INTRODUCTION TO OUR KENTUCKY ANCESTORS By Rosemary Webb
[2nd great-granddaughter of Benjamin Duncan]
Note by author: The information about our ancestors, as told here, has come from documents, oral history and letters passed down through the generations of our families. I have tried to relate their lives with the historical events of their time. Part 1 begins with my 2nd great-parents the Duncan-Hawkins line, their ancestors and descendants. Part11 begins with the Blacketer-Colvin Line. The Leech-Timmons, my maternal line is in Part 111. All of these families migrated to Kentucky from Virginia, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina. <January 2001>
From 1775 to 1810 between 200,000 and 300,000 men, women, and children crossed the Cumberland Gap into the unknown land of Kentucky. Carved by wind and water the Cumberland Gap forms a major break in the formidable Appalachian Mountain chain. First used by large game animals in their migratory journeys, followed by Native Americans, the Cumberland Gap was the first and best avenue for the settlement of the interior of this nation. During the earliest migrations, families from northwest North Carolina traveled through the Blue Ridge Mountains into the lower Valley of Virginia, through the Cumberland Gap, and up the Wilderness Road.
The trail that passed through the Cumberland Gap, referred to as the "Wilderness Road", was marked by Daniel Boone in 1775 and opened access from Virginia into Kentucky. Only pack teams could cross the mountains until 1776 when the trail was widened enough to allow a Conestoga wagon to pass. Kentucky was thought to be a farmer's paradise because of the rich and plentiful topsoil. The fame of these Kentucky valleys created a rush of migrations into this new territory. The Wilderness Road provided the means for the first settlements in Harrodsburg and many other sites to follow on or near the Kentucky River. Captain James Harrod founded Harrodsburg then known as "Harrod's Town" in 1774. From 1776 to 1779 Kentucky was known as Kentucky County, Virginia. In 1780 settlement started in Frankfort. In 1786 Frankfort was located in Fayette County.
The Wilderness Road split and the western portion led to Harrodsburg while the eastern section went to Boonesborough. Pioneers coming via the Ohio River established other settlements. Many left from Fort Redstone in present-day Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and followed the Ohio River downstream towards today's Cincinnati. From the Ohio River, some followed the Licking River into northeastern Kentucky. Others followed the Salt River into north central Kentucky; more trailed the Kentucky River south into the interior of the territory, while still others proceeded along smaller tributaries.
Our ancestors all eventually migrated to Kentucky coming from Virginia, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina. They came in the 1700's and early 1800's becoming neighbors, friends and family. Now their descendants live in many areas of North America, many are still in Kentucky.
After our ancestors came to Kentucky deeds show they bought land along the Salt River and Gilbert's Creek. Early church records show they were members of the Salt River Baptist, a Baptist Church known as Gilbert's Creek Church and the Hebron Church (Presbyterian)
PART 1
DUNCAN Three years after Mercer County, Kentucky formed Benjamin Duncan married his 1st wife Mary "Polly" Bennett February 14, 1789. Benjamin purchased land on the Salt River in the early 1800s. Mary and Benjamin had at least seven children. Their last child Chloe was born in 1813. Benjamin's wife Mary died between 1813 and 1816 leaving him with at least one small child to care for.
On November 9th, 1816 Benjamin married Susannah Hawkins Kilby. She was the widow of Henry Kilby with six children, five daughters under the age of ten and a son older than ten years. Benjamin and Susannah had two sons Matthew and Mark. When Benjamin died on September 9, 1820, Mark was six- months old and Matthew was three. Susannah continued to live on the farm where she raised her children. After Susannah's death in 1845 the land was divided, Mark 54 acres including the mansion and Matthew got 59 acres. In 1847 it is recorded that Mark sold his part to Matthew.
