Household #117: McCoy, John Buck

Back to the 1900 Census & Household Index

In the 1900 Barney census, John McCoy headed an 11-person household. The table below preserves the exact names, relationships, ages, birthplaces, and occupations recorded for the household.

Household Snapshot

John McCoy headed an 11-person household in the 1900 Barney census with 1 spouse or marital partner and 9 children.

John McCoy's listed occupation was Farmer.

All listed household members were reported as born in Georgia.

Newspaper and Public-Record Trail

This section flags public-record leads separate from the census table. The detailed discussion stays in the family narrative, research status, and source citations below.

1900 Census Household

Children and Later Trails

This section is reserved for later-life child evidence. No later spouse, death, burial, obituary, probate, separate household, or descendant-line identification has been added here yet from direct records.

Family Narrative

• Children in household: Joe, Mary, Arch, Lorina or Rena, James, Hattie, Johnnie, and Nina McCoy

This is a well-developed household, though several child lines still need direct follow-through. The first correction is to the census extraction itself. The 1900 index apparently misreported the family as Black, but the census page and the later records consistently show John Buck McCoy and his household as White. The census page also gives John's age clearly as 40, with a June 1859 birth month.

John Buck McCoy can be followed with good confidence across the 1900 Barney household, the 1910 Barney household as a widower, the 1920 Colquitt County household with second wife Ida, and the 1935 Georgia death certificate. The death certificate gives his parents as William McCoy and Elizabeth Seay, confirms his death in Pavo, Colquitt County, and supports the same man seen earlier in Brooks County. The 1870 Lowndes County household of William and Elizabeth McCoy and the 1880 Brooks County household of William N. McCoy and E. A. McCoy provide the strongest earlier placement for John.

The evidence supports reading John Buck McCoy as the same man also described in secondary material as John Henry Buck McCoy. That fuller form appears in the Geneanet tree and fits the name pattern seen in the family, though the file should still treat tree material as support rather than primary proof. John's first wife was Hester A. Strickland, who is tied to him by cemetery and family-link evidence and is reported in compiled sources as the mother of the first child set. Her middle initial A appears consistently enough to keep. A Civil War pension file naming a John McCoy with spouse Hester A. McCoy almost certainly belongs to another man because this John was born in 1859, but the spouse name is at least consistent with the wider identification.

The 1900 household contains both well-traced and unresolved children. Lorina or Rena McCoy can be identified with fair confidence as Lorina "Rena" McCoy Shurley, born 3 December 1888 and buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Berlin, Colquitt County, with compiled links naming her husband as Stephen William Shurley Sr. and placing her among the children of John Buck McCoy and Hester Strickland McCoy. That remains cemetery-level support rather than a direct-record proof, but it fits the same Colquitt County cluster seen elsewhere in this family. Johnnie can also now be read with much more confidence as John Thomas McCoy. In the 1910 Barney household he appears as John S. McCoy, age 14, son of John B. McCoy. He then fits the Brooks County marriage record for John T. McCoy and Alma Barington on 26 November 1923, the memorial for John Thomas McCoy at Oak Hill Cemetery in Quitman with birth 12 March 1897 and death 29 January 1950, and the veteran headstone application for John T. McCoy, Georgia sergeant, 269th M. P. Company, whose death date and burial place match the memorial. The Find a Grave parent links remain compiled support, but the marriage record and headstone application make John Thomas McCoy a strong identification for the HH#117 son. James L. McCoy can be carried forward with reasonable confidence through later memorial or family-link evidence, and Nina can now be identified with much greater confidence as Nina G. McCoy Croft. She appears in a clean four-census chain with husband Chester L. Croft: in Tallokas, Brooks County, in 1920; Militia District 660 in 1930; Barney in 1940; and Barney again in 1950. That line is reinforced by the Social Security Death Index entry for Nina Croft, born 13 December 1899 and dead in July 1981 with last residence in Quitman, and by the Oak Hill Cemetery memorial for Nina McCoy Croft with matching birth and death dates. A Valdosta Daily Times obituary index entry fits the same woman, but the index alone should be treated as supporting evidence rather than the backbone of the identification. The line now rests on firmer ground than earlier versions allowed. Compiled cemetery data places a James L. McCoy, born 27 April 1889 and buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Quitman, as son of John Buck McCoy and Hester Strickland McCoy, with wife Fannie Copeland. That identification is strengthened by the 1926 Georgia death certificate for infant James Jr. McCoy of Berlin, Colquitt County, which names the child's father as J. L. McCoy, mother as Fannie Copeland, and informant as J. L. McCoy. The combination of initials, spouse name, and Colquitt County location fits well with John Buck McCoy's later family geography, making James L. McCoy a strong probable identification for the HH#117 son, though one more direct census or death record for James himself would still be ideal. Hattie McCoy can also now be identified with confidence. She married Gordon Guess in Brooks County on 22 August 1909 and appears with him in a clean census chain: as newly married Hattie Guess in Morven in 1910, as Hattie Guess in Quitman in 1920, as Hattie Guest in Valdosta in 1930, as Hattie C. Guess in Dasher in 1940, and as divorced Hattie C. Guess in Orlando in 1950. Joseph Gordon Guess's World War I draft card names his nearest relative as wife Hattie Cornelia Guess, which strongly supports Hattie's fuller form as Hattie Cornelia McCoy Guess. The 1994 Georgia death index and compiled burial record for Hattie C. Guess align with that same identity. Dolly McCoy can now be identified with similar confidence as Dolly, Dollie, or Pollie McCoy Croft. A direct Colquitt County marriage record shows Miss Dolly McCoy marrying J. P. Croft on 10 January 1915. She then appears in a stable Robinson District census chain as Pollie Croft in 1920, Dolly Croft in 1930, and Dolly McCoy Croft in 1940, when she was a widowed mother in the household of son James Clarence Croft. A 1979 obituary index for Dollie McCoy Croft of Quitman provides compiled support that fits the wider sibling cluster, though it should be used more cautiously than the marriage and census records. Archie McCoy can now be carried farther than earlier versions allowed. He appears in the 1910 Barney household as Archie McCoy, age 23, son of John B. McCoy, and he aligns well with the World War I draft registration for Archie L. McCoy of Pavo, Colquitt County, born 1 January 1887 in Georgia. The draft card, signed A. L. McCoy on 5 June 1917, shows a single white farm laborer living on Pavo Route 2 and working for Ches. Leavitt. Taken together, the 1910 household placement, exact birth date, and south Georgia location make this a strong identification, though the middle initial should remain simply L. until a fuller direct record appears. Joe McCoy can also now be identified with much greater confidence as Joseph William McCoy. The marriage record for Joseph McCoy and Lollie Chambers established the wife link, but the 1928 Georgia death certificate for Mrs. J. W. McCoy makes the fuller identification much firmer by naming her husband as Joseph William McCoy, the informant as Joseph Wm. McCoy, her father as James Chambers, and her mother as Nettie Webb. That record does not spell out Lollie's given name on its face, but the combination of husband, marriage link, Chambers parentage, and Colquitt County geography makes the identification strong. Mary McCoy can now be carried forward more cautiously as the likely Mary M. McCoy who married Anders Chambers in Brooks County. A direct Brooks County marriage license shows Anders Chambers and Mary M. McCoy licensed on 1 March 1902 and married on 2 March 1902. That record gives the needed married-name bridge and places her in the same local Chambers network seen elsewhere around this family, but it still needs a later census, death, or burial record under Mary Chambers before the identification should be treated as fully secure.

