages before, during and even after the famous feud, but they mostly remained within the respective states of those Hatfield’s and McCoy’s who were getting married. Never before had a Kentucky McCoy and, a West Virginia Hatfield come together to Officially say. “It’s Over!” Jimmy “McCoy” Wolford made it happened. We asked, Jimmy why the newspaper said, Devil Anse’s youngest son, Willis Hatfield had stated he wasn’t going to attend the dedication and then ended up not only attending but became the center of attention by representing the West Virginia Hatfield’s in “Burying the Hatchet.” Jimmy said, do you know that Willis ended up being a good friend of mine, Jimmy asked, what do you think I gave Willis to get him to come to the dedication? We said what? Jimmy said, liquor, I gave him a lot of liquor, as he giggled. “Did you know he got to the point that he was crazy about me, he really was, and I liked him too”, and I think in the beginning he felt like so many others that there was a chance that the “get together” could get out of hand and spark up the ol feud again. Jimmy said, to be honest, I was very concerned about that myself, I thought what if I’m the one that’s responsible for rekindling the feud, Oh Lord, what a mess that would have been. In the end, after Willis seen all the work, I had put forth and all the local and national media coverage we were getting and everything coming together, Willis, just decided to be part of it, I think he was a lot like his daddy and liked all the attention he was getting and going to get if he did show up. I made sure to treat Willis like royalty, I didn’t want the West Virginia Hatfield’s to feel slighted in the least way. We wanted to treat him (Willis) better than his daddy (Devil Anse) had treated our ancestors. It’s like you and Fred say in your big book, the West Virginia Hatfield’s were meaner than the McCoy’s or even the Kentucky Hatfield’s. Willis and poppy (Jim McCoy) were cutting up at the dedication and joking with one another about who was going to live the longest. Boy, that Willis loved the liquor, I’ll tell you that, now brother he was a drinker. Then Jimmy asked us, did you know he (Willis) had killed a man? We said yes, we knew it, in fact we covered it in the 3rd edition of Monument for a Murderer. We asked, Jimmy if he knew who Willis had killed and why he killed the guy, Jimmy said, no! So, we told Jimmy about Willis killing a doctor over whiskey, Jimmy seemed surprised that Willis had killed someone but not that it was over liquor. He said, you know when those West Virginia Hatfield’s weren’t fighting with the McCoy’s, they were fighting with each other or somebody else, we all laughed and agreed. “Devil Anse Hatfield named one of his sons after W.V. Governor Willis Wilson. Shown here is Willis Hatfield, (son of Devil Anse and 'Levicy' Chafin Hatfield). He was born on Feb. 10th, 1888, only days after two more of Randall and Sarah’s children were murdered. Willis passed away on May 25, 1978 just two years after officially making peace with the Kentucky McCoy’s’ and is buried at the Hatfield Cemetery at Sarah Ann, W.V. (See Story of Willis Hatfield and his brush with the law in Fred & Shelia’s Book, Monument for a Murderer.) |
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| The newspaper headlines read: Hatfield’s and McCoy’s 0fficially Bury the Hatchet “Peace Treaty” Saturday May 1st, 1976, Granite Bible, marks end of bitter feud The local newspaper showed the McCoy Monument above and had a brief story about the dedication of the Monument and the last two living relatives of both families who were living during the bad years. Devil Anse Hatfield’s only living son Willis and Uriah McCoy’s son, known as “Jim” McCoy. Jimmy (McCoy) Wolford at the time was 40 yrs. old and his goal in the beginning was to have an annual gathering at the McCoy Cemetery, much like the Hatfield and McCoy celebrations over the last few years, the attendance soon diminishes to the point that the event was canceled all together. But for a one man show Jimmy Wolford made his mark, with the help of Joe and Lenard McCoy and his grandfather Jim McCoy. Jimmy told the local and national news he wanted to butcher a hog, (pun intended), and eat, drink, play some good ol hillbilly music and be merry, where our ancestors once spilled blood. Let’s all join hands and look to the future, Jimmy (McCoy) Wolford said. Some people thought Jimmy’s gathering of the Hatfields and McCoys was just too risky to attend. I remember the subject came up at the gossip corner at dad and mom’s country store. When one of the regulars asked the guy delivering the newspapers what he thought about the gathering? He said, “All hell could break lose,” another ol timer standing around said, I agree that’s why I ain’t going. In the end, it was a grand thing that Jimmy Wolford had planned, orchestrated and accomplished. In the beginning when Willis Hatfield then 87 years old, the last living son of Devil Anse Hatfield was asked to attend in order to represent the West Virginia Hatfield’s he said, “I treat the McCoys the same as Hatfields, but I reckon I’ll stay home, sometimes it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.” One ol timer said, “he’s referring to his ol man Devil Anse.” I can recall many of those who would stop by the store to get gas, groceries or even a candy bar commenting about the upcoming monument dedication and peace treaty. The closer it got to that day, the more talking there was, “there’s going to be killings over this, people were saying”. I expected people to start taking bets just anytime. Some people who were not Hatfield’s, McCoys, Smiths, Phillips, Mounts, Statons, Wallace, Dempsey, Vance, Mayhorn, Rutherford, Cline, Cunningham, Stratton, Gillespie, Ellis, Varney, Chambers, Whitt, Carpenter showed little interest, but those with family names familiar from years past were wondering what if anything was going to take place. The stone was a great addition and attention getter for the deceased McCoy children. We asked Jimmy about the wrong birthdate for Randall McCoy Jr. being on the stone? Was it an accident or did you change the date to make the boy look