B1James

B.5.a. John Nesbit {B.5.a.}

 

     John Nesbit was born in Augusta County Virginia probably about 1766, and most likely grew up on the family farm in the northern part of the Borden tract in Augusta County (Figure 10). He married his neighbor, Sarah Hunter, a daughter of William and Mary Hunter, in the spring of 1787, with the marriage most likely taking place in Augusta County, Virginia. Sarah was probably born in Augusta County, Virginia, around the same time as her future husband, and most likely grew up on the Hunter farm, which was located not far from the Nesbits (Figures 8 and 10). Her family had been in the area at least since 1742, since her father appeared on the Augusta County militia list that year. Since parental consent was required for both of them, it is clear that John Nesbit and Sarah Hunter were minors when they got married, which, from a legal standpoint, means they were under the age of 21 and possibly younger than 16. Shortly thereafter, the extended Nesbit clan picked up stakes and moved to the western side of the Appalachian Mountains, eventually coming to rest in Fayette County, Virginia. The easiest access to Fayette County would have been along the road following the great valley to southwestern Virginia, thence along the Wilderness Trail to the Kentucky River. Other Berry family members could be found in Washington County, so it is probably a safe bet that this was their route of travel. The family originally removed to Fayette County in 1787, then moved to an unknown location several years later, probably Woodford or Scott County, and by 1794 were living in Harrison County, Kentucky. Sarah passed away after 1830, probably in Harrison County. John remained in Harrison County, probably on the family farm, until his death in late February or early March of 1834. The location of their final resting places are not known, but it seems likely that they could have been buried on their property along Grays Run.21

 

Timeline of John Nesbit and Sarah Hunter

 

~176621, 617,761

Fayette County, Virginia/Kentucky Tax Books, 1787 – 1804
Augusta County Virginia, Marriage Bonds, Consent, No 87-50

John Nesbit born in Augusta County, Virginia

~1766-177021, 617,761,762

Fayette County, Virginia/Kentucky Tax Books, 1787 – 1804
Augusta County Virginia, Marriage Bonds, Consent, No 87-50

Federal Census, Harrison County, Kentucky (Western Division)
Sarah Nesbit born in Augusta County, Virginia

10 Oct. 1770221

Augusta County, Virginia Will Book 4, page 404
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I John Berry of the County of Augusta and Colloney of Virginia being weakly of body but of perfect mind and Memory thanks be given to Almighty God there fore Considering the Mortallity of my body Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die I do Make & Ordain this my last will and Testament that is to say Principally first of all I recommend and Commite my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body to the Earth decently buried at the discretion of my Executor doubting nothing but I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God at the General resurection and as Touching what estate it hath Pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise & dispose of the same in the following Manner and form Impremis it is my Will and I do order that all my lawful debts and funeral charges be fully Paid and Satisfyed
Item- unto Mary my Daughter one Pounds five shillings Curant money of Virginia I likewise give and bequeath unto John Neisbit six shillings and six Pence Curent Money of Virginia
Item - I give and bequeath unto John Berry sun of James Berry deced. six Pounds Current Money of Virginia I give and bequeath unto John Berry sun of William Berry ten pounds Current Money of Virginia
Item- I give & bequeath unto John Berry Sun of Francis Berry ten pounds Current Money of Virginia
Item- I give & Bequeath unto Fra Berry Wheel right five pounds Current Money of Virginia
Item- I give and Bequeath unto Mary Berry daughter of William Berry Fowar (4) Pounds Current money of Virginia
Item I give and Bequeath to her Sister Elizabeth Berry Six pounds Current money of Virginia
Item- I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Berry Daughter of Charles Berry five pounds Current money of Virginia
Item- I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca Berry twenty pounds Curent money of Virginia I likewise Constitute and appoint my trusty friends Alexander Walker Wheel wright & William Edmoston sole Executors of this my last will & Testament and do hereby disanul & revock all other Wills or Testament by me made declaring & Publishing this my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand & seal this tenth day of October in the year one thousand seven hundred and Seventy
John Berry
Published & Pronounced in the presence of us:
John Walker
John Walker, Junior
James Walker
Francis Berry

