James
M.
(Jim)
Vance
Sr.
Born in Tazewell County, Virginia, United States
Ancestors 
Son of John Ferrell
and Elizabeth Susanna Vance
Husband of
Mary Collins
— married
[date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants 
Father of
John Vance, Virginia Jane (Vance) Ferrell, Elizabeth Vance, James M. Vance Jr. and Amy L Vance
Died
at age 55
in Logan County, West Virginia, United States
Profile last modified
| Created 5 Feb 2015
This page has been accessed 59,735 times.
Contents |
Biography
Jim Vance Sr. lived in Appalachia, in West Virginia.
Sergeant Jim Vance Sr. served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: May 4, 1862
Mustered out: April 27, 1865
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): 34th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, Co. B
Enlisted: May 4, 1862
Mustered out: April 27, 1865
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): 34th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, Co. B
James M. Vance was born out of wedlock on May 1832 in Tazewell County, Virginia, United States and took his mothers surname. His father was John Ferrell and mother was Elizabeth Vance.
In 1850 James was listed as residing with his mother Elizabeth Vance in Logan County, Virginia. [1]
At some point James moved to Pike County, Kentucky in 1860. [2]
Civil War Service
James enlisted at Tazwell Co., Virginia with the Confederate 34th Battalion Calvary, Virginia on 4 May 1862 as a private and was assigned to Major William Stratons company B. He was promoted to Sergeant, 1 February 1863. He served along side his uncles, Richard Vance and Elijah Vance. [3]
The 34th Cavalry Battalion, formerly the 1st Battalion Virginia Mounted Rifles, was organized in December, 1862. The unit served in A.G. Jenkins’, W.E. Jones’, V.A. Witcher’s, and B.T. Johnson’s Brigade and first engaged the Federals in western Virginia. It had a force of 172 men at Gettysburg, returned to western Virginia, then was involved in operations in East Tennessee. During April, 1864, it contained 222 effectives, saw action at Piedmont, and served with Early in the Shenandoah Valley. The 34th disbanded at Lynchburg in April, 1865.
James signed a Amnesty oath to the Union on 27 April, 1865. In the Amnesty oath it gives a description of James, Age - 27, Height - 5' 11", Complexion - Fair, Eyes - grey, Hair - fair, Occupation - Engineer.
A false story that has been perpetuated for decades is that James Vance being a member of the "Logan Wildcats" hunted down Asa Harmon McCoy and murdered him. Neither James Vance, nor "Devil Anse" Hatfield, had anything to do with the killing of Asa Harmon McCoy. Martha McCoy, Asa's wife in a pension application states that "Rebels killed him while he was traveling to rejoin his regiment."
The group called "Logan Wildcats" was a militia group formed in Logan County before the Civil War. When the Civil War broke out, it became Company D of the 36th Infantry, and remained in service in the regular Confederate Army until it was mustered out three days after Lee’s surrender. James Vance never appeared on its roster. The Logan Wildcats, as a unit led by "Devil Anse" Hatfield, entered the literature in 1976, with the publication of Truda McCoy’s “The McCoys.” McCoy, whose history was so garbled that she had Wall Hatfield tried, convicted and dead before he was even arrested, is the mother of the now famous “Logan Wildcats” of Devil Anse Hatfield. [4]
Post-Civil War
In the 1870 West Virginia census James and wife Mary are listed as residing at Magnolia, Morgan, West Virginia. [5]
In 1870, James Vance was elected Constable of the Magnolia District, Morgan, West Virginia.
In April, 1875, Jacob McCoy, son of Asa Harmon McCoy, married Elizabeth Vance, daughter of Jim Vance. The marriage Bond was signed by Jacob’s Uncle, Perry Cline, and the ceremony was held at the Pike County home of Jim Vance.
In June of 1875, James Vance Sr., bought a large tract, 1,000 acres in Pike County, Kentucky, from William Daniels and his wife, Mary (McCoy) Daniels. Mary Daniels was the daughter of Asa Harmon McCoy. The Daniels took a note from Jim Vance for a third of the purchase price of that tract.
