Samuel VanHook (son of
Henry VanHook)
(last
updated 21 March 2006)
Kentucky Certificates of Settlement and Preemption Warrants
Ruddells and Martin’s Stations
References and Timeline Detail
Samuel VanHook was born 15 November 1733 in
In
the early 1750’s, Samuel migrated with his uncle Aaron VanHook to Orange
County, North Carolina and settled there for the next 25 years or so. In 1768 he purchased land located on the
“middle fork of the Little River” in what became
In
the spring of 1779, Samuel and his family migrated to central
Released
from captivity in the late summer of 1784, Samuel settled again in central
The earliest
record of Samuel VanHook is in the will of Henry (Hendrick) VanHook of Upper
Freehold, Monmouth Co. N.J., dated
Benjamin is
probably the next oldest as he also received a large parcel of land. The next
three sons were probably still under 21 years of age as they received no land
at the time the will was executed. However the will specified that when Isaac
(being the youngest) reached 21 years of age, Henry’s house and lot should be
sold and the proceeds divided equally between Deborah and the three youngest
sons.
From Henry’s
marriage date and the information contained in the will, some birth dates may
be assumed for Henry’s sons:
NOTE: This connection of Samuel VanHook (born 15 November 1733) to Henry (Hendrick) VanHook has never been proven. Baptisms for Henry’s children have not been found.
In the early 1750’s, Samuel VanHook
traveled to North Carolina with his uncle Aaron VanHook, his VanHook cousins
(Aaron’s family), and his cousin Solomon Debow and his family, and probably
others.
Samuel first appears in
In 1766 he was appointed overseer of a
road in
Samuel served on the
Also in 1768 Samuel purchased an 82 acre
tract in
In
1772 Samuel signed a petition to divide the north part of
Samuel
and his family migrated to central
During this first year in Kentucky,
Samuel spent the time hunting up and down the creeks and runs that flowed into
the Licking River, and cleared and farmed his claimed land a bit (probably just
raising some corn). Samuel was a tailor
by trade, and while he made a few items of clothing, there was little call for
that skill in early
An old family story relates that Samuel
migrated to
Under
the Virginia Land Law of 1779, residents of the Kentucky District could
purchase Certificates of Settlement and Preemption Warrants if they met certain
residency requirements. Persons in
Anyone
in
A
Land Commission was appointed to hear testimony from Kentucky County residents
and their witnesses; the Commission then decided who qualified for Certificates
of Settlement, 1000 acre Preemption Warrants and 400 acre Preemption Warrants.
The Commission for the Kentucky District consisted of William Fleming, Edmund
Lyne, James Barbour and Stephen Trigg. The Commission conducted their hearings
from 13 October 1779 to 26 April 1780 in Harrodsburg, St. Asaph (
Like
many new settlers, Samuel claimed a preemption of land, as did his son Samuel
Jr. Samuel’s preemption of 400 acres was
about 8 miles downstream from Ruddells Station on Licking Creek (just south of
present day
In
January of 1780 the Commissions met at Bryant’s Station to issue preemption
warrants and Samuel Sr. and Jr. showed up to claim theirs. However, they
immediately sold their warrants to a Jacob Myers. It’s unclear whether Samuel
Sr. and Samuel Jr. intended to ever settle permanently on this land, or whether
living a few miles distant from a station (fortification) wasn’t appealing once
they had spent 10 months in
Oddly, Samuel (and Samuel Jr.) did not assign their preemption warrants personally over to Jacob Myers. These assignments were done by a signature of John Martin (of Martin’s Station) and attested to by Azariah Davies. So while the preemption warrants themselves say Samuel and Samuel Jr. “appeared before the commission,” perhaps they had left after their claim had been honored and authorized John Martin to sell their warrants as best he could.
Jacob
Myers of
There is a Virginia Land Grant for 400 acres for a Charles Abercrombie that was surveyed in March of 1785. According to the survey, that land was adjacent to Samuel VanHook’s “1000 acres” – and it also mentions “Samuel Dennises” land. From the way the survey reads it seems to refer to 2 different tracts – a 1000 acre tract that borders Abercrombie’s land on the north and on the west, and then another VanHook tract that borders Abercrombie’s on the east line (running to the north in the survey). This tract on the east appears to adjoin Samuel Dennis’ land. We know from Samuel VanHook’s 1780 preemption warrant that his 400 acres claimed adjoined Samuel Dennis’ land – but it is unclear where the “1000 acres” reference comes from.
