I am going to start with George W Hancock he his the father of our subject. He was born in 1828 in Mississippi and died possibly in Albuquerque, NM. He served in several wars.
Name: George W Hancock
Event Type: Military Service
Event Date: 28 Jun 1848
Event Place: Vicksburg, Warren, Mississippi, United States
Event Place (Original): Vicksburg Miss
Age: 20
Military Status: Pri
Military Regiment: 1 Batt'n Mississippi Rifles Anderson's
Military Unit: C
Birth Year (Estimated): 1828
***************************************
Name George W Hancock
Event Type Military Service
Event Date 08 Dec 1847
Event Place Vicksburg, Warren, Mississippi, United States
Event Place (Original) Vicksburg Miss Hernando
Age 20
Military Regiment Batt'n Miss Rifles Anderson's
Military Unit Capt Anderson's
Military Rank 3 Corpl
Birth Year (Estimated) 1827
*******************************************
Full Name:
George W Hancock
Rank:
Private
Service Year:
1847
State:
Mississippi
Military Unit:
1st MS Rifles Vols, Capt Dorsey
Warrant Number:
47-160-46977
We do not have a death date for him or his full birth date and place.
I think he may have died in a war or perhaps a military hospital or home, or even a prison. Below are some documents I found for him. Some census record has his birth place as Tennessee. 1850 census he is living at home still with his parents in Tennessee.
Louis Peter Carl was born 1843 in France and died 23 Jun 1903 in Bakersfield, CA
Name: George W Hancock
Event Type: Military Service
Event Date: 28 Jun 1848
Event Place: Vicksburg, Warren, Mississippi, United States
Event Place (Original): Vicksburg Miss
Age: 20
Military Status: Pri
Military Regiment: 1 Batt'n Mississippi Rifles Anderson's
Military Unit: C
Birth Year (Estimated): 1828
***************************************
Name George W Hancock
Event Type Military Service
Event Date 08 Dec 1847
Event Place Vicksburg, Warren, Mississippi, United States
Event Place (Original) Vicksburg Miss Hernando
Age 20
Military Regiment Batt'n Miss Rifles Anderson's
Military Unit Capt Anderson's
Military Rank 3 Corpl
Birth Year (Estimated) 1827
*******************************************
Full Name:
George W Hancock
Rank:
Private
Service Year:
1847
State:
Mississippi
Military Unit:
1st MS Rifles Vols, Capt Dorsey
Warrant Number:
47-160-46977
We do not have a death date for him or his full birth date and place.
I think he may have died in a war or perhaps a military hospital or home, or even a prison. Below are some documents I found for him. Some census record has his birth place as Tennessee. 1850 census he is living at home still with his parents in Tennessee.
1870 census he is married to Julia Ann Smoot they married in abt 1862 in Texas. She was born Aug 1839 in Arkansas and she died 9 Aug 1906 in Bakersfield, CA.
She was born to Louis B and Leodua Cooper Smoot in Arkansas. Newspaper clipping has her as a native of Illinois.
Together they had the following children:
1. Franklin Merle Hancock 1862 in Tom Green County, TX-1875 Erath County, TX he was 13 yrs old when he died.
2. Thomas Richard Hancock born 29 Feb 1864 in San Angelo, Tom Green, TX He married in 1884 to Nancy Elenden Kitchens and they had a son John Henry Hancock born 9 mar 1886 in Evanston, Wyoming, died Jul 1972. Nancy Kitchens was born 28 Dec 1866 in Searcy County, Arkansas and died 23 Aug 1948 in San Luis Obispo, CA.
Mining Quartz in 1900 in Powers, Bernalillo, New Mexico with his son John H Hancock.
1940 Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, California he's a Mine Opeartor owns his own mine. Gold Mine
Here are there photo's below.
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| Thomas Richard Hancock |
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| Nancy Elenden "Ellen" Kitchens |
3. John Hancock born Feb 1870 in Texas I would think in Tom Green County, he died 8 Sep 1905 in Lincoln County, Nevada
He was executed by hanging for murder. Here's the story below.
