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McCoy Family Sketch What little is known of the McCoy family comes from few sources, and the lack of vital records make tracing the complete family impossible. From the few articles about them their time in Epsom can be documented. Once the family leaves Epsom in 1760 there are more questions than data to track the descendants. Charles McCoy of Londonderry, farmer, buys 20 acres of land in Chester from Nathaniel Ordway (R 17-261). Possibly related to Alexander of Londerry, but the relationship remains unknown. He sells the same 20 acres to Jonathan Goodhue June 10, 1730. (R 18-513) The Bryon Moore article, the piece in the Granite Monthly magazine and the Curtis history, place Charles McCoy was in Epsom by deed in 1735 buying land of Joseph Simpson, lot 63 of about 130 acres. (R 27-326 Oct. 29, 1735). The articles do not mention that Charles McCoy was in Epsom in 1733, and perhaps earlier following his selling of his home in Chester. There were no other settlers in Epsom at this time as the land was still being surveyed. This is shown by the following 'warning out of town.' Prov of New Hampshire His family consisted of his first wife Mary and at least son John and daughter Mary. By the time his second wife Isabella was captured by the Indians in 1747 there were other children, though unnamed. At the time of the capture most residents left Epsom, as did probably the rest of the McCoy family, their home having been burnt to the ground. Isabella returned but probably died while the family was in Hampton where Charles married his third wife, another Mary. The capture of his wife by the Indian's can be verified by Charles petition to the Governor. 1747 The McCoy's were back in Epsom by 1752 when Charles deeded land to sons Nathaniel and Francis. In 1759 he petitions for a tavern in Epsom: 1759, January 31 The humble petition of Charles M'coy of Epsom aforesaid, yeoman humbly sheweths that your petitioner living at Epsom aforesaid near the Publick Road leading from Nottingham East to Bow the distance between which 2 places is upwards of sixteen miles and no place of public entertainment between them, whereby several persons have suffered for want of some the refreshment, Your Petitioner therefore as his request and desire of several persons who have hereunto subscribed their names and others humbly request your Honours, he may have and that you would release to grant him a license to keep a Tavern or place of Publick Entertainment for all sorts of sociable liquors and ___ at his house in Epsom aforesaid, and that he will be bound as other Inn Holders are to pay, exercise and observe all other duties as required by law in such cases and said petitioner will ever pray &c. Charles McCoy, Ephraim Locke, Samuel Blake. Son John apparently married and moved to Durham. John had a daughter baptized in Epsom while living in Hampton. Hampton, NH Vital Records, Vol. 2, p. 103, He appears on the following list for 1760 in what is now Durham: Son Francis was old enough to be involved in land transactions in 1752 and 1754. In 1760 he buys land in Bow. Son Nathaniel seems to disappear after 1761 when he sells land in Bow to John Noyes which he had bought from him the previous year. The only other references to Nathaniel include two newspaper items. The first places him in Epsom in 1758: April 1, 1758 (newspaper) And the following from 1760: From the Portsmouth Gazette, July 11, 1760 Dolbeer in his history of Epsom also relates the following: Nat's Mountain is situated about half a mile south of the last-mentioned one (McCoy's Mountain). It was so named from the circumstances that Nathaniel, one of McCoy's children, who had been lost in the woods while searching for the cows, was found upon it. It is said he was absent several days, and subsisted during that time upon berries; and that, when first discovered, he was disposed to flee from those who came to his relief. Daughter Mary remained in Epsom having married James Wood, his parentage unknown. Their children appear in the church baptism records, including James, Isabel, Joseph, Mary and Betsey. The last listed as a child of the 'wido' Wood, as apparently James had died by 1768. Note that one girl is names Isabel. A timeline would indicate that these children were all from Charles's first marriage. It would also appear that Charles and his third wife, Mary Moulton, had a son Charles born about 1753, though no official record could be found. The marriage record is quoted in the Boston Transcript article as Feb. 10, 1752, of Mary Moulton of Hampton Falls to Charles McCoy of Epsom. The article surmises that this marriage may be of a son Charles, but based on census records and deeds, it would appear the marriage was indeed the third for Charles McCoy of