LEVI JACKSON, OWNER OF SLAVESspouse: Freeman, Rebecca (1818 - 1897)
(As told by Francelene Elizabeth Cohn to Deborah Cohn Clayton)
My great-grandfather was Levi Jackson, cousin to the famous "StonewallJackson," who was a Confederate General in the Civil War. Levi Jacksonowned and farmed a lot of land and owned quite a number of slaves whoworked the farm. Toward the end of the Civil War, he could see all ofhis property (his slaves) evaporating, so he took two or three of themost valuable slaves south. Now, by a "most valuable slave," what wasmeant was a fairly young man who was big and strong, and a really goodfarm laborer. Going south didn't do any good, of course, but he thoughtthis way he might be able to hold on to some of what he considered "hisproperty."
Levi Jackson was the first judge in Laurel County, Kentucky, a man ofproperty, well-respected in the community. He and his wife, RebeccaFreeman, had ten children and a really big house to run, and no doubtRebecca had her hands full. When there was a new baby in the family, oneof the slave women who had a baby at about the same time would come in tohelp in the kitchen and the house. It worked out very well, because herewere the two babies, and here were the two mothers, and if one of thebabies cried, whichever one, the mistress or the slaves, would pick upthe baby and nurse it. No thought was given to whether the baby wasblack or white - babies just need feeding.
One of my grandmother's stories was one time when her mother, RebeccaFreeman Jackson, was sick in bed, and one of her sons came home for ashort leave from the Civil War. The soldiers suddenly surrounded thehouse, and Rebecca told her son to hide under the bed. The soldiers wentthrough the house, looking for enemy soldiers, including the old lady'sbedroom