Kentucky 

              Kentucky Illinois
became state    1792     1818
first ancestor  1792     1813
last ancestor   1832     1813
# of ancestors    20        1
# of immigrants    0        0
# born in state    6        0
# died in state   12        1
  • BOURN family (1802ca-1834)
  • CRAWFORD & ROBINSON families (1792-1832)
  • DONNOHUE family (1802-1836ca)
  • HAZELRIGG family (1780-1838)
  • ELGIN family (1810-1827)
  • MCCORMICK family (1794-1825)
  • RANSDALL family (17-18)

    Kentucky, along with Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia are the four U.S. states that are organized as commonwealths rather than states. The Crawford ancestors immigrated to two of these commonwealths, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and from there used Kentucky as their stepping stone to Missouri. Kentucky was split from Virginia in 1792 and became the 15th state to join the Union. Humans first populated Kentucky over 10,000 years ago, with five major cultural groups living in the area by the 16th century. French trappers and explorers entered the region in the late 1600s, but the first European settleman did not occur until 1774 at Harrodsburg, in the middle of the "Blue Grass" region in the north central part of the state. The following year, 25 miles to the northeast of Harrodsbug, the local inhabitants heard of the "shot heard round the world" in the Battle of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, and promptly named their new town Lexington. During and after the Revolutionary War, George Rogers Clark, older brother of William Clark of the Lewis & Clark expedition, led the American forces in the region. Daniel Boone was hired in 1775 to widen the path through the Cumberland gap at the southeastern corner of the state. The resulting Wilderness Road was used by over 200,000 settlers to reach Kentucky and Ohio before 1810.

    The BOURN family (1802ca-1834) 
    			                       |-????
                        |-William Thomas Bourn-|
    John Ransdell Bourn-|                      |-????
			|-Mary Ann Ransdall
    Our ancestor WILLIAM THOMAS BOURN was born in Orange County, Virginia in 1781 and soon after came with his family and other Bourn families to the area around Lexington, Kentucky. He there married MARY ANN RANSDALL, who came with her family from Westmoreland County, Virginia to Mercer County, Kentucky. They had five children, all born in Kentucky. In 1834 WILLIAM moved the family to Pettis County, Missouri. (See the Chapter on Missouri.)

    The CRAWFORD and ROBINSON families (1792-1832) 
                                              |-George Robinson
                        |-Martha Robinson-|                 
   John Edward Crawford-|                 |-Ann Wiley
                        |-John Crawford
    We here continue the story of the Robinson and Crawford families told in the chapter on Pennsylvania. Jonathan Robinson, son of ancestors GEORGE and ANN ROBINSON, moved around 1785 to the "Blue Grass" region around Lexington, Kentucky, specifically Scott County. Other Robinson families followed, and seven years later, just as Kentucky became the 15th state, MARTHA ROBINSON married JOHN CRAWFORD and they joined her siblings in Scott County. Finally, in 1797, the parents GEORGE and ANN also moved near the present site of Georgetown, about 10 miles north of Lexington. Eight of the ten Robinson children and at least three of their guardian Logan children were nearby, all but the oldest child Mary, who stayed in Sherman's Valley, Pennsylvania with her husband, and the youngest child Thomas, who moved to Lake Erie with his in-laws. There is no mention of ANN ROBINSON once they arrived in Kentucky. GEORGE became an elder in the Bethel Presbyterian church of Scott County along with his son Jonathan. He died in 1814 and was buried in the grounds by the church. One of GEORGE's grandchildren, James F. Robinson, became governor of Kentucky during the Civil War. He described his grandfather in glowing terms [6]:

    "My grandfather, George Robinson, died in 1814, in the 87th year of his age. I was but a boy at his death, but have a perfect recollection of him. He was six feet high, perfect in person, remarkably athletic and strong, fine large head, light hair, beautiful large blue eye, large and well developed forehead, with a benevolent and intellectual countenance, which was no counterfeit. He was a good English scholar, remarkable for his love of reading, especially that of the higher and more difficult kinds, works on law, on ethics, and the philosophy of mind. The copies of some of his books, such as Blackstone's Commentaries, Locke on Government, Hume's History of England, the Spectator, Stewart's Philosophy, &c., are illustrative of his taste. In his neighborhood and among his acquaintances he stood distinguished for his sane and sound judgment. He was a general counselor, a kind of oracle to all around. He lived and died a prominent and worthy member of the Presbyterian Church, in truth and in fact a Christian gentleman. His memory is cherished by all who knew him, and has been handed down as that of one of the worthies of his day." 

