I assume almost all our families have a black sheep in there somewhere. Doc Scurlock is the black sheep in our family. Who is the black sheep in your family?
Doc Scurlock was a colorful character. Josiah Gordon “Doc” Scurlock was born in Alabama January 11, 1849. He studied medicine in New Orleans, and picked up the nickname “Doc”. As an adult he was 5’8″, weighed 150#, had brown eyes and dark blond hair.
In 1870 Doc went to Mexico.
While playing cards he got into an argument and a gun battle began. The other man shot first, hitting Doc in the mouth, knocking out 2 front teeth, and the bullet exited in the back of his neck without any more serious damage. Talk about lucky! Doc returned fire and killed the man that shot him.
Doc Scurlock returned to the United States in 1871 and went to work for John Chisum as a line rider.
The rider’s job was to defend Chisum and his cattle holdings against cattle rustlers. In 1873 Doc was riding with Jack Holt. when they were surprised by Indians. After Holt was killed Doc wisely hid in the rocks and after a long fight, he killed the Indian leader. During the night Doc was able to slip away and walk 20 miles for help.
Then, in September, 1875, Newt Higgins, Doc Scurlock’s riding partner, was killed by Indians.
By this time the ranch had been moved to near Rosewell, New Mexico. Doc was so upset after his second friend’s death, he told Chisum he was quitting. I guess he figured his luck had run out. Chisum wouldn’t hear of it and refused to pay him. The newspapers reported that Doc Scurlock stole three horses, two saddles and a rifle and left for Arizona.
Chisum sent men after Doc and they caught up with him. When Doc explained that he took the horses because Chisum wouldn’t pay him, the men let him go.
In Arizona Doc met Charlie Bowdre and they opened a cheese factory that didn’t last too long.
Their descendants say that one of the first employees was Billy the Kid. When the factory closed, Billy the Kid and his now best friend Bowdre went back to Lincoln County, New Mexico. They bought a ranch on the Rio Ruidoso, on credit from L.G. Murphy. That made them victims of the L.G. Murphy & Co. monopoly. This was an illegal transaction and transactions like these were one of the causes of the Lincoln County War.
In October, 1876 Doc married Maria Antonia Miguela Herrera in Lincoln, New Mexico. His best friend, Charlie Bowdre, married Maria’s sister, so he and Charlie became brother-in-laws.
Horse and cattle rustling were rampant during this time in Lincoln County. Doc was on several posses that pursued the thieves, and some were caught and hanged.
During this period of time, Doc Scurlock had befriended John Tunstall and Dick Brewer, local ranchers.
Tunstall and an attorney named Alexander McSween set up a competing business with the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking Company. Murphy & Dolan had monopolized trade in Lincoln County. Doc openly defied the monopoly, supporting his friends Turnstall and McSween.
Murphy & Dolan did not want to lose their very lucrative monopoly, so they began retaliating.
John Tunstall was murdered in February, 1878, causing all-out war to erupt in Lincoln County. A group call The Regulators was formed and Doc Scurlock was one of the founding members. He was involved in most of the gun battles and on April 4, was shot in the leg. After the first two leaders of The Regulators were killed, Dick Brewer and Frank McNab, Doc Scurlock became the third and final leader.
Doc Scurlock even served as a deputy sheriff and in May, 1878 he led a posse of 18 – 20 men, including Billy the Kid and his best friend Bowdre to the Dolan – Riley Ranch. They were searching for those involved in the killing of McNab. Story has it they captured “Indian” Manuel Segovia, the one that had shot McNab. “Indian” was killed while reportedly trying to escape.
As a result of this raid on the Dolan ranch, Sheriff Copeland was removed as sheriff because he would not side with the Murphy faction. This raid hurt the Regulators, as one of their supporters in a position of authority was removed from office.
Billy the Kid tried to make a deal with the governor.
Doc Scurlock was captured and held in jail on suspicion of murder, along with Billy the Kid.
They had attempted to make a deal with the governor, and when it fell through, Billy the Kid and Doc Scurlock were told they would be charged. Because they were facing extradition, they rode out of Lincoln County on June 17, 1879 and the sheriff did not attempt to stop them.
In August, 1979, Billy and the gang, including Doc Scurlock, stole a large number of cattle from Chisum. When a posse was sent after them, Doc decided it was time to to leave the gang and give up his gun-fighting days and ways.
In the fall of 1879, Doc gave away all his guns and moved his family to Texas. He rarely spoke of his past. Doc became a highly respected citizen. The 1880 census for Potter County shows he was keeping the mail station. Doc held a variety of jobs over the next decades. He even read the classics and wrote poetry.
In the fall of 1879, Doc gave away all his guns and moved his family to Texas. He rarely spoke of his past. He became a highly respected citizen. In 1880 the census for Potter County shows he was keeping the mail station. He held a variety of jobs over the next decades. Doc even read the classics and wrote poetry.
Doc Scurlock died at the age of 79 on July 25, 1929 and is buried in Eastland, Texas.