The 1910 household shows John B. McCoy as widowed in Barney with Archie, John S., Dollie, and Nina still at home. By 1920 he had moved to the Robinson district of Colquitt County and remarried Ida Mae Guess. That second household is smaller and includes Delma Semroy McCoy, recorded there as Delmer, and Bee McCoy. Later memorial and tree material extend the second family line through Everett, Betty Mae, Eula Lee, Gloria Grace, Eunice L., and Dock McCoy, though several of those children were born after the 1920 census and therefore depend on later compiled records more than on early census enumeration.

The main caution points in this entry are the unresolved children from the first marriage, the exact marriage record for John and Hester, the marriage record for John and Ida, and the need to distinguish this man from other John McCoy records in Georgia. The evidence base is good enough to call the household well researched, but not finished.

Connections to Other Barney Families

• William McCoy and Elizabeth Seay are the strongest current parents for John Buck McCoy through the 1870, 1880, and death-certificate chain.
• The Seay line appears in secondary material through Elizabeth Seay and her reported parents John L. Seay and Nancy A. Seay, but that grandparent layer still depends heavily on compiled evidence.
• Hester A. Strickland ties the household into the Strickland family network of Brooks County.
• Ida Mae Guess likely connects the later household to the Guess family of Barney, though that relationship still needs direct record support.
• Dolly McCoy and Nina McCoy both later connect to the Croft family.

Military Service

Johnnie McCoy, age four in the 1900 household, is strongly identified with John Thomas McCoy through the 1910 household, Brooks County marriage record, cemetery memorial, and a Veterans Administration headstone application. The headstone application cites service as a Georgia sergeant in the 269th M. P. Company and gives Oak Hill Cemetery in Quitman as the burial place.

Open Research Questions

• John Buck McCoy still needs a direct marriage record to Hester A. Strickland.
• John Buck McCoy still needs a direct marriage record to Ida Mae Guess.
• Mary McCoy is now a strong candidate for the Mary M. McCoy who married Anders Chambers in Brooks County on 2 March 1902, but she still needs a later census, death, or burial record under Mary Chambers before the identification can be treated as secure.
• Hattie McCoy is now well identified as Hattie Cornelia McCoy Guess, but one direct death certificate or obituary for her would still be useful beyond the death index and compiled burial record.
• Archie McCoy is now strongly aligned with the 1917 World War I draft card for Archie L. McCoy of Pavo, born 1 January 1887, but he still needs later census, marriage, death, or burial records.
• Anny McCoy and Fannie McCoy in the 1870 William McCoy household still need relationship proof.
• William McCoy's parentage and earlier origins still need to be documented from records before 1870.
• The full documentary basis for treating John Buck McCoy as John Henry Buck McCoy would benefit from one more direct record.