23 May 178636

Land Office Patents and Grants, Virginia Digital Library Land Office Grants Z, 1785 – 1786, page 733, Reel 66
Patrick Henry Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to wit to all whom these presents shall come Greetings Know ye that by virtue and in consideration of a land office treasury warrant number one thousand six hundred and fifty seven and issued the seventh day of November one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine there is granted by the said commonwealth unto Thomas Allen, William Smith and John Hinkson, a certain tract or parcel of land containing two thousand acres by survey bearing date the tenth day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty four lying and being in the county of Fayette on Woods Run a south branch of the south fork of the Licking and bounded as followeth: To Wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of Moses Moores preemption, assignee of John Woods, a box elder and two buckeye trees thence south ninety four degrees east five hundred and fifty five poles to the said Moores line to a sugar ash and hickory corner to said Hinksons entry of 600 thence with the line of said entry north sixteen degrees east four hundred and eighty poles to his corner ash and sugar tree thence with his line south seventy four degrees east one hundred and eighty six poles to his corner on the creek two sugar trees thence down the creek north fifty three and a half degrees east thirty eight poles to Benjamin Harrisons corner two sugar and ash trees on the creek thence with Harrisons line north twenty five degrees west two hundred poles to his southwest corner an ash sugar & hopwood trees thence with his line north fifteen degrees east two hundred and ninety poles toan ash and hickories northwest corner to said Harrisons survey thence north seventy five degrees west two hundred and forty five poles to two sugar trees in the line of Grant Allen, John Smith and William Allins survey of fifteen hundred and seventy five acres thence with their line south thirty two degrees west two hundred and fifty eight poles to their corner an elm sugar and hoop in a small branch thence south (?) sixteen degrees west one hundred and forty eight poles to a locust ash and sugar tree thence north seventy five degrees west two hundred and twenty six poles to a sugar tree hoopwood and ash trees thence south sixteen degrees west three hundred and eighty one poles to the beginning with its appurtenances to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances to the said Thomas Allen, William Smith ands John Hinkson and their heirs forever
In witness whereof the said Patrick Henry esquire governor of the commonwealth of Virginia hath hereunto set his hand and caused the seal of the said commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond on the twenty third day of May in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six and of the commonwealth the tenth
P Henry

15 Nov 178621

Augusta County, Virginia Marriage Bonds page 282
James McCutchen and Elizabeth Hunter, daughter of Wm. Hunter; Surety David Cale; witnesses, Margrit Hunter, Sarah Hunter. James is son of Ellenor McCutchen; witnesses, John McCutchen, Jane McCutchen.

24 Aug. 178721,761

Augusta County Virginia, Marriage Bonds, Consent, No 87-50
Honr. Sir
Agreeable to us both partys Concerned that Jno Neisbit & Sarah Hunter be Joined in the bonds of holy matrimony we Desire the favour of you to Give him the Licents
Samuel Neisbit (Seal)
William Hunter (Seal)
Jno. Yeager
Jas. McCutchan
Know all men by these presents that we John Neisbet and James McCutchen of the county of Augusta are held and firmly bound to Edmd. Randolph Esq. Governor of Virginia and his Successors in the sum of fifty pounds current money. To the payment whereof well and truly to be made we do bind ourselves our Heirs, Executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals this 24th day of August 1787 and in the 12th year of the commonwealth.
The Condition of this obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound John Neisbet and Sarah Hunter of the county of Augusta for which he hath this day obtained a license; if therefore there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
John Nisbett (Seal)
James McCutchan (Seal)

26 Aug. 1787105,763,764

Virginia Historic Marriage Register: Augusta County 1748-1850
John Neisbet and Sarah Hunter married by Rev. Archibald Scott.

