The Hatfields and McCoys: An American Feud Quiz

Answer: 'Devil Anse' Hatfield

William Anderson 'Devil Anse' Hatfield was the patriarch and leader of the Hatfield clan during the thirty years of the feud. He personally led many of the raids and decided what punitive actions should take place during the feud.

Answer: Randolph 'Ole Ran'l' McCoy

Randolph 'Ole Ran'l' McCoy was the leader and patriarch of the McCoy clan. He lost six of his children and his wife during the feud with the Hatfields. He survived the feud but the experience left him a bitter and broken old man.

Answer: Along the Kentucky-West Virginia border

The feuding took place along the Kentucky West Virginia border. The McCoys resided in Kentucky and the Hatfields in West Virginia. The Tug River separated the two warring clans, placing them less then twenty miles apart.

Answer: Jim Vance

Jim Vance is widely held responsible for the murder of Asa Harman McCoy. Asa served in the Union Army (despite owning a slave) and was despised by the pro Confederate Hatfields. Because of his Union sympathies and the fact that there were no witnesses to the deed, his death was not throughly investigated.

Answer: A dispute about a hog

The 'official' begining of the Hatfield McCoy feud started over the disputed ownership of a hog. Ole Ran'l McCoy claimed the hog belonged to him because of the notches in the animal's ear despite the fact that it was on Hatfield property. The matter was taken to court and a ruling was rendered in favor of the Hatfields.

The fact that the Justice who made the ruling was 'Preacher' Hatfield escalated tensions.

Answer: They were both acquitted

Both brothers were acquitted on the grounds of self defense in a Kentucky court. This kind of ruling was not uncommon in that era when there were no witnesses who could refute the claims of the shooters.

Answer: He abandoned her and married her cousin

Johnse Hatfield was a lothario who swept Roseanna off her feet and had a torrid, illicit romance with her. Not wanting to marry her after she was with child, he chose to abandon her and marry her cousin Nancy instead. This was an insult to the McCoy family who despised the Hatfields and a crime against decency according to the standards of the time.

This could not go unanswered or avenged.

Answer: All three were murdered by the Hatfields

All three brothers Tolbert, Bud and Pharmer were abducted by the Hatfields from custody and murdered by the Hatfields after Ellison died of his wounds. Their bodies were described as being 'bullet riddled'.

Answer: Two McCoys' were killed

The final confrontation between the Hatfields and McCoys resulted in two dead McCoys. The Hatfields attempted to burn down the cabin where Ole Ran'l lived in order to flush him out into the open. Instead, two of his children were killed and his wife was severely injured.

Answer: Ellison (Cottontop) Mounts

Ellison Mounts (aka 'Cottontop'), the only son of the deceased Ellison Hatfield, was the only Hatfield that was tried and found guilty of the murder of Alifair McCoy. (Yes, she was called Alifair). Mounts was hanged for the crime and his last words were, "The Hatfields made me do it!". Eight others received prison sentences.