ALEXANDER MCKAY/MCKOY/MCCOY

State of Kentucky

County of Rockcastle

     On this 26^th day of April 1852 personally appeared before me Thos. J. Smith the undersigned, an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State above mentioned, Hector McKay aged 49 years a resident of the county and State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law doth state upon his oath, that he is the Administrator of the estate of Jane McKay, deceased, who was the wife of Alexander McKay, deceased, doth on his oath make and subscribe to the following declaration on behalf of the heirs of the said Alexander and Jane McKay, deceased, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisionary act of Congress of the United States passed the 4 July 1836, or the provisions of such acts of Congress as might apply to the following same case,

Doth declare on his oath that the said Alexander McKay, deceased, is the identical man, who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, against Great Britain – From the County of Rowan State of North Carolina, that the said McKay served a part of the time as a private in the North Carolina Militia, and a part of the time in the Continental North Carolina line, and is informed and [verily] believes in some of the tours aforesaid. The said Alexander McKay served once under Captain Pearl, and once under and belonged to the Company Commanded by Captain Campbell, and was commissioned while in the service aforesaid a Sergeant or Lieutenant, and acted in that capacity the greater portion of the time the said McKay served in the war of the Revolution aforesaid, and computing the different times in all was not less than two years, or there about, and that the said Alexander McKay is the identical man that served as aforesaid, and after serving out the different period for which he entered the service aforesaid faithfully was honorably discharged in the war aforesaid, said discharge having long since been lost, and that the said Alexander McKay is the identical man who was married in the County of Rowan, State of North Carolina to Jane Munroe, which took place the early part of the year 1779, and before the close of the war of the Revolution, and is the identical parties mentioned in the annexed Marriage Bond, that said McKay and wife aforesaid married in the County of Rowan, State of North Carolina, after the close of the war aforesaid until the year 1812, which time the said McKay and wife aforesaid migrated to Garrard County, State of Kentucky, and there remained up to his death, never claiming pension, being ignorant of his rights, his death happened in said County and State the year 1830 leaving his wife, Jane, a widow and some children who survived him, and shortly thereafter his said widow and children migrated from Kentucky to Jefferson County, Indiana, and there remained a widow ignorant of her rights to a pension, never claimed one up to her death which happened 5^th day of July 1845, leaving the following and only children who survive their ancestors, the said McKay & wife, Viz: Alexander McKay,Jr., Margaret Munroe, late Margaret McKay, Hugh McKay, William McKay, Hector McKay, that the said Alexander McKay deceased having served his country faithfully in the war aforesaid, that he presents this petition in right of his children to a pension to the department of the United States that governs such causes at Washington City, and reference to the North Carolina Revolutionary Rolls, and the proof in the cause, which is herewith respectfully submitted, will doubtless award to the heirs aforesaid their claim to a pension, as the law of the US direst.

                                                                                                Hector McKay (Adm.)

Marriage Bond of Alexander McKay to Jean Munroe



 

Marriage Bond of Alexander McKay and Jane Munroe:

 

North Carolina

County of Rowan

Know all men by these presents, that we, Alexander McKay and Robert McKay of the County and residence aforesaid, are held and firmly bound unto said State in the just and full sum of five hundred pounds for the true payment whereof, we jointly and severally bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators, and each of them firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated the 12^th day of March anno Dom. 1779.

The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound, Alexander McKay hath made application for a license for a marriage to be celebrated between him and Jean Munroe of the County aforesaid. Now, if it shall not appear at any time hereafter that there is any lawful cause to obstruct said marriage, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in force and virtue.