     Sacred to the Memory of George Robinson,   
  who departed this life, March 6, 1814,     
             in his 87th year.               
"Of softest manner, unaffected mind,         
 Lover of peace and friend of human kind,    
 Go live! for Heaven's eternal rest is thine,
 Go! and exalt this mortal to divine."
    Tombstone of GEORGE ROBINSON at Bethel Presbyterian Church cemetery in Scott County, Kentucky

    MARTHA and JOHN CRAWFORD had two children born in Scott County. But in 1799, they moved south to the Cumberland River near Burksville, along with four of the other Robinson children. These included Sarah, who married James Fergus; Ester, who married James Logan; John, who married Margaret Logan; and George, who married Mary Thorn. Three of the families lived adjacent to each other in what was called Irish Bottom. The Cumberland River meanders north and south as it flows southwest from the Appalacian Mts. through Kentucky to Tennessee. The big oxbow bends in the river are called "Bottoms". Irish Bottom is roughly two miles north-south and one mile east-west, on the south side of the river. JOHN CRAWFORD was granted 200 acres in 1799 in the upper half of the Bottom, while John Robertson [Robinson was sometimes mis-spelt this way] bought 1000 acres in the lower half of the Bottom (with John Cape owning a strip in the middle). James Fergus obtained 200 acres on Little Willis Cr, which is just south of the Bottom. James Logan was granted 350 acres in 1799 along Kettle Creek, which is about seven miles on the opposite side of Burkesville from Irish Bottom. Finally, George Robinson was granted 153 acres in 1801, but his location is not known.

    Eight more children were born to the Crawfords in Irish Bottom, including JOHN EDWARD CRAWFORD on September 24, 1802. JOHN the father was a cooper by training, and probably plied that trade in Pennsylvania before he was married. But here in Irish Bottom he was also a farmer. He was on the tax lists for Cumberland County, and also listed in the 1810 U.S. Census with their 3 sons and 6 daughters (one daughter was born later). He was also listed on several deeds, and referred to as "Judge Crawford". Besides the 200 acres in Irish Bottom, JOHN owned 100 acres along Pine Branch of Crocus Creek as early as 1806, and 1/4 acre in the town of Burkeville bought in 1811 (see JOHN CRAWFORD's land). Perhaps this last property was used in his role as a judge. Irish Bottom is only 7 miles from Burkesville, but involved crossing the Cumberland River and numerous creeks; the shortest road distance today is 16 miles.

    Next came a rather peculiar episode in the Crawford family history. The Ohio River forms the northern and western boundary of Kentucky. Ten miles cross the Ohio River in Illinois is a region of several very large salt licks and springs. The town of Shawneetown was established on the west bank of the Ohio River at a ferry crossing. This town became the principle government town for the Illinois Territory, and the conduit from Kentucky to the salt mines along the Saline River. Salt was a very scarce commodity on the frontier, but very much in demand. The first settlers in this area came about 1800, but the first lease for the salt licks and springs, called U. S. Saline, was granted in 1803. MARTHA's two brothers John and George moved to Illinois where they speculated in the leases. George, who was 21 years younger than John, was postmaster from 1807-1814 at Shawneetown, He was also justice of the peace, mail contractor, and deputy clerk of the county. In 1817 when Illinois became a state, there were five leases of salt wells and springs to individuals, of which one was to George. He later moved to Tennessee, Louisiana, and Texas. He died in 1825 at Tipton, Tenn. at the home of one of his sons. John Robinson, meanwhile, became wealthy with his leases at Saline. He moved with his children and their families to Mississippi, where an earthquake and subsequent flooding left him penniless. The clan then moved to Tipton, Tenn., and thence to Arkansas where he died in 1832.

    JOHN CRAWFORD must have heard about the riches-to-be-made from his inlaws, and decided to see for himself. One source [2] said the U.S. government appointed him agent for the salt works in Illinois. He sent a letter home to MARTHA from Illinois which I have transcribed (I changed some spelling and added some punctuation to make it more readable):


    Click here to see the 1813 letter with its literal transcription.
    U.S. Saline 16th Sept 1813

    Dear wife and children. I have been for about 8 days past closely confined to bed with a fever but am now on the mend. Capt. White and all his family have also been sick besides a number of others, which appears to discourage me about moving, --- I wish you therefore to suspend any further preparation until you hear from me. I hope there has been no sale yet and if not you must stop it and take good care of the fifty dollers I sent you by Sexton----

    The gov. has advertised that on the 10th Oct. the Saline will be leased to the highest bidder (at this place) and I have reason to believe that Wilkins and Morrison are determined to with- draw as they have talked strongly of it 4 years ago and still continue to do so and I know Butler is fully determined that Taylor shall not be a partner with him and Taylor is foaming and sets out this day or tomorrow as I am informed for Lexington with a view if he cannot get Wilkins and Morrison to continue, to try to form another company, and if he should succeed in that those will be high competition and consequently great uncertainty who might succeed in getting the lease, -- these include the chief of my reasons for wishing to make no further preparation until you hear from me again and I will write to you immediately as soon as it is known; at present keep all things together as well as possible --- ---

