Ancestor profile · name unresolved

Lee A. / “Leanner” McCoy Smith

She belongs at the center of the Smith–McCoy connection. Different records give us different forms of her name, so this page keeps the spellings in sight instead of quietly choosing “Levana.” Her full birth name and the meaning of the V remain unresolved.

Census trail

Lanah appears in the 1860 James A. McCoy household; Lannah or possibly Leannah in 1870; Leanner appears with George W. and grandson Stirling in 1910; Lee A. Smith appears with daughter Dovie in 1930.

Strongly supported

Vital records

John’s death certificate says Leaner V. McCoy; Dovie’s says Lee Anna McCoy; James Henry Smith’s says Vivianna McCoy.

Conflicting evidence

Parents

James A. McCoy and Margaret Meroney are the working parents based on repeated census households and their 1846 marriage record. A later certificate appears to conflict on paternal name.

Strongly supported

Unresolved name

The V might matter, but no reviewed record settles her exact full given name. “Levana” is common online and is not established here.

Still researching

LanahLannah / possibly LeannahLeannerLee A.Leaner V.Lee AnnaVivianna

Look at the records

These are images Sandy saved during the Smith research. Open each one to examine the handwriting. Our readings remain open to correction.

1860 · “Lanah” James A. and Margaret McCoy’s household. The final child’s name appears to read Lanah. Original census crop · reading under review

1870 · “Lannah” or “Leannah” James and Margaret’s family appears near the lower portion of the page. The handwriting permits more than one reading. Original census page · spelling unresolved

1930 · “Lee A.” The Williams household lists Smith, Lee A. as mother-in-law. This image also records that she could not read or write. Original census crop · identity supported by household

Other spellings in the working record set—Leanner, Leaner V., Lee Anna, and Vivianna—are described above. Their scans will appear here after individual image identification.