Here are links for the newspaper articles just click on them to read.
1898
1899
1905
The above are newspaper clippings of the account that occurred in the dessert. I am wondering just how much help he got from the women to be later known as Mrs. Gross, she is a character for sure.
I also found John Hancock's criminal records and mug shots For Folsom & San Quentin Prison they were holding him on burglary charges. According to the States Attorney they had many charges to choose from and picked this one because they could lock him up the longest with those charges.
These records are on Ancestry they hold a lot of prison records.
1900 Census shows him in San Quentin Prison 28th of June he is divorced.
Prison # 14315
Prison # 14946
Inmate # 17976
10 YEARS
Received him 21 Oct 1890
Discharge date 1 Jun 1905 to Nevada
He was married in 1899 and divorced by 1900 wife unknown at this time. Some others have her as Lelia T Dollins but I feel this is incorrect because the Hancock she was married to his the wrong fella.
John Hancock
BIRTH unknown
DEATH 7 Dec 1906 (This date is wrong according to the newspaper clippings of his execution 8 Sep 1905)
BURIAL Nevada State Prison Burial Ground Carson City, Carson City, Nevada, USA
GPS Add coordinates
MEMORIAL ID 134010365
The Nevada State Prison (NSP) Burial grounds are located on a hillside between the Nevada State Prison (closed in 2012), and the Warm Springs Correctional Facility (active prison). The Burial Grounds are not accessible by the public without permission from the Warden.
The NSP Burial Grounds is the resting place of prisoners who died while incarcerated and whose bodies were not claimed by their friends or family. Some of internments are for prisoners who were executed in the United State's first legally sanctioned gas chamber. There are eleven marked graves and the site has the potential for more unmarked graves. The tablet style stone markers were carved by inmates.
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| 1900 Federal Census San Quentin |
4. Walter M Hancock was born 1871 in Tom Green County, TX and died in 1919 in Erath County, TX He married Amelia A Fortine 1880-1949 who I believe is a sister to his brother James Edward Hancock's first wife.
Walter & Amelia had 2 children:
Clarence Hancock 1905-1968
Madelein Jean Hancock died 1956
There might be another child Alice B Hancock born 1899
Walter has 2 conviction and spent time in Huntsville Prison
| Name | W Hancock |
|---|---|
| Birth Year | 1871 |
| Birth Place | Texas |
| Record Date | 6 Jul 1893 |
| Place of Residence | Austin |
| Prison Location | Huntsville, Walker, Texas, USA |
| Age | 22 |
| Convict Number | 9515 |
| Name | Walter Hancock |
|---|---|
| Birth Year | abt 1873 |
| Birth Place | Texas |
| Record Date | 16 Apr 1890 |
| Place of Residence | Austin, Texas |
| Prison Location | Rusk, Cherokee, Texas, USA |
| Age | 17 |
| Convict Number | 4147 |
5. James Edward Hancock born 28 Feb 1872 in Tom Green County, TX died maybe in California (A mystery no one knows).
This man is the most interesting one of the family and most complicated to trace.
These are some of the names he is known by:
James Edward Hancock,
James Edward Carl,
Joseph Emmit Coyle,
Jospeh E. Mears,
James Emmit Hancock
We have been told that he took on last names of his wives, their former husbands, and even his mother's 2nd husband Luis Peter Carl.
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| James Edward Hancock |
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| James Edward Hancock |
He married Julia Mary Fortine 26 June 1893 in Perris, Riverside, California under the last name of Carl. They had the following children: Marcelina Gertrude, Elizabeth Edna, George Alford, and Della Mae Carl.
Julia Mary Fortine was born to Oliver and Axalia Elizabeth Prince Fortine. Her sister Amelia Fortine married James Edward Hancock's brother Walter Hancock in 1898 in Tom Green Co., Texas.
For some reason the children all went by the last name of Carl but California death records shows Marceliana and Della under the last name of Hancock.
