Hatfield family
| Hatfield family | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Place of origin | England |
| Founder | Thomas Hatfield |
| Members | Devil Anse Hatfield |
| Connected families | |
| Estate(s) | Hatfield fort |
The Hatfield Family is an American family that became notable in politics, business, and crime during the 19th and 20th centuries. According to West Virginia Encyclopedia, "The Hatfields are West Virginia's most famous family, known worldwide for their bloody feud with the McCoys in the 1880s."[1]
The Hatfields originated from England and came to the America in the 17th century becoming some of the early settlers to the Colony of Virginia. Descendants of these early colonists later moved into western parts of Virginia, including Andrew Hatfield and Joseph Hatfield who would fight in the American Revolution. Over time, the Hatfields would spread across the United States.
The Hatfields would settle in Tug Fork and become a very large family in the Valley, during the 1880s a political rally had over 300 people with Hatfield blood or had the surname Hatfield.[2] After the American Civil War, the Hatfields residing in Tug Valley would get involved in the Hatfield-McCoy feud headed by Devil Anse Hatfield.
Sources I need to read through
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Descendants_of_Doswell_Rogers/Bl5PAAAAMAAJ?hl=en
https://jlahnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2.pdf
Hatfield, Abraham (1935). The Hatfields of Westchester: A Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas Hatfield of New Amsterdam and Mamaroneck, Whose Sons Settled in White Plains, Westchester County, New York. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Archived from the original on 2018-11-28. Search this book on 
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Thunder_In_the_Mountains/u-n7AwAAQBAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_West_Virginia_Old_and_New/4zUTAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
pikecountykyhistoricalsociety
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Hillbilly_in_Twentieth_century_Ameri/RmaGAAAAMAAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_New_Encyclopedia_of_Southern_Culture/MimaAgAAQBAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Mountaineer_Jamboree/rKceBgAAQBAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Bloody_Breathitt/aX7wAAAAQBAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Big_Sandy/2eMzEAAAQBAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/West_Virginia_A_History/yT7fAAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gl=US
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Hatfield_McCoy_Feud_After_Kevin_Cost/C1-SngEACAAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/American_Passage/jerRBQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Appalachia/CTjqCQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
https://www.google.com/books/edition/West_Virginia/zlVw7sa3jocC?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Planters_of_Colonial_Virginia/U0_iEAAAQBAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_American_Yawp/u8KEDwAAQBAJ?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Partisans_Guerillas_and_Irregulars/-ROXDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Geneaology sources
https://www.google.com/books/edition/John_Ogden_the_Pilgrim_1609_1682/ickOOoUBAF0C?hl=en
https://archive.org/details/descendantsofmat00hatf/page/n8/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/captainjohnhatfi00hatf
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Tyler_Elkins_and_Allied_Families/fcSwaqxzD5UC?hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_Elizabeth_New_Jersey/hbmGzwEACAAJ?hl=en
No where to go
Hatfields Island is named after Elias Hatfield.[3]
Don’t know what to do with this yet .[4]
Surname
The surname of the family appears on numerous records from England and colonial America in various forms from: Hatfeield, Hatfled, Hettfield, and etc. Hatfield is the most widely used variant.[5]
The surname is English in origin, primarily from Yorkshire and Midlands. Hatfield comes from Old English words hæð (meaning heathland or heather) and feld (meaning pasture or open country). It is an toponymic surname of numerous places named Hatfield, the following places such as:
In 2003, 12167 Americans possessed the surname.[6]
History
Roots in England
Allegedly the Hatfields fought on the side of Oliver Cromwell during the 17th century.[7] The first identifiable ancestor was Thomas Hatfield of Yorkshire England.[8]
Arrival in America
It is not know when the Hatfield family first arrived in America. However, the first Hatfields who came to America were early settlers in Virginia, the settlers are the following:[9]
- Thomas Hatfield of York County, Virginia in 1637
- Thomas Hatfield of Gloucester County, Virginia in 1653
- Grace Hatfield of New Kent County, Virginia in 1655.
However, these settlers didn't leave many records of their descendants. But the earliest identifiable settler to the Hatfield family was Joseph Hatfield.[10][11][12]
Western parts of Virginia
The Hatfields moved to the western part of Virginia by 1770 where they built forts along the Alleghenies to defend against Native Americans and hunt bears.[13]
One of these forts called Hatfield Fort resided along New River in what is now present day Gile County, the fort laid upon a farm that belonged to David J.L. Snidow.[14] The fort was built by Captain Andrew Hatfield.[15]
The Bromfield family would also settle along New river. In 1776, one Bromfield and one Hatfield went to the same mineral lick, they mistook each other as a bear and one of them was shot dead. This resulted in conflict between the 2 families.[13]
Settlement in Tug Valley
The family settled in Tug Valley when Eph-of-All and Anne Musick moved from Russell County, Virginia to the Kentucky side of the Tug Fork and then spread to both sides of the river.
