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Much of the information in this genealogy site came from journals written by Arthur Luzerne
McCoy, my grandfather, and his brother, Homer Joseph, and from information provided by Anita
Kirby.

Thomas McCoy, born in Ireland around 1746, was a captain in the British Army. His father, John,
also a captain in the British Army, was born in Scotland. Captain Thomas McCoy came to America
to fight in the French and Indian Wars. When the wars were over, he settled in South Carolina.
When the Revolutionary War began, Thomas McCoy forrmed an army company and fought for the
Colonies. He was captured by the British near Macon, Georgia, and executed, along with a sixteen
year old son, also captured. Captain Thomas left another son, William, born in New Jersey in 1765.

William had at least 10 children, including a son, Reuben McCoy, born in New Jersey 30
December 1795. William and his family, including Reuben, eventually moved from New Jersey to
Indiana. One of Reuben's sons was James McCoy, my great-grandfather, born in Indiana on 19
May 1828. From here on the data is more complete. James McCoy married Frances Sidwell on 11
January 1853. The couple had eight children: Homer Joseph, George Prentice, Alice Mary, Emory
Lane, Julia Amanda, Viola Elizabeth, Arthur Luzerne, and Lisbon.

My grandfather, Arthur Luzerne, was born in Minnesota on 27 December 1867. Grandfather
married Sarah May Long on 15 August 1893. In 1895 his doctor advised him to go to Florida for a
visit to recuperate from a run down condition. His journal details an interesting trip by boat from
Lake Worth to Miami through the Everglades. A condensed account of the boat trip is included in
this site (see below). He eventually settled in Provo, Utah, where my father, James Charles, was
born on 9 May 1905. It must be noted that although my father was originally named Charles James,
he later began using the name James Charles.

My father joined the Navy as soon as he was old enough, and went through flight training in
Pensacola in 1929. He married Alma Vivian Gay in 1932. My father had an illustrious career in the
Navy, going on three expeditions to the Antarctic. These expeditions are detailed separately (see
below).

A family history report is included in this site.