Webb Family Lives Lost in Steamboat Disaster 1844

 

My name is Sandra Walker; my grandmother was Augusta Webb Ford and her mother was Augusta Ware Webb, daughter of Cassandra Francis Ford and Dr. Charles Henry Webb, Jr.  Cassandra Francis Ford was the daughter of James Ford of Crittenden County, Kentucky.  My grandmother used to tell me stories, one of which was about the Lucy Walker steamboat disaster.  I was grown before I knew the stories were based on fact. 

 I thought you might like to know a little more about the disaster than was reported in the newspapers. The disaster happened on Wednesday, 23 October 1844 about five miles below Louisville when the boilers exploded, set the boat on fire and caused it to sink. On the Lucy Walker were Dr. Charles Henry Webb, two of his daughters, and his wife’s half brother, Jim Bobby.

 Dr. Charles Henry Webb had gone to visit his mother, Polly Ware Webb, and took his daughters,  Cassandra and Nancy Winifred, and Jim Bobby.  Fourteen-year-old Jim Bobby had gone to check on the horses when the boiler exploded. His body was never found.

 A piece of metal hit Dr. Webb in the throat and he knew he was dying.  The two little girls were running around what was left of the ship. A passenger threw a mattress into the water and threw the little girls after it. They couldn’t get on the mattress because it tipped. Sparks from the fire ignited the mattress.  The girls were on either side of the mattress and when the fire got too close, Nancy Winifred told Cannie not to be afraid and when she counted to 3, they would let go.

 Cannie had had diphtheria and her hair had been cut short. A man in a boat saw something in the water and reached down and grabbed hair and pulled up a little naked girl. The current had torn her clothes off; they gave her a dress and when she said that was a servant’s dress, they knew she was from wealth. She could not tell them who she was. The man took her upriver to where the survivors were. She didn’t recognize anyone. Her father was there with his throat in a bloody bandage, but obviously that was not what her father looked like. He motioned for paper and pencil and wrote this is my daughter and how to reach her mother.

 Dr. Webb’s wife, Cassandra, was expecting a baby and stayed home with the other children. She made the trip to claim her living daughter and identified her dead husband and her other daughter.

 When the new baby was born she was named Cassandra for her sister that died. She was also called Cannie and later Tonnie, possibly for Tante’ Aunt.  Cassandra Ford Webb lived with her niece Cannie Ford Trimble in Seattle until her death in 1924.

 Everything I have read says James Ford’s middle initial was N and his son by his second wife was Jr, however I have always heard him called Jim Bobby.  In a letter from my grandmother about what Papa told her of his parents, her Papa referred to Jim Bobby.

 

Submitted by Sandra Walker  

Copyright © Sandra Walker, 2020

Published 29 Oct 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Learn By Reading Old Record Books

 I did not order this pandemic and would not recommend it, but one good thing has come out of it.  Thanks to being confined to home most of the time,  there has been time to really dig into records online plus notes about documents I have copied through the years.  Just in the last few months, I have learned about naturalized citizens, who they were and their countries of origin.  My knowledge of types of punishment for crimes has increased, including who were the first and last persons legally executed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  I have also been reading about the  ways the county identified and cared for lunatics and idiots – Yes, there is a  Difference!  Documents on most of these subjects are found in the circuit court order books, many of which are online. 

To read the order books at home, open an account on FamilySearch. It is free and you might just find the information you need to break through that brick wall in your research.  In the meantime, I will keep on reading, making my notes and hope I find something of interest for Western Kentucky researchers.  If you have a question  or a suggestion, contact me through this blog. To get a direct response, include  your email. I can delete your email before your question is published.

 

Published 27 October 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday !

 

The month of October marks the 13^th anniversary of the Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog. During that time 826 comments have been left on the 1700 published posts.  That adds up to a lot of words!

 It takes me longer to complete a post than it did when this blog began in 2007.  It takes longer to research the subject and it takes longer to write the post.  However, I do plan to continue the blog at least for a while as I learn something new every time I research for a post.   I hope you will continue to join me, too.