According to West Virginia Encyclopedia there are 2 events for how the family settled in Tug Fork: The first occurred in 1792 when Shawnee raided Russell County causing the death of Anne Musick’s husband. This lead her to marry Eph-of-All, who was one of the men who rescued her from the Shawnee.(For more information about this story click this.) The second founding event happened in 1817, when preacher Abner Vance left Russell County and hid in Tug Fork due to a murder charge. Once Abner returned to Virginia he was executed after he established a family in Tug Fork.[1](For more information about this story click this.)
Pre-American Civil War
American Civil War
During the American Civil War, the Hatfields in Tug Valley sided with the Confederacy.[16] Specifically the majority of the Hatfields in Virginia sided with the Confederates while most Hatfields in Kentucky sided with Union.[17]
Hatfield-McCoy Feud
20th Century
Although the feud ended years ago the Hatfields continued to get involved in violence. Such as the case when in 1902, a man by the name Ephraim Hatfield and his father on black creek had a shoot out with the police when the police were trying to arrest Ephraim, the shoot out resulted in the death of the officers.[18]
Around the time Sid Hatfield made a name for himself some members of the Hatfield family grew in political power and a bit of respect.[19]
Between 1918 and 1919 the Hatfield family tried to control an election. (This is gonna need more citations, will add more later. Basically the Hatfields tried to change the election results through crime.)[20]
Modern day
Joseph Hatfield
Joseph Hatfield was a husbandman who came to Virginia from Leicestershire. At age 19, he went to the colony of Jamestown in 1619 on the ship Bona Nova.[21]
His voyage was at the cost of the Ferrars.[22](Source says more about him)
He lived in Elizabeth City in 1633.[15] On October 31 of 1633, he obtained a 21 year lease. The lease was for 50 acres of land located on the east side of the Hampton River.[22]
He has been listed as one of first pioneers of Virginia.[23]
Andrew Hatfield
Private Joseph Hatfield and family
Private Joseph Hatfield
Joseph Hatfield was frontier scout and Indian fighter.[24] Dean King called Joseph "one of the ablest scouts and woodsmen on the western frontier".[13]
Accord to Dr Hatfield, Joseph Hatfield is the son of Abraham Hatfield Jr and Margaret Winans.[8] According to Harry Leon Sellards Jr, Joseph is the son of George Goff Hatfield.[25] Joseph Hatfield was born around 1740. He would die August, 1832.[26]
He married Elizabeth Smith giving birth to the following children:[26]
- George (birth not mentioned)
- Andrew Hatfield
- Ely (Eli) Hatfield (born around 1788 and died 1850)
Joseph Hatfield would have a second wife named Rachael Smith (born around 1753 and died May 19, 1855).[26] The couple would produce the following children:[26]
- William
- Periba
- Sarah
- Joseph Jr (born 1787)
He was father the of Ephraim (Eph-of-All) Hatfield.[13][26][27][28] However, sources disagree on Ephraim's mother. Most say it was Elizabeth Smith[28][29] while some say it was Rachael Smith.[26] Joseph Hatfield would later become the great-great grandfather to Devil Anse.[13]
Belle Starr
Montaville Hatfield
(Rice talks about his escape but doesn't give dates, gonna have to look through his sources.)
Monraville Hatfield was the son of Elexious Hatfield. Elexious was a brother to Reverend Anderson Hatfield, a cousin of Devil Anse.
Monraville Hatfield was charged for murder.
On march 5, 1882 a police officer removed Monraville from Wolfe County jail to Montgomery County jail in Mount Sterling.[30]
Descendants of Eph-of-All
George Hatfield
George Hatfields (born 1804) was the son Eph-of-All and Anne Musick.[31]
He would go on to marry Nancy Whitt, having 15 children with her.[31]
Joseph Hatfield
Joseph Hatfield was born on 1785 to Eph-of-All and Mary Smith Goff.[32]
He is the founder of the Kentucky branch of the family.[33]
He married Martha Evans.[32] The couple produced 12 children:[34]
- Joseph
- William
- Ferrell
- Ephraim
- John
- Valentine
- Richard
- Thomas
- James
- Smith
- McGinnis
- Phoebe
Ephraim Hatfield
Ephaim Hatfield was born 1812 to Joseph Hatfield and Martha Evans.[32]
Valentine Hatfield “Uncle Wall”
Valentine Hatfield was born 1822 to Joseph Hatfield and Martha Evans.[32]
Valentine Hatfield
Valentine Hatfield was born in 1789 to Eph-of-All and Mary Smith Goff.[31][32][35] He is the founder of West Virginia branch of the Hatfield family.[33]
Valentine married Martha Weddington[33] the couple had 12 children.[31][36] The children are the following:[35] (haven’t added all the children yet)
- Joseph Hatfield (born 1806)
- John Hatfield
- Andrew Hatfield (born 1810)
- Ephraim Hatfield "Big Eaf"
- Virginia "Ginny" (born 1814). Ginny would go on to marry James Justic.