older so as to not make Devil Anse look so bad? Randall McCoy Jr. was born in 1867 and was only 15 years old when Devil Anse assassinated him. But on the stone his date of birth was put as 1864 making him 18 years old. Jimmy said, he had no idea the wrong birthdate had been inscribed on the stone, which would leave one to believe that those at the Hatfield Monument Company in Sara Ann, West Virginia, either by mistake or in attempt to make Devil Anse not look as bad for killing a 15-year-old boy changed the birthdate intentionally. With those parties now deceased it’s one of those things we’ll never know. Excerpt from: (Monument for a Murderer) “Devil” Anse told his guys to dismount; at least twenty-three in number, most of these men were the same ones who were in his gang of Wildcats. You could see the rancor and malice in “Devil” Anse’s eyes as he told them to strip down “butt-necked”. That was just another way to show his power and remove whatever dignity the boys may have had left. He told them, “You came into this world naked, you can go out the same way.” “Devil” Anse then told his men to tie the three boys to the trees. Then he directed each man as to whom he wanted them to kill. He then told the three McCoys they could pray if they wanted to, and at this point the three brothers realized that Anse Hatfield wasn’t just trying to scare them. He was really going to kill them. As the three boys begin to pray the shots rang out. The spite and hatred were as evident on “Devil” Anse’s face as the paw paw leaves that floated to the ground with every shot and shake of the trees. It sounded like a small war. All the men fired an exorbitant number of bullets into the McCoy’s. Finally, when the smoke cleared, there was Tolbert and Pharmer slumped over “riddled with bullets”. “Crazy” Jim Vance said, “Those boys are bleeding like a stuck pig," laughing as if it was funny. He was giving reference to the pig again. Then everyone’s attention turned to the third McCoy, just a teenage boy. It was 15-year-old Randall Jr. or “Bud” as most knew him. He was next to the youngest son of Randall and Sarah McCoy. He was still standing, with not a mark on him. It was the way “Devil” Anse had it planned. He had told everyone whom to shoot and no one was given Randall Jr’s name, he was still among the living. Remember, when the fight was taking place a couple of days earlier; Randall Jr. hadn’t done anything; it was actually William his brother who had attempted to separate Tolbert and Ellison. Everyone knew that the boy was innocent of any wrongdoing; he wasn’t involved in the fight. “Devil” Anse walked over to Randall Jr. and said, “If you’ll get on your knees and beg, I will let you live.” Randall Jr. looked at his brothers then looked “Devil” Anse Hatfield right square in the eyes and said, “To Hell with you Hatfields." “Devil” Anse turned to walk away, then unprovoked quickly turned back around and shot the youngest boy of the three. Upon emptying his pistol into Randall Jr., he mounted up and rode off back towards West Virginia. “Cap” Hatfield looked at the others and said, “Now boys, that right there was “A Real McCoy.” Supposedly, that’s where the old saying, “The Real McCoy,” comes from. When we asked, Jimmy how much the McCoy Monument cost, he said “do you know that stone cost $10,000.00 dollars. We asked how did you pay for it? He said, Joe and Leonard McCoy wrote me a check for the full amount. They loved being a part of the whole thing, they were such good men, they loved giving back to their community and to those people in their community. The monument is now only accessible to direct McCoy descendants because of a lawsuit filed in years passed by Ron and Bo McCoy of North Carolina. After the huge success of the (2012) History channel’s Hatfield and McCoy Mini-Series, the two cousins saw a way to commercialize the McCoy Cemetery, so they filed a fibulas and scandalous suit against the property owner, the famous Jim Vance’s own great grandson, John Vance. Up until the suit was filed by the North Carolina McCoy’s’ there was never a problem with people visiting the McCoy grave site, it was only after Ron and Bo wanted to operate a for profit bus tour of the graves that John Vance was forced to stand his ground and rightfully so. (For the entire story on the unwarranted suit and the outcome read Fred and Shelia McCoy’s huge Hatfield & McCoy Book, Monument for a Murderer, 3rd edition.) |
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| James “Jim” McCoy We thought Jimmy Wolford’s grandfather’s own obituary and the stories that followed could shed more light on his contribution. – James “Jim” McCoy, who helped settle his family's notorious feud with the Hatfield clan, was buried today in an Appalachian cemetery with members of both families mourning him, died Feb 11, 1984. Uncle Jim’s funeral was held in a chapel owned by Hatfield descendants whose ancestors were actually involved in the feud. Also, in attendance was a group of Hatfield family members from Logan County, W.Va. Preaching the funeral were Elders Charlie Whitt and Elmer Smith, of the First Samarian Primitive Baptist Church, of nearby Ransom, Ky. (This church is located on left-hand fork of Blackberry Creek, it is located just up the road from where Fred grew up. Fred’s grandmother Ella and grandfather Phillip both belonged to and attended this church, in fact when Fred’s grandmother died, they announced at her funeral that she was the oldest member on the churches scrolls.) David Hatfield, funeral director, told the local news, “Someone who has lived 99 years has just about outlived all of his friends.” 'But Mr. McCoy had a large family and many of them and their friends were here.' Jim McCoy’s body lay in a solid oak casket with a sprig of dogwood placed inside. Jimmy Woolford, a grandson, said, 'Grandpa had, had a dream a short time ago in which he saw his late wife in heaven with dogwood flowers all around. So, they found some and put them in the casket with him.' A mixed choir sang 'Amazing Grace' and 'Jerusalem, My Happy Home' at the service. James “Jim” McCoy died February 11th, 1984 in the Casey County Hospital at Liberty, Ky., (side note) after Fred took the job as the Police Chief in Hustonville, Ky in the early 90’s Dr. John Price became our family Doctor, it wouldn’t be long after we met Dr. Price that the subject of the famous feud would come up and he would tell us that he once served as Jim’s doctor also. In our family’s opinion, there is no finer Doctor in Kentucky then Dr. John Price. Jim was buried at the McCoy Family Cemetery at Burnwell, Ky. Just off to the left of Fred’s g grandfather Uriah and Aunt Betty’s house. Jim McCoy was the great-grandson of Samuel McCoy. I will always remember Jim McCoy when he shook hands with Willis Hatfield, the last surviving son of 'Devil Anse' Hatfield, in 1976 at the McCoy Monument dedication |