13 Dec. 1787617

Fayette County, Virginia/Kentucky Tax Books
Robert Johnson’s District
John Nisbet
1 white tithable      John
2 horses

~1788765

1850 Federal Census Boone County, Missouri
Birth of Mary ‘Polly’ Nesbit in Fayette County, Virginia/Kentucky

~1789617

Fayette County, Virginia/Kentucky Tax Books
Robert Johnson’s District
John Nisbit
1 white tithable       John
2 horses

1790617

Fayette County, Virginia/Kentucky Tax Books
Thos. Lewis’ List
Samuel Nisbit
2 White Tithes      Samuel, John (?)
10 Horses

~1790766

Tombstone Inscription, Brierly Cemetery, Vermilion County,  Illinois
Birth of Elizabeth Nesbit in Fayette County, Virginia/Kentucky

1791617

Fayette County, Virginia/Kentucky Tax Books
Book # 3
Samuel Nisbit
2 White Tithes      Samuel, John (?)
6 Horses

1791807

Harrison Woodford County Kentucky Taxpayers 1790 thru 1799
John Neasbit

~1791-1794767

Harrison County, Kentucky, Will Book C, pages 265, 266
Birth of Samuel Nesbit in Kentucky

1794808

Scott County Kentucky Taxpayers 1790 thru 1799
John Nusbit

1795808

Scott County Kentucky Taxpayers 1790 thru 1799
John Neasbut

~1795768

1860 Federal Census, Harrison County, Kentucky
Birth of William Nesbit probably in Scott County, Kentucky

1796808

Scott County Kentucky Taxpayers 1790 thru 1799
John Nearmert (?)

~1797767,807,808

Harrison County, Kentucky Will Book C, pages 265, 266
Birth of Robert Nesbit probably in Scott County, Kentucky

1799808

Scott County Kentucky Taxpayers 1790 thru 1799
John Nusbit

1800769

1800 Tax List Scott County, Kentucky
John Neisbit

~1800 - 1802767

Harrison County, Kentucky, Will Book C, pages 265, 266
Birth of Nancy Nesbit probably in Woodford or Scott County, Kentucky

1803770

1850 Federal Census, Bracken County, Kentucky
Birth of Sarah ‘Sally’ Nesbit probably in Scott County, Kentucky

4 Sept 1805771

Scott County, Kentucky, Will Book A, pages 392-393
Will of John Risk.
Witness: John Nisbet

~1805767,772

Harrison County, Kentucky, Will Book C, pages 265, 266
1830 Federal Census, Fleming County, Kentucky
Birth of Hester ‘Hetty’ Nesbit in Scott or Harrison County, Kentucky

30 Apr 1806282

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Niesbit
1 white male > 21
2 horses
100 acres of first rate land on Woods Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkston

~1807773

Tombstone Inscription, New Salem Cemetery, Boone County, Indiana
Birth of Virginia Nesbit in Harrison County, Kentucky

1 Apr 1807282

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Niesbit
1 white male > 21
4 horses
100 acres of second rate land on Woods Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkson

6 May 1809774,775,842

Augusta County, Virginia Deed Book 36, pages 12-16, LDS Microfilm # 30355
Nesbitology: Newsletters 6-9 Otis B. Nesbit, Nesbit Society, United Kingdom, Publication No. 10, Cambridge 1995

This Indenture made the sixth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand and nine between John Nisbet & Sarah, his wife, of the County of Harrison in the State of Kentucky, Samuel Utter & Catherine, his wife, of the County of Dearborn in the ------?---- Territory, James McCutchion & Elizabeth, his wife of the County of Scott in the said State of Kentucky, James Crawford & Eleanor, his wife, Andrew Crawford & Rachel, his wife, & Mary Hunter (widow and relict of William Hunter, decd.) of the County of Giles & State of Virginia, William Benson and Margaret his wife & William Hunter of the County of Augusta in the aforesaid State of Virginia of the one part & John Burford of the said County of Augusta in the said State of Virignia of the other part. Witnesseth, that the said John Nisbet & Sarah, his wife, Samuel Utter & Catherine, his wife, James McCutechion & Elizabeth, his wife, James Crawford & Eleanor, his wife, Andrew Crawford & Rachel, his wife, Mary Hunter, William Benson & Margaret, his wife, & William Hunter ( ---?—said Mary is the widow and relict & the said Sarah, Catherine, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Rachel, Margaret & William were the children & have --?—representatives of William Hunter late of the County of Augusta, deceased) for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred & seventy three pounds Virginia currency to them in hand paid or secured to be paid, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained & sold & by these presents do grant, bargain & sell unto the said John Burford his heirs and assigns, a certain tract or parcel of land situate in the aforesaid County of Augusta on a branch of the Middle river containing by estimation two hundred & forty acres be the same more or less & bounded as follows, to wit:

Beginning at three hickories on a spur of the North Mountain & running thence South thirty eight degrees West, one hundred and forty poles to a white oak & hickory thence South sixty degrees East one hundred & forty poles to a white oak in a valley, thence North thirty five degrees East one hundred & fourteen poles crossing a branch to two red oaks and a white oak, thence North sixty one degrees West two hundred & six to two chestnut oaks, thence North fifty four degrees East one hundred poles to a forked white hickory, thence North fifty one degrees West Eighty poles to a black oak & chesnut oak corner to James Hunters land (now Abram Miller’s) thence South thirty degrees West Eight poles to the beinning,

being the same tract or parcel of land that was granted to the said William Hunter dec’d by patent bearing the date the 20th day of September 1751 & which the parties now conveying claim as the heirs and representatives of the said William Hunter dec’d together will said singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging, as many wise appertaining to have and to hold the aforesaid tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances, unto the said John Burford’s his heirs and assigns, to the only proper use & behoof him the said John Burford his heirs and assigns forever. And the said John Nesbit and Sarah, his wife, Samuel Utter & Catherine, his wife, James McCutcheon & Elizabeth, his wife, James Crawford & Eleanor his wife, Andrew Crawford & Rachel, his wife, Mary Hunter, William Benson and Margaret, his wife, & William Hunter, for themselves, their heirs, executors & administrators do covenant with the said John Burford his heirs and assigns that they will warrant and foever defend by these presents, their rights and title in and to the said or parcel of land with its appurtenances, unto the said John Burford his heirs & assigns, against the claim or claims of them & their heirs, and of all and every person or persons whatsoever. In Testimony whereof the said John Nesbitt & Sarah, his wife, Samuel Utter & Catherine, his wife, James McCutcheon & Elizabeth, his wife, James Crawford & Eleanor his wife, Andrew Crawford & Rachel, his wife, Mary Hunter, William Benson & Margaret, his wife, & William Hunter have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
Signed Sealed & Delivered In presence of
James McCutcheon (Seal)
Elizabeth McCutcheon (Seal)
John Nisbet (Seal)
Sarah (her mark) Nisbet (Seal)
Scott County to wit}
Samuel Utter (Seal)
William (his mark) Hunter (Seal)
Mary Hunter (Seal)
Andrew Crawford (Seal)
Rachel Crawford (Seal)
James Crawford (Seal)
Eleanor Crawford (Seal)
William Benson (Seal)
Margaret Benson (Seal)
This day Elizabeth McCutcheon Came before us two of the Commissioners Justice of the Peace, and being examined Private and apart from her husband relinquishes All her right of dower title or interest to the Within land and desired the same should be Recorded. Given under our hands This 1st of May 1809.
Catharine Utter (Seal)
Lewis Nicokels
Jeremiah Tarlton
Note the words “State of Ohio” erased and the
Words Indiana Territory interlined before executed.
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Scott County, Sct.
I Cary L. Clark of the county Court of said county do hereby certify that James McCutcheon whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Indenture did this day in open Court acknowledge the same to be his act and deed & I do hereby further certify that Lewis Nuckolls and Jeremiah Tarlton whose names are subscribed to the foregoing relinquishment are Justices of the said Court & acting magistrates in the said County that their certificate is in due form that full faith is due to all their official acts as such. Given under my hand & the seal of the said County in open Court this first day of May 1809 & in the 17th year of the Commonwealth.
Attest Gary L. Clark CSCC
I, James McCrosky do hereby certify that Cary L. Clark, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is the acting Clerk of the said County of Scott County & duly qualified as such. Given under my hands as Senior & Presiding justice of said Court the fist day of May 1809. Jas. McCrosky.
State of Kentucky, Harrison County, Sct.
At a court for the County of Harrison at the Courthouse in Cynthiania on the eighth day of May one thousand eight hundred and nine
This Indenture of Bargain & Sale from John Nisbet & Sarah, his wife, Samuel Utter & Catherine, his wife, James McCutcheon & Elizabeth, his wife, & others to John Burford was acknowledged, being examined in Court by John Nisbet & Sarah, his wife. And the said Sarah being examined in Court in the as the law directs relinquished her right of dower to the land therein mentioned and is ordered to be certified to the County Court of Augusta County in the State of Virginia.
I William Moore, Clerk of the county Court of Harrison do certify that the above is a true copy taken from the records in my office. In testimony whereof I hereunto my hand and affix my seal of Office this 13th day of May 1809.
(Seal)
W. Moore CHC
As presiding Magistrate of the County Court of Harrison I do certify that William Moore who has signed and sealed the above Certificate is Clerk of the County Court afores.d I that these record by him set forth is in due form. Given under my hand this 15th day of May 1809.
David Dils (Seal)

