Often Overlooked Records Part I - Stray Books

This is the first in a series on potentially helpful records you may not have used in your research. You will need to go to the courthouse to access them as they probably won't be found online. These often overlooked records will appear the next four Thursdays.

A source often overlooked in researching a person's residence is the stray book. Sometimes it will be listed as "estray," but, don't worry, the two words have an identical meaning. The stray books are especially helpful for locating the residence of persons who didn't own land. Stray records include not only livestock, but also boats and other water vehicles found adrift.[1]  The found item was taken before the local justice of the peace, appraised and a small fee paid. The "finder" had to swear he had not changed, defaced or altered any marks or brands on the item. If no one claimed it after a period of time, the found item could become the property of the finder.[2] 

The amount of details on the location where the item was taken up may vary from county to county. Livingston County's location descriptions are exceptionally specific. The following entries for 1860 and 1861 have been abstracted from Livingston County Stray Book 1852 - 1934, which can be found in the Livingston County Clerk's Office, Smithland, Kentucky. 

Taken up by Jesse Wells living about five miles from Smithland in an easterly direction on the 28th of January 1860, a cow appraised by Elisha Heater at $15. 28 January 1860. W. Beverly, J.P.

Taken up by Orville Newman residence four miles from Berry's Ferry, a bull appraised by the undersigned at $9. 17 February 1860.  L. King, J.P.

Taken up by John G. Anderson living about 2 miles from Smithland, a steer appraised by J.W. Shephens & J.M. Clark at $8.  8 March 1860.  W. Beverly, J.P.

Taken up on the 28th March last by Wm. T. Terry, a mare appraised by the undersigned at $50. Terry's residence on the Ohio river above Berry's Ferry. 2 April 1860.

Taken up by Mrs. A. Doom about 23 June 1860, one mule appraised by W. Abell at $75. Mrs. Doom lives about 4 miles above Smithland on the Cumberland River. 30 June 1860.  W. Abell, J.P.

Taken up on the 8th Inst. by James Ramage one mile north east of Green's Ferry on the north side of Cumberland River, one mule valued at $70. 13 November 1860. H.B. Edwards, J.P.

Taken up by James E. Smullins living on Cumberland River near the mouth of Bizzel Creek one mile before Green's Ferry, a mule appraised at $75. 1 December 1860. H.B. Edwards, J.P.

Taken up by G.W. Powell living some 5 miles south of Smithland near the Tennessee River, one bay horse appraised by Thomas B. Robertson to $50. 7 December 1860.  Thos. B. Robertson, J.P.

Taken up by Samuel Driskill living about 7 miles from Smithland near the road leading from Smithland to Dycusburg, a brindle cow appraised at $8. 17 December 1860. Thos. M. Grove, J.P.

Chas. G. Halstead, B.A. Talley and Thos. Cochran Junr. being called upon by Joseph White to  appraise a Cedar Raft which he has caught adrift and find the raft to be four spliced together and containing four platforms each equal to 850 fence posts appraised to $25 each amounting to $100, sd. raft has a cabin on it made of cedar plank and a bunk covered with straw. 11 January 1861.  J.H. Davis, J.P.

Taken up by S.F. Sanders living near the road leading from Smithland to Dycusburg  Pinkneyville, a steer appraised at $6. 28 December 1860. Thos. M. Grove, J.P.

Taken up by John Ray - residence Sugar Camp Creek, a yearling heifer appraised by A. Joiner at $4. 27 December 1860. L. King, J.P.

Taken up by Jesse Thompson living some 2  1/2 miles south of Smithland on the Paducah Road, one heifer appraised  by G.W. Robertson & John Powell at $6.50. 11 February 1861.  Thos. B. Robertson, J.P.

Taken up by H.N. Perkins living about 5 miles from Smithland on an East course, a heifer appraised about $10. 1 January 1861.  W. Beverly, J.P.

Personally appeared James Jolly and sayeth that on or about 15th March last a stray bull calf came to his farm about 5 miles East of Smithland and has remained there ever since and is appraised by E.M. Stanley to about $50. 27 November 1860.  W. Beverly, J.P.

Taken up by R.H. May residing three miles from Carrsville, a steer appraised by J.L. Vick at $7. Also a brindle steer appraised at $8.  25 February 1861. L. King, J.P.

Taken up by H.B. Glass residence near Good Hope Meeting House, a heifer appraised by Robert Monroe at $5. 15 February 1861.  L. King, J.P.

Taken up by H. Dixon living near Buyo Mills about 1 March 1861 one heifer appraised by D. Stumbo at $8. 15 March 1861.  Wash Abell, J.P.

Taken up by Blount Hodge at his farm about 8 miles from Smithland on the Paducah Road, two bay horses worth $25 each. 15 April 1861.  A.F. Buford, J.P.

Taken up by F.H. Davis living about 1 miles from Ross'  Ferry, one black horse valued at $30.  13 April 1861.  Thos. M. Grove, J.P.

James H. [?] & Carver Coffield appraised a mule at $20 and  taken up by Joseph B. Champion living on the Salem and Smithland Road 6 miles from Salem and about 9 miles from Smithland. 2 December 1861. H.F. Champion.

[1] Chapter 7, "Boats and Navigation," The Revised Statutes of Kentucky Approved and Adopted by the General Assembly, 1851 and 1852, and in force from July 1, 1852 (Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co., 1867) 205; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com), accessed 22 November 2014.

[2] Chapter 96, "Strays," The Revised Statutes of Kentucky Approved and Adopted by the General Assembly, 1851 and 1852, and in force from July 1, 1852 (Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co., 1867) 393-395; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com), accessed 22 November 2014.

Published 8 January 2015, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/