Larkin McCoy, grew up in the woods and hills of Pike County, Kentucky. [4][5]
His young life was interrupted by the larger happenings in the United States, when the southern states seceded from the Union and precipitated the Civil War. Most of the families in his area were on the side of the south. His father Asa Harmon McCoy, however, was an exception. Asa enlisted in the Union Army in Co E of the 45th Regiment Kentucky Infantry USA.[6][7] He was discharged in December of 1864. Because of his political stance, Asa was killed by a band called the Logan Wildcats on January 7, 1865. "Devil Anse" Hatfield, although suspected at first, had a sound alibi. So the main blame later fell on Jim Vance, "Devil Anse's" uncle, a member of the Logan Wildcats.[8] Lark was only nine.
At age 17, Larkin married Mary Elizabeth Coleman (1857-1924). [9][10]
Larkin was 22 years old, in 1878, when his paternal uncle, Randolph McCoy accused Floyd Hatfield of stealing his pig. Historians point to this incident as the beginning of the infamous Hatfield and McCoy Feud (continued under Hatfield and McCoy Feud). [11]
In 1880, Larkin, his wife, Mary, and his two small children lived in Peters Creek, Pike County, Kentucky. He was a farmer who could neither read nor write, however, Mary could. On the next three farms were Martha, Jacob, and John, each McCoys. [12] By 1900, Lark and Mary had increased their family, plus had a grandchild living with them. [13] By 1910, they lived in Freeburn (same county and state) and a cousin was in their household. [14] They continued on in Freeburn, in 1920, and since Mary would have been age 59 or so, the youngest child appears to have been their grandchild. [15]
He became a widower in 1923 at the death of Mary. [16] By 1929, he became a widower, again, at the death of Amanda "Manda" Caroline Kelly (1865-1929). [17]
Nancy 'Elizabeth' O'Bryan became Lark's third wife after March, 1929 (death of Caroline). [citation needed] Larkin and Elizabeth lived together in Pike County in 1930 and they had two roomers by the name of McCoy living with them. The names suggest they were family. [18]
Larken H McCoy (spelling on tombstone) passed away on Sept. 14, 1938, [3] and is buried in Billie Dotson Cemetery, in Pike County, Kentucky, USA.[19]
In Jan. 1888, during the worst of the feuding, a posse led by Pike County Deputy Sheriff Frank Phillips, in Kentucky, went to find Devil Anse' group in West Virginia. The posse's first victim was Jim Vance.[8] He was shot by Larkin McCoy,[25] but it was Frank Philips who killed him.[26] In 1888, this same posse had prices on their heads, issued by Governor Wilson of West Virginia for the killing of James Vance and W. D. Dempsey. A $500 reward was offered for Frank Philips and $100 for Lark McCoy and others.[27]
The case involving the Hatfields went all the way to the Supreme Court, which gave the 'story' national 'media' attention. [28]
In 1975, a monument was erected, to five persons killed during the feud, an AP writer wrote: "To this day, Leonard and Joseph McCoy recall their grandfather, Lark McCoy, screaming in the night, never going to sleep without a cloth over his face to shut out the ghosts of those awful years." [29]
Sources
↑ * full name: Source was his son, Joseph, at his marriage in 1952: "Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVB1-HFDL : 10 January 2019), Larkin Howard McCoy in entry for Joseph McCoy and Jeanette Blanche Runyon, 08 Aug 1952; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing , Buchanan, Virginia, United States, certificate 23076, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
↑ * 1860 census: "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZBJ-KG2 : 19 March 2020), Larkin H Mc Coy in entry for Harman Mc Coy, 1860; District 1, Pike, Kentucky, United States.
Harman Mc Coy Male 32 Kentucky
Martha Mc Coy Female 30 Kentucky
Mary M Mc Coy Female 9 Kentucky
Jacob Mc Coy Male 7 Kentucky
Larkin H Mc Coy Male 5 Kentucky
Lewis T Mc Coy Male Kentucky
↑ * 1870 census: "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX4M-LW6 : 19 March 2020), Larkin McCoy in entry for Martha L McCoy, 1870; District 7, Pike, Kentucky, United States.
