Thoughts as I am typing the wills of Nelson County, and have just finished Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson.  Some of the county clerks were very precise, had beautiful handwriting and did a marvelous job of keeping these precious, old records for us for our research.  Some have handwriting that is messy and difficult to read, words are misspelled, left out, it’s somewhat of feat to get a true idea of what they were trying to say.  In addition, these records now, from the early 1780’s in Kentucky, are written on paper that is brittle and yellowing.  In many instances the corners are worn, crumbling, taking away those words forever.  I feel it so important to document what I can while these records are still readable. 

Do you think the clerks had any idea how genealogists would treat these records almost 250 years later?  Could they imagine the delight in finding a record of an ancestor who lived so long ago, in a time we can only imagine.  We, the descendants of these 18^th century ancestors, who sometimes weep when we find a will, a marriage certificate or deed, would those county clerks be amazed?  How many of the wills I type will never be read by a descendant in today’s world?  I find that very sad.  In the early days of the commonwealth – even before we became separate from Virginia – life was difficult.  Men went on campaigns and wars.  Many took goods down the Ohio River to the Mississippi to New Orleans to sell whiskey, corn and other goods.  The last will typed this morning was that of Samuel Ewing.  He was ‘about to depart from this country down the Mississippi, and knowing the danger and risk of such a voyage’ wrote his will, just in case.  This will was written April 17, 1790, and returned to Court January 10, 1792.  Evidently Samuel did not return. 

I have often thought, if I could meet one of my ancestors, it would be Captain John Hancock Linton.  Now, I’m not saying he is more important than the rest, not by any means, but because my dear great-grandmother Frances Barber Linton Montgomery kept old slips of tax payments, checks, record books and photos, I have a treasure trove of information that many genealogist do not have access to.  I have nothing even close to this amount of information from my other families.  And because of that, I have a special bond with Great-Grandmother Frances, and that bond goes back to Captain John – her great-grandfather.  She was descended from John Linton through two of his children – his daughter Nancy, who married Edward Barber Edwards, and his son, William, who married Eliza Lyon Moran.

If you could meet one of your ancestors, what question would you have for them?  Particularly for the captain, I would ask why he made the journey from Loudoun County, Virginia, to Washington County, Kentucky, in 1818 when he was 68 years old? I would ask about his parents and grandparents.  Did people in those days have a better understanding of their family lines?  There was no television or internet.  People sat around the fire, or outside, and talked.  People wrote letters – and yes, I do have a few of those old letters that have been handed down.  Letters were passed around to family members and friends to read.  They usually included information not only on family, but friends and neighbors in the ‘old’ state – which for John was Virginia.  There was usually talk of what sickness was going around, the weather, etc.  Why did we ever give up on letters??? They can be read and reread.  Write a letter to someone and surprise them!