Barbara
Wilson to Mildred Dixon Harrod
March 15,
1971
Dear Mildred,
We have had such a miserable winter here and my "Family Tree' was snowed under. We couldn't make our tripes to the court houses. We set three dates before we finally got to Scott County, but we made it today and found some interesting facts. They are as follows:
I. The marriage records before 1837 were burnt, so our hope of finding marriage records there are hopeless.
II. John Osborne of Scott County, Kentucky died April 1817. He had no will; the administrators were John Williams, George Wood and Thomas Duly. I still feel that this man is our John's father. There were only two deeds recorded for this man as far as we know because the deeds start in 1807. So many Scott County records are incomplete due to that fire. The deeds in the early deed books are reconstructed and so much is burned away. Anyway, here are the deeds of John Osburn.
1. John
Osburn to Penn, Book A, Page 93, John Osburn, administrator, gives up claim
to this land and mill to Penn. April 6, 1812.
2. Thomas
Foster to John Osburn, Book A, Page 94, Thomas Foster of Kentucky sells land
in Scott County on waters of Dry Run to John
Osburn.
3. October
6, 1802, Will Book A, Page 212, John Osburn to Neale: Then received of Daniel
Neale, Administrator of the estate of Spencer Neale, deceased, my wife full
part of personal estate of said decedent, she being his widow and relic.
Witnessed my hand this date above written. Signed John
Osburn.
4. January
27, 1800, Will Book A, Page 82, Heirs of Spencer Neale: Minor Neale, Elizabeth
Neale and Daniel Neale are orphans and not of lawful age. Executor is Daniel
Neale. (Possibly a brother of Spencer Neale, in 1802 Daniel Neale is appointed
guardian of these children. In 1803, Daniel has died and the court is appointing
new guardians. In 1807, Will Book A, Page 339, Guardian Settlement: Executors
are finishing up estate and placing said Negro girl, belonging to Neale orphans,
went to John Osburn to live for the children's board. Also rent from a small
plantation on the waters of Licking for the same
purpose.
Mildred, do you remember in the first letter you sent me you stated that there were other Osburns in Scott County? Bennett Osburn died about 1843 or 1844 in Scott County. James Osburn died about 1804. Thomas Osburn died in 1803, as James Osburn was appointed administrator of his property. Also bound with him were Richard and William Tinor. Samuel Osburn died about 1804. These wills and transactions are in Will Book A.
There was also another Thomas Osburn because he purchased land from and sold land to several other parties after 1804. Then Benjamin Osburn shows up buying and selling from 1821 and he is a brother of Bennett Osburn according to Bennett Osburn's pension abstract. The other Osburns of these early dates are : Riller, Levi and Chimmy/Clemmey. (It was difficult to read.) Also, to my great surprise we found Jesse Osburn with five deeds in his name:
1. Deed
Book B, 463, Wm. Story and wife Mary to Jesse Osburn April 11, 1827 for
$380.
2. Deed
Book C, 97, Jesse Osburn from Wm. Story and Mary of Georgetown, Kentucky,
A Lot.
3. Deed
Book C, 54, Jesse Osburn and wife Margaret from John Whitney and wife, Sarah
Ann, lot in Georgetown, 1819 was the only date given,
$800.
4. Deed
Book C, 280, Jesse Osburn and Margaret to Edgecomb P. Suggett of Scott County
for $800 land in Georgetown on Main Street, January 28, 1820. Same date Margaret
relinquishes her right of dower.
5. Deed
Book E, 1330, Indenture between Jesse Osburn and wife Peggy of Fayette County,
Indiana to Elizah Hawkins of Scott County for $575. Land was on Hamilton
Street in George. Also, Elizah Hawkins was the County Clerk at the Court
House, February 5, 1822.
The Census of 1820, Fayette County, Indiana, Jess Osburn is listed as head of house and has 8 males and 4 females living with him. I imagine that the four females are his wife and three girls. Mildred, would you check and see if Jesse Osburn has any deeds in Fayette County. Also marriages for Sally and Bahlam Lett, Catherine and Andrew Bennett, and possibly Minor Neale and Daniel Neale. Jesse came back to Owen County, Kentucky in 1825 and married and was not here in 1830 Census. He first shows up in 1840, so its possible that he and Elizabeth were in Fayette County, Indiana. If he is there, four of his children would have been born there (children of Elizabeth's and maybe some of Margaret's). I now feel that the John A. Osborn that went to California or Nevada was Jesse and Margaret's son. He married Sally Jump September 26, 1850 in Grant County, Kentucky.
