Mary Ruth Morgan

Notes:

Professed in the Ursuline community as Sister George Marie.

Notes:

George Elmer Morgan and Mary Alice Hayden were second cousins, both great-grandchildren of PNH ancestors William Leo Hayden and Mary Hayden.

George married Mary Alice Hayden on 24 Nov 1896 in Daviess County, Kentucky. Mary (daughter of Charles William Hayden and Mary Malissa O'Bryan) was born on 14 Jun 1874; died on 13 Nov 1907. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary Alice Hayden and George Elmer Morgan were second cousins, both great-grandchildren of PNH ancestors William Leo Hayden and Mary Hayden.

George married Amanda J. Grant on 11 Apr 1871 in Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky. Amanda (daughter of Pius Grant and Louisa Newton) was born on 31 Oct 1846; died on 19 Jul 1913; was buried in St. Raphael's Cemetery, West Louisville, Daviess, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

After the death of his first wife, he married Mary Frances (Gillim) O'Bryan, the widow of a Peter O'Bryan who had a son Peter O'Bryan. No children issued from this marriage.

Charles married Mary Malissa O'Bryan on 18 Apr 1871 in St. Raphael's Catholic Church, West Louisville, Daviess, Kentucky. Mary (daughter of Peter E. O'Bryan and Susan Speaks) was born on 1 May 1852; died on 12 May 1898; was buried in St. Raphael's Cemetery, West Louisville, Daviess, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to Sister Mary Donnelly, when Charles William Hayden and Mary Melissa Bryan wed, St. Raphael's Church had burned down and an tobacco barn was temporarily serving as the church.

The one-sheet "Family Record of Charles and Malissa Hayden" (citation details below) says that they were married by Father Volk.

George married Martha Ann Hayden on 5 Sep 1837 in St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Daviess, Kentucky. Martha (daughter of William Leo "Little Willie" Hayden and Mary Hayden) was born on 8 Feb 1817 in Washington County, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Pius married Louisa Newton. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Twin brother of J. Raymond Hayden (1813-1856).

The Owensboro Messenger and Examiner for 13 Aug 1879, page 3, reports: "A hen belonging to Urban Hayden, Esq, rose up and cackled over an egg within an egg last week. The phenomenon can be seen at his office."

The Owensboro Messenger for 16 May 1885, page 4, records under "Real Estate Transfers": "Urban Hayden to Jo Aud, parcel of land for love and affection." Urban Hayden's daughter Mary Drucilla Hayden (d. 1890) was the first wife of James S. Hayden. James S.'s second wife was Margaret Josephine Aud.

The Owensboro Messenger for 9 Feb 1889, page 4, for 10 Feb 1889, page 5, and for 22 Feb 1889, page 4, reports: "COMMISSIONER'S NOTICE, Daviess Circuit Court. C. W. Hayden, &c., Plaintiff, vs. J. G. Medley, &c., Deft. In Equity. All persons having claims against Urban Hayden deceased, are hereby notified to present same properly proven, to the undersigned, on or before March 1st, 1889. GEO. F. HAYNES, Master Commissioner." C. W. Hayden is probably Urban's eldest son Charles William Hayden (1845-1919).

The Owensboro Messenger for 10 Feb 1892, page 1, reports: "Jerome Hayden sues James Hayden for a settlement of the estate of Urban Hayden." The James Hayden mentioned here is probably not Urban's son-in-law James S. Hayden, but rather his son James Urban Hayden (1856-1933). The Jerome is probably Urban's son Jerome, born about 1854.

Urban married Rosella Coomes on 14 Apr 1844 in Daviess County, Kentucky. Rosella (daughter of Charles William Coomes and Frances "Fannie" Dobbins) was born on 25 Jan 1825 in Kentucky; died on 26 Nov 1857 in Daviess County, Kentucky; was buried on 27 Nov 1857 in St. Raphael's Cemetery, West Louisville, Daviess, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 1824
• Alternate birth: 27 Jan 1825
• Alternate death: 27 Nov 1857, Daviess County, Kentucky

Notes:

Sometimes given as "Rosalie"; sometimes given as "Anna Rosella".