Ruddells
and Martin’s Stations
In the spring of 1780 Samuel and his family moved to Martin’s Station (about 5 miles upstream on Stoners Creek from where it joins Hinkston Creek to form Licking Creek. This was about 8 miles upstream from Ruddle’s Station). They helped John Martin finish building his station that spring. On 17 March 1780 a company was organized to defend the station against the Indians. Samuel Sr. was 46 years old at this time, and was selected as one of the sergeants of this militia under Captain Charles Gatliff. Samuel’s son, Samuel Jr., and his son-in-law, John Loveless (married to Samuel’s daughter Rachel) were privates in the company. Only 9 days later, on 26 March 1780 Indians attacked Martin’s Station. Samuel’s first wife was killed and scalped during this attack.
In late spring British Captain Henry
Bird, with a group of Canadians and Indians, was preparing to attack
Bird commanded a force of 1200 persons at
this time. On the 26th of June he took
Ruddells Station firing his cannon only once. They then marched the few miles
on to Martin’s Station and captured it without firing a shot. Very few (if any)
of the settlers lost their lives during this encounter. The Indians and
soldiers split the plunder they had taken and the British took charge of the
prisoners, 470 in number. By this time Bird’s provisions were running low and
he worried about making it back down the river before the waters fell. Due to
this, he decided to retreat and not go on to
Assembling the largest number of people
ever in one place in
Samuel was one of the lucky prisoners and
remained alive. He was able to return home to
Samuel signed many early petitions in
In the early 1800’s he testified in
Samuel was married at least twice. While
his second wife is known from statements made by her son Ellison E. Williams
and court records, the identity of Samuel’s first wife has posed problems. Samuel’s first wife was the mother of all his
children, and she was killed by Indians at Martin’s Station in March of 1780
(known from pension applications from John Loveless and George Loveless,
stepsons of Samuel’s daughter Rachel VanHook).
First
Wife - ???
According to family stories, his first
wife was Hannah Higgins, the daughter of James Higgins and Sarah Stout of
Another possibility is that Samuel was
married to a Hannah Higgins that would have been a sister to James
Higgins. James Higgins’ parents were
Jediah Higgins and Hannah Stout, and they did have a daughter named Hannah
Higgins born in the late 1720’s or early 1730’s. However, she supposedly
married a man named Henry Gulick.
There is another intriguing marriage
record in
Second
Wife – Margaret Williams
Samuel’s second wife was Margaret
Williams. From her son, Ellison E. Williams’ statements in Lewis Collins’ History
of Kentucky (first published in 1850), “After the battle of the Blue
Licks, and in 1786, our family removed to Higgins’ blockhouse on Licking river,
one and a half miles above Cynthiana. Between those periods my father had been
shot by the Indians, and my mother married Samuel VanHook, who had been one of
the party engaged in the defence at Ruddell’s station in 1780, and on its
surrender was carried with the rest of the prisoners to Detroit.”
The Battle of
Blue Licks was in April of 1782 and according to the statements above Samuel
and the widow Williams were married before they relocated to Higgins Blockhouse
in 1786. Since Samuel did not return
from his captivity in
We know
Samuel’s wife at this time was named Margaret
because there is an extensively documented court case in late 1789 through 1790
(
It has long
been believed by many that Samuel’s second wife was a “Hannah Wilson Williams”
who was a widow of Zadock Williams that was killed by Indians. There are a few problems with that theory.
First, Zadock Williams wasn’t killed until 1790 (from Lewis Collins’ History
of Kentucky, page 298), when he was shot by an Indian while working in a
tobacco field near
Major Ellison
E. Williams lived a long life and was one of the pallbearers at Daniel Boone’s
interment in
Samuel may have had a number of children
that have not been identified or accounted for.
He may have lost part of his family during the 1780 capture and
imprisonment by the British and Indians in the early 1780’s. The children
attributed to him (below) have assumable birth dates stretching from 1751 to
1775. This is a rather wide range with so many gaps between the years, so this
also points to the possibility of other children unaccounted for. By reviewing
early marriage records, census information, location specifics and other
available references, it is possible to deduce the following as children of
Samuel VanHook.
Samuel VanHook, Jr.
Samuel VanHook Jr.
was born about 1751. He may have been
born in
Samuel Jr. lived
in
It is believed
that Samuel Jr. is the Samuel VanHook that married Sarah Morgan in Harrison
Co., Ky. 25 February 1809. Samuel Jr.
would have been about 58 at this time.
They were married by Charles Webb.
The marriage bond was issued 4 days earlier on 21 February. (This may have been a marriage of Samuel Sr.,
but I doubt that he would marry again at the age of 73.) A James Johnson was the surety on this
marriage bond, who was Samuel Jr.’s brother-in-law.
The above marriage
was most likely not the first for Samuel or for Sarah. If he was married in 1780 when the British
and Indians captured Martin’s Station, it’s possible his wife was killed then
or in the trip of the prisoners to
Rachel
VanHook
Rachel VanHook was
born about 1760 in Orange Co., NC. She married John Loveless (b. about 1730)
about 1777. This was John’s second
marriage. His first wife’s name is not
known, but he had about 6 children by his first marriage - of which 2 are
known: George Loveless, born
In 1777 John was
drafted from
Rachel (VanHook)
Loveless died in 1807 in Ross County, Ohio.
