William Kinkead was born January 9, 1736.  He married Eleanor Guy November 30, 1756, in Augusta County, Virginia.  Eleanor was born August 17, 1740.  In 1764, at the young age of 24, she was taken captive by Indians along with the couple’s three young children – Margaret, Andrew and Isabella.  William was working in the fields when his family was taken.  The two older children died while in captivity.  Eleanor was six months pregnant at the time of her abduction.  A son, also named Andrew, was born at that time.  At the end of six months an army was set against the Indians, and they were forced to give up their prisoners – a total of about two hundred between the various tribes.

I’m amazed that Eleanor was able to suffer not only the capture, but the loss of two of her children and birth of another in such strange surroundings.  She must have been one tough cookie!  You can only imagine the reunion between Eleanor and William!  He was with Colonel Boquette when the prisoners were released. 

William Kinkead fought in the Revolutionary War and in 1789 moved his family from Virginia to Woodford County, Kentucky.  He and Eleanor are buried in Pisgah Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Of the twelve children, eight are named in Eleanor’s will.

Will of Eleanor Kinkead

Woodford County Kentucky Wills

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In the name of God, amen.  I, Eleanor Kinkead, of the County of Woodford and State of Kentucky, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last Will and Testament.  I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid. 

In addition to what I have heretofore given my son Andrew Kinkead, deceased, I only give and bequeath to his heirs one dollar cash.

In addition to what I have heretofore given to daughter Susan, the wife of Joseph Lindsey, deceased, I only give and bequeath to her heirs one dollar cash.

In addition to what I have heretofore given to my son Guy Kinkead, deceased, I only give and bequeath to his heirs one dollar.

In addition to what I have heretofore given to son John Kinkead, I only give and bequeath to him one dollar cash.

In addition to what I have heretofore given my son William Kinkdead and daughters Isabella Hamilton, Margaret Lindsey and Rebekah Owen, I given and bequeath unto them and their heirs forever all my real and personal estate except my Negro woman Ginny and her child Charles, which I have heretofore given a bill of sale to my daughter Isabella Hamilton to her and her heirs forever.  And my Negro man Jack which I have given a bill of sale to my daughter Margaret Lindsey, to her and her heirs forever.  Also, all my money except so much as my Executors may think proper to give to my daughter Isabella Hamilton for the trouble of keeping me and it is my request that my Executors shall divide all my property equally between my son William Kinkead and daughters Isabella Hamilton, Margaret Lindsey and Rebeccah Owen without a sale. 

Finally, I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my sons William Kinkead, Samuel M. Wallace and Guy Hamilton, Executors of this my last Will and Testament, signed, sealed and published this 12^th day of September one thousand eight hundred and twenty two.

Eleanor Kinkead, her mark

Signed, sealed and published in presence of Thomas Maddox, Alex. B. Hamilton, Mary Hamilton

Woodford County Court – December County Court 1825

This, the last Will and Testament of Eleanor Kinkead, deceased, was produced in court and proven by the oath of Thomas Maddox and Alexander Hamilton, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to record, whereupon Guy Hamilton, one of the Executor’s therein

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Came into Court and took the oath required by law and executed and acknowledged bond with Thomas Maddox and Alexander Hamilton as his securities in the sum of five thousand dollars, conditioned according to law and time given the other Executors to qualify.

Att.  John McKinney, Junior, Clerk Woodford County Court