USA > Kentucky > Lewis County > History of Lewis County, Kentucky > Part 13
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June Term .- Fred R. Singleton resigned the office of surveyor of Lewis County.
John G. McDowell lost his ferry license at Vanceburg by order of the court. He seems to have been away and not to have been at- tending to his ferry.
There was no court held in August.
September Term .- David Garth and Henry Bedinger were appointed overseers on Salt Lick Roads; John Stalcup on the Ohio River Road, from Cumming's to Quicks Run; and John Halbert from Quick's Run to Vanceburg. Samuel Reily, Nelson Plummer, John and Ben Maddux, Anthony Swim, and Charles Vincent were allotted as hands on a Kinny road.
Aaron Stratton was granted a license to ferry at Vanceburg, and Lucy Bragg license to keep a tavern at her house, above Vanceburg.
Francis T. Hord and Benjamin Aills were practicing attorneys in this court.
November Term .- Daniel Halbert was ap- pointed tax commissioner.
Joseph H. Knapp had Ezinah Ames, a poor
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boy, bound to him to learn the carpenter's trade, and Spencer Cooper had John Slater bound to learn the trade of stone-cutter.
John O. Powling had a license granted him to keep a tavern at the White Sulphur Springs. This evidently was the beginning at Esculapia, as it will be seen by the letter of Mr. Calvert, in "Early Settlements on Salt Lick," and that Mr. Powling lived in that section and at the farthest settlement up the creek.
William Cofin was granted a license to keep a tavern at Vanceburg.
The claims allowed in this year amounted to $303.32, and the levy, at 6212 cents on 929 polls, to $576.871/2.
January Term of Court of 1823 .- William Watkins was commissioned surveyor, and John McDaniel sheriff, with commissions dated No- vember 20, 1822.
William Heath was appointed guardian of Jane Heath, daughter of John Heath, de- ceased.
Ben Givins was appointed overseer on the road from Farrow's mill to the mouth of Little East Fork of Cabin Creek.
Thomas Mitchell was appointed superin- tendent of the public buildings at Clarksburg.
John Fry renewed his bond as constable in District No. 5.
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Ambrose McDaniel appointed commissioner to view a road from Scott's Branch, up Laurel.
Francis T. Hord, county attorney, was au- thorized to contract for the first County Seal Lewis ever had. He contracted with Pleasant Beard for the engraving and furnishing of said seal for the sum of twenty dollars.
February Term .- Commissioners were ap- pointed to view a road from Gun Powder Gap, on the Left Fork of Salt Lick, to Truitt's mill, on the State Road, near Aquilla Smith's.
April Term .- In this term Jacob Colvin was made overseer from Clarksburg to Quick's Run. James Singleton renews his bond as constable in District No. 4.
The Gun Powder Gap and Aquilla Smith Road passed through lands of George Graham, Henry Powers, John Kendrick, and Abraham Van West.
Winslow Parker sent from Vanceburg his resignation as justice of the peace, which was accepted.
John Thompson was allowed $91.75 for the maintenance of Peter Nogle, a pauper, for the year 1822.
Samuel B. Victor and William Wilson pe- titioned the court for a road from Victor's house to the State Road.
William Walker was appointed overseer on
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road from the well on Little Stone Lick to where the road from Williamsburg (now Orangeburg) intersects the road to Salt Lick.
Peter Duzan, Henson Tolle, and Gabriel Peed were appointed commissioners to view a road from Phillip's Creek to Salt Lick.
Alexander Young established a mill on Cabin Creek.
Charles Cox was granted a license to keep a tavern at the house lately occupied by Rachael Jack. This was probably near the mouth of East Fork of Cabin Creek.
Thomas Parker and Joshua Powers were recommended to Governor Adair as suitable persons for justices of the peace.
Carr, Davis & Co., mercantile firm, had several suits in court, appealed from the de- cisions of various magistrates. Henry Bedinger and George Graham were also litigants.
James Chaney was overseer on the road from Lewis and Mason line to Farrow's mill.
