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The Blankenship-McCoy Marriages
during the
Hatfield-McCoy Blood Feud
The Hatfield-McCoy feud continued intermittently for nearly 30 years from 1863 to 1691. The Blankenships of Pike county, Kentucky undoubtedly were a part of this feud, albeit sitting on the sidelines. The feude occurred along the Kentucky-West Virginia Border. Marriage records show that at least eight Blankenships were married to members of the McCoy family from Pike County, KY. The two families were essentially at war over most of this 30 year period.
The Hatfields and the McCoys lived on either side of the Tug Fork: The protagonists were "Devil Anse" Hatfield of West Virginia and Randolph "Ranel" McCoy of Kentucky. Two families of spirited stock locked together in a deadly private feud. Read the history of this feud and view photos at the web site below:
http://www.matewan.com/History/HM%20story.htm
BLANKENSHIP-McCOY MARRIAGES
PIKE COUNTY, KENTUCKY MARRIAGE RECORDS 1822-1909
Blankenship, Elizabeth to McCoy, Allen 09/09/1841
Blankenship, Melvina (age 16) to McCoy, Richard (age 17) 04/25/1878
Blankenship, Nancy to McCoy, Selkirk 06/25/1861
Blankenship, Oliva to McCoy, Louisa 02/13/1860
Blankenship, Rachel to McCoy, John R. 06/30/1859
Blankenship, Rolley 30 to McCoy, Martha 43 02/23/1873
Blankenship, William W. to McCoy, Ellender J. 1866
Blankinship, Rachel to McCoy, John R. 06/30/1859
Web sites which discuss the Hatfield-McCoy Feud
CRONOLOGY
1863 - Devil Anse Hatfield forms guerrilla band. Raids and thefts follow between McCoy's and Hatfields. West Virginia gains statehood.1875 - First death in feud -- Asa Harmon McCoy. No prosecution.
1878 - Randolph McCoy accuses Floyd Hatfield of stealing his pig. Bill Staton's testimony in court later wins for Floyd Hatfield.
1880 - Bill Staton murdered by Paris and Sam McCoy in June. Sam McCoy tried in September for Staton death; acquitted. Roseanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield meet. She leaves to live with him at Hatfield cabin.
1881 - Roseanna returns home, then moves to aunt's cabin where Johnse is captured by McCoy boys. Roseanna's ride to Devil Anse's saves Johnse's life. Pregnant Roseanna returns to Ole Ran'l's home, catches measles, miscarries baby, then moves to Pikeville. Johnse marries Nancy McCoy on May 14.
1882 - Ellison Hatfield fatally wounded by Bud, Tolbert and Pharmer McCoy on August 9. After Hatfield dies, the trio is tied to bushes and executed. Jeff McCoy killed on banks of the Tug.
1887 - Kentucky governor appoints Frank Phillips to capture McCoy boys' murderers.
1889 - Trial of Hatfield clan in McCoy murders begins.
T.C. Crawford publishes "An American Vendetta."1890 - Ellison Mounts executed for Alifair McCoy's murder. (Feb 18).
1891 - Feud ends.