- Thomas (born 1815). Thomas would marry Susan Evans.
- Jacob (born in 1819). Jacob would go on to marry Catherine Cline.
- James "Old Slater" (born in 1825). Old Slater would go on to marry Rachael Toler.
Valentine, his wife, and all their of kids whole family settled in Logan County (Today Mingo County[33]) on Gilbert Creek in the mid-1830s.[37] 7 of Valentine’s sons were already grown married at this time.[38] 2 of Valentine’s sons moved to the Mate Creek, one of them being Big Eaf.[38]
John Hatfield
John Hatfield was born 1810 to Valentine and Martha Hatfield.[35][31]
Sid Hatfield
Ephraim Hatfield and Descendants
Devil Anse Hatfield and Descendants
Johnse Hatfield
Cap Hatfield
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sullivan, Ken. "Hatfield Family". West Virginia Humanities Council. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ↑ Rice 1982, p. 3-4.
- ↑ Council, West Virginia Humanities. "Hatfield Island". www.wvencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ↑ Ely, William (1887). The Big Sandy Valley: A History of the People and Country from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Central Methodist. pp. 202–204. Search this book on
- ↑ Hatfield 1974, p. 15.
- ↑ Hanks, Patrick (2003-05-08). Dictionary of American Family Names: 3-Volume Set. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-19-508137-4. Search this book on
- ↑ Rice 1982, p. 9.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hatfield 1974, p. 183.
- ↑ Hatfield 1974, p. 16.
- ↑ Hatfield 1974, p. 16-17.
- ↑ The East Kentuckian. 1965. Search this book on
- ↑ Donnelly, Shirley (1970-01-15). "Hatfield genealogy traced to 1626". Beckley Post-Herald. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 King 2013, p. 20.
- ↑ Johnston 1906, p. 36-37.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Hatfield 1974, p. 17.
- ↑ Rice 1982, p. 10.
- ↑ King 2012, p. 23.
- ↑ Green 2015, p. 200.
- ↑ Green 2015, p. 201.
- ↑ Green 2015, p. 199.
- ↑ McCartney, Martha W. (2000). Documentary History of Jamestown Island: Biographies of owners and residents. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. p. 162. Search this book on
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 McCartney, Martha W. (2007). Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers, 1607-1635: A Biographical Dictionary. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 377. ISBN 978-0-8063-1774-8. Search this book on
- ↑ Quisenberry, A. C. (1913). "The First Pioneer Families of Virginia". Register of Kentucky State Historical Society. Kentucky Historical Society. 11 (32): 55–77. ISSN 2328-8183. JSTOR 23367151.
- ↑ Alther 2013, p. 15.
- ↑ Sellards 1995, p. 1.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 Hatfield 1974, p. 184.
- ↑ Hatfield 2011, p. 10.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Sellards 1995, p. 2-3.
- ↑ Hatfield 2011, p. 10-11.
- ↑ Rice 1982, p. 31-32.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 Waller 2012, p. xiv-xv.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 King 2013, pp. XIV-XV.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 Rice 1982, p. 3.
- ↑ Swain 1927, p. 75-76.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Hatfield 1974, p. 185.
- ↑ Waller 2012, p. 20.
- ↑ Waller 2012, pp. 20,34-35.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Waller 2012, p. 34.
Bibliography
Hatfield, George Elliott (1974). The Hatfields. Big Sandy Valley Historical Society. Search this book on
Sellards, Harry Leon (1995). Hatfield Family History. H.L. Sellards, Jr. Search this book on
Sellards, Harry Leon (1993). Hatfield and Phillips Families of Eastern Kentucky and Southwestern West Virginia. H.L. Sellards, Jr. Search this book on
Rice, Otis K. (December 31, 1982). The Hatfields and the McCoys. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813114590. Search this book on
Waller, Altina L. (2012). Feud: Hatfields, McCoys, and Social Change in Appalachia, 1860–1900. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 9781469609713. Search this book on
King, Dean (May 14, 2013). The Feud:The Hatfields and McCoys: The True Story. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316224789. Search this book on
Alther, Lisa (February 5, 2013). Blood Feud:The Hatfields and the McCoys: The Epic Story of Murder and Vengeance. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0762779185. Search this book on
Johnston, David (1906). A History of Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territory. Standard Ptg. & Publishing Company. ISBN 9781789875317. Search this book on
Swain, George (1927). History of Logan County, West Virginia. G. T. Swain. ISBN 9780598483393. Search this book on
Hatfield, Coleman (June 27, 2011). The Feuding Hatfields & McCoys. Woodland Press, LLC. ISBN 9780979323621. Search this book on
Snidow, Philip (1982). Giles County, Virginia, History--families. 2. Giles Co. Historical Society. Research Committee. Search this book on
Green, James (2015). The Devil Is Here in These Hills: West Virginia's Coal Miners and Their Battle for Freedom. Grove Press. ISBN 978-0-8021-2465-4. Search this book on
External Links
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