Jeremiah Moore obtained permission to build a mill on Kinny, below the mouth of Town Branch.
Thos. Marshall, Esq., gave information against John Hern in favor of Milton Hern, a poor orphan, and also against John Luman for the benefit of his children, to show cause why
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they should not be bound out to some person able to take proper care of them.
William Peters was appointed overseer on "Three Islands" Road, from Wilson's Ferry to East Fork of Cabin Creek, at Taylor's horse- mill.
Edward Brewer was appointed overseer from John Swearingin's mill, on Cabin Creek, to Lewis and Mason line.
It was ordered that a road be made on Kinny from Thomas Shain's, past Moore's and Bruce's mills, to the mouth of said creek.
James McCormick failed to open the Gun Powder Gap Road, and the court removed him and appointed James Adkinson in his stead.
James Boyd was appointed overseer from Wilson's Ferry, down the river to a bear wallow, near James West's.
James Fearis was appointed overseer from Lewis and Mason line, up East Fork to Hum- phrey Bell's.
The minutes of this court were signed by James McClain.
May Term .- Hannah Johnson, having mar- ried William Williamson, was released from being executor of the estate of David Johnson, her former husband.
Samuel Wilson, overseer on Crooked Creek Road, had the following hands allotted to him:
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Curtis Lantz, Peter Heloy, Christian Lantz, Leonard Lantz, Joseph Sparks, John G. Wilson, Jos. S. Wilson, James S. Wilson, and John Hayiman.
William Peters, overseer, had the following hands allotted to him: John Wilson, Hugh Wilson, Richard Nash, Edward Boyd, John Peters, Aaron Peters, James Adams, Theophilus Latin, John Huffman, Samuel Cax, William Cox, Andrew Wilson, George Switzelm, David Peters, Jr., James McClain, Richard Huffman, William McNutt, and John McNutt.
James Fearis, overseer on East Fork Cabin Creek, had the following citizens on his road: Thos. Hughes, James Haines, Levi Darnell, Daniel Fetters, James Rea, Thomas Rea, Robert Rea, Towsand Hoggins, Noah Pitts, Thos. Vaughn, Eli Vaughn, John Vaughn, Michael Fetters, Lewis Fearis, Thomas Taylor, Charles Cox, James Band, and Ferdinand Fry.
Rev. Samuel G. Lowery, a minister ordained by the Ebenezer Presbytery, was granted a license to solemnize the rites of matrimony.
James Orcutt, Daniel Priest, Sam'l B. Victor, Marmaduke Swearingin lived on the road above Clarksburg.
Stephen Calvert, John Johnson, Jos. John- son, John Nash were hands on the State Road, under Stephen Halbert, overseer.
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July Term .- The following business was done in the July term of court:
Thomas Parker took his seat as a new justice of the peace.
Jacob Frizzell appointed constable in Dis- trict No. 2, and John Leitch in District No. 1.
Alsea Victor and Stephen Halbert were ap- pointed administrators of the estate of William B. Victor, deceased.
James Price, Thomas Pool, and Alexander Irwin are mentioned as hands on Quick's Run Road.
Ophelia Hunter was apprenticed to Charles Watkins to learn housewifery.
August Term .- Samuel White was appointed road overseer from Catt's old mill to Upper Pond Run, on the Ohio River.
John Kendrick, overseer from Gun Powder Gap (Esculapia) to the house of Aquilla Smith, on the State Road; the following hands were assigned him: William Hannah, Phillip P. Dornan, Samuel Williams, and Henry Powers. On motion of Richard Evans, Jeremiah Moore, David Evans, Martin Coker, and Basil Burris were appointed commissioners to view a road on Lower Kinny.
On the river road, above the mouth of Kinny, the names of John Forman and Charles Cooley are mentioned, in addition to those already ed on that road.
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There was no court held in September.
October Term .- Nancy Carrington and Dan- iel J. Carrington were appointed administrators of the estate of William Carrington, Sr., de- ceased.
Joshua Easham was appointed administrator of the estate of Alex. McDaniel.
