Some Harrison County Wills


Harrison County, Kentucky Wills, Will Book C (1832-1836) - FHL Film #216865
Donated to this web site by Betty Helf, February 14, 1999.

Page 120: John Whiteker's Will

In the name of God Amen. I John Whiteker of the State of Kentucky and county of Harrison Being weak in body but sound in mind and memory Knowing not how soon it may please God to call me I do make and ordain this my last will & testament. Viz. And first of all resign my soul to god and my body to be buried in a Christian manner in some Christian place of interment at the discretion of my friends. I give my beloved wife Nancy Whiteker all the farm Whereon I now live With all the utensils and stock thereunto Belonging To remain in her possession and at her Discretion as long as she lives and at her decease the farm I will and bequeath to my son Isaac To belong to him without any interruption or claim against it with all its appurtenances to Hugh S. Hickman my son in law that parcel or track of land for which I have given him a deed To be his part of my estate and no more to Simeon A. Whiteker my son I will and bequeath that body of land for which I have given him a bond said to contain fifty acres more or less Without any claim to the moveable property I will and bequeath to my son Peter Whiteker 100 acres 3 roods and 7 poles for which I have given him a bond for a deed and the remaining part of the tract on which he lives for an in consideration of Services that he shall hereafter render to his Brother Isaac for the support and comfort of his mother while she lives and his aid and instruction after her Death To the value of the land in his estimation Which I hereby declare To be my last will and testament Without any interruption from any of the rest of the heirs And all my moveable property I leave in the possession and at disposal of my wife Nancy Whiteker during her life without any removal or administration on it while she lives is my will and testament. I will and bequeath my clock to Nancy Groghegan (my Daughter) at the Death of my wife and after the death of my wife I will that an equal Divide be made of all my moveable property between my children Josiah, Nancy and John Wesley and last of all I appoint Peter Whiteker my son and Hugh S. Hickman my son in law as my executors To see to the fulfilment of this my last will and testament after the decease of their mother In testimony of this being my last will and testament I have this 30th day of April in the year of our lord 1829 set my hand & seal.

John
Whiteker {seal}
Witnesses
Hugh S. Hickman
Jas Dunlap

Commonwealth of Kentucky Harrison County to wit
November October 1833
I Samuel Endecott Clerk of the county Court for the County aforesaid do certify that this last will and testament of John Whiteker Deceased was produced at the above court & ordered to be recorded proven by the Oath of James Dunlap one of the subscribing Witnesses thereto and was
also proven by him that Hugh S. Hickman the other Subscribing Witness did in his presence attest the same and was ordered to be recorded which is done this 13th day of the same month in the year aforesaid.
S. Endecott Clk
Harrison County by
T.W.M. Endecott Depy Clk

These notes are taken from "Abstracted Court Records" by Janet Pease Vol. 1, page 145
Donated to web site by Sue Moore, February 14, 1999

Will Of William Moore
wife: Lucy - my dwelling house
my children are to be supported until they come of age
son: Andrew - a Negro boy Jonathan and a Negro girl Eliza; plus part of a house lot in Cynthiana, lot #39; a corner lot between Main Street and the 2nd cross street; also a joint interest with Col. W. Brown in 50 or 60 acres of land on Gray's Run above Mrs. Stafford's.
son: Samuel - a Negro boy Harry and a Negro girl Anne; also a part of the house and lot in Cynthiana before-mentioned;also my interest in the farm called Fairley Farm, by me purchased at the Marshall's Sale in a decree of the Federal Court in the case of the U. S. Bank vs. James Finley.
daughter: Polly who intermarried with William E. Boswell - a Negro boy Daniel and a Negro girl Creice; plus 100 acres where she now lives with her husband.
son: Henry C. - a small mulatto boy Boy and a Negro girl Patsy.
daughter: Jane who intermarried with John O. Baseman - a Negro woman Mariah and two Negro boys Joe and Noah.
son: James - a Negro girl Leviney.
daughter: Louisa (when she becomes 21) - a Negro woman Elinor and her mulatto girl child named Harriet.
daughter: Peggy (when she bcomes 21) - ......
son: William, who is to be educated...when he becomes 21
executors: my sons Andrew, Samuel, Henry and James
Witnesses: Isaac Miller, Isaac N. Miller, Joseph Wiglesworth, William English