 

Published 26 Oct 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Crittenden County, Kentucky Estate Administrators 1882

An administrator was appointed by the county court after a person had died and had debts and credits to be settled. In Crittenden County, the information on the appointment of administrators and curators is found in the county court order books as well as in a separate book showing the names of all parties involved. Also recorded in this book is the name of at least one person who was appointed a committee in charge of a person declared to be a lunatic. I have never seen committee bonds recorded with administrators' bonds. [See entry for John Fry below]

The following information comes from Crittenden County, Kentucky Administrator’s Bond Book , Crittenden County Clerk’s Office (downstairs), Marion, Kentucky. Sur: refers to the surety or co-signer on the bond.

Wm. Fowler was appointed administrator of John Fowler dec’d. Sur: M.G. Gilbert, J.M. Fowler.  9 Jan 1882  [p. 142]

W.W. Hardin has been appointed administrator of Jake Hardesty Jr dec’d. Sur: E.H. Stone.  28 Mar 1882  [p. 143]

W. Lee Travis has been appointed administrator of M.L. Brasher dec’d. Sur: H.C. Perkins, S.E. Brasher, A.J. Brown.  15 Apr 1882   “This April the 15  1882  Mr. R.A. Dowl  this is to certify that we otherwise you to Sine our names to W.L. Travis & J.A. Brasher bonds as administrater of Mitchel Brasher decease.” [signed] S.E. Brasher, A.J. Brown. [p. 144]

S. Hodge was appointed administrator of A.P. Stallion dec’d. intestate. Sur: H.A. Hodge.  26 Apr 1882  [p. 145]

P.C. Stephens was appointed administrator of James H. Guess dec’d. Sur: D.H. Guess, T.N. Guess. 26 Apr 1882  [p. 146]

William S. Williams was appointed Administrator of P.D. Kemp dec’d. Sur: E.M. Easley, W.K. Brown.  8 May 1882  [p. 147]

Aaron Towery was appointed administrator of William Johnson dec’d. Sur: J.R. Clark. 13 May 1882.  “Mr. D. Woods   I hereby autherise you to assign my name to the bond of A. Towery as admr of the estate of Wm. Johnsons Dec’d.  May 15^th 1882.” [signed] J.R. Clark.  “May the 18^th 1882  To the Judge of the Crittenden Co. Court  this is to Certify that I am willing for A. Towery to administer on my husbands estate.” [signed] Sophia M. Johnson.  [p. 148]

H.E. Fritts has been appointed administrator of John H. Moore dec’d. Sur: T.J. Flanary. 29 May 1882  [p. 149]

Will H. Ordway was appointed administrator of J.G. Ordway dec’d. Sur: A.L. Cruce.  28 June 1882  [p. 150]

M. Worley was appointed administrator of Zachariah Worley dec’d. Sur: C.M. Davis, R.C. Worley. 26 July 1882  [p. 151]

E.C. Flanary was appointed administrator of E.L. Carrington dec’d. Sur: W.J. Howerton. 14 Aug 1882  [p. 152]

J.N. Truitt was appointed administrator of J.S.M. Truitt dec’d. Sur: W.F. Truitt, A. Woody.  18 Aug 1882  [p. 153]

W.J. LaRue has been appointed administrator of J.L. Franklin dec’d. Sur: W.H. Franklin. 26 Aug 1882  [p. 154]

Mrs. E.E. Crayne  was appointed administratrix of B.T. Crayne dec’d. Sur: James R. Cole. 28 Aug 1882  [p. 155]

Mrs. Jemima Reynolds has been appointed Committee of John Fry, a Lunatic. Sur: E.W. Hill.  13 Sep 1882 [p. 156]

W.M. Babb was appointed administrator of John D. Brown dec’d. Sur: W.K. Brown.  20 Sep 1882  “Shady Grove Ky  Sept. 19^th 1882  Known by all these present that I willingly consent and assign away my right of administrationship and recommend in my stead W.M. Babb listed as above.” [signed] J.H. Brown.  [p. 157]

R.W. Wood was appointed administrator of John T. Gardner dec’d. Sur: Watson Wood. 9 Nov 1882  [p. 158]

F.M. Clement Sr. was appointed administrator of John Gellatly dec’d. Sur: C. Bennett, J.D. Perkins.  27 Nov 1882  [p. 159]

Tom Wallace was appointed curator of Thomas H. Wallace dec’d, testate. Sur: R.N. Walker. 16 Dec 1882 [p. 160]

Elisha Conger was appointed administrator of Martha J. Conger dec’d. Sur: Phillip Fritts.  26 Dec 1882  [p. 161]

Published 22 Oct 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,   http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

In the News - 17 July 1913

Newspapers during the summer of 1913, reported many events of interest such as family visits in other states, new monuments erected in local cemeteries, marriages, deaths and church dedications. The events listed below appeared in the 17 July 1913 issue of the Crittenden Record-Press, published in Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky.

