Historical records matching Ellison "Cotton Top" Hatfield
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About Ellison "Cotton Top" Hatfield
"It is generally felt that Ellison was the illegitimate son of Ellison Hatfield." Medically he was an albino.
He was executed for his part in the killings of two of the McCoy's children. The case went all the way to the Supreme court in the case, known as Mahon v. Justice.
Illegitimate son of Ellison Hatfield and Harriet Hatfield, 1st cousins. Took the name Mounts when Harriet married Daniel Mounts in 1867. Described as dimwitted and possibly an albino, Ellison was a participant in the New Year's Eve massacre that occurred in 1888 when a group of Hatfields and their supporters attempted to murder Randolph McCoy. During the gun battle Randolph escaped, but his daughter Alifair and son Calvin were killed, and his wife Sarah severely beaten. Ellison was charged with murder and confessed, but after being convicted and sentenced to hang he tried to change his plea, stating he had only done so in expectation of leniency. During the trial testimony was given by one of the McCoy victims that Cap Hatfield was the actual murderer. There were also rumors that Ellison had been pressured and bribed to confess with the promise he would be rescued.
On 2/18/1890, he was hung in Kentucky's last public execution and buried in an unmarked grave within sight of the gallows. His last words were reportedly "They made me do it. The Hatfields made me do it".
On 12/25/1882, Ellison married Rebecca Justice, daughter of Jaob Justice and Elizabeth Ferrell - no record of any children. ~
Kentucky's last public execution was in Owensboro, in 1936.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104268010/ellison-hatfield-mounts
Ellison "Cotton Top" Hatfield's Timeline
1864 |
August 1864
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Logan County, West Virginia, United States
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1890 |
February 18, 1890
Age 25
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Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky, United States
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1890
Age 25
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Dils Cemetery, Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky, United States
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