Did you ever wonder if your ancestor moved or the county moved to him? It happened both ways. For the next few weeks, I'm going to cover the original boundaries as set out by the State of Kentucky. These are recorded in "A Collection of All The Public and Permanent Acts of the General Assembly Which Are Now In Force, Arranged and Digested According To Their Subjects, Together With Acts of Virginia Relating to Land Titles, The Recovery of Rents, And the Encouragement Of Learning Never Before Printed In This State, etc. The acts were published in 1802. If a county was formed after 1802, it will not be shown here. Under Part 1 of the Laws of Kentucky is found the laws establishing the boundaries of the state and the several counties February 25, 1797. These laws were modified time after time of course, but this might help you figure out where your ancestor lived and why he seemed to be packing up the wagon every few months! 31 Dec 1776 - Kentucky County. "That part of Fincastle county, which lies south and westward of a line beginning on the Ohio at the mouth of great Sandy creek, & running up the same and the main or north easterly branch thereof to the great Laurel Ridge or Cumberland mountain, thence south-westerly along the said mountain to the line of North Carolina." 15 Nov 1780 - Jefferson, Fayette and Lincoln Counties. "From this time Kentucky County shall be divided into three counties, and all that part of the south side of Kentucky river, which lies west and north of a line beginning at the mouth of Benton's Big Creek, and running up the same and its main fork to the head; thence south to the nearest waters of Hammond's creek, and down the same to its junction with the town fork of Salt river; thence south to Green river, and down the same to its junction with the Ohio, shall be called Jefferson County. And all that part of the said county of Kentucky which lieth north of the line, beginning at the mouth of the Kentucky river, and up the same to its middle fork to the head, and thence south-east to Wallington line, shall be called FAYETTE county. And all the residue of said county of Kentucky shall be called LINCOLN County. " 1 Jan 1785. Nelson County "So much of Jefferson county, as lies south of Salt river, shall be called NELSON County." 1 May 1786 - Bourbon County. "So much of Fayette county, as lies within a line, beginning at the mouth of upper Howard's creek on Kentucky rivr, running up the main fork thereof to the head; thence with the dividing ridge between Kentucky and Licking creek, until it comes opposite to the head of Eagle creek; from thence a direct line to the nearest part of Raven creek, a branch of Licking, down Raven creek to the mouth thereof; thence with Licking to the Ohio; thence with the Ohio to the mouth of Sandy creek, up Sandy creek to the Cumberland mountain; thence with the said mountain to the line of Lincoln county; thence with that line, and down the Kentucky river to the beginning, shall be called BOURBON County." 1 Aug 1786. Mercer and Madison Counties "So much of Lincoln county, as will be included within a line, beginning at the confluence of Sugar creek and Kentucky river; thence a direct line to the mouth of Clark's run; thence the same course continued to the ine of Nelson county; thence with the said line to the line of Jefferson county; thence with that line to the Kentucky river; thence up the said river to the beginning, shall be called MERCER county. And such farther parts of the said county, as are within the following lines, to wit, beginning at the confluence of the Kentucky river and Sugar creek; thence up the said creek to the fork James Thompson lives on; thence up the said fork to the head thereof; thence a straight line to where an east course from John Ellis's, will intersect the top of the ridge that divides the waters of Paint Lick; from the waters of Dick's river; thence along the top of the said ridge southwardly opposite to Hickman's lice; thence south forty-five degrees call to the main Rock-castle river; thence up the said river to the head thereof; thence with the ride that divides the waters of Kentucky river from the aters of Cumberland river to the line of Washington county; thence along the said line to the main fork of Kentucky river, that divides the county of Fayette from the county of Lincoln; thence down the said river to the begining, shall be called MADISON county. And all the residue of the said count shall retain the name of Lincoln. 1 May 1789. Mason County. "All that part of the county of Bourbon, which lies to the north call of a line, beginning at the junction of Licking with the Ohio; thence up the main creek of Licking to the head thereof; thence a direct line to strike the nearest part of Russell county line; thence along the said line to big Sandy, and down the same to the Ohio; thence down the Ohio river to the beginning, shall be called MASON county." 1 May 1789 - Woodford County "All that part of the county of Fayette, which lies west-ward of a line to begin one mile and a half above Todd's ferry, on Kentucky river; thence a direct line to the eight mile tree, on the Leestown road; thence a direct course crossing the north fork of Elkhorn four miles on a straight ine below William Ruddell's; thence the same course continued to the line of Bourbon county; thence with Bourbon line to the mouth of Licking; thence down the Ohio to the mouth of Kentucky river; thence up the river to the beginning, shall be called WOODFORD county." 1 Sept 1792 - Washington County. "So much of Nelson county as will be included within the following boundaries, to wit: beginning on Salt river where the boundary line between Nelson and Mercer crosses the same; thence down the same river to the mouth of Crooked creek, or what is called by some Lewis's run; thence a straight line to the mouth of Beaver creek, a branch of Chaplain's fork; and then down Chaplain's fork, to the Beach fork; thence down the Beach fork to the mouth of Hardin's creek; thence a straight line to the big Knob lick, near the head of Pottinger's creek; thence a straight ine to the mouth of Salk Lick run, emptying into the Rolling fork on the south side; thence up the main branch of the said run to the ridge dividing the waters of the Rolling fork from Green river waters; thence eastwardly along the said dividing ridge to the line dividing Lincoln from Nelson; thence with the same to the Mercer line; thence along the line between Nelson and Mercer to the beginning, shall be called WASHINGTON county." 