Martha L McCoy Female 40 Kentucky
Jacob McCoy Male 17 Kentucky
Larkin McCoy Male 13 Kentucky
Lewis H McCoy Male 10 Kentucky
Ada H McCoy Male 8 Kentucky
Nancy L McCoy Female 4 Kentucky
Also: Residence Post Office: Mouth of Pond Creek.
* 1870 census: Source: #S-549898279 Year: 1870; Census Place: District 7, Pike, Kentucky; Roll: M593_495; Page: 86A; Family History Library Film: 545994 Ancestry Record 7163 #18788148.
Source: S-549898279 1870 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Record Collection 7163
↑Family Search - Citing this Record"United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," index, FamilySearch, Asa H. McCoy, 1861-1865; citing military unit 45th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry, Soldier Union, NARA microfilm publication M386 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 17; FHL microfilm 881,508.
↑ * 1875 marriage: According to her gravestone Photo at Findagrave 91208588 Mary Elizabeth Coleman McCoy. Billie Dotson Cemetery, Board Tree, Pike County, Kentucky, USA, on August 13, 1875, in Pike County, Kentucky.
↑ 12.012.112.2 * 1880 census: "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCZP-3SR : 14 August 2017), Larkin H Mc Coy, Peters Creek, Pike, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 101, sheet 665B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,439.
Larkin H Mc Coy Self Male 24 Kentucky
Mary E Mc Coy Wife Female 22 Kentucky
Vicey A Mc Coy Daughter Female 3 Kentucky
Jacob Mc Coy Son Male 1 Kentucky
↑ 13.013.113.213.313.413.513.613.713.813.9 * 1900 census: "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9HP-34Y : accessed 13 August 2020), Lark Mccoy, Magisterial District 5, (excl. Blackberry Precinct), Pike, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 83, sheet 19B, family 348, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,548.
Lark Mccoy Head Male 43 Ky
Marry Mccoy Wife Female 42 Ky
Vicy Mccoy Daughter Female 22 Ky
Jake Mccoy Son Male 20 Ky
Joe Mccoy Son Male 18 Ky
Floyd Mccoy Son Male 15 Ky
Terrell Mccoy Son Male 14 Ky
Harmon Mccoy Son Male 12 Ky
Frank Mccoy Son Male 9 Ky
Jessie Mccoy Son Male 7 Ky
Marry J Mccoy Daughter Female 5 Ky
Nancy L Mccoy Granddaughter Female 5 Ky
↑ 14.014.114.214.314.4 * 1910 census: "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M26B-B2C : accessed 13 August 2020), Mary E Mccoy in household of Lark H Mccoy, Freeburn, Pike, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 183, sheet 1A, family 2, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 499; FHL microfilm 1,374,512.
Lark H Mccoy Head Male 54 Kentucky
Mary E Mccoy Wife Female 52 Kentucky
James F Mccoy Son Male 25 Kentucky
Frank Mccoy Son Male 19 Kentucky
Jesse Mccoy Son Male 16 Kentucky
Mary J Mccoy Daughter Female 14 Kentucky
Julius Smith Cousin Male 15 Kentucky
↑ 15.015.1 * 1920 census: "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHPC-NKP : accessed 13 August 2020), Mary E McCoy in household of Lark H McCoy, Freeburn, Pike, Kentucky, United States; citing ED 133, sheet 1A, line 29, family 6, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 596; FHL microfilm 1,820,596.
Lark H McCoy Head Male 62 Kentucky
Mary E McCoy Wife Female 62 Kentucky
James F McCoy Son Male 33 Kentucky
Jessie McCoy Son Male 3 Kentucky
↑ * Mary McCoy: 2012 findagrave: Mary Elizabeth Coleman McCoy (9 Dec 1856–29 Mar 1923), Find A Grave: Memorial #91208588, citing Billie Dotson Cemetery, Board Tree, Pike County, Kentucky, USA.
