First Generation
1. James McCoy was
born of Scotch Irish parents in Scotland the year 1720 and
while a mere child was left an orphan. Soon after the death
of his parents, he was bound out to an uncle of same name,
who was very exacting and harsh with him. About the year
1736, when about 16 years of age, he emigrated to America
under the following traditional circumstance; He was riding
a valuable filly belonging to his uncle and in crossing
a bridge, she caught foot in a hole, fell and broke (rest
of that line torn) fearing severe punishment for careless
(rest of that line torn off) and ran away. He went to seaport
an (rest of that line torn off) for American, not having
any means to (rest of line torn off).
When the vessel arrived at
Baltimore, this youth was the servant of his purchaser for
four years. While in his bondage his master took him on
an expedition of driving a drove of horses into Eastern
Kentucky and Tennessee. The horses, having been disposed
of and the master and his assistants being homeward bound,
they stopped for lodging over night with one Capt. Hyte,
and Inn-Keeper in Kentucky, whose wife, observing the rather
prepossessing appearance of young McCoy, said to
him, "you have too good a face to be in this company
of horse-trader" She then made inquiry concerning him
and entreated his master that he might remain and live with
them as one of the family. She offered him a home, education
and a start in life. His master kindly consented and he
lived in this family several years, (torn off) manhood,
loved and highly respected, leaving (rest torn off) returned
to Pennsylvania and thereafter, Mar (rest torn off) a descendant
of Robert Bruce of Scotland, (rest torn off) western Pennsylvania
a place called Brow (rest torn) as Uniontown, Fayette County,
Pennsylvania and where he died (torn off) vania that the
largest portion of the Sctoc (torn off) before the time
of the Revolution that colon (torn of) populous and most
diversified of all the Co (torn off)
James McCoy was a
farmer, and then (torn off) family six children, four sons
and two daughters, (torn off) John, William, Isaac, Sallie
and Annie, Makin (torn off)
Second
Generation
2. George
McCoy, eldest son
of James McCoy and Ann Bruce McCoy his wife,
was reputed of extraordinary musical ability; a composer
of music and contributed much to the national music of his
day. It is said of him that he was known to have composed
his music, poetry and sung it at the same time. He was a
gunsmith, took and active part in the Revolutionary War,
never married, lived to a good old age, thrown from his
horse and killed, died in Ohio.
The following letter written
by him to John McCoy of Clarke Co., Ind., his nephew,
and son of Rev. Wm. McCoy, is preserved in
the original handwriting, folded in old thumbpaper style,
with red seal and postscript, written in ink by Postmaster,
"Urbana, O. Mar. 27" Postage "18-3/4 cts.,"
and directed in large plain letters "To Mr. John
McCoy, near Charlestown, Clark County, Indiana State".
Urbana, 8 March 1815,
Ohio St.
"Dear Cousin John-
I received your letter dated August 5, 1813, in a few days
after it was rote. I was glad to receive a letter from you,
yet very sorry at the melancholy news of my Brother's death,
for I was very desirous to have saw him onst more, but it
appears that god had otherwise determined, - but it is a
grait consolation that it appears the he departed in peace,
for happy they that are prepared for death and judgment
before they are called out time into Eternity.
I am intending to come down
the ensuing summer, but I wish you to write to me at Urbana
and let me know how you all are. Also let me know Mr. Graybill
is making out and if this note is yet in any of your hands,
and please inform me how land rtes in your neighborhood
- for I have sold my land in this state, and if I should
like your parts when I see it, perhaps I may purchase somewhere
near you. I remain deaf but very healthy and remain single.
Please to inform me how complete Rifle Guns rate with you,
as I follow the Gunsmith business for a livelihood and my
customer allow that I can make a handsome gun. I shall fetch
one down when I come, for if I am spaired my health and
strength you may look for me by the last of May next. Please
remember my best respects and good wishes to your mother,
if living, also to your wife and all the family, also to
all your brothers and their families.