Information on Osborn's in Grant County, Kentucky.
Washington B. Osborn - son of Jessie and Elizabeth Osborn, born June 12, 1826 in Kentucky, died April 10, 1905; married December 26, 1848 in Grant County, Kentucky, Armitia Thompson, born March 3, 1831, died May 17, 1895. Washington and Armitia are buried in Carter Cemetery in Grant County, Kentucky.
In the Grant County Sesqui-Centennial Souvenir Program, 1827-1970, the following article was printed about "Home Guards On Duty", in which I found where Washington Osborn was arrested for no other reason that he had owned slaves. Many other well respected men of the community were arrested and sent to Federal prison for no reason either, except they too owned slaves. They would be picked up at their homes without any form of court proceedings, kept in the courthouse until they could be taken to Morgan, and there put on the L&N train for Louisville. Some were sent to Camp Chase, a Federal prison, others were transported West to Iowa and not allowed to return home to their families. There were two men of Dry Ridge, Kentucky mentioned (1) Elder William Conrad, a religious man, and it is said that he spent his time in prison preaching to the other prisoners and giving comfort and hope to all, (2) Washington Osborn. Some of his letters have been preserved and give us a picture of these sad times. He was taken to Louisville first and in a few week he and many of the other men from this county were sent to Iowa to do work.
Barex No.
1 - August 1864, Louisville, Kentucky.
Dear
Wife,
Don't be
uneasy for me for we have a very good room and get plenty to eat. The officers
and soldiers are not hard on us at all. We can go to the front door and look
out as much as we please. I am not here by myself we have from forty to sixty
here at a time...J. S. Conrad and I. N. Conrad are with me. Try and take
care of the tobacco and things the best you can for it will be very high
this year.
Wash
Osborn.
Middletown,
Iowa, September 10, 1864.
Dear
Wife,
I have not
received a letter from you since I came to Iowa but I saw a letter that came
from J. S. Conrad's wife, which stated that my baby died the day after I
had to leave home. It also stated that old Miss Osborn was dead which I reckon
is mother. Wash Osborn.
Papers
of Otha Steger:
I have found
Elizabeth (O'Bannion) Osborn, wife of Jessie Osborn's burial place. She was
buried in Vine Run Cemetery at Folsom, Kentucky. Born January 28, 1805 -
Died: September 6, 1864.
I think this is pretty good evidence that Wash Osborn is their son.
Records Of Scott County Court House, Georgetown, Ky., Index to Osburn Deeds.
1. John
Osburn to Penn, Book A, Page 93
2. John
Osburn from Thomas Foster, Book A, Page 94.
3. Riller
Osburn, James Osburn, Climmey Osburn to Jacob Baxter, Book A2, Pages
226-227.
4. Thomas
and Mary Osburn to Joseph Elgin, Book A2, page
398.
5. Benjamin
Osburn from Emmison, Book A2, Page 316.
6. Thomas
Osburn to Alex. Ecklers, Book B, Page 282.
7. Thomas
Osburn from John Applegate and Ann (wife), Book B, Page
281.
8. Jesse
Osburn from Wm. and Mary Story, Book B, Page
463.
9. Jesse
Osburn to Edgecomb Suggett, Book C, Page 280
10. Jesse
Osburn from John and Sarah Ann Whitney, Book C, Page
54.
11. Benj.
Osburn from Robert and Kitty McHatten, Book C, page
521.
12. Jesse
Osburn from William and Mary Story, Book C, Page
97.
13. Jesse
Osburn to Elizah Hawkins, Book E, Page 255.
14. Benj.
Osburn to Robert Snell, Book E, Page 255.
15. Ben
Osburn from Ash Emmison, Book E, Page 257.
16. Benj.
Osburn from Cumberland and Elizabeth Snell, Book E, Page
253.
17. Ben.
Osburn from Joseph Elgin, Book F. Page 94.
18. Benj.
Osburn from Robert McHatten, Book F, Page 234.
19. Ben
Osburn from John and Sally Printy, Book F, Page 228.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1. John
Osburn, administrator gives up claim to this land and mill to Penn, April
6, 1812.
2. Thomas
Foster of Kentucky sold land in Scott County on the water of Dry Run to John
Osburn, April 6, 1912.
