NICHOLAS PROCTOR 1756-1835

NICHOLAS PROCTOR 1756-1835 Part II

 

By

 

Valerie J. Thompson

 

 

    

     In his pension papers Nicholas Proctor states that he removed to Butler County, Kentucky and then to Hamilton County, Illinois. Butler County adjoins Logan County.

In 1820 Logan County, Kentucky Nicholas Proctor, who would have been about age 69, married Catherine Leonard, age about 35. They were married about 15 years. Logan County, Kentucky Book 1 1818-1840, page 17 





 

 

     Nicholas first attempted to apply for pension in 1828 or 1829 under the "Act for certain surviving soldiers and officers, approved May 28, 1828. Letter from Treasury Department dated 21 April 1829 Hamilton County, Illinois informs that there were insufficient evidence for the service of Nicholas Proctor of Hamilton County, Illinois.

1830 Census of Hamilton County, Illinois

Nicholas Proctor

1 male 10-14, 1 male 20-29, 1 male 70-79; 1 female 5-9 and 1 female 40-49

On 19th day of March 1834, Nicholas Proctor, a resident of Hamilton County, Illinois gave declaration for the purpose of receiving benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

Nicholas Proctor wrote his will the 16th day of July 1835, which was witnessed by his brother, Little Page Proctor, William Bryant, and Lewis Lane. In the will he named his wife, Catherine and his sons, John, Isaac, and William. By statement of his wife, Catherine and John Proctor, Jr., and Mary Proctor, Nicholas Proctor died 26th of July 1835. The will was proved in court on the 4th day of August 1835 by the oath of Little P. Proctor and William Bryant. The original will can be viewed at Familysearch.org, Illinois Probate Records 1818-1970 - Hamilton - Will Book Vol. A, page12,13 image 30. It is the only Proctor Will listed in that book.

Little Page Proctor’s pension declaration affirms the relationship of Little Page Proctor to Nicholas Proctor. " He respectfully refers the Honorable Secretary of War to those affidavits as confirmatory of his statement made herein. And, also to the positive oath of his brother Nicholas Proctor who served with him throughout the same service & under same officers – excepting that he was in one campaign across the Ohio more than this affiant was then."

Times Leader, McLeansboro, Illinois newspaper November 12, 1936, interview with Ralph Proctor grandson of Little Page Proctor "According to information received by the Times-Leader, two Revolutionary War Veterans are buried in the Concord Cemetery, Crook township. They are Littlepage and Nicholas Proctor."

After Nicholas died, Catherine, age 69 applied for a widow's pension on April 19, 1854.

　

On April 22, 1854 in Hamilton County, Illinois John Proctor, Jr., and Mary Proctor gave testimony that Catherine and Nicholas lived together as man and wife, and that they were present at their wedding. (The pension application papers of the widow, Catherine Proctor)


October 28, 1868, Catherine, age 83 filed for an increase in her pension. William Brinkley mentions both Sarah Proctor and Catherine Proctor among the pension papers of both, Nicholas and Little Page Proctor.

One Catherine Proctor, age 93, is listed on the 1870 Census of Hamilton County, Illinois in the household of Sarah Ban.

Note: Shirley Bodersen Ross and therefore, Mrs. June Head (DAR application papers) state that the above  John Proctor, Jr., was the son of Nicholas Proctor and that this John Proctor died 1840-1850. (ISGS Quarterly XIV:1, Spring 1982) (DAR application papers of Member 6445025, for Patriot Proctor A201131)

Ross and Head further assume the children of this John Proctor were Samuel L. M., John J., Nicholas, Ephraim, and Sarah. This was based upon an assumed will of William Proctor, who died in 1841 in Gallatin County, Illinois.

(continued next blog)


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)

 











Mt Vernon, Rockcastle County, Kentucky 1819

Last page of 1819 RCK Tax List
Inhabitants of Mt. Vernon

 

 

 

List of the Inhabitants of Mt Vernon, Rockcastle County, Kentucky

 

Bowman, Tillie

Colyer, John

Crawford, John

Farris, Hezekiah

Hagerty, Robert

Hamm, John

Henderson, J. S.

Kirtley, Elijah

Smith, Wm.

Terrill, James

Adams, Wm.

Buford, Wm.

Buford, Wm. Jr.

Bright, Jacob

Bryant, John

Hill, John

Newcum, Wm.

 

Total of 17

 

 

Rockcastle County, Kentucky was formed in 1810 from portions of Knox, Lincoln, Madison, and Pulaski counties.

