Just thought some without access to this would like this information: In "Sketches of the Early Catholic Missions of Kentucky" by M.J. Spalding (1810-2872), he rights "The Catholics of the infant colonies received him [Rev. Mr. Whelan, Irish Franciscan Priest provided to the KY families] with open arms. Many of them had not seen a priest for two years. They were poor, scattered over an extensive territory, and had no church in which the divine mysteries might be offered up. They were in too destitute a condition to be able to erect ever a temporary place of worship." He goes on to state that there were only 50 Catholic families in KY by 1786. He further states that the Catholic population of KY emigrated almost entirely from St. Mary's and Prince George's Co, MD. William Coomes (Combs/Coombes) and his 16 yr old son, Walter A., were the first known Catholics to emigrate to KY in 1774-1775. The Haydons and Lancasters led the first Catholic Colony in KY, mostly around Pottinger's Creek, abt 1785. (One of the Haydons lost 7, and another lost 3, family members from hardship and sickness while on the way to Kentucky.) The next spring, 1786, a larger colony of Catholics was led by Capt. James Rapier. In 1787, another colony led by Phillip Miles and Thomes Hill, then another in 1788 led by Robert Abel. Benedict Spalding led a group in 1790. Melissa Thompson Alexander mada@cmc.net www.familytreemaker.com/users/a/l/e/Melissa-T-Alexander/ Surnames: THOMPSON, MATTINGLY, CISSELL, FRENCH, VESSELS (all of the MD Catholic line >KY>IL), GILLEY (TN>IL), KRUTSINGER, GROEZINGER, SNIDER, (these last 3 PA>VA>IN>IL), PORTER, PHELPS, HAINS, MEDCALF, JACKSON, SPEAKES, MILLER, ALLEN, MAY (MAI), KOHLER, ADELHART, GUTHIER, STAAB, HORSCHLER, GLUMP, SCHILLING, DIETER, RETIG, CUMMIN(G), ECKES, NIX, ALTENHOFER, FEHER, ALEXANDER(Ireland>MD>NC>TN) FULLINGTON, RADER.