Ouch! Affray in Caldwell County 1817

Black's Law Dictionary (Sixth Edition)  defines an affray as combat between two or more persons and differs from a riot or duel in that it was not premeditated. We would probably just call it a fight today, but no matter what you call it, Thomas Shelby and Phillip Holeman meant business when they met one day in May many years ago. We know this from an affidavit signed by  William R. Asher and filed in the county court. The original affidavit can be found in a box marked "Notes 1827-1870" in the Caldwell County Clerk's Office in Princeton, Kentucky.

"Commonwealth of Kentucky Caldwell County
Personally appeared before me James Morse an acting Justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid William Asher and made oath that he was present when an affray took place between Thomas Shelby & Phillip Holeman by fighting together some time in May 1817 and that in said affray Phillip Holeman did loose a part of One of his ears by a bite or otherwise  Sworn and subscribed to before me this 26th July 1819. "William R. Asher.   James Morse."

Published 26 June 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http:wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/