↑ * 1930 census: "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMFL-2ZJ : accessed 13 August 2020), Elizabeth Mccoy in household of Larkin H Mccoy, District 7, Pike, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 28, sheet 5B, line 98, family 99, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 775; FHL microfilm 2,340,510.
Larkin H Mccoy Head Male 73 Kentucky
Elizabeth Mccoy Wife Female 59 Kentucky
Stewart Mccoy Roomer Male 24 Virginia
Mary Mccoy Roomer Female 21 Oklahoma
↑ * 2012 findagrave: Larken H. McCoy (11 Jul 1856–14 Sep 1938), Find A Grave: Memorial #91208587; citing Billie Dotson Cemetery, Board Tree, Pike County, Kentucky, USA.
↑ * father of Joseph P., 31 Oct 1882: "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRZ-DWF2 : 16 August 2019), Larkin Howard Mccoy in entry for Joseph P McCoy, 17 May 1971; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Grundy, Buchanan, Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
↑ * about 1885: father of James per "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NMH5-6J9 : 9 March 2018), Lark Mccoy and Mary Elizabeth Coleman in entry for James Floyd Mccoy, 04 Nov 1946; citing Mingo, West Virginia, County Records, 15110, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,983,938.
↑ * about 1890, parents of W. F. "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2QCN-SKD : 26 August 2019), Lark Mccoy and Mary Coleman in entry for W F Mccoy and Verna Lewis Gue, 27 Jan 1949; citing Marriage, Lawrence, Ohio, United States, , Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Columbus; FHL microfilm.
↑ * about 1891: parents of William F. "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NMQB-T2N : 7 December 2018), Lark Mccoy and Mary Elizabeth Coleman in entry for William F. Mccoy, 05 Apr 1970; citing Cabell, West Virginia, County Records, 5092, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,992,294.
↑ * father of Mary "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FG8N-XXG : 10 February 2018), Lark Mccoy (and surname of Lark's mother) in entry for Mary Mccoy Gann, 14 Feb 1990; citing Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina, v 7A cn 7413, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,991,664.
↑ "Hatfield Dies Natural Death." The Pittsburgh Press. 23 Aug 1930.
↑ "Rewards offered for Parties Engaged in the Hatfield-McCoy Venditta" The Weekly Register (Point Pleasant, West Virginia). Wednesday 13 June 1888. p 1 column 6
↑ "Feud: Dark Feelings Linger in Some Like Bad Genes." by Jules Loh AP Newsfeature Writer. Dayton Beach Morning Journal. Nov 8, 1975. p. 11A, Column 1.
WikiTree profile McCoy-606 created through the import of Coley Wolford Stayton McCarroll Bond.ged on Aug 7, 2011 by Tom Coley. Prior to import, this record was last changed 15:44 22 Dec 2010.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Larkin Howard by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Larkin Howard:
McCoy-4427 and McCoy-606 appear to represent the same person because: same first name, middle initial, last name, same parents, birth date, death date.
Just a reminder that I recommended this profile also for Wikitree g2g Collaborative Profile of the week for Oct 3, 2016.. It is up to the leader of that project to choose which she presents on G2g. Thank you for your help.
~Mary
Hello Tom, I am recommending Larkin also for WikiTree's g2g Collaborative Profile of the week. Please keep his profile also open (privacy white). Thank you. ~mary
Edit: Enjoyed fixing here and there; now the profile might need a second edit. Why an Egyptian background?
edited by [Living Britain]
Just a reminder that I recommended this profile also for Wikitree g2g Collaborative Profile of the week for Oct 3, 2016.. It is up to the leader of that project to choose which she presents on G2g. Thank you for your help. ~Mary