150th Anniversary of the Battle of Salem

Today marks the 150th anniversary (7 August 1864) of the Battle of Salem, in which a handful of Union soldiers repulsed an attack from 300 Confederates and guerrillas on the main street of Salem. The battle lasted six hours and left 2-3 Union soldiers dead or dying and ended the lives of a larger number of Confederate soldiers.

As battles go, it was a small one, but it is believed to have been the only one fought on Livingston County soil during the Civil War.  The only public acknowledgement of this battle can be found on an historical sign on U.S. 60 in Salem.

To read more about the battle in an earlier post on my blog, go here: Battle of Salem

Published 7 August 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Monument Monday - Adams: Father and Son

David Adams

1834 - 1927

What doth the Lord require of thee

but to do justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with thy God.

               Micah 6:8

Lynn David

Adams  M.D.

Aug. 26, 1880

July 11, 1952

David Adams and his son, Dr. Lynn David Adams, are both buried in Smithland Cemetery, Smithland, Kentucky. The tombstones were photographed in 2012.

In 1850, David Adams was age 17 and lived with the Reuben Hastings family in Livingston County. He married Georgia Hunter, daughter of Lewis Hunter, 4 March 1863. They had several children, including Dr. Lynn David Adams, who married Anna Lake Haynes

Published 4 August 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Chasing Probate Records

Sometimes we find part of a probate record in one county and then find supporting data in another county. This usually happens when a new county is created during the probate process. For example, William Wood wrote his will 20 September 1806 while living in Livingston County, Kentucky (Will Book A, page 25). His will was produced in Livingston County court and proven in April 1807. His will names his wife Anne Wood, son Spencer Wood and his "four youngest children." The inventory and appraisal of Wood's estate were recorded 6 February 1809.  You might think that was the end of the settlement of his estate, but was it?  In addition, we don't know the names of any of the "four youngest children" of William Woods. If there is nothing more in Livingston County, maybe it would be wise to check Caldwell County, which was created from Livingston in May 1809.

Ah, ha! The Wood family did, indeed, live in the part of Livingston that fell into Caldwell County in 1809. Caldwell County Deed Book A, page 304 shows that on 31 August 1811, there was a conveyance of land on Flynns Fork of Tradewater from Benjamin Vaughn to Ann Woods and Spencer Woods, heirs of William Woods dec'd.

Caldwell County marriage records show that Nancy Wood married John Barnes in 1816.  Then, in 1818, Rachel Wood married Mathew Ledbetter. Consent was given for both marriages by their mother, Ann Wood, and Spencer Wood was the surety on the marriage bond. Then, in 1821, Spencer Wood married Rhoda Smith. Sure sounds like the children of William Wood. In 1823, Rhoda Wood married Seth Baker ... curious! The document that tied this all together was found in a box marked "Depositions" in the Caldwell County Clerk's Office. It reads thus:

"Memo for Auditor of Accounts

I have found a tract of land Situate in this County Containing 98 acres - Conveyed by Ben Vaughn to Ann Wood during her life and then to Spencer Wood her Son & his heirs - (Widow & heirs of Wm. Wood dec'd) now the Widow is dead, and the said Spencer also, who died before the Widow & before he got possession, Spencer had one child supposed to be dead, her mother married again and went to Mississippi taking her with her & has never been heard of Since except that the child was dead. She moved to Mississippi about 15 years ago. Deed in Book A page 304."

(Click on document for an enlarged view)

Published 30 July 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkgenealogy.blogspot.com/

Copyright and You

Copyright  on Internet is a hot topic right now and everyone has an opinion on what constitutes violation of copyright. Some of those opinions are based on wrong information and stems from "word of mouth."  One person gives his version of copyrighted material, another person repeats it and perhaps adds his two cents worth, a third person repeats that and adds ... etc, etc, etc. It ends up being far from the truth.

Just recently I have been told the following:

1. Everything on Internet is free and I can copy anything.  False!

What is true: Very little on Internet is free to copy. It doesn't matter if it is text or a photograph. You can not copy it just because you want it. Show common courtesy and ethics by contacting the author and requesting permission. If permission is granted, thank the author and be sure to credit the source of the information. If it is not granted, that is the end of it. Move on.