The town of Mt. Vernon was established early, but was not incorporated until 1818. There is no tax list for 1818.

For more information on the town of Mt. Vernon, Kentucky read Three Springs and a Wilderness Station by Jeff Renner, published 2008.

 



REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER GEORGE HARLOW 1756-1846

    

George Harlow had been a resident of Rockcastle County, Kentucky for sixteen years when he made his declaration for a pension in 1833. He was born in Hanover County, Virginia in 1756, being age 77 at the time of his declaration. He married Susan Proctor in Albemarle County, Virginia on Christmas Eve after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in 1781. The couple did not have any children. Two people gave deposition to this fact, William Proctor, Susan's brother, and Francis A. Taylor. Susan stated her husband died 13th August 1846.

Susan Harlow is listed on the 1850 Census of Rockcastle County, Kentucky, age 88, and living in the household of Mary Jane Boyd, another widow with three small children. In 1852 Susan is listed on the tax lists of Rockcastle County, Kentucky with 40 acres on Renfro Creek. Previously, George was listed on the tax lists with 75 acres on Renfro Creek. Although she is not listed on the tax lists thereafter, she did make further petitions regarding bounty land in 1855. Susan Proctor, the daughter of George and Elizabeth Proctor died 22 January 1856 Rockcastle County, Kentucky at the age of 97. (Kentucky Death Records 1852-1953, Ancestry.com)

There are over fifty pages of the pension application files for George and Susan Proctor. These pages also give names of their contemporaries living at the time. Many of the early Rockcastle County, Kentucky records were destroyed by the courthouse fire in 1873. Therefore, George Harlow's pension application file is also a valuable source of information for the time period of Rockcastle County. Other Rockcastle County names mentioned in the file of George and Susan Harlow are James Terrill, Rockcastle County Clerk, and General William Smith, two of the first inhabitants of the town of Mt. Vernon; also, Thomas J. Smith, Justice of the Peace; Mary Ann Taylor, E. J. Smith, Rockcastle County Clerk; the Honorable Judge Joseph Evans, Major Charles Colyer, George Proctor born 1742, and Daniel Boyd, Clerk; James Dyehouse,  Jesse Edwards, Levi Smith, M. Boid [Boyd], Egbert L. Fish, Joseph B. Parson, Clergyman, and Alfred Smith, Attorney.

All the page images can be viewed at Ancestry.com "U. S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications 1800-1900" provided in association with the National Archives.

Below is the  transcribed declaration of George Harlow.
HARLOW, GEORGE, SUSAN
Service: VA                                 
W1895
BLW26703-160-5

State of Kentucky

Rockcastle County

[Declaration of George Harlow]

      On the 12th day of Sept 1833 personally appeared before Hon. Joseph Evans of the 15th judicial circuit in open court, George Harlow aged 77 the 13th of May last, resident of the county aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832, that he volunteered in the militia of the line of VA in the army of the United States for three months, the year now forgotten, but it was before General Boyne surrendered at Saratoga. He volunteered at Charlottesville, Albemarle County, VA in the Company commanded by Capt. ....... in Reg't Commanded by Col. Richison, he was marched to above Richmond, then to Cabbin Point, then to Petersburgh where he was discharged by his Capt. af'sd after faithfully served out his term of three months..... and before Burgoyne surrendered he volunteered for three months in the militia of said state in the company commanded by Capt. Dan'l White. Lt & Ensign forgotten, in the reg't commanded by Capt. Lynsey. He was marched again to old Richmond, then down the river about sixty miles until his time of three months had expired when he was honorably discharged by Capt. White on James River about 60 miles below Richmond. About four months after this he again volunteered in the militia of Va State for three months in the Company commanded by Capt. Jury Harmon, his Lt. was Thos. Garth, the company was attached to no Regt. The company was marched to Richmond, then to the mouth of Tuckahoe on the James River from thence conveyed munitions of war in canoes up the Pointy Fork in Goochland county on Jas. river, thence back to Richmond when his term of service had expired. He was honorably discharged at the mouth of Tuckahoe by Capt. Harman. Next, I shortly, about a month, the time exactly forgotten, he volunteered for three months in Albemarle County in the company commanded by Capt. James Garland, then he was marched to Winchester [to] guard prisoners in Albemarle surrendered under Gen. Burgoyne, Shortly after they were removed to Winchester where he was marched as a guard & continued in the service for three months, when he was honorably discharged at Winchester by his Lt., his name forgotten, Capt. Garland having been shot by one of our own men.