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| James and Virgie McCoy's children. Back-Cordle, Tully, Luther, James and John McCoy Front-Spicie (McCoy) Roberts, Dalhia (McCoy) Campbell, Marie (McCoy) Vance, Rosa (McCoy) Wolford and Linda (McCoy) Powell. |
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| the bed Devil Anse Hatfield slept on regularly at the old general store at Metor, WV owned by his niece while on the run hiding from Kentucky law men and bounty hunters. Bed has been appraised at over $50,000 |
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| 1873 Winchester rifle once owned by the eldest son of Asa & Patsy McCoy, Jacob McCoy this gun was one of three that shot and Killed crazy Jim Vance while he was on the run after the McCoy Cabin Massacre in 1888. This guns value has been appraised at $30,000 |
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| One of the original roof boards from Preacher Anse Hatfield’s cabin at the foot of Blackberry mountain where the famous pig trial was held in 1878 as well as the election day fight/stabbing in 1882. My father who was Preacher Anse’s g grandson got three boards off the roof after the cabin collapsed in the early 1970’s. First photo is of my mother Cora McCoy holding one of the boards, the second photo is Shelia McCoy posing with the board as it was exhibited in our Hatfield & McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Ky. |
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| One of the original roof boards from Preacher Anse Hatfield’s cabin at the foot of Blackberry mountain where the famous pig trial was held in 1878 as well as the election day fight/stabbing in 1882. My father who was Preacher Anse’s g grandson got three boards off the roof after the cabin collapsed in the early 1970’s. First photo is of my mother Cora McCoy holding one of the boards, the second photo is Shelia McCoy posing with the board as it was exhibited in our Hatfield & McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Ky. |
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| A replica Preacher Anse Hatfield cabin in ref to his grandson and my grandfather Phillip McCoy in the 1930-40 |
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| Banjo owned by my grandfather Phillip McCoy this Banjo once belonged to his uncle Bad Elias Hatfield who seemed to be the musician of the Kentucky Hatfield’s. Bad Elias was the one who first fought with Tolbert McCoy on election day over owing him money for a fiddle. Photos of my grandfather Phillip McCoy who was the son of Nancy Hatfield and Asa McCoy, which made him the grandson to Preacher Anse Hatfield, the other photo is of my mother and long time Hatfield and McCoy collector Cora McCoy. |
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| Original Kentucky Warrant for Devil Anse Hatfield for Murder signed by Kentucky Governor Simon Buckner. Was passed down to Devil Anse Hatfield’s g grandson Stephen Hatfield, after Stephen’s death his wife sold the warrant to Willard McCoy and his wife Kathy, we in turn purchased the warrant from Willard and Kathy to be added to our Hatfield and McCoy collection/Museum. One of the photos is of Stephen displaying the warrant for a photo opt. |
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| Kathy McCoy, Shelia McCoy and Willard McCoy with warrant |
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| Willard McCoy transferring ownership of the warrant over to Shelia McCoy |
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| Display case with warrant and other items acquired from Stephen Hatfield, |
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| Double Barreled Shotgun owned by my grandfather Phillip McCoy, shotgun once belonged to his grandfather Preacher Anse Hatfield. |
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| Work Bonnet ref to: been worn by Patsy Cline the wife of Asa Harmon McCoy who was Randall McCoy’s brother and the first person killed in the Hatfield and McCoy Feud. Patsy Cline was the sister to Perry Cline. |
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| Cora McCoy posing with Hatfield & McCoy artifact at Fred & Shelia McCoy's H&M Museum in Renfro Valley Ref to: work Bonnet been worn by Patsy Cline the wife of Asa Harmon McCoy who was Randall McCoy’s brother and the first person killed in the Hatfield and McCoy Feud. Patsy Cline was the sister to Perry Cline. |
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| Patsy Cline the wife of Asa Harmon McCoy who was Randall McCoy’s brother and the first person killed in the Hatfield and McCoy Feud. Patsy Cline was the sister to Perry Cline. In photo she is wearing the work bonnet in order to keep the heat and sun off her neck while churning butter. |
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| Patsy Cline the wife of Asa Harmon McCoy who was Randall McCoy’s brother and the first person killed in the Hatfield and McCoy Feud. Patsy Cline was the sister to Perry Cline. In photo she is wearing the work bonnet in order to keep the heat and sun off her neck while churning butter. |
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Contact Cell 606-669-0364