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It is said that I’m related to Captain Kidd, on my mother’s side (her maiden name was Kidd).
“In August, 1979, Billy and the gang, including Doc Scurlock, stole a large number of cattle from Chisum..”
1979?
Hi Michelle,
Thank you so much for pointing out the typo! It is corrected.
Sheron Scurlock
My great grandfather was Francis Van Buren Scurlock. I was asked several years back if I was related to Doc and couldn’t t answer. Now after doing some homework I’d atleast say he is related down the line.
Hi Jeremiah,
Sorry to be so late responding! I purchased Blood on the Saddle by Micah Pharris, a great-great granddaughter of Doc. I highly recommend the book for any Scurlock as it traced the different bloodlines back.
Sheron Scurlock
Very interesting reading, thank you!
-Does anyone kmow when the photo of “Older Doc” was taken? To me he looks about between his 40-50’s. Otherwise he was a very well preserved gentleman 🙂
Hi Patrik,
Thanks for your comments. I am not sure when that photo was taken. If anyone has information, would appreciate a note.
Sheron
Doc is my Great Great Great grandfather my grandmothers name was Vivian Irene Wiggins I would like to know more about my family if that info is available
Doc was my gg grandfather. One cousin says he was 60 years old while another says 70 years old. For the record, there was no “wanted” poster for him and he never went by “Gordon”. His signature in most of his books and papers we have reads “J.G. Scurlock”.
Mica,
What type of papers from the Doc Scurlock collection do you have? I have seen his name written as: Josiah G. Scurlock and J. Gordon Scurlock – during the later years of his life.
Hi William,
I don’t have any papers myself. I purchased Blood on the Saddle, a history of Doc Scurlock, by Micah Pharris, and she had a lot of copies of letters, etc. of Doc’s in the book. I highly recomend the book to any Scurlock.
Sheron Scurlock
Sheron
I am the great great great grandaughter of Samson Vanburen Scurlock of Tallapoosa Al. My great great grandfather was Simon Scurlock who’s daughter was Katie Scurlock who married my Great grandpa, Henry Goggins. They lived in Bibb County Al.
Black sheep? I’d wear being related with pride. Part of the great American frontier history.
You are right, Steve, though he was considered a “black sheep” by law enforcement for a time.
Hey! I’m cousins with Billy the Kid through his mother.
Wanna get the new age Regulators a go? Haha Jk loved this article!
I just wanted to say hello. I just discovered this past week that Doc is the brother to my 3rd great uncle. His brother ( my 3rd great grandfather was Sampson VanBuren Scurlock. We still live in Alabama. Some in Bibb County and other scatter about.
U would love to hear from you.
Good article I often wondered what happened to Doc Scurlock after the lincoln county war.
I love reading the history of the Lincoln County war. Definitely be proud Mr. Scurlock was your family member. By all historical accounts they fought for the purpose of good. Thank you sincerely for sharing.
Did Doc ever tell the family stories about Billy the Kid that may have not been in any books?
Sheron, how are you related to Doc? He is my great grandfather and I’m sorry I’m not familiar with your name. Which of Doc’s kids are you related to?
I just wanted to say hello. I just discovered this past week that Doc my 3rd great uncle. His brother ( my 3rd great grandfather was Sampson VanBuren Scurlock. We still live in Alabama. Some in Bibb County and other scatter about.
I would love to hear from you.
Hello,
Amy is my daughter-in-law that has all of the records. I will get with her and let you know exactly how we are related to Doc.
Sheron Scurlock
Hi Connie, my husband is also Sampson’s gg grandson. We actually live in Hebron (Bibb Co) where Sampson is burried.
Hi Connie,
I purchased Blood on the Saddle by Micah Pharris, a great-great granddaughter of Doc. I highly recommend it as she traces back the different bloodlines.
If you are ever in central TX, look us up at Scurlock Farms in Georgetown!
Sheron Scurlock
Sheron, how are you related to Doc? Which of Doc’s kids are you related to?
That’s my fambam john henry scurlock is my dad’s dad Billy gene fam too yep my uncle is doc scurlock n I’m his nephew 100 percent
I’m pretty sure you have at least one pertinent fact wrong. It was Doc and Charlie who bought farms from Murphy in the Ruidoso area and were thus victimized. Murphy didn’t own the land at all, it was just a scam, and their refusal to pay put them on the opposite side of the war. Billy drifted into Lincoln County later. Where did you hear that the Kid ever bought a farm?
Doc is my Great Great Great grandfather my grandmothers name was Vivian Irene Wiggins I would like to know more about my family if that info is available
Hi Richard,
I bought the book Blood on the Saddle by Micah Pharris, a great-great granddaughter of Doc Scurlock. I highly recommend the book as it traces the different bloodlines back.
Sheron
We have went back to the Scurlocks out of NC, to the Civil War and beyond, my great great grandfather was Lee Harmon Scurlock from Jackson Ohio, settled here from the south as far as we can tell. Would like to find the correlation to JG Scurlock