Peter married Susan Speaks. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William Leo Hayden (1785-1866) was the natural son of Henrietta (Cole) Hayden, by Charles Ewing.

When the Hayden family arrived in north-central Kentucky in 1785, they and the rest of their migrant party were confined for some months inside a rough-and-ready fort for their protection. It’s easy to imagine that this was hard on them all, and Henrietta (Cole) Hayden had further reason to be depressed; she had lost four children on the trek from southern Maryland. Whatever her reasons, she had an affair inside the fort with a sketchy land speculator named Charles Ewing, and became pregnant as a result. She subsequently confessed the liaison to her husband, who publicly denounced her but did not divorce her. Henrietta and Basil went on to have several more children. William Leo, son of Henrietta by Charles Ewing, was raised in Basil and Henrietta’s family, where his nickname was “Not Blood.” Basil’s will provided William Leo with half the amount he gave to each of his own surviving children.

After Basil’s death in 1804, Henrietta immediately married Charles Ewing. Shortly afterward, she declared in court that she "will not take or accept the provision made for me by Will of my late husband, Basil Hayden, dec'd., or any part thereof and I do hereby renounce all Benefit which I might claim by said Will, and I hereby claim Dower as the law directs." But in 1807 Charles Ewing left her and bigamously married one Mary (or perhaps Margaret) Flint. In 1808 Henrietta managed to divorce Charles, which required an act of the Kentucky legislature.

From Littel's Laws of Kentucky, Volume 3:

[Page 446] An act concerning the marriage of HENRIETTA EWING. approved Feb. 3, 1808 This act authorised her to sue CHARLES EWING, for a divorce, in the Nelson court, and to obtain it on a jury's finding that he had seperated from her and intermarried with MARY FLINT, and continued to live in adultery with said Mary.

From John Medley (1615-1660) by Mary Louise Donnelly (citation details below):

William Leo "Little Willie" Hayden was born 12/16/1785 in Washington Co Ky, the son of Henrietta Cole Hayden. The account of William Leo Hayden's birth is told in letters written by Rev Stephen Badin to Bishop Carroll.

"The widow Hayden who had disgraced herself in marriage, has renewed her past scandals and finished by marrying heterodoxum corum heterodoxo (a protestant by a protestant - in 2/4/1805 letter). Mr Rohan who is keeping school on my land has among his school-boys a subject that might become a clergyman were not the illegitimacy of his birth an obstacle to it. I thought proper to inform you of his virtue & talents, & also that the parents are willing & in some degree able to procure him a liberal education. He belongs to Mr Hayden's family, tho he be not his father: he is twelve or thirteen years of age."

William Hayden, mentioned in Basil Hayden, Sr's will as "Henrietta's son" [sic — the actual phrase is "my wife's son" —PNH], might be the illegitimate son of Charles Ewing whom Henrietta married seven months after Basil Hayden, Sr's death. In Washington Co Ky, on 2/5/1810 William Leo Hayden married first Anna Pike (d. 1/8/1811), the daughter of John Pike. In Washington Co on 1/4/1813 he married secondly Mary Hayden the daughter of Charles Hayden and Eleanor Elliott. The information on his birth and marriages was recorded in his family Bible.

William Leo Hayden was well educated and was the teacher of his own children. In 1835 he moved with his family to Daviess Co Ky. On 11/16/1841 William Hayden purchased 1523 acres of land on the south bank of Panther Creek from William R Griffith and Philip and Eliza H. Triplett (Deed F: 554-555). For a time Court was held in his home. In 5/1866 William and Mary Hayden deeded to Charles Leo Hayden, "...who supported said William and Mary last 10 years ...," 206 acres (Deed T: 306-307). Mary died 7/14/1866 and William Leo Hayden died 12/6/1867 in Owensboro, Ky.