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| The bed Cap Hatfield, Johnse Hatfield and Crazy Jim Vance slept in (hopefully not at same time) when they were passing through the Meter, W.V. area. This bed was in another room next to the room where Devil Anse would sleep. If you wanted to the old man you had to go pass who ever was sleeping in the front bedroom which would have been one of these three men or another Logan Wildcat. When we purchased the bed Devil Anse slept in we also bought this one just for its connection to those three listed above, and also because it was on American Pickers. |
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| Goldie Ray and Fred McCoy sitting on the bed Johnse Hatfield, Cap Hatfield and Jim Vance slept on, among others. |
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| Shelia McCoy and Goldie Ray sitting on the Johnse Hatfield, Cap Hatfield and Jim Vance bed |
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| This chair once belonged to Preacher Anse Hatfield; my grandfather Phillip McCoy kept it out on the old screened in porch on Blackberry. His sister, Aunt Dolly had given it to him way before I was ever born but it was one of his favorite keepsakes other then the guns of course. The chair once sit on the porch of Preacher Anse’s cabin. This was one of the items Pa and Ma McCoy gave mom and dad over the years, as with most everything else we stored it in the loaf of the old barn above our house. |
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| My mother Cora McCoy posing for photo with Preacher Anse Hatfield's porch chair while it was displayed at Shelia and my Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley Ky. |
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| Old deer skin shoulder bag, ref to being carried by Devil Anse Hatfield, used for carrying extra ammo, small pistol and jerky or snack. Can see bag over Devil Anse’s shoulder in many photos. |
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| Old deer skin shoulder bag carried by Devil Anse Hatfield, used for carrying extra ammo, small pistol and jerky or snack. Can see bag over Devil Anse’s shoulder in many photos. |
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| Devil Anse Hatfield in his later years poses for photo with his hands resting on his cane rather than his rifle. Don’t be fooled Ol Devil Anse had his pistol in his pocket or his rifle was sitting close by you can bet your life on that, he did! Ref Cane, |
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| Devil Anse Hatfield in his later years poses for photo with his hands resting on his cane rather than his rifle. Don’t be fooled Ol Devil Anse had his pistol in his pocket or his rifle was sitting close by you can bet your life on that, he did! Cane, |
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| Ref to: Old vest Randall McCoy was wearing when photo was taken on Main street in Pikeville, Kentucky before his death in 1914 Randall was also known for wearing his watch attached by chain to his vest. |
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| Ref to: Old vest Randall McCoy was wearing when photo was taken on Main street in Pikeville, Kentucky before his death in 1914 Randall was also known for wearing his watch attached by chain to his vest. |
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| Matewan, WV collectable mail envelope with stamps. |
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| Rocking Chair ref Sarah McCoy |
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| Hatfield Shotgun once displayed at the Hatfield & McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Ky |
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| Ref Willis Hatfield, Billy Club, Whistle, Badge |
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| Ref Devil Anse Hatfield glasses |
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| Ref Cap Hatfield handcuffs ref breaking out of Jail before heading west. |
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| Hatfield and McCoy whiskey/moonshine collection Displayed at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley Kentucky. |
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| Hatfield and McCoy whiskey/moonshine collection Displayed at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley Kentucky |
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| Ref to: My great grandmother Nancy Hatfield McCoy’s pistol- a S&W 38, five shot breakdown revolver pistol, broches and knives. Nancy Hatfield was the daughter of Preacher Anse Hatfield she married my great grandfather Asa McCoy in 1875 together they had my grandfather Phillip McCoy. |
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| Ref to: My grandmother’s shotgun and pistol along with an old quilt she kept at the foot of the bed in the guest bedroom. Also, an old moonshine jug that was used as a door stopper. Several photos, one of my wife Shelia McCoy and my mother Cora McCoy and also a photo of Pa and Ma McCoy and my grandmothers’ mother and father Curtis and Ella Smith. |
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| My grandmother’s shotgun and pistol along with an old quilt she kept at the foot of the bed in the guest bedroom. Also, an old moonshine jug that was used as a door stopper. Several photos, one of my wife Shelia McCoy and my mother Cora McCoy and also a photo of Pa and Ma McCoy and my grandmothers’ mother and father Curtis and Ella Smith. |
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| Ref Frank Phillips pistol. |
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| Ref Frank Phillips pistol |
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| Please understand that some items were collected way before Shelia, or I were even born and passed down through the years so 100 percent authentication of some items is simply impossible. However, with my grandfather’s trade, that of a blacksmith he did trade his services for various items throughout the years. He and my grandmother were well known for their collecting of Hatfield and McCoy items and even though he didn’t discuss the feud or its history he was a collector. This would be one such item. Ref to: Has always been believed to be Frank Phillips gun but at this point it’s absolutely impossible to say for sure. The gun would be the correct make, and caliber as the one Bad Frank Phillips carried. |
