James Hamilton Kindred

  General Notes:

This James Kindred family did not seem to have any church affiliation, as evidenced by their children being married by Justices of the Peace. So unless James was buried on the land where he lived, of which no record has been found, then it is thought he along with his grandchildren, Leonard J. and Margaret Ellen Rigor are also buried on this plot. Early records of this part of the cemetery seem to be lost.
It is doubtful if Judith is here since she was living with son Hesakiah in Sangamon County Illinois in 1870 with her monies,too depleted to be brought back. It is thought that James Kindred had followed other Kindred relatives to Indiana , but did not find it as productive for himself as Kentucky had been. Yearning for greener pastures, and hearing of the wonderful land of Oregon, had decided to join a wagon train headed that way. Records indicate all the family was going except Granville whose father-in-law, Mr. Throp, a man of influence objected to his daughter leaving. The probable time to start was in the fall of 1845, possibly in September after the marriages of James Jr. and Polysena in August.
Undoubtedly it was a hard trip through the tall grasses of the unplowed prairie sod land. Family legend has it that after crossing the Illinois river into Brown Co. they stopped to bury the third Kindred child that had died on the trip thus far. It is thought that they were Artemesa and an infant of hers and the small girl in Indiana of whom we have no record. All except those named were listed in James' will.
By the time they reached MT. Sterling, Illinois filled with concern and remorse James Kindred, saying it was going to cost too much in lives refused to go on any farther. There were other families in this wagon train, Hamiltons, Tuckers and possibly Garrards. Some Hamiltons remained in Brown Co., IL. The Tuckers seem to have continued on into Missouri before giving up and settling.

During a recent visit (summer 1985) I again asked to see the file of James Kindred's estate papers. The Probate office at MT Sterling Illinois courthouse had been moved and some more items had been located and put in the file. Among the new items was a receipt for $2.89 as tuition to a school for one scholar dated 15 March 1848 and signed by James Kindred. Probably Hezekiah.

Also an account from Dr. Jonathan Dearborn for visits to James Kindred.
2/24/1847 visit and medicine (that's when he made his will)
6/17/1848 visit and medicine for his wife
2/21/1849 visit and medicine
2/26/1849 visit and medicine
total account #13.00
Paid $6.00
due $7.00
(that must have been James' last illness and gives an idea of his death date.

In the Spring Court Session of Brown County on 12 May 1849, Jacob Hersman: James Harper: and Benjamin Adams were appointed as appraisers of his estate. (The appraisal was still not there)

Also found were the three notes of James Kindred to John Kelsey for $100.00 each to be paid in September of the 3 following years. These were the notes that gave the executor, Leonard Rigor so much trouble while he was handling the estate.

James and Judith bought the land where they lived on or near the old road from Hersman to Versailles and mentioned in his will, being in Mt Sterling township, section 34, on the 5th day of October, 1846. From the executors of the estate of John Taylor Sr. They paid $700.00 cash for the 160 acres with all the appurtenances. The deed is recorded in the Mt Sterling land record book C, page 246.

Since no burial place has been found on this land, the next logical place for his burial plot would be either the Hersman or Versailles Cemetery or one of the small family cemeteries nearby which were the Harbour, the Tinnan, or the Law.

  Medical Notes:

Life span: 59 Years

  Events

• He signed a will on 20 Feb 1847 in Illinois, Brown County. Copy of James Kindred Will
State of Illinois
Brown County
February 20, 1847

I, James Kindred believing as I do that I have not long to live may conceive it to be a duty to myself and family that justice may be met to all, do make this my last will and testament. That Leonard Rigor shall be entitled to the W1/2 S.W., NW34 township. S.3W of the fourth principal meridian. That Juda Kindred during her life time or widowhood shall be entitled to 140 acres being the balance of said quarter of land, after which the above 140 acres of land shall be equally divided between Walker C. and Hesekiah Kindred. James Hamilton Jr. shall be entitled to on ebed and bedding.
Granville L. Kindred shall be entitled to $ 2.50.
That Poliseney Jarrard shall be entitled to $ 15.00. That James Kindred shall be entitled to $ 2.50 All my personal property shall be sold on a credit of twelve months, said sale to be on the twenty fifth of June 1847. The proceeds of said sale to be applied to all just debts against my estate. If there is any surplus, said surplus to be appropriated to the use of the widow. It is my desire to have and I do hereby appoint Jacob Hushman as executor of my estate.
As witness my hand and seal

James Kindred (seal)
Attest:William. L. Taylor
Geo Hersman
This will was probated in May 1849. Jacob Hushman refused to act as executor and Leonard Rigor was named.

