Smithland Deaths March 1814

Proving once again that it helps to expand the boundaries in your research, the following death notices[1] were found in a Nashville, Tennessee newspaper. While that may seem strange, it really isn't. Steamboats had begun plying the rivers in 1811 between Smithland and Nashville, making travel between the two cities faster and easier.  News traveled farther and quicker by steamboat, but  newspapers were still read, shared and read again.  The following death notices were of interest to the folks who traveled the rivers or who lived anywhere between the two cities.

Originally published 6 July 2017. Repeated 1 Nov 2023.

Died

- At Smithland, Kentucky, on the 4th inst., Maj. Richard Ferguson, an old settler of that place.

-  At the same place, on the 5th inst., Mrs. Elizabeth Hance, consort Capt. William Hance.

-  At same place, on the 6th inst., Mrs. Elizabeth M'Cawley, consort of James M'Cawley, Esq.

-  At same place, on the 7th inst., master Robert Lewis, son of Lilburn Lewis, Esq. dec. of   Livingston County, Kentucky.[2]

- At same place on the 9th inst., Edward Brown,  Hatter.

-  At same place, on the 12th inst., Mrs. Catharine Ferguson, wife of Col. Hamlet Ferguson, of  Randolph County, Illinois Territory.

---

[1] Nashville Whig, Wednesday, 23 March 1814, page 3.

[2] According to Livingston County, Kentucky Cemeteries 1738 - 1976 by Livingston County Homemakers, 1977; page 196, Robert died at age 7  and is buried in Lewis Family Cemetery, Birdsville.

Nuncupative Will of John Duncan 1840

 

A nuncupative will is sometimes called a death bed will and is stated orally before witnesses by a person shortly before his death. Following the death, the will is put into writing and produced in court. The nuncupative will of John Duncan can be found in Caldwell County, Kentucky Court Order Book (court minutes) F2, page 203,  Monday 17 Aug 1840.

This day Henry Machen Senr. And Jonathan C. Stone appeared in open Court and being duly Sworn declared on oath that John Duncan deceased declared in their presence at his own dwelling house in this County about a day and a half before his death as his nuncupative Will, that he wished his just debts to be first paid, and the balance of his property to go to his wife if she was the longest liver, during her life. Whereupon the Same is established as the Nuncupative Will of the John Duncan deceased. Whereupon on motion of Mary Duncan the widow of said decedent, It is ordered that Letters of administration with Will annexed be granted her on the estate of John Duncan in open Court took the oath required by law and together with John J. Duncan, her Security, entered into and acknowledged bond in the premises payable to the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penalty of $500 conditioned according to law. And on further motion It is ordered that Christopher H. Jones, Wm. Sparkman & Wash. Grubbs be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to appraise the estate of sd. decedent and report &c.

Published 2 Sep 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Kentucky, Births, Deaths and Marriages

In 2017, I published a post here on the The Kentucky Vital Statistics Law of 1852.  While the records kept under this law are not complete,  their importance is worth mentioning again. 

 The records begin in 1852 and generally run through 1859. Occasionally a county continued recording after 1859. Caldwell, Crittenden and Livingston have some records for 1861. Records were discontinued during the Civil War and,  for most counties, the records begin again in the 1870s. They were recorded sporadically until becoming mandatory in 1911.

 The Vital Statistics Law of 1852 only required births and deaths attended by physicians, surgeons and midwives to be recorded. If a death or birth occurred at home with no doctor or midwife in attendance, the event was not required to be recorded.

While making their lists of taxable property, local assessors were supposed to list births, marriages and deaths occurring during the past 12 months. It appears that births and deaths were recorded at the time they occurred while marriages were not, resulting in incorrect dates.

If the birth or death was for a slave, the owner’s name could be given in place of the names of the parents. Beware of confusing one for the other.

The names and dates recorded under the Kentucky Vital Statistics Law of 1852 are not perfect and may contain errors so always be on the look out for additional information.

Happy Hunting!

