James Curtis Bible – Mason County

By Kentucky Kindred Genealogical Research on June 4, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

In one of the ‘new to me’ books I recently purchased is that of Kentucky County and Other Records Volume II, by Mrs. William Breckenridge Ardery. I also own Volume I. The pair are a compilation of original court entries which includes wills, deeds, orders, suits, church minutes, marriages, old Bibles and tombstone inscriptions from Fayette, Jefferson, Lincoln, Bath, Bourbon, Bracken, Clark, Fleming, Harrison, Hardin, Jessamine, Mason, Madison, Montgomery, Nicholas, Oldham, Scott, Woodford and Warren counties. I generally open a book at random and whatever happens to be on the page is the subject of my blog. The random page happens to be 194 – James Curtis’ Bible. Always a nice spot to begin, with information written by family members. In 1932, when this book was published, the Bible was in the possession of Mrs. Florence Curtis, of Maysville, Kentucky. Thanks to her for keeping this part of Kentucky history alive.

The following is the information as presented in Mrs. Ardery’s book:

James Curtis Bible

James Curtis was married to Sary Emily Edwards, December 1^st, 1796.

Elizabeth Curtis, a daughter of James Curtis, was married to Henry Rains, September 18^th, 1817.

Marshall Curtis, a son of James Curtis, was married to Sabina Reed, September 17^th, 1822.

Juliann Curtis, daughter of James Curtis, was married to H. M. King, September 24^th, 1822.

John M. Curtis, son of James Curtis, was married to Elizabeth Edwards, December 6^th, 1836.

Sarelda Curtis, the daughter of James Curtis, was married to Zebulen S. Williamson, 1846.

James A. E. Curtis was married to Miss Genny Collis, May 14^th, 1874.

James A. E. Curtis was married to Florence Rains, November 7^th, 1883.

Sarah E. Knight was the daughter of Nelson and Cola Knight, married William Dicson, November 5^th, 1847.

James Curtis was born June 30^th, 1770.

Sary Emily Curtis was born April 2, 1780.

Elizabeth Curtis was born September the 18^th, 1797.

Marshall Curtis was born November the 18^th, 1799.

Juliann Curtis was born December the 2^nd, 1801.

Letitia Morris Curtis was born January the 18^th, 1804.

Mary Edwards Curtis was born December the 3^rd, 1805.

John Monroe Curtis was born January the 31, 1808.

Narcissa Curtis was born February the 13^th, 1810.

Sary Emily Curtis was born March the 26^th, 1812.

Franky Curtis was born January the 8^th, 1814.

Jacob Alexander Edwards Curtis was born January the 15^th, 1816.

Parmelia Ellen Curtis was born December the 5^th, 1817.

James Curtis was born January 28^th, 1820.

Nancy Jane Curtis was born October 27, 1821.

William Nathaniel King was born April 13^th, 1827.

William Edwards King was born November the 1^st, 1828.

Mary Ellen Curtis, daughter of John M. and Elizabeth Curtis, was born October the 9^th, 1837.

Sarah Emily Edwards Curtis, daughter of John M. and Elizabeth Curtis, was born January the 2^nd, 1840.

Parmelia Ellen Curtis, daughter of John and Elizabeth Curtis, was born March 21, 1842.

Sary Ann Rains was born November 23^rd, 1818.

Elizabeth C. Rains was born February 21^st, 1821.

James H. Rains was born March 22, 1823

Sary Ann King was born June 22, 1823.

James E. Curtis, son of Marshall and Sabina Curtis, was born August 2, 1823.

John M. Rains was born 12^th of June, 1825.

James Alexander Edwards Curtis was born (son of John and Elizabeth), November 1^st, 1844.

George William Rice Baker Curtis, son of same, was born September the 7^th, 1848.

John M. Curtis died November 19, 1874.

Franky Curtis died July 3, 1818.

Elizabeth C. Rains died April 15, 1823.

John M. Rains died June 20, 1825.

James E. Curtis died August 10, 1824.

William Alexander Curtis died August 13, 1826.

Sarah Emily Curtis died 1818.

James Curtis died July 27, 1832.

Mary E. King died March 24, 1836.

Nancy J. Curtis died April 6, 1836.

Jonny Bullock died 1874.

Amelia E. Curtis died March 24, 1869.

Narcissa Wells died Mary 12, 1836.

