2014 MD to KY Reunion information here.
The description below of the Maryland to Kentucky Reunion is adapted from the previous web site of the Reunion. What we hope to do with this site is not duplicate the resources available elsewhere, but point people to existing resources, and serve as an entry point for the thousands of our family members who are new to this part, the Maryland to Kentucky part, of their family history. This web site is the result. If you have an interest in working with us, please contact us at mdtoky -at- gmail.com
In 1785, a group of families from the southern Maryland counties of St. Mary, Charles and Prince George formed a “Catholic League of Families” [aka "Emigration League"] pledging to migrate to Kentucky. Reasons for this move were varied. Economics may have played a large role in this westward movement, with the depletion of available land in Maryland and the after-effects of the constant plundering by the British during the Revolutionary War.
Certainly religious freedom was a likely concern to many of these pioneers. After a century of anti-Catholic bias in Maryland, many were seeking freedom to openly practice their faith. John Carroll (a few years later named the Bishop of Baltimore) told them that if they would settle together he would do what he could to supply them with a priest.True to their word, these pioneers largely settled together in what today are the three Kentucky counties of Nelson, Washington and Marion. Even now this central Kentucky area is known far and wide as the Kentucky Holy Lands.
(From a Hayden family history, “As first written by Rev. Wm. Hayden, 1877, copied by Mina Pomeroy in 1915“:
Notes for BASIL HAYDEN, SR:
1785- BASIL HAYDEN WAS THE LEADER OF THE ORIGINAL 25 FAMILIES FROM MARYLAND. Basil sold the land to Holy Cross church’s trustees for 5 lbs. His farm was in Pottinger Creek Settlement, next to Church. His widow lived in Holy Cross Parish until 1837. Church location was at present location of Ky 49 & Nelson County Line (Rohan’s Knobb). Four of their children died on the trip from Maryland to Kentucky. In 1799, the family owned 525 acres and 24 slaves. The first Catholic Church in Kentucky was built on his land. Special note: The picture on Old Granddad Whiskey bottles is Basil.Also see “4. The Kentucky Migration” on rootsweb (Ancestry.com).)
As land further west opened up for settlement, some of these same pioneer families again packed up and headed out seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Many from this group seemed to have agreed to once again settle together. This led to many sister communities of this same group all across the western part of the United States.
The idea for this reunion originated in 1988 during the course of a Buckman, Leake and Montgomery family reunion in Monroe City, Missouri. It was thought that it would be wonderful if people who had for many years researched these families by mail and phone calls could at last meet, sit down together and share more family information. The idea bore fruit in 1990 when the first Maryland to Kentucky reunion was held at Nazareth, Kentucky. It was such a success that we knew that it had to be repeated. A gracious offer came from St. Mary’s County, Maryland.
Maryland asked us to please come back to our ancestral home in 1992. In 1994, Cape Girardeau and Perry County, Missouri rolled out the red carpet for us, which was followed by a 1996 meeting at St. Charles in Lebanon in Marion County, Kentucky, where our keynote speaker was the Historian Laureate of Kentucky, Dr. Thomas D. Clark. A video of the Maryland to Kentucky migration was made available. Owensboro, Kentucky in Daviess County fired up it’s renowned barbecue pits in 1998, and we were thrilled to hold our millennium meeting at Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County, Maryland in 2000.
The reunions drew genealogists from all faiths and anyone with an interest was welcome to attend the reunion weekends, which have been described as “a researcher’s delight.”
The 2002 reunion was held in historic Washington County, Kentucky, site of the third Maryland settlement at Cartwright’s Creek in 1787. We met on the grounds of Saint Catharine Motherhouse and College on June 28-30, 2002. Other events took place at the Dominican Proto-Priory at Saint Rose, dating from 1806.
On July 16 – 18th, 2004, the reunion was held at Hannibal, Missouri. In 2006 the group enjoyed the great hospitality of St. Mary’s County, MD. In 2008 the group met at St. Thomas Farm, Bardstown, KY. A wonderful surname book was compiled by the committee.
In 2010, the reunion met in Leonardtown, Maryland, from July 16-18, 2010. Many of those who had been involved for many years felt that the time had come to let others take on the work of organizing the biennial reunion. Several people attending the 2010 Reunion agreed that at a minimum we should set up a web site and attempt a “virtual reunion,” and to try and fill in some small way the shoes of those who have done so much work in prior years.