From The Immigration of William "Little Willie" Leo Hayden, quoting a letter written in January 1886 by Richard R. Coomes to the Hon. B.J. Webb:

[A]s some of St Raphael's congregation appear to show some dissatisfaction of the short and, in truth, unjust reference to said congregation, I feel bound to give some items concerning it.

The facts concerning its settlement are these. In 1834 a man well known about Holy Cross [Catholic Church in Calvary, Marion County, Kentucky] as "Little Willie" Hayden, son of Basil Hayden, sold his farm near the church and immigrated to Daviess County, Kentucky to look for better situations for himself and his sons. With him came his brother, Lewis Hayden. The two selected land adjoining the St. Raphael farm, with "Little Willie" agreeing to purchase 1,500 acres adjoining the 200 acres that he had selected for the church. Lewis selected a like amount adjoining that of "Little Willie"'s if William R. Griffith, the owner, would donated 200 acres to the church. Griffith willingly gave the 200 acres and, by doing so, made a sale of the 3,000 acres to the two brothers. The sale of the land that he owned in that part of he county benefited himself, the Hayden brothers, and the Catholic Church. The above purchase was made in 1833 or 1834. At the time, there was not a Catholic living nearer than ten miles from Owensboro, in Daviess County, Kentucky.

"Little Willie"'s family came in 1835 as the first settlers in St. Alphonso's congregation, his house being the first and only station for church until the first log church was built in 1844. He was the principal head of Catholic affairs so long as he was able to get about. He died on December 6, 1867, aged 82 years. There was another William Hayden who settled near St Raphaels but moved within the bounds of St Alfonsus before 1840.

In 1841 when I moved within the bounds of the then St Raphael's, now St Martin's, there was living in the St Raphael's congregation Randall Blandford, William Sims, Reson Cravens, John Livers, Charles Clayton, John Hayden, John Mattingly, Sylvester Hayden, James M Hayden, Phillip Hayden's widow and family, Thadius Coomes, and others whose names I can't now recall. But this I can say, that after 1845, by marriages and imigration the county filled up very fast so that it was soon necessary to build the church of St Alfonso within seven miles of St Raphael's and a few years thereafter that of St Martin's both principally within the original boundry of St Raphael's all of which may be said to be a fairly prosperous farming country so that the Hayden purchase gave to the Catholics of Kentucky a chance for homes without having to go so far west, and as a general thing, to do better nearer home, not that I am opposed to going West by any means, some of my own brothers & a sister went and did better.

I hope this will give you a better idea of the St Raphael country.

Will of William Leo Hayden, written 21 Dec 1866, probated 6 Jan 1868:

In the name of God. Amen. I WILLIAM HAYDEN, of Daviess County, Kentucky, being of extreme old age but of sound mind and disposing memory and calling to mind that all men must die and wishing to arrange my temporal concerns before I am imposed by the call to appear before my God and Judge to determine my lot through all Eternity hereby revoking and annulling all other wills which I may have made heretofore do make and establish this as my last Will and Testament to wit.

Item 1. I bequeath my soul to God who gave it me and my Body to the Earth from which it was taken to be decently interred in an ordinary and plain manner.

Item 2. I will and bequeath unto my granddaughter, HELEN MARION PIKE, one bed and furniture, the same that she now uses, it being in the possession of my daughter-in-law (Melissa Hayden) who is entitled to use of the same until my granddaughter may find it to be her interest, or necessary to leave her Aunt Melissa in that event it is to be given up to her demand.

Item 3. I will and bequeath unto my son, CHARLES L. HAYDEN an equal share with all my other heirs not named of all money or cash notes or other estate of which I die possessed first paying or settling all just dues or demands against me out of the sd. money and before distribution is made. I further bequeath to my sd son, CHARLES L, HAYDEN trundle bed stead and bedding attached thereof. Also other articles of household and kitchen furniture and farming implements as also my large Duoay bible all of which last mentioned articles I now deliver into his possession as being his own right and I further bequeath to my son CHARLES L. HAYDEN the right of a roadway one rod wide leading from his farm along the lines of a sixty acre tract which I formerly sold to James Eubank so as to enter at the south of the land dividing between Alvin Hayden's farm and the farm which I have sold to URBAN HAYDEN which road and land shall be one rod wide thru from end to end and unobstructed by any gates or fence also on other land intersecting the land by or at the southeast corner of the orchard on the sd. farm and running through the sd. farm passing by URBAN HAYDEN's farm in the direction of the Glenn Bridge as so called this lane shall be one rod wide from end to end with gates there planted, this described road and lanes are reserved in the contract and sale of the land and premises to URBAN HAYDEN unto the afsd CHARLES L. HAYDEN and his heirs forever.

