In Honor of Service – Captain Zachariah Henry – War of 1812

On a visit to the Versailles Cemetery in Woodford County, Kentucky, we happened upon the gravestones of  Captain Zachariah Henry and his wife, Lucy Ann Kirtley Henry.  With a little research I found a bit more about this couple.

Zachariah Henry, born in Orange County, Virginia, September 9, 1780, died September 30, 1828

Zachariah Henry was born September 9, 1780, in Orange County, Virginia.  There he married Lucy Ann Kirtley November 17, 1801.  The couple moved to Kentucky at some point after that.  The 1810 Census of Woodford County shows Zachariah Henry with two males under the age of 10, one male 26-44 (Zachariah would have been 30 in 1810), one female under 10, one female 16-25, one female 26-44 (Lucy would have been 31) and one female 45+.  Zachariah owned 11 slaves.  Others listed on the same page are Thomas Coleman, Elizabeth McClary, Presley Terrell, James Lanford, William Culley and Joel Ashley.

Dorothy, wife of Thomas Kirtley, born in Culpeper County, Virginia, December 29, 1744, died May 13, 1830

In the line with the War of 1812 marker and Zachariah and Lucy’s stones is this one – Dorothy, wife of Thomas Kirtley, born in Culpeper County, Virginia, December 29, 1744, died May 13, 1830.  Evidently this is Lucy’s mother – and the 45+ female living with them in 1810.

In the 1820 Woodford County Census, Zachariah is listed with two males 10-15, one male 26-44, two females under 10, one female 10-15, two females 26-44 and one female 45+, and 18 slaves.  Since Dorothy Kirtley lived until May of 1830, she is certainly this last female.  In both the 1810 and 1820 censuses there is one female close to Lucy’s age – perhaps her sister?

Lucy, wife of Zachariah Henry, born in Culpeper County, Virginia, August 26, 1779, died February 12, 1862

Lucy, wife of Zachariah Henry, was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, August 26, 1779, like her mother.  Just looking at the 1810 and 1820 census records it looks as if Lucy and Zachariah possibly had 5 children.  I do not have information on names – one of the problems with the early census records – as all of you know!

Zachariah Henry died September 30, 1828, and Dorothy Kirtley,  May 13, 1830.  Lucy continued raising her children and living in Woodford County until her death on February 12, 1862.  She lived through the Revolutionary War (albeit as an infant), the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the beginning of the Civil War.  What history she lived through!

Versailles Cemetery, Woodford County, Kentucky