Again, if you have an interest in working with us, please contact us at mdtoky -at- gmail.com
Also feel free to leave information in the comments, including your web sites AND how others can contact you.
Thank you!
YEAH!!!!! I am looking forward to finding lots of data on this page. I have family trees that may be of assistance to others researching family. Between my husband’s family and mine we cover most of this area. Including Washington County, Marion County, and Nelson County. Also have some old pictures I can share.
Bette Jones-Donahue
Bette,
Please share the Internet addresses (URLs) of your web site or blog.
If you need a web site, we suggest you consider setting up a free blog at http://wordpress.com . WordPress is easy to use blogging software that has millions of users all over the world.
Others, if you want to contact Bette, please contact her at
esjd -at- bardstowncable.net
Thanks!
Chug
Would like to get some information about 1800 hardesty’s Washington county off Hardesty road…By Lincoln’s cabin…
My great-great grandfather was William Hardesty. He was born about 1822 and died in 1845. He is buried in St. Stephen’s cemetery in Monroe County, Missouri. I have never found other information. However, many of the early settlers from in the St. Stephen’s area were Catholics from Kentucky. William married a Buckman. I have further information if interested.
Larry Hardesty
Hi Larry my name is William Alonzo Hardesty(bill,lonnie). the william hardesty I’m looking for is William Hardesty born 1778 in Maryland, his father is John Hardesty, who moved to MO. from Kentucky in the early 1800s..or late 1700s..He was a cooper…Do you have any information on them??? thank bill hardesty..also I’m looking for the Kentucky to MO. union..Where and what dates…
My family had farms in Marion ,Nelsen and Brackinridge countys. Also (I think) John Hardesty/Catherine thompson moved into Hardin Creek settement in 1700s. His son William Hardesty b0rn in Maryland died in Washington county in 1815 /Married to Nancy Burdges in washington county…do you have anything on these people??
I have been trying for years to find info on the John Hardesty and George Hardesty of the Hardin Creek Settlement 1786. My family comes from James Milton Hardesty (1797-1891) married to Ally Livers (1798-1857). They lived in Marion, and Breckenridge counties. I can not find anything definite on James’ parents. Ally Livers’ Father, Samual Levers, came to Hardin’s Creek with John and George Hardesty. Anything on John and/or George would be greatly appreciated.
I am a descendent of Samuel Livers, father of Ally and Mary Livers. Ally married James Hardesty. Mary married George Hardesty on 19 May 1823. I have George as being born on 20 Dec 1799 and dying on 25 Apr 1878. Information from Arnold Livers Family in America by Sister Mary Louise Donnelly.
I too am a descendant of the Arnold Livers family. Addie Livers was my Great Grandmother. I am seeking any information someone could share and would love pictures if there are any. willing to pay for copies of any such documentation.
Thank you
I have some information on John Hardesty (my 5th back grandfather) Let me know if I can help you…william (bill lonnie) Hardesty ……………..There is a book called, (Hardesty family in America)…
I also come from James Milton & Ally Livers. My grandma was their grandaughter, Viola Marie Hardesty. My grandmother’s sister, Francis wrote that “Ally” was Mary Alice, but now I see several places that Samuel also had a daughter Mary. Boy am I confused. Please contact me so that I can clarify.
Hi Kevin I’m also looking for Information on John Hardesty and William hardesty his son,
I think James Milton Hardesty is Williams brother. William is my 4th grandfather back. The stories I heard when small is that William was killed by Indians in 1814, and he is possibly buried on the ridge above the old hardesty farm house , in 1996 my cousin Margie Hardesty who owned the farm (dead now) showed me the area he was buried in. (the old farm house was torn down a couple of years ago, by the new owners (Roache family)..Do you live in Kentucky? Everything that I have found shows that John Hardesty(Hardestier) moved to Indian Springs Missuori..(wahardesty@aol.com) Later your cousin William Alonzo (Bill ,lonnie) Hardesty
Do you have anything on John Hardesty and his son William Hardesty
I have a Wise Book which traces our Catholic roots to Maryland.
We have a family cemetery at Ft. Knox, Ky : Pitts Point Catholic Cemetery.
We can only visit on Memorial Day which we did this year.
I also have a French Book which traces Catholic Roots to Maryland.
I live in Bowling Green, Ky.
Attend Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Finally! Catholic Marylanders who migrated to Kentucky. Mine left Nelson County, Kentucky and went to “North Arm Catholic Colony”, Old Vincennes, Knox and Vigo Counties, Indiana. My Maryland-Kentucky surnames: Brown, Curley, Delahaye, Doyle, Guthneck, Reynolds, Sheern, Thralls and Masterson.