Sarah E. King died September 1836.

Juliann King died June 1837.

Elizabeth Rains died November 1839.

Mary Ellen Curtis died June 27, 1840.

Sary Emily Edwards Curtis died November 29, 1843.

George W. Edwards died December 25, 1848.

George A. Curtis died July 1852.

Mary Ann Edwards Davidson died October 31, 1858.

George W. R. B. Curtis died July 3, 1864

While this gives us much information, unless we know more about this family it is difficult to make sense of this list. Let’s start our search.

The first entry in the Bible is the marriage date of James Curtis and Sary Emily Edwards. From a Sons of the American Revolution application, we find James Curtis is the son of John Curtis, Jr., died 1813, married Nancy Edwards at least by 1749. And one of the most interesting aspects to me is that they lived in Loudoun County, Virginia – where my Captain John Hancock Linton was born and raised. John Curtis received a military land warrant for his services during the war, and coming to Kentucky he started Curtis’ Station in Mason County. In the second volume of the History of Kentucky by Richard H. Collins, he lists Curtis’ station being about two miles southwest of Washington, then owned by Dr. Henry Morgan in 1924.

John Curtis wrote his will September 29, 1813, and it was probated October 11, 1813. John knew he was going to die. Our James Curtis was the youngest of eleven children, all mentioned in his will. But perhaps the most interesting part of the will is when he gives a yearly sum of forty-five pounds ‘for the support and maintenance of my father, John Curtis.’ How remarkable this man was still alive. Even if John, Jr., was the eldest son, his father would be close to one hundred years of age! Did the older John make the trip to Kentucky with his son, or did he remain in Virginia the rest of his life? There is no will or settlement estate for anyone named Curtis in the Loudoun County will books 1757-1841.

Will of John Curtis

Mason County Kentucky Will Book C Pages 255-257

The last will and testament of John Curtis of Mason County and State of Kentucky. First, it is my will and desire that an equal division of my whole estate, both real and personal shall be made according to the existing laws of my county, among all my children, to wit, George Curtis, Nancy Hill,

David Curtis, Polly Curtis, Julia Curtis, Hiram Curtis, Nicholas Curtis, Elizabeth Curtis, Eleanor Curtis, John Curtis and James Curtis.

Secondly, it is my will and desire that my wife, Nancy Curtis, shall be allowed her lawful dower in my said estate, to be allotted and laid off to her according to the act of assembly apportioning and allotting to the widows of deceased their dower. It is further my will and desire that the sum of forty-five pounds for the support and maintenance of my father, John Curtis, be allowed to him annually. But to be paid quarter yearly by my executors herein after named, out of my personal estate and in case of deficiency in that fund the same is to be raised out of the real estate and the part now willed to each one of my children is to be considered as encumbered during the lifetime of my father for this purpose. And I appoint my said wife Executrix of this my last will hereby revoking and disannulling all and every other will or wills both verbal and written heretofore made by me. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty-ninth day of September eighteen hundred and thirteen.

John Curtis, Junior

Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the said John Curtis in our presence, who in his presence and that of each other subscribed our names as witnesses Joseph Doniphan, James Nichols, George Curtis, Joseph Clark, Walker Reid

At a Court held for Mason County the 11^th day of October 1813, this last will and testament of John Curtis, Jr., was produced in court and proved by the oaths of Joseph Doniphan, James Nichols, Joseph Clark and Walker Reid, witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. Sworn to by Nancy Curtis, the Executrix therein named, who together with James Key, George Moore, James Nichols, Williams Shields, Joseph Thomson and Joseph Clark, her securities, entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of twelve thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs, and on her motion, certificate has granted her for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste. Thomas Marshall, Clerk Mason County

Now let’s try to make sense of all those Bible entries. I have divided them by the original family and children’s marriages and their families.