John married one more time to Rebecca McCall the same year. He died in 1808 and is also buried in
Elizabeth
VanHook
It’s possible that Scott’s Station (also
know as John Scott’s Station) in
Margaret
VanHook
Margaret was born about 1773 (estimated
from her 1791 marriage date) in
Catherine
VanHook
Catherine was born about 1775 (estimated
from her 1794 marriage date) in
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Records and Timeline of
Samuel VanHook (son of Henry VanHook)
1 May 1764
13 Aug 1765
27 Sep 1765
(Note: The original
12 Aug 1766
13 Apr 1768 Orange County, North Carolina, Deed Book 2, Page 551 –
Samuel VanHook of the County of
Orange, Province of North Carolina of the first part and James McCandles of the
same place second part, a tract situated Middle Fork of Little River... 202
acres of land granted to Nathaniel Walton by deed from Earl of Granville
bearing date 15 July 1760, then conveyed to Luke Robertson, then to John Camp
then to Samuel VanHook... signed
Samuel VanHook, witnessed Willm.
Laigh (Lea or Lee), Lawr. VanHook.
Deed proved Orange County Court, 10 July 1769, on oath of
22 Sep 1768
18 Nov 1768
Jan 1769
9 Dec 1771 M.S. Records, Office of Sec. of State of North Carolina,
page 89 – Samuel VanHook signed
petition for the division of the north part of
To His Excellency Josiah Martin Esqr., Capt
General, Governor in and over the
17 Jan 1772 Orange County, North Carolina, Deed Book 3, page 366 –
Between Samuel VanHook of County of Orange, North Carolina, and Alexander Rose
& Co. of the County and & Province aforesaid, 17 pounds Virginia Money
for 82 acres, part of a parcel granted to Samuel VanHook by Hosea Tapley by a
deed dated 18 Nov. 1768. signed Samuel VanHook, witnessed John Lea, Samuel
VanHook Jr. (Alexander Rose sold this land 20 Nov 1778, Deed Book A, and
from this deed we find this 82 acres shared a boundary line with some land
1777
1777
3 Jul 1778 Caswell
County, North Carolina, Land entries 1778-1795 – Aaron
Vanhook enters 640 acres on waters of Double Creeks; border; Thos Hendricks on
W and David Vanhook on E; includes his own improvement and Samuel Vanhook's where Michl Coker lived; this entry made
over to John Cooper in whose name warrant is transferred.
Mar 1779 From 17 Jan 1780
Preemption Certificate - Samuel VanHook settled 400 acres in
17 Jan 1780 Court of Virginia Land Commission (held at Bryants Station
on Elkhorn Creek in
Sam’l VanHook this day
claimed a preemption of 400 Acres of Land at the State price in the district of
Kentucky lying on the South fork of licking Creek adjoining Sam’l Dennis’s land
below by making an actual settlem’t in the Month of March 1779 Satisfactory
proof being made to the Court they are of Opinion that the s’d VanHook has a
right to a preemption of 400 Acres of land to include the above location &
that a Cert iss accordingly.
(Note: this land is
mentioned in a deed recorded 8 Mar 1799 in Fayette Co., KY)
26 Jun 1780 History of Kentucky, Lewis Collins, Volume 2, page
327 – Capture of Ruddle’s and Martin’s Stations. - From depositions of Isaac
Ruddle, James Ruddle, Nicholas Hart, Samuel VanHook, and John Burger - who were
among the prisoners taken, and whose lives were spared - and from other sources,
it appears that VanHook and probably most of the others were not released from
captivity for 4 years and 2 months...
(It
appears Lewis Collins used the depositions from the Harrison County Court
records in the 1800’s)
17 Mar/26 Jun 1780 Illinois Papers of Clark’s Campaigns, Document 33 – Samuel VanHook
and Samuel VanHook Jr. were enlisted in Capt. Charles Gatliff’s company for the
defense of Martin’s Station on 17 March 1780. The sargeants of this company
were Samuel VanHook and George Loveless. Among the privates of this company
were Samuel VanHook Jr. and John Loveless. All of these men appear on 2 payroll
lists for this company in the Illinois Papers. (See Harding’s George Rogers
Clark and His Men.) This company lasted until the destruction of Ruddle’s
and Martin’s Stations on June 24th and June 26th respectively.
(Note:
Because these payrolls are contained in Clark’s
17 Mar/26 Jun 1780 George Rogers Clark Papers, Draper Collection, University of
Wisconsin, Reel 5, p. 385, Kentucky County – “I do certify that Samuel
Vanhook Sen. Served as Issuing Commissary from the 10th Day of March till
the 26th Day of June at Martin’s Station being 109 Days” - James
Trabue Coms.
