Kentucky History

Online Resources

 * Kentucky History, 1922, ($), index.
 * County and Town Histories
 * A Sesqui-centennial history of Kentucky : a narrative historical edition, commemorating one hundred and fifty years of statehood, ($), index.
 * History of Kentucky, ($), index.
 * Fort Boonesborough Settlers, index.

Brief History
Effective family history research requires some understanding of the historical events that affected your family and the records about them. Learning about wars, governments, laws, migrations, and religious trends may help you understand political boundaries, family movements, and settlement patterns. State, county, and town histories often include biographical sketches of local residents, including important genealogical information. This may be one of the best sources of information for some families.

The following important events in the history of Kentucky affected political boundaries, record keeping, and family movements.


 * 1772-1773: Virginia land speculation company dispatched agents to survey along the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers.
 * 1772: Fincastle County was formed from Botetourt County, Virginia. It included all of the present state of Kentucky and small portions of Virginia and West Virginia.
 * 1773-1774: Lord Dunmore War the Indians attack at Cumberland Gap.
 * 1774: Harrodsburg was established as the first permanent settlement in Kentucky. Settlements at Boonesboro, St. Asaph, and Danville soon followed. Early settlers received land warrants for their participation in the French and Indian War.
 * 1775:  Wilderness Trail through the Cumberland Gap.
 * 1775: (April 1,) Boonsboro established by Daniel Boone
 * 1776: Kentucky County was created from Fincastle County, Virginia. It included the eastern part of present-day Kentucky.
 * 1792: Virginia dropped claims to region
 * 1792: (June 1,)The Commonwealth of Kentucky was admitted to the Union as the 15th state. Many pioneers of Kentucky were Revolutionary War veterans who came to claim bounty land.
 * 1792: Battle of Fallen Timbers ends Indian resistance in the area.
 * 1803: Migration through Kentucky, as well as settlement there, increased after the Louisiana Purchase.
 * 1812– 1815: The War of 1812 involved many Kentucky soldiers.
 * 1852: Kentucky law required counties to record births, marriages, and deaths.
 * 1815–1860: Kentucky settlers benefited from improvements in transportation, including river steamboats, canals, and railroads.
 * 1861–1865: Kentucky officially supported the Union in the Civil War, but its soldiers served on both sides (120,000 Union and 60,000 Confederate).
 * 1862: The Kentucky law requiring counties to record births, marriages, and deaths was repealed.
 * 1870s: Further attempts were made to record births, marriages, and deaths.
 * 1898: Over 300,000 men were involved in the Spanish-American War which was fought mainly in Cuba and the Philippines.
 * 1911: Kentucky again required the registration of births and deaths.
 * 1917–1918: More than 26 million men from the United States ages 18 through 45 registered with the Selective Service. World War I over 4.7 million American men and women served during the war. Over 75,000 Kentuckians served in World War I
 * 1920s: The coal mining industry boomed.
 * 1930's: The The Great Depression closed many factories and mills. Many coal miners lost their jobs, and small farms were abandoned as the depression hit Kentucky. Many Kentuckians moved to the cities for better jobs.
 * 1940–1945: Over 50.6 million men ages 18 to 65 registered with the Selective Service. Over 16.3 million American men and women served in the armed forces during ["http://www.worldwar-2.net/ World War II&amp;]. Over 300,000 Kentuckians served in World War II. Coal mines and farms became productive again.
 * 1950–1953: Over 5.7 million American men and women served in the Korean War
 * 1950's–1960's The building of interstate highways made it easier for people to move long distances.
 * 1950–1970s: Tourism became a major industry as new highways were built. Coal mining and manufacturing continued to grow.
 * 1964–1972: Over 8.7 million American men and women served in the Vietnam War.