4 July 1809618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nisbet
1 male > 21
5 horses
100 acres on Gray’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: John Hinkston

30 July 1810618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nisbet
1 male > 21
6 horses
100 acres on South Licking
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: J. Hinkson

28 May 1810842

Augusta County, Virginia Deed Book 36, page 12-16, LDS Microfilm # 30355
At a Court for Augusta County, this 28th day of May 1810, This Indenture of bargain and Sale between John Nesbit & Sarah, his wife, Samuel Utter and Catherine, his wife, James McCutcheon and Elizabeth, his wife, James Crawford and Eleanor, his wife, Andrew Crawford and Rachel, his wife, Mary Hunter, widow and relect of James (sic) Hunter, deceased, William Benson and Margaret, his wife, and William Hunter of the one part, and John Burford of the other part having been acknowledged in the County Court of Scott in the State of Kentucky by the said James McCutcheon, and in the County Court of Harrison in the said States by the said Nesbett and wife, as appears by the certificates of the Clerk’s of said Courts, and was this day acknowledged in court by the said Mary Hunter and Andrew (blank) and Rachel, his wife, by James Crawford their attorney in fact and by the said James Crawford for himself and as also acknowledged by the said William Benson and ordered to be recorded as to the parties who have acknowledged the same.

30 August 1811618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nisbet
1 male > 21
5 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: S. Hinkson

30 Nov 1811776,777

Harrison County, Kentucky Marriage Bonds, 1809 – 1812
Memoirs of Rev. Thomas Hiram Worley (1930)
Know all men by these presents that Caleb Worley & John Nisbet are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Ky in the just and full sum of fifty pounds current money and for payment well and truly to be made and done to the said Commonwealth we bind ourselves & every of our heirs Exrs & admin jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 30th day of November 1811
The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas a marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound
Caleb Worley & Betsey Nisbet now should there be no lawful cause to obstruct said marriage then the above obligation to be void else remain in force
Witness Present: W. Moore
Caleb Worley
John Neisbit

1812618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nisbet
1 male > 21
6 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkson

1813618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbitt
1 male > 21
100 acres on Wood’s Run
Original Owner: Hinkson
Captain Miller’s Company

1814618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbett
1 male > 21
5 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Horecks ?
Value of land per acre: $15
Total value except stud horses, jackasses and billiard tables: $1750

7 Mar. 1814276

Harrison County, Kentucky, Will Book A, page 244
In the Name of God amen, I Samuel Nisbet of Harrison county & State of Kentucky, being weakly in body but in perfect mind & memory thanks be to God for his mercies & Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die I do make & ordain this my last will & Testament by me made and first of all I do commend my soul to God who Gave it and my body to the Earth from whence it came to be decently buried & as touching my worldly Estate that is has pleased God to bless me with I do dispose of in the following way & manner I do order all my Lawfull Debts to be paid and my funeral charges and as for the balance of my Estate I do dispose of in the following way & manner that is to say to John my son I do Give one hundred & twenty Dollars and to Robert my son I do Give ten Dollars as he had Got his Share before and to Samuel my son I do Give the piece of Land that is laid off to him adjoining Roberts line supposed to be twenty acres more or less and to James my son do Give thirty Dollars as he had Got his share before and to William my son I do Give the plantation whereon I now live with all the plantation, tools & 2 horses and the waggon to be Be---?-- [possibly between] William & Sam and Each of my Daughters now living at home is to have a horse or Mare & for my other three that is Married I do Give ten Dollars to each one & the balance of the Estate I do leave the Sole disposal of to Mary my wife and she is to have a Good Sufficient living on the place and to keep possession of the house and that three un Married Daughters to have their living on the place while un Married and I do leave Mary my wife and William my son Sole Executors of this my Last will & Testament by me made I do revoke all other wills or Testament by me made __ Given under my hand this 7th day of March 1814.
Test Samuel Nisbet L.S.
W. Moore
A. Moore
Henry C. Moore

