Daniel/Daniels

Charles Daniel may have been a resident of Campbell County, Kentucky, before he first appeared on the Pendleton County, Kentucky tax list in 1815, but his place and date of birth or origin of his family are unknown at this time. In 1815 Charles Daniel owned one slave. By 1819, he was taxed on four slaves and 275 acres of land in the Grassy Creek and Eagle Creek watersheds. This places the land as lying across the dry ridge, with the land on the east side drained by Grassy Creek and on the west side drained by tributaries of Eagle Creek.

Charles Daniel became a resident of Grant County, Kentucky in 1820 when it was formed out of Pendleton County. The Census of 1820 lists his household as consisting of one male between the ages of 18 and 26, one male between 26 and 45, one male over 45, and one female over 45. Charles Daniel, probably the one male over 45, would have been born sometime before 1775. During the 1830s he increased his land holdings in Grant County and acquired extensive holdings in Campbell County, perhaps by inheritance.

In August 1846, Charles Daniel executed his will, which was probated following his death in Grant County August 1847. He named his wife, Jane, in his will, bequeathing to her 'all the furniture in her bedroom - in lieu of her dower, she having conveyed away all her personal property previous to our marriage.' His will also named five children, appointing John S. Daniel (relationship unknown) as trustee for three of his children although all five were over 21 at the time. Jane Daniel (maiden name unknown) was listed in the Grant County Census of 1850 as being 83 years old born (about 1767), in Virginia, and residing with the family of Samuel C. Edger in Crittenden. She wrote her will in June 1850, which was probated in Grant County October 1853 following her death. She named Henry Daniel (relationship unknown) as trustee and executor. She bequeathed all her personal property, other than slaves, to her niece, Minerva E. Edgar,'who has been kind and attentive to me in sickness and in health'. She also gave to Minerva 'the little Negro boy named James, son of John-'. All her other slaves of the value of them if sold was to be distributed by one third to each of three beneficiaries: (1) Minerva E. Edgar, (2) the children of Samuel C. Herndon's first wife, Louisa, Samuel Herndon, Elizabeth Herndon, Margaret Herndon, and Loyola Ann Herndon, now Loyola Nashington(?), and (3) Nancy Wilson, '-daughter of my brother, Beverly-'. However, in disposing of the slaves, her trustee/executor was not permitted to separate any black couple living together as man and wife.

Jane Daniel did not name any of the five children named by Charles Daniel as her heir, which may indicate the five children named in the will of Charles Daniel as his children are children of an earlier marriage and are not children of Jane Daniel. These children are:

1. Robert M. Daniel, on whose behalf John S. Daniel, on trustee received 200 acres and the home on the West Side of the Lexington and Covington Turnpike, certain slaves, furniture, farm equipment and livestock. At the death of Robert M. Daniel, should an heir of his body not survive him, the property is to be evenly divided among his brothers and sisters, Robert M. Daniel, as listed in the 1850 Census was age 56, born (about 1794) in Kentucky, residing with his wife, Martha, age 50, born (about 1800) in Kentucky. Residing with them is Ann Rich, relationship not given, age 20.

2. Travis T. Daniel received one half of the remaining Grant County farmland. As listed in the 1850 Census, Travis T. Daniel, age 55, born (about 1795) in Kentucky, married Isabel Carr, age 53, born (about 1797) in North Carolina. Residing with them is Temperance J. Chadd, age 31, James D., age 10, Jerome B., age 6, Mary B., age 5, and Travis Q., age 2, all born in Kentucky.

3. John T. Daniel, for whose benefit John S. Daniel as trustee, received on his behalf the other half of the remaining Grant County farmland. As listed in the 1850 Census, John T. Daniel was age 44, born (about 1806) in Kentucky. He was residing with Jane Daniel in the Samuel C. and Minerva E. Edger household.

4. Mary/Polly B. Daniel Jacobs received the land 'whereon she now lives -' free and clear. As listed in the 1850 Census she was age 51, born (about 1799) in Kentucky married to Moses Jacobs, age 67, born (about 1783) in Virginia, children Moses, age 17, Nancy, age 14, and Chadd, age 10, all born in Kentucky. (The 1860 Census lists two more children: Obera H., born about 1851, and Mary P., born about 1854.) See Moses Jacobs article.

5. Nancy P. Daniel Hook, on whose behalf John S. Daniel as trustee will receive one fifth of the remainder of the estate after the above bequests are made. All property, notes, stocks, remaining slaves and land (extensive) are to be sold and divided into fifths. As listed in the 1850 Bracken County, Kentucky Census, she was age 46, born (about 1804) in Kentucky, married to Stephen Hook, age 44, born (about 1806) in Kentucky; children Charles, age 16, Will I., age 10, and John D., age 7, all born in Kentucky.

In addition to one fifth of the proceeds of the Charles Daniel estate being received ty Trustee John S. Daniel for the benefit of Nancy P. Hook, he will receive a fifth for the benefit of Robert M. Daniel, and a fifth for the benefit of John T. Daniel. Another fifth will be paid directly to Travis T. Daniel and the remaining fifth will be paid directly to Mary/Polly B. Daniel Jacobs.

By Beulah Wiley Franks
Published in Footsteps of the Past, October 18, 2001

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