These are some of the names he is known by:
James Edward Hancock,
James Edward Carl,
Joseph Emmit Coyle,
Jospeh E. Mears,
James Emmit Hancock
We have been told that he took on last names of his wives, their former husbands, and even his mother's 2nd husband Luis Peter Carl.
She married Willaim Henderson.
(My information shows that she was buried in Windsor, Sonoma, California)
Nancy K. (Wilcock) Atwood
Julia Mary Henderson
First Name: Julia
Middle Name: Mary
Last Name: Henderson
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 11-23-1874
Death Date: 5-7-1954
Age: 80
Birth Location: Canada
View On Map
Death Location: Sonoma, CA
Record Type: Death Record
Mother's Maiden Name: Prince
Father's Last Name: Fortine
Collection: California Death Index
This shows her birth as Canada, family members have her born in Nebraska.
Bio by: Nancy K (Wilcock) Atwood
He abandoned her and became a renegade
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| Julia Mary Fortine |
He married Emma Amolia Graf (My 3rd Graet 1/2 Aunt) was born to John Johannes & Anna Catherine Ruegg Graf in Santa Clara, Washington, Utah, under the name of Joseph Emmit Coyle.
They had the following children: Marion Emmit, Catherine Lenore, Robert Vincent, and Paul Vernon Coyle.
She married William Jonas Conger 16 May 1920 in Pioche, Lincoln, Nevada and they had one daughter; Wanda Mollie Conger (Diel)
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| Emma Amolia Graf My 3rd Great 1/2 Aunt |
He married Mary E. Dunlap 22 Jan 1917 in Big Pine, Inyo, California.
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| Mary E Dunlap |
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| Mary E Dunlap & James Edward Hancock alias Joseph Mears |
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| Mary E Dunlap at the Gold Mine |
(Furnished by Ralph Vernon Cooley)
James Edward Hancock AKA: James Edward CARL, Joseph COYLE and Joseph MEARS.
He could have gone by other names during his life time. We will never know, nor do we know when, where, why or how he died or what name he was using at deaths door.
James was married to Julia Mary FORTINE in 1893 in Perris, Riverside, California. Their first child was born 18 Jun 1893 in Perris, Riverside, California. They had five childern, the last being born 8 Jul 1901 at Perris, California. Sometime between this last child's birth and early 1903 James deserted Julia and ended up in in St. George, Utah.
He assumed the name of Joseph COYLE, and joined the Mormon Church, being baptized 5 December 1903. He married Emma Amolia GRAFF in the St George Mormon Temple on 23 March 1904. They had four children, the first being born in Santa Clara, Utah 7 Nov 1904. Their last child was born in Beaver, Utah 27 Aug 1912. The family was living in Beaver because Joseph was working in the mines at Minserville. It has been alluded that Jospeh was unfaithful to Emma during this time and father a child by another woman in Beaver. Emma therefore took her children, sometime in Feb/Mar of 1913, went to Milford, Utah and took the train to Modena, Utah where her brother Albert met them with a team and wagon. Albert returned Emma and her children to her parent's home in Santa Clara, Utah. Emma divorced Joseph Coyle in 1915. Her temple sealing was finally cancelled 24 Apr 1922 by President Heber J. Grant. Sad to say that this cancellation came sometime after her death in child birth.
James next appeared in Big Pine, Inyo, California where he had married a Mary E. DUNLAP under the name of Jospeh MEARS.
According to records she was buried back in her home town of Dwight, Livingson, Illinois. They had a gold mine that he worked but she kept control of it.
It was here that Emma's youngest son Paul came to live with his father in the early 1920's. Paul was desirous of joining the Coast Guard so he and his father James--Joseph?? went to court and legally changed Paul's last name to MEARS so that father James/Joseph? could sign the papers for Paul to join the Coast Guard. A name that his father had no right to.