William B. McDaniel, son of Alex. McDan- iel, was apprenticed to Joshua Owins, a farmer.
Claims against the county amounting to $386.9412 were allowed, and a levy of 6212 cents laid on 894 tithes, amounting to $558.75.
Constables and guards had their claims certified to the auditor of State, and were paid from the State treasury. The circuit clerk made settlement with the County Court, but fees received by him were turned into the State treasury.
January Term of Court of 1824 .- On motion of Samuel Cox, Joseph Taylor, James Price, Daniel Sexton, and Moses Ormes, Jr., were ap- pointed commissioners to change road from Moses Ormes, Sr., on Quick's Run, to John D. Everett's, through the lands of Thomas Pool and William McCann.
Nothing of importance occurred during the February court, and there was no court held in March.
April Term .- Harry Parker, being sixteen
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years of age, selected as his guardian Mr. Plummer Thomas.
Henry Bedinger released and Samuel Martin appointed as overseer on road from Catt's old mill, near the mouth of Quick's Run, to Heath's mill, on Salt Lick.
Woodruff Roberts was appointed overseer from Cottingham's Branch to Clarksburg.
Jesse Hamrick appointed overseer on the State Road from Daniel Carr's to George Truitt's mill, on North Fork.
David Woodruff was appointed constable, vice John Johnson, in the Clarksburg district.
Robert Grant was appointed commissioner to take the tax assessment in the county.
Robert Bagby resigned as justice of the peace, and Joshua Owens and Jno. W. Leach were recommended to the governor for appoint- ment.
May Term .- George Rea was appointed constable in District No. 3.
John Robb was appointed deputy county clerk.
July Term .- The following judges and clerks for the annual election were appointed:
IN FORMAN'S BOTTOM PRECINCT: Henry Halbert, Joshua Owings, judges; John Thompson, clerk.
IN CLARKSBURG PRECINCT: Aaron Stratton, Thomas Shain, judges; William S. Parker, clerk.
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IN CABIN CREEK PRECINCT: James McClain, John Stephenson, judges; Thomas Parker, clerk.
IN NORTH FORK PRECINCT. Archibald Boyd, Andrew Wilson, judges; Asabel Brewer, clerk.
August Term .- John Maddox was appointed overseer on road from Bear Branch to James Silvey's, on Kinniconnick.
On the road up Holly Fork of Kinny, Solo- mon Thomas was overseer.
October Term .- The claims amounted to $337.7312; levy on 939 tithes, at 50 cents, $469.50.
Geo. W. Bruce gave in a list of his property, amounting to $4,985, which the commissioner had failed to assess.
The court ordered a whipping-post estab- lished in the court-yard, at a cost of six dollars.
Francis T. Hood was discontinued as county attorney.
November Term .- Benjamin Aills was ap- pointed county attorney, with no other reward than the use of two volumes of Little's Digest, which were owned by the county.
January Term of Court of 1825 .- Rev. Elias Oliver, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was licensed to solemnize the rites of matrimony. Mr. Oliver lived up the river, above the mouth of Kinniconnick.
Archibald Boyd was commissioned sheriff
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October 30, 1824, and presented his commission to this court, took the oath of office, and gave the several bonds necessary to enter upon the discharge of his duties.
William P. Henderson was appointed deputy sheriff.
Thomas Shain, Esq., signed the minutes of this court.
February Term .- The last will and testament of Moses Irwin was proven by John Boyd and John Irwin, and Betsy Irwin and John Irwin were appointed as executors. They gave bond, with Caleb Richards as security, and had Samuel Hampton, Jacob Myers, John Fry, and Thomas Thompson appointed as appraisers of the property.
April Term .- Aaron Stratton, who owned the land on the lower side of Kinny, where the State Road crossed, and Matthew Thompson, who owned the land above Kinny, applied for a ferry license across said stream, and the same was granted them.
James W. Singleton qualified as constable in District No. 4.
Jas. Cooper granted tavern license at his house in Vanceburg.
