FORT TWITTY, the Little Fort

In 2007, I was working on a project researching the pioneer stations of Madison County Kentucky, when it came to my attention that there was another marker for Fort Twitty, other than the historical marker on Highway 25. A granite marker was erected in 1937 by the Boonesborough Chapter of the DAR on private property, once owned by Judge Vernon Leer, in a location believed to be near the fort.  The old farm had been purchased for a Planned Urban Development location in the fall of 2006.  In process of excavating the land, a bulldozer operator unwittingly knocked the marker off the base.

By coincidence, fate, what-have-you, I happened by the gated construction entrance one afternoon, when the former tenants of the farm were about to take a sentimental drive. I inquired whether they knew where the marker was located. Indeed they did, and I was able to take some photographs of the debased monument. (Photo A, 2007)

A few days ago, I happened to be in Richmond, Kentucky on another research venture, and thought I would try to find the marker once again. It was rumored that a small park, or pavilion would be built around the historical marker. New streets and houses had replaced acres of old farm land. Presently, the “Fort Tweety” marker is isolated, and properly seated upon the base. (Photo B, February 21, 2011)

Although it reads “First Fort Built In Kentucky”, Fort Harrod was built earlier in 1774. Fort Twitty was also known as the Little Fort. Samuel Estill stated in deposition that it was "a few logs put in the likeness of a square cabin." (Fayette County Records, , Vol II, Cook,case of Hart vs Benton, page 246) The fort was named for Captain William Twitty who died from injuries sustained in an Indian attack in early dawn hours of March 25, 1775.  Captain William Twitty was survived by his wife, Susannah and eight children: William, Susannah, Allen, Russell, Polly, Arabella, Belariah, and Charolette. His nuncupative will was “made in presence and proved by the Oath of Thomas Johnson to have been made and pronounced a few hours before his death on the River Kentucke in the Indian Lands on the twenty seventh Day of March Anno Dom. 1775. To wit, That it was his will that his wife, Susannah Twitty should keep the children and what there was together to give them a good education and do well by them.” (Tyrone County North Carolina Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, July Term 1775 and October Term 1778)

Daniel Boone gave a report of the event in a letter dated April 15, 1775 to Colonel Richard Henderson.  Felix Walker who was also injured, but survived gave his account of the event in Memoirs of a Southern Gentleman. Due to Walker's wounds the party remained there twelve days before removing Walker on a litter to the "Kentucky River, where we stopped and made a station and called it Boonesborough."

Photographs by Valerie J. Thompson
Text and photographs copyright
vjthompson.blogspot.com

Horace Rondeau, a Rouster Remembered

     The above paragraph is from the Pope County Illinois, Herald Enterprise, 22 August 1901, article,'City of Golconda Sunk'.

     Horace Rondeau was a deckhand on the steamboat, City of Golconda when it was caught in straight line winds, or possibly a tornado on the evening of August 19, 1901. She flipped, submerging cabin and deck in the waters of the Ohio River near Paducah, Kentucky.   

     The other three colored men that drowned were Dee Jackson, George Washington, and George Stansbury. Possibly twenty-two persons of the estimated sixty aboard lost their lives when the steamship City of Golconda capsized in the furious storm. It was a tragedy that echoed across the nation. 

     Horace Rondeau was born about 1865 to Chess Rondeau and Cynthia Skelton. He was survived by his second wife Mary Hughes Rondeau. They were married November 8, 1889 in Hardin County, Illinois. 

The 1900 Census of Pope County, Illinois lists Horace Rondeau, age 33 born March 1867, Mary, his wife, age 23 born June 1876, Willie born July 1894, Mary L born June 1896, and Gracie born March 1899.

The widow, Mary Hughes Rondeau married secondly, John Collins 14 June 1904 in Hardin County Illinois. 

      Siblings of Horace Rondeau were Ann Rondeau McCallister, Jesse Rondeau,  Jefferson Davis Rondeau, also known as J.D.,  and Fannie Rondeau Barnett. J. D. Rondeau lived to the age of 91. He and his wife, Alice Fort are buried in the Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) Cemetery in Golconda, Illinois. Descendants of this family migrated to Michigan. 