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He mined gold here
The History of Minersville, Utah
Minersville is located in Beaver County, 18 miles west of the town of Beaver, which is the county seat. The town is located at the mouth of the Minersville Canyon on the river. It is 13 miles south of the town of Milford which is a prominent Railroad town. Minersville was made up of farmers, ranchers and miners. Later as the town progressed and the years moved forward, Dairy herds and businesses sprung up. This territory was a roaming area for several Indian tribes before 1858, these tribes no doubt knew of the lead that was located in the surrounding hills of this area. As early as 1857 Indians brought galena (lead ore) to Beaver from this district. Lead was in great demand in 1858, because the United States Government had sent an army to Utah. This was called Johnston’s Army. It was expected that the people of Utah would have to protect themselves, even to the death if necessary from this advancing army. They also need lead for the making of bullets for hunting game such as Deer, Elk and Antelope. They the Mormon people were looking for metals to help maintain their position in Utah. There was also a great need for paint, pottery and other products that are made with metals. President Brigham Young was well aware of this need so he sent a letter to the Mormon saints in what was called Southern Utah; which included the settlements of Cedar City, Parowan and Beaver. This letter reads as follows: To the Bishops & Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are beyond Cedar City, Beloved Brethren: You are hereby authorized and required to use all reasonable exertion to furnish the bearer, Bishop Nathaniel V. Jones, such men, animals, tools, etc., as he may call upon you for, to enable him safely, diligently and successfully accomplish the purposes of the mission upon which he is now spent, viz, to search for and examine into the location, quality and quantity of different ores and metals, as specimens of rich lead ore have already been brought to me from that region, and it is highly desirable that we be able to make our own lead, copper, etc., at the earliest possible date. Your Brother in the Gospel, Brigham Young At this request, men were called to go throughout Southern Utah to hunt for lead. A Mr. Isaac Grundy was dispatched from California back to Utah with his family, by Brigham Young who knew that Mr. Grundy had a knowledge of mining and smelting. This winter was a hard and cold one when Mr. Grundy arrived at Parowan. This made traveling very slow. President Brigham Young advised Mr. Grundy to stay at Parowan during the winter and as soon as the weather permitted, to go into the mountains and prospect for lead ore. Brigham Young stated, “There is ore in these mountains, around this part of the country. It is to be used for the protection of the people.” Following these instructions given from Brigham Young, four men went into the mountains and hills prospecting for lead ore. (The names of the four individuals in this party are written in the book.) As they traveled from mountain to mountain, they finally found an old digging which had been worked by the Spaniards who had came through this country many years before. Indians had also taken ore from this site. Here rich specimens of lead, zinc, copper, and grey silver ores were found. Specimens were sent to Brigham Young and the location was given which was 26 miles below the settlement of Beaver, and 4 miles north from the Beaver River, near a good spring of water. When Brigham Young got the notification of this find, he instructed men to take their families and settle where there was water as near to the lead mine as possible. Early the following spring, families began to arrive from Parowan to this location and open the mine. There were also instructions given to locate a settlement nearby. Consequently, a little town was established in 1859 along the Beaver River. The first families arrived on or between April 22 and May 17, 1859. These families put all their earthly possessions in a wagon and came to this settlement by way of Beaver. This little settlement would be named Minersville. In the diary of Jesse N. Smith, this little town was also referred to as the “Cottonwoods”, since this family had located near the creek in a grove of cottonwood trees. Mr. Isaac Grundy’s history states that this was a very pleasant little valley which lay to the southwest of the ore deposit, and it was decided to make a permanent settlement in which he felt he would name it Grundyville. The wife of Mr. Grundy (Elizabeth Hudson Hendricks) states that she did not like the name “Grundyville”, so her husband told her to name the town. She said “We are all miners here-let’s name it Minersville”, so this name was given to the town. Other stories that were given are that the town was named after some well known miners. It was also called “Lower Beaver, the Settlement of the Cellars” and “1859”, or that the town wasn’t named until the Mormon people organized