James Carter the same at Clarksburg, and Amos Spurgin at White Sulphur Springs.
Green H. Smith qualified as constable in the Kinny precinct, and John Fry in District No. 5.
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Lewis County was divided into two districts for the purpose of assessing the taxable property. The dividing line was the State Road, from Vanceburg to the North Fork. The side down the river was called the North District, and that above the road the South District. John Halbert was appointed to assess the South District, and William J. Simpson the North District.
Jacob Frizzell was made constable in Dis- trict No. 2, and Joseph N. Ralston in the Clarksburg District.
Mathias Tolle was appointed road overseer from Wilson's Ferry, on the Ohio River, at Manchester, to George Fearis' shorsemill, on Cabin Creek.
Abraham Carr, overseer from Jonathan Hay- den's to Thomas Parker's.
May Term .- John Harrison was released as road overseer on account of age, and Thomas Ruggles appointed in his stead. This was on the road from crossing of Cabin Creek by the State Road to the house of Thomas Parker, on the hill toward Clarksburg.
Geo. W. Bruce had a road established from the river over the hill and down Spy Run to Kinny, to intersect the Moore's mill road on that stream.
July Term .- James Lane Pitts and Samuel
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Campbell Pitts were appointed executors of the will of William Pitts.
Alexander Young was commissioned as jus- tice of the peace.
Clifton A. Ganet was admitted as an at- torney at the Lewis County bar.
Charles Woods, overseer from the head of Quick's Run toward Concord.
Stephen Bliss as overseer about Sycamore. There was no court in August.
October Term .- William J. Simpson, com- missioned as justice of the peace, took his seat first at this session.
Elizabeth Maddox and Hesekiah Griffith granted administration of the estate of John Maddox, deceased, with James Silvey, William Heath, James Hughbank, and Humphrey Beck- ett as appraisers.
This is the first mention of the Beckett family, many of whom lived on the hills between the head of Kinny and Mudlick, and one, Reason Beckett, lived on Mudlick where the Kinny Road came over the hill to that stream. On the hill we can mention Thomas Beckett, William Beckett, and John Beckett. Humphrey Beckett lived on the ridge between Mudlick and the head of Bucklick and Salt Lick.
John Stephenson resigned his commission as magistrate, and Edward Stephenson and Jas.
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Johnson were recommended to Governor Desha for appointment.
Joseph Robb renewed his bond as county clerk, with John Stephenson, Samuel Cox, George Boyd, Fred R. Singleton, Aaron Strat- ton, George Means, and John Piper securities. It seems that Mr. Robb could have given half the county as security, had it been desired. His annual settlements with the court show him honest to the fraction of a cent, the make- up of his records declare him competent, and his leniency in judgments in his favor against hard-pressed sheriffs prove the goodness of his heart. Jos. Robb's official tenure is part of his epitaph, and well might his friends refer to his official character and integrity as a monument more lasting than the marble slab at his grave.
George Means, overseer on the road from Cabin Creek to Williamsburg (name later changed), was released on account of age, and John Teager appointed.
It took John Halbert twenty-six days and cost twenty-six dollars to assess one-half the county, and William J. Simpson thirty-six days to assess the other half. Each received one dollar per day, so that the entire assessment cost the county only sixty-two dollars.
Doctors Duke and Leonard produced an account for medical aid to Ichabod Wheaden, a
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pauper, amounting to seventy-two dollars. This is ten dollars more than the whole assessment cost, and shows the doctors of that day were "up to snuff." This aid was authorized by Thomas Marshall, a magistrate, and shows a long line of precedents for the actions of later day magistrates and physicians and a practice which the county got rid of in 1896.
The claims this year were $205. Fines, etc., collected, $31.4412; 1,029 tithes, at 3712 cents, $385.8712.
November Term .- In the settlement with the sheriff, Archibald Boyd, it was found that for 1824 he only owed the county the sum of $8.73.
December Term .- The administration of the estate of William Arnold was granted his widow, Nancy Arnold, and Upton Arnold. They gave bond in the sum of $15,000, with Jno. Arnold and Moses Dimitt securities.