 Published 18 March 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

 

Deaths of 3 Revolutionary War Pensioners - Union County, Kentucky 1840s

 

Not all death dates are found on death certificates and tombstones. The following entries in county court order books [court minutes] give the death dates of Revolutionary War pensioners in Union County, Kentucky Court Order Book E (1845-1855).  The source is located at the end of each entry.  OB E = Order Book E

Satisfactory proof was this day made in open court by oaths of James Eddins and John J. Curry that Edward Curry late of Union County departed this life on the 14^th day of May 1836 & that he was the identical person named in an original certificate here shown to court bearing date at the war office of the United States on the 27^th day of March 1834 numbered 26588 signed by Lew Cass Secretary of War and granting to the sd. Edward curry a pension of $50 per annum and further proven that Edward Curry died leaving no widow. [OB E, p. 58, 20 July 1846]

Satisfactory proof was this day made to the Court by oaths of Benjamin S. Gardiner and Thomas S. Chapman that William Givens was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of $20 per annum; was a resident of the county of Union and died in the County of Union on the 2^nd day of February 1847 and that he left no widow. [OB E, p. 124,  16 Aug 1847]

Satisfactory proof was made in open Court by oaths of William P. Jackson and Joseph W. Cromwell that William Hammock late of Union County departed this life on the 2^nd day of January 1849 & that he was the identical person named in an original certificate here shown to the court bearing date at the war office of the United States on the 14^th day of April 1834 numbered 26647 signed by Lew Cass Secretary of War & granted to William Hammock a pensioner of $30 per annum and further proven that Hammock died leaving no widow. [OB E, p. 207,  19 Feb 1849]

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

 

The Perfect Obituary

The perfect obituary answers the following  10 questions:

1.  Name of the decedent and residence

2.  Cause of death 

3.  Date of birth and death 

4.  Date of marriage(s) and name(s) of spouse(s) 

5.  Name of parents

6.  Place of birth and death

7.  Military service 

8.  Names of survivors

9.  Religious affiliation

10. Place of burial

Although we can hope for answers to all 10 questions, rarely do we get answers to more than half of them.  I was delighted to find the obituary of W.L.  Hughes of Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky in his local newspaper. His father was mentioned, but not named.  That and military service are the only two questions not addressed.   See what you think about this obituary.

"W.L. Hughes

Passes Away[1]

After Many Months of Illness and

Suffering  A Well Known and

Respected Citizen

Wm. Leonard Hughes, one of the county's pioneer citizens, died at his home two miles northeast of Marion Thursday, Sept. 21st, of cirrhosis of the liver, which he had suffered for several years.

He was in his 71st year having been born April 4th, 1846. His father moved here from Smith county, Tennessee, when he was a child.

"He was married Dec. 27th, 1866 to Miss Lutitia Hunt of this county who survives him with five children, all of whom are representative citizens. There are two sons, Wm.  H., and John Wyatt Hughes; and three daughters, Mary Ellen, wife of J.H. Mayes, of this city; Martha Frances, wife of John M. Baker; and Lucy Jane, wife of Josie Hunt, the latter two of Pleasant Hill section. He is survived by one brother, Heziciah Hughes, of Lilly Dale, and one sister, Mrs. H.S. Wheeler, of this city.

"The deceased was a member for nearly 40 years of the Pleasant Hill Primitive Baptist church and always lived an upright christian life. He was a man of strict integrity and honorable in all of his dealings. His sons could not do better than to follow his example. His remains were laid to rest in Pleasant Hill cemetery on Friday at noon Sept. 22nd, 1916, Eld. John A. Hunt officiating. A large gathering of sorrowing friends and relatives were there to do honor to the memory of the dead man."

---

[1] "W.L. Hughes Passes Away," Crittenden Record-Press, Thursday, 28 September 1916, p. 6.

Published 1 Mar 2018, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Kentucky Vital Statistics Law of 1852

Kentucky is fortunate to have birth and death records dating back to 1852. While they aren't complete and many contain errors, they can be helpful and are certainly better than having no records at all. The records begin in 1852 and, for most counties, cover 1853-1859. The law was rescinded during the Civil War, but was reinstated in the 1870s. There are few records during the 1880s and 1890s.  Compliance across the state was not consistent until 1911, when it became mandatory in Kentucky to keep a record of these vital statistics.