Item 4. I will and bequeath unto whichever of my children I may be living with at the time of my demise my bed and all its furniture attached, my wearing apparel, my big arm chair, and small chair also any articles of furniture which I term side board, a large demijohn or glass bottle, a few other small bottles and convenient articles unnecessary to mention.

And lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint my son WILLIAM C. HAYDEN the executor of this my last will and Testament. Given under my hand this 21 st day of Dec. 1866 in my own writing.

[Signed in the presence of James Hayden, Edwin C. Hayden and James S. Hayden; the latter presumably his grandson-in-law James S. Hayden, husband of his granddaughter Mary Drucilla Hayden.]

*****

The family bible of William Leo Hayden is supposedly now at St. Joseph's, Maple Mount, Daviess, Kentucky. Its transcription, "Bible records of Basil Hayden (Basil Robert Hayden, 1774-1833)", in Kentucky Genealogical Records Book, GRC Book Series 1, volume 319, pp. 84-87, lists, among the children of Basil and Henrietta (Cole) Hayden, "Milly Hayden 12/16/1785." William Leo Hayden was born 16 Dec 1785; "Milly" is very likely a mistranscription of "Willy".

William married Mary Hayden on 4 Jan 1813 in Washington County, Kentucky. Mary (daughter of Charles Hayden and Eleanor "Molly" Elliott) was born on 4 Jun 1794; died on 14 Jul 1866 in West Louisville, Daviess, Kentucky; was buried in St. Raphael's Cemetery, West Louisville, Daviess, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Charles married Frances "Fannie" Dobbins on 29 Apr 1824 in Daviess County, Kentucky. Frances was born about 1795 in Ireland; died after 1870. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 1798, Ireland

Notes:

Or perhaps Dollin.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Between 1808 and 1810

Notes:

Described by Paul Nordberg in his monograph on Joseph Clayton as "a land investor with many doings in Nelson and nearby Washington Counties", which only begins to illuminate the energetic sketchiness of this particular individual.

Alicia Towston (see excerpt later in this entry; citation details below) appears to not believe that our Charles Ewing is the same Charles Ewing who married, in Bardstown, 4 Feb 1786, Sarah Wickliffe. We think they were the same person. Several things notably line up:

* The marriage of Charles Ewing to Sarah Wickliffe comes just a year after the liaison with Henrietta (Cole) Hayden which produced PNH ancestor William Leo Hayden.

* Sarah Wickliffe died in 1804, just a year before Charles Ewing and Henrietta Hayden recommenced their affair and married.

* The Charles Ewing in the 1823 case "Ewing v. Handley" (citation details below), which illuminates an entire universe of complex transactions in land and slaves between Ewing and his Wickliffe in-laws, was "absent from the country in 1791" (Towston: "In May 1790 he took a flatboat to Natchez, in company with Samuel Ewing"), was back in 1792 (Towston: "In 1792 he was Justice of the Peace for Washington County"), and was sued in 1808 by James Handley but died shortly thereafter (Ewing v. Handley: "after this suit was prepared for trial, Ewing died").

From Alicia Towston (citation details below):

He is probably the same Charles Ewing who is mentioned in the Draper Manuscripts as going on a hunting expedition in Kentucky with frontiersman Henry Skaggs in 1771.

His activities during the Revolution included: 11 April 1781, carried a message to Governor Jefferson about Bedford militia movements; 1782, compensated for loss of a bay mare in public service; and 1783, obtained a Continental soldier rifle from Robert Ewing.

