McCoy, Gilbert

Gilbert McCoy

BIRTH:
Problem: Was the birth year, 1775 or 1776 or 1777?
Robert Guilinger believes the year, 1777, is the most likely. Two pieces of information support this. First, his age in the 1850 census is listed as, 73. Second, when he appeared before Eliel Headley, J.P., on 30 Nov 1850, to file an application for bounty land he stated that he was 73 years old. If this was the case the two Catherine Fedorchak articles, quoted here that state he died at the age of 82 should have read, "he died at the age of 80."

RELATIONSHIP: Mitchell McCoy married Keziah Atkinson and his brother, Gilbert McCoy, married her sister, Mary E. Atkinson.

LAND: On 14 Jul 1814, Gilbert McCoy bought land in Belmont Co., OH; R4, T4, S25. [Note: Part of Belmont Co. became part of the new Monroe Co., OH in 1815. REH] (Source: "Purchasers of Land in Southeastern Ohio," by E. & O. Berry - furnished by Joyce Posey)


RESIDENCES: A Brief History of Adams Township, Monroe Co., OH
Adams Township was organized on 6 Mar 1826. Sunfish Creek flows through the middle of Adams Twp. Piney Forks is a tributary of Sunfish Creek. The township is bordered by Sunsbury, Switzerland, Salem, Green and Center townships.

Early settlers of Adams township were Charles and James Atkinson, Gilbert and Mitchell McCoy, Elias Conger, Christian Hartline, Phillip Noland, Robert Norris, Samuel Bracey and the families of Mellott and Powell.

The village of Cameron was established in 1837 by James and Mary (Brown) Atkinson. James was an early settler and a Revolutionary War veteran. Cameron was originally named Jamestown.

The first church in Adams Twp. was built near Cameron in 1825. Other churches: Mt. Zion Church of Christ (formerly known as the Bracey Church), Goudy Church of Christ, Mellott Ridge Church of Christ, Pleasant Grove Methodist Church, Cameron Church of Christ. (Source: The Navigator, Monroe County Chapter OGS, June 1991, Vol. 4, No. 2 - furnished by Joyce Posey)


Census: 1850, in Monroe Co., OH, Adams Twp., 42/42, 17 Jul 1850
Gilbert McCoy, 73, m., farmer, $2000, PA
Mary, 28, f. OH; Jane, 24, f. OH; Charles, 22, m. Boatman, OH;
Louisa, 15, f. OH;
Samuel Ross, 14, m. OH; David Ross, 12, m. OH; James Ross, 9, OH
[Note: The Ross children were probably the grandchildren of Gilbert and Mary McCoy. REH]


BIOGRAPHY:
Sharron E. Wood wrote: Gilbert McCoy was born in 1775 (sic) in Cumberland County, PA, the son of Thomas McCoy and Elizabeth Baskins. He and his brothers, John, William and Mitchell were some of the earliest settlers on Sunfish Creek, Adams Twp., Monroe Co., OH, arriving about 1817 (sic). CONFLICT: Robert Guilinger believes that the McCoy family arrived about 1814.

Gilbert was a veteran of the War of 1812. As a sergeant, he was left on Putin Bay on the 3rd of March 1814, not being able to leave because of the ice. (Source: "Monroe County Ohio Families," page 224, submitted by Sharron E. Wood)

COMMENT: Robert Guilinger points out that he arrived in Monroe County earlier than 1817. It was probably about 1814, right after he was released from the army, after the War of 1812. His marriage took place in 1814 in Monroe Co., OH. He also bought land in 1814 in part of Belmont Co., OH which later became part of Monroe Co., OH.


BIOGRAPHY: Gilbert McCoy, who died on May 19, 1857 in his 82nd (sic) year, and is buried in the old Cameron Cemetery was also a veteran of the War of 1812. He filed application for bounty land on the 30th day of November, 1850, before Eliel Headley, J.P. Headley may have been his son-in-law, as he was married to a Rebecca McCoy. McCoy stated he was 73 years old when making the application. This would put his birth about 1777, but the information on his tombstone would lead one to believe he was born about 1775. If your care to speculate on this with these two different bits of information, he could have been born between May and Nov. in 1776. He stated he had been a Seargeant (sic) in the company commanded by Capt. John Howell in the Regiment of Militia commanded by John Delong in the war with Great Britian declared by the United States on the 18th of June, 1812. He was drafted and joined the army at St. Clairsville, Ohio, on or about the 3rd day of Sept. 1813, for the term of 6 months. He served for 6 months and 5 days and was left on Putin Bay on the 3rd of March, 1814, on account of not being able to leave because of the ice "As will appear on the muster rolls, my being left on the island is the reason I did not get a discharge - I was left in the Detroit ship as a guard." He signed his own name to his application and received bounty land warrant #20277 for 80 acres of land for his service.

