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  • Category: Transcript
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  • Author: Robertson, James Rood
  • Publisher: Louisville, Kentucky, 1914
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Page: 85
  • Text:

    Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky

    NUMBER 28.

    To the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates -
    The petition of Sundry Inhabitants of the County of Fayette Humbly sheweth That from the extensive Boundaries of this County it subjects many of its Inhabitants to great Inconveniences, In Transacting their necessary business at their County Court, Many of your Petitioners have at least Sixty five miles to Lexington their present Court House; and most of the way being uninhabited render it dangerous to your petitioners In going to and from Court, from the frequent Incursions of Hostile Savages, And as your petitioners conceive, that in all governments the obtaining of justice should be made as safe & easy as possible to all its Citizens, and as no persons can possibly receive any Injury from the Division of this County; And your Petitioners acquire an Imediate Benefit. Pray, that your Honorable House will at the next Session pass an act for the Division thereof In manner following-
    Beginning at the mouth of Uper Howards Creek on Kentucky River runing up the Main fork thereof to the Head thence with the Dividing Ridge between Kentucky & Licking Creek untill it comes opposite the Head of Eagle Creek, from thence a Direct Line to the nearest part of Ravin Creek a Branch of Licking, Down Ravin Creek to the Mouth thereof, thence with Licking to the Ohio-thence with the Ohio to the mouth of Sandy Creek, Up Sandy to the Cumberland Mountain with sd Mountain to Lincoln Line thence with the Lincoln Line & Down Kentucky River to the Beginning, And all that part within the Lines above described, be Established into a seperate County. And your petitioners shall ever pray &c.

    (Names)
    [John Layson]
    [Robert Layson]

    Fayette County to wit
    I Levi Todd Clerk of the Court of the County aforesaid do certify That an advertisement setting forth (that a Petition praying for a division of the County aforesaid nearly (if not quite) agreeable to the plan mentioned in this Petition would be presented to the next Session of the General Assembly) On two different Court days at the Courthouse of the said County.
    Test Levi Todd

    -----
    Endorsement on back of petition: Nov. 25th. 1785-Refd. to Props.-
    (reasonable)
    The request was granted in an act entitled, An Act for dividing the County of Fayette. Henings Statutes, Vol. 12, 89.
    The division was to date from May, 1788- Bourbon Co.
Page: 86
Page: 110
  • Text: Page: 110-111:

    Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky

    NUMBER 49.

    To the Honorable the General Assembly of Virginia
    The petition of sundry Inhabitants of the County of Bourbon, humbly sheweth that your petitioners warned by two advertisements one from the neighborhood of Limestone, and the other from the County of Madison proposing to petition your honorable house for the devision of Bourbon County. The first to divide the County by a line running up the main fork of Licking, The other to run from the head of Boon’s creek near the Kentucky river a North East course untill it strikes Stoner's fork the south branch of Licking and up the same until a south east course shall strike the Russell line. Your Petitioners beg leave to observe the division proposed from Limestone will leave this County very weak and will render both Counties (should a division take place) very deficient both as to the judiciary as well as to the military departments. They further shew that the settlements of Limestone do not contain more than one hundred and thirty militia, nor more than one hundred and fifty Tithables, Their taxable property under the revenue law does not amount by the last return to 100£ as strength and wealth altogether inadequate to the expences of a new County, but as inconsiderable as it is, it will greatly distress the remaining
    part should a division take place, we beg leave to observe the division proposed from Madison to include a part of this county will run within four miles of Bourbon courthouse, and take fifty settlers, and drag them across the Kentuckey river through clifts and hills almost impasible to the proposed courthouse at Boonsborough amoungst whome are many of your petitioners who are living near twenty miles from the proposed courthouse and within six miles of the present, Your petitioners beg leave further to observe that the good people of the present County of Bourbon is sufficiently distressed already with the payment of their County and the whole military strength of the County as it now stands doth not exceed four hundred, Therefore your petitioners hope that your honourable house sensible of the detached small Bodies of settlers in all new frontier Counties, and that it is impossible to bring the Courthouse and church to every mans door and that some individuals in all such cases ought to give up their private case for the good of the people at large untill such time as the county may populate and such division become necessary, Your petitioners therefore pray that no such division may take place at present.-And as in duty
    bound shall ever pray &c

    (Names)
    [John Layson]
    [Robert Layson]

    -----
    Endorsement on back of petition: 1st. November-1787-Referred to Props.
    -Rejected-(reasonable in House) (bill drawn)
Page: 119
  • Text: Page: 119:

    Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky

    NUMBER 55.