Matthew Duncan married three times fathering at least twenty children. In addition to raising his own children he also had grandchildren in his household off and on. Census records show that his half-sister Julia Rucker and her three children were living with him in 1850. Matthew was a successful farmer and was active in political and civic activities in the community. Our line comes from his marriage to Maria (pronounced as Mariah) Reynolds. Married September 29, 1857, when Matthew was forty and Maria Reynolds was twenty-two, they had twelve children. In Matthew's will he desired that his youngest child Kirby live with his mother, Maria and take care of her as long as she lived. This he did until Maria died July 20, 1908
Matthew and Maria were long-time members of the Salt River Baptist Church located in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. They are buried in the churchyard where many of their family, relatives, and friends are also buried. This is one of the oldest graveyards in Anderson County and contains more than two hundred stones, with many unmarked graves. Matthew Duncan still has many descendants living in Anderson County, Kentucky
Shortly after Mark Duncan & Maria Bright married they sold their lands to his brother Matthew Duncan and his wife Virginia Utterback. They emigrated from Kentucky to Platt City, Missouri about 1846 where their first two children, Noel and John, were born.
When the "Gold Rush" of 1849 started, Mark left his family in Platt City and crossed the plains to California. Maria Bright had married Mark when she was not yet 14 and from that time on her life was a sage of adventure and hardship. In 1852, or there about Mark sent for his family to join him. Maria and her two children Noel and John left Missouri for California. They are said to have crossed the plains in a covered wagon with Kit Carson as guide part of the way. They joined Mark at Yountville, Napa County, California and there George Duncan was born in 1854. From Yountville, the family moved to a ranch on the Russian River near Heraldsburg, Sonoma County, California.
Later Mark sold the ranch and set up a tannery business in Heraldsburg. While living in Heraldsburg more children were born to Mark & Maria. Hearing fabulous tales of the fertile green lands of Oregon he sold the tannery business and moved his family to a ranch near McMinnville, Oregon. In 1862, on one of the trips to settle up his affairs in Heraldsburg and move his family by wagon, he contracted Smallpox and died en route to McMinnville. After Marks's death, Maria married Sam Staggs, a schoolteacher and lived on the ranch in McMinnville, Oregon until 1896 when she moved to a home she owned in Santa Rosa. She died March 6, 1904 at her son Edward's house.
One of Matthew's sons also had the wanderlust. Robert E L Duncan left his Kentucky home when he was only fifteen and headed "out west" for adventure making his home in the Oklahoma Indian Territory. In 1893, when he was twenty-seven, he was living in Kingfisher, Oklahoma Territory. In preparation for the last great race for land known as the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893 Robert E L traveled back to Kentucky to purchase the fastest horse he could find. He brought back two of Kentucky's fine horses and searched for choice land with a plentiful supply of water.
It was Sept. 16, 1893, on a hot and dusty day, the opening of the 226-mile tract known as the Cherokee Strip for settlement was about to begin. This is a story of drama, perseverance, hope and above all, dreams. People came to the land that would be Oklahoma by train, horseback, wagon and on foot, from every state and territory in the nation and abroad. They had gathered along the boundaries for many days and were ready for the gunshot at noon to start them on their quest for claims.
President Cleveland and Secretary of Interior H. R. Smith hoped that, with planning, they could avoid stampedes for land. Prior to opening the land, county seats were established and four land offices were opened. Homesteaders were to go to these offices and pay a filing fee. The Strip was to be settled by the horse-race method. Homesteaders were to register and produce filing fee affidavits to be eligible for the run.
Finally, at noon September 16, 1893, a shot rang out and more than 100,000 determined settlers raced for 42,000 claims. By sunset, there were tent cities, endless lines at federal land offices and more losers than winners. Robert E Lee Duncan was the 5Th to file.
In 1902 when he was 36 Robert E L Duncan returned to Anderson County, Kentucky and married Ula Lena Cattlett. She was a beautiful twenty year old bride who's parents are said to have disowned her for marrying and moving away from Kentucky to the wild west with a man who was listed as a saloonist on their marriage record. They married February 19, 1902 in Kentucky and this southern girl, who had her own personal servant until she was fourteen, soon found herself living the life of a settler in the wild Oklahoma Territory. Robert & Ula had seven sons all born in Garfield County, Oklahoma. Robert E Lee Duncan has many descendants still living in Garfield County.