Research Status

Well-researched. John Buck McCoy is securely anchored across the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses and the 1935 death certificate, and his placement as son of William McCoy and Elizabeth Seay is well supported. Joseph William McCoy, James L. McCoy, John Thomas McCoy, Hattie Cornelia McCoy Guess, Dolly McCoy Croft, Nina McCoy Croft, and Archie L. McCoy are now all identified with useful follow-forward evidence, and Mary McCoy now has a plausible marriage bridge into the Chambers family though she still needs later-life confirmation. The main remaining work is in Mary McCoy, the two marriages of John himself, and the earlier McCoy parent generation.

Sources

• 1900 United States Federal Census, Barney, Brooks County, Georgia, household of John McCoy
• 1910 United States Federal Census, Barney, Brooks County, Georgia, household of John B. McCoy
• Brooks County, Georgia, marriage license for Anders Chambers and Mary M. McCoy, license dated 1 March 1902, married 2 March 1902
• United States World War I Draft Registration Card for Archie L. McCoy, registered 5 June 1917, Colquitt County, Georgia, residence Pavo Route 2, born 1 January 1887
• 1920 United States Federal Census, Robinson District, Colquitt County, Georgia, household of John B. McCoy
• 1870 United States Federal Census, Lowndes County, Georgia, household of William McCoy and Elizabeth McCoy
• 1880 United States Federal Census, Quitman, Brooks County, Georgia, household of William N. McCoy and E. A. McCoy
• Georgia death certificate for John B. McCoy, 1935, naming parents William McCoy and Elizabeth Seay
• Find a Grave memorial for John Buck McCoy, Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Colquitt County, Georgia
• Find a Grave memorial for Hester Strickland McCoy, Gornto Cemetery, Brooks County, Georgia
• Georgia death certificate for Mrs. J. W. McCoy, died 17 December 1928, Thomas County, naming husband Joseph William McCoy, father James Chambers, mother Nettie Webb, and informant Joseph Wm. McCoy
• Georgia death certificate for James Jr. McCoy, 1926, Berlin, Colquitt County, naming father J. L. McCoy and mother Fannie Copeland
• Brooks County, Georgia, marriage record for Hattie McCoy and Gordon Guess, 22 August 1909
• 1910 United States Federal Census, Morven, Brooks County, Georgia, household of Gordon and Hattie Guess
• 1920 United States Federal Census, Quitman, Brooks County, Georgia, household of Gordon and Hattie Guess
• 1930 United States Federal Census, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, household of Gordon and Hattie Guest
• 1940 United States Federal Census, Dasher, Lowndes County, Georgia, household of Joseph and Hattie C. Guess
• 1950 United States Federal Census, Orlando, Orange County, Florida, household of Hattie C. Guess
• United States World War I Draft Registration Card for Joseph Gordon Guess, naming nearest relative wife Hattie Cornelia Guess
• Georgia death index entry for Hattie C. Guess, died 31 October 1994, certificate 044799
• Find a Grave memorial for Lorina "Rena" McCoy Shurley, born 3 December 1888, buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Berlin, Colquitt County, Georgia
• Brooks County, Georgia, marriage record for John T. McCoy and Alma Barington, 26 November 1923
• Veterans Administration headstone application for John T. McCoy, applied 25 January 1954, citing service in the 269th M. P. Company and burial at Oak Hill Cemetery, Quitman, Georgia
• Colquitt County, Georgia, marriage record for Miss Dolly McCoy and J. P. Croft, license issued 4 January 1915, married 10 January 1915
• 1920 United States Federal Census, Robinson District, Colquitt County, Georgia, household of Pearl and Pollie Croft
• 1930 United States Federal Census, Robinson District, Colquitt County, Georgia, household of Pearl and Dolly Croft
• 1940 United States Federal Census, Robinson District, Colquitt County, Georgia, household of James Clarence Croft including mother Dolly McCoy Croft
• U.S. Newspapers.com obituary index entry for Dollie McCoy Croft, obituary published 16 March 1979 in Valdosta, Georgia
• 1920 United States Federal Census, Tallokas, Brooks County, Georgia, household of Chester L. and Nina Croft
• 1930 United States Federal Census, Militia District 660, Brooks County, Georgia, household of Chester L. and Nina G. Croft
• 1940 United States Federal Census, Barney, Brooks County, Georgia, household of Chester and Nina Croft
• 1950 United States Federal Census, Barney, Brooks County, Georgia, household of Chester L. and Nina G. Croft
• Social Security Death Index entry for Nina Croft, born 13 December 1899, died July 1981, last residence Quitman, Brooks County, Georgia
• U.S. Newspapers.com obituary index entry for Nina Croft, obituary published 6 July 1981 in Valdosta, Georgia
• Find a Grave memorials for James L. McCoy, John Thomas McCoy, Dolly McCoy Croft, Nina McCoy Croft, and Hattie Cornelia Guess
• Geneanet tree, findingmykinpeople, owner Sean Dale Smith, used as secondary compiled support for the fuller John Henry Buck McCoy identity and later family links

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