Epsom. Charles McCoy and sons sell their Epsom land to the Sanborns' in 1760, with his wife Mary giving up her right of dower. here is little information on Charles McCoy once he and his family leave Epsom. He appears in Chester in 1762 when he sells land there to Elizabeth Bunton, being his house and barn, land he bought of Robert Bunton, deceased in 1760. Four days later he purchases land in Starkstown, alias Suncook, 30 acres from Patrick Gault. Only months later, in December of 1762, he sells his house and 30 acres to John Noyes of Pembroke. Starkstown becomes Dunbarton, and Charles and Mary McCoy sell 100 acres there to son Francis in 1772. By 1789 Charles appears in Allenstown, selling, along with wife Mary, 26 aces, the 'farm on which I now live' to the Selectmen of the town. There is a Charles McCoy in Allenstown in the 1790 US Census. The family includes 2 males under 16, 2 males over 16, and 6 females. It is likely that this enumeration is for the son of Charles and Mary (Moulton) McCoy, and perhaps the elder Charles is part of the household. There is unverified information that this Charles was born about 1753 and died April 10, 1813 in Allenstown. There is no marriage date, and again no vital record to support, a marriage to Sarah Hazeltine (daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth (Follansbee) Hazeltine, sometime around 1781. Charles and Sarah sold 20 acres of land in Allenstown to James Johnson in 1790, and later that year, 20 acres to Charles Bamford. This second transaction names Charles McCoy 'Junr', indicating the elder Charles was still living and in Allenstown. The family of Charles and Sarah McCoy may have removed to Goffstown. The family is not documented, but two children have been attributed to them - daughter Susan and son Nathan. Though a vital record has not been found, she was possibly born in Pembroke in 1798 and married (NHVR) to James L. Raleigh (seen in various spellings). One son of the couple was named Alonzo Hazeltine Raliegh, perhaps after his mother's mother. Son Nathan's family is well documented. Stearns NH genealogy, volume 4, tells Nathan McCoy was born in Goffstown, and died in Thornton, 1863. He lived in Plymouth from 1851 to 1855, and removed to Thornton, where he owned a considerable amount of real estate, including timber lands. He married Sept. 3, 1811, Bathsheba Sargent, died April 2, 1880. He most likely was born in Allenstown. Nathan and Bathsheba had 11 children. Other possible children of Charles and Sarah could be John of Allenstown, who married Jan. 18, 1813 in Candia, Polly Martin; and Hannah McCoy who married Nathan Davis in Dunbarton in 1801, both resident at the time of marriage as of New Boston. Nathan and Hannah had a daughter Letitia Davis who married in 1879 as his second wife, Daniel Goss of Epsom. When the McCoy's left Epsom in 1760, there were also several land transactions by two sons of Charles and his first wife Mary. John Noyes sold land in Bow to Francis McCoy in 1760, and in 1761, Nathaniel McCoy sold 18 acres of land in Bow to John Noyes of Pembroke. Francis sells 48 acres of land in Bow he bought of Major John Noyes. In 1772, Francis buys land in Dunbarton from his parents, Charles and Mary in 1772. Additionally that same year Francis buys land in Allenstown and Nathan Noyes sells to Francis McCoy of Allenstown, land in Dunbarton 'adjoining McCoy's fence.' One witness to the later purchase was a James McCoy. It is probably this land that the son's of Francis, Jonathan, Daniel and Stephen, sell 'our right to our father Francis McCoy's estate late of Dunbarton' to James Moore of Dunbarton. There is no additional information of Nathaniel, or his wife Anna, following the deed of 1761. From the son's of Francis' deed to James Moore, it can be established Francis died about 1783. The three sons on the deed are the only known sons. No family has been found for Jonathan, but an announcement of his death appeared in the NH Gazette of June 5, 1849 giving his death in Bow at age 97. This would put his birth as about 1752. There is a Revolutionary War pension file for Jonathan where he is in Allenstown in 1818, and in Bow in 1820 when he states he has no wife, but two children, Daniel, age 16 and John aged 14. No property or income. Son Stephen resided in Bow and is shown in the 1840 census in Bow as a Revolutionary Soldier, age 81, which would put his birth as about 1759. He is probably the Stephen found in the US Census in Bow 1810 to 1830. Bow also shows in 1841, paupers, Stephen, Abigail, Sarah, Elizabeth and John M'Coy. Other than the 1783 deed, there is no additional information on Daniel the third son of Francis. There is no record of a spouse for Francis. Stephen also had a Revolutionary War pension file and the 1820 file gives a wife with no name aged 45 years, and children Deborah 15; John, 13; (Abigail?) 