Miss Virginia Blue is the guest of her aunt, Mrs. R.L. Orme in Evansville, Indiana.

Alonzo Agee of Hickman, Tenn. Is here on a visit to his father, Joseph Agee, who lives 2 miles east of the city near the Shady Grove road in the Pleasant Hill section.

Mrs. Sue Adams, of Decatur, Ala., arrived Saturday to be with her mother, Mrs. S. Hodge. (from Princeton Leader)

Henry & Henry, the tombstone firm, put up a fine monument to the grave of Mrs. Edgie Gregory of Tilline, Ky.

A huge Quincy granite monument, is now in the process of carving at the marble works of Henry & Henry in the concrete building on Carlisle Street, in this city, which, when completed, will be erected at the grave of Atha Head at Cedar Grove cemetery in Livingston County.

The Methodist Church at Blackford will be dedicated Sunday, July 27.

Mrs. Thos. J. Woody and two children, Master Lemon and Miss Clara, left Tues., for Washington, D.C. where they will reside in the future. They will stop enroute at Charleston, W. Va. To visit Roy Woody and family.

Hollis Franklin of Hebron and Clifton Threlkeld of Carrsville were in the city Tuesday on important business. They came to get a marriage license for the former who on Wednesday was united in marriage to Miss Nina Paris.

Recent Deaths:

Mrs. Vitula Asher, wife of John G. Asher, died 9 July 1913. She was a daughter of W.E. and P.J. Williams  and was born in this county 1858; twice married.

Ira B. Hughes, age 89, died at the home of his son, Allie Hughes. Buried at Crooked Creek Friday. Survived by five children; wife preceded him “across the bar.”

Madeleine Foster, 12 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Moses C. Foster, died Monday of diphtheria at the home of her parents on the J.N. Boston farm near Repton. Buried Good Hope Church.

Published 20 Oct 2020,  Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Unrecorded Will of Sally Clement 1857

 

    “ In the Name of God Amen

I Sally Clement Being in a low state of health but of Sound and disposing memory I hereby make my last will and Testament first and foremost I Commit my Soul to God that gave it to me and my boddy to the dust from Whence it came to be buried after a Christian manner and after all ntmy lawful debts and funeral Expences are paid  I dispose of what wordly property which God has been  plased to be bestow upon me in manner and form as followeth to wit

 First  I will and bequeath to my beloved Son Francis M. Clement Two Colts one dining Table  one chest  Two sheep and my interest in the present growing crop

 Second  I will and bequeath to my five Daughters and my grand Daughter Susan Jane Cruise   Three hundred dollars wich is in the hands of Francis M. Clement to be equally divided between them that is to say fifty dollars to Moriah Owins  fifty dollars to Elizabeth Coleman  fifty dollars to Paulina Champion  fifty dollars to Nancy Love  fifty dollars to Parthena Bennett and fifty dollars to my grand Daughter Susan Jane Cruice &c.  Given under my hands this the 27^th day of August 1857.  

                                                                                [signed]  Sally Clement 

 Test:

Henry R.D. Coleman

Catherion E. Coleman

Kittie D. Hodge”

 Sometimes will went unrecorded. The testator might change his/her mind about the disposition of his property or it could be the will had been placed with the county clerk and it was forgotten until long after the testator had passed away. Even though the will was not recorded, it is still valuable if it contains names.

 This unrecorded last Will and Testament of Sally Clement was found among loose wills in the Crittenden County Clerk’s office many years ago. The 1850 Crittenden County census [1] shows Sarah Clement, age 64, born Virginia, in the household headed by Isham Clement, aged 69 and also born Virginia. Also in the household was Francis M. Clement, age 21, born Kentucky.  Isham Clement wrote his will 19 Sep 1850 and it was proven and recorded 21 Nov 1856. [2]

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[1] 1850 Crittenden County, Kentucky census, Dist. 1, Roll 197, p. 229a, Isham Clement household, Ancestry.com

[2] Will of Isham Clement, Will Book 1, p. 61, Crittenden County Clerk’s Office.