My grandfather, Joseph E J Duncan, was born October 21, 1871. I have learned very little about his life but will continue to search for clues. He was almost 29 years old when he married my grandmother, Luticia Blacketer, August 29, 1899. They married in Anderson County at the residence of Smith Hawkins who preformed their marriage ceremony. Their only child, Robert Allen Duncan was born May 29, 1900. The 1900 Census for Anderson County lists Joseph's occupation as saloonkeeper. In June 1900 they were living with Luticia's sister, Mary and her husband H C Houchin. The story told by my grandmother was that Joseph became ill with a lung condition and was sent out west where he stayed with relatives hoping his health would improve. When his health failed to improve he returned to Anderson County where he died May 23, 1901 and was buried at the Salt River Cemetery.
HAWKINS In 1761 Matthew Hawkins, Sr. married Hannah Maxwell, daughter of James Maxwell and Rachel Evins who was the widow of John Popham. They had at least seven children, three sons and four daughters, all born in Culpeper County, Virginia. Their daughters, Susannah Hawkins Kilby and Mary Hawkins Lightfoot and other members of the Hawkins family moved to Kentucky where they were listed as members of the Salt River Baptist Church in 1798. After Hannah died Matthew Hawkins married Elizabeth Pitcher about 1788 and had one more child, Rebecca. Matthew Hawkins did not move to Kentucky but stayed in Culpeper County, Virginia where he died in June of 1820 just shortly before his son-in-law Matthew Duncan died.
REYNOLDS William Reynolds Sr. his wife Ailsey and their children resided in Laurens County, South Carolina until after 1810 when they moved to Kentucky. They bought land on Gilbert's Creek, which was then in Mercer County. Their son William, Jr. married Margaret "Peggy" Abbott July 1821 in Franklin County, Kentucky. In the fall of 1921 their daughter Rebecca & her husband Abraham Darland left Kentucky and were among the first settlers in Washington Township, Parke County, Indiana.
Margaret "Peggy" gave birth to 16 children, 6 sons, 9 daughters and an infant who died soon after birth. When Anderson County was formed in 1827 from Franklin, Mercer & Washington Counties the Reynolds family was on Anderson County's first Tax list (1827).
William Reynolds Sr. died about 1822 but his land wasn't sold until October 1836. Ailsey Reynolds, the widow of William Sr., had moved to Park County, Indiana where she is buried.
William Jr. & Margaret sold 222 acres of land on Gilbert's Creek to Margaret's brothers, Jacob and Hubbard Abbott, for $90 September 20, 1841. This land, on Gilbert's Creek, had belonged to William Abbott, Margaret Abbott's deceased father. [Deed Book E, pg.164]
William Pendleton Reynolds, the first born of William & Margaret, was killed in the Battle of Buena Vista on February 23, 1847 during the Mexican War.
ABBOTT - ABBIT William Abbott was born May 13, 1765 in Virginia. January 18, 1798 he married Katherine Hoblit, daughter of Johannes Michael Hablutzel and Catherine Van Veigle. By 1803 they had already moved to Kentucky. There were eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, born to them.
The Abbott farm was located a short distance south of Lawrenceburg Kentucky. This farm was famous for it's big pond. This quiet body of water was the scene of many old-time baptizings and in times of drouth furnished barrels of stock-water for neighboring farmers.
A one-room schoolhouse built on this farm was first known as Abbott's School, but later went by the name of Stingy. A Baptist Church, known as Gilbert's Creek Church, was organized in 1882 and met in this school building for several years.
Two of their children John Abbott & Margaret Abbott married Reynolds. John Abbott married Mary Ann Reynolds and Margaret "Peggy" Abbott married William Reynolds Jr. The 1850 Census of Anderson County shows Joseph Abbott as living next to his sister Margaret Abbott married to William Reynolds Jr.
HABLUTZEL HAUBLUTZELL HABTUGEL - HOBLIT HOBLET - HOBBLET The name, Hablutzel originally came from Switzerland, but many Swiss Protestants migrated into Germany, France, Alsace - Lorraine and elsewhere. After coming to America this family is found to have used a variety of spellings of their surname. When Johannes Michael Hablutzel died his wife Catherine signed her name as Caty Hoblett.