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| Old news articles some as far back as the 1880’s |
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| Old news articles some as far back as the 1880’s all articles in these pictures. |
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| Old news articles some as far back as the 1880’s all articles. |
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| Old news articles some as far back as the 1880’s |
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| Old news articles some as far back as the 1880’s all articles. |
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| Old news articles some as far back as the 1880’s all articles |
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| Old news articles some as far back as the 1880’s |
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| Old news articles some as far back as the 1880’s all articles |
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| Old news articles some as far back as the 1880’s . |
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| Gun passed down from my gg Grandfather Preacher Anse Hatfield to my grandfather Phillip McCoy and from my grandpa and grandma to my dad Bobby McCoy and from my dad and mom to me. Have gun, powder horn, photos and display case. Ref to: Not sure if this gun had any involvement to the famous feud, if it did no one ever talked about it. |
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| Gun passed down from my gg Grandfather Preacher Anse Hatfield to my grandfather Phillip McCoy and from my grandpa and grandma to my dad Bobby McCoy and from my dad and mom to me. |
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| with my grandfather’s trade, that of a blacksmith he did trade his services for various items throughout the years. He and my grandmother were well known for their collecting of Hatfield and McCoy items and even though he didn’t discuss the feud or its history he was a collector. This would be one such item. While there may be much more H&M feud history behind this gun we are unable to credit it as been nothing more then a gun that my grandfather owned and passed down to my dad. However this gun could have also have belong to his grandfather Preacher Anse Hatfield and even used in the feud however we have no way of knowing. |
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| Another gun we can say with my grandfather’s trade, that of a blacksmith he did trade his services for various items throughout the years. He and my grandmother were well known for their collecting of Hatfield and McCoy items and even though he didn’t discuss the feud or its history he was a collector. This would be one such item. While there may be much more H&M feud history behind this gun we are unable to credit it as been nothing more then a gun that my grandfather owned and passed down to my dad. However this gun could have also have belong to his grandfather Preacher Anse Hatfield and even used in the feud however we have no |
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| Large photo of Devil Anse Hatfield and two of his brothers with height comparison, photo was displayed in the Hatfield and McCoy Museum at Renfro Valley as well as in the Hatfield and McCoy book Monument for a Murderer. |
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| Ref Preacher Anse Hatfield’s gavel while serving as Justice of the Peace in Pike County Kentucky. |
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| Ref Preacher Anse Hatfield’s gavel while serving as Justice of the Peace in Pike County Kentucky. |
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| Famous painting of Preacher Anse Hatfield’s homeplace/cabin on Blackberry Creek, Kentucky. Once displayed at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Famous painting of Randall McCoy's homeplace/cabin on Blackberry Fork, Kentucky. Once displayed at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| What makes these prints more valuable then the normal Russell May paintings is #1 They are owned by an original Hatfield and McCoy descendant and #2 they once hung in the Hatfield and McCoy museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| This thermometer once hung on the outside wall of Goldie’s Hardware Store in Metor, W.V. that was featured on the History Channels American Pickers. |
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| See far right of Goldies Hardware Store Building |
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| Autographed Photo at bottom left on wall, of Mike and Frank from American Pickers to Mike and Goldie Ray owners of Goldie’s Hardware Store in Metor, W.V. that was featured on the History Channels American Pickers. |
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| Sign that has hung over Goldie’s Hardware Store front door for many years. Goldie’s was featured on the History Channels American Pickers. |
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| Sign that has hung over Goldie’s Hardware Store front door for many years. Goldie’s was featured on the History Channels American Pickers. |
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| Sign that has hung over Goldie’s Hardware Store front door for many years. Goldie’s was featured on the History Channels American Pickers. |
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| Ledger for credit at the old Hardware store that Devil Anse Hatfield’s niece owned and that the Hatfield family frequented and shopped with for most of their dry goods. There was only five of the credit ledgers found in the old store on the History Channel’s American Pickers. |
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| Ledger for credit at the old Hardware store that Devil Anse Hatfield’s niece owned and that the Hatfield family frequented and shopped with for most of their dry goods. There was only five of the credit ledgers found in the old store on the History Channel’s American Pickers Frank purchased one of the ledgers Shelia and we also purchased one of the ledgers for our collection. |