According to the law,[1] it was the duty of all physicians, surgeons and midwives to keep a registry of all births and deaths at which they had professionally attended, showing, in the case of deaths, the time, place and cause of death, the name, age, sex, color, and condition (whether single, married or widowed), name and surname of parents, occupation, residence, and place of birth of the deceased.  When two or more physicians, surgeons or midwives attended professionally at the event, the oldest one in attendance shall make the registry.

It was the duty of the local assessors, while making their lists of taxable property, to record a list of all births, marriages and deaths which had occurred within their counties in the 12 months ending on the 31st day of December last preceding the time of assessment.

In the case of births, the information on the registry was to include the time and place of birth, name of father and maiden name of mother, their residence, sex and color of the child, together with the child's name and whether born alive or dead. If the birth was for a slave, the owner's name could be given in place of the names of the parents.  The same applied when listing the death of a slave.

The following death record was found in loose papers (Deaths) in the Caldwell County Clerk's Office, Princeton, Kentucky. Click on the record to enlarge the image.

Death Certificate of Samuel Crowder born in Georgia September 23rd 1769, aged Eighty-two years Eleven months and nine days, residing in Caldwell County, Ky, died in Caldwell County Ky, on the second day of September 1852 of Congestive fever. [signed] J.C. Trayler

---

[1] The Revised Statutes of Kentucky, Vol. II, Approved and Adopted By the General Assembly, 1851 and 1852, and in Force From July 1, 1852, (Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co., 1860) Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Chapter 82, p. 234.

Published 28 July 2017, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

March 1814 Deaths in Smithland

Proving once again that it helps to expand the boundaries in your research, the following death notices[1] were found in a Nashville, Tennessee newspaper. While that may seem strange, it really isn't. Steamboats had begun plying the rivers in 1811 between Smithland and Nashville, making travel between the two cities faster and easier.  News traveled farther and quicker by steamboat, but  newspapers were still read, shared and read again.  The following death notices were of interest to the folks who traveled the rivers or who lived anywhere between the two cities.

Died

- At Smithland, Kentucky, on the 4th inst., Maj. Richard Ferguson, an old settler of that place.

-  At the same place, on the 5th ins., Mrs. Elizabeth Hance, consort Capt. William Hance.

-  At same place, on the 6th inst., Mrs. Elizabeth M'Cawley, consort of James M'Cawley, Esq.

-  At same place, on the 7th inst., master Robert Lewis, son of Lilburn Lewis, Esq. dec. of   Livingston County, Kentucky.[2]

- At same place on the 9th inst., Edward Brown,  Hatter.

-  At same place, on the 12th inst., Mrs. Catharine Ferguson, wife of Col. Hamlet Ferguson, of  Randolph County, Illinois Territory.

---

[1] Nashville Whig, Wednesday, 23 March 1814, page 3.

[2] According to Livingston County, Kentucky Cemeteries 1738 - 1976 by Livingston County Homemakers, 1977; page 196, Robert died at age 7  and is buried in Lewis Family Cemetery, Birdsville.

Published 6 July 2017, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Henderson, Kentucky Obituaries - 1852

The following obituaries have been abstracted from The Democratic Banner, Henderson County, Kentucky. This newspaper can be found on microfilm at the Henderson County Library, Henderson, Kentucky. The date following the entry is the date the obituary appeared in the newspaper.
Died at the residence of Mr. E. Johnson, in Muhlenburgh county, Ky., on the 12th of April 1852, Grandison Holcomb, in the 58th year of his age. He was a native of Connecticut and late of Henderson county. He died of typhoid fever. [22 April 1852]

Died of congestive fever, Mrs. Alexander B. Barrett. The deceased was a member of the Episcopal church. [6 May 1852]

Died at this place on Monday, 31st ult., Mrs. Sarah L., daughter of the Rev. Joel Lambert, and consort of Mr. G.M. Priest. [3 June 1852]

Died on the 28th inst., at her residence in this county, Mrs. Elizabeth, consort of the late Thos. Towles Sr. [1 July 1852]

Died on the 9th inst., Mrs. Georgeanna Posey. [15 July 1852]

Died on the 10th inst., Mrs. Mary N., consort of Eli Reeves. [15 July 1852]

Died on the 4th inst., Henry, infant son of Ira and Ellen Delany, of this place. [15 July 1852]