Written: 12 Mar 1827
Probated: November 1829
Harrison County Probate Abstracts, Vol. B, page 422

Thomas RAVENSCRAFT
_________________________________________
Birth: Jul 1750 Virginia
Death: 27 May 1827 Harrison County, Kentucky Age: 76
Father: Robert RAVENSCRAFT (~1720-1768)

Lieutenant Thomas Ravenscroft.2

From a memorandum on file. Heirs:-Nancy Hinkson, Margaret Hinkson and Elizabeth Ewalt, 342-2/3 acres. Warrant 8427. Issue 25 Nov., 1836. Recorded, Book 3, page 425, Va. L. Off.

Humphrey Hinkson and Nancy his wife who was formerly Nancy Ravenscroft, of Harrison Co., Ken. appointed Wm. H. Todd their Atty. to obtain warrant in virtue of the service of Thomas Ravenscroft who was a Lieut. in the Va, line during the Rev. War. 7 Sept., 1836. Acknowledged before Thos. B. Woodyard, J. of P. Harrison Co. Ken.

John Hinkson and Margaret his wife who was daughter of Elizabeth Ewalt who was a daughter of Thomas Ravenscroft of Harrison Co., Ken. appointed the same Atty. 7 Sept., 1836.

Humphrey Hinkson, guardian of Elizabeth Ewalt, daughter of Elizabeth Ewalt, dec'd. who was daughter of Thos. Ravenscroft, appointed the same Atty.

Elizabeth Ewalt infant daughter of John Ewalt, being over fourteen years of age, came into court and chose Humphrey Hinkson to be her guardian.

The children of Lieut. Thomas Ravenscroft were:- James, Thomas, William, Robert, Polly (now the wife of Aaron Miller), Mary (the wife of Humphrey Hinkson), John, dec'd., Betsy, dec'd. (wife of John Ewalt), Margaret Humble, dec 'd.

The children of John (son of Lieut. Thomas) Ravenscroft were:-Sally Culp, Betsy (married John Montgomery), and Milton.

The children of Betsy Ewalt (daugh. of Lieut. Thomas) were:-Margaret (wife of John Hinkson), Julie (wife of George W. C. Smith), Elizabeth, Rebecca, Henry, Samuel, Nancy Ann.

The children of Margaret Humble, dec'd. were:-Harry (Harvey), John, Louisa, and Uriah.

Deposition of Joseph Shawhan, Sr., Harrison Co., Ken. 8 Nov., 1834:

"Thomas Ravenscroft, Lieut. in the Illinois Regiment, died 1827, at that time a citizen of Harrison Co. Ken. He left the following children:-James, Thomas, William, Robert, Polly, married Aaron Miller; Nancy, married Humphrey Hinkson:- the living children of said Thomas Ravenscroft, dec'd. That John, another son, now deceased, left Sally (married John Culp), Betsy (married John Montgomery), and Milton Ravenscroft his children.

That Betsy Ewalt another daughter of said Thomas is now dead, leaving Margaret Hinkson wife of John Hinkson, Juliana Smith, wife of George C. Smith, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Henry, Samuel and Ann Ewalt her children.

That Margaret Humble another daughter of said Thomas Ravenscroft is now dead having left Harvey, John, Louisa and Uriah, her children." Signed under oath. Joseph Shawhan.

Note. The name Hinkson is in most instances spelt as given, but in the deposition of Shawhan, it was spelled Hinkstone.

Warrant 9259 for 88-2/3 acres issued Dec. 10th, 1850 to Sally Culp the heir of John Ravenscroft, late Lieut. in Va. State line.

Harrison Co. Court, Ken. Oct., 1850. On oath of Joseph Shawhan and Henry E. Shawhan it is proved that Sally the wife of John Culp is the daughter of John Ravenscroft, she being the eldest daughter. That there were two other children Milton and Elizabeth Ravenscroft (who married John Montgomery). That John Ravenscroft was the son of Capt. Thomas. That John had no other children, and that he died in the year 1813 or about that time, that his father' Thomas has been dead upwards of twenty Years. Certified as true transcript, Th. B. Woodward, Clerk. 14 Oct., 1850.