Published 15 Oct 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Illinois Marriage Licenses for Kentucky Couples 1928

Hardin County, Illinois has long been the destination for Kentucky couples wanting to marry. The Illinois marriage laws were such that they could cross the Ohio River, get married and be home again before their parents knew they had been gone. The local, weekly newspaper, the Hardin County Independent, faithfully reported the names, home towns and ages of those obtaining a license to marry. The date listed above the names is the newspaper issue in which the license appeared. It is not hard to see that in cold weather – or perhaps when the river was high – fewer couples made the trip across the river. The licenses were obtained during 1928.

[5 Jan 1928]

Fred Reithel of Rosiclare  and Miss Gladys Franks of Rosiclare married  Monday by  Rev. Connett, pastor M.E. Church, [1]

[ 8 Mar 1928]  

Coy Tabor of Crittenden, KY, age 21 and Lena McFall of Salem, KY, age 18

J.C. Hurley of Sheridan, KY, age 26 and Ellen Levy of Sheridan, KY, age 19

 [15 Mar 1928]

Lee Davision of Tolu, KY, age 62 and Martha A. Crabb of Rosiclare, age 48

28 June 1928]

Freeman F. Shewmaker of Marion, KY, age 24 and Frances Perryman of Marion, KY, age 19

[19 July 1928]

Luthern Vinson of Marion, KY, age 21 and Hazel Farley of Marion, KY, age 18

Sylvan Brown of Sheridan, KY, age 21 and Ileen Franks of Sheridan, KY, age 19

Andrew E. Maynard of Sheridan, KY, age 32 and Edna Brown of Sheridan, KY, age 20

[26 July 1928]

Earl Lynn of Sheridan, KY, age 22 and Wilma Sullenger of Tolu, KY, age 19

Geo. G. Glore of Marion, KY, age 36 and Louise Dunbar of Princeton, KY, age 19

[9 Aug 1928]

Lonnie Damron of Lola, KY, age 21 and Eulah Myrick of Lola, KY, age 18

[6 Sep 1928]

Clifford Davis of Sheridan, KY, age 22 and Miss Ruth Harness of Sheridan, KY, age 22

Earl Vaughn of E’town, IL, age 21 and Valier Davisson of Tolu, KY, age 18

Carlos Campbell of Marion, KY, age 22 and Rose Wade of Marion, KY, age 18

[20 Sep 1928]

C.E. Moreland of Marion, KY, age 21 and Mary Threlkeld of Sheridan, KY, age 21

Gradie N. Hodge of Salem, KY, age 29 and Cleato Clark of Salem, KY, age 17

[4 Oct 1928]

Raymon Vinson of Fredonia, KY, age 22 and Hazel Booker of Fredonia, KY, age 18

[18 Oct 1928]

Elias Doom –of Katatowa, KY [Kuttawa?], age 21 and Lucy Brasher of Katatowa, KY, age 18

Charles Brasher of Katatowa, age 21 and Carrie Belle Travis of Fredonia, KY, age 21

[15 Nov 1928]

David Lee Winters of Mexico, KY, age 21 and Willie C. Patterson of Marion, KY, age 18

Clarence W. Moore of Joy, KY, age 21 and Blanch Bessie Carr of Joy, KY, age 24

[6 Dec 1928]

Virgil Farley of Marion, KY, age 21 and Lucile Farmer of Marion, KY, age 20

Allie M. Bennett of Dycusburg, KY, age 21 and Mary L. Cassidy of Dycusburg, KY, age 18

[20 Dec 1928]

Lissie Nichols of Tolu, KY and Miss Maggie Gullett of Elizabethtown. Married 24 Sep 1893.

[3 Jan 1929]

Curtis Canada of Fredonia, KY, age 23 and Miss Zola Caroway of Princeton, KY, age 19

Orville Driver of Carrsville, KY, age 24 and May Simmons of Carrsville, KY, age 18

Wyatt Priest of Marion, KY, age 22 and Geneva Paris of Marion, KY, age 18

Clifford Cooper of Salem, KY, age 21 and Macie Corn of Salem, KY, age 19

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[1] Hardin County, Independent (Elizabethtown, IL), Thurs., 5 Jan 1928, p. 2.  The 1900 Crittenden County, KY census, Tolu, p. 14, E.D. 0034 shows Gladys Franks, daughter, born May 1895, living in the household headed by Robert M. Franks, born June 1859.

Published 8 Oct 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Indentures of Apprenticeship

 In early Kentucky, the county court had jurisdiction to bind out minor children as apprentices to learn a trade. It was the duty of the court to inquire after and place poor orphans and other children whose relatives or guardians the court judges feared would not bring them up in good and moral ways. The court also could bind out the children of a man  confined in the penitentiary.   There had to be a reason or necessity authorizing the child to be bound out; it could not be done willy-nilly.

 Any orphan minor could also be bound as an apprentice by his guardian, or if no guardian, by his mother, with the consent of the county court of the county where he or she  resided.

 The term of the apprenticeship was to be until the minor boy reached the age of 21 years or 18, if a minor girl.  After being bound to his master, the apprentice could not be taken out of state or sell his term of service.

The indenture of apprenticeship was a legal contract between the county clerk and the person, called the master, to whom the apprentice was bound. The contract should give the name and age of the apprentice and what occupation he was to be taught. In addition, the apprentice should have proper medical care, should be well fed and clothed and treated with humanity. The master was to pay, at the end of the apprenticeship, a sum of money, but if the master taught the apprentice to read and write, the master was not bound to pay him or her any money at the end of the apprenticeship.

 On the 29^th of January 1811, Mrs. Sporher, widow of John N. [Nicholas?] Sporher, was summoned to appear at the next term of Livingston County court to show why her children should not be bound out.[1]  Records indicate at least two of her children, Catharine and Peter Sparrow, were bound out.

On 25 April 1814,  John H. Phelps, Caldwell County Clerk, by order of the county court,  bound out Peter Sparrow (infant and orphan of Nicholas Sparrow), aged about 15 years the first of January next, to Stephen Rodgers to learn the art and mystery of the tanner’s trade. Peter was to serve Rodgers, his master, from this date until he arrived at the age of 21 years. Peter was to serve his master by keeping his secrets and obeying all lawful commands. The apprentice could not contract marriage or commit fornication or, leave without his master’s consent.  Rodgers promised to teach Peter the tanner’s trade, teach him to read, write and common arithmetic to include the rule of three, provide decent food and drink, washing, lodging and clothing and at the end of his term of servitude, give Peter a new suit of clothes “from head to foot” and three pounds 10 shillings in cash. [2]

While it may seem harsh to place a young child in a home with another family where he had to basically “work for his keep,” sometimes it was a better situation than his home life. When the apprenticeship did not work out, the apprentice could be removed and placed elsewhere or return to his home. This happened after Peter’s sister, Catharine Sparrow, was bound out to Joseph McMahan and later removed following a complaint by her mother, Caty Moore. 

The amount of information valuable to a genealogist varies from county to county and time period. The early Caldwell County apprenticeship records are handwritten in a separate book. Although the apprentice is often called an orphan, that may indicate only that his father was deceased and his mother was still alive. In the case of Peter Sparrow, his mother, Catharine remarried to Asher Moore 11 November 1811 (marriage bond) in Livingston County. [3] It should be noted she is listed as Catharine Sporher in  the marriage bond, but is listed as “Caty Moore, mother of Catharine Sparrow …”  elsewhere so look for name variations. [4] 

One entry in Caldwell County Indentures of Apprenticeship Book 1, page 9, provides the proof: "9 April 1812.  Asher Moore [and] his wife hath this day bound out their daughter Caty Sparrow orphan of Nicholas Sparrow[,] daughter of sd. Catherine Moore by her first husband Nicholas Sparrow, aged nine years sometime in August 1811 to Joseph McMahan to be taught the art and mystery of the spinster trade and all its various branches."

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[1] Livingston County, Kentucky County Court Order Book E, pp 60-61, 29 January 1811.

[2] Caldwell County, Kentucky Indentures of Apprenticeship Book 1, p. 17.

[3] Joyce M. Woodyard. Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol. 1 (October 1799-July 1839), (Smithland, KY: n.p., 1992), 33.

[4] Brenda Joyce Jerome. Caldwell County, Kentucky County Court Order Book A May 1809 – October 1815, (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery, 2000), 90.

Published 1 Oct 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/