17 Mar/26 Jun 1780 George Rogers Clark Papers, Draper Collection, University of
Wisconsin, Reel 5, p. 394, Kentucky County – “I do certify that John Mahan,
Solomon Litton, Samuel Vanhook, George Loveless and Joel Hill (may be Gill)
found their own rations of Corn and Salt from the 10th day of March till the
26th day of June 1780 they being soldiers of actual service at Martin’s Station
each 109 days ration” - James Trabue Coms.
17 Mar/26 Jun 1780 George Rogers Clark Papers, Draper Collection, University of
Wisconsin, Reel 5, p. 402, Kentucky Martin’s Station – “I do certify that
Samuel Vanhook himself found his own rations of Corn and Salt from the 10th day
of March 1780 till the 26th day of June the same year he being
soldiers of actual service” - James Trabue Coms.
1784 – 1785 History of Kentucky, Lewis Collins, reprint
by Henry Clay Press, 1968, page 343, (also from the 1850 Collins History,
Volume 2, page 329) - The following account of an adventure at Higgins’
blockhouse, near Cynthiana, is from the notes of Mr. E.E. Williams, of
Covington, Ky., an actor in the events which he records:
“After the battle of the
Blue Licks, and in 1786, our family removed to Higgins’ blockhouse on
(Note: the
1784 - 1787 Draper Papers,
“Came
down fall 1784. Staid at Bryant’s Station until spring. Moved then out here.
Grant’s Station was not reoccupied. At the storehouse (was) where our English
lived.
Where we landed, there was nothing to be seen
at Maysville. The 1st house we saw after leaving
Lindsey’s Station, 2 miles beyond the stamping
ground, besieged 2 or 3 days - they were about it - in 1786, or 1787, at the
Great Crossing the Indians were driven away.
Perhaps
as many as 8 families came down with us. About half of us went to Bryant’s
Station, the rest to
1st cabins were put up, I imagine, in spring of 1785. For about 2 years the indians
were not so troublesome.
Way had been blazed before we came along by some people that came down from
Bryant’s Station. Stuckers, Wm. Tomlin, Williams, Fosters, VanHooks, Mitchells.
General
Wilkinson had landed at Maysville before we did, and gone on to
28 Mar 1785 Virginia Land Office Grants – Charles Abercrombie (adjacent
to Samuel VanHook’s land). Land grant was issued in 1789, but the survey was
done 28 March 1785.
Beverly Randolph Esquire Governor of
the Commonwealth of Virginia To all, to whom these presents shall Come Greeting
Knoweth that by virtue and in Consideration of a Land Office Treasury Warrant
Number 3485 Issued the Seventh day of March and part of Number 3492 Issued the
Seventh day of March 1780 there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto
Charles Abercrombie a certain tract or parcel of Land containing four hundred
Acres by Survey bearing date the twenty eighth day of March 1785. Lying &
being in the County of Fayette on the South fork of licking adjoining the Land
& bounded by Samuel Vanhook of one thousand Acres on the North West &
bounded as followeth To wit Beginning faie (?) Vanhooks beginning or near (?)
Samuel Dennises upper Corner on the Creek a maple & Box elder Running from
thence W 253 poles to two (?) hickory & buckeye thence S 253 poles to a
hackberry, Hickory & two buckeyes thence E 253 poles to a Box elder &
two buckeyes Vanhooks Corner & thence N 253 poles with Vanhooks line to the
beginning. … at
28 Sep 1785 Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky (to the
General Assembly of Virginia 1769 to 1792), Petition No. 26 – Samuel VanHook
signed a petition of the inhabitants of Lincoln County requesting a town for
the county. This was the request for the formation of the town of
25 Nov 1785 Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of
1786
26 Oct 1786 Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of
10 Sep 1787 Bourbon Co.,
19 Sep 1787 Petitions
of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky (to the General Assembly of
01 Nov 1787 Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of
27 May 1788 Bourbon Co., KY, Court Records – Hadden vs. VanHook (Junior) [front cover] Hadden vs Vanhook Lease August [ ] confessed by Def March 1788 Special
Imparlance April N aft will ST Mar 88 [ ] for Pltf Hadden vs Vanhook
Jur. Subpd Vanhook & William Executed C
[full page] Haddan vs Sam'l Vanhook Jur. Executed
The Commonwealth of Virginia to the Sheriff of Bourbon
County greeting you are hereby commanded to summon Samuel Vanhook Sen. &
John Williams to appear before the Justice of our said county at the courthouse
on the third tuesday in August next to testify and the truth to say in behalf
of William Hadden in a certain matter of controversy in our said Court
depending & undetermined between said William Hadden Plt. & Sam'l Vanhook Junr deft.
and their they shall in no wise omit under the Penalty of 100 pounds
and have then there this writ witness John Edwards clerk of
our said court at the Courthouse this 27th day of May 1788. In the 12th year of
the Commonwealth Test. John Edwards Cl. B. C.
