I’m very happy to announce my newest book,  Holy Cross Catholic Church – Cemetery Photos Through 1900.  Holy Cross is in my home county of Marion.  Originally a part of Fincastle County, Virginia, the entire state was known as Kentucky County, Virginia, as of December 31, 1776.  In 1780 Kentucky County was divided into three counties – Jefferson, Fayette and Lincoln.  Nelson was formed  from Jefferson in 1785.  Washington County was formed in 1792, and in 1834 Marion County was formed from the southern part of Washington.  It is necessary to know the formation of counties since the very early records of Marion County were in Jefferson, then the other counties as they were formed.  And why were these divisions made?  It was to ensure that people were no more than a day’s ride of the county seat, easier to procure a marriage bond, go to court, etc.

In the early days of the state a group from Maryland left their lands and moved to Kentucky.  Those who settled in the Holy Cross area were here by 1785, making their homes near Pottinger’s Creek.

Ritchey and I photographed gravestones at Holy Cross on two days – November 18, 2012, and June 14, 2014.  We took 952 photographs, most of gravestones, some of the church and cemetery.  My list includes 1,051 individuals, the oldest being John Heard who was born in 1745 and died in 1792.  The book is 8.5 x 11 and includes one photo per page, with, name, birth and death.  Name of spouse or parent may also be included.

Mariah Clayton lived to the age of 95.  Mariah Hayden was born in 1800, married John Jack Clayton and had a large family.  She outlived her husband by 32 years.

Mariah wasn’t the only long-lived individual buried here – 12 lived into their 80’s, 27 into their 70’s!  On the other end of the spectrum 42 children died by the age of ten, and that doesn’t include those who have no gravestone to mark their final resting place.

Names include Alvey, Ballard, Cissell, Clark, Head, Lyon, Lyons, Nalley, Nally, O’Bryan, Simms and Sims, among others.

35 individuals were born in the 1700’s!  18 of which must have been born in Maryland before the move to Kentucky. In this volume I have included those who died by 1900, a total of 238 gravestones and information.  There will be a second volume.  My book can be purchased at Amazon.