    To the Honorable the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates
    The petition of Sundry Inhabitants of Bourbon County South of Main Licking Humbly sheweth-That your petitioners being notified by an advertisement at the Court House Door that a petition would be presented to your Honourable House praying for a Division of Bourbon County by Main Licking beg leave to observe that a petition of this Kind was rejected at your Last Session as your petitioners are informed for the want of a sufficient number in that part of the County praying
    a Division your petitioners can affirm with conndance that the number of Titles North of Main Licking does not by the Last return amount to more than One Hundred and Seventy a number altogether inadequate to the Expence of a County and your petitioners cannot but express their astonishment when they find a clause in their petition praying that the monies paid by them for erecting the Public Buildings in the County should be repaid by your Petitioners this part of their petitions is as unreasonable as the other part is designing the whole calculated to gratify the ambition & averice of a few Individuals; Your Petitioners therefore pray that no such Devision may be granted. but should a Division be thought reasonable that your petitioners may not be obliged to refund any money paid toward erecting the public buildings & Your petitioners shall ever pray &c.

    (Names)
    [John Layson]

    -----
    Endorsement on back of petition: 25th Octo. l788-Referred to props.-
    rejected.
Page: 127
  • Text: Page: 127-128:

    Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky

    NUMBER 62.

    To the Honorable the Virginia Assembly
    the petition of the Inhabitants of Bourbon County Humbly Sheweth that the Land whereon our present Courthouse now stands to the amount of two hundred & fifty acres is laid off in Lotts by the Propriator, for the purpose of setling a Town which Lotts are principly bought up by those who are now living on & improving them and have erected a number of very convenient buildings-on sd Lotts we your petitioners conceiving it realy necessary that sd Town be established by Law pray your Honorable body that a Law pass for the establishment of a Town agreeable to the manner the Lotts are now laid off and that Trustee be appointed for the purpose of suprintending & Regulating of the Building of sd Town and in duty Bound we pray-

    (Names)
    [John Layson]

    -----
    Endorsement on back of petition. Octo. 28th. 1789.-Refd. to props. (reasonable) (repd.)
    The request was granted in an act entitled, An Act to establish a town in each of the counties of Madison, Albemarle, and Bourbon. Henings Statutes, Vol. 13, 87.
    The town for Madison was Milford, and for Bourbon it was Hopewell.
    The trustees were Notley Conn, Charles Smith, jr., John Edwards, James Garrard. Edward Waller, Thomas West, James Lanier, James Little, and James Duncan.
Page: 131
  • Text: Page: 131-132:

    Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky

    NUMBER 66.

    To the Honorable the Speaker and General Assembly of Virginia
    the petition of Sundry inhabitants of the County of Bourbon humbly sheweth that a petition for the Division of said county is to be presented to the General Assembly at their next setting contrary to the wishes of the majority of the inhabitants of said County, but being earnestly pressed by a few settlers in the upper end of Fayatte whose views can be no other than pecuniary ones which is proved by naming themselves for certain oliices. They have prevailed upon a few scattered setlers in the upper end of this County who is amused with having the Courthouse among them; The amount of whom does not exceed one Militia Company amongst whom together with the inhabitants of said intended County in the upper end of Fayatte few or none have been found qualified for the office of civil or other department. The Line intended by said petition will destroy the very center of the now county of Bourbon and cause a removal of the Court house, as it will not run more than six Miles from the same and on that side which the body and extent of Good Land lies, the Two other sides is barred by the line of Fayatte and Hills unfit for cultivation, The setlers in this county so much injured by their detached situation is not almost above Sixteen or Seventeen Miles from the Courthouse and those who are so amazingly anxious for a
    County in Fayatte are from about twelve to Eighteen Miles from that Court house-Now your pwtitioners would inform your honorable house that the only thing they can urge in favour of the Division is that Mr Jacob Moyers is forming a setlement on State Creek twenty four miles from the upper settlement where it is said he intends erecting Iron works and there is still an extent of country above that place after the population of which your honorable house may decide with propriety with respect to the bounds of said Counties and leave each in possession of a number of men sufficient to administer justice to the Citizens thereof-and your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray &c.

    (Names)
    [John Layson]
    [Robert Layson]

    -----
    Endorsement on back of petition: 6th. Novr. 1789-Refd to Props.
Page: 145
  • Text: Page: 145-146:

    Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky

    NUMBER 78.