a church ward. Finally on April 7, 1860 Minersville received its official name. As the families neared the mouth of the canyon and looked over the valley, they first saw a creek, wending a crooked course down the valley below. These families saw before them Cottonwood trees, grass along the creek, a continuous growth of sagebrush, grass and weeds. This little valley is surrounded by mountains. At the mouth of the canyon which is northeast are the Yellow Mountains; to the south is Black mountain, and numerous rolling foothills named Rabbit Hill, Beases Canyon, Wide Mouth, Salt Pete, and Twin Hills. Farther across the vast desert to the west is a long range of mountains called the Blue Mountains. Just north of this settlement is a hill called “Bally Hill.” The lead mine is north of this hill. This group of courageous pioneers who settled in this valley sacrificed to make a farming settlement. They were accompanied by their wives and children. These pioneers lived in Canvas tents, wagons, and dug outs covered with mud, grass and sticks. The first crops were planted in the spring of 1859. These pioneers found out that Water became very scarce and, thus grew disputes over water rights. They amicably settled between each other to survive, as well as with the settlement of Beaver. These settlers also had to contend with the numerous Indian tribes (Piute and Navajo) that frequented this area as they roamed for food (fruits and pine nuts), and game. These towns’ people would trade with these bands of Indians for blankets, pine nuts and other items; as well as giving the Indians flour, garden produce, apples and other fruits. They also traded for horses of which large wild Mustang herds roamed freely in this valley and the surrounding hills. Life was hard for all, everyone had some type of chore to do; to farm, working in the development of the mines, building of homes and roads, freighting of ore and other goods, tending to livestock, and the making of clothing. Each family had to gather water from the streams, gather wood to cook with, to heat their homes with and to build their homes with. It was a constant battle with the elements; from cold hard snowy winters to dry hot summers. There weren’t much in luxuries, these pioneers made and slept on beds of straw or Ticks of Corn husks. They made furniture from scraps of wood and limbs of trees. If soap was not available they used coarse sand to clean with. There was the constant changing of men (workers) in the mining camps, the rowdy drunken miners, the tent camps where these workers lived and ate. As well as dealing with the shady and course elements that follows the mining camps; (drinking, gambling, fighting and, shootings) the boarding houses, saloons and red light districts. It was as a boom camp, things springing up like magic. (P.1-17) The founding fathers of this little community are honored by name in the front of the book, “They Answered The Call” as well as the early settlers who rose to the occasion in building the community of Minersville, listed are four pages of names.
My thoughts are that After his last wife Mary E Dunlap died he probably re-married again. He was a miner all his life and I believe he had Gold Fever. He may have left California for Nevada 2 of his brothers were there, or he was in prison for a crime. He may even of died in a mine that clasped on him never to be found. I will wont give up.
My thoughts are that After his last wife Mary E Dunlap died he probably re-married again. He was a miner all his life and I believe he had Gold Fever. He may have left California for Nevada 2 of his brothers were there, or he was in prison for a crime. He may even of died in a mine that clasped on him never to be found. I will wont give up.
Their mother Julia Ann Smoot re-married to Louis peter Carl date unknown and lived in California.
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| Julia Ann Smoot |
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| Louis Peter Carl |
Louis Peter Carl was born 1843 in France and died 23 Jun 1903 in Bakersfield, CA
Julia & Louis had 2 children
Martha "Mattie" L Carl born 1877 deid 12 Dec 1917 age 40
Joseph Rupert Carl born 12 Oct 1881 in Big Spring, Tom Green, TX and died 31 Jan 1954 in Bakersfield, CA
Here's Julia Ann Snoot Funeral notice & Obituary
This last photo is John Edward Hancock with his son's in 1927 at the gold mine This is the last we know of him. I could not find him in any census or prison records or death records.
Here's some information and photo's of his children
Marion Emmit Coyle
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| Marion Emmit Coyle & son Paul Maynard Coyle |
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| Marion Emmit Coyle & Ralph Vincent Coyle |
He had one sister Catherine Lenore Coyle (Cooley), two brothers Robert Vincent Coyle and Paul Vernon (Coyle) Mears. Paul changed his last name legally to Mears just before going into the service. I remember my mother talking about Uncle Marion and Uncle Paul and had called them both by the last name of Mears.