1 Sept 1792 - Scott County. "So much of the county of Woodford as lies within a line beginning on the town fork of Elkhorn where the line between Woodford and Fayette crosses the same; thence down the said creek to its junction with the south fork; thence down the same so far that a line north twenty degrees west will strike the eight mile tree on the road leading from Frankfort to Georgetown; thence a straight line to intersect the big Buffaloe road between the head of Cedar creek and Leecompt's run; thence a straight line to the Ohio river at the mouth of big Bone Lick creek; thence up the Ohio to the mouth of Licking; thence up Licking creek to the mouth of Raven creek; thence up the same along the line of Bourbon, and with the said Bourbon line to the Fayette line; thence southwestwardly along the same to the beginning, shall be called SCOTT County." 1 Sept 1792 - Shelby County. "So much of Jefferson county, as lies within a line beginning on Salt river at the mouth of Plum creek, running thence a course that will strike Benjamin Hufe's near Boon's road, and continuing the same course to a point, that by running north forty-five degrees west, will strike the Ohio at the mouth of Eighteen mile creek; thence up the Ohio to the mouth of Kentucky river; thence up the same to the mouth of Benfon's creek; thence up the same along Mercer line, and with the same to Salt river; thence down the same to the beginning, shall be called SHELBY county." 1 Sept 1792 - Logan County. "All that part of Lincoln county which is included in the following bounds, to wit: beginning at the Elk lick on little Barren river; thence a south course to the North-Carolina line; thence along the said line to the Mississippi; thence up the same to the mouth of the Ohio, and up the same to the mouth of Green river; thence up the same to the mouth of little Barren river; thence up the same to the beginning, shall be called LOGAN county." 1 Feb 1793 - Clark County. "So much of Fayette and Bourbon counties as is included within a line beginning at the mouth of Boon's creek, on the Kentucky river; thence up the same to the mouth of Welch's fork; thence a direct line to the Bourbon line, such a course as will leave the house of John M'Creary, Sen. One quarter of a mile to the westward; thence a straight line to Stoner's fork of Licking, such a course as will leave Bourbon court-house eleven miles from the nearest part of said line; thence a straight line to the line of Marion county, so as to leave the Blue licks two miles to the north-west thereof; thence up the main branch of Licking, along the line of Marion county to the head thereof, and along the said line a direct course from the head of the Licking to strike the nearest part of Cumberland mountain; thence along the said mountain southwardly to the present line of Bourbon county at the head of Kentucky; thence down the same to the beginning, shall be called CLARK county." 20 Feb 1793 - Hardin County. "So much of Nelson county as is included within a line, beginning on Green river opposite the mouth of little Barren river; thence a straight line such a course as will strike a point on the dividing ridge between Linn camp and Brush creek, well course from Skegg's station on Brush creek; then a straight line to the south west corner of Washington county, on the head of Salt lick creek; then down the same to the Rolling fork of Salt river; thence down the same, and down Salt river to the Ohio; thence down the Ohio to the mouth of Green river; thence up Green river to the beginning, shall be called HARDIN county." 1 Jan 1793 - Green County. "So much of Lincoln and Nelson counties, as lies within a line beginning on Green river, opposite the mouth of little Barren river; thence a straight line such a course as will strike a point on the dividing ridge between Linn camp and Brush creek, a west course from Skegg's station on Brush creek; thence a straight line to the south-west corner of Washington county; thence along the same to the line of Lincoln county; thence west with the same to Green river; thence a line south forty-five degrees east to the Carolina boundary; thence with the same to Logan county line; thence with the line of Logan county to Elk lick, on little Barren river; thence down the said river to the beginning, shall be called GREEN county." 1 Feb 1794 - Harrison County. "So much of the counties of Bourbon and Scott, as is included within a line, beginning at the Blue lick fork of Licking at that point from whence a line parallel with the line of Clark county will strike a point to be found eight miles a due north course from Bourbon court-house; thence a line to the mouth of Towndiend creek, and up the same to the mouth of Silas's run; thence up the main branch of said run to the head thereof; thence with Scott county line so far as it continues on the dividing ridge; thence with the said ridge to a parallel with the head of the South fork of Big lick creek, and down said fork to the fourth fork of Licking; thence down the said fork to the mouth thereof; thence up the said Blue lick fork to the beginning shall be called HARRISON county; Provided also, and it is to be understood, that the county of Bourbon shall not be less than nineteen miles wide in the narrowest place. 10 May 1795 - Franklin County. "So much of the counties of Woodford, Mercer and Shelby, as lies within the following bounds, to wit:* beginning at the Scott line where it leaves the fourth fork of Elkhorn; thence a straight line to strike the Kentucky river, and crossing the same one mile above the mouth of Glenn's creek; thence up the Kentucky to the mouth of the Cove spring branch, on the fourth side thereof; thence up the said branch to the Cove spring; thence west to the Washington line; thence with the same down Salt river to the mouth of Crooked creek; thence up the main fork of Crooked creek to the head thereof; thence with the dividing ridge to the junction of the forks of Benson; thence down Benson to where the old waggon road from Boon's old station to Harrodsburg crosses at the mouth of the most northerly fork of Benson; thence a direct line to the mouth of Elkhorn; thence down the Kentucky to the mouth thereof; thence up the Ohio to the Scott line; thence with the said line to the beginning, shall be called FRANKLIN county. *The line run by the surveyor of Woodford between Scott and Franklin, was established as the true boundary on 11 De 1798. To be continued. (c) Copyright 11 Oct 2001, Sandra K.Gorin, All Rights Reserved Col. Sandi Gorin, 205 Clements, Glasgow, KY 42141 (270) 651-9114 Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ SCKY resource links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html < >< God Bless America ><>