In 1875, Perry Cline appointed James Vance a deputy sheriff of Pike County, Kentucky, making James Vance the only man who was a sworn law officer in both Pike, Kentucky and Logan, West Virginia counties during the entire era.
In the 1880 West Virginia census, James and wife Mary are listed as residing at Magnolia, Morgan, West Virginia. [6]
On 26 August, 1880, James Sr. his wife Mary sold 1,000 acres in Pike County, Kentucky on the Tug river to William Daniels. [7]
In July, 1883, James appointed Justice of the Peace. Hugh Toney, Floyd Hatfield, J.R. Browning and P.H. Dingess all signed a bond for $2,500 guaranteeing Vance’s good conduct in office. That is equal to $150,000 today. [8]
On 9 January, 1885, James Sr., his wife Mary and son James Jr. sold 100 acres on Thacker creek to Elizabeth Nichols for $200. [9]
On 9 January, 1885, James Sr., his wife Mary and son James Jr. sold 100 acres on Thacker creek to Jane Ferrell for $200. [10]
On 20 Februray, 1886, James Sr. his wife Mary bought 50 acres on Round bottom, Sandy River in Wayne County, West Virginia, for $6,500. [11]
On 8 January, 1887, James Sr. his wife Mary sold 1,500 acres on Grapevine creek to son James Jr., for $3,250. [12]
On 15 January, 1887, James Sr. bought 50 acres on Sandy River in Wayne County, West Virginia, for $6,500. [13]
Owning several thousand acres of valuable land, smack-dab in the heart of the “Billion Dollar Coal Field,” James was murdered by a gang from Kentucky lead by Frank Phillips on January 8, 1888. That gang was sent by some of the leading financial men in Kentucky, for the purpose of kidnapping the men who were indicted for the lynching of the three McCoys five years earlier. There were 23 men under indictment, and the Kentucky gang nabbed 9 of them. Of course those nine just happened to all be owners of land along the route of the coming railroad. Within 90 days of the killing of Jim Vance, Kentucky financiers would own all the land of the indicted West Virginians, with the exception of Devil Anse Hatfield. Later that year a warrant was issued for Frank Phillips gang for the murder of Logan County Deputy William Dempsey and James Vance.
On 18 February, 1888, James M. Vance Jr., John Vance and Elias Hatfield paid $500 on a bond that was issued to James M. Vance Jr. appointing him as administrator of his fathers, James M. Vance Sr., estate. [14]
Summary
By a simple search of the Logan County, Virginia and Pike County, Kentucky records and documents by recent day genealogists prove that a lot of the stories about James Vance are untrue and are exactly that, stories.
James was never called "Bad Jim." The New York newspaperman, T.C. Crawford is the one responsible for this misnomer in his 1888 article about the Hatfield-McCoy feud.
James M. Vance was a leading member of his community, on both sides of Tug River. In a lifetime of almost sixty years, he was never charged with a crime–not even a misdemeanor. He was elected constable and later appointed justice of the peace in Logan County, West Virginia. He signed the sheriff’s bond for Perry Cline, brother-in-law of Asa Harmon McCoy in Pike County, Kentucky, and was the first man appointed as a deputy by the sheriff.
First, although his uncle, there is absolutely nothing in the record that shows James Vance to be “a close associate of Devil Anse.” However, there is much in the record showing Vance to be a close associate of the family of Asa Harmon McCoy. The record clearly depicts a man who was highly respected in his community.
Second, James was not involved in the killing of Asa McCoy.
Third, James was not and could not have been involved in the "New Years day attack" in 1888, of the McCoy farm.
Sources
- ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DC-PG7 : 23 December 2020), James Vance in household of Elizabeth Vance, Logan, Logan, Virginia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
- ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZBJ-292 : 18 February 2021), James Vance, 1860; District 1, Pike, Kentucky, United States
- ↑ "Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3HZ-RS4 : 5 December 2014), James Vance, 1862; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing military unit Thirty-fourth Battalion, Cavalry (First Battalion, Virginia Mounted Rifles; Witcher's Battalion, Virginia Mounted Rifles), NARA microfilm publication M324 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1961), roll 189.