2. I didn't see your copyright notice so I did nothing wrong by copying your material. False!

What is true:  It does not matter if there is a copyright notice or not. Copyrighting material, whether for a website or blog as text or photograph, is automatic from the time it goes into fixed form. A copyright notice is not required.

3.  The article came from a newspaper, newspapers are facts and you can't copyright facts.  Partially False!
What is true: You can't copyright facts, but newspapers aren't facts. Current newspapers are most likely protected by copyright so be sure to have permission before using current articles. Articles published prior to 1923 are in the public domain and articles 1923-1977 can be used under certain circumstances. Be sure you know those circumstances.

Judy Russell, a certified genealogist and lawyer, writes a wonderful blog, The Legal Genealogist and has dealt with copyright issues several times. Two posts from her blog have been very helpful to me. They can be found here: Copyright and the Website and Copyright & the Newspaper Article 

Another site that has been helpful is here: The Mystery Behind the (C) by Christopher B. Skvarka.

The bottom line, folks, is this:

If you didn't create the text or photograph, it isn't yours to use without permission. Avoid hard feelings and show the manners your mama taught you. Ask permission and give credit.

Published 27 July 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Jailor's Bond 1842

One of the duties of the county court was to make the appointment of county jailer. The first jailer of Crittenden County, Kentucky was John H . Bruff, who was appointed 12 December 1842. Crittenden County was still new, having been created from Livingston County in early 1842. Because several sessions of the Crittenden County Court are missing from 1842, the document below is the only extant record of Bruff's appointment as jailer. In order to qualify as a county official, he was required to sign a performance bond to guarantee he would "well, truly & faithfully perform and discharge" the duties of jailer. This document was located in a bundle marked "Officers Bonds" in the Crittenden County Clerk's Office.

"Know all men by these presents that we John H. Bruff, John S. Gilliam, Wm. Hoggard & H.W. Bigham are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of one thousand dollars to the payment of which well and truly to be made we do hereby bind ourselves our heirs jointly & severally &c firmly[?] by these presents sealed and dated this twelfth day of December 1842 --

"The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound Bruff has this day been appointed jailor in & for Crittenden County & Commonwealth of Kentucky by the County Court of said County, Now if the said Bruff shall well, truly & faithfully perform and discharge the duties pertaining to said office so long as he shall continue to hold said appointment, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue  Given under our hands and seals the day and date above written.
Teste: H.W. Bigham, Clk  [signed] John H. Bruff, John S. Gilliam, Wm. Hogard, H.W. Bigham."

Published 24 July 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tombstone Tuesday - Hoge

William H. Hoge

1840 - 1918

Christine S. His Wife

1840 - 1936

Buried Fernwood cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 31 December 2011.

The 1900 Henderson County census shows that William H. Hoge was born October 1840 in Germany and came to the United States in 1867.  According to death certificate #4542, Christine Hoge was born 8 October 1840 and died 1 February 1936. Her parents were not listed.

Published 22 July 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Manumission of Wife and Child 1836

It is not unusual to find that a Free Person of Color owned and manumitted members of his own family. This was done through the county court or by the last will of the slave owner. The following entry in Caldwell County, Kentucky Court Order Book E, page 423 illustrates this process.

"This day John Montgomery (a free man of Color) produced in open Court a Deed of emancipation setting free his woman called Abbey (his wife) and his infant Son named Jackson which Deed is here ordered to be recorded to wit: Know all men by these presents that I John Montgomery (a free man of Color) of the County of Caldwell and State of Kentucky from motives of benevolence and humanity have manumitted & do hereby manumit & set free from Slavery my negro woman Abbey, aged about thirty three years  of black complexion and my infant Son Jackson aged 6 months, And I hereby give grant, & release to her the said Abbey & my Son of all my right, title, & claim of, in & to these person, labour & services and in and to the estate & property which they have hereafter acquire or obtain. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 15th Feby 1836."

John and Abbey Montgomery can be found on the 1840 and 1850 Caldwell County census records. They do not appear on the 1860 census, but their oldest son, Jackson, is shown living in nearby Dycusburg, Crittenden County, Kentucky.

Published 19 July 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/