11; Moses, 9; Sarah, 5; and Elizabeth, 4 months. In later papers he has a wife Rachel who gives a marriage date (also in NHVR where her maiden name is given as Welch) of Jan. 20, 1820 in Bow, thus being his second wife. This would place daughter Elizabeth as daughter of Stephen and Rachel.She also states that Stephen McCoy died in Bow March 3, 1846. His original request for a pension in 1818 gives his age as 57. When the McCoy's left Epsom in 1761, Charles and his third wife Mary, along with their son Charles, moved to Allenstown and Chester. Along with them were the sons of his first marriage, Nathaniel and Francis. Nathaniel disappears from the records, but Francis appears to have moved to Dunbarton and had at least three sons, Jonathan, Daniel and Stephen. Of the known family of Charles McCoy of Epsom, is the eldest son, John. He is the only other named member of the family in the account of the capture of Charles McCoy's second wife, Isabella. After the capture and the burning of his house, the McCoy's may have moved to the Hampton/Hampton Falls area where Charles married his third wife, Mary Moulton in 1752. They were back in Epsom by 1759 when Charles petitions for a tavern in Epsom. Son John meanwhile may have remained in Hampton for a while where vital records give the baptism of a daughter Elizabeth 'in Epsom' in 1760. This same time period a John McCoy is in Oyster River, and in 1761, Jeremiah Elkins of Epping sells land to John McCoy of Durham, 25 acres in Nottingham, part of lot 45 in Winter Street. John married a Margery unknown and had a fairly large family. He died about 1789, and Rockingham deeds of that year show a number his children deeding to their mother, the land that Elkins sold to John McCoy. They include (R 139-110) John, Phebe (Hill), Margery (Leathers), Lois (Emerson) and Hannah (Libbey); (R 139-109) Paul of Boscawen and Mary (Sawyer) of Barrington.; and (R 138-158) where Margery sells land to Vowell Leathers, reserving shares of three children, Paul, Charles and Mary Sawyer. By various deeds the family of John and Margery McCoy of Nottingham
and one vital record the family included the following: There are virtually no vital records or burials for any of the children of John and Margery. What few records that exist are a few dates, a couple probate pieces and Revolutionary War records. Only Paul and Charles appear in any census records, and those of Charles do not match what is known of the family, and no children of Paul have been found. Neither of their spouses remain unknown. Charles signed the Association Test in Nottingham (the Charles McCoy that served in the Revolution was the Charles of Allenstown/Pembroke/Suncook). Brother John and Paul joined the fight and are found in the war records in the NH State Papers. John served on the Frigate Raleigh and applied for several pensions as seen in the following extracts from the NH State Papers: 16-330 Return of Invalid Pensioners in the State of New Hampshire, Pension List 1789 - John McCoy, Marine, age 25. Disabled Sept. 4, 1777, Sea, residence, Nottingham, Pension commenced Apr. 22, 1778, time to which pension has been paid, July 31, 1778 (born abt 1764) That John McCoy late a marine on board the Continental Ship Raleigh under my command was wounded on board said ship in an action with the British Sloop of War Druid September 4, 1777 and said wound appears to us to be of such a nature to render him incapable of doing duty in the service of the United States on ship board and entitles him to the provision made by Congress in such cases - he is therefore discharged from the said ship this 22nd day of April 1778. - Thomas Thompson, Oct. 29, 1778 15-109 John McCoy of Nottingham entered as a marine on board the Continental Frigate Raleigh, Capt. Thomas Thompson, commander, and continued on board during her first cruise that on the 4th of September 1777 in an engagement between the said Raleigh and the British Sloop of war Druid, he received a grape shot a little below his hip bone which has never been extracted, by means of which he is wholly rendered incapable of any sort of labor to maintain himself hath suffered great pain, and been at very considerable expenses to surgeons to obtain a cure, but has found very little relief-wherefore he prays he may receive the benefit promised by Congress to persons in such cases, and he will every pray - Nottingham June 17th, 1779, John (X his mark) McCoy 16-571 State of NH to the Selectmen of Barrington, DR August 1779 Paid to the soldiers enlisted in one of the NH Regiments in the Continental Army for one year - John McCoy 16-321 Mount of monies paid officers and soldiers &c (on half pay)
agreeable to orders of the Honorable General Court. - John McCoy, Ap.
