Know all men by these presents, that we, Benjamin Mattingly and Henry Miles, are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency, the Governor of Kentucky, in the penal sum of fifty pounds current money, to the payment of which well and truly to be made to the said governor and his successors. We bind ourselves, our heirs, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated this 3rd day of September 1799. Continue reading Mattingly – Miles Marriage in Washington County
Brown Family Buried in Maple Grove Cemetery
Brown Family Plot – Maple Grove Cemetery, Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Kentucky.
George I. Brown was born in Virginia in 1784. He bought property in Jessamine County, Kentucky – quite a lot since his real estate was valued at $54,000 in 1850. George married Sarah Perry, November 17, 1809, in Woodford County, Kentucky. They had two sons, George and Moreau Brown.
Sarah, wife of G. I. Brown, born September 30, 1789, died May 6, 1832.
Sarah Brown died in 1832, and the next year George married Catharine W. McKinney, June 6, 1833, in Woodford County. Since both wives came from this county perhaps there were family members living there.
In the 1850 census of Jessamine County George, 65, is listed as a farmer, born in Virginia. Wife Catherine is 46. Their three children are Mary Hannah, 15; William, 12; and Sally, 9.
George I. Brown, born December 11, 1784, died March 14, 1856.
Catherine lived another nine years before dying in 1867.
Catherine W., wife of G. I. Brown, born October 25, 1802, died October 2, 1867.
From this angle you can see son Moreau Brown’s gravestone on the right – with the statue at the top – and son George Brown’s would be on the left, next to the beautiful gravestone of his wife, Anne Hemphill. A better view is in the first photo of this article.
Hugh McElroy’s Diary
Hugh McElroy, born September 19, 1795, died February 8, 1877. Susan Frances, wife of Hugh McElroy, born December 29, 1807, died June 22, 1844. ‘She had a smile for the joyous, an ear of sympathy for ill, and in act of kindness for all within her reach.’ Cemetery Hill, Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky.
If only all ancestors left diaries with the everyday happenings and the history they remember about their ancestors!
Pioneer History of Washington County, Kentucky, by Orval W. Baylor and Others, from newspaper articles
Hugh McElroy’s Diary
January 1, 1870. This day I have read a long account of my grandfather, Anthony Hundley, and his family in the Christian Observer of December 22, 1869. They moved from Charlotte County, Virginia, to this country in the year 1793, seventy years ago. He settled on Pleasant Run near Sandusky’s Station. The Indians were very troublesome on the road which they traveled. They traveled with a large number of emigrants, as alone was very dangerous. There was not a human habitation except a fort at Laurel River beyond the Cumberland Mountains and between Beams station at Crab Orchard in Kentucky. Indian deprivations along the line were frequent. On the route they saw the newly made graves of a large number of persons who had been massacred at night while encamped after a day’s journey. My mother, then a young lady, and seventeen, was one of the company. About the same time, my grandfather, Hugh McElroy, moved from Pennsylvania to this place and built the first brick house in the county. Many of the bricks are now in this house I now live in, between the weatherboards and plastering. My father helped to make them before I was born. He married my mother in 1794 and I was born in 1795, 74 years ago.
June 30, 1873. Sixty years the 20th of next November I came to this town (Springfield) to live, as a store boy with Mr. Elias Davison. I lived with him six years. I commenced my fourth year with him before I lost my first whole day. My salary the first year was $50, the last year $100. This has been a very wet, rainy Sabbath day and the first time I have been detained from Sunday School this year.
Deaths, 1873. Ben E. Montgomery died last October, age 80 years. Judge Booker on May 11th, age 87 years. May York Sandusky on May 21st, age 80 years. All these were neighbors. Old Mrs. Briles died on the 9th June, age 97.
November 1, 1874. Died this day, cousin William McElroy, 99. July 18th Mr. Charles Powell died, age 83, and Presley Briles, age 74.
This day, September 19, 1873, I am 78 years old, have lived in Springfield 60 years, have been a school teacher over 40 years and superintendent over schools 20 years. The cholera has been bad in several counties. Lebanon and Marion County has suffered much, 84 deaths, most in the county. Our town has escaped and very few cases in the county. The Yellow Fever is very bad in the towns south, particularly in Memphis and Shreveport.