At the sale of the personal property Leonard Rigor bought a black mare for $ 30.00 and Walter Kindred a rifle for $ 16.00. $424.00 was realized from the sale, quite a good sum for those days. On September 6, 1851 a summons was served on Leonard Rigor to appear in court in Mt. Sterling to answer a plea of debt of $ 300.00 and damages of $ 16.50 to the estate of John Kelsey. John Kelsey had died and apparently no receipt or evidence could be found that James Kindred had paid for the land he had bought from Kelsey. On September 16,1851 the sum of $ 134.73 was awarded to Hugh McBride, the administrator of the John Kelsey estate as being owed by the James S. Kindred estate and on September 29, 1851 Leonard Rigor was ordered to pay this from his own personal or real property. Leonard Rigor was obligated to sell his own sheep and hogs to cover this debt. Joshua Jarrard, William and John Shaffner, Juda Kindred were security for bond for Leonard Rigor. Joshua Jarrard or Garrard was also a son-in-law of James Kindred. It seems James Kindred did not die at the time he made his will. Death came to him some two
years later as evidenced by records in the Mt. Sterling, Illinois courthouse.

• He appeared on the census in 1820 in Kentucky, Fayette County. Males
1 under 10 Granville
1 26-45 James Sr.
Females
2 under 10 Milley & Artesema
1 16-26 Judith
1 were in commerce, one of them a free colored male, listed separately in Colored Schedule.

• He appeared on the census in 1830 in Kentucky, Henry County. Males
1 under 5 - Walter
1 5-10 James Jr.
1 10-15 Granville
1 30-40 James Sr.
Females
1 under 5 not in 1840 census
2 5-10 Artesema & Pollysena
1 10-15 Milley
1 30-40 Judith
This was the only James Kindred in Kentucky in 1830,
proof that he was the right one comes in the tax records
which follow.

• He appeared on the census in 1940 in Indiana, Decatur County. Males
2 5-10 Hesekiah & Walter
1 15-20 James Jr.
1 50-60 James Sr
Females
1 under 5 not in 1850 Census
2 15-20 Artesema & Pollysena
1 40-50 Judith
Granville and Milley were both married before 1840,
and they were listed in separate households. That
leaves two little females of who we know nothing.
These early census gave only the name of the head
of the household and numbers for all others.

• He appeared on the census in 1850 in Illinois, Brown County. Mt Sterline TWP. house 156
Judith Kindred 55 years. b Georgia R.E. Value 1000.00
Walter 20 yrs KY
Hesekiah 14 yrs KY
James Jr with wife and 3 sons listed in separate households
as was Milley with husband Leonard Rigor and 6 children.
Granville with wife and 5 sons was still in Decatur Co, Indiana.
James Hamilton thought to have been the husband of Artesema
was also in Brown Co with a new wife, a son James Jr and
other children. Pollysena and husband Joshua Garrard have
not been located to date.

• He appeared on the census in 1860 in Illinois, Adams County. Concord Twp page 868
Hesekiah Kindrage 24 yrs b. Indiana (?)
Nancy 20 yrs Indiana
Jeremiah 2 yrs Illinois
Judith 65 rs Georgia
Granville & Milley in Brown Co with their families this year.
James Jr. in Lincoln Co MO with wife & 6 children.

• Tax Lists: 1829-1837, Kentucky, Henry County. 1829
1 male over 21
2 Horses
$80.00 total value

1830
1 male over 21
2 Horses
50 Acres Land
William Entry Survey
4 children over 4 and
under 16 years. 2 not
in school

1833
1 male over 21
5 Horses
50 Acres Land
$600 value
$8.00 per acre

1835
1 male over 21
1 voter
50 acres land
$9.00 per acre
5 Horses
$900.00

1837
1 White Thites
0 Land
20 cattle
$900.00
(Looks like James sold his land;
bought cattle and left Granville
in charge of them.)

James married Judith Beasley on 11 Dec 1815 in Kentucky, Fayette, Lexington. (Judith Beasley was born about 1795 in Georgia and died in 1870 in Illinois, Sangamon County.)

  Marriage Notes:

They were married with the consent of Edmund Beasley, who probably was her father. Witnesses at the marriage were Alen Richardson and James Beasley. They latter thought to be the brother of Judith. There is evidence that his middle initial may have S or L. When a son had the same first name as his father I have used Sr. and Jr. to distinguish them, even though they did not do so.

There seems to have been two more small girls, one listed in the 1830 KY census , the other in 1840 Indiana of whom we have no record. They settled in Brown Co. IL on the northwest quarter of section 34 in MT. Sterl ing township just south of Hersman on the road to Versailles. Believed to have been 160 acres.Paid $ 700.00 cash.