Daniel McCoy was taxed on 150 acres of land in Armstrong Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania from 1808 to 1816. The tax lists indicate the title to the land was by warrant but it does not say to whom it was warranted. There is no record of Daniel McCoy taking out a warrant for land in Westmoreland or Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The tax records begin in 1808 but give total valuation of the property he was taxed on in 1805 and 1807. His property was valued at $356 in 1805 and at $364 in 1807. He was taxed on 150 acres of land between 1808 and 1816 but the number of horses and cows he was taxed on varied from year to year but was never more than a couple of horses or cows.
According to a biographical article on Benjamin Walker in the 1880 History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, a Charles McCoy was killed in 1795. "There is an apple tree standing in his (Benjamin Walker's) garden, twelve feet and eight inches in circumference. It was planted in 1786 by Charles McCoy, who was killed by the Indians in 1795, and is still bearing fruit." Stewart's History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania relates that Charles McCoy, a single man, was killed by the Indians in the spring of 1794 while accompanying Andrew Sharp and others on the Kiskiminetas River on their way to Kentucky. "When all his (Andrew Sharp's) arrangements had been completed, he placed his family and effects in his boat, and on the 30th of May, 1794, launched it on the waters of Black Lick, at Campbells mill, and bid adieu to his friends and neighbors who had assembled to witness his departure. He was joined by Taylor and Connor with their families, and Charles McCoy, a single man. They reached a point on the Kiskiminetas near the mouth of the Roaring Run before sunset. The boat was fastened to the shore, and some horses on board were taken out; while these were being tied to trees by their halters the men were fired upon by a band of Indians, who had been lying in wait with fifteen yards of the landing. Taylor escaped unharmed; but McCoy and Connor's son were killed and Connor and Sharp severely wounded, the latter having received a ball in his left side and another through his body, and had his right eyebrow carried away." Letters of administration were filed for Charles McCoy by Daniel McCoy on 12 December 1796 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The bondsmen were Absolum [Absalom] Woodward and Alexander Black.
Charles McCoy took out a warrant for 200 acres on the 11 August 1786 and it was surveyed to Charles McCoy on 24 August 1787 for 315 acres. It was "situate on the north side of the Conemaugh including his improvement and a white oak tree marked CM at the head of a spring in Westmoreland County." Alexander Sharp, John Barr, George Keihmell [Kimmell], John Latta, Alexander McCausland, and John Findlay's land adjoined Charles McCoy's land. A later survey dated 10 May 1828 stated the land is now in the occupancy of Benjamin Walker and Thomas and Joseph Benkley [Buckley]. The land was patented on 9 January 1817 by Absalom Woodward.
There are two deeds at the Indiana County Courthouse in Indiana, Pennsylvania regarding this land. The first is from Absolom Woodward to Benjamin Walker and the second is from Absolom Woodward to Thomas Buckley and James Buckley, administrators of John Buckley deceased. Both are dated 6 July 1818 and state that it was part of the tract of land warranted to Charles McCoy on 11 August 1786 and surveyed on 24 August 1787 for 315 acres. Both deeds state that Charles McCoy by deed dated 2 April 1816 sold the tract of land to Absalom Woodward.
There is a Charles McCoy living in Armstrong Township in Indiana County, Pennsylvania near Daniel McCoy in 1810 that is probably his son with the following household composition:
Free white males 26 thru 44-1
Free white females under 10-1
Free white females 26 thru 44-1
The 1810 tax records for Armstrong Township in Indiana County show that Daniel McCoy was taxed on 150 acres of land and Charles McCoy 165 acres of land. The amount of acres that Daniel and Charles McCoy are taxed on is 315 acres, the same amount of land that was surveyed for Charles McCoy in 1787. The two Indiana County Histories both state that Charles McCoy was killed by the Indians about 1794 or 1795. Daniel McCoy applies to be administrator for him on 12 December 1796. Absalom Woodward to whom the land was patented in 1817 was one of the sureties. There are no deeds in Westmoreland or Indiana Counties showing Daniel McCoy selling this land as the administrator of Charles McCoy. Absalom Woodward and Isabella his wife sell 153 acres of this land in 1818 to Benjamin Walker for $800. Absalom also sells 100 acres to Thomas and James Buckley, administrators of John Buckley, for $620. Benjmain Walker and Thomas Buckley are mentioned as residing on this property in a survey of this land done in 1828. The only conclusion that can be reached is that Daniel McCoy as administrator for Charles McCoy did not sell Charles' land but lived on it himself with his son Charles McCoy. This is based on the amount of acreage in the tax records. The Charles McCoy who later sells the land to Absalom Woodward is not the Charles McCoy killed by the indians prior to 1796 but the son of Daniel McCoy who had the same name.
According to a biographical sketch for his grandson, Church Smith McCoy, in the Indiana County History by Arms and White, Daniel McCoy was "an early settler on Crooked Creek" and "at one time resided on what is now the Benjamin Walker farm.
The relationship of Daniel McCoy and Charles McCoy for whom he was administrator is not known but they may have been brothers. Charles McCoy was single and probably young if he was making a trip down the river to go to Kentucky.
