According to Sister Mary Louise Donnelly, Basil Hayden was the son of George Hayden a resident of St. Mary’s County, Maryland, who died there in 1754.  George Hayden was the son of William and Elizabeth Hayden.  Elizabeth lived seven years after the death of her son and left a parcel of land called ‘Shankes Resque’ containing one hundred and two acres to William and Basil Hayden, sons of George Hayden.  Basil married Henrietta Cole, the daughter of Robert Cole and Ann Greenwell.

Basil Hayden and family, along with twenty-four other families of the Clements area of St. Mary’s County, came to Pottinger’s Creek, in Kentucky, in 1785, as his deed for land was recorded December 3, 1785, in Nelson County, Kentucky.  In 1785 there were just six counties in Kentucky, Nelson was formed from Jefferson in 1784.  In 1792 the area where the Maryland families settled would become Washington County, hence Basil Hayden’s will was found there, but in 1834 this land would be separated to make Marion County.  The first Catholic Church in the state of Kentucky was Holy Cross Church which was built in the year 1792 on the farm of Basil Hayden, Sr.  When he says in his will ‘and my body I desire to be buried in the place assigned for that purpose, at the chapel adjoining my plantation,’ he is evidently referring to Holy Cross Church.  At that time it probably was a chapel; the present church was built in 1823.  There is no stone to be found for Basil Hayden.

Basil Hayden, Sr. (born January 1, 1744, died September 1804) and Henrietta Cole (born July 2, 1754, died 1837) had the following children:

1. Stanislaus Hayden, born February 7, 1772, married August 5, 1791, Henrietta Hilton, died December 5, 1839.
2. Robert Hayden, born February 20, 1773, married February 4, 1796, Mary Carlin, died 1806.
3. Basil Hayden, Jr., born August 7, 1774, married July 15, 1795, Mary Rapier, died July 21, 1833.
4. Ann Hayden, born November 13, 1776, single, died between 1860-1870.
5. John Baptist Hayden, born April 6, 1779, died 1785, on the way to Kentucky.
6. Joseph Hayden, born September 1781, died 1785, on the way to Kentucky.
7. Eleanor Hayden, born March 1782, died February 25, 1813.
8. Teresa Hayden, born December 1782, died 1785, on the way to Kentucky.
9. John Hayden, born February 16, 1784, died 1785, on the way to Kentucky.
10. William Leo Hayden, born December 16, 1785, married first, February 5, 1810, Anna Pike; married second, January 4, 1813, Mary Hayden, died December 6, 1867.
11. Teresa Hayden, born May 30, 1788, married February 25, 1813, Henry Moore.
12. Hillery Hayden, born July 21, 1792, died 1792.
13. Edward G. Hayden, born November 7, 1795, married November 26, 1829, Catherine Queen.
14. Lewis Hayden, born August 20, 1796, married February 13, 1810, Mary Dant, died 1849.

I cannot imagine losing so many children on the trek from Maryland to Kentucky.  Sister Mary Louise Donnelly does not give specifics, just mentions, ‘The journey for Basil Hayden, Sr., and his young family was a hard one.  Four of his young children died during the trip.’

Will of Basil Hayden, Sr.

Washington County Will Book A, 1792-1808, Pages 337-340

In the name of God, amen.  I, Basil Hayden, of the County of Washington and State of Kentucky, being sick and expecting short to die, but of sound memory and understanding, do constitute and ordain this to be my last will and testament.  My soul I resign to my Creator who gave it me, and my body I desire to be buried in the place assigned for that purpose, at the chapel adjoining my plantation, and to my worldly goods, after all my just debts are paid, I will and bequest in manner and form following, to wit:

I will and bequeath unto my eldest son, Stanislaus Hayden, two Negroes, namely Clare and George, which he has now in his possession to belong to him and his heirs forever, also twenty pounds in trade to satisfy him for his demand he claims of me for labor and to make up his losses in moving.  I give and bequeath unto my wife, Henrietta Hayden, my land and premises, for and during her natural life, reserving therein a home and good maintenance for my two daughters, Ann and Teresa, and my son, Edward, for and during their single lives.  It is also my will and desire that my two daughters and last-mentioned son have a home and maintenance in said land during the single lives after their mother’s death, and then the land to be sold with reserve and the profits equally divided amongst my heirs.  I also give my wife, Henrietta, for and during her natural life, the following Negroes, namely Jack, James and his wife

Hannah, a woman, Nell, Easter and her son Matthew and Poll, one bed and furniture and the ?, also a bay mare named Madam, the mare to dispose of as she may think proper, but the Negroes and land and the profits thereof to be equally divided amongst my heirs at her death, except the reserve before made.  I give and bequeath unto my son, Robert Hayden, a Negro woman named Mary and a boy named Samuel, which Negroes he has now in his possession, to be his and his heirs forever.  I give unto my son Basil Hayden the Negroes he now has in his possession, namely, Sarah and Luke, to him and his heirs forever.  I give unto my daughter, Ann Hayden, two Negroes named Bill and Isaac, to belong to her and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, if any, if not, at her death to be equally divided amongst my heirs.  I give unto my daughter Teresa Hayden two negroes named Harry and Charles, to belong to her and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, if any, if not, at her death to be equally divided amongst my heirs.  I give and bequeath unto my wife’s son, William Hayden, one negro boy named Nace, and one bed and furniture and it is my will that he shall come in for half share only of all the distributions which shall hereafter be made of my estate except the land, which he is to have no part of.  I give unto my son, Lewis Hayden, two negroes named Joseph and Susan and also the yellow sorrel mare and young colt.  I give unto my

son, Edward, two Negroes named Clement and Clare, daughter of Nell.  It is also my will and desire in case any of the Negroes, willed to Ann, Teresa, Lewis or Edward, should die before the death of my wife that their loss or losses shall be made good together out of the Negroes willed to my wife funding her life before distribution of those Negroes shall be made amongst my heirs.  I leave one Negro boy, Jeremiah, to be sold it if be necessary to pay my debts, but if it can be done without, not to sell him.  I given unto the Rev. Mr. Badin and those he may thing proper to make his heir a boy named Gerrard, also my right and title in and unto two hundred acres of land he now lives on.  It is my will that the Negroes willed to Lewis be hired and the profits reserved for him until he comes of age and by his working on the plantation it is my will for him to stay with his mother after this year until he is twenty-one years old, but if he will not work I wish him to have some more schooling and bound to some decent and profitable trade.  The profits of the other Negroes willed to Ann, Teresa and Edward, I wish their mother to make use of in clothing and maintaining them decently during her life.  I leave my son Basil Hayden, Executor, to this my last will and testament and all the residue of my estate not legaced in this will to be dealt with according to the directions of the law.  In testimony of this my last will and testament I do hereon set my hand and affix my seal the 15^th day of June

In the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and four.

Basil Hayden

We the subscribers do certify that the above-named Basil Hayden, having his proper memory and understanding, in our presence signed his name and acknowledged the foregoing will to be his free act and deed.  Given under our hands the date of above written.  John Lancaster, Charles Hayden, George Hayden.

June the 21^st 1804

In addition to the legacies willed to my two daughters, Ann and Teresa, and my two sons, Lewis and Edward, I give and bequeath unto them ten pounds cash and a bed and furniture each, to make them up even with those children I have assisted when they married and left me.  It is also my will that the provisions now made for the family support, together with the crop now on hand be not counted in the estate, but to be applied to the support of my wife and the family.  I also give and bequeath my saddle and greatcoat to my son Lewis.  Witness my hand and seal the date above.

Basil Hayden

Signed and acknowledged in the presence of us:

John Lancaster, Bennet Cissell

At a county court held for Washington County the 6^th day of August 1804

This will was proved by the oath of John Lancaster and Hayden subscribing witnesses thereto and with the codicil thereto amended which was also proved by the oath of John Lancaster and Bennett Cissell, subscribing witnesses thereto, was ordered to be recorded.

Teste. John Reed CWC