Historical Content
Histories are great sources of genealogical information. Many contain biographical information about individuals who lived in the area, including:

Local Histories
Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. They describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. Local histories are extensively collected by the Family History Library public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. An index of the pioneer histories and genealogies of Kentucky is: *''Calendar of The Kentucky Papers of the Draper Collection of Manuscripts. 1925'' &lt;ref&gt;State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Library. Calendar of The Kentucky Papers of the Draper Collection of Manuscripts. 1925 Reprint, Utica, KY: McDowell Publications, 1983. &lt;/ref&gt; This work lists documents in date order, giving the author, an abstract of the document, and the reference to the series, with volume and page number. A name index gives the book page number where the document is abstracted. Series CC (the code used by the Draper Collection for the Kentucky Papers)


 * A Bibliography of American County Histories


 * United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress
 * The Irvins, Doaks, Logans, and McCampbells of Virginia and Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Early 19th-Century German Settlers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Other States. Parts 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, and 4C at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Sketches of early life and times in Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The mountain people of Kentucky : an account of present conditions with the attitude of the people toward improvement at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Genealogy of the Hill family, Kentucky and Virginia at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * A history and genealogy of the Warder family in Virginia, Kentucky and Illinois at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The mountain people of Kentucky : an account of present conditions with the attitude of the people toward improvement at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The anti-slavery movement in Kentucky, prior to 1850 at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * A description of Kentucky in North America : to which are prefixed miscellaneous observations respecting the United States at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * A Web of family : letters from a Kentucky family, 1816-1865. at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The Stout family of New York City and in the state of Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The McChords of Kentucky and some related families at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The pioneer to the Kentucky emigrant : a brief topographical &amp; historical description of the state of Kentucky : to which are a at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Background of genealogical research in Kentucky and Indiana at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The centenary of Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kentucky descendants of Thomas Norris of Maryland, 1630-1953 and allied families at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kelion Franklin Peddicord of Quirk's Scouts, Morgan's Kentucky Cavalry, C.S.A. : biographical and autobiographical : together at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The Roy family of Virginia and Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Pioneer life in Kentucky : a series of reminiscential letters from Daniel Drake, M.D., of Cincinnati, to his children at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The Stamm family of Ohio and Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Life and times of Judge Caleb Wallace : some time a justice of the Court of Appeals of the state of Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Polish pioneers of Virginia and Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The glacial boundary in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kentucky, a pioneer commonwealth at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Tipton family of Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Nativism in Kentucky to 1860 at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * A sketch and bibliography of the Kentucky Historical Society, 1836-1943 at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The political beginnings of Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The Wilderness Road to Kentucky : its location and features at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The political beginnings of Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Smyth Tandy, 1741-1823, Virginia gentleman &amp; Kentucky pioneer at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * A history of the Kentucky and Missouri Stiles at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kentucky, designs for her future at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The personal narrative of James O. Pattie of Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Old Kentucky architecture : colonial, federal, Greek revival, Gothic, and other types erected prior to the War Between the Stat at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The Kentucky River navigation at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kentucky : a pioneer commonwealth at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kentucky pioneer women : Columbian poems and prose sketches at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Mammoth Cave and the cave region of Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * A Kentucky pioneer at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Ante-bellum Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Report of the Daniel Boone Bicentennial Commission to the 1936 General Assembly of Kentucky and appendix : addresses, "Daniel B at Ancestry.com (Free /$)

State Histories Useful to Genealogists
Good genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful. But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the laudatory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name. Some examples for the State of Kentucky:


 * A Bibliography of Kentucky History This bibliography lists sources of Kentucky history by subject and by the repositories that contain copies.


 * A History of Kentucky, Embracing Gleanings, Reminiscences, Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Statistics, and Biographical Sketches. 1872 This book includes some biographical sketches and is indexed.


 * A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians, by E. Polk Johnson. 3 vols. 1912. Includes biographical sketches. ;,


 * A New History of Kentucky This book contains chapters on the history of the economy, education, politics, slavery, and social changes in Kentucky. It is indexed.


 * History of Kentucky Volumes 3 through 5 contain several hundred biographical sketches. An index is included with volume one of this record.


 * History of Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)


 * The descendants of Peter Beghtol of Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Illinois : by his first wife Polly Bruner, by his second wife Ca at Ancestry.com (Free /$)