It is our painful duty to announce the death of our friend and fellow citizen, Dr. Jno. P. Wilson. For more than 20 years he had been an active and laborious practitioner of medicine. [22 July 1852]

Died, Mr. Presley King on the 16th inst. [29 July 1852]

Died on the 17th July 1852, Mr. James B. Harrison Jr., in the 23rd year of his age. [29 July 1852]

Died at the residence of his mother, Mrs. Sarah Moss, on the 29th, Henry Clay Moss, in the 18th year of his age. [5 August 1852]

Died at his residence in this county, on the 11th inst., Mr. John T. Elam. [12 August 1852]

Died on the 3rd Inst., at his residence, Dr. J.A. Gardner. [12 August 1852]

Died on Friday last, Virgil P., son of C.C. and C.W. Hutchen, aged 5 years, 9 months and 5 days. [19 August 1852 - from Hickman Argus]

Died on Tuesday at the residence of the editor of this paper, Marcellus Gray, son of Mary Eliza and W.F. Hutchen, aged 3 years. [19 August 1852 - from Hickman Argus]

Died on Sat., the 1st August, Elizabeth, infant daughter of Joseph and Ann Eblen, aged 1 year. [26 August 1852]

Died near Carlow, Hopkins County, on the 2nd inst., Mrs. Mary Morrow, in the 51st year of her age, consort of Mr. John Morrow. [9 September 1852]

Died on the 16th inst., Mr. C.M. Livesay, aged 35 years. [16 September 1852]

Died on the 2nd inst., Mrs. Evaline Eakins, in the 21st year of her age, consort of Mr. E.K. Eakins. [23 September 1852]

Died on the 23d inst., Mrs. Elizabeth R. Dixon, consort of Hon. A. Dixon. [30 September 1852]

Died on the 24th inst., Mrs. Ann R. Mathews, consort of Rev. J. Mathews. [25 November 1852]

Died on the 7th inst., Miss Martha F. Ligon, daughter of Mrs. Jane Ligon. [9 December 1852]

Henderson Vital Statistics (Deaths) 1900 - 1909

There is something comforting about numbers - comparing them, sorting them, finding the median of a set of them. Therefore, I am always pleased when numbers are used to define a situation or give a picture of life in past years. The following abstracted article appeared in the Henderson Journal on Friday, 7 January 1910. See what you learn by these numbers for the city of Henderson.

Decrease in Death Rate
“Our local death rate is lower than that of any year since 1900,” says Health Officer W.V. Neel in his report for 1909.

He says further that it is highly gratifying for him to state that the year just closed “shows a most excellent record in our vital statistics and sanitary condition of the city.” He gives the comparative death record from 1900 to 1910, as follows:
1900 - 123 white deaths, 124 colored deaths
1901 - 143 white deaths, 135 colored deaths
1902 - 91 white deaths, 140 colored deaths
1903 - 107 white deaths, 103 colored deaths
1904 - 119 white deaths, 122 colored deaths
1905 - 113 white deaths, 96 colored deaths
1906 - 155 white deaths, 106 colored deaths
1907 - 128 white deaths, 107 colored deaths
1908 - 123 white deaths, 106 colored deaths
1909 - 101 white deaths, 87 colored deaths

One hundred and 59 sewer connections were made during the year, and the total for the past three years is shown to be 609.

Contagious and infectious diseases for the year 1909 - 122
Tuberculosis - 33
Epidemic diseases - 11

Deaths by Violence
Deaths by burning - 2
Pistol shot wound - 6
Self destruction - 2
Death by drowning - 1
Accidental traumatism - 3
Accidental poisoning - 1

Other Diseases
Typhoid fever - 36
Pneumonia - 25
Scarlet Fever - 20

The very important fact of the decrease in the number of cases of typhoid and in the death rate, is attributable to sewer connections, many of which were made under compulsion. The report estimates the population of the city at 17,500. Total deaths, 188; annual death rate per 1,000 - 10 and 26/35.

[The average number of white deaths for the 10 year period was 120 and the average number of colored deaths for the same period was 112.6. I would be happier if I knew how many of the 17,500 population were white and how many were not.]

Uniontown, Kentucky Deaths 1912

Can't find an obituary for your ancestor in the county in which he lived? Try the adjoining county and, if that doesn't work, try the newspaper of the nearest large city. The following deaths were reported in the Evansville, Indiana Courier on Wednesday, 3 July 1912.