     Amidst the waters of the Ohio, and a part of Livingston County Kentucky is Rondeau Island, formerly owned by the Reverend William Rondeau (b.1779) and his wife, Ann Arkenstall of England. William Rondeau was a slave owner, and lived some years in New Orleans, Louisiana, while his wife managed the Rondeau estate. In correspondence with his wife, William Rondeau named two slaves, Philip and Patience. Ann Rondeau named five slaves, Toby, Peter, Sam, Eliza and July in her will, dated 5 June 1860, recorded 1 Aug 1866 Livingston County, Kentucky.  Local history and personal research suggests that Horace Rondeau, a rouster, was a descendent of the Rondeau slaves.

Bibliography:

The New York Times, August 21, 1901

The Herald Enterprise, August 22, 1901

Hopkinsville, Kentuckian, Friday, Aug 23, 1901

Abstracts of Livingston County Kentucky Will Book A-B (1799-1873)

The Life and Times of William Rondeau: A backwoods preacher by Ron Nelson, 1979

1880, 1900 US Census record images (Ancestry.com)

Hardin County Illinois Marriage Register 1 (1884-1891, vol 1, page 58

Hardin County Illinois Marriages, Vol IV, page 128

Descendants of Chess Rondeau, a genealogy report by Valerie Thompson, 2010

L. D. GOOD, KENTUCKY REPRESENTATIVE 1869-71

This conservative stone marks the grave of L. D. Good and Mildred, his wife.  Lorenzo Dow Good was an active member of the House of Representatives for the Commonwealth of Kentucky from Lincoln County, 1869-1871. His votes are noted on many items of legislature from the conservation of the South Fork of the Cumberland River to the Stanford-Midgeville Turnpike. He was the son of Joseph Goode and Nancy Combs. He married Mildred Ann Stigall, daughter of William Stigall and Judy Atkinson on 29 Nov 1826 in Lincoln County Kentucky. Consent was given by Lorenzo’s father. Consent was given by Gabriel Hughes, guardian for “Milly”, her father having died some years earlier.   He was born 26 Aug 1808 and died 23 June 1878. Lincoln county records show that his estate was appraised 13 Aug 1878. Mildred Good received her dower allotment. The following year Mildred wrote her will, and added a codicil in 1886. It was probated August 1894. They are interred in section one of Buffalo Springs Cemetery, Stanford, Lincoln County Kentucky. 

The following ten children have been identified for Lorenzo Dow and Milly Good. In addition, Lorenzo was appointed guardian for the minor children of John Morris, not named here. 

*Nancy Jane Goode was born 1827. She married Thomas Morris, son of John Morris and Nancy Pennell, 3 May 1844 in Lincoln County. Until1880 they lived in Kentucky. By 1900 she was a widow living with son, Lorenzo Dow Morris, in Jasper County, Missouri.  She and her sons moved to Williams Creek, Humboldt, California, where she died 23 Aug 1902. She is buried at the Ferndale Cemetery.  

 *Joseph Goode was born 28 Mar 1829. From his Bible, “Joseph married Mary E Hocker 31 Oct 1851 and after her death he was married to Nancy B. Hocker on the 5th of May 1853.”  Mary E and Nannie are both buried at the Good Cemetery in Lincoln County Kentucky. “Nannie B Hocker Good died Wednesday morning at 5 o’clock May 18^th 1910”. Joseph Good may also be buried there. 

 *Benjamin Goode (4 Mar 1831-5 June 1914) married Sarah Hocker 5 May 1853.  He is buried in section 4, Buffalo Springs Cemetery, Stanford, Lincoln County Kentucky. A double stone marks the graves, Sarah Goode (31 May 1826-8 Sep 1910)

 *Elizabeth “Lizzie” Goode was born about 1838. She married Isaac Newton Anderson 6 Feb 1858 Lincoln County Kentucky.

 *Martha Ann Goode (c1840-1864)  married Oliver J. Crow 6 Oct 1856 Lincoln County Kentucky. 

 *Milly Ann Good born about 1840 married Richard Bibb 24 Oct 1867. They are living with her parents in 1870.