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| Ledger for credit at the old Hardware store that Devil Anse Hatfield’s niece owned and that the Hatfield family frequented and shopped with for most of their dry goods. There was only five of the credit ledgers found in the old store on the History Channel’s American Pickers |
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| License Plates that were hanging on the wall at the old Hardware store that Devil Anse Hatfield’s niece owned and that the Hatfield family frequented and shopped with for most of their dry goods. There were several old License plates in the old store with Shelia and I purchasing most of them for our collection. History Channel’s American Pickers Mike and Frank along with Mike Ray and Goldie Ray in photo from American Pickers admiring the pictures and tags hanging on the wall. |
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| Picture of Devils Anse’s niece that once hung on the wall at the old Hardware store that the Hatfield family frequented and shopped with for most of their dry goods. There were several items in the old store that Shelia and I purchased for our collection. History Channel’s American Pickers Mike and Frank along with Mike Ray and Goldie Ray in photo from American Pickers admiring the pictures and tags hanging on the wall. |
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| In the far-left display case are many other artifacts Shelia and I purchased from Mike and Goldie Ray and the old Hardware store that the Hatfield family frequented and shopped with for most of their dry goods. There were several items in the old store that Shelia and I purchased for our H&M collection. If you view the History Channel’s American Pickers when Mike and Frank visited and Picked the old store you will see many of the items, we purchased. Just to name a few, old prince Albert can, old skeleton keys, Devil Anse’s horse brush and many more. |
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| This is another old child’s dress that once belonged to one of Devil Anse’s niece Sissy “Hatfield” Browning’s children. Shelia and I purchased from Mike and Goldie Ray and the old Hardware store that the Hatfield family frequented and shopped with for most of their dry goods. There were several items in the old store that Shelia and I purchased for our H&M collection. If you view the History Channel’s American Pickers when Mike and Frank visited and Picked the old store you will see many of the items. |
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| Shelia and I purchased this autographed book to Mike and Goldie Ray, written and signed by author Dean King titled The Feud from Mike and Goldie Ray and the old Hardware store that the Hatfield family frequented and shopped with for most of their dry goods. There were several items in the old store that Shelia and I purchased for our H&M collection. If you view the History Channel’s American Pickers when Mike and Frank visited and Picked the old store you will see many of these items including this book. |
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| Ref Johnse Hatfield shotgun. |
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| Devil Anse Hatfield |
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| Randall McCoy |
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| Fred McCoy |
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Fred is the son of Bobby and Cora McCoy
the Grandson of Phillip and Ella Jane McCoy
the Great Grandson of Nancy (Hatfield) McCoy & Asa McCoy
the GG Grandson of the famous “Preacher” Anse Hatfield
the GG Grandson of Uriah and “Aunt” Betty McCoy
the GG Nephew of Randall and Sarah McCoy,
the GG Nephew of Sheriff Basil Hatfield, “Bad” Elias Hatfield & Constable Floyd Hatfield.
and the 4th cousin to the murdering but Famous “Devil” Anse Hatfield.
To give a little history:
Nancy Hatfield was the daughter of “Preacher” Anse and Polly Hatfield who lived in the cabin at the foot of Blackberry mountain. Fred’s grandfather Phillip was born in the cabin where the replica stands today. “Preacher” Anse Hatfield presided over the famous Pig Trial of 1878, he was also the first cousin to “Devil” Anse Hatfield. Asa McCoy and Nancy Hatfield my G Grandparents were married in 1875 just three years prior to the Pig Trial.
Asa McCoy was the son of Uriah and “Aunt” Betty McCoy, Uriah was the first cousin to Randall McCoy and the brother to Randall’s wife Sarah or (Sally) McCoy. So not only were Randall and Uriah first cousins they were also brother n laws. Randall and Uriah both served in the Confederate Army the VSL and the 45th, both served with “Devil” Anse Hatfield before he deserted and they were taken POW’s.
“Aunt” Betty (Rutherford) Uriah’s wife, was my GG Grandmother on the McCoy side, she is famous for being the one who took Roseanna McCoy in after she became pregnant. In fact, Roseanna named her baby after her mother Sarah and my gg Grandmother Elizabeth, (Sarah Elizabeth)
As for my gg Uncles, Sheriff Basil Hatfield, “Bad” Elias Hatfield & Constable Floyd Hatfield they were all very much involved with the Famous Feud. Probably best known would be “Bad” Elias Hatfield as he was the one involved in the first fight at the Blackberry election ground. He’s the one who owed money to Tolbert McCoy for a fiddle.
My Pedigree/DNA just goes and goes but this is the just of it. Since I was a child I have always been fascinated by the feud and those involved in it. Over the last one-half Century, I have collected anything I could for my collection. After marring Shelia over 38 years ago researching the Hatfield and McCoy Feud and collecting artifacts also became her hobby. Over the last few years’ people have encouraged us to share our collection, we hope you enjoy viewing it as much as we have collecting it.
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Below are some of the Hatfield & McCoy artifacts we have acquired over the last half century. Some items we bought, some are on loan to the Museum and many have been passed down from generation to generation, with my mother Cora McCoy, being our biggest supporter and contributor of Hatfield and McCoy artifacts and memorabilia to the Museum.
