While in Kentucky last year I purchased a book from Poor Richard’s Books, located at 233 W. Broadway Street – on the other side of the street from the Kentucky History Center, one block down. And across the street from the Old Capitol building.  Early Kentucky Land Records 1773-1780 by Neal O. Hammon, is a used book (many of mine are!) with an inscription to Bryan Cowherd and signed by the author.  I did a search for Mr. Cowherd and he died in 2014, lived in Frankfort, originally from Christian County where he was buried.  He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII.  I am honored to now own his book.

The book is dedicated to Richard Bidwell, who came to America in 1630, and Ambrose Hammon who arrived in 1666.  Neal Hammon was definitely a genealogist!!  The book includes the following –

                Fincastle County Entries (Kentucky started out as a part of Fincastle County, Virginia)

                Fincastle County Surveys

                Commissioners’ Records

                Kentucky County Entries

                Military Surveys

                Miscellaneous Names

                Statistics

I chose William McBride to use for our example.  William McBride came to Kentucky in the very early days, when it was still part of Virginia.  William McBride was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, in 1745, the son of William H. McBride and Sarah Priestly.  He married Martha Lapsley, daughter of Josepha Lapsley, Sr., and Sarah Wood.  William and Martha had six children – Sarah, William, Martha Lapsley, Mary Margaret, Lapsley and Elizabeth.  The first two children were born in Augusta County, Virginia; Martha Lapsley McBride was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia; and the last three were born in Lincoln County, Virginia – which became Lincoln County, Kentucky, in 1792.

William McBride had three surveys in Lincoln County, plus his preemption of 600 acres, for a total of 2,321 acres. 

Now let me tell you the most remarkable piece of information.  You can find these surveys on the Kentucky Secretary of State’s webpage!  https://web.sos.ky.gov/land/vaok.aspx  Put in one of your ancestor’s names and see what you can find!

Back to William McBride, he received the following:

400 acres in Lincoln County March 30, 1781 – adjoining Edward Bulger, John Bowman, Aaron Reese, Taylor’s line, with McBride’s preemption.

521 acres in Lincoln County May 19, 1781 – adjoining his settlement on the south side.  Joseph Bowman, Adam Fisk, John Curd, crossing Harrod’s Run twice.

600 acres preemption, 2 – 400 acre plots in Lincoln County July 3, 1783 – Surveyed for William McBride’s heirs, East Fork of Paint Lick Creek, west of Bells old station, crossing some branches of Silver Creek, William Patton’s line, George Adams, again crossing Paint Lick Creek. Paint Lick and Silver Creeks are in western Madison County, close to the Garrard County line in the area called Poosey Ridge

Yes, you read the above correctly, William McBride was deceased before 1783.  William McBride was one of the brave men who fought at the Battle of Blue Licks and lost his life August 19, 1782, in the last battle of the Revolutionary War.

Included with the above  surveys are letters from the governors of Virginia to the land holder, as well as possible other information. Isn’t it wonderful to see these old documents? Let me know what you find in your family.

Here are other posts on William McBride and the Battle of Blue Licks.