John Wallingford was made overseer on road on Kinny, from Bear Branch to James Silvey's.
The records closing up the year 1825 were signed by Aaron Stratton.
January Term of Court of 1826 .- Joshua Owings removed to Bath County, and resigned his commission as justice of the peace.
Edward Stephenson was commissioned as justice instead of John Stephenson, resigned.
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February Term .- Zachariah Williams, who was a local preacher in the "New Light" Church, is mentioned in connection with Jesse Hamrich, a Methodist Episcopal minister who obtained much notoriety when the slave question split his Church, on account of his strong anti-slavery sentiments. They were appointed commis- sioners to view a road from Buck Lick to Truitt's mill, on the North Fork.
On petition of Humphrey Beckett, James Moore, Benjamin Plummer, John Wallingford, and Solomon Plummer were made commissioners to view a change in the road from Mudlick, over the hill to Kinny.
The administration of the estate of John Thompson is granted to his brother-in-law, Francis Henderson.
John W. Mavity, who for some reason ap- pears to be at his brother-in-law's, James Mc- Cormick's, home, near the head of Salt Lick, is ordered to help work the Gun Powder Gap Road.
Mr. Robb had Harrison Taylor appointed deputy county clerk.
April Term .- David Maple appointed over- seer on the Three Island and Flemingsburg Road, from the South Fork of Cabin Creek to the crossing of the road from Clarksburg to Washington, Mason County.
"Pine Hill," on Lower Kinny, had received
19
.
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its cognomen prior to 1826, as shown by a road order in this session.
Sheriff Arch. Boyd was ordered to pay William Barkley $7.50, Hugh Walker $6.50, and George Maple $2.50 out of the levy for 1825.
William Nicholls was granted the adminis- tration of the estate of David Powell, with Geo. Means and Thomas Marshall securities.
On motion of Joseph Robb, William Priest was bound to Joseph Hampton to learn "the art and mystery of the manufacture of leather."
Thomas Grover was appointed road over- seer, in lieu of Richard Taylor, released, on the State Road, from Thos. Parker's to Swearin- gin's mill, and Richard Taylor, Nesbit Taylor, Thomas Boggs, and Thos. M. Grover allotted as hands.
Charles Cox is granted tavern license at his house in Lewis County, and James Carr the same at Vanceburg.
Israel B. Donaldsons, overseer from Quick's Run to Vanceburg.
Harry William, John Cottingham, and James Cottingham are mentioned as having been appointed to use a hoe on the public road on Salt Lick.
From the following order we can gather the change in plan of assessment, the names of company commanders in the militia, and the
.
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various assessors for the year: "Agreeable to a late Act of the Legislature, Nathan Halbert is appointed to take the lists of taxable property in the bounds of Captain J. W. Leache's Com- pany; Daniel Halbert, in Captain Robt. Parker's Company; John Thomas, in Captain William Heath's Company; John Halbert, in Captain Nicholas Elson's Company; Simon Dyal, in Captain Ellis Owens' Company; William Bark- ley, in Captain W. P. Henderson's Company; Anderson Osburn, in Captain Alex. Osburn's Company; William Walker, in Captain John Hendrick's Company; William P. Ball, in Cap- tain Alfred Owens' Company.
Wm. J. Simpson, Esq., granted license to solemnize the rites of matrimony.
May Term .- Peter January made applica- tion for tavern license at Esculapia, then called White Sulphur Springs. On account of a ma- jority of the court not being present, his applica- tion was deferred till next court, when it was granted. He probably took the place of Wm .. O. Powling, who had previously obtained license at that place, and of whom Mr. Dudley Calvert, in "Early Settlements on Salt Lick," says he sold out and went to Maysville. In all proba- bility Mr. January followed his example.
July Term .- According to an Act passed December 21, 1825, the county clerk furnishes
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and records a list of all the public law books in his possession, both in the county and cir- cuit clerk's offices.
This report shows that he never had any copy of the Acts of the Legislature farther back than 1808.
