Buzz
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During the late 1800s, the Hatfields and McCoys were embroiled in a violent, multi-generational feud. This clash between the families has been a staple of popular culture since 1923, when Buster Keaton humorously depicted it in his film Our Hospitality.
However, the incident that sparked this notorious dispute—resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals—has often been overshadowed by the feud's remarkable duration. What initially ignited this bitter rivalry?
A pig, according to one popular account. In 1878, Randolph McCoy alleged that Floyd Hatfield had stolen one of his hogs. The case went to court, with Bill Staton, a McCoy married into the Hatfield family, providing key testimony. Staton supported Hatfield's side and was subsequently killed by gunfire from Sam McCoy.
The brief relationship between Johnse Hatfield and Roseanna McCoy further escalated tensions. When Roseanna became pregnant and moved in with the Hatfields, her family was outraged. However, their story was far from a romantic tale. Months into her pregnancy, Johnse left Roseanna for her cousin, Nancy McCoy. Tragically, Roseanna and Johnse's daughter passed away from measles at just eight months old.
In 1882, a violent altercation on election day involved three McCoys and two Hatfields, leaving Ellison Hatfield with 26 stab wounds and a gunshot to the back. Despite his severe injuries, Ellison did not die immediately. Devil Anse, the Hatfield family patriarch and Ellison's brother, promised no revenge if his brother survived. When Ellison succumbed to his injuries three days later, Devil Anse captured the three McCoy brothers, took them to the woods, and executed them.
The Hatfields launched another attack in 1888, raiding the McCoy home and setting it ablaze in what became known as "The New Year's Day Massacre." Two people were killed, including Alifair McCoy, who was caught in the crossfire. Her mother, Sarah, was severely beaten while attempting to save her dying daughter.
Ellison Mounts was executed for Alifair’s death, and the feud appeared to subside afterward. By the end, at least 13 members of both families had lost their lives—ostensibly over a pig. However, some historians argue the hog was merely a pretext, with the true cause being the Hatfields' Confederate sympathies, which clashed with the McCoys' Unionist stance.
Decades later, the rivalry resurfaced in a peculiar way during a 1979 Family Feud special. Producers humorously placed mannequins dressed as Hatfields and McCoys on stage, with each team receiving a mannequin for every victory, symbolizing the feud's enduring legacy.