1815618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbit
1 male > 21
8 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkston
Value of land per acre: $15
Total value except stud horses, jackasses and billiard tables: $1800

1816618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbit
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: John Hinkston
1 male > 21
7 horses, mares and mules
Value/acre: $15
Total Value: $750

1817618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbit
100 acres on Gray’s (?) Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: John Hinkston
1 male > 21
9 horses, mares and mules
Value/acre: $20
Total Value: $2300

1818618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nisbit
1 male > 21
4 horses
100 acres on Licking
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Jacob Lockhart
Value/acre: $20
Total Value: $2170

1819618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbit
1 male > 21
5 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkson
Value/acre: $25
Total Value: $2700

1820488

Federal Census, Harrison County, Kentucky
John Nessbutt

1 male > 45

John (51 - 54)

2 females 10 - 16

Hester (~15), Virginia (~13)

1 female 16 - 26

Sarah (~17)

1 female 26 - 45

Mary (~32)

1 female > 45

Sarah (50 - 54)

1821618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbit
1 male > 21
4 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Smith
Value/acre: $20
Total Value: $2206

1822618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbitt
1 male > 21
4 horses
No children between the ages of 4 and 14
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkson
Value/acre: $18
Total Value: $2050

1823618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Neisbitt
1 male > 21
3 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: unreadable
Value/acre: $18
Total Value: $2000

1825618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbitt
1 male > 21
1 black
4 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkson
Value/acre: $20
Total Value: $2440

1826618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbitt
1 male > 21
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkson
Value/acre: $12
Total Value: $1500

1827618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbitt Sr
1 male > 21
1 black
4 horses
100 acres on South Licking
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinktson
Value/acre: $12
Total Value: $1560

1828618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbitt
1 male > 21
1 black
2 horses
100 acres on South Licking
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkson
Value/acre: $15
Total Value: $1780

1829618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbit
1 male > 21
1 black > 16
1 black
3 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkston
Value/acre: $16
Total Value: $1959

1829618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbit
1 male > 21
1 black
2 horses
100 acres on Wood’s Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkston
Value/acre: $16
Total Value: $1950

1830618

Harrison County, Kentucky Tax Books
John Nesbit
1 male >21
1 black
2 horses,
100 acres on Woods Run
In Whose Name Entered/Surveyed/Granted: Hinkston

1830489

Federal Census, Harrison County, Kentucky (Western Division)
John Nisbit

1 male 60-70

John (61 – 64)

2 males 5-10

 

1 female 20-30

Nancy (28 – 30)

1 female 60-70

Sarah (60 – 64)

1830 - 1834489,767

Federal Census, Harrison County, Kentucky (Western Division)
Harrison County, Kentucky, Will Book C, pages 265, 266
Death of Sarah (Hunter) Nesbit in Harrison County, Kentucky

26 Feb. 1834767

Harrison County, Kentucky, Will Book C, pages 265, 266
In the name of God Amen, I John Nesbit being in perfect mind do Ordain this to be my last will and Testament. To wit. First. I will and Bequeath to my Daughter Nancy One Bay mare Six or seven years Old and One two year Old Iron Gray colt And two Beds and Bedding and also One Bureau and cupboard and all cupboard and furniture Now in use and I also give her choice of a cow or calf out of my Stock of cattle and I also give her the Caldwell debt where I was security for Jacob Righter Supposed to be One hundred and thirty Dollars with its interest and cost over and above all the rest of my heirs.
Secondly It is to be understood that after my Daughter Nancy gets the above named property it is my will that all the balance of my property shall be equally divided Between all my Heirs at law To wit. Polly Douglass, Elizabeth Worley, Samuel Nesbit, William Nesbit, Robert Nesbit, Nancy Nesbit, Sally Shawhan, Hester Cummins, Virginia Nicols. And it is to be understood that I wish Samuel Hamilton and Matt* Lair to execute this my last will and testament, In Testimony whereunto I John Nesbit have set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty sixth day of February in the year of Our lord eighteen Hundred and thirty four.
John Nesbit
Test
Wm. Nesbit
Jacob Righter