Hello! I was very surprised to see the recent reunion advertised on Southern Maryland Online.
I’m actually living in St Mary’s now, but I have family (Taylor) that moved from Somerset County, MD to Bracken County, KY around 1796. I’m interested to find out if their move was a part of a big move like this one. I know I found one name of the names in a book at the Lexington Park Library titled Marylanders to Kentucky. It would definitely be interesting to look into!
We were unable to attend the 2010 reunion because of illness and was so sorry to hear that that reunion was to be the last. My wife and I attended every one since the Owensboro reunion and have enjoyed each one and gained a lot of information for our family trees.
Glad to see this website. Hope there will be arrangements for us to post our family trees so we can continue to share.
I am researching my family, and enjoying the history behind the immigration, religious and political nature of the journeys. My grandfather is a Welsh from Nelson county, and his family intermarried with Cambrons, and Tewells who came from Ireland via Maryland, by the 1820′s or possibly earlier. Would love to find out more.
When and whjere is next reunion
Save the Date:
7/12-7/14 2013
St. Catharine College
Springfield, KY (near Bardstown)
I belong to the Hayden Family. Was researching (in my own non-savvy way, about the 1st Catholic Church built in Kentucky. It was on the property of ancestor, Basil Hayden Sr., when I ran across this site. Though we have our Hayden Family reunions, I am curious if the upcoming one in Kentucky is a Hayden or entirely different reunion. I’d like to pass along the info. Thanks
Nexyt reunion where
Would love to find more info on ancestors including Grace Newton Simpson, Mariah Boles Burch McGee, Mary Margaret Ball Ballard, Alice Bell Simpson to name a few.
I’m looking for the Ray family that came from Maryland to Nelson Co., KY. I’ve found very little information on them and we want to find what country they immigrated from…England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales??? Can anyone help us? Thank you in advance!!
Phyllis
Hi Phyllis My grandmother is a Ray, there is a Ray book that has everything in it, by Ann Sipes. She has copies for sell…Also we have DAR documents on file, so if I can be of any help ,please let me know..William (bill,lonnie) Hardesty
Our family is the Robert, William and Elizabeth Wood family from Hagerstown, MD. William was married to Rebecca Brown in Nelson County, Ky in 1807. We are trying to find out if they were a part of the migration. Do not know if they were Catholic but they later migrated to Daviess County, then into Spencer County, Indiana and became neighbors and friends to Abraham Lincoln. We have no record of their life before Kentucky so would appreciate any assistance. Thanks!
I am descended from Thomas and (Priscilla?) Riney– Cartwright’s Creek Settlement.
I am a composer (Master’s degree in music— FSU) with an interest in genealogical material, (pioneer poetry, stories, letters, et al) At present I am interested in song cycles, and short theatric works. (As well as a full length opera in progress). Would consider other styles (i.e. folk, bluegrass, jazz) as well.
I sense there may be some useful material regarding the Maryland to Kentucky migration. Suggestions, commissions, or just pointing me towards some interesting material would be much appreciated.
Looking to share ideas on artistic expression of our heritage.
Daniel G. Raney
(Direct male descendent–spelling of name changed in Indiana in 1820′s)
Hi Daniel Raney
My ggg grandparents were Jeremiah RINEY RANEY and Mary Joan SHEEHAN MOORE. He was born in southern Maryland circa 1765. They married in Washington Co, Ky circa 1798. Most of their children were born in WCK and they were in Martin Co, IN by 1818. Their spelling also changed from RINEY to RANEY by the 1820 census in MCI. My gg grandparents were James Virgil RANEY and Mary Helen HOLLAND. My great grandparents were John RANEY and Martha Jane JOHNSON.
Jeremiah and James Virgil are buried in St. Rose Cemetery. John Raney is buried in St. Martin Cemetery in Whitfield, IN.
Jeremiah was most probably brother of Clement RANEY m. Susannah MONTGOMERY, according to antique letters that were sent to me. We do not know who was the previous generation.
Looking forward to hearing from you, Marilyn Gappa, conlonm2003@yahoo.com
Many Raineys in my family’s area (Washington and Loogootee, Indiana). I’m sorry the Marylanders to KY reunions have been discontinued. I didn’t even know about them untill they were all over.