To Hereby Certify that I Received of William Haddin four
pounds Lawful Money of Virginia in parte of pay for the Land that I sold to him
Given My hand 8 Day of December 1785
Samuel Vanhook (signature) (this is Samuel VanHook Jr’s
signature on the lease)
16 Jun 1788 Bourbon Co., KY, Court Records – Hadden vs. VanHook (Junior)
.. of
William Hadden complains of Samuel Vanhook junior in custody
and so forth for that whereas the said Defendant on the day of the year 178- at
the parish of Kentucky and county aforesaid was in debt to the said Plaintiff
in the sum of four pounds Lawful money for he like sum of money by him the said
Defendant before that Time had and received to the use of said Plaintiff and
being so indebted he the said Defendant afterwards (that is to say) tge same
day and year at the parish of Kentucky and County aforesaid in Consideration
these then and there undertook and faithfully promised that he the said
Defendant would & will and truly Content and pay to the said Plaintiff the
said sum of five pounds whenever after he should be thereunto required
Nevertheless the said Defendant not regarding his promise and undertaking
aforesaid but contriving and [ ] craftily and [ ] this particular hath not paid
the said sum of money to the said Plaintiff [ ] he the said Defendant hath been
often requested thereto by the siad Plaintiff at the parish of Kentucky and
county aforesaid But he the said Plaintiff hath and [ ] doth refuse to pay the
same wherefore the said Plaintiff saith that he is [ ] to the value of
---------- Pounds & therefore he brings suit. Hall for Pltff ]
24 Jun 1788 Bourbon Co., KY, Court Records – VanHook (Senior) vs. Cartmill
The
and have then there this writ witness John Edwards Clerk of
our said Court this 24th day of June 1788 In the 12th year of the Commonwealth
Test John edwards CL. B. C.
The Commonwealth of Virginia To the Sheriff of Bourbon
County Greeting you are hereby Commanded to attach so much of the goods and
chattles of the within named John Cartmill as will be of value sufficient to
Satisfy and Pay the within mentioned sum of one hundred and fifty pounds &
costs and that you secure the same in your Hands or otherwise provide that it
may be forthcoming and Liable to the payment Thereof as the Justice of our
Court of our said coutny at the Courthouse on the third Tuesday in October next
Shall in that part Consider and have then there this writ witness John Edward
Clerk of our said Court at .............\{rest of page torn\}
Oct 1788 Bourbon Co., KY, Court Records – VanHook (Senior) vs. Cartmill
Vanhook vs Cartmill Oct 1788 Bourbon county Court 1788 Samuel Vanhook
Pltf vs John Cartmill - deft In Court The sheriff having returned that he left a
coppy of the Pltfs writ with the Def whereupon the said Deft was Solemly Called
but came not upon the motion of the Pltf an attact is awarded him against the
Defts Estate for 150 pounds and costs returnable [ ] Test John Edwards ... as
within ordered have attached one hankerchief the property of John Cartmills and
[ ] the same to [ ] to the Said Samuel ...
1788 Bourbon Co.,
15 Dec 1789 Bourbon Co., KY, Court Records – [cover] Vanhook (Senior)
& Azor Rees Capias [warrant] Feb. 1790
[document] Commonwealth of Virginia to the Sheriff of Bourbon county Greeting You are hereby
commanded to take Azor Rees if he be found within your baliwick and him safely
keep so that you have his body before the Justices of our said county court at
the Court house thereof On the third Tuesday in February next to answer Sam'l Vanhook & Margaret his wife
a plea of Tresspass Assault and Battery Damage Two hundred pounds
And have then there this writ Witness John Edward Clerk of
our said Court at the Court house this 15 day of Dec. 1789 And in the 13th Year
of the Commonwealth Jno Edwards
11 Jun 1789 Kentucky Historical Society Register, Vol. 32, Page
241 – Samuel VanHook for 288 lbs. of beef Impressed for the Guards of Bourbon
County Kentucky 1 pound, 16 shillings O d. for
1789 Bourbon Co.,
8 Feb 1790 Bourbon Co., KY, Court
Records – [cover] Vanhook (Senior) &
Azor Rees, Vanhook vs Rees [cover] Mary Talor John Pickens
William Williams Executed A. Mountjoy A copy left for John Pickens &
William Williams Vanhook
Mary Talor is no inhabitant of this county vs A. Mountjoy Rees
to Augt 1790
[document] The
Commonwealth of Virginia To the Sheriff of Bourbon County Greeting you are
hereby commanded to summon Mary Taylor John Pickens William Williams To appear