He married Muriel Henderson 1929 in New York, New York and they had a daughter together. Florence Coyle (Keenan)
He married Helen Mae Malone 28 Jun 1937 in Tonahpah, Nevada.
They had the following children that I am aware of: Charles Marion Coyle and Paul Maynard Coyle. Paul Maynard died from Polio.
Marion and his son Paul died in the same year 1953.
Catherine Lenore Coyle
Catherine Lenore Coyle Cooley
SALT LAKE--Our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, Catherine Lenore Coyle Cooley, returned to her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, March 25, 1997.
Born April 1, 1906, Santa Clara, Utah to Emma Amolia Graff and Joseph Coyle.
Married Ernest Cooley June 6, 1924 in Beaver, Utah; later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Catherine had a special love for her family and especially her grandchildren.
She was always crocheting special items for them. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Survived by sons, Cameron (Ida) Cooley, Keith Cooley, Robert (Priscilla) Cooley,
Ralph (Barbara) Cooley; daughters, Donna (Wallace) Mathews, Betty (J.W.) Kilpatrick,
Naomi (Orion) Wilcock, Leola Cooley; 43 grandchildren; numerous Grand great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her husband, three brothers, grandson, two granddaughters, three great-granddaughters and two great-grandsons. (Also one daughter Norma Jean Cooley Wilcock They left that out of the paper.)
The family wishes to thank the staff at Hazen Nursing Home for their loving care to our dear mother for the past 10 years.
Grave side services will be conducted Saturday, March 29th, 1997 at 11 A.M. at Delta City Cemetery, Delta, Utah. Family and friends may call Friday evening at Deseret Mortuary, 36 East 700 South from 6-8 P.M.
T 3/26N 3/26
(Betty Joy is my natural mother & her sister Norma Jean is the one that adoted me.) NKA
Paul Vernon Coyle Mears
Paul Vernon (Coyle) Mears was born to James Edward and Emma Amolia Graf Hancock.
His father James Edward Hancock had married his mother under the name of Joseph Emmit Coyle. He had went by many names and one of them was Joseph E. Mears.
At some point in time Paul had his last name changed legally to the last name of Mears.
He married Louise Lytle Nov 1935 in Pioche, Lincoln, Nevada.
Together they had the following children: Edna and Gary Vernon Mears.
He married Addie Tinelle in 1932 and together they had the following child: Thomas D Mears.
(Some information may not be correct)
Elizabeth Edna Carl 1897-1972
Marceline Gertrude Carl
She was born to James Edward Hancock (alias) James Edward Carl and Julia Mary Fortine.
She married Manuel (Frank) Cruz 05 Sep 1913 in Bakersfield, Kern, California
They had the following children: Joe, Rosa Frances Cruz.
She married Phillip Daniel Moon 20 Nov 1928 in Merced, Merced, California
(No Children)
She married Thomas William Downs 18 Jun 1936 in Bakersfield, Kern, California.
(No Children)
I found information on her that shows her last name as Hancock and not Carl.
George Alford Carl
He was born to James Edward and Julia Mary Fortine Hancock.
He married Nellie Beatrice Swafford 04 May 1920 in Bakersfield, Kern, California under the name of Hancock
Children: Alta Laverne Hancock
He married Marie Antonette Maes 14 Jul 1924 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California under the name of Carl
Children: Shirley Adele Carl
He married Marguerite Burnside under the name of Carlyle.
Children: Melvin and Edward James Carlyle.
He deserted Marie in 1927 leaving both Shirley and her older
sister Alta by the first wife with Shirley's mother to raise alone.
Occupation: Sheet Metal Worker
(Medical):Heart Problems
Eye Problems
Lung Cancer
(Information given from Shirley Adele Carl)
This was a fun and interesting line to research, I am far from done. I would love to find where and when George and his son James died.
My heart goes out to the women in this family they were all mighty tough!
I love being a genealogist and telling the stories of those long gone. It's my heart desire.
Happy treasure hunting
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