Curtis

James Curtis and Sarah Emily Edwards

James Curtis was born June 30^th, 1770.
Sary Emily Curtis was born April 2, 1780
James Curtis was married to Sary Emily Edwards, December 1^st, 1796.
Elizabeth Curtis was born September the 18^th, 1797.
Marshall Curtis was born November the 18^th, 1799.
Juliann Curtis was born December the 2^nd, 1801.
Littitia Morris Curtis was born January the 18^th, 1804.
Mary Edwards Curtis was born December the 3^rd, 1805.
John Monroe Curtis was born January the 31, 1808.
Narcissa Curtis was born February the 13^th, 1810.
Sary Emily Curtis was born March the 26^th, 1812.
Franky Curtis was born January the 8^th, 1814.
Jacob Alexander Edwards Curtis was born January the 15^th, 1816.
Parmelia Ellen Curtis was born December the 5^th, 1817.
Franky Curtis died July 3, 1818.
James Curtis was born January 28^th, 1820.
Nancy Jane Curtis was born October 27, 1821
Sarah Emily Curtis died 1828.
James Curtis died July 27, 1833.
Nancy J. Curtis died April 6, 1836

John M. and Elizabeth Edwards Curtis

John Monroe Curtis was born January the 31, 1808.
John M. Curtis, son of James Curtis, was married to Elizabeth Edwards, December 6^th, 1836.
Mary Ellen Curtis, daughter of John M. and Elizabeth Curtis, was born October the 9^th, 1837.
Sarah Emily Edwards Curtis, daughter of John M. and Elizabeth Curtis, was born January the 2^nd, 1840.
Mary Ellen Curtis died June 27, 1840.
Sary Emily Edwards Curtis died November 29, 1843
Parmelia Ellen Curtis, daughter of John and Elizabeth Curtis, was born March 21, 1842.
John M. Curtis died November 19, 1874

Marshall and Sabina Reed Curtis

Marshall Curtis was born November the 18^th, 1799.
Marshall Curtis, a son of James Curtis, was married to Sabina Reed, September 17^th, 1822.
James E. Curtis, son of Marshall and Sabina Curtis, was born August 2, 1823.
George William Rice Baker Curtis, son of same, was born September the 7^th, 1848.

Unknown Curtis

William Alexander Curtis died August 13, 1826.
Amelia E. Curtis died March 24, 1869.
George A. Curtis died July 1852.
George W. R. B. Curtis died July 3, 1864.

Rains

Elizabeth Curtis and Henry Rains

Elizabeth Curtis was born September the 18^th, 1797.
Elizabeth Curtis, a daughter of James Curtis, was married to Henry Rains, September 18^th, 1817.
Sary Ann Rains was born November 23^rd, 1818.
Elizabeth C. Rains was born February 21^st, 1821.
James H. Rains was born March 22, 1823
Elizabeth C. Rains died April 15, 1823.
John M. Rains died June 20, 1825.
Elizabeth Rains died November 1839.

King

Juliann Curtis and H. M. King

Juliann Curtis was born December the 2^nd, 1801.
Juliann Curtis, daughter of James Curtis, was married to H. M. King, September 24^th, 1822.
Sary Ann King was born June 22, 1823.
William Nathaniel King was born April 13^th, 1827.
William Edwards King was born November the 1^st, 1828.
Mary E. King died March 24, 1836.
Sarah E. King died September 1836.
Juliann King died June 1837.

Wells

Narcissa Curtis and George W. Wells

Narcissa Curtis was born February the 13^th, 1810.
Narcissa Wells died Mary 12, 1836.

Williamson

Sarelda Curtis and Zebulon S. Williamson

Sarelda Curtis has no mention of birth in the Bible – just the following marriage.
Sarelda Curtis, the daughter of James Curtis, was married to Zebulon S. Williamson, 1846.

James Curtis died during the cholera epidemic in 1833. Will Book I, Page 398-399, gives 73 acres of land for the dower of Elizabeth Curtis. James’ wife and mother of his children, Sarah Emily Edwards Curtis, died in 1826. James still had young children in need of a mother’s attention and love. James was only 63 when he died, and could possibly have lived many more years in view of the longevity of his father and grandfather.

In addition to dower records is an appraisement of the estate of James Curtis, deceased, same book, pages 472-474. Many household items are listed, farming implements, livestock. James also owned seventeen slaves – Hamilton, Milton, Julia, an unnamed girl of seven years, Clary, Martha Ann, Henry, Eliza, Harriet, Thomas, Jefferson, Lucy, Daniel, Rachel, Robert, Mary and Hannah. Son Marshall was administrator for the estate, with a total worth of $5,279.62. This was property which did not include land or cash on hand.

James was buried in Stonelick Cemetery in Mason County, beside wife Sarah. Sarah’s dates are birth April 2, 1780, death July 20, 1826. James’ dates are birth June 30, 1770, and death July 26, 1833.