Gilbert McCoy was married to Mary Atkinson, daughter of the Revolutionary soldier, Charles Atkinson and his second wife, Elizabeth Stephens. Mary Atkinson McCoy died Jan. 10, 1849 in the 60th year of her age, and is buried in the old Cameron cemetery along with her husband. CONFLICT: Robert Guilinger believes that there is an error in the first line of the Fedorchak article. He believes Gilbert McCoy was in his 80th year when he died. (Source: Catherine Fedorchak, Vol. V, page ?, 1967 - furnished by Robert Guilinger)


CEMETERY: Gilbert McCoy - died May 19, 1857 in his 82nd (sic) year - 1812 soldier and Mary McCoy, wife of Gilbert McCoy, died Jan. 10, 1849, in the 60th year of her age. CONFLICT: Robert Guilinger believes that there is an error in the first line of the Fedorchak article. He believes Gilbert McCoy was in his 80th year when he died. (Source: Catherine Fedorchak, Old Cameron/Atkinson Cemetery survey conducted in Aug 1961, Volume IV - furnished by Robert Guilinger)


Gilbert McCoy Will
PROBATE:
In the name of the Benevolent Father of all I Gilbert McCoy of Monroe County Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament.

Item 1st I give and devise to my grandchildren Samuel Ross, Mary Jane Ross and David Ross one full Seventh part of my property real and personal to be divided between them as follows To Samuel Ross one half of said share also 1 bed and beding to David Ross and Mary Jane Ross the other half of said share to be equally divided between them.

Item 2nd I give and devise to the heirs of Stephen McCoy my son who is deceased one dollar.

Item 3rd I give and devise to my Daughter Mary McCoy in addition to her one Seventh part of my property one bed and bedding and one Bureau the same is now in the house.

Item 4th I will and devise to my Son William McCoy in addition to his one Seventh part of my property one ? ? of not more than fifty dollars in value.

Item 5th The remainder of my property I give and devise as follows to Rebecca Headley one full Seventh Share of all my property both real and personal to Nancy Erlewine one full Seventh part of all my property both real and personal to Mary McCoy one full Seventh part of all my property both real and personal in addition to what was mentioned in Item 2nd to Jane Henthorn one equal Seventh part of my property both real and personal to Louisa Erlewine one equal Seventh part of all my property real and personal to be divided between them if they can agree if they cannot agree in the division of the property and Estate aforesaid then they may call on three disinterested persons who will make the division which division when made Shall be conclusive between the ? ? ?

I do hereby revoke all former wills made by me.
In Testimony hereof I have ? ?
my hand and seal this 2nd day of July AD 1854.
s/Gilbert McCoy
? and acknowledged by Said Gilbert McCoy as his
Last will and testament in our presence and Signed by us in his presense
Jacob S. Erlewine
Susanna Headley
State of Ohio Monroe County
(Will Furnished by Robert Guilinger)


COMMENT: Nine children of Gilbert and Mary McCoy have been identified. In his will Gilbert McCoy writes of dividing his estate into sevenths, and then proceeds to name at least 9 people. According to Robert Guilinger the estate was divided as follows:

1) 1/7 Ross grandchildren, i.e.; the children of Sarah: Samuel (1/14th),
Mary Jane (1/28th), and David (1/28th)
2) No share, His son, Stephen McCoy was mentioned in the will and given
$1.00.
3) 1/7 Mary McCoy a daughter
4) 1/7 William McCoy a son
5) 1/7 Rebecca Headley a married daughter
6) 1/7 Nancy Erlewine a married daughter
7) Mary McCoy, with reference to Item 2nd, which was the Stephen McCoy
bequest of $1.00
This was probably Mary Ellen McCoy, who was not identified as a
daughter in the 2nd reference made to her.
8) 1/7 Jane Henthorn a married daughter
9) 1/7 Louisa Erlewine a married daughter
Charles McCoy, a 3rd son of Gilbert, is not mentioned in the will.
(Furnished by Robert Guilinger)