11 March 1834767

Harrison County, Kentucky, Will Book C, pages 265, 266
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Harrison County
To wit March Court 1834
I Samuel Endicott clerk of the county Court of the county aforesaid to certify that this last will and Testament of John Nesbit deceased was produced at the above court and proven by the Oaths of Wm Nesbit and Jacob Righter subscribing witnesses thereto and was ordered to be recorded which is done this 11th day of the same month in the year aforesaid.
S. Endicott Clk Harrison County by
J.W.M. Endicott Dep’y Clk

Analysis of the Timeline

 

     Both John Nesbit and his future wife, Sarah Hunter, were born in Augusta County, Virginia in the mid to late 1760s. Although no specific documentation for John or Sarah’s place of birth has been found in available primary source records, it can be demonstrated through deed, probate, tax and other court-related data that both of their parents lived in the northern part of the Borden Grant in Augusta County, Virginia at the time they were born. Samuel Nesbit, John’s father had probably been living in the Borden Grant area since the early 1760s and his mother, Mary Berry, had most likely been living there since the early 1750s. William Hunter, Sarah’s father, lived near the Nesbit family along the headwaters of the Middle Shenandoah River, near the upper reaches of Cathey’s and Moffet’s Creek where the Beverley and Borden Grants share a common boundary, and had been in the vicinity at least since 1742. Two lines of evidence allow a somewhat accurate determination of John’s date of birth – his grandfather’s will and his (John Nesbit’s) marriage record. John Nesbit was discretely identified in the October 1770 will of his grandfather, the elder John Berry, which places an upper bracket on his birth date - sometime before October 1770. The record of his 1787 marriage to Sarah Hunter, however, sheds much more light on the subject. Both he and his wife were required to obtain the written consent of their parents before they were married, which quite clearly demonstrates that they were minors at the time. If we assume that they were both about the same age, maybe about 16 years old when they got married, then their birth dates can be calculated as occurring about 1766 or 1767. Their age ranges from the 1820 and 1830 federal census records bracket their births as having occurred between 1760 and 1770, which fits quite well with the interpretation of their age from the marriage data.21

 

     When John’s maternal grandfather passed away in the fall of 1770, John, who was probably about four years old at the time, was mentioned in the will, and that was his first documentation in source records. Sarah Hunter first appears in the records in the fall of 1786 when she served as one of the witnesses in the marriage of her sister Elizabeth to James McCutchen, another northern Borden Grant neighbor. The following summer, Sarah married her neighbor, John Nesbit, in Augusta County, Virginia, and James McCutchen, her new brother in law, served as a witness for the marriage bond. Several months later, in the late fall of 1787, John Nesbit was taxed in Fayette County, Virginia, so sometime between August and December of 1787 the Nesbit clan moved from the Shenadoah Valley on the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains, to the Kentucky River valley in Fayette County, Virginia, on the western side of the mountains.

 

