NICHOLAS PROCTOR 1756-1835

     NICHOLAS PROCTOR 1756-1835

Part I

By

Valerie J. Thompson

 

     At the request of CeCe Moore, Your Genetic Genealogist, I have been researching Proctor ancestors in Kentucky. You can read about her family at http://mytangledvine.blogspot.com Much of the Proctor research has been previously based on The Proctor Connection, by Shirley Bodersen Ross, 1978. I will share some of my additional findings here.

     Nicholas Proctor, Revolutionary War soldier was born about 1756 in Brunswick, Virginia. The pension application papers for Nicholas and his widow, Catherine, can be viewed on Ancestry.com    "U.S. Revolutionary Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications 1800-1900". A transcription of his pension declaration can be read at http://revwarapps.org/w8537.pdf There are more to the papers than just the declaration of his service.

    Nicholas Proctor migrated to Kentucky prior to statehood, and lived at Fort Boonesborough. He married Rachel Wright Estill, widow of Captain James Estill, one of Kentucky's earliest heroes, who died in an Indian skirmish, known as Estill's Defeat, 22 March 1782.

Madison County, Kentucky Court Order Book A, page 83

27th March 1788 at court held for the County of Madison

"Ordered that Thomas Shelton, James French, and William Irvin be appointed to settle with Nicholas Proctor and Rachel, his wife, as Administrator to the estate of James Estill deceased and that they make thereof to the next Court."
  
  
     Captain James Estill left a will and Rachel was to receive the 1000 acre plantation known as 'Locust Thicket', the slaves, and half the personal property. You can read Captain James Estill's will in my previous post http://vjthompson.blogspot.com/2013/09/will-of-captain-james-estill-1781.html

     Was this the plantation story passed down through the family of Ephraim Proctor?

"Our grandfather Ephraim Proctor was born in Kentucky, Feb 20, 1822 on his father's plantation. Ephraim's father owned slaves, but the slaves were freed before the Civil War. I understood however they never left the plantation having no place to go and also because they were well treated. [I sure wish I knew if this was true.] - My Tangled Vine, "Amanuensis Monday: Letter from My Great Aunt Cleo, 1990"- posted Monday, February 21, 2011


   James Estill also owned lots in the Town of Boonesborough, as did Nicholas Proctor (Fig, 6 William Calk's map of the town lots of Boonesborough, page 17; key to lots page 25, Searching for Boonesborough by Archeaologist, Nancy O'Malley, 1989) 

                                                                 

 

     " Memorandum of Certificates of which Daniel Boone was robbed on the night of the 20th of

March 1780", two of which belonged to Nicholas Proctor [Sr] and Nicholas Proctor, Jr., 400 acres each.

 

 

    

 

 

     Nicholas Proctor, Jr. assigned his 400 acre preemption, Treasury Warrant No. 1941, issued 15th day of 1781, to Matthias Spaw 27th of March 1784, for which Matthias Spaw did receive a land grant. Images of Kentucky Land Records can be viewed at www.sos.ky.gov.

 

     The elder Nicholas Proctor is noted in Madison County, Kentucky Court Order Book B, page 81,

July 1, 1794, "Ordered that Henry Burnham, Sr., Nicholas Proctor, and James Bradley be exempt from county levy by age and infirmity." 

 

Nicholas Proctor, [Jr] is listed on the 1810 Census of Madison County, Kentucky

1 male 10-15, 2 males 16-25, 1 male over 45; 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 45 and over; Slaves 1

November 11, 1814  Nicholas Proctor and Rachel, his wife, convey to Elihu Green 50 Acres on Muddy Creek in Madison County, Kentucky, Deed Book K, page 526

 

Rachel Wright Estill Proctor died sometime after 1814 and before 25 January 1820.

(continued in next blog)