About 1787, this Charles moved to Kentucky. There were at least two men named Charles Ewing in Kentucky at this time, so caution in interpreting records is necessary. I think the Charles Ewing in Nelson County and adjacent Washington County is likely the correct one, because this is the same area to which Mary (Ewing) Handley had migrated, as well as a Samuel Ewing who may be their younger brother.

He served as a Nelson County Militia officer until June 1789. In May 1790 he took a flatboat to Natchez, in company with Samuel Ewing. In 1792 he was Justice of the Peace for Washington County. From 1792 through 1807 he surveyed and obtained grants for numerous land claims in Washington and Nelson Counties. There is no evidence of any marriage in his early years, but on 14 February 1805, in Washington County, he married Henrietta (Cole) Hayden (1754–1836), widow of Basil Hayden, and apparently a mother of twelve children. This was not a happy marriage, and Charles soon moved out and began living with Mary/Margaret Flint. Henrietta sued for divorce, which was granted on 3 February 1808. In the meantime Charles had married, on 3 February 1807, Mary/Margaret Flint in Nelson County. They apparently moved away, and possibly the 1810 census entry in Garrard County, Kentucky, for Charley Ewing is their household. There are no known children.

Mentions of Charles Ewing in Hayden/Rapier and Allied Families by Mary Louise Donnelly (citation details below):

Early records in the State of Virginia show speculators named William Oldham, Charles Ewing, Peter and Adam Shepherd, and others secured thousands of acres of land in the region of Pottinger's Creek, Rolling Fork Creek, Cartright's Creek, Hardin's Creek, etc., in what is now Nelson, Washington, and Marion Counties in Kentucky. The Catholic pioneers purchased their property from these speculators. [pp. 17-18]

The deed (Book 3:77) for Basil Hayden's property was recorded on [3 Dec 1785] in Nelson County, Kentucky and reads as follows: 'Know all men by these presents that we Isaac Morrison and Charles Ewing both of Nelson County and State of Virginia are held and firmly bound to BASIL HEYDON of the State of Maryland in the penal form of two hundred and fifty pounds current money of Virginia to be paid to the said BASIL HEYDON his heirs Ex. or Admin. and to the true payment whereof we bind ourselves our heirs and Executors firmly by these presents sealed with our Seales and dated this third day of Dec. one thousand seven hundred and Eighty five - The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bounded Isaac Morrison and Charles Ewing their heirs Ex. or Adm. or either of them do and Shall will and truly convey or cause to be Conveyed unto the above mentioned BASIL HEYDEN his heirs Exs. or Adm. a certain tract of Land situate on the north side of Pottingers Creek adjoining Phillimon Lee (Phillip Lee) on the East Containing three hundred acres of land by a good and Sufficient deed a good Sure and Indefeasible estate of Inheritance in Fee Simple on or before the twenty fifth day of December one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty seven and that without further Delay then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in same.' (The deed was signed by Isaac Morrison and Charles Ewing and the witnesses present were Philip Lee and Charles Hayden.) Then the following was recorded: "This Bond from Isaac Morrison and Charles Ewing to BASIL HEYDEN was acknowledged by the said Morrison and ordered to record" (Signed Ben Grayson Cl. C.). [p. 40]

"BASIL purchased additional land on Pottinger's Creek. By the 1799 taxes he owned 525 acres of land and 24 slaves. He purchased additional land from Charles Ewing and Nicholas Woods." [p. 42]

HENRIETTA HAYDEN, "the widow of BASIL HAYDEN," married secondly on 2/4/1805 Charles Ewing (Nelson County Marriages 1:63). Concerning this Father Badin writes to Bishop Carroll on 2/20/1805, "The widow HAYDEN who has disgraced herself in marriage, has renewed her past scandals and finished by marrying heterodoxum coram heterodoxo (a protestant by a protestant)." [p. 43]