Signed, sealed and delivered,                                                 Alexander X (his mark)McKay {Seal}

In presence of                                                                            Robert X McKay (his mark) {Seal]

…Osborne

 

 

 

 

JAMES MONROE MYERS 1840-1879

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JAMES M. MYERS – 1879

Transcribed by Valerie J. Thompson, 20 Mar 2013

Nicholas County, Kentucky Will Book H, page 266

Last will and Testament of James M. Myers, owing to the uncertainty of life and certainty of death, I make this my last will and testament.
First, I will that my insurance money, or so much of it as it will take you towards paying off my land debt.
Second, That I desire that my wife Lucy H. Myers shall have full possession and control of my entire estate, real and personal so long as she remains a widow, or until my children become of age.
Third, That I desire to empower my wife, if she thinks is best for the interest of herself and my children, to sell the land on which we now live, and to re-invest the money in land, or not to re-invest as she may think best, and I request the court to confirm the sale; if the money is not re-invested in land, I require of my wife to give security that is good and satisfactory for my children’s money until they become of age.
Fourth, I desire all my debts be paid as early as practicable.
Fifth, I hereby appoint my father-in-law, Milford Berry and request of him to see to it that this, my will, is properly and rightfully executed.

Signed by me this First day of February 1879,      J. M. Myers

Attest: George C. Faris

             R. T. Hill

Nicholas County Court, March Term, 1879

This instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of James M. Myers, deceased was this day produced in open court and was fully proved by the oaths of Geo. C. Faris and R. T. Hill, the attesting witnesses, thereto, Whereupon said last will and testament is confirmed, established, and ordered to be recorded, which is done.                Attest: Jno. A. Cambell, CNCC

 

     James Monroe Myers was born 21 May 1840 and died 9 Feb 1879 according to his tombstone located at the Hopkins Cemetery, also known as the W. B. Hopkins burial ground in Nicholas County, Kentucky.  His death notice was given in the Carlisle-Mercury newspaper 20 Feb 1879. Photograph of his tombstone can be found at Find A Grave Memorial #6973315.

This young man, who died at age 39 was married to Lucy H. Berry, daughter of Milford Berry, who was named as his Executor. Lucy was the young widow of Jacob J. Hopkins, who is also buried at the Hopkins Cemetery, Find A Grave Memorial  #6973288.

Lucy and Jacob J. Hopkins had one son, Jacob Milford Hopkins born 25 Feb 1870-19 July 1933. According to his death certificate he is buried at Lexington Cemetery, Fayette County, Kentucky. Death certificate image is available at Kentucky Death Records, Ancestry.com.

James Monroe Myers and Lucy had three sons. She is listed on the 1880 Census of Moorefield,Nicholas County, Kentucky with her four sons.

The sons of James Monroe Myers and Lucy Berry Hopkins:

*Herdy Pickett Myers was born 1 July 1873 (WW I Draft Registration), although tombstone reads 1874.  He died 27 Nov 1958 Nicholas County, Kentucky. He is buried at Carlisle Cemetery, Nicholas County, Kentucky, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240816. His Kentucky death certificate is viewable at Kentucky Death Records, Ancestry.com

*Herman P. Myers was born 1873, possibly a twin to Herdy Pickett Myers, in Nicholas County, Kentucky. He died 1900 and is also buried at Carlisle Cemetery, Nicholas County, Kentucky, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240879

*James Walter Myers was born 4 Sep 1878 (WW I Draft Registration). He died 30 Dec 1952 Nicholas County, Kentucky. He is also buried at Carlisle Cemetery, Find A Grave Memorial# 83241043 His Kentucky Death certificate viewable at Kentucky Death Records, Ancestry.com states his parents were James Monroe Myers and Lucy Berry.

Lucy H. Berry, daughter of Milford Berry and Frances Ann Hendricks, and widow of Jacob J. Hopkins and James Monroe Myers was born Sep 1849, and died 12 July 1908. She is buried with her sons  at the Carlisle Cemetery in Nicholas County, Kentucky, Find A Grave Memorial# 75082089

 

 

 

                               

PETER SHUTTS 1841-1900

Peter Shutts Co D, 116th Ohio Infantry
Rock Springs Cemetery, Rockcastle County, Kentucky





          A tombstone represents a family. The following is a glimpse of the life of Peter Shutts of Company D 116th Ohio Infantry. This Company was organized in Monroe County, Ohio, which is where I believe Peter Shutts was born about 1841. He is listed with his parents William and Catherine Shutts on the 1850 and 1860 Census of Monroe County, Ohio. He remained in Monroe County, Ohio after the Civil War through 1880, where he is listed in Summit, Monroe County. About 1886 he and his wife, Margaret Powell, and their children moved south to Rockcastle County, Kentucky.