before the Justice of our Said county on day of [ ] next Feby Court instant to
testify and the Truth to say in behalf of Sam'l Vanhook Sen & Margaret his
wife in a certain matter of controversy in our said court depending and
unditermoned Between Sam'l Vanhook Sen & Margaret
Wife & Azor Rees And this they shall in no wise omit under
the penalty of 100 pounds
and have then
there this writ witness John Edwards Clerk of our said Court at the Courthouse
the 8th day of Feby 1790 In this the 14th year of the Commonwealth John Edwards
22 May 1790 Bourbon Co.,
7 Jun 1790 Bourbon Co., KY, Court
Records – Vanhook (Senior) &
Azor Rees
The Commonwealth of Virginia to the Sheriff of bourbon
County Greeting You are hereby sommanded to summon Mary Taylor and John Perkins
& William Williams to appear before the Justice of our said county at the
courthouse thereof on the 2nd day of their next August Court to Testify and the
truth to say in behalf of Sam'l Vanhook and wife in a certain matter of
controversy in our said court depending and undetermined Between said Vanhook
& Wife Plffs and Azor Rees defendant - this they shall in no wise omit
under the penalty of 100 pounds
and have then there this writ witness John Edwards Clerk of
said Court at the courthouse the 7 day of June 1790 In the xiv Year of the
Commonwealth John Edwards
27 Aug 1790 Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of
1790 Bourbon Co.,
(Note: This
is the last entry for Samuel showing 2 white males over 21, and also the only
entry labeling Samuel as senior explicitly. From this and previous records it
looks like Samuel Junior was the son of Samuel Senior and they were living in
the same household.)
Jun 1791 Bourbon Co.,
29 Aug 1791 Bourbon Co., Ky. Marriages – James Johnson and Margret
(Margaret) VanHook (I have seen James “M.” Johnson,
but am not sure if this is right). Surety on bond is Atwell Worll.
Permission paper reads: “August the 29 1791. Sir, I am Satisfied that
Licenses Should Issue for James Johnston and Margret Vanhook this is from an
under my hand and Seal, Samuel Vanhook”. Test: John Scott and Robert Scott.
Marriage was registered by Augustine (
22 Sep 1794 Bourbon Co.,
1794
1795
20 Jul 1795 Campbell Co., Ky. Tax Lists – Sam’l Vanhook, 1 white male
over 21, 2 horses, 5 cattle. (Ellison Williams also appears in the Campbell
Co. tax lists during this period.)
16 Jul 1796 Campbell Co., Ky. Tax Lists – Samuel Vanhook, 1 white male
over 21, 4 cattle.
4 Jun 1797
7 Jun 1797
14 Jun 1797
Jun 1797 Campbell Co.,
Jun 1797 Campbell Co., Ky. Court Order Book A, page 99 – Samuel
Vanhook is appointed Constable of Campbell County and takes oath; Obediah Scott
is his Security on bond.
1798 Campbell Co., Ky. Tax Lists – Samuel Vanhook, 1
white male over 21, 150 acres 2nd rate land on Bank Lick.
8 Mar 1799 Fayette Co.,
11 Jul 1799
20 Aug 1801 Campbell Co., Ky. Tax Lists - Samuel Vanhook, 1 white male
over 21, 1 horse, no land.
9 Feb 1804 Harrison County Court Records, November Court 1803 John Dougherty states he first knew Coopers
Run in 1779 that he in company with Wm. Whitsell, Samuel Potter and George
Lovelace (Loveless) and Samuel VanHook was hunting and encamped first night
above Grants improvement.
(Note: I have been unable to find the original of
the above record. It is not in the Harrison County Court order books for the
date given. This reference was taken from Keister’s VanHook and Allied
Families, and she in turn took it from Kentucky Records by Ardery. - HLV)
6 Oct 1806 Harrison County Court Record Book B, October Court 1806,
pages 1-2 - At a court held for the county of Harrison at the courthouse
thereof on Monday the Sixth day of October one thousand Eight hundred &
Six. Present David Dils, Robert Ellison, Josephus Perrin,
The depositions of Samuel VanHook,
Jacob Stucker, Nicholas Hart, John Morrison, and Abraham Venable to Establish
William Walkers land on Raven Creek was returned into Court by the...
The deposition of Samuel VanHook
being of lawful age deposeth and saith that he was at Bryants Station where the
Commissioners Set at that Place in the winter of 1779 or 1780 at which time he
hunted on this creek which was known by the name of raven Creek. Moreover that
Captain John Martin and John Haggin informed him that it was called Raven Creek
and that the said VanHook has resided in this county ever since and has never
known it by any other name than that of Raven Creek. question by Beale (note:
Benjamin Beale) how old was you when the Commissioners Set at Bryants Station?