    The truth is I have some doubts as to the propriety of moving such as family to this place finding it proves sicklier than I had expected and the county around and in Shawanee and on both sides of the Ohio, it is still vastly more, so there is no doubt in my mind but this is the healthiest place within 50 miles --- I feel quite conscious from my constitution and regular manner of living together with the precautionary measures I used that if you had been here there could not one of you have escaped, which is matter of very great concern to me besides I know there is none of you would have had the fortitude to have taken the medicine I did as it appeared to me a desperate case as I was situated, I hope however I shall be well in a few days, I have made out to write this scrawl at 3 different spells which was much better or more than had expected. I have had a violent headache ever since I was taken which yet continues though somewhat abated in the coarse of about 48 hours I have taken I think not less than 250 drops of laudanum and still have rested or slept very little in that time ---

    At present I must desist as I am quite exhausted, when I get better I shall write you again.

    I am your loving Husband and Father John Crawford

    JOHN must never have recovered from his sickness, as he died before the end of the year. He was probably buried somewhere near or in the town of Equality, which was the closest town to U. S. Saline. It is very likely that JOHN died from malaria. The disease was prevelant at that time all along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. The southern tip of Illinois, less than 50 miles from Shawneetown, has the most northerly cypress swamp in America. The book "The Centenniel History of Illinois vol I" said "...the experience of all newcomers with malaria, due to the myriads of mosquitoes that found breeding places in the stagnant pools ..., had given Illinois the reputation of being particularly unhealthful." A typical treatment for malaria then was quinine plus laudanum. Lewis and Clark had both drugs with them on their expedition. But quinine was very expensive, and it is possible there was none to treat JOHN.

    The farm and family were now the sole responsibility of MARTHA, although she had plenty of help from her children and her two sisters who lived nearby. Her oldest son George was already 20. Lulita Crawford Pritchett wrote four generations later that MARTHA was a strict Scotch Presbyterian who talked with a Scottish brogue. She was a tall, queenly looking woman with strong character, who was remembered very fondly by her son JOHN EDWARD CRAWFORD. In coming through the woods to Kentucky, they treed a bear, but it was Sunday and she would not allow it to be shot until the next day. They camped under the tree and watched the bear until the morning. MARTHA would never bake or cook on Sunday but would bake bread the day before and the family had to eat cold meals on Sunday.

    As the years wore on at their home in Irish Bottom, the children married and followed oldest brother George to Missouri. The 1830 U.S. Census showed only 5 people living on the Crawford farm: MARTHA with one son and 3 daughters. In 1832, with all the children grown up, MARTHA sold the farm to Micajah S. Hunter. At that time George, JOHN E., Peggy, Nancy, and Cynthia were living in Cooper County, Missouri. Hetty, Zillah, Polly, James L., and Eliza were living with MARTHA in Irish Bottom. Hetty and James L. show up next in Cooper County with their siblings. There is no further record of MARTHA, Eliza, Zillah, and Polly, but I assume they also moved to Missouri.

    The DONNOHUE family (1802-1836ca) 
                              |-Joseph Daniel Donnohue
    Sarilda Jane Donnohue-|
                          |-Jemima Hazelrigg

    The Donnohue family came to Kentucky from Missouri, perhaps the only time one of the Crawford ancestors moved east. JOSEPH DANIEL DONNOHUE was raised in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, but after his first wife died, he headed to Kentucky to marry JEMIMA HAZELRIGG We have no idea how they met, or why he moved to Kentucky. Perhaps he was influenced by some of his neighbors in Missouri, many of whom were from Kentucky. DANIEL and JEMIMA had three sons and three daughters born in the country southeast of Lexington. JEMIMA probably died by 1824, perhaps in childbirth; since DANIEL had no relatives in the area, JEMIMA's family probably helped him raise the children. By 1836 DANIEL moved with his younger children, including SARILDA JANE DONNOHUE and Joseph Clark Donnohue to Pettis County, Missouri (see the Missouri Chapter for more).

    Their oldest child, John Jay Donnohue, remained in Kentucky all his life. He married Elizabeth Barker in 1833 and had six children with her. When she died in 1847, he married Elizabeth Chorn and had another six children. At the time of his death in 1866 in Montgomery County, Kentucky, four children from each marriage were still living.

    The second child, Dillard C. Donnohue, also remained in Kentucky when the family moved to Missouri. He married Mahala Tipton and they had seven children, the first born in Kentucky and the rest in Indiana where they moved in 1839. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. He served as justice of the peace, postmaster, and in the Indiana legislature. He was a delegate to the Republican convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln. He volunteered with two of his sons to the 10th Indiana Regiment in the Civil War. He died in 1893 in Greencastle, Indiana.