At the same court, 10th June, 1833. On the oath of Humphrey Hinkson who married Nancy Ravenscroft-it was proven upon testimony of William K. Wall and Washington Wilson that Thomas, James, Robert and William are the surviving sons of Thomas Ravenscroft, dec'd.

Note. John, son of Thomas died 1813 and this affidavit was made twenty years later. Thomas had four daughters:- Polly (married Aaron Miller), Patsy (married John Ewalt), Nancy (married Humphrey Hinkson) and Peggy (married Garrett Humble). The wives of Ewalt and Humble died leaving infant children.

The deposition continues:-That Samuel and John, two other sons of Thomas Ravenscroft died leaving infant children and that there are no other heirs of of Thomas Ravenscroft than the aforementioned. The heirs agreed that Humphrey Hinkson should administer the estate according to annexed will. Certified as true transcript of court record, Thomas Woodyard, Clerk. 25 Nov., 1850.

Harrison Co., Ken. Dec., 1849. Personally appeared before S. B. Curran, J. of P.-John Culp and Sally his wife who made oath that they were married on 1st day of Sept., 1824- that Sally was eldest daughter of John Ravenscroft who died 1813 and that he was the son of Thomas Ravenscroft, an officer in the Illinois Regt. Teste, Th. B. Woodyard. John and Sally Culp appointed John M. McCalla as their Atty.
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p. 74: 12 June 1783. Pay account of Thomas Ravenscraft for 11 July 1781 to 12 Sept. 1781 as lieutenant in Capt. BenJn. Field's corps of light dragoons under Brig. Gen. George Rogers Clark, 64 days, and from 12 Sept. 1781, being the day he was taken prisoner, to 30 Jan. 1783, being the day he returned home on parole, 595 days £252.1.8.

p. 75: 20 Feb. 1832. Versailles, Ky. John (X) Allen declares he is in his 80th year since January last. He was stationed at the falls of the Ohio River in 1780 with Col. George Slaughter's corps. Benjamin Field received the appointment of ensign in Capt. Thomas' company in the summer of that year and served until the deponent received a leave of absence the next fall to return to Virginia. He understood Field also returned to Vlrginia the same fall. The deponent came down the river to the falls of the Ohio with Col. Crockett's regiment in the spring of 1781. He met Benjamin Field in the Red Stone country in the spring of 1781 and understood he had been promoted to a captaincy in a troop of horse in the Virginia State Library. Field raised his company of horse, in which Thomas Ravenscroft was an officer. They came to the falls of the Ohlo, now Louisville, in the spring or early summer of 1781, perhaps in June with Col. Crockett's regiment and were stationed there. Part of the troop was at some of the stations near the falls and part was under Col. Floyd when defeated by the Indians in September of that year. Thomas Ravenscroft and others were taken prisoner and Robert Ravenscroft was killed. The deponent was raised near Field in Virginia and they were acquainted from boys.

23 July 1832. Maysville, Ky. Thomas Young declares he is 81 years old. He commanded a company in Crockett's regiment. Benjamin Field commanded a troop of horse in the Virginia State Line and descended the river in the spring of 1781 to the falls where he was stationed. He lost a large portion of his company ln Sept. 1781 at Floyd's defeat. In the fall of 1781 the time of enlistment of the deponent's company expired and he left the falls as a supernumerary officer and did not return. He believes Field was in service to the end of the war as supernumerary.

p. 75-76: 13 July 1838. Shelbyville, Ky. James Ballard, now in the 76th or 77th year of his age, declares ln 1779 he became acquainted with Capt. Benjamin Field in Spotsylvania or Culpeper Co., Va. Field and the deponent's family came to Kentucky. He thinks Field acted as an ensign in Slaughter's corps for some time. He was acquainted witb Field in 1781 at the falls of the Ohio. In the spring of 1781 Fields was in command of a troop of horse and continued in command until a few days before Floyd's defeat when a large portion of his troop was required to go to Boon's Station to move the families from there to Bear Grass Station. On their way down, while encamped, the Indians made an attack on them and killed nearly all the men, women and children. He thinks Ravenscroft, Field's lieutenant, was taken prisoner. Field with the remainder of the troop was with the affiant in an engagement with the same body of Indians the next day and the whites were again defeated and Field's company nearly all killed, as well as the remainder of the whites. Field was left without a command.3