In October 1871, while at Louisville, I met an old uncle, Joel Hundley, which I had not seen for 20 years, he had come to Louisville to see his sister, Aunt Jane Thomas. Courier Journal describes the meeting as follows: A Romantic Meeting. Mr. Joel Hundley and Mrs. Jane Thomas, as brother and sister, met in this city at the house of John H. Thomas, son of the venerable lady on Saturday last, after an absence of 54 years. Mrs. Thomas was born in Virginia at the Charlotte Courthouse, in 1793, he was born in 1791, making her 78 years old and him 80. She arrived here from her residence in Litchfield, Kentucky, and he, being informed of the fact, started from his home in Mt. Washington, after a late breakfast, and walked to Louisville, a distance of 21 miles to see her. The meeting of so long a separation was a happy one. His walk is remarkable, considering his advanced age, but it is not the first long tramp he has taken. In olden times, before steam boats and railroads were known, and when flat boats were the only means of transportation down the river, he often made the trip from New Orleans to Kentucky on foot. Mrs. Thomas is the mother of O. W. and J. H. Thomas. Mr. Hundley is the father of Doctor Hundley.
September 19, 1874. This day is my birthday, 79 years old. How thankful I ought to be. I never had better health in my life and have no pains in my limbs, yet I cannot walk without help, owing to my getting crippled ten years since. I ride to my counting room in town every day and have missed but one or two days from Sunday School this year.
A Few 1874 Marriages of Bell County
1874 Bell County Marriages
Resided in, born in Bell County; first marriage – unless otherwise noted.
- February 29, 1874 – Leander Johnson, age not given, farmer, married Mary Denny, of Bell County, age 18, mother born in Lee County.
- January 3, 1874 – James D. Mason, age 19, farmer, married Nancy J. Partin, age 18, mother born in Tennessee.
- January 22, 1874 – Moses Lake, age 21, farmer, parents born in Tennessee, married Mary Jones, age 27, she and parents born in Harlan County.
- December 3, 1874 – Emilie Stout, age 19, living and born in Lee County, Virginia, farmer, married Amanda Miracle, age23, mother born in North Carolina.
- March 26, 1874 – Daniel Wilder, age 19, farmer, mother born in Harlan County, married Nancy Miracle, age 19, mother born in North Carolina.
- January 15, 1874 – Green B. Turner, age 22, farmer, married Nancy G. Partin, age 25.
- June 2, 1874 – Ewell Humbree, living in Knox County, age 18, farmer, married Florence Ingram, age 21.
- March 1874 – Wiley Janes, age 18, farmer, married Caroline Davis, age 16, mother born in Tennessee.
- December 20, 1874 – William H. Partin, age 19, farmer, married Sidney Fuson, age 19.
- June 19, 1874 – James Green, age 18, living in Lincoln County, farmer, married Ann L. Bull, age 26, father born in Tennessee, mother born in Harlan County.
- December 3, 1874 – Jefferson Hendrickson, age 21, farmer, married Elizabeth J. Bull, age 21, father born in Tennessee, mother born in Harlan County.
- October 18, 1874 – Andrew J. Bailey, no age given, living in Harlan County, clerk for merchant, married Catherine Ward, age 24.
- July 25, 1874 – William Webb, age 53, second marriage, farmer, he and parents born in Tennessee, married Lucinda Gibson, age 28.
- February 22, 1874 – John Evans, age 21, farmer, married Nancy Webb, age 21, father born in Tennessee, mother born in Harlan County.
- November 26, 1874 – Shelton Evans, age 19, farmer, married Mary Fuson, age 20, father born in Tennessee, mother born in Lee County, Virginia.
- October 18, 1874 – William L. Fuson, age 25, second marriage, farmer, father born in Tennessee, married Charity A. M. Smith, age 21, father born in Clay County, mother born in Tennessee.
Little Miss Mariva Anna Eubella Gerard
Let me introduce you to Mariva Anna Eubella Gerard! What a beautiful name for a beautiful child. This is a delightful photo, this tiny baby encased in a huge dress. The detail is amazing, the little ruffles and lace, and eyelet embroidery on the bottom half of the skirt.
When this photo was taken little Mariva was five weeks and four days old. She is truly a little sweetheart.
This photo was taken by Powell Studios in Kankakee, Illinois.
Will of Hugh McKee
Hugh McKee is Ritchey’s fifth great-grandfather. He lived at McKee’s Half Falls, Pennsylvania. He was a liasion between George Washington and the Shawnee Nation.
Hugh was the son of Captain Thomas McKee and possibly one of the daughters of an Indian chief. Hugh married Mary Nesbitt. Nine children are listed in the will below. Ritchey descends from son James McKee.