: Answer I shall be 73 the 15th day of next month. Question by Same at what time
did you know the Creeks now called fork lick and Crook(ed) Creek by those
names, Answer at the same time I knew raven Creek, the same Fork lick went by
the name of big lick, Question by Same was not fork lick, Crooked Creek, &
Raven creek known by those names by those bowersant (sic) with said licks at
that time Answer yes & further this deposant sayeth not. Signed Samuel
VanHook
2 May 1807 Harrison Co.,
4 May 1807 Harrison County Court Record Book B, May Court 1807, pages
26-28 At a Court held for Harrison
County at the Courthouse Thereof on Monday the fourth day of May one thousand
Eight hundred and Seven. Present David Dils,
The depositions of Samuel VanHook,
William McCune, William Anderson, and Thomas Ravenscraft was returned into
Court by the Commissioners & ordered to be Recorded in the words and
figures following (to wit).
We Josephus Perrin & Josiah
Griffith Commissioners appointed by the County Court of Harrison under an act
of Assembly intitled an act to Ascertain the Boundaries of & for
processioning of Lands to Take depositions to establish the Special Calls of an
entry of 2000 acres of land on Mill Creek entered in the name of Thomas Moore
& Benjamin Johnson on the 24th of june 1780 &; haveing met at the house
of Thomas Moore in Harrison County on the 15th day of April 1807. and thence
proceeded to a large pond in said County & on said Creek the Bason we
suppose to Contain about two acres & a half & about half an acre
farther is Covered with water Shrubs growing in the same incircled fully three
fourths around by the above named Mill Creek and on the east Side of said Creek
where we proceeded to take the following depositions.
The Deposition of Samuel VanHook who
being of lawfull age and first duly Sworn deposeth and saith that in the year
Seventeen hundred & Seventy nine he first saw this pond and that after he
Came back from being a prisoner I frequently saw it again and I have hunted all
these woods from a great way above this and to the mouth of this Creek & I
never saw any other pond but this (viz) Mill Creek. quest. by Thomas Moore were
you acquainted with John McFalls Settlement & preemption & whether it
was Generally known or the place generally known by the name of McFalls
Settlement & preemption. Answer It went by that name by the people at
Ruddells Station, I know no further. quest. by Same how far is you Suppose it
is from this place to McFalls up this Creek. Answer I Suppose about three or
four miles. quest. Please to describe this pond. Answer about three quarters of
an acre I suppose is as much as is usually Covered with water perhaps two acres
may be more in the Bason or descent. quest. by Same was there water brushy in
it when you first saw it as ther is at present. Answer yes. quest. by William
Brown for James Coleman when did you Settle at Ruddells Station when were taken
prisoner & when did you return. Answer in the Spring Seventy nine I settled
there in the year Eighty in the winter after Christmas I moved to Martins
Station taken prisoner in june following & I returned in four or five years
I dont recollect which but I believe About four years and two months. quest. by
Same who did you hear Call McFalls Claim by the name of Settlement and
preemption and was it before or after you were taken prisoner by the Indians.
Answer by the Generality of the people it Called so I dont recollect who
particularly. quest. by Same do you recollect any one person who Called it by
that name. Ansr. no. quest. by same who was with you when you first saw this
pond. Answer I was by myself. quest. by Thomas Moore dont you remember to have
heard Mr. McFall Say or Call his Claim by that name. Answer yes but I thought
that that would not answer as he is dead. I have heard him Call it his
Settlement and preemption but whether he was Obtained a grant from the
Commissioners I Cant tell. quest. by Wm. Brown did you hear McFall or any other
person after he had procured his Certificate from the Commissioners Call it by
the name of McFalls Settlement and preemption. Answer no. quest. by Thomas
Moore did you ever hear it Called by any other name. Answer no. quest. by
William Brown what business did you follow when you lived in the Station.
Answer I raised Corn there & I followed hunting. quest. by Same are you not
a Taylor to trade & did you not follow that in the Station. Answer yes, I
served a time to it but I did not follow it further than make two or three pair
leather Breeches. (signed) Samuel Vanhook
(Note:
The above record was paraphrased in Keister’s VanHook and Allied Families
and some words were transposed to where it
looks like Samuel was taken prisoner twice. - HLV)
25 Feb 1809 Harrison Co.,
13
Nov 1809 Harrison County Court Records, November
Court 1809, Page 141 – Deposition of Samuel VanHook to establish land of
William Woods.