Probably an earlier letter of Father Badin written to Bishop Carroll on 8/13/1798 refers to her previous scandal, "Mr. Rohan who is keeping school on my land has among his school-boys a subject that might become a clergyman were not the illegitimacy of his birth an obstacle to it. I thought proper to inform you of his virtue & talents, & also that the parents are willing & in some degree able to procure him a liberal education. He belongs to MR. HAYDEN's family, tho he be not his father: he is twelve or thirteen years of age." This refers to William Hayden, mentioned in BASIL HAYDEN, SR.'s will as Henrietta's son. Whether he was the son of Charles Ewing, whom Henrietta immediately married seven months after BASIL's death, can be surmised. [p. 43]

The marriage of HENRIETTA HAYDEN and Charles Ewing did not last long. In a Judgement in Nelson County for 1808 and 1809 HENRIETTA EWING vs Charles Ewing and Mary Flint. "Since Charles Ewing continued to live in a State of adultery with said Mary in shameful violation of his marriage vow & agreement with Henrietta, Henrietta asks for a divorce." [p. 43]

From EARLY TIMES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, KENTUCKY by Orval W. Baylor (p 9) "Charles Ewing came to Kentucky around 1785. He was a well-bred, well educated and cultured gentleman." Charles Ewing first owned 600 acres on the north side of Hardin's Creek which he sold to Jereboam Beauchamp. In 1787 he purchased a 500 acre tract lying on the north side of the Rolling Fork. "On a knoll overlooking a big bend in the river he erected a large two story log house; and there he lived to a ripe old age." Charles Ewing was one of the first justices of Washington County. He served two terms as a legislator from Washington County and then retired from public affairs. According to the 1799 tax lists Charles Ewing owned 8,748 acres of land in Washington, Nelson, Green and Lincoln counties in Kentucky. [pp. 43-44]

From Clan Ewing of Scotland by Elbert William R. Ewing [citation details below]:

When Charles II Ewing was in his prime the county west of the Alleghenies and (to the southwest) the Cumberlands was an unsettled wild. Game was abundant; pelts were valuable. Hunters, in parties large and small, often spent an entire hunting season, camping, far beyond the frontier line. Land was examined, incidentally; and many a Kentucky home owes its original location to the intelligent eye of one of the early Virginia hunters. Charles (II) Ewing was such a pioneer.

Charles married Henrietta Cole on 19 Feb 1805 in Springfield, Washington, Kentucky, and was divorced on 3 Feb 1808 in Kentucky. Henrietta (daughter of Robert Cole and Ann Greenwell) was born on 2 Jul 1754 in St. Mary's, St. Mary's, Maryland; died on 6 Dec 1837 in Marion County, Kentucky; was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Holy Cross, Marion, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

See the notes for her son William Leo Hayden for the story of William Leo's birth and of Henrietta Cole's complicated relationship with Charles Ewing.

From Abstract of Early Kentucky Wills and Inventories: Copied from Original and Recorded Wills and Inventories by Junie Estelle Stewart King (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2010):

HAYDEN, HENRIETTA. "To worshipful Court of Washington County, I, Henrietta Hayden of said county do hereby declare that I will not take or accept the provision made for me by Will of my late husband, Basil Hayden, dec'd., or any part thereof and I do hereby renounce all Benefit which I might claim by said Will, and I hereby claim Dower as the law directs. As witness my hand and seal this 9 day of February, 1805. Wit: William Hayden, Lewis Hayden." Recorded April Court, 1805.

Notes:

Linda Reno gives Charles Hayden's dates as 'b. Bef. 1772, St. Mary's Co., MD; d. Aft. 1811, Nelson Co., KY.'

His will (citation details below) appoints his wife and his son-in-law, PNH ancestor William Leo Hayden, executors of his estate. It also gives William, among other bequests, "my negro man, Dennis".

Charles married Eleanor "Molly" Elliott on 7 Sep 1793 in Nelson County, Kentucky. Eleanor (daughter of Matthew Elliott and Ann) was born before 1777 in St. Mary's County, Maryland; died after 26 Oct 1813 in Nelson County, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Linda Reno, in this post to MDSTMARY-L, has Charles and Eleanor's marriage date as 23 Jun 1792.