 * Kentucky History, 1922 at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * A Sesqui-centennial history of Kentucky : a narrative historical edition, commemorating one hundred and fifty years of statehood at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kentucky Colonization in Texas at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Hawkins of Virginia, the Carolinas and Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * A Massie family history : descendants of James R. Massie of Virginia and Kentucky and his sons William Redman Massie (born 1800 at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kentucky Brights and their kin at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * William McMurtry of Kentucky and Alabama and his descendants at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * DuVals of Kentucky from Virginia, 1794-1935 : descendants and allied families at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Eastern Kentucky papers : the founding of Harman's Station : with an account of the Indian captivity of Mrs. Jennie Wiley and at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Snatches of O'Daniel, Hamilton, and allied ancestry and history in Maryland and Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The history of Kentucky : from its earliest discovery and settlement, to the present date, embracing its prehistoric and aborig at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kentucky : a history of the state, embracing [a concise account of the origin and development of the Virginia colony, its [exp] at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Genealogies and sketches of some old families who have taken prominent part in the development of Virginia and Kentucky especia at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Origins of Clements-Spalding and allied families of Maryland and Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Chronicles of a Germany family, or, Heiners of Germany, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Texas at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Annals of the Fowler family with branches in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississipp at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * History of the Gilbert family of Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky et al. at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The Moores of Virginia and Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The family of Rev. John Tanner, Baptist preacher : Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri. at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Governor Garrard of Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Park of Kentucky, 1747-1929 at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Genealogy of Hollon and related families : early settlers of eastern Kentucky and their descendants at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * First explorations of Kentucky : Doctor Thomas Walker's journal of an exploration of Kentucky in 1750, being the first record at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The Bowmans, a pioneering family in Virginia, Kentucky and the northwest territory at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The life and adventures of Daniel Boone, the first settler of Kentucky : interspersed with incidents in the early annals of the at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Three Kentucky pioneers at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Our Southern family : the Greens, Malcolms, Thomas, Cooper, Williams and Magness families of Kentucky and Tennessee. at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * An early Barrickman line in the state of Kentucky. at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * John Filson, the first historian of Kentucky : an account of his life and writings, principally from original sources at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * The Kentuckie country : an historical exposition of land interest in Kentucky prior to 1790, coupled with facsimile reproductio at Ancestry.com (Free /$)

Additional Sources For Historical Information
Much historical information about early settlers in Indiana is found in the following collection:


 * The history of Methodism in Kentucky at Ancestry.com (Free /$)
 * Kentucky History, 1872 at Ancestry.com (Free /$)

The Draper Manuscript Collection
The Draper Manuscript Collection is a significant regional source that includes records of Kentucky.


 * Draper Manuscript Collection  The collection consists of nearly 500 volumes of manuscripts, papers, and books collected by Lyman Copeland Draper about the history of the trans-Allegheny West, a region including the western areas of the Carolinas and Virginia, all the Ohio River Valley, and part of the upper Mississippi Valley from the 1740s to 1830. The collection is divided into 50 series. Some series are titled by geographic area, some by the names of prominent frontier leaders, and some by topic. The bulk of the collection consists of notes from interviews, questionnaires, and letters gathered during Draper’s extensive travels and research to learn about frontier history. Personal papers are much more rare than government or military records.

The collection includes many items of a genealogical or biographical nature. For an inventory and partial indexes, see:


 * Guide to the Draper Manuscripts This guide gives series and volume descriptions for some of the Draper manuscripts. There are several indexes at the end of the book, including a name and subject index, an additional personal data index, and a list of references to Illinois.


 * Index to Lyman C. Draper Manuscripts. The name index gives the series and volume numbers, but is not complete.

Beginger made extensive abstracts of Kentucky material in the Draper Collection:


 * The George M. Bedinger papers volume 1A of the Draper Manuscript Collection.

United States History
The following are only a few of the many sources that are available:


 * The Almanac of American History, This provides brief historical essays and chronological descriptions of thousands of key events in United States history.


 * Dictionary of American History, Revised ed This includes historical sketches on various topics in U.S. history, such as wars, people, laws, and organizations. A snippet view is available at.


 * Webster's Guide to American History: A Chronological, Geographical, and Biographical Survey and Compendium This includes a history, some maps, tables, and other historical information.


 * Writings on American History Has the full text available at

To find more books and articles about Kentucky 's history use the Internet Google search for phases like "Kentucky history." FamilySearch Catalog Surname Search lists many more histories under topics like:


 * KENTUCKY - HISTORY
 * KENTUCKY, [COUNTY] - HISTORY
 * KENTUCKY, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - HISTORY
 * KENTUCKY, BIBLIOGRAPHY

Web Sites

 * History of Kentucky - Wikipedia
 * Kentucky Historical Society
 * Kentucky History
 * State of Kentucky History