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(October 2008)
Reproduction of the home that belonged to Rev.
Anderson Hatfield, who presided as the judge in the
"hog trial"
Rev. Anderson Hatfield was also called "Preacher Anse" at times to
distinguish between him and William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield. This
replica home is also the location where the election/voting took place
when "Devil Anse" Hatfield's brother, Ellison Hatfield, was stabbed and
killed, which is really the main reason the
feud took place. The other things before this event were things that
caused and built up friction between the two families
Photo by Paul Stanfield
Narrative courtesy of Yvonne DeHart, Matewan, WV
Home located in Kentucky at the intersection of Rt. 1056 and Rt.
319, about 4 mi. from Matewan, WV |
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(October 2008)
Hog Trial Site
In the fall of 1878, Randolph McCoy brought charges against Floyd
Hatfield for stealing one of his hogs. The resulting trial occurred here
and was presided over by the local justice of the peace, Preacher
Anderson Hatfield. Preacher Anderson was Devil Anse Hatfield's cousin
and did not want to appear biased so he gathered a jury of six Hatfields
and six McCoys to hear the case. When the jury reached its verdict,
Selkirk McCoy, nephew of Sarah McCoy and a veteran of the Virginia
Confederacy, sided with the six Hatfields in favor of Floyd. The McCoys
felt betrayed and open hostilities soon erupted between the Haftield and
McCoy families. Later Bill Staton, who testified in favor of his
brother-in-law Floyd Hatfield was killed by two of Randolph McCoy's
nephews while he was hunting. They were tried and acquitted in a trial
presided over by Valentine Hatfield, uncle of Devil Anse. After this,
violence between the families continued and the resulting conflict
eventually escalated into the most famous family feud in American
history
Paul Stanfied photo |
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Buskirk, KY, about a 1/2 mile from
Matewan, WV
From the Yvonne DeHart collection |
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"Devil Anse's" life size
monument.
MONUMENT OF WILLIAM ANDERSON "DEVIL ANSE" HATFIELD
SARAH ANN, WV - SEPT. 22, 1944
Not long after their father's death, Joe and Tennis Hatfield
commissioned a monument company in Huntington to fashion a life-sized
statue of Anse, of Carrara marble, from Italy using photographs they
provided; costing them $3500.
The names of the couple's 13 children are listed on the front of the
monument: Johnson, William A., Robert L., Nancy, Elliott R., Mary,
Elizabeth, Elias, Troy, Joseph O., Rose, Willis E., and Tennis. (Troy's
real name was Detroit and Tennis's given name was Tennyson. William A,
was commonly called "Cap."
The man and boy viewing the monument are Devil Anse's son Joe, a former
sheriff of Logan County, and grandson Willie Joe, aged 4.
Photo Courtesy Of: LIFE Magazine
From the Yvonne DeHart collection |
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Enlarge The McCoy Monument is located on Rt.319 at Hardy, KY,
about 4 miles from the intersection of Rt.1056 & Rt.319
Left Side:
"SIX OF THE SIXTEEN CHILDREN OF RANDOLPH AND SARAH MCCOY LIE BURIED HERE
HAVING SUFFERED UNTIMELY DEATH. THREE BOUND TO PAW PAW TREES AT THE
MOUTH OF BLACKBERRY CREEK IN AUGUST 1882. ONE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE DIED
OF GRIEF BECAUSE HIS BROTHER HAD BEEN SHOT IN HIS STEAD. TWO PERISHED
WHEN THEIR HOME WAS BURNED IN JANUARY 1888. THE HOMESITE IS VISIBLE
ACROSS THE VALLEY ABOVE THIS PLACE."
Right Side:
Tolbert 1854 --- 1882
Alifair 1858 --- 1888
Calvin 1862 --- 1888
Pharmer 1863 --- 1882
Randolph, Jr. 1864 --- 1882
William 1866 ---
THERE IS NO SECRET WHY THEY DIED SO YOUNG PRIDE TOOK CONTROL, YOUTH'S
SONG WAS NEVER SUNG
- Jim Wolford
- Bob Stanley
THIS MARKER PRESENTED TO THE PRESERVATION COUNCIL OF PIKE COUNTY BY THE
MCCOY FAMILY - 1975
From the Yvonne DeHart collection
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JOHNSON HATFIELD AND ROSEANNA MCCOY
Select Images to Enlarge
 Romance blossomed when "Johnse" Hatfield and
Roseanna McCoy met on Kentucky election grounds in 1880. By the end
of the day, Roseanna decided to go home with Johnse and his family.
Randolph was outraged and Devil Anse wasn't too pleased either;
neither parent wanted them to marry. When Roseanna heard rumors
that some of the family had plans to come "bring her home", to
prevent trouble, she returned on her own; now pregnant with Johnse's
child.
Roseanna moved in with her Aunt Betty McCoy,
because her father was so upset, he refused to
look at or even speak to
her. Johnse continued to visit with Roseanna
 at her aunt's home,
this upset her family. When Roseanna overheard retaliation plans to
take Johnse captive, and deliver him to the county seat for
outstanding warrants, she feared for Johnse's life. That's when she
made the infamous Midnight Ride to warn Devil Anse, who immediately
organized a rescue party. They surrounded the McCoy's and took
Johnse back to West Virginia before he could be transported to the
county seat.
Later in 1881, Johnse abandoned Roseanna, now
pregnant with his child, and married her cousin, Nancy McCoy.
Roseanna and Johnse's baby died young and
is buried near her Aunt
Betty's home (Aflex, KY). Roseanna also died at the young age of
twenty-eight, some say of a broken heart. She is buried at Dils
Cemetery in Pikeville, KY.
Johnson's photo is owned by Coleman C.
Hatfield and Roseanna's photo is the property of West Virginia State
Archives.
According to census records, Roseanne was born in the Spring of 1859
and died in 1889, making her 29 or 30 yrs old when she died,
depending on the month she was born and died.
Courtesy of
Yvonne DeHart |
Hog Trial Site