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| Fred, Cora and Shelia McCoy |
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| Chair in ref to my great aunt Arizona McCoy Staton, sister to Asa McCoy and daughter of Uriah and Aunt Betty McCoy |
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| Union and Confederate Civil War hats were on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Ref: Nancy Hatfield chair was on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Preacher Anse Hatfield’s saddle but his grandson, my grandfather used it so much that Preacher Anse gave it to him at a church social one Sunday afternoon. Saddle was on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Just one of several old trunks ma and pa had with keep sakes, family heirlooms and quilts in. This one was always kept in the loft of the barn. Trunk was on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Ref to: Old Civil War bayonet belonged to Preacher Anse Hatfield who served with the 39th th. This was one of the items that was in the old black trunk in the barn loft. When we were kids, we would get in the loft and play with many of the items we now have in the museum. Had we known how much history some of them had behind them we may have taken better care of them. This bayonet was on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Another old trunk ma and pa had in barn loft filled with old keepsakes from the Hatfields and McCoys this trunk was also on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| This display is full of photos of movie characters that portrayed the Hatfields and McCoys in the History Channels Hatfield and McCoy mini-series some are autographed some are not, this was also on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Ref Randall McCoy Double Barrell Shotgun and skinning knife, this was also on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Ref Squirrel Hunting Sam’s Shotgun, this was also on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| In this display case is various Hatfield and McCoy artifacts and items many have been discontinued or are no longer available, these items were also on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Fred and Shelia McCoy’s first and second edition of our Hatfield and McCoy Book, Monument for a Murderer these items are no longer in print or available these copies were also on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Quilts from Preacher and Polly Hatfield, Nancy Hatfield McCoy and Asa McCoy and Phillip and Ella Jane McCoy they were also on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Old grinding wheel ref to: my grandfather he got wheel and an anvil from Randall’s son Jim McCoy in the early 1900’s when he begin his blacksmithing career. But modified it to work more efficiently years later. The old grinding stone stayed in Pa’s blacksmith shop until the early 60’s when he tore the building down and stored all his tools along with so many other items in the barn. The grinding stone or wheel was also on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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| Old horse collar that belonged to my grandfather and hung in pa’s barn for as long as I can remember it was also on display at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. |
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Disclaimer: FYI, some items may be for nothing more than recognition purposes only. Meaning, it is not known if the item in the photo and the item on display are the same one. It is possible, with the age and description of the item being the same. However, we may have gotten the item from an outside source, with no way to verify with 100 percent confidence if the item on display is the same as the one in photo. Please remember, we have thousands of items, artifacts, memorabilia and family heirlooms in our collection, we are in no way suggesting every item is authentic to anything other then what it is, and confirming the item now belongs to Shelia and I, with me an original Hatfield & McCoy family descendant. PCA-Ref to:
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Interesting story about these two Russel May paintings. Both the Hatfield and McCoy cabin's belonged to my (Fred McCoy) GG Grandparents. The McCoy cabin belonged to Uriah and Elizabeth "Aunt Betty" McCoy, the parents of my g grandfather Asa McCoy.
It was and still is located in Stringtown, Kentucky. However, it looks nothing like it did in this painting. I will post more recent pictures below. The cabin was actually remolded and built onto and is now inside of or part of the huge white house, you see in the pictures below. The McCoy cabin you see in the Russell May painting, marked McCoy Cabin is now inside the white two story house.
Since the painting of the McCoy cabin it has also been moved across the road to where it now sits, as it was originally built in an area that was frequently flooded by the Tug River. This is the river that separates the two states of Kentucky and West Virginia.
As is stated on the back of the McCoy Painting, this was in fact the cabin that Randall McCoy's daughter Roesanna went to stay when she became pregnant by Johnse Hatfield. She stayed with my gg grandparents Uriah and "Aunt Betty" McCoy.
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The Russell May Painting of Preacher Anse Hatfield's Cabin is located at the foot of Blackberry Mountain, AKA (Hatfield & McCoy Mountain. It's at the intersection of SH 319 and Ky Hwy 1056. This was the cabin where the famous Pig Trial was held. Preacher Anse was the Justice of the Peace who presided over the Pig Trial, he was a first cousin to Devil Anse Hatfield. Preacher Anse and Polly Hatfield were also my (Fred McCoy) gg grandparents, they were the parents to my g grandmother Nancy Hatfield, who married Asa McCoy in Sept. 1875 this is how I'm related to both famous feuding families as AsaMcCoy and Nancy Hatfield had a son named Phillip who was my grandpa.
Directly across the road from my gg grandparents cabin is where the Election Day fight broke out between the Hatfields and McCoys in 1882 when Ellison Hatfield was stabbed.
The Hatfield Cabin in Russell May's painting no longer exits as it collapsed in the late 70's. However, there now stands a replica cabin in the exact place as the original cabin. My g grandmother Nancy Hatfield and my grandpa Phillip McCoy were both born in the cabin which was painted by Russell May.
We will also post more up to date pictures of the replica cabin as it looks today.
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Click on Fred McCoy above to see selection of Hatfield and McCoy books
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| Shelia's Hatfield and McCoy Candles |
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| We realize it’s going to be difficult to keep a business such as a museum open and operating in a small community. We are hoping people will try to help us in keeping the Museum afloat through Donations. Gift Shop purchases such as books and t-shirts, to buying "Brick Pavers", to be displayed at the front entrance door. Buying "Memory Tiles" in memory of a loved one who has passed. Donating to the "In Recognition of plaque.” To sponsoring one of the over one hundred Display Cases. We want to offer you something in return for your money, however if you just want to make a Donation just click the Donate Button to the left and enter the amount of your gift, any amount excepted and appreciated.
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Disclaimer:
Want to say thank you to all those who have made suggestions to Shelia and I on our newest adventure of the Hatfield and McCoy Museum and Gift Shop. A special thanks to those who have either donated or loaned us items to show. Hope to see many Hatfield and McCoy fans at the Museum.
If you have Hatfield and McCoy memorabilia that can be authenticated and you would rather sell as donate or loan we have CASH! Must be able to authenticate, civil war, Hatfield and/or McCoy related. $$$$$$ sell your item and see it on display anytime you want too.
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Hatfield & McCoy Museum Disclaimer:
We want to say thank you to all those who have made suggestions to Shelia and I or another family member on our newest adventure to display our collection of Hatfield and McCoy artifacts. A special thanks to all those who have either donated or loaned us items to show/display over the years. We hope to see many Hatfield and McCoy fans at the Museum to visit.