Application for Military Marker



     Peter died Thursday, 24th May 1900. The cemetery is listed as 'Thompson' on the application for a military marker. The Rock Springs Cemetery may have been identified with the Thompson family at one time, as the tallest monument there is for a young Thompson woman, whose family are also buried there.

 

 

Mt Vernon Signal 25 May 1900


 

 

Pension Index Card

 

 

     Peter filed for his pension 26th April 1880. Margaret, as his widow, filed 19th Nov 1900 in Kentucky.

 

 

1890 Veterans Schedule
Glades, Rockcastle

 

 



     Peter is listed on the 1890 Veterans Schedule of Glades, Rockcastle County, Kentucky. He enlisted 12 Aug 1862 (Union) and mustered out 14 June 1865 Richmond, Virginia. His residence is listed as Wabd.

 

Tombstone photo for Peter Shutts by Valerie J. Thompson located at Find A Grave Memorial# 5368028

 

    Martha Powell Shutts survived her husband another six years. She died 28 Feb 1916 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Her Kentucky Death Certificate lists her birth as Monroe County, Ohio, 12 Aug 1846, and her parents as John and Katie Powell.  

 

 

 

Children of Peter and Martha Shutts:

 

     *Susan Dorman listed in the 1880 Census, Summit, Monroe County, Ohio is named as a sister to Peter H. Shutts in his obituary.  Susan Dorman was born 15 April 1869. She married William D. Livesay 24 Nov 1887 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. She died 17 July 1950,  Find A Grave Memorial# 5379037 and photo at the Livesay Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Rockcastle County, Kentucky.

 

   William D. Livesay was born 11 Dec 1865 and died 28 Apr 1936, Find A Grave Memorial# 5379036 and tombstone photo.

 

     *Harriet "Hattie" Shutts was born 20 May 1870 in Monroe County, Ohio. She married John McNeil 13 Dec 1896 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. (Rockcastle County, Marriages)

 

    *Peter Herman Shutts was born 30 Nov 1872 in Monroe County, Ohio. He married Balzora W. Price, daughter of William H. Price and Sarah Colyer, 15 Mar 1896 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. He died 28 Feb 1944 in Hendricks County, Indiana. He was a school teacher at one time. He is buried at the Danville South Cemetery, Hendricks County, Indiana. Find A Grave Memorial# 36562871 and tombstone photo. Public photo of his obituary at Ancestry.com

  Balzora W. Price (1875-1968) died in Bradenton, Florida and is buried at Skyway Memorial Gardens, Palmetto County, Florida Find A Grave Memorial# 52514378 and tombstone photo. Public photo of obituary at Ancestry.com

 

     *John W Shutts was born 15 Nov 1875 in Monroe County, Ohio. He  married Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" McMullin 18 Sep 1895 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. He died 1 April 1955. They are buried at Providence Church Cemetery in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Find A Grave Memorial# 6959220. Mary "Lizzie" McMullin 30 Sep 1877 -25 April 1963 Find A Grave Memorial# 6959219

 

Other References:

U.S. Civil War Pension File Index - Ancestry.com

U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans 1925-1963 - Ancestry.com

Newspaper Images of Mt. Vernon Signal chroniclingamerica.loc.gov



AMBROSE COFFEE, BOONESBOROUGH SETTLER, 1775 - Part II

AMBROSE COFFEE, BOONESBOROUGH SETTLER, 1775 - Part II

Where Did Ambrose Coffee Live?

