Ben, Sorry to horn in. I noticed the reference to Strode. I am a great grand daughter of Sarepta Strode Wallingford. A cousin out west is doing some genealogy on the Wallingfords and asked if I knew where she, Sarepta Strode Wallingford, was buried. I do not. Do you? I have never lived in KY but have visited. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "ben hawkins" <captnemo1958@yahoo.com> To: <KYMASON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 12:44 PM Subject: Re: [KYMASON-L] Washington/Maysville > Dear Donna : > > Mason County was formed from part of Bourbon County, and like Bourbon County, is considered an "Original Kentucky County", i.e. it was formed before Kentucky became a state in 1792. Washington was Mason County's original county seat, and Kentucky's first post office (there is some dispute about this). In the 1840s, the county seat was moved to Maysville, and the original courthouse in Washington was destroyed by fire some years later. > > Washington, KY was the birthplace of Confederate general, Albert Sidney Johnston, and the home of U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall's parents and brother, the distant ancestors of General George C. Marshall (the home still stands, having survived the New Madrid earthquake of 1811). Washington still exists (although no longer an incorporated city, having been annexed into the city of Maysville), and has maintained its colonial era charm. Indeed, it is a tourist magnet for those interested in late 18th/early 19th century life on the Kentucky frontier. Many structures from the 1790s still exist there, and have been lovingly preserved and maintained. > > Just as Mason County was formed from the original Bourbon County, which in turn was formed from Kentucky County, Virginia, several counties were later formed from the original Mason County, and in turn, other counties were formed from them. I believe that Nicholas County is one of these latter counties. Its county seat is Carlisle, KY. Mason County was named for Virginia patriot and constitutional thinker, George Mason (he was the original author of "life, liberty, and property", etc.). Nicholas County was named for Revolutionary War hero, General George Nicholas. Of course, Bourbon County was named for the French royal family. > > In addition to your ancestor, other early pioneers who were involved in and around Washington included Daniel Boone, his cousin Jacob Boone, John and James May (for whom Maysville and May's Lick, KY were named, respectively), Simon Kenton, and two of my ancestors, Benjamin Hixson Sr. and Samuel Strode (Strode first came to Kentucky in April 1776, and was Mrs. Daniel {Rebecca Bryan} Boone's first cousin). My mother's family has early connections with Nicholas County, and includes Craycrafts, Booths, and McCantars. I don't have anything on the Sidells, but should I discover something, I shall post it here. > > I hope this has been helpful or, at least, informative. The Mason County Museum, in Maysville, KY 41056, may be able to help you, and could direct you to sources in Nicholas County, as well. Washington hosts several festivals and re-enactments throughout the year, and I believe that the annual Simon Kenton Festival is in September. This may be of some interest to you insofar as pioneer genealogy is one of the foci of this festival. > > Good Hunting, > > Ben Hawkins, captnemo1958@yahoo.com > > > > NatrLvrnMT@aol.com wrote: > I recently received very scant info on a Hugh Sidell who: > > In 1786 signed a petition to create the town of Washington, KY (near > Maysville) > > In 1786 signed a petition to organize a county from Bourbon Co. > > In 1787 signed petition to divide Bourbon Co. (I believe Mason Co. was > partly derived from Bourbon Co.) > > Does anyone have information or website links on Hugh Sidell or the early > history of Washington (town) or of Bourbon Co.? Any help or direction would be > greatly appreciated! My Sidell family has been our family's "brick wall" for > many years and this is the first time i've heard of Hugh Sidell and feel he > may be the father or Thomas Sidell/Sidles who later bought land in Nicholas > Co., KY in the early 1800s. > > Thank you! > > Donna in MT > > > ==== KYMASON Mailing List ==== > Search this list's archived messages! > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Sell on Yahoo! Auctions - No fees. Bid on great items. > > > ==== KYMASON Mailing List ==== > The Simon Kenton Festival and Kenton Kin Reunion is an annual event > that is held in Old Washington, Mason County, KY, during the > 3rd week-end in Sept. The Festival features Pioneer encampments > and craft demonstrations, historical buildings and genealogy research. > >