If you have Hatfield and McCoy memorabilia that can be authenticated, and you would rather sell as donate or loan, we would be interested in talking to you. However, you must be able to authenticate, Civil War, Hatfield and/or McCoy related. Sell us your item and see it on display anytime you want to.
Museum-, a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited. We don’t want to express or imply that all the items in our collection of Hatfield /McCoy memorabilia are authentic Hatfield and McCoy Feud artifacts. We do want to express that the items serve as a testament as to the way in which the items of that time were represented and are a part of our collection simply to serve as a cultural example of that time.
Many of these items and their authenticity has been analyzed and documented by direct Hatfield and McCoy Feud Descendants, Authors/Historians. With the possibility that some of these items were or could have been used or available during the time frame of the Hatfield and McCoy Feud and/or the Civil War. Based on our findings, we are verifying that the items collected, purchased or barrowed and posed for viewing was done so in the condition they are now in, some items we did clean the dirt, rust and/or other debris from to give the item a more desirable as well as presentable look.
These Items may have been gifts, found, collected or even purchased during the time frame that we have been researching the feud over the last one-half century. The item may or may not have been found in Feud Country, (AKA) Pike County, Kentucky, Mingo/Logan County, West Virginia, or on Blackberry Creek, Kentucky or Matewan, West Virginia. All items have been documented and recorded in the registry book of Hatfield and McCoy memorabilia, and therefore authenticated as to be what they are listed as and in fact owned by a Hatfield and McCoy descendant. However, some items are so old we had to rely on other means of research to correctly identify said items, in doing so it may not have been limited to Hatfield and McCoy Authors/Historians but also Civil War Era Historians and/or history buffs used to identify the item. Even with all these precautions having been taken we can only rely on their judgment and expertise as to what the item is or to the item's authenticity.
This notice is to serve/provide the viewer that some items may or may not have been used in or directly representative to a person, place or thing in the feud of either family and was simply placed into our collection as a prop. The item does, however assist in making representation as to the same item that may have been around during that time. We feel that a picture or tangible replica is a valued source when making a representation to a time or person. However, a picture cannot compete with an actual item real or replica of that time in history.
We certify that we, Fred and Shelia McCoy do now own the item(s) collected and displayed at the Hatfield and McCoy Museum and that Fred is an original descendant of both the Feuding Hatfield’s, as well as the McCoy’s. Items may or may not be directly or indirectly connected to: Randall or Sarah McCoy or their siblings, offspring, etc. McCoy Patriarch Randall McCoy who served with the VSL and the 45th CSA. Randall was the brother of Asa Harmon McCoy, who served in the Union Army during the Civil War era 1861-1865 as well as being the first cousin of Uriah McCoy, who also served in the VSL and the 45th CSA with Randall McCoy. Uriah was married to Elizabeth (Rutherford) McCoy, AKA “Aunt Betty.” Randall’s wife Sarah was the sister to Uriah McCoy. Uriah and “Aunt Betty’s” son Asa married Preacher Anse Hatfield’s daughter, Nancy Hatfield a Kentucky Hatfield. “Devil” Anse Hatfield the Patriarch of the Hatfield family was the cousin of Preacher Anse Hatfield. Devil Anse or Levicy Hatfield, Cap, Johnse Hatfield or their siblings, offspring, etc.
In our collection of Hatfield & McCoy/Civil War artifacts and memorabilia you will find enhancements, this was done not only for your entertainment, but also for promoting our collection in a more translucent manner appearing to be a phenomenon as well as making such an accumulation of items more desirable, as well as appearing to be a brilliant spectrum of history. We promote an endless repertoire of items and stories both certified and authenticated as well as gaffed. We do hope you are/were impressed with our collection and impressed both with its historical value as well as the entertainment value it provides. The only accredited and authorized statements, written or verbal we attest to or validate as being 100 percent true is that of our ancestry.
Historian-an expert in or student of history, especially that of a period, geographical region, or social phenomenon. 1. A scholar or writer of history. 2. One who writes or compiles a chronological record of events; a chronicler.
The single largest collection of privately owned Hatfield and McCoy memorabilia/artifacts in the world today, simply from the fact of it being own by Fred McCoy and his relationship to both the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s.
In order to give a more exuberant story behind some of the artifacts, some of the information may have being altered regarding a certain item, as stated in all our books, we also list our Hatfield and McCoy Museum as Historical Fiction and even though every item is real and could have even belonged to the person indicated in each story or picture because of the items age we really have no way to authenticate something that is 80-160 years old and any statements or information behind the item is merely speculation, opinion or created in order to give the item some sort of time frame as to when it was made sold used or even possibly owned by a certain person Hatfield, McCoy or otherwise. Some of our items, relics may have been bought over the years from a number of venues including but not limited to individuals both Hatfield’s, McCoy’s as well as others, etc. over many years, in order to simulate an item that was or may have been used during the famous feud, civil war. Some people want to hear a creative story behind each artifact and for that I (Fred) have attempted to create one if one didn’t already exist.
Certified to be the signatures of: Fred & Shelia McCoy
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Disclaimer, understand that some items are authenticated through photographs, newspaper articles and even sworn notarized statements, some items were collected by my grandparents and parents before I was ever born with no way for me to truly authenticate other than through old photographs with that been said, unless there is documentation to back up where the item came from the only thing we can attest to is that the item is what it appears to be and that original Hatfield and McCoy direct descendants owns it.
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