Hablutzel was Johannes Michael's name on the ship manifest when he sailed from Rotterdam on the Ship Chance to the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1764 at the age of twenty. In the two times he enlisted in the Revolutionary War his name had several spellings, Hoblit - Hobles - Haublutzell. Johannes Michael Hablutzel was most likely not educated or a man of means but he came to America as a free man, his passage was paid, his head tax was paid and he fought in the
Revolutionary War...a Bonded Man could not do this.
In 1770 Johannes Michael Hablutzel married Catherine Von Veigle in Pennsylvania. Catherine was born in York County, Pennsylvania June 15, 1750. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters before moving to Kentucky. When Johannes died May 3, 1795 he was in Woodford County, Kentucky. His widow, Catherine married William Cockran on October 13, 1800. Her son-in-law, William "Abett" signed the bond for the intended marriage of "Catrin" Hoblet and William Cockran. Consent was given by Catrin Hoblet herself and witnessed by William Abett and Hugh Efpy. When Catherine died she was living in Clinton County, Ohio.
PART 11
BLACKETTER William Blacketer was born in 1743, probably in Virginia. In 1770 William Blacketer purchased land in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, (Deed Book 2, Page 355). He owned 100 acres of land. This land is now known as the Rose Hill Homestead. William was a carpenter and built the original north part of the house that consisted of four rooms, two down and two upstairs, using timbers, all of which were hand hewn. It had an A-roof with dormer windows.
He married Rachel about 1767 and eleven children were born to them in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Their last child Jane, was only a year old when Henry died in 1787. The Blacketers, including Henry moved from Virginia in 1805 - 1806 by wagon train and settled in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky. William & Norman Blacketer, sons of William, bought land in Mercer County, Kentucky November 8, 1806. Rachel evidently came to Kentucky with them as she is listed in the 1810 Mercer County, Kentucky Census living with William and Norman.
Their first child Henry, born in 1769, is my 3rd great-grandfather. Henry is said to have lived with the Shawnee Indians prior to 1805 and had at least one son by an Indian named Little Willow. This son is said to have died on the Trail of Tears (1838 - 1839). When the Blacketers moved to Kentucky the Lockman family also traveled from Virginia in the same wagon train. Olive Lockman & Henry Blacketer were married May 26, 1806 in Mercer County, Kentucky. By trade Henry was a stone mason. Henry & Olive died in the fall of 1855 from typhoid fever and are buried at Deep Creek Cemetery in Mercer County, Kentucky.
Vincent Lockman Blacketer, who was Henry & Olive's first child, married Lucinda Stuart September 1832. They had nine children, seven sons and two daughters. At least four of Vincent's sons fought in the civil war, Burrell in the Confederate Army, David, Addison and George in the Union Army. A family story tells of how Burrell had to sneak home after dark to visit his parents because his brothers were angry with him for being a confederate soldier. My great-grandfather, Allen Stewart Blacketer was their 7th child. He died in 1903 when on his way into town he took a short cut through a railroad tunnel in Frankfort, Kentucky. When he didn't come home his wife, Anne Colvin went into the tunnel searching for him and found a train had struck him.
LOCKMAN Vincent Lockman was born 1760 in Orange County, North Carolina. The date of birth for
Vincent is taken from a headstone placed by a Veteran's organization at Heighton Cemetery near Medora, Indiana. Vincent was a Revolutionary soldier in North Carolina. After the war ended he married Anne Kirkland December 18, 1783 in Orange County, North Carolina. They had eleven Children, My 3rd great grandmother, Olive Lucinda was their first child. After his wife Anne died the moved to Indiana. He married Christina Hagan in Jackson County, Indiana and had four more children.
Vincent Lockman's family marriage records of some of his children are located in the Early Marriage Records of Mercer County, Kentucky. Emily's marriage is recorded in Jackson County, Indiana.
