I am looking for information on Benedict Austin and his ancestors and descendants. Benedict Austin b. Feb. 10, 1792, Washington Co., KY, d: July 1849 Paducah, McCracken Co., KY, m. Margaret Yates b: April 19, 1804 m: August 21, 1823 Washington Co., KY d: January 10, 1853 Sacred Heart, Waverly, Union Co., KY. (more information below) Sometime after 1823 and before the birth of their first child, Benedict and Margaret moved to Union County, KY. Because of the number of years between the year they were married and the birth of their first child, Mahala, there exists a possibility that the couple had other children. Sources also report that the couple had a son, Frank Hardesty Austin, who supposedly left home as a boy and was never heard from again. ---------- BENEDICT'S DEATH Benedict was a lawyer. He died July, 1849, in Paducah, McCracken County, KY, where he was shot to death by a Judge Campbell while both men were campaigning for delegate seats to the Constitutional Convention. A transcript of the convention's proceedings on the subject of "Native Americanism" reveals that there was much heated discussion about the place of Catholicism in Kentucky. It is an interesting document and should be of interest to all of the descendants of Benedict Austin. It is believed that he was buried in Paducah where he died. Margaret moved back to Union County, died January 10, 1853, and was buried in St. Vincent's Cemetery, Waverly, Union County, KY. ---------- THE "CATHOLIC ADVOCATE" Reverend John A. Lyons of Louisville, KY, says that Benedict moved to Paducah where he was instrumental in the erection of the first Catholic Church there. (Donovan's THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN PADUCAH fails to mention his name, but Father Lyon suggests Donovan did not have access to the correct material.) On April 11, 1847, the Louisville diocesan paper, THE CATHOLIC ADVOCATE, printed a lengthy article requesting a resident priest for the growing congregation in Paducah. Father Lyon is included in believe from the style of the writing that the letter was written by Benedict Austin. On March 8, 1848, Mr. B. Austin wrote THE CATHOLIC ADVOCATE asking the Catholics of the diocese to assist in building a church at Paducah. "He intends on next6 May or June to visit his relatives and friends, particularly in Nelson, Marion, and Washington counties to approach them personally." On June 30, 1848, Mr. Austin was in Louisville where he approached the editor of THE CATHOLIC ADVOCATE with the following letter, published July 8, 1848: "Permit me in behalf of the congregation in Paducah to return my sincere thanks to the good citizens of Louisville, Nelson, Washington, Marion and Union counties, for their liberal subscriptions for the building of our church at Paducah, and particularly to the Reverend clergy, with the Rt. Rev. Bishop Flaget at their head, who have been called on so often to contribute to such purposes, that their unwearied patience and their generosity deserve the highest praise. As several of the good Catholics of the counties I have visited have shown a disposition to aid us, but had not the means in hand, and as we lack some $400 to complete the work, I would respectfully suggest to them to hand over to the gentlemen in each congregation who will act as our agent. (here follows a list of over a dozen names.)...Those living below Louisville can hand in their subscriptions to Rev. E. J. Durbin, Union County." The letter was signed B. Austin. A year passed, and the ADVOCATE, October 10, 1849, in reporting the visitation of the newly consecrated coadjutor Bishop Martin John Spalding, said: "...A neat brick church is in progress of erection in this place; but Mr. B. Austin, who had taken an active part in collecting funds, and beginning the church, having met with sudden death, the work was suspended. Measures had been recently adopted by the Rev. E. J. Durbin, to put up the building and close it in..." ---------- Tillie Whelan Onischak in her 1974 HEIRS OF SAMUEL ABELL AND ELEANOR O'BRYAN, "Waverly Precinct": "The next improvement going westward was Delany, and at a very early date, 1820, was sold to Benedict Austin. His wife was Miss Yates. He was a son of James Austin and Ann Howard, of Washington County, and by him the land was sold by Benjamin Compton, his wife being Peggy Smith, and daughter of John Smith and Ann McIntire of Washington Co., and was inherited by Horace Compton, son of Ben C. It was owned by Joseph Gough, his wife being Mary Brothers. Benedict Austin moved to Paducah, Kentucky, where he was shot by Mr. Campbell, for protecting his religion. . .it turned out that Taylor had a legal claim to this tract also, and for agent had employed Thomas Austin, his wife being Ann Raley, daughter