Notes:

Married:
003

Notes:

"William Coomes, of Owensboro, whose house was a station and resting-place for Fathers Nerinckx, Abell, Durbin, and other priests in their visitations to that part of the State." [A Century of Catholicity in Kentucky, citation details below]

From Descendants of Richard Coomes (citation details below):

September 3, 1796, Nelson County marriage bond: William Coomes -- Rachel Coomes, bond Richard Coomes
 
From Daviess County records, the will of William Coomes -- written in May 1834 -- probated in June 1844. Wife: Rachel. Daughters: Teresy Wallace, Mary Margaret, and Elizabeth Coomes. Sons: Charles, Felix, Benedict, and William Peter Coomes.
 
William was one of the first Catholic settlers in Daviess County, arriving at a time when the county was still a wilderness.  Early Church records reveal that William often used his home as the first meeting place in the county for those first Catholic settlers. He sold land on 2 October 1837 for the building of a new church.
 
An early lawsuit of Daviess County, dated Feb 3, 1816 indicates that William was in Daviess County prior to 1830 to survey land and purchase property. The lawsuit references lots purchased in Owensboro on May 6, 1817, yet the first recorded deed in the courthouse is dated Aug 12, 1835.
 
William's will was written on May 8, 1841, but not probated until July 3, 1844. Noted on the original document at the courthouse that a fire destroyed the original document and that the family requested it be copied in its originality back into the will book. His son, Felix, was the administrator of his estate.

William married Rachel Coomes on 3 Sep 1796 in Nelson County, Kentucky. Rachel (daughter of Francis Coomes and Charity Wood) was born on 9 Oct 1775; died on 22 Aug 1847 in Daviess County, Kentucky; was buried in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 1772

Notes:

From the Louisville, Kentucky Catholic Advocate, 4 Sep 1847:

"Died, at her residence, near Owensboro, Ky., on Tuesday, 22d August, Mrs. Rachel Coomes, in the 74th year of her age. The deceased was relict of the late Wm. Coomes.

"The deep anguish and pain felt by her relations and acquaintances, will be much relieved when they reflect on her many virtues, and the manner in wich she prepared herself for her final dissolution. After a long life spent in the practice of religion, finding her end approaching, she called for her confessor, who administered to her all the last rites of her holy religion. On the evening of the 23d she was interred in the county cemetery, in the presence of the pastor of the congregation and a large collection of relations and acquaintances, who will long remember the pious example she has left for their imitation. May she rest in peace."

From Combs-Coombs &c:

Rachel m. William COOMES.

Sept.3, 1796 (Nelson Co, KY Marriage Bonds) William COOMES-Rachel COOMES Bond -- Richard COOMES

08 May 1834 -- Jun 1844 (Davies Co KY) Will of William Combs. 8 May 1834, wife Rachael, children: Charles, Mary, Elizabeth, Felix, Benedict, William Peter, Trese WALLACE, ex: Felix Combs wit: Henry & Benjamin READ (Abstracted by Combs Researcher Jean Smallwood who also provided the following:)

From "Davies County Kentucky Records #1, Marriages 1815-1848, Deaths 1852-1861, Wills 1815-1850" by Researchers:" Will of William COOMES -- written May 1834 -- probated Jun 1844. Wife Rachel. Daughters: Tesesy WALLACE, Mary Margaret, and Elizabeth COOMES. Sons: Charles, Felix, Benedict and William Peter COOMES

Notes: Combs Researcher Joe Lewis adds that Rachel's husband, William, was the s/o William COOMES, Sr. b in Charles Co MD, who came to KY (Harrods Station) in spring of 1775. A submission to "Kentucky Ancestors," KY Historical Society quarterly, vol. 30 #2, 1994-1995, page 79, ROSTER OF FIRST KENTUCKY ANCESTORS, submission by Researcher Henry D. Paine, includes birth dates of 13 March 1769 for William and 9 Oct 1775 for Rachel, his source unknown.