22, 1778, a marine on board ship Raleigh, ordered to be struck off the
roll Nov. 1, 1779. 16-412 John McCoy of Barrington by reason of a shot received in his thigh, while in the service of the United States, he is rendered unable to obtain a comfortable livelihood & and is driven to the necessity of imploring the aid of this Honorable body (NH Legislature). Feb. 9, 1786 16-328 [Pensioners] John McCoy (no age) residence Nottingham, no discharge date, examined Aug. 1, 1786, commencement of pay July 31, 1786 16-325 State of NH - Pursuant to an Act of said State passed in January 1787 and founded on a resolve of Congress on the 7th of June 1785, the following is a list of the officers, soldiers or seaman resident in the State of New Hampshire, who have served in the Army of Navy of the United States, or in the Militia in the service of t United States and have been disabled in such service so as to be incapable of military dury or of obtaining a livelihood by labor. John McCoy 3.30 dollars per month, age 22, disability-grape shot lodged in right hip, Frigate Raleigh, unfit for garrison duty. There is also the following which remain a bit of a mystery if John of Nottingham was unable to continue service: 16-256 [Roll for the six months men raised by the State of New Hampshire to serve in Continental Army in the year 1781 at West Point] West Point Men 1781 John McCoy of Nottingham mustered Aug 7, 1781, discharged Dec. 21, 1781, time in service 4-15 (Son ?) 16-269 Sixth Company First Regiment Commanded by Col. Cilley 1781 His age in 1789 is given as 25; in 1787 as 22. He does not appear in the 1790 census or any other records. It is unknown if he had any spouse or family. Paul's service from the NH State Papers is as follows: 15-634 Paul McCoy enlisted Nottingham, 1779 for term of the war 13-100 Early Town Papers - Nottingham men in the First NH Regiment: Paul McCoy, entered April 25, 1779, discharged December 1781 (served also in the year 1782) 13-101 Men now in the service for Nottingham engaged before the year 1778 - In 779, Paul McCay 15-634 Col McClary's Regt - Paul McCoy, enlisted Apr. 27, 1779 for duration of War from Nottingham. 16-222 Capt. Simon Sartwell's Co. enlisted during the war and towns to which they below: Paul McCoy, Nottingham East. What is just as interesting are town payments in Nottingham to assist families of Revolutionary families, which mention in 1779 his mother as widow McCoy, which means that his father John had deceased by that time. The information is from the NH State Papers. 16-778 Nottingham May 3, 1779 - Rec'd of the Committee for the town of Nottingham to hire men for the Continental Service during the war, the sum of four hundred and fifty pounds lawful money which I have paid to Jesse Clark, Johyn Clark and Paul McCoy for their Continental and State Bounties - John McClary, Muster Master. 16-780 To sundries Oct. 1779 by cash paid by Mrs. George to be paid for supplying Paul M'Coys family Oct. 1779 by cash paid by Mrs. McCoy 16-781 Document is a long itemized account for supplies furnished by Vowel Leathers in 1779 and 1780 to "Widdow McCoy pr order of her son Paul McCoy" and is signed 'Vowel Leathers Committee to supply soldiers famiies' Paul McCoy's family as pr Moses Davises acct. 8.0.2 Paul appears in Nottingham records paying poll in 1809, but does not appear in the census of 1790 or 1800. He appears in Nottingham in 1810 with 2 males under 10, one aged 10-15, one 16-25, plus a female 10-15 and his wife. He last appears in Nottingham paying poll in 1811. What happened to Paul McCoy remains a bit of a mystery. There is a Revolutionary War pension for Paul McCoy of Col. Cilley's NH line of Salem, NY in 1818 with a supporting document from a John McCoy (no relationship given), and in 1820, in subsequent documents, of Galway, NY with a wife age 65 and one son. The file is transferred in 1832 to Whatley, MA, where Paul had been a resident 6 years, with his previous residence 'Gallaway', New York, where he appears in the 1820 census with 3 males and three females. Papers indicate that a Daniel McCoy is his guardian as Paul is no longer mentally able. Massachusetts vital records show a Paul McCoy died Jan. 2, 1842 in Plainfield at age 85. There are two Charles McCoy's at the time of the American Revolution. Charles McCoy of Allenstown, who served during the war, and Charles of Nottingham who signed in that town, the Association Test. Charles McCoy is seen in 1778 when he buys of John Shaw, 25 acres of the northwest end of lot no. 45 in Winter Street in Nottingham. This presumably is next to the 25 acres, part of lot 45 that his father John bought from Jeremiah Elkins in 1761. The relationship is by deed when his mother Margery sells 25 acres on Winter Street to Vowell Leathers, reserving three shares belonging to her children, sons Paul and Charles, along with daughter Mary. By census and town poll data for Nottingham, there is only one Charles McCoy shown in Nottingham. In 1790 he has a family of 3 males under 16, 2 males over, and six females. On August 25, 1800 a Charles McCoy married Sarah