By

Valerie J. Thompson

Boonesborough lots, page 17 from Searching for Boonesborough by Anthropologist, Nancy O'Malley, 1989





     In previous post about Ambrose Coffee, he lived for some time at the Fort Boonesborough, and received by lottery one of the town lots of the town of Boonesborough. He also had a settlement of 400 acres and a 1000 acre preemption "for residing in the country since the year 1775 and improving the land in the year 1777 lying on the road that leads from Boonsborough to the Salt Springs". This he assigned to Henry Fields.

Ambrose Coffee's mark, and location of land was noted in other land records. Christmas Eve, 1779, John Fleury asssigned his settlement and preemption Warrant #369 to James Estill. Description of the land was as follows: "lying on a branch of the South Fork of Licking East of the Salt Spring Trace leading from Boonsborough and about two miles East of Ambrose Coffes land". (Old Kentucky Land Grants 3629.0) This land was later part of the land dispute of the heirs of James Estill.

In 1780 "James Read assignee of George Blackburn enters 500 acres upon a Military Warrant on the waters of Drowning Creek westwardly from the Trace from Boones Station Camp Creek including a Spring & a tree marked by Ambrose Coffee." (Lincoln Land Entries #706, June 17, 1780)

November 27, 1783 John South "entered 1000 acres of land upon part of the said Warrant No 17610 lying on the East side of the South Fork of Kentucky about 8 miles from the mouth of the said fork...including a small improvement made by Ambrose Coffee for the quantity." (Lincoln Land entry #3252, Treasury Warrant No. 17610)

In 1788-1790 Ambrose Coffee is among the taxpayers for Fayette County, Kentucky.

In 1792 the county boundaries change and Ambrose Coffee is now located on the tax lists for Clark County, Kentucky.

The only deed record in Clark County, Kentucky for Ambrose Coffee is in Deed Book 1,page 485 when he purchases from Daniel and Violet Williams, 20 acres of land on the waters of Spencer Creek, dated 1795.

Kentucky is changing and the county lines are moving again. In 1797 Montgomery County is formed from Clark County, Kentucky. Ambrose Coffee is listed on the tax list of Montgomery County for the years 1800-1809. The first deed book of Montgomery County, Kentucky is missing.

During those years Ambrose Coffee was often called upon to give deposition during various land disputes. September 16, 1811 Ambrose himself fills in the gaps of his known whereabouts, when questioned by Green Clay in the Henry Banta land dispute in Madison County, Kentucky.

Thirty-three years ago I came to Kentucky, in the year 1776, and landed at the town called Lee’s Town, on the Kentucky; from thence Major Crittenden & Co. went near the head of Willis Lee’s run, waters of Elkhorn, and now known by Crittenden’s Camp. There we cleared a piece of ground and planted corn in the same year, 1776, and in the fall of 1776 Major Crittenden & Co. went up the Ohio and I went to Harrodsburh, and there I continued part of that fall and the greater part of the winter; and report came that Colonel Boone was taken from the Lower Blue Licks to Logan’s Station, and to Harrodsburgh the report came; and one Richard May raised a company to go to the Lower Blue Licks to see what was done. I was one of the company with Richard May. Some time in February 1777, we arrived at Boonesborough, and there I continued till 1785 or 1786, and moved then out of Boonesborough into Bush’s Settlement; stayed there a year or two; from that there were two of the Martin’s built a mill on Lower Howard’s Creek and there I attended the mill going upon two years, and then Colonel Holder bought her, an after he bought her I attended her near two years, and from that  I moved up to the head of Spencer Creek, near old Nicholas Anderson’s, and from that to Slate Creek, where I now live, near Myer’s Mill.

Draper Manuscripts, Shane Interview - Jacob Stevens

Draper Manuscripts, Kentucky Calendar 12CC 133-138, , page 136 Shane Interview with Jacob Stevens, who was born 1761 in Bedford, Virginia. Interview taken near Slate 1 ½ miles to the left of Jeffersonville. Shane’s notes in margin:

“Ambrose Coffee, that says he was in the (died over Slate, here) attack on Bnsbgh"





KENTUCKY CHAPTER OF APG

    Historical Event:

The first meeting of the Kentucky Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists was held this evening 19 Feb 2013 via GotoMeeting. I think it was a success!