    To the Honorable the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates
    the Petition of Sundry Inhabitants of the County of Bourbon Humbly sheweth That in the year one thousand Seven Hundred and eighty eight there was an inspection of Tobacco established at the junction of Hinkson & Stoner fork of Licking and that Stoners fork has been found by trial made as navigable a very considerable Distance above the junction and for as large Boats, as it is below; and as long in the year and that it makes its way throug the center of the County, through a fertile soil thickly lnhabited, ahounding with a variety of Fish, and that it is the only stream by which the greater part of the County can be relieved from a Difficult Land carriage of many miles, in exporting of their produce, and that an attempt is made for obstructing the same by the Court of sd County granting an order for a mill without any restricktions whatever, when
    granting two others the one prior & the other posterior to the former, obliging the owners to keep a passage for boats forty feet by twelve; the validity of which will evidently appear by
    the certificates attending this Petition from the Clerk of the County; Now being convinced that the obstructing the navigation of sd River would be highly injurious, and contrary to the Interest of the County; and also that your Honourable House are fully possessed of the advantages from a water carriage. We therefore pray that your Honorable House will take the same into consideration and remove all obstructions that shall be made across Sd River; and establish the navigation of Licking Beginning at its junction with the Ohio thence up to the mainfork, thence up the South fork, to the junction of Hinkston & Stoner thence up Stoners fork to Bramblets
    Lick in such manner as in your wisdom you may think best and we your Petitioners shall ever pray

    (Names)
    [John Layson]
    [Robert Layson]

    -----
    Endorsement on back of petition. Octo. 22d. 1790.-Refd to props.
Page: 156
  • Text: Page: 156-157:

    Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky

    NUMBER 88.

    To the Honorable the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates
    The petition of a number of the inhabitants of the County of Bourbon In behalf of themselves and others most humbly sheweth that there is a number of Deeds in the County for Land that is not recorded there being no Court in said County from july until january in consequence of the Death of the high Sheriff of said County in which time deeds run out of date and the persons who made those deeds are some of them mov’d out of Kentuckey others of them dead and their heirs under age so that new deeds cannot be obtained, your petitioners therefore prays your honorable House to take their care into consideration and pass a Law to give a Longer time for Recording those deeds that was lawfully obtained in the year 1789 and your petitioners as in duty bound shall pray

    (Names)
    [John Layson]

    Bourbon County
    I do hereby certify that the within Petition was advertised at the door of the Court house according to Law Given under my hand this 25th day of Aug. 1790.
    John Edwards Clk B. C.

    -----
    Endorsement on back of petition: lst Novr. 1790-Refd. to Cts of Justice-reasonable-Bill drawn.
    The request was granted in an act entitled, An Act authorizing the Court of the Court of Bourbon Co. to admit the recording of Deeds in certain cases. Henings Statutes, V0 . 1 , 150.
Page: 189
  • Text: Page: 189,211:

    List of Names attached to the Petitions
    (Figures indicate the number of the Petition on which the name occurs)

    Layson, John .. 28, 49, 55, 62, 66, 78, 88
    Layson, Robert ............ 28, 49, 66, 78
Personal Names
PersonClaimDetailEvidence
John LaysonNameJohn Layson [S143] [S194] [S255:169] [S1206:307] [S1223:106] [S1225:133] [S1226] [S1230:377] [S1233] [S1234] [S1239:128] [S1242] [S1244] [S1270:529] [S1502] [S1506] [S1766:127] [S2590:JL]
primary
Events & Attributes
PersonClaimDateDetailAgeEvidence
John LaysonFlourishedNov 25, 1785Fayette, Kentucky, United States [S1244:86]
signed a petition to divide up Fayette County
The petition was approved and Bourbon County was created in May, 1788
secondary
John LaysonFlourishedNov 1, 1787Bourbon, Kentucky, United States [S1244:110]
signed a petition to protest dividing up Bourbon County (Rejected)
secondary
John LaysonFlourishedOct 25, 1788Bourbon, Kentucky, United States [S1244:119]
signed a petition to protest dividing up Bourbon County (Rejected)
secondary
John LaysonFlourishedOct 28, 1789Bourbon, Kentucky, United States [S1244:127]
signed a petition to establish the town of Hopewell
secondary
John LaysonFlourishedNov 6, 1789Bourbon, Kentucky, United States [S1244:131]
signed a petition to protest dividing up Bourbon County
secondary
John LaysonFlourishedAug 25, 1790Bourbon, Kentucky, United States [S1244:156]
signed a petition to extended time for recording deeds
secondary
John LaysonFlourishedOct 22, 1790Bourbon, Kentucky, United States [S1244:145]
signed a petition to support setting up navigation on the Licking River and to protest grist mills
secondary