Frank Coe (Lincoln County War)
Encyclopedia
Frank Coe was an Old West cowboy
and for a time gunman in the company of Billy the Kid
, as a member of the Lincoln County Regulators
.
, and ventured to New Mexico Territory
in 1871 with his cousin, George Coe
, where they would work on the ranch of a cousin. For a time during this period, they live near Raton, New Mexico
. In July, 1876, Coe and Ab Saunders tracked down and killed outlaw
Nicas Meras in the Baca Canyon, it is believed due to the latter rustling cattle. On July 18, 1876, Doc Scurlock, Charlie Bowdre
, Frank and George Coe, and Ab Saunders break into the weak Lincoln jail and free horse thief Jesus Largo from Sheriff Saturnino Baco, then they take Largo outside of town and hang
him.
When the Lincoln County War broke out, Coe joined the Alexander McSween
Faction, following the murder
of John Tunstall
, facing off against Sheriff
William J. Brady
, and hired gunmen from the Jesse Evans Gang and the John Kinney Gang
. He would be present in the Gunfight of Blazer's Mills
in which Buckshot Roberts
was killed by the Regulators, and had attempted to convince Roberts to surrender before the shooting started. His cousin George supposedly fired the fatal shot, although that has been disputed. Charlie Bowdre
, John Middleton
, Billy the Kid
and Scurlock were wounded in that shootout, with the Regulators leader, Richard "Dick" Brewer
being killed.
Frank Coe was captured on April 29, 1878, by a posse
led by Jesse Evans, and including members of both the Evans Gang and the Seven Rivers Warriors
. During that capture, Regulator Frank McNab
was killed and Ab Saunders badly wounded. It is unknown for certain as to when he escaped, but it was prior to the Battle of Lincoln
.
After the Lincoln County War ended, Coe left New Mexico for Colorado
, and Nebraska
, but later returned, in 1884, buying a ranch where he would live the remainder of his life. He was arrested between his departure and return, in Santa Fe, New Mexico
, for the murder of Buckshot Roberts, but it was later determined he'd been mistaken for his cousin George. In 1880 he was suspected of having taken part in a lynching
, but never charged. He and his wife, Helena Anne Tully, would remain together for fifty years, raising six children.
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
and for a time gunman in the company of Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
, as a member of the Lincoln County Regulators
Lincoln County Regulators
The Lincoln County Regulators was a deputized posse in Lincoln County, New Mexico during the Lincoln County War, consisting of a dozen or so members who wanted revenge for the killing of their boss, John Tunstall...
.
Biography
Coe was born in MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and ventured to New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
in 1871 with his cousin, George Coe
George Coe (Lincoln County War)
George Washington Coe was an Old West cowboy and for a time gunman alongside Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County War.Coe was born in Missouri, and ventured to New Mexico Territory in his youth, around 1871, alongside his cousin, Frank, to work on a ranch near Fort Stanton belonging to a...
, where they would work on the ranch of a cousin. For a time during this period, they live near Raton, New Mexico
Raton, New Mexico
Raton is a city in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 7,282 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colfax County. The city is located just south of Raton Pass.-Name:...
. In July, 1876, Coe and Ab Saunders tracked down and killed outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
Nicas Meras in the Baca Canyon, it is believed due to the latter rustling cattle. On July 18, 1876, Doc Scurlock, Charlie Bowdre
Charlie Bowdre
Charles Bowdre was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was an associate and member of Billy the Kid's gang.-Early life:...
, Frank and George Coe, and Ab Saunders break into the weak Lincoln jail and free horse thief Jesus Largo from Sheriff Saturnino Baco, then they take Largo outside of town and hang
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
him.
When the Lincoln County War broke out, Coe joined the Alexander McSween
Alexander McSween
Alexander McSween was a prominent figure during the Lincoln County War of the Old West, and a central character, alongside John Tunstall, opposing the "Murphy-Dolan Faction".-Early life:...