As one of the first items of the agenda, we the members would like to  encourage new members to join the Kentucky Chapter of APG. You may be contacted by one of the current members. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Kentucky Chapter of APG  you may contact Cohen Swiney. our representative to the National Association of Professional Genealogists:
 email:cswiney@csgenealogyservices.com
www.csgenealogyservices.com

One must be a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists to join the Kentucky Chapter.

Hope to see you at our next meeting. The date and time will be announced.

All the Best,

Valerie J. Thompson

LAWRENCE HEATHER BURNS

Lawrence Heather Burns age 3 1/2

Back of photo Hall & Co 306 Main St, Buffalo, NY

     The beautiful photograph of little Lawrence Heather Burns, immediately caught my eye, as I had been researching Burns surname in New York for a client in Scotland. Phyllis Brown of Kentucky Kindred had purchased the photo on Ebay, and posted it to Facebook.  I shared the photo with my client. Although this Lawrence was not from her family, she did know a little something about this young fellow. Sometimes genealogy is serendipity!

 Lawrence Heather Burns was born in 1888. His mother was Annie Heather (her surname). With a birth date and the name of his mother,  I was then able to learn more about young Lawrence Heather Burns.

The father of Lawrence Heather Burns was Millard Shelton Burns born 7 Apr 1854, son of George Burns and Elizabeth Christie. Elizabeth Christie was the daughter of Joseph Christie who died 1863 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. The Christy's were from England.

Anna Heather was the daughter of William and  Mary Ann Heather. Mary Ann was born Jan 1821 Ireland, or Scotland, and was living with Anna and her husband in 1900 - 1910 in Buffalo, New York.

Lawrence Heather Burns lived in Buffalo, Erie County, New York all his life.  June 5, 1917 he registered for the draft of World War I.  He gave his birth date as March 25, 1888 Buffalo, New York. At age 29, he was married and Vice-President of Buffalo Non-Ferrous Castings, Company. He was of medium height and build, with grey eyes and dark hair.

About 1916 Lawrence married Annie Livingston Cox, also known as Anita, the daughter of John Sayre Cox and Miriam Franklin Leggett. They had four children:

     Lawrence Heather Burns, Jr. was born 27 March 1917.

     Donald Whitley Burns was born 24 May 1919.

     Clara Ann Burns was born Christmas Day, 1920.

     Sayre S. Burns was born 7 Aug 1924.

After a full life Lawrence Heather Burns passed from this life 18 Nov 1952. He is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York along with his parents.

A descendant of Lawrence Heather Burns has been contacted.  I am hoping the photograph can be returned to the family.

References:
Census records Erie County, New York for years, 1890-1930
WW I Draft Registrations
St Luke's Episcopal Church Records, Nov 1894
U.S. Directories
Social Security Death Records
Forest Lawn Cemetery
Findagrave.com
Permission from Phyliss Brown to use the photograph

An a special 'Thank You!" to my client in Scotland.

Ambrose Coffee, Boonesborough Settler 1775.

     We do hereby certify that Henry Field, assignee of Ambrose Coffee is entitled to Four hundred acres of land in the district of Kentucky on account of the s'd Coffee residing in the country ever since the year 1775, and improving the land in the year 1777, lying on the Waters of Licking on the road that leads from Boonesborough to the Salt Springs and that said Henry Field Assignee is also entitled to the preeemption of one thousand acres of land adjoining his said settlement. Given under our hands at Harodsburgh this 4th of November 1779.
                                                                                            William Fleming
                                                                                             Stephen Trigg
Test: John Williams CCC                                                    Edmund Lyne

(Page 5 of documents for Preemption Warrant #679 located at sos.ky.gov)



     On April 25, 1775 names were drawn for 40 of the 54 lots of the new town of Boonesborough. Ambrose Coffee drew lot number 13. (Draper Manuscripts 1CC36) (William Calk papers)