In about six weeks after his return and not more he again volunteered in Albemarle County, state of VA, in the militia of state of three months, the Capt. name forgotten, but his Lt.'s name was Fowler, Ensign forgotten, the Reg't. commanded now as he lives by Col. Armstrong. He marched to Richmond, then in the neighborhood of Petersburgh, then back to Richmond, then down the river about fifty miles and back to Richmond, then towards Petersburgh and in the neighborhood of Petersburgh he was discharged by his Capt. after honorably serving out his term of six months. He remembers on one of his terms he saw Gen'l [La Fayette}]  Fayate, Gen'l Nelson, who were said to be regular officers. He hereby relinquishes any claims whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of any agency in any state. He knows of no person now living by whom he can prove his services, except the evidence of George Proctor here annexed. That by reason of old age and the consequently loss of memory he cannot recollect dates or name officers names, but old as he is he knows he served the different tours in the militia of the State of Virginia in the service of the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War.

[Question] 1. Where and in what year were you born?

Ans[wer]: In Hanover County State of VA, his age will show the year.

2. He has no record of his age.

3. When called into service each time he lived in Albemarle County, State of Virginia & continued to live there until 16 years past when he moved to KY, Rockcastle County where he now lives.

4. He entered the service each time as a volunteer on his own account.

5. As to the officers he has stated all he can remember and the general circumstances of his service.

6. His discharges he has long since lost, by when they were given he has described.

7. As to his veracity he refers to his neighbors, George Proctor, James Dyehouse, Jesse Edwards (there being no clergyman in his neighborhood)

                                                                                                                     George Harlow

 

Will of Captain James Estill 1781

Will of James Estill 1781 Lincoln County, Kentucky Will Book B, page 242
 

The Last Will and Testament of Captain James Estill

Lincoln County, Kentucky Will Book B, page 242

Transcribed by Professional Genealogist, Valerie J. Thompson, August 18, 2013

 

  The Last Will of James Estill, May 4^th 1781

First, I leave my wife, Rachel, the one half of all my movable estate as her own property and all my slaves and the plantation I now live on called and known by the name of the Locust Thicket, the said tract containing one thousand acres the whole of which is to be at her discretion & discretion during her widowhood, either death, or marriage the land and slaves to be equally divided amongst Benjamin, Walles [Wallace], James, and Jonathan Estill, and if my wife should now be with child, I allow an equal share [ “equal share” crossed out] Division amongst the whole not only of the land and slaves already mentioned, but also my part of all the land [“the land” crossed out] the other land now lying in partnership between me and Samuel Estill and the remaining of my personal estate being one half this, I desire to be equally divided amongst my children.

                                                                                                                       James Estill  [Seal] {LS}

Witnesses Present:

David Gass

Samuel Estill

 

At a court held for Lincoln County 22 January 1783, This instrument of writing was exhibited in court as the last will and testament of James Estill & proved by the oaths of Samuel Estill one of the witnesses at a county court held for the said county the 14^th day of January 1800, the same was proved by the oaths of David Gass a witness thereto and ordered to be recorded.

Mead Holt, son of Kennon Holt and other heirs named in Deed 1866

     Previous post was the marriage record for Mead Holt and Mary A. Shannon.  The following deed from Kennon Holt to his son, Joseph P. Holt located in Spencer County, Kentucky shows that Mead was indeed the son of Kennon Holt. Family lore suggests that Mead and Mary Holt died from drinking poisoned water about 1846. Their sons, Fleming and Samuel S. Holt are living with their grandparents, Kennon and Sarah Holt on the 1850 Census of Spencer County, Kentucky.
 Provisions were also made for Kennon and Sarah's granddaughters, Sarah and Mary E. Holt, children of their son, Thomas B. Holt, also deceased. Harriet Crutcher, daughter of Kennon and Sarah Holt is also named in this document.