He had a few "Reports " and "Digests," by Little, Marshall, and Bibb, and some volumes of United States Laws, amounting in all to eighty-one books. The Act required him to display these books once each year before the court, so they could see how well he kept them.
August Term .- David Maple was allowed the following hands on his road: John Mortimer, Thomas Himes, Robt. M. Himes, John H. Himes, Thomas Gillespie, Joseph Gillespie, Fleming Jones, Wm. Starky, and Thomas Weaver.
Joseph Toncray was appointed overseer some place along the State Road.
October Term .- William Yancy is mentioned as a member of a commission to set apart the dower of Catharine (Davis) Elson.
The Court of Claims allowed debits against the county to the amount of $246.83, and levied a tax on 945 tithes at 3712 cents, amounting to $352.8712.
Andrew Zorns was overseer on the road on Kinny, from Shain's to Stratton's, and Stephen Lewis is named as one of the hands.
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December Term .- The last will of James Laird was presented, and Nathan Halbert ap- pointed executor, with will annexed.
January Term of Court of 1827 .- The death of Marmaduke Swearingin is noted, and Polly, his widow, appointed as his administratrix. James Swearingin and Alfred, children over fifteen years, chose Aaron Stratton as their guardian.
William McEldowney was commissioned jus- tice of the peace October 30, 1826.
Alexander Bruce's wife, Amanda Bragg, daughter of Thomas Bragg, who died intestate, moved the court for commissioners to assign her interest in his estate.
Thos. Shain was commissioned sheriff Oc- tober 30, 1826, and John and Daniel Halbert were appointed his deputies.
February Term .- Robt. B. Garland was re- leased as overseer on the Spy Run Road, and Nathaniel R. Garland appointed.
The children and heirs of Anderson Gar- land, riz .: Robt. B., Cynthia Ann, and Ander- son N. Garland chose G. W. Bruce as their guardian.
April Term .- On petition of Ann W. Cal- vert, Seth Porter, Jesse Carrington, Wm. Camp- bell and Robert Shepherd were appointed com- missioners to change the road through her lands
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on Salt Lick. (See Dudley Calvert's letter, "Early Settlements on Salt Lick.")
Daniel J. Carrington, overseer on the State Road from John McDaniel's (now Valley) to Thomas Parker's house (now the Mefford farm), was discharged, and William Hamlin was ap- pointed in his stead.
Solomon Thomas, on account of age, was released as overseer on the Kinny Road, from mouth of Grassy (T. B. Harrison's farm) up to Holly, and up said Holly to the head, and David Arthur was appointed in his stead.
William Heath, overseer from mouth of Holly to Bear Branch, on Kinny Road, was released, and Hesekiah Griffin was appointed.
John Bell, overseer on the road from Benja- min Plummer's to North Fork, was released on account of age, and Joshua Powers appointed in his stead. Of those named to work under the overseer were the following: Benjamin Plummer, who lived at the top of the hill above the head of that branch of Kinny which turns westward from Petersville; Jeremiah Beckett lived farther out on the same ridge toward the head of Mudlick; Reason Beckett's farm was on Mudlick, just where the road came down the hill; John Hammond, when his apprenticeship was over, settled on North Fork at the mouth of Mudlick, and adjoining his master, Mr.
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Powers, who lived where the road first came to North Fork, and perhaps half a mile from the crossing; Thomas West's farm was on the hill on the west side of Mudlick. The turnpike road from Petersville to Mt. Carmel is on almost the same ground, except some changes on the hillsides, that was traversed by the road worked by Mr. Powers and his hands in 1827.
A new constable district, called the Kinni- connick District, was laid off with the following boundary: Beginning at the mouth of Laurel, and passing up Kinny to the Lewis and Fleming line, and with the same to the Greenup or Carter line to the head of Grassy Fork of Laurel, so as to include all the waters of Kinny and Laurel. William Heath was appointed con- stable in the new district. He gave bond of two thousand dollars, with Wm. McEldowney and Henry Halbert securities.
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