I don't have any VA or KY connections that I know of but I do have a Gardner line that goes from Scotland (mid-1700s) > NY > PA (late 1700s) > OH (early 1800s) > IL (mid-1800s) with a John, Adam, John, Edwin, Arthor, and Edwin, in that order. What may be a passing coincidence, though, is that I seem to find several along the way with a middle name of Nelson. Whether it might have been a first name that might tie somehow to your Nelson or whether it might have been a family surname at some point, I haven't been able to determine. If you can make anything of it, please e-mail me direct.