At a Court held for the
The Commissioners appointed on the
motion of Archibald Woods to take the depositions of Witnesses to establish the
Special Calls of an entry of the Governing lines of a Survey made thereon of
one thousand acres entered Surveyed and Patented for William Woods This day
returned the Depositions of Samuel Vanhook & Robert Layson which is ordered
to be Recorded in the words & figures following court. The deposition of
Samuel Vanhook age Seventy-Six years or thereabouts who being first duely Sworn
deposeth & Saith that some time in the year one thousand Seven hundred
& Ninety nine he was acquainted with the Spring where we now are Called &
Known by the name of the Cave Spring having frequently Camped by it in Company
with Others & alone & that he Continued to be acquainted with Said
Spring & to encamp by it when he was hunting until the time that Ruddells
Station was taken by the indians & Brittish which was sometime in the month
of June in the year 1780. This deponant well recollects that during the year
1779 & from that time to the time Ruddells Station was taken in the month
of June 1780 this Spring where we now are was well Known to a majority of the
hunters living at Ruddells Station & to a Majority of the hunters that were
in the habit of hunting on the South fork of licking. This deponant further
States that Ruddells Station was the nearest Station or Settlement to this
Spring in the year 1779 & 1780. that he knows of no Other Cave Spring nor
ever heard of any other on the South fork of licking either in the years 1779
& 1780. or ever Since although this deponant in those years was well
acquainted with & was in the habit of hunting on said South fork in the
year 1779 & the Beginning of the year 1780 from Ruddells Station down to
Byrds Crossing This deponant further States that he is Convinced that the
Spring where we are now at was so well Known to a majority of the hunters in
Ruddells Station & the Companies of hunters that were in the habit of
hunting on South fork of licking in the Spring of the year 1780 that if any
person had inquired of them where there was a Cave Spring on the south fork of
licking they would have directed the enquirer to this place this deponant
further States that he was taken prisoner by the indians & Brittish at the
time Ruddells Station was taken & after he returned from his Captivity
Sometime in the year 1784 or 1785 he lived in Bryants Station & the place and
Spring where we now are was at that time well Known to a Majority of the
hunters who then lived in Bryants Station & that he was at that time in the
habit of hunting in the neighbourhood of this Spring in Company with other
persons & he is well Convinced that a Majority of the hunters who hunted on
the South fork of licking at that time were acquainted with this place &
Spring: This deponant is well Convinced that this Spring was so well Known by a
Majority of the hunters at Bryants Station & a Mojority of the hunters that
hunted on the south fork of licking at the time this deponant lived in Bryants
Station that if any person had enquired of them for a Cave Spring on the south
fork of licking thay would have directed the enquirer to the place of further
this deponant Saith not. (signed) Samuel Vanhook
17 Aug 1832 Revolutionary War Pension Records, National Archives -
Deposition of John Loveless to obtain military pension for his brother George
Loveless:
John Loveless doth on his oath depose
and say that his Father John Loveless formerly lived at Holstein in the State
of Virginia and that his brother George Loveless now an applicant for a pension
under the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, went as well remembered to
Kentucky and that he was there one or two years, and that on his return we the
family went to Kentucky and entered Ruddles Station...we remained in that
Station and during the Winter erected Martins Fort and when finished we with
others moved into it about the last of March was attacked by a large body of
Indians, after severe fighting they were repulsed and retired...well remember
that Father and brother George the said applicant fought the Indians (this
would be the John and George Loveless in Capt. Charles Gatliff's company)... At
which time in this engagement my Father was dangerously wounded and my
Stepmother's Mother killed and scalped. In about 3 months afterwards the
British under Col. Bird Canadians and Indians again besieged us and took us
prisoners of War, and marched us to Detroit where we was detained Prisoners of
War until in 1784 when we was released and sent to Pittsburgh escorted by two
Indian guides and interpreters, said there were 10 prisoners in number. and
were marched to
15 Oct 1832 Revolutionary War Pension Records, National Archives -
Deposition of George Loveless to obtain military pension - This deposition
contains quite a bit of detail but the gist of it is:
In the spring of the year 1777 his
Father John Loveless (then residing at a place called Holstein and about 12
miles from Wolf Hills Court House in the State of Virginia then so called) was
drafted for a six months Tour to go on a campaign under Col. Bowman to Kentucky
at which time Kentucky was a part of Virginia. (note: Col. John Bowman was the
Clark’s
2 Sep 1844 Revolutionary War Military Pension Records, No. R3650 –
Deposition of Silas Force, Henry County, Ky. to obtain military pension (this
application was rejected). (In this deposition taken when Silas was 78 years
old he is 2 years off on his dates concerning the events he relates.):
Silas Force was born 1 January 1766
in Prince Edward County,
Some British officers brought
McGuire to the fort and demanded surrender. McGuire convinced them it was
useless to resist and the station capitulated. Martins Station was commanded at
that time by Charles Gatliffe, but he was absent at the time the fort was
taken. He had gone to the salt works. The prisoners were taken to