I still don’t know where in Kentucky my ancestors settled first or what route they took to get there from southern Maryland..
PFM 3/26/13
12 Sep 1786 – In Frederick, Maryland, after the 1779 death of husband George Hardesty/Hardisty, Drusilla (Hagerty) Hardisty gave consent for two sons to be placed in indentured servitude. George Jr. (11) went to Maryland farmer Joshua Caton. Caton may descend from a daughter of Charles Carroll, the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence. Looking for the lineage of these Georges.
Attended many reunions in Ky over the years. Looked forward to them. Very sad to learn the 2012 was the last one???? Who has custody of the mailing lists and other reunion work ? Please keep lists in safe place for future reunions!!!
i am only now finfing out about this reunion. are there going to be more? i am a descendant of the Hayden’s who were among the League of families. would love to find out more information.
I too am a Hayden descendent. First finding out about this, but I do have some Hayden history I can share. Let me know. Basil Hayden Sr. is my gt,gt, gt, gt, gt, grandfather. I may be off a great or two, not 100% sure.
Save the Date:
7/12, 7/13,7/14, 2013
MD to KY Reunion:
St. Catharine College
Springfield, KY near Bardstown
Save the Date: 7/12 – 7/14, 2013
MD to KY Reunion
St. Catharine College
St. Catharine, KY (Springfield, KY) near Bardstown
I am interested in any info on John McManus 8/16/1789–1876 . john showed up in white sulphur ky about 1810 with a brother Patrick . I believe they were part of a group from maryland but I can’t find any records.I would like to trace them back to Ireland if possible. I am having trouble finding any living relatives . Any info would be appreciated
My 3x greatgrandmother was born in KY in 1818. According to the census, both of her parents were born in Ky, which would make them very early settlers there. I know the family was originally from Md. They were from a free black family from MD and their name was CARR. I have NO idea where in Ky they lived. Have you heard of free black families emigrating? Later, in the 1830s she and at least her sister emigrated to Louisiana, where they lived until they died. I can be contacted at geonoetic at att dot net
I am a descendant of Samuel McAdams and the Hagans. I have lots of info about the McAdams, but would like more about the Hagans.
My husbands family is from Manton, near the intersection of Washington, Nelson, and Marion Counties, Kentucky, and his grandparents surnames are Cecil and Shader. I want to learn about the family history of this area. A relative has the given name Hagan, so am thinking there may be Hagan ancestry as well?
My name is Karen Lea (Hayden) Ruhs. I learned I am a descendant of William and Basil Hayden recently. Basil Hayden led a large group of families from Maryland to Kentucky in 1785. I am eager to learn more. My father is Norbert Augustine Hayden.
I just found this link and want to attend the even in 2014. My family migrated to KY from MD, settled in that area, and quickly branched slightly west to essentially the Union County, KY, area. Looking forward to continued more information on the event, as I’ll be flying in from Tucson. Thank you for this!
Richard Fenwick
I just found out today about the upcoming Maryland to Kentucky Reunion and hope to attend, even though I live in CO. I will try to keep track of the reunion on 12-14 Jul 2013. My Drury family migrated with the group from Maryland to Kentucky in the late 1700s. My branch of the family then migrated from Kentucky to East Texas in the 1850s. I spend many hours a day research my family’s genealogy and would be interested in hearing from any of the Drury Family.
It is good to find this connection. I am descended from the Wimsatt’s who made the trek.
Would love to share notes. Having difficulties with the Lorenzo Wimsatt craziness. Two Lorenzo Wimsatts one with George and one with Lloyd. Still trying to figure out my line.
Would love to come to the reunion to connect.
Thanks for this website.
Dave
I have tracked my family tree back to Basil and William Hayden. (My great-grandmother was Savannah Hayden.) I have read a lot about Basil Hayden and his group leading the first group to Kentucky. I think William was the Rev. William Hayden that was referred to in the writing, but when and where did he come to Kentucky?
I have been to the reunion at St. Thomas and Leonardtown. Looking forward to the one @ St. Catherine. I am researching Roby’s and Mackin’s on my paternal side and Cecil & Rogers on my maternal side. Also Cash’s on my husbands side. Looking specifically for any information on Stephen Cash, b. abt. 1839 Nelson Co, Ky. married Elizabeth Carlisle. They had a son named Samuel Edward, however, I have not found a record for Stephen prior to the 1860 census or after mustering out of the civil war in Edgefield, Tn. in 1865. Does anyone have any information on this? Thanks.