In the name of God Amen. I, Hugh McKee, of Peters Township, Franklin County, and State of Pennsylvania, Being weak in body but of sound memory, Do this Eighteenth day of November in the year one Thousand seven Hundred and ninety four, make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following Viz. It is my will and desire that my just debts and Funeral charges be paid out of my estate by my Executors hereafter named. And first I will and Bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary and her heirs the sum of one Hundred and Twenty pounds, and likewise a bed and Furniture and a Horse and Saddle. Also I give to my Daughter Martha and her heirs Fifty Pounds. Also I give to my Daughter Ann and her heirs Sixty pounds. Also I give to my son James and his heirs one Hundred pounds. Also I give to my son Andrew and his heirs one Hundred pounds. Also I give to my Daughter Mary and her heirs one french crown. Also I give to my Daughter Isabel and her Heirs Fifty pounds. Likewise I give unto my daughter Elizabeth and her heirs Fifty pounds and a Horse and Saddle with a bed and furniture. And I also give to Mary Wilson and her heirs five pounds or a saddle. And likewise it is my will and desire that my executor to sell and dispose of that plantation or Tract of Land on which I now live (if possible it can be done to good advantage) in the course of the first year after my decease. But if no convenient opportunity offers they may postpone the sale until the course of the second year after my decease but no longer and also it is my will and desire (if the sale be accommodated the first year) that my Executor do out of my real estate pay the Legacies above mentioned to all and every one of my heirs respectively in four equal payments the first payment to be made agreeable to the above mentioned accommodation of the sale of the Land, Viz if the land be sold the first year. The first payment is to be made one year after my decease the second two years after my decease the third three years, and the fourth and last payment four years after my decease. But and if the Land be not sold until the second year, the first payment is not to be made until two years after my decease, the second payment three years as above specified, etc. And I do will and bequeath unto my son Thomas his heirs & assigns the one half of my Real Estate with all my personal property after my just debts and the Legacies above mentioned are paid. Likewise I do will and Bequeath unto my son William and his heirs the other half of my Real Estate after my just debts and the above mentioned Legacies are paid, to be paid to him in the following manner. After the first mentioned yearly payments are made to the above mentioned Legacies Viz, the one half of the Surplus or Remaining cash accruing yearly from the sale of the Land to be paid to him (my son William or his heirs) yearly by my Executors. And lastly I do Nominate ordain and appoint my son Thomas and my son-in-law George Dickey to be the sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament
to see that the same be duly Executed according to the intent thereof. In witness whereof I the said Hugh McKee have to this my last Will and Testament set my Hand and Seal, the day and year above written.
Hugh McKee Mary (x) McKee
Signed sealed and acknowledged by the said Hugh McKee as his Last Will and testament in presence of us Alex Glendining, Walter McKinnie, Adam Rusk
On the 22nd day of May 1795 Alexander Glendining, Walter McKinnie and Adam Rusk, the witnesses to the foregoing writing appeared before me the subscriber register for the probate of wills and letters for Franklin County, and on their solemn oaths, desposeth and saith that they were personally present & saw and heard Hugh McKee, aforesaid now deceased, write his name unto and seal and publish the foregoing writing as and for his last will & Testament, and that at the time of the doing thereof he, the said Hugh McKee, was of sound mind & memory according to the best of their knowledge & belief, And that also their names signed thereto is of their own hands writing done at the same time. Alex Glendining Walter McKinnie Adam Rusk sworn and subscribed before Edward Crawford register a true copy taken from the original remaining in the register’s office at Chambersburg Edward Crawford register. Both executors sworn to file inventory on or before first July and settle in one year or when legally required 22 May 1795
Charles H. Higdon Biography
Charles Higdon, November 11, 1835 – September 26, 1918. Sara A. Higdon, February 9, 1950 – December 5, 1918. St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery, Daviess County, Kentucky.
from Kentucky – A History of the State, Perrin, Battle & Knifflin, 1883
Daviess County – Knottsville Precinct
Charles H. Higdon, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in this precinct November 11, 1835, and was a son of B. Henson and Henrietta (Milton) Higdon, both natives of Maryland. He was reared on a farm, and received his education in the common schools of this county. he was married in 1870 to Sarah A., daughter of John R. Duncan. Eight children have been born to them, six now living – Charles I., Mary M., Francis K., Elmer L., Henson and an infant son. Mr. Higdon owns 135 acres of well-improved land. He and family are members of the Catholic Church.