Thomas Ravenscraft Will:4
In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Ravencraft being now weak in body but of sound and perfect mind, knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die do hereby constitute and ordain this my last Will & Testament. And first I will that out of estate all my just debts be speedily and justly paid after my remains shall have decently intered and funeral expenses defrayed. To my true and well beloved wife, Margaret Ravencraft I give one half of my land to be laid off so as to include my dwelling house & spring house. Beginning at the mouth of the Branch immediately below my house and thence up so branch to Custers line, Thence with Custer's line to the river, Hence down the river to the beginning which will include what I call one half of my land. To her also I give my two Negro woman (sic), Rachel and Lucy also all my household and kitchen furniture also my sorrel mare and her colt and three cows of her choice. Also one half of my flock of hogs and ten of my flock of sheep of her own choice. To my sons James, Thomas, William, Samuel and Robert and the heirs of my son John Ravencraft dec'd, viz. Sally Milton & Betsy Ravencraft I give the other half of my land to be equally divided among them. Given to (illegible) heirs of John Ravencraft dec'd one sixth part of half of my land and at the death of my wife I wish that half of my land which has been allotted to her to be divided in the same manner between the same heirs that is to the heirs of John Ravencraft dec'd, Sally Milton & Betsy Ravencraft I give one sixth part and to each of my sons James, Thomas, William, Samuel & Robert also one sixth part each after the death of my wife. I will that my Black Woman Rachel & her children if she have any be sold and the money equally divided among my daughters Betsy, Polly, Peggy, and Nancy. I will also that my wife have the disposal entirely of my Girl Lucy in her own lifetime and (so?) Girl is the property my wife to dispose of as she chose. I give my Black boy Harry to my two sons Samuel and Robert provide they shall pay each twenty dollars to be equally divided among those of my heirs to Whom I have given my land which will be the Sum of Ten Dollars to each of my other sons and Ten Dollars to be divided equally among these heirs of my son John Ravencraft dec'd. To my daughter Nancy I give my yellow Girl Harriet. To my wife I give also one plow, one axe, one hoe of her own Choice. I Will finally that the balance (sic) in full of my estate be sold at auction and the proceeds equally divided among my (illegible) sons as has been named above including the so heirs of John Ravencraft. I Will further that my true friend Charles Lair be and he is hereby Constituted my executor of this my last Will & Testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of May 1827.

Thomas Ravencraft

Witness
S.W.B. Carnagy
Agnard Custer

Harrison County August Court 1827
This last Will & Testament of Thomas Ravenscraft decd was produced in open Court and proved by the oaths of S.W.B. Carnagy and Conrad Custer of the subscribing witnesses hereto and was ordered to be recorded.

H.B. Moore
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Thomas Ravenscraft was born about 1750, and brought up in the family of Col. William Crawford. His first military service was in Dunmore's army in 1774; the next year (1775) he enlisted in Capt. John Stevenson's company, and later joined the 13th Virginia under Colonel Russell. Discharged at the close of 1777 or early in 1778, he was out with Hand on this expedition [Squaw Campaign], and in 1781 enlisted under Clark for service in an expedition to Detroit, with a commission as lieutenant. Clark's expedition having been abandoned, Ravenscroft was employed in guarding the frontier. When out with Col. John Floyd in September, 1781, he was captured and taken prisoner to Detroit - see original letter of Floyd, relating this event, in Draper MSS., 51J89.
>From Detroit he was sent down to Montreal and there (June 20, 1782) made his escape, but was shortly recaptured - see Canadian Archives, 1887, p. 307. At the close of the Revolution, Ravenscroft was exchanged and returned to Kentucky, where he married either the widow or daughter of Col. John Hinkston. He was living in Harrison County, Ky., as late as 1823. - ED.5
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Capt. Thomas Ravenscraft was well known in the early settlement of this county as a most successful Indian fighter and stood high among all his acquaintenances. In the War of 1812 raised a company of volunteers and served some 12 months west. Credit to hinself and company. He resided in this county about 6 miles above Cynthiana on the bank of South Licking and just below the mouth of Townsend. On examining the county clerks records I find his will admitted to record 1st Monday in Augt. 1827. He had some 5 sons and as many daughters. All of whom have removed to the state of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Except one son and one daughter who are living I believe on the old home place. He has several grand sons and daughters living in this county.

