Next MD to KY Reunion?

Mike Mudd asks:

I am trying to get info on any reunions planned this summer. I would also like to find out more about the catholic migration to Kentucky. Thanks.

To find out more about the migration, please look at all the posts and pages on this site. There are links to numerous resources.

As of June 27, 2012, there is no MD to KY reunion scheduled that we are aware of. As we have told many people, the next reunion requires the active and dedicated involvement of a core group of people to organize and set up. And that core group of people has not come forward.

Originally, Christopher Heilig and his wife were going to get such a group going, but they have been too busy with work and other matters.

So, any volunteers?

Posted in Migration, Questions | Tagged | 1 Comment

Willett, and Fancy Farm, KY

My Willett ancestors moved from Maryland to Washington County, KY in the late 1700s, relocated to Graves County, KY in 1812-14.

Samuel Willett and his wife Elizabeth founded the community of Fancy Farm in Graves County, KY, in the far western part of the state. His brother John Willett joined him at a later date. This John Willett was my maternal great grandfather.

Email from Carole Embry, ccembry -at- gmail

More from Carole Enbry:
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Mary Ann Carrico born 1815 in KY, married Richard Wilkins

Scott Meyer writes:

I’m researching Mary Ann Carrico born 1815 in KY, married Richard Wilkins, lived & died in LaRue Co, Ky in 1882. I cannot figure out who her parents were. Some list them as James Carrico m. to Theresa Hagen in 1807 in Nelson Co KY. Help

Contact him via email at mcottmeyer@fairpoint.net

Welcome Center, Bardstown, KY, by Patricia Drury

Welcome Center, Bardstown, KY, by Patricia Drury

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My Old Kentucky Home

My Old Kentucky Home – Wikipedia

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John McManus, White Sulphur, Scott County KY, 1810

Tom Congleton writes:

My Great, Great, Great Grandfather, John McManus, showed up around White Sulphur, Scott County KY in 1810. He and his wife are also buried there. What info that I can obtain indicates that he was born in Ireland in 1789/1790 and a John McManus did show up on a list of migrants from Maryland. But there was no further info on the list. I would greatly appreciate any info or help that you could give me.
Thanks Tom Congleton email wtcjhc@kywimax.com phone 5023492807

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Maryland to Kentucky

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.
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William Hayden and Basil Hayden

Edgar Hayden writes:

From my father I am a descendant of William Hayden, brother of Basil Hayden, who were among the early settlers of Kentucky. From my mother I am a descendant of Leonard Hamilton, who was also among the early settlers fo Kentucky. I would like to include a link to my family genealogy web page under the “Family Sites and Sources” tab of your Maryland to Kentucky web page.

Here is the page with link, and welcome Edgar!

Posted in Family Trees, Notes from Family | 1 Comment

Nelson County (KY) Family History Book Being Prepared

Mary Annette Wimsatt sends word that a new book is being prepared by the Nelson County (KY) Genealogical Roundtable and the Nelson County (KY) Historical Society. It will be a hardbound book and you are invited to include your Nelson County roots. It will record the history of all the families of Nelson County:

  • Those who are here now.
  • Those who were here in our past.
  • Those passing through, who left their mark and moved on.

New County Courthouse in Bardstown, Kentucky, by C. Bedford Crenshaw

Submit YOUR story and someone else will edit, index, publish, and give you credit for the information. You may do send us your stories and photographs in two ways:

WRITE DOWN THE MEMORIES OF YOUR ELDERS. What was life like in their town? What did they do for fun? How did their family live, travel, celebrate holidays? What jobs did everyone have? Was there a town character they remember? Tell their story.

RECORD YOUR FAMILY ROOTS. Write a narrative about your family. Begin with the earliest generation you know with a connection to Nelson County and continue with later generations up to those who are living today. There is no limit on the number of surnames you may submit. Some things you may include are: when and where were they born, their occupation, something for which they were known, who they married, when they died, did they serve their country, the names and birth years of their spouses and their children. If entering persons who are now living, give only their name and the name of their spouse.

Pictures may be submitted: your ancestor, family reunion, the old home place, etc. but only a very limited number will be used, no more than one per family surname submitted and their use will be subject to the approval of the editors.

  • Pictures must be of good quality
  • All subjects must be identified
  • Pictures must be submitted with the narrative

Bring your pictures to the Nelson County Library Genealogy Room for scanning or mail them, along with a self addressed stamped envelope to:

NCGR
PO Box 409
Bardstown, KY 40004

If you want to make a submission but writing has become difficult for you, you may request assistance by calling: 502-348-9145 or 502-348-2172.

For more information, see this 1-page PDF.

Posted in Catholics in Kentucky, Notes from Family | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Charles Tewell and William Tewell?

Patrick Tewell writes:

I found your website earlier today when I was trying to fill in some of my father’s extensive research on our family.  Records go back to MD, then things get less certain.  What is certain is that our family were some of the first settlers to KY (VA at the time) in the late 1700′s.  Later my gggg grandfather Charles Tewell went on to settle in southern IN with his brother where new Catholic churches were established on what was the frontier.

I have two binders of family information that my father spend a lifetime researching.  Upon his death in 2004, all his other research and documentation was forwarded to a genealogical society in Washington, Indiana.  Feel free to contact me for any infomation you need, and please respond in kind.  Of importance, I’m looking for information on my ggggg grandfather, William Tewell (Tuel, Tuell), who was born in either St. Mary’s County MD or Prince George’s County, MD approximately in 1760.  He was married to Elizabeth Riney and they had at least four children.

If you can help Patrick, please leave a comment.

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“Growth of the Church in Kentucky”

From “Kentucky” in The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) (links in original).

The Boone family were among the first Catholic settlers of Maryland, and upon the strength of this fact it has been contended that Daniel Boone was a Catholic. Nothing, however, that is recorded of the life of this famous Kentucky pioneer seems to support this contention. In all probability, Dr. George Hart and William Coombes, who accompanied John Harrod, and settled at Harrodsburg in 1774, were the first Catholic settlers. Dr. Hart, if not the first, was certainly one of the first physicians to settle in Kentucky. He practised his profession at Harrodsburg until about the year 1786, when he moved to the vicinity of Bardstown, in what is now Nelson County, in order to join his co-religionists who had recently emigrated from Maryland.
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