Spencer County, Kentucky Deed Book M, page 259-261

Transcribed 28 June 2013 by Valerie J. Thompson, Professional Genealogist

 

Kennon Holt to Joseph P. Holt 1866

Page 259 Last line of the page:

     We Kennon Holt and Sarah Holt for and in consid-

Page 260

eration of the sum of Twelve thousand two hundred and fifty-four  43/100 dollars in hand paid and to be paid as follows, one fourth of which amount to be paid to our two grandsons, Fleming Holt and Samuel S. Holt the only heirs of our son, Mead Holt, dec’d, in equal portions. Viz., one third in hand  paid, and the balance in one and two years from the this date, for which notes are executed to them. The like amount and in like payments to Sallie Holt and Mary E. Holt in equal portions the only heirs of our son, Thomas Holt, dec’d, but said amount is to be retained in the hand of our son, Joseph P. Holt and held by him in trust for the use and benefit of our said granddaughters, Sallie Holt and Mary E. Holt until they arrive at the age of twenty one years or marry, at which time their portion shall be paid over to them respectively, The like amount and in like payments paid and to be paid to our daughter, Harriet Crutcher for which notes are executed to her, and the like amount to be retained by our son, Joseph P. Holt as his portions, do hereby give grant sell and convey with covenant of general warranty unto our said son, Joseph P. Holt and his heirs and assigns, One certain tract or parcel of land lying in the counties of Spencer and Shelby (the greater portion in the first named county) and State of Kentucky, the same on which we now live and bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at a stone in the county road, corner to Samuel Ruble, Thence North 12 ¾ East 114 4/10 poles to a stone, thence North 21 ¾ East 116 5/10 poles to a beech, thence North 68 ¾ W 51 poles to a stone, thence North 68 ¼ West 56 poles to a stone, thence North 9 [degrees] West 13 poles to a stone, thence 71 ¼ degree E 41 poles to a stone, and a branch, thence N 61, West 28 ½ poles to a beech, thence North 71 West23 poles to a sugartree thence North 54 [degrees] West 32 8/10 poles to a stone and sugartree, thence North 87 West 43 8/10 poles to an elm, thence South 87 ¾ West 36 ½ poles to a stake and locust, thence South 34 ¼ West 15 9/10 poles to a beech, thence North 68 West 55 poles to the center of Guist’s Creek, thence South 15 ½ West 37 ½ poles to center of the creek, thence South 70 East 27 poles to a beech stump and a branch, thence South 70 East thence south 38 east 12 8/10 poles to an elm stump on a branch, thence up the same South 22 ½ East 30 poles, South 40 East 9 ½ poles South 29 East 21 poles South 14 east25 poles south 25 east22poles (line missing from copy) 21 poles to a stone in the old line, thence Soth 22 West 73 6/10 poles to a stone in the road, thence South 71 ¼ East 174 poles to the Beginning, containing four hundred and one acres, 1 rood 37 poles, To have and to hold the same with its appurtenances unto the said Joseph P. Holt and his heirs and assigns forever, But we hereby reserve the family room in the dwelling house on said farm for our use and benefit so long as we, or either of us may live with the right of engress and egress to and from the same at any and all times, as we may think fit and proper also the right to use firewood off of said land so long as we may use said room. It is further understood that a lean is retained on the land for the payment of the purchased money, Witness our hands this 6^th day of February 1866.                                                                    

                                                                                                                       Kennon Holt

                                                                                                                       Sarah Holt

Marriage Records for Mead Holt and Mary A. Shannon 1841

Marriage Bond for Marriage of Mead Holt to Mary A. Shannon 1841

   

     Know all men by these presents, That we Mead Holt and Samuel Shannon, Jr. are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth 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 Commonwealth, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators jointly  and severally firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated this 31^st day of May 1841.

     The condition of the above obligation is such, that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended between the above bound Mead Holt and Miss Mary A. Shannon, daughter of Samuel Shannon.

     Now if there be no lawful cause to obstruct said marriage, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law.

Witness:

James R. Stephens, Clk                                                                    Mead Holt {Seal]

                                                                                              Sam’l Shannon, Jr. {Seal}

 

 

 

The consent for Mary reads:

Union County

     Samuel Shannon, Jr this day came before me the undersigned, and Justice of the Peace in and for Union County and made oath that Mary A. Shannon, daughter of Samuel, who is about to intermarry with Mead Holt is above the age of twenty one years, and that her place of residence is within the County of Union.

   Witness my hand this 31^st day of May 1841.

A.L. Churchill, JP

Peterson Wall, Minister, Marriage 1841-1843



   

Minister’s Return of Peterson Wall, Minister of the Gospel of the Methodist Episcopal Church which was returned April 1843 for the marriages he had celebrated from 1841 to 1843. Listed are Mead Holt and Mary Shannon. The marriage was celebrated 1^st June 1841.

Records are from Union County Court Clerk and reference from Union County, Kentucky Marriage Books 1811-1853” compiled by Peyton Heady