This
from you affectionate Uncle,
George McCoy"
"To John McCoy
N.B. About 2 weeks ago I was at David Askran's and
they were all well, and your Aunt Ann is as fat a woman
perhaps as you would see in a week's travel. I have not
had any letter from Redstone for more than 2 years- 4months
ago I was informed the Lambert Flowers and family
were all well.
George
McCoy to McCoy."
We have no
record or tradition that he ever went to Clarke co., Indiana.
The brother whose death he mentions, was no doubt the Rev.
William McCoy, the father of John McCoy, his nephew to whom
the letter was written. George was a hunter and a gunsmith
and was thrown from his horse and killed
3. John died in Pennsylvania
after his brother William moved to Kentucky. We have
no record or tradition that he ever married.
4. William married Elizabeth,
who no doubt was daughter of Jas. Royse mention in
------------ and lived some years thereafter in Faith County,
Penn. Most of their children were born there. They had six
children, Vis: James, John, Isaac, Sallie, Lydia and
Royse. In 1879 the removed west with his family; and
while on their journey down the Ohio River in a flat boat,
there was born to them, at a place now known as Cincinnati,
there son Royse, who is said to have been the first
white child born at this now great city. He settled first
at North Ben, Ohio, where, in consequence of Indian hostilities,
he remained only a short time and removed to Jefferson County,
Ky., he moved into Shelby County, Ky, and was received into
the Buck Creek Baptist church, March 6th, 1801. He was very
useful man, highly respected, a Baptist Minister, and his
good influence extended many miles. In 1889 he moved to
Indiana territory about five miles southwest of Charlestown,
not far from the eastern bank of Silver Creek, and near
a large and beautiful spring, where he became a member and
the pastor of the Silver Creek Baptist church, which had
been organized some few years before and located on the
east bank of Silver Creek, where now is the noted historical
Silver Creek Cemetery of more than a hundred years ago,
about one and half miles north of where he built his log
house. On account of Indian depredations he moved to Charlestown,
a short time before his death, where he died Sept. 1st 1813,
at the age of 59 years. His wife survived him until 1834.
He was buried in the old Silver Creek Cemetery, and
a modest headstone marks his grave with the following inscription:
"Pause here one
moment thou that readest this,
He still would point thee to eternal bliss,
His life was peaceful and his faith was true,
And what he taught, he taught from what he knew"
5. Isaac McCoy, fourth
son, married Lydia Gaddis, daughter of Col. Gaddis,
who married a sister Elizabeth Royse, wife of
Rev. William McCoy. They had a family of three sons
and one daughter, viz: James Thomas, John and
Lydia. This branch of the family seems to have been
lost to the other for 70 or 75 years dating from the removal
of Rev. William McCoy, Isaac's brother, to Kentucky.
However, we learned that Isaac McCoy died in Pennsylvania
from the effects of a kick from a colt on his knee. A legend
has been told, that his son James had a vision of the spirit
of this father, who requested him to visit hi Uncle William,
in Kentucky, which he did, and held a private interview
with his uncle. This interview William, though often
entreated, never communicated to any one. James died in
Pennsylvania soon after his return from his visit to his
Uncle William in Kentucky. The care of the widowed
mother and family then fell on Thomas, who cared
for his mother until her death. In the mean time his brother
John and sister Lydia died. Thomas at the death of
his mother had become advanced in years, and was called
an old bachelor. After his mother's death he came out to
Ohio where his Uncle George and grandfather Gaddis lived.
Here he married Miss Mary Ann Smith 16 years younger
than himself about 1825. In 1853 Thomas came to Johnson
Co., Ind. 10 miles ( Franklin- ( ) he moved near Terre Haute,
where he died in 1862.
6. Sallie, the
first daughter of James first, married a Mr. Brownfield,
Have no trace of this family.
7. Anna, the second daughter, married a Mr. Sutton.
Have not trace of this family further than her marriage
to Samuel Sutton.