3. Indenture
of August 16, 1811 between Riller, James and Clemmey Osburn sells land to
John Baxter.
4. Thomas
and Mary Osburn to Joseph Elgin on the waters of McConnels Run, September
29, 1812.
5. November
23, 1811, Benj. Osburn to Emmison.
6. Thomas
Osburn to Alexander Eckles, plot of ground.
7. Thomas
Osburn from John Applegate and wife Ann, September 21, 1815, in said
town.
8. Wm. Story
and Mary to Jesse Osburn, April 11, 1817 for $380. (Must have been in
Georgetown.)
9. Jesse
Osburn and Margaret to Edgecomb P. Suggett of Scott County for $800 land
in Georgetown on Main Street, January 28, 1820. Same date, Margaret relinquished
her right of dower.
10. Jesse
and Margaret from John Whitney and wife Sarah Ann, a lot in Georgetown For
$800, date, 1819.
11. Benj.
Osburn from Robert McHatten and wife Kitty, ____ 27,
1821.
12. Jesse
Osburn from Wm. and Mary Story of Georgetown, Lot ?,
1819.
13. February
5, 1822, Indenture Jesse Osburn and wife Peggy of Fayette County, Indiana
to Elizah Hawkins of Scott County for $575. Land on Hamilton
Street.
14. Benjamin
Osburn to Robert Snell, water on Dry Run, part of Wm. Lytle survey. (Cumberland
Snell signs deed also.) September 7,
1822.
15, Ash
Emmison to Ben Osburn, September 7, 1821. This deed is all
gone.
16. Cumberland
Snell and wife ELizabeth to Benj. Osburn on water of Dry Run, 1822.
17. William
and Joseph Elgin to Ben Osburn Water of Dry Run,
1823.
18. June
8, 1824, Robert McHatton from Benj. Osburn.
19. June
8, 1824, John Prunty and Sally to Ben Osburn on waters of Dry
Run.
Wills
of Scott County, Kentucky - Will Book
A.
1. Thomas
Osburn, Book A, 156, "Adm. Bond", May 23, 1803.
2. Thomas
Osburn, Appt., Page 159. This was the
inventory.
3. Thomas
Osburn, Sett., Page 243, value of property,
$261.96.
4. John
Osburn to Neal, Page 212, October 6, 1802. Then received of Daniel
Neale, administrator of estate of Spencer Neale, deceased, to my wife full
part of personal estate of said decedent, she being his widow and relict.
Witness my hand this date above written. Signed, John
Osburn.
5. Page
82, Heirs of Spencer Neale, Minor Neale, Elizabeth Neale, and Daniel Neale
are orphans and not of lawful age. Executor is Daniel Neale, January 27,
1800. Page 178, Daniel Neale is appointed guardian of Spencer Neale's
orphans, 1802. Page 238, September 1803, Daniel Neale has died and
new guardians are being appointed. Page 180, 1806, Schooling. Page
331, Neale names. Page 339, 1807 Guardians Settlement. Executors are
finishing up estate and placing said Negro girl belonging to Neale orphans
that went to John Osburn to live for the children's board. Also rent from
a small plantation on the waters of Licking for same
purpose.
6. James
Osburn, deceased. Adm. Bond Page 225. Wm. Ward, Appt.
1804.
7. James
Osburn, estate listed, Page 230-231. Those listed who bought part of the
estate, Thomas Osburn and Levi Osburn.
8. Settlement,
Page 394. Estate of Samuel Osburn, deceased. 1804.
II.
Will Book B, Page 397.
1. John
Osburn, deceased, Administrator appointed, April 1817. Adm. were John Williams,
George Wood and Thomas Duly.
2. Page
410, orders to record about estate of John Osburn.
III.
Will Book H, Page 293.
Bennet Osborn,
deceased, widow Rebecca. Other heirs were: A. M. Osburn, M. B. Mothershead,
Joseph Osburn, Lec. B. Osburn, Eph. R. Osburn, T. M. Sengzo, Thomas Osburn,
James Branhorn, and J. Gray.
Page
404, Administrator was Moses B. Mothershead.
Mildred, I think that is all I have for now. I sure hope this information proves profitable for us. Take care of yourself.
Love
from Kentucky,
Barbara
Submitted
by Barbara Wilson. If
you have additional
information
on this family or questions, please -email Barb.
Used
with permission.