Stringtown in Pike County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Baby’s Grave Site

Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 20, 2019

1. Baby’s Grave Site Marker

Inscription. Sarah Elizabeth, “Little Sally,” was the daughter of Roseanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield. She was born in the spring of 1881 and died when she was only eight months old. In 1880, Roseanna met Johnse at an Election Day celebration on Blackberry Creek, in Pike County Kentucky. They slipped away from the crowd and when they returned the polling place was deserted. Fearful of her family’s reaction Roseanna went home with Johnse to West Virginia. Devil Anse would not allow his son to wed the daughter of Randolph McCoy. Roseanna loved Johnse and stayed with him in Devil Anse’s home but became discouraged because he was unfaithful. Disillusioned, she returned home to Kentucky to have Johnse’s baby. Her father rejected her and Roseanna went to live with her Aunt Betty at Stringtown, Kentucky. Sarah Elizabeth is buried on the hilltop under the pine trees above the Uriah McCoy house. Broken-hearted after the baby’s death, Roseanna grieved at the grave and lost her will to live.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Women. In addition, it is included in the The Hatfield-McCoy Feud series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 37° 37.826′ N, 82° 13.251′ W. Marker is in Stringtown, Kentucky

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

, in Pike County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Lower Stringtown Road and Kentucky Route 292, on the right when traveling west. It is at the top of the 122-step stairway at the grave site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33 Lower Stringtown Rd, Belfry KY 41514, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Baby’s Grave Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Sally McCoy / Grave of Sally McCoy (within shouting distance of this marker); The Ohio Extension (approx. 1.4 miles away in West Virginia); Site of Randolph McCoy House (approx. 1.9 miles away); McCoy Well (approx. 1.9 miles away); Randal McCoy's Well (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Real McCoy Homestead Uncovered (approx. 1.9 miles away); Hatfield-McCoy Trail System Founders Monument (approx. 2.9 miles away in West Virginia). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stringtown.

More about this marker. This marker is over the grave site at the top of the hill. A second identical marker is located at a four car parking area at the bottom of the stairway to the gravesite.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. A photograph of Roseanna McCoy’s grave site is at this link.

Also see . . . A Chronology of the Feud. 2012

Baby’s Grave Site and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 20, 2019

2. Baby’s Grave Site and Marker

article in the Huntington WV Herald-Dispatch without a byline. Excerpt:

Two months after the killing of Staton, Devil Anse’s son, Johnse met Roseanna McCoy, the daughter of Randolph McCoy, at an 1880 Election Day event. They became lovers, but Randolph did not approve. In fact, when she went to be with Johnse in West Virginia, a posse of McCoys rode to the cabin, took Johnse prisoner and set out for the Pikeville jail, according to Pike County tourism research. Roseanna told Devil Anse, who gathered his own crew to cut off the McCoys and rescue his son. After that, the couple remained apart. Roseanna would give birth to their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth McCoy, in the spring of 1881. The baby died of measles later that year. Johnse Hatfield, who would be married four times in his life, met Nancy McCoy (the daughter of Asa Harmon McCoy, who had been killed by the Hatfields) and they were married on May 14, 1881.

(Submitted on March 4, 2020.)

The Private Cemetery at the Top of the Hill image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 20, 2019

3. The Private Cemetery at the Top of the Hill

Stairway to Baby’s Grave Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 20, 2019

4. Stairway to Baby’s Grave Site

This marker behind the photographer at the top of this 122-step stairway from the parking area. Across the street from the parking area, visible in this photograph, is the Uriah McCoy house—today a private residence—where Roseanna lived with her Aunt Betty.

Baby’s Grave Site Parking and Stairway image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 20, 2019

5. Baby’s Grave Site Parking and Stairway

This historical marker is at the top of the stairs. You can see a duplicate of this marker in the distance at the end of the parking area.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,379 times since then and 100 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 4, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.