Have you researched deeds in early Kentucky? If so, have you found the creek or river on a map of waterways? Thanks to FamilySearch’s new Experimental Search, I’m discovering deeds that reference corners or lines associated with a name I’m researching.
I recently came across an early Lincoln County, Kentucky deed for the sale of land by John Nash to Chrsitopher Rynerson. In this deed, the land shares a corner and a line with land owned by a James Crawford. Thus, I’m trying to locate this land for further research. After all, I tend to focus on men named ‘James Crawford’ in this area of Kentucky during this time period. The description indicates it is on “the Big South Fork of the Rolling Fork of Salt River.”
When I did a Google search to figure out where the Salt River was located, it took me to a Wikipedia article that placed the Salt River in northern Kentucky near Louisville. A Wikipedia article about the Rolling Fork indicates it forms the dividing line between Nelson and LaRue counties. While I’m pretty ‘rusty’ when it comes to Kentucky geography, I do know that Lincoln county was to the South and did not include Louisville or its vicinity.
To verify the boundaries of Lincoln County in 1801 (year of the deed), I used the web site Map of US for Kentucky and switched the interactive county map to 1801. This map verified that Lincoln county was indeed towards the south (and East) from Louisville (Jefferson county).
A search for “Rolling Fork Lincoln County Kentucky” uncovered a list of land holdings for James Thompson. This list includes “600 acres on Rolling Fork in Lincoln County”.
A look at the 1797 Kentucky map indicates that Lincoln County was even larger at that time.
After this geography refresher, I was able to locate the Salt River on my Kentucky Waterways map. I then followed it to the Rolling Fork. Following the Rolling Fork south and east, I was able to find the Big South Fork in Marion and Boyle counties.
This map places the Big South Fork on the west side of a dividing ridge. The Hanging Fork is on the east side of this ridge. The John Crawford land is on the Hanging Fork.
Thanks to the mention of a Crawford land owner in another deed, I now have another James Crawford to research. The transcription of this deed is below.
Lincoln County Kentucky
Deeds 1795-1802Volume D 1797-1802
Image 482 of 518
page 233 (right side)This Indenture made this Ninth day of March
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred & one between John Nash of the county
of Lincoln of the one part & Christopher Reneerson
of the said county other part Witnesseth that the
Said John Nash for and in consideration of the
sum of fifty pounds current money of Kentucky
to him in hand paid by the said Ryneerson
the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge hath
granted bargained & sold & delivered unto the
Said Ryneerson one certain tract of land lying
in the County of Lincoln on the Big South Fork
of the Rolling fork of Salt River containing by
Estimation one hundred acres be the same more
or less and Bounded as follows viz
Begining at two Beaches on the bank of the
said fork thence down the said fork S33 Degrees
West 76 poles to a Sycamore on the bank ofSd fork
thence N 45W [210] poles to a Hickory & dogwood trees in
the old line thence N 45 E 76 poles to a white oak &
Dogwood trees In James Crawford ‘ s corner thence
with his line S 45 E 198 poles the Begining
the above tract of land is part of three thousand
acres located , in the name of James [Spee]d to have
& to Hold the aforesaid tract of Land with all &
Singular the appurtenance thereunto belongingpage 234
belonging or in any wise appertaining from the said
John Nash & his his heirs to the Rynearson & his heirs
for ever though it is be remembered and it is
agreed on between the parties that if the Rynearson
Should be disposed of said land the Said Nash
is not to pay back any of the purchase money
In Witness whereof the said Nash hath hereunto set
Hand & Seal the day & year above Written
interlined before Signed
John Nash (Seal)Witness
Matthias Speed
Lincoln County Sct
this indenture of bargain &
sale was Received unto my office the 10th of March
1801 acknowledged by the the within John Nash to
be his act & deed & admitted to Record
Attest Tho Montgomery DC LCC