of Basil Raley and Elizabeth Spalding. Thomas Austin was a son of James Austin and Ann Howard. . .Two brick kilns have been burned in the town -- one of the property owned by George T. Mattingly; by John Bright; another on the mill property, by Joseph P. O'Daniel." ---------- The CAIRO DELTA of Cairo, ILLINOIS, July 26, 1949, their centennial edition, reminiscing the event of Benedict's death one hundred years ago: "The PADUCAH KENTUCKIAN of last Saturday carries the account of the fatal recontre in that place between Judge Campbell and Mr. Austin, in which the latter was killed. Both were candidates for the Convention, Mr. Austin had called Judge Campbell a liar and words led to blows. Judge Campbell drew his gun to defend himself--shot Mr. Austin, killing him. The Judge immediately gave himself up. On Tuesday he was brought before a court of inquiry, four magistrates sitting, and was discharged without a dissenting vote." The article fails to mention what it was that Judge Campbell said to Benedict to provoke him to alledgedly call the Judge a liar. There are many circumstantial facts to consider. Prejudice against Catholics was prevalent in the middle 1800's. It certainly was an issue discussed during the Kentucky Constitutional Convention in 1849, a convetion for which both men were seeking a delegate's seat. Also at stake was the 1800 sense of honor which often led to duels and the drawing of guns to defend one's honor. Obviously, the whole story was not reported and will probably never be known. ---------- >From HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY, KENTUCKY: "The next improvement going westward, that is now in this precinct (Waverly), was made sometime in the 18th century by one Delany, and at a very early date--1820 or there about--was sold to Benedict Austin and Margaret Yates of Washington County, and by him the land was sold to Benjamin Compton, his wife being Peggy Smith, daughter of John Smith and Ann McIntire, of Washington County, and was inherited, and is now owned by Horace Compton, son of Benjamin Compton. That farm was one of the dwelling places of the very first white settlers, for if tradition be correct, there are rooms and chimneys there, that have been erected over one hundred years. In viewing the substantial structure there that has been erected so long, one should readily infer that it naturally was bound to be a great improvement over what was first erected, which, without a doubt, answered for a a dwelling place, 'let it have been ever so humble,' many years before these buildings were put up; and to take that view, it would be the oldest location yet described. The farm, when Benjamin Compton took possession, was occupied by Joseph Gough, his wife being Mary Brothers, but was owned as above stated, by Benedict Austin, he having moved to Paducah, where he got into a religious dispute and a man by the name of Campbell shot him dead. His family were subsequently brought back to this county by relatives, and his descendants are still here practicing the faith of their forefather lost his life in defending." (page 630) ---------- Family history tells us that soldiers raided the meat house belonging to Benedict Austin on several occasions, but none of the family members were harmed. The Austins reportedly owned a number of slaves on their farm. ------------------------------------------- Descendants of James Austin 1 James Austin b: 1770 Harper's Ferry, VA/ WV d: July 23, 1850 Sacred Heart, Union Co., KY +Ann Nancy Howard m: Abt. 1790 d: December 12, 1833 St. Rose, Washington Co., KY 2 Benedict Austin b: February 10, 1792 Washington Co., KY d: July 1849 Paducah, McCracken Co., KY +Margaret Yates b: April 19, 1804 m: August 21, 1823 Washington Co., KY d: January 10, 1853 Sacred Heart, Waverly, Union Co., KY Father: John Yates Mother: Henrietta Cambron 2 John Austin b: 1794 Washington Co., KY d: Washington Co., KY 2 Catherine "Kit" Austin b: 1797 Washington Co., KY d: Aft. 1850 Union Co., KY 2 Theresa Austin b: 1800 Washington Co., KY d: Illinois +Benedict Smith 2 Ambrose Austin b: 1802 Washington Co., KY d: Graves Co., KY +Mary Ann Nancy Herbert b: December 28, 1807 Washington Co., KY m: January 31, 1827 Washington Co., KY d: Aft. 1880 Father: Jeremiah Herbert Mother: Mary Hill .2 Sarah "Sallie" Austin b: 1806 Washington Co., KY d: Aft. 1850 Union Co., KY 2 Rose Ann Austin b: October 1807 Washington Co., KY d: November 06, 1859 Union Co., KY +Edward Yates 2 Thomas Aquinas Austin b: October 15, 1810 Washington Co., KY d: March 13, 1864 Union Co., KY +Mary Ann Raley b: March 02, 1812 Marion Co., KY m: July 29, 1836 d: November 29, 1856 Union Co., KY Father: Basil Raley Mother: Elizabeth Spalding Francine Conn Halter Benedict Austin's 3rd great-granddaughter