Memo - Tho. Ravenscraft was a pensioner. See census of pensioners of 1820 p. 614. See also history of Illinois regiment, 4th, p. 11 - there as a lieutenant. See also Capt. Samuel Murphy's notes of conversation.
L.C.D.6
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Thomas Ravenscraft Born 1754*
He was residing in Aug 1818, in Harrison County Kentucky aged 64 years. He enlisted at Pittsburgh, Penn in 1775 under Capt. John Stevenson in the 8th Va, regiment, then May 1777 he joined Capt. Belt in 13th Va. Regiment, Colo Russell; promoted to ensign and in 4 months appointed Lieutenant of Light Horse under George Rogers Clark, with whom he went to Falls of the Ohio in 1781, and was taken prisoner by the Indians; carried to Detroit and detained as prisoner over 2 years until the close of the war. He was tomahawked on the head in the "defeat" of Floyd.
He was in the battle at Sullivan's Island, also later at Guiahamaga on big Beaver near Pittsburgh Penn under Capt. Belt in 13th regiment.

The above is a synopsis of Ravenscrafts pension statement, under the act of 1818 in need of Gov't support.
Samuel Murphy gives further particulars of him - in his notes. Perhaps B.W. Ballard also.

*In the Pension list of 1835, Ravenscraft is shown to have been placed on the pension list in Aug 1818 at the age of 68 - which would fix his birth in 1750.
This record also shows that the pension was suspended under act of May 1, 1820.
Ravenscraft's name does not appear as a pensioner under the act of 1832. Hence his death must occurred between 1820 and 1832 - I presume not far from 1825.7
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Dial's Notes - Shane iii, 227
He was sent to Montreal a prisoner - confined in a house surrounded with pickets, allowed to exercise in the yard during the day; when by preconcert he and 6 other prisoners scaled the walls (this perhaps 1782) and escaped to the woods, there they separated, crossed the river; but having no compass he and two companions, Capt. Thos. Stokely one of them getting lost, were recaptured by Indians and carried back.8 9
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I saw the muster roll for Capt. Ravenscraft in a book about the Battle of Thames. According to the book his company was in the battle. From what I remember, these are some of your family who were in the company.
Capt. Thomas Ravenscraft
Lt. Samuel Hinkson
3rd Corporal Thomas Ravenscraft
Private John Hinkson


Spouses
_________________________________________
1: Margaret HINKSON
Birth: abt 1770
Father: John HINKSON (ca1729-ca1789)
Mother: Margaret McCRACKEN
Marriage: 6 Sep 1786 Bourbon County, Kentucky
Children: Elizabeth "Betsy" (1793-<1827)
Nancy (1812-)
James
Thomas
William
Samuel
Robert
Polly
Margaret "Peggy"
John (-1813)


Sources
1. Kentucky Records, Volume II, Harrison County, Order Book A, p. 143.
2. Burgess, Louis A. Virginia Soldiers of 1776, Vol. I. (Spartanburg, South Carolina: The Reprint Company, 1973), pp. 349-350. Reproduced from 1927 edition of the Virginia State Library, Richmond, Virginia.
3. Capt. Benjamin Field Pension Application, Virginia Revolutionary War Pension Applications
4. "Will of Thomas Ravenscraft," Will Book B, p. 304, Harrison County, Kentucky, Courthouse.
5. Frontier Defense on the Upper Ohio, pg 218, footnote 84.
6. Draper MSS 13J21-21c--Letter of G.W. Perrin to Lyman C. Draper, Cynthiana, Sept. 24, 1867.
7. Draper MSS 30J34--Thos. Ravenscraft and Floyd's Defeat
8. Western Church Advocate, May 22d 1835.
9. 1782, June - Canadian Archives, 1887, p. 307.