     John and Sarah’s first child, Mary (probably named for both of John and Sarah’s mothers), was born about 1788, not long after the family had settled into their new western homestead, and, several years later, another daughter, Elizabeth, was born. From 1788 through 1790, John and Sarah lived in Fayette County, which can be documented through the record of the personal property taxes they paid in that county, but in 1791 the family was taxed in Woodford County, Virginia. Woodford County had been carved from Fayette County in 1788 (Figure 59), but, with John and Sarah still being taxed in Fayette County for several years after that, they do not appear to have lived in that part of Fayette County. In 1791, however, their payment of personal property taxes in Woodford County indicates that they must have moved there in late 1790 or early 1791. By 1794, however, they were taxed in Scott County, Kentucky. Scott County had been formed from Woodford County in 1792 (Figure 60), the same year that Virginia split off its western territories to form the state of Kentucky, so, either the family moved again or, in their 1790/1791 move, they had settled in the part of Woodford County that was used to form Scott County. The latter alternative sounds much more simple and logical, since that interpretation does not require the occurrence of another move for the family. From this time (1790/1791) until 1804 or early 1805, the family resided in Scott County. Five more children, specifically, two boys, Samuel and Robert, and three girls, Nancy, Sarah and Hester, were born during this time period, most, if not all, being born in Scott County, Kentucky. The youngest of these kids could have been born in Harrison County, depending, of course, on the actual date of their move and the actual birth date. In the late summer of 1805, John served as a witness in the will of John Risk, who was probably a Scott County neighbor. The Risk family was another Borden/Beverley Grant family from back in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia that had made the westward migration to Kentucky after the Revolutionary War.190


     By the spring of 1806, the Nesbit family was living in Harrison County, Kentucky on 100 acres of land that was originally part of a 2,000 acre land parcel located along Woods Run purchased by John Hinkson, Thomas Allen and William Smith. These land speculators had been granted a warrant for the property from the Virginia Land Office in the fall of 1779, had the property surveyed in the spring of 1784 and received clear title to the acreage via a land patent in the late spring of 1786. Virginia and Kentucky tax and land records clearly demonstrate that a 5% chunk of that 2,000 acres was purchased by John and Sarah Nesbit sometime between the spring of 1786 and the spring of 1805/1806. From 1806 through 1830 the Harrison County Personal Property Tax records variously described this 100 acre Nesbit homestead as being along Grays Run, Woods Run and the South Licking River, and, although these tax records usually identified John Hinkson as the original owner, there was one occurrence where Smith was listed as the original patent holder. Grays Run is a north-flowing tributary of the South Licking River located in Harrison County, Kentucky, but a stream by the name of Woods Run does not appear on the USGS maps of the area, so its location cannot be verified from modern maps. An investigation of adjacent land patents, however, allows a more detailed understanding of the location of Woods Run. One side of John Hinkson's 2000 acre Woods Run parcel adjoins a 1575 acre parcel patented by Grant Allen, which was described in the patent records as being located along Greys Run. In addition, it also borders a 500 acre plot owned by Benjamin Harrison, which is important, because Benjamin Harrison’s acreage also borders the 1220 acres of land obtained by Samuel Haws, who sold the land on Grays Run to John’s father, Samuel Nesbit. The bottom line is that Virginia patent records clearly show a Woods Run acreage immediately adjacent to several Grays Run acreages, and the Kentucky Personal Property tax records consistently used the names of both watercourses to describe the location of John and Sarah Nesbit’s land, so the streams are, quite clearly, very close to each other. Woods Run may go by another name today or could possibly be an unnamed tributary of Grays Run. It could even be an “out of use” name for Grays Run. Without a doubt, it is certainly in the vicinity of the modern day Harrison County stream known as Grays Run. Furthermore, John and Sarah’s family farm was probably not far from the home of John’s parents, who, most assuredly, lived along Grays Run. John was taxed on this acreage until his death, so, at least during his lifetime, the family made no more moves.36,282,618,832

 

     In 1810 or 1811, Sarah’s father, William Hunter, passed away in Augusta County, Virginia and John and Sarah, as well as some other of Sarah’s siblings, inherited an Augusta County land parcel her father had owned. Later in 1811, John and Sarah’s second oldest daughter, Betsy, was married, and John signed the marriage bond. Several years later, in 1814, John’s father, Samuel Nesbit, passed away, and John received a monetary award in the estate settlement. Both Sarah and John were recorded in the 1830 federal census, but Sarah passed away after that, sometime between 1830 and the winter of 1834. John wrote his will in the winter of 1834, and passed away in late February or early March of 1834. The burial location for Sarah and John are not known, but they were most likely laid to rest somewhere in Harrison County, Kentucky, either on the family farm or in a local cemetery.

 

In-laws of John Nesbit

William and Mary Hunter

 

 

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Last Revised: 02/26/2009