Willis Mecoy  (the first generation) John McCoy Biography Mississippi McCoys (Descendants of Abner, including old photographs)   The Hatfield's and McCoy's The Daniel McCoy Descendants McCoy Message Boards on Rootsweb Patrick McCoy Julia Cain Family    **Send your link to add to this list!

The Jacobite Rebellion Craven County, NCGENWEB MSGENWEB Rutherford County, TNGENWEB Tippah County, MSGENWEB Butler County, KYGENWEB Washington County, ILGENWEB Madison County, ARGENWEB This space was generously donated by Rootsweb. To become a member or sponsor of Rootsweb Data Cooperative please click on the button above.

Willis Mecoy was born in the 1730's, and lived in Craven County, NC.  In the 1750's he served in the North Carolina Militia.  His first wife's name is unknown, however in 1796, he married  to Keziah Peters Achlin and she is listed executor of his will.  He died in 1800, in Craven County, North Carolina, leaving 10 children, who were mostly grown with families of their own. Most left the area in the following years to pioneer the U.S. with the exception of William and his offspring.  Willis McCoy is the first of my line that I can verify.  I have several ideas about his parentage, however at the moment I haven't been able to prove them.

His Children:

• John Mecoy, born about 1770. (click on his name to view bio)

He married Mary Beesley and settled in Rutherford County, TN, along with the Beesley family.  He died on March 16, 1815, near French Camp, Mississippi, while serving in the War of 1812.
• Hardy Mecoy, born about 1772.

He married a Tempey Mecoy ( his cousin) in 1802.
• Willis Mecoy born 1768. He married first Elizabeth Ecclen in 1791, then married Holland Daughty in 1795. Together with the Taylors and the Ecclen's  they moved to Butler County, Ky.
• Delana Mecoy Daughty - she married Emphiam Daughty.
• Edward Mecoy
• Sarah McCoy
• Betsy Mecoy
• Lewis Mecoy -  He married Charlotte Shute in 1794.  It is unknown where they settled.
• Hudley Mecoy
• William Mecoy - He married Cordillia and died in 1802. His family stayed in Craven County and his descendants still live in Craven County, Cove City, NC.

 

Past down stories indicate that Willis changed the spelling of his name from McCoy to Mecoy during the Revolutionary War as a result of an argument between him and his brother. The brother served for Britain, and Willis served for the American Colonies. Most of Willis' offspring returned to the original spelling during the next few generations. Some, however continued to spell it Mecoy until the middle of the 20th century, and a few continue to spell it that way today. Willis' offspring are scattered all over the United States, his children first settled in Kentucky and Tennessee, a few remained in North Carolina.      Thanks for dropping by,   Melissa McCoy-Bell