 *Maria L. Goode (1843.-1903)  married Oliver Jackson Crow 3 Sep 1865 in Lincoln County Kentucky, husband of her deceased sister, Martha Ann Goode. The sisters are buried next to Oliver J. Crow at Buffalo Springs Cemetery.

 *R. M. (female) born about 1845 is listed on the 1850 Census Lincoln County.

*Lorenzo Dow Goode born about 1846, died 24 Oct 1856, age 8. (Kentucky Death Records 1852-1953)

*Robert born about 1848. (1850 Census)

Other References:

“Our Virginia Cousins” by G Brown Goode, published 1887

“Kentucky Pioneers and Their Descendants” published 1867, by Daughters of the Colonial Wars

“Marriages 1780-1850 & Tombstone Inscriptions” by Shirley Dunn, published 1977

"History of Kentucky" by Collins, Vol 2, pg 468

Lincoln County court records

Lincoln County Census records
Journal of the House of Representatives for the Commonwealth of Kentucky

copyright for photo and text by Valerie J. Thompson http://vjthompson.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Goode Centenarian

Lexington, Kentucky Observer & Reporter Jan 13, 1847 "Mrs. Elizabeth Goode of Lincoln County. Died Dec 26, 1846, aged 102 years, 9 months and 14 days."
Elizabeth Goode is believed to be the wife, of Benjamin Goode formerly of Amherst County Virginia.

 1815 Lincoln County Order Book 7, Vol 2, Page 296-297 Nov Term court. Order that it be certified to the Auditor of Public Accounts that it was this day proven to the satisfaction of the court by the oaths of Abraham Miller and Peter Carter, two disinterested persons, accredited witnesses, that Benjamin Goode is and was an actual settler upon the 150 acres of vacant land lying in Lincoln County Kentucky.


She is buried at the historical McCormack Church Cemetery in Lincoln County Kentucky.  McCormack Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Her son, Micager (Micajah) Goode is also buried just a few feet away. He was born 16 Jan 1791 and died 27 Aug 1865.


Photographs were taken by me as a part of  research for a Goode descendent. 
Copyright for text and photographs
Valerie J. Thompson
http://vjthompson.blogspot.com

James M Carrigan son of Hugh L. Carrigan

Parental Release of James M Carrigan from his father Hugh L. Carrigan
Pulaski County Kentucky, Deed Book 12, page 99

Know all men by these presents that Hugh L. Carrigan of Pulaski County Kentucky does hereby release from my control from all obligation to work & labor for me, my son, James M. Carrigan, aged about 14 years and do hereby authorize & permit my said son to labor, trade & act in all things for himself & to enjoy the benefits of his labor & without in any respect being subject either in person or property which he may acquire to my control or authority. 
 In Witness where of I hereunto set my hand & seal this 17th day of July 1843. 
                                                                                       H. L. Carrigan {Seal}


Commonwealth of Kentucky Pulaski County
  I, William Fox, Clerk of the county court for the county aforesaid do certify that this writing from Hugh L. Carrigan to his son, James M. Carrigan was this day produced to me in my office and acknowledged by the said Hugh L to be his act and deed. 
 Whereupon said writing together with the foregoing certificate hath been duly admitted for record in my office
  Given under my hand this 17th day of July 1843.
                                                                                   Will Fox, Clk

This unusual emancipation of a minor was the rare document that connected father and son.

James M. Carrigan was born 11 Jan 1831 and died 10 June 1901 Wayne County Kentucky. He and his wife, Mary Hutchinson, and many of his family are buried at the Hutchinson Cemetery #1 in Wayne County Kentucky.  Hugh L. Carrigan was born about 1806 in Kentucky. In 1850 he was a resident of Wayne County Kentucky. Hugh L. Carrigan's father was Hugh Carrigan born about 1778. His mother, Martha "Patsy" Langston was the second wife of Hugh Carrigan.  They were married 18 Jan 1802 Wayne County Kentucky.

Hugh L. Carrigan was also about 14 years of age when he was indentured to James Lynch to learn the trade of wagon ronging (Wayne Co Ky Deed Bk C, 171-172) This was a month after his mother married secondly, Samuel Hinds in Wayne County 10 Aug 1820.

James M Carrigan cared for his father in his later years.. (Wayne Co Ky Order Book "I", pg 26)

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