Faction, following the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of John Tunstall
John Tunstall
John Henry Tunstall , born in England, became a rancher and merchant in New Mexico, where he became a prominent figure and was the first man killed in the Lincoln County War, an economic and political conflict perhaps compounded by ethnic rivalries.-Early life and education:John Henry Tunstall was...
, facing off against Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
William J. Brady
William J. Brady
William J. Brady was the sheriff of Lincoln County during the Lincoln County Wars in New Mexico, United States. He was killed in an ambush, aged 48, in which Billy the Kid took part.-Early life:...
, and hired gunmen from the Jesse Evans Gang and the John Kinney Gang
John Kinney Gang
The John Kinney Gang, also known as the Rio Grande Posse, was an outlaw gang of the old West, which operated during the mid-1870s into the mid-1880s....
. He would be present in the Gunfight of Blazer's Mills
Gunfight of Blazer's Mills
The Gunfight of Blazer's Mills was a shootout between what were known as the Lincoln County Regulators and buffalo hunter Buckshot Roberts.-The gunfight:...
in which Buckshot Roberts
Buckshot Roberts
Andrew L. "Buckshot" Roberts was an American buffalo hunter and cowboy whose last stand against the Lincoln County Regulators during the Gunfight of Blazer's Mills near Lincoln, New Mexico is a part of frontier legend....
was killed by the Regulators, and had attempted to convince Roberts to surrender before the shooting started. His cousin George supposedly fired the fatal shot, although that has been disputed. Charlie Bowdre
Charlie Bowdre
Charles Bowdre was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was an associate and member of Billy the Kid's gang.-Early life:...
, John Middleton
John Middleton (cowboy)
John Middleton was friend of Billy the Kid and a key member of the Regulators, who fought on behalf of John Tunstall during the Lincoln County War....
, Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
and Scurlock were wounded in that shootout, with the Regulators leader, Richard "Dick" Brewer
Richard Brewer
Richard M. "Dick" Brewer , was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was the first leader of what historically is referred to as Billy the Kid's band, although Billy never led them.-Early life:...
being killed.
Frank Coe was captured on April 29, 1878, by a posse
Posse comitatus (common law)
Posse comitatus or sheriff's posse is the common-law or statute law authority of a county sheriff or other law officer to conscript any able-bodied males to assist him in keeping the peace or to pursue and arrest a felon, similar to the concept of the "hue and cry"...
led by Jesse Evans, and including members of both the Evans Gang and the Seven Rivers Warriors
Seven Rivers Warriors
The Seven Rivers Warriors were an outlaw gang of the Old West known primarily due to their part in the Lincoln County War.-Formation:The gang was initially formed during the mid-1870s by disgruntled small ranchers, feeling themselves victimized by the large cattle holdings of ranchers such as John...
. During that capture, Regulator Frank McNab
Frank McNab
Frank McNab was a member of the Regulators who fought on behalf of John Tunstall during the Lincoln County War.Of Scottish origin, McNab was a "cattle detective" who worked for Hunter, Evans, & Company, which was managed by New Mexico cattleman John Chisum. McNab's job was to track down those who...
was killed and Ab Saunders badly wounded. It is unknown for certain as to when he escaped, but it was prior to the Battle of Lincoln
Battle of Lincoln, New Mexico
The Battle of Lincoln in New Mexico from July 15 through July 19, 1878 was the largest armed conflict of the Lincoln County War, a now famous range war which took place in Lincoln, New Mexico. The "war" led to the notoriety of gunman Billy the Kid...
.
After the Lincoln County War ended, Coe left New Mexico for Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, but later returned, in 1884, buying a ranch where he would live the remainder of his life. He was arrested between his departure and return, in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, for the murder of Buckshot Roberts, but it was later determined he'd been mistaken for his cousin George. In 1880 he was suspected of having taken part in a lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
, but never charged. He and his wife, Helena Anne Tully, would remain together for fifty years, raising six children.