Hayes, both of Nottingham. By 1800 he is over 45 with 2 females under 10 and a wife between 26 and 44. He pays poll in Nottingham in 1808 and 1809 and by the 1810 census has a family with two males under 10, himself, three females under 10, 1 between 10 and 15, 3 females between the ages of 16 and 25, plus a wife between the age of 26 to 44. On August 25, 1800 a Charles McCoy married Sarah Hayes, both of Nottingham. The family is enumerated in Nottingham in 1820 and pays town poll from 1821-1824. In 1830 only Charles and his wife appear in the federal census, and his age is given as 70 to 79, putting his birth at the earliest 1751, his wife some 20 years younger. This age range is in line with being a son of John and Margery McCoy. He does not appear in the 1840 US Census. Another possible son of Charles is John, who is of Andover, MA in 1833 when Charles sells him 25 acres lying on the NH Turnpike road and is the same premises whereon I now live and is all the land I own in Nottingham, together with the buildings thereon. At the same time, April 10, 1833, and indenture is made between the two, John leasing the land to Charles during his natural life. The two sell the land to the Selectmen of Nottingham in May of the following year. Charles probably died late 1843 or early 1844 when county probate shows the following bond: Israel McCoy and Henry McCoy of Barrington, Richard Hull of Nottingham and Nathan French of Epping, heirs of Charles McCoy, late of said Nottingham, deceased, the said Charles McCoy died intestate leaving an estate in said County whereon it is necessary that administration should be taken for the legal settlement of the same. Gilbert A. Grant of Newmarket and that Samuel Scales of Nottingham and Gardner Towle and Alfred Hoit of Lee be appointed appraisers. January 8, 1844. Unfortunately no relationship is given, though Israel, Henry, Abigail (Hull) and Hannah (French) are likely children. In 1829 Charles sells to Henry 4 acres on Winter Street bordered on the west by land of Charles McCoy. Henry sells this land in 1830, his wife Margery also signing. There are no vital records for spouses or birth of any children of Charles McCoy of Nottingham. Israel and Henry McCoy, based on ages given in the 1850 census, would have been born before 1800, but that does not match up with the enumerated census of 1800. Israel married Miss Martha Hall, both of Nottingham October 5, 1818 by the Rev. Samuel B. Dyer. In 1830 the family is in Sandwich, NH; in 1840, Luenburg, VT; in 1850 and 1860, in Nottingham, NH. The only vital record gives his death in Nottingham, Aug. 30, 1863 in Nottingham. Children include Judith R. who married a John McClary in 1863; Louisa who married in Barrington, 1849, Charles H. Doe; Mary A. who married Levi Call; Christopher, whose only mention is in the 1850 census; and Stephen who married in 1865 at Manchester, NH, Celia A. Eaton, in 1875 Margaret E. Knight, and in 1881, Abby J. Morrison. Henry McCoy married about 1828, Margery Johnson. He is seen in the 1840 census in Barrington; 1850 in Nottingham; 1860 in Barrington; and in 1880 in Epping age 89 with his wife age 77 in the household of John M. Wells, his son in law. The children, gleaned primarily from the 1850 US Census include: Margaret, who married in Nottingham in 1852, Joseph Crowell; Mariann, of whom nothing else is known; Henry who married in 1853, Nottingham, Elizabeth Bartlett; Sarah J. who married in Nottingham in 1856, Samuel James; John J. of whom nothing else is known; Charles, who married Eliza Durgin and had two children, Ida and Lewis, Charles died in Epping in 1909 and his wife in 1878 in Northwood, NH; Huldah who married in Lee, NH, George H. Rollins; True W., who died June 2, 1864, his father refusing to administer his estate, and whose mother received pension money from the date of the death of her son; Mary E. who married in Nottingham in 1871, John W. Wells and had a least 6 children; and Mary J. of whom nothing else is known. Margery out lived her husband, and died Jan. 13, 1894 in Epping, having for years a series of guardians and given as 'insane'. Abigail McCoy, daughter of Charles married Richard Hull in Nottingham in 1814. Hannah McCoy married Nathaniel French in Nottingham in 1818 and had a least three children, Warren, Mary Jane and Lydia A. There are no vital records found for the Hull's or French families. There are virtually no vital records for this entire line of the McCoy
family, nor are there any known burials. Probate files are few and relationships
rarely given. What is known comes primarily from deeds and service and
pension files. This leaves the family line with little in the way of
conclusive evidence of a proved family line - and many children remain
unknown and unaccounted for. In short, there are still more questions
then answers. Charles is in Epsom by deed with his wife Mary. A second wife, Isabella is captured and returns, dying shortly thereafter when Charles marries for a third time Mary Moulton about 1751/2 and have a son Charles. She is his wife by deed when the family leaves Epsom in 1760. |