    The two youngest girls in the family may have gone with the family to Missouri for a short time, but both married men in their old town in Clark County, Kentucky. Sarah Ann Donnohue married James H. Whittington in 1837 and had two children with him before he died. She married Waller Holladay in 1843 and they had another three children before Sarah died in 1852. Eliza Donnohue married Frances Tolbart in 1830, but nothing more is known about her or her husband.

    The ELGIN family (1810-1827) 
        |-James McCormick
    |            |-Frederick Elgin
    |-Mary Elgin-|
                 |-Catherine Perry
    FREDERICK ELGIN and CATHERINE PERRY were both born in Maryland, and after they were married and had two children moved to Virginia. After another five or six children the Elgin family moved to Woodford County, Kentucky, by 1810, when FREDERICK bought 336 acres for $2,000 along Brushe Run. CATHERINE died in Woodford County in 1825, whereas FREDERICK died in Christian County in 1827 and was buried in a grave where the present Western State Hospital now stands. Daughter MARY married JAMES MCCORMICK September 17, 1816. Her three children were born in Kentucky before she died around 1824.

    The HAZELRIGG family (1780-1838) 
        |-Daniel Donnohue                   |-William Hazelrigg
    |                  |-John Hazelrigg-|
    |-Jemima Hazelrigg-|                |-Jemima
                       |-Anna Cleveland
    We here continue the history of the Hazelrigg family from the Virginia Chapter. WILLIAM and JEMIMA HAZELRIGG, and their son JOHN and ANNA HAZELRIGG came to Kentucky in 1780, where they farmed in the area east of Lexington. WILLIAM received a grant of 750 acres in Fayette County, Kentucky, on land surveyed by Daniel Boone in the "first large bend above Hickman's Crick on the Cantiuke (Kentucky) river". He later moved to Clark County, east of Lexington, where the inventory of his estate when he died in 1805 was quite extensive. JOHN and ANNA had ten children, four born in Virginia and the rest in Kentucky. Their daughter JEMIMA was born in Clark County, Kentucky, in 1783, and was married to DANIEL DONNOHUE when she was 18 (see the section on Donnohue in this chapter). When the father JOHN died in 1833, ANNA lived with their youngest child, Dillard Hazelrigg, on his farm in Montgomery County. Dillard had a small cemetery on his farm, which still exists next to Machpelah Cemetery in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. There are 22 Hazelrigg relatives buried there, including Dillard and two of his siblings. There is no record of where JOHN and ANNA were buried, but perhaps they are in this family cemetery.

    The MCCORMICK family (1794-1825) 
        |-John Ransdell Bourn                  |-George McCormick
    |                    |-James McCormick-|
    |-Mary Ann McCormick-|                 |-Mary Chaplin
                         |-Mary Elgin

    We here continue the story of the McCormick family. GEORGE and MARY MCCORMICK with their children including JAMES moved from Yohogania County, Virginia to Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, where the last children were born. GEORGE and MARY both died in Harrodsburg, MARY in 1810 and GEORGE in 1820. JAMES grew up in Mercer County, then married Mary S. McFarland. She died within a year, and he then married MARY ELGIN in Woodford County, Kentucky, where the Elgins lived, just northeast of Mercer County. They had three children, including MARY ANN born in 1819 in Kentucky. JAMES was said to have been a newspaper man in Kentucky. The family then moved to Missouri by 1825. MARY ELGIN died, but we do not know if it was in Kentucky or in Missouri. See the Missouri chapter for more.

    The RANSDALL family (17-18) 
        |-William Thomas Bourn
    |                   |-William Ransdall
    |-Mary Ann Ransdall-|
                        |-Nancy Ann Petty

    The Ransdall family (or Ransdell or Ransdale) had five generations live in Virginia before WILLIAM RANSDELL moved to Mercer County, Kentucky, along with his brothers John and Sanford. WILLIAM paid taxes on 2 horses and 300 acres of land along the Salt River. He died in 1802, and his wife ANN paid the taxes until she died in 1818. In 1830 WILLIAM's land at the head branches of Thompson Creek, a branch of the Chaplin River, was divided into 12 lots ranging from 36 acres to 65 acres, and alloted to his children. MARY ANN (cited "Mrs. Polly Bourne, formerly Polly Ransdale") received 56 acres. MARY ANN's uncle Sandford Ransdell also left her an inheritance as stated in his will of December 27, 1831: "Slave to niece Mary Ann Bowen and at death to her dau. Nancy Bowen; another slave to her to be sold and divided amoung her three daus. Kitty, Martha Ann, and Sally Bowen."
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