- ↑ The Hatfield & McCoy Feud after Kevin Costner: Rescuing History,” by Tom E. Dotson. https://hatfield-mccoytruth.com/
- ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ4G-71H : 29 May 2021), James Vance, 1870; Magnolia, Morgan, West Virginia, United States
- ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6RY-35D : 15 January 2022), James Vance, Magnolia, Morgan, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
- ↑ Pike Co., Kentucky, Grantors index, T-Z 1820-1970, pg. 31, image 568. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTL-F9H3-P?i=567&cat=111955
- ↑ Logan County Court Orders, 1883, p. 394.
- ↑ Logan County, Virginia (West Virginia), Deed books, Grantor, Deed book I, pg. 340, image 593, FamilySearch, not indexed. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR7-Z92W-4?i=592&cat=73287
- ↑ Logan County, Virginia (West Virginia), Deed books, Grantor, Deed book I, pg. 342, image 594, FamilySearch, not indexed. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR7-Z92W-J?i=593&cat=73287
- ↑ Wayne County, West Virginia Deed book, v. V-W 1883-1887, pg. 461, image 573, FamilySearch, not indexed. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37T-4SQ4-T?i=572&cat=78703
- ↑ Logan County, Virginia (West Virginia), Deed books, Grantor, Deed book J, pg. 26, image 43, FamilySearch, not indexed. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR7-796F-2?i=42&cat=73287
- ↑ Wayne County, West Virginia, Deed book, v. X-Y 1882-1887, pg. 482, image 585, FamilySearch, not indexed. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37T-79R7-Z?i=584&cat=78703
- ↑ Logan County, West Virginia, Bond book, Vol. A-B 1884-1915, pg. 67, image 64, FamilySearch, not indexed. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99K7-LW3T?i=63&cat=73425
- "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X522-FV9 : 28 January 2020), James Vance in entry for Elizabeth Vance, 1855.
- "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTH9-DYG : 28 January 2020), James Vance in entry for Elizabeth Vance, 1855.
- "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FRNW-BPN : 11 February 2018), James Vance in entry for John Francisco and Ann Vance, 09 Sep 1880; citing Logan, West Virginia, p 40 ln 52, county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 571,278.
- "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FRN4-M2H : 11 February 2018), James Vance in entry for M B Nickols and Elizbeth Vance, 13 Oct 1881; citing Logan, West Virginia, P 41 ln 59, county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 571,278.
- "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FRN4-HW8 : 11 February 2018), J Vance in entry for John Vance and Jane Chapman, 20 Mar 1883; citing Logan, West Virginia, p 45 ln 20, county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 571,278.
- "North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898-1994", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H486-W8ZM : 14 February 2020), James Vance in entry for Amy Flynn, 1944.
- "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FP5C-J8L : 18 July 2017), James Vance in entry for Amy Flynn, 24 Aug 1944; citing High Point, Guilford Co., North Carolina, 17025, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,943,246.
- Probate 18 Feb 1888 Logan, West Virginia, Bonds, 1884-1990 West Virginia County Court (Logan County); Bonds, Vol A-B, 1884-1915 image "https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99K7-LW3T?i=63&cat=73425"
- Find A Grave: Memorial #130035907 James “Jim” Vance (1832–Jan 1888), James Vance Family Cemetery, Thacker, Mingo County, West Virginia, USA
Notes
Research on this profile is ongoing. Records and documents will be added when found.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Jim:
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Jim:
-
~1.56%
~3.12%
Eula (Burgess) Blankenship 
:
Family Tree DNA Family Finder, GEDmatch F219921 [compare], FTDNA kit #219921
-
~0.78%
~6.25%
Joyce (Farra) Childers :
AncestryDNA, GEDmatch A348629 [compare], Ancestry member JF
-
~0.78%
Kathy (Justice) Jewell :
Family Tree DNA Family Finder
-
~0.78%
~1.56%
Shirley Blankenship :
Family Tree DNA Family Finder, GEDmatch F216326 [compare], FTDNA kit #216326
-
~0.39%
Christina (Oney) Smith :
23andMe
Images: 7
Rejected matches › James Wiley Hatfield (abt.1790-abt.1860)
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