Uniontown, Ky., July 2 - The death of Mrs. George S. Pike occurred here yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Death resulted from cancer of the face. Mrs. Pike is survived by one daughter, Miss Marguerite, and one son, George. The funeral will take place tomorrow with high requiem mass at 9 o'clock from St. Agnes Catholic Church.

The death of John Wesley Randolph took place here at 3 o'clock this morning, due to bowel trouble. The deceased is a retired farmer about 72 years of age. A wife and eleven children survive. The funeral will take place tomorrow.

Crittenden County Coroner's Inquest 1854

Sometimes it is difficult to find the date and cause of death - until you find a document like this one, which was located in Crittenden County, Kentucky Circuit Court Bundle 56, Commonwealth of Kentucky vs Dead Man Wm. McKee.

"this the 10th July 1854 Critenden Co Ky: We the Jurors Sommoned and qualified for the purpose of examining the body of Wm. McKee who was found dead Near the town of Dycusburg do Report that we have examined the body and find Marks of Violence or suposed to be by as we find bruises from little cuts and holes having the appearance of shot holes and other Marks of violence." [signed] Thos. T. Thompson forman, Charles Addy, John C. Martin, J.W. Smith, L.T. Gwinn, A.B. Wallis, P.P. McIntire, F.J. Burks, J.W. Bice, A. Lindley, Thos. R. Jarrett, Wm. Brashear, J.J[?] Bishop Police Judge of Dycusburg.

Caldwell County Vital Statistics

Since the publication of two books on Caldwell County births and deaths, additional records have found in the county clerk’s office in Princeton, Kentucky. These vital statistics were reported by Dr. E.N. Amoss.

Birth
I hereby certify that on the 6th day of September 1858 a white male child was born at full time, at the house of George Lester of Caldwell Co Ky. This child was the son of George and Mary Lester who reside in Caldwell County. The child was named _____. Sept. 12th1858. [signed] E.N. Amoss.

Deaths
I hereby certify a white male child named Charles Griffith, son of Franklin and Mary Jane Griffith, born in Caldwell County Ky aged 4 months, died in said county on the 26th day of February 1856, of quinsey. [signed] E.N. Amoss.

I hereby certify that a white male named Richard Groom son of Major and Christiana Groom, born in county, aged 49 years, a married man and a farmer, residing in Caldwell County, died in said county on the 16th day of May 1856 of Bilious Colic. [signed] E.N. Amoss.

An Old Mourning Custom

A group of people in period costumes presented a program on mourning customs at the recent meeting of the Tri-State Genealogical Society in Evansville, IN. It may sound morbid, but it was really very informative and enjoyable. One of the customs mentioned was the wearing of a black arm band in memory of the decedent.

While searching through the loose county court papers in the Caldwell County Clerk’s Office a couple of years ago, I came across a paper that verifies this custom. It is a tribute to Charles B. Dallam, who was the county clerk at the time of his death in December 1847 at the age of 33 years. His remains rest in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Princeton, KY.

"Whereas, in the dispensations of an all-wise and insensible Providence, our Community has sustained a sad and afflicting visitation in the death of Charles B. Dallam, former clerk of this county, a good and worthy citizen; polite and courteous; a Kind and benevolent neighbour; a prompt, efficient and accommodating public officer; a man exemplary in all the relations of life; a gentleman and a Christian; yet suddenly cut off in the meridian of life. And whereas, while we feel it to be our duty humbly to acknowledge the wisdom and justice of the Great Dosposer [sic] of events in sending affliction upon the human family, and making them the subject of mourning, yet we also feel it to be our privilege to express our sorrow for the dead, as well as our Sympathy with the surviving friends and relatives, by some appropriate testimonial of regard for the deceased.

Resolved, therefore that all the members of the bar, officers of the Court of which Charles B. Dallam was clerk at the time of his death, will wear the usual badge of mourning on the left arm for 30 days.

Resolved further, that the foregoing preamble and these resolutions be spread upon the records of the County Court of Caldwell County, of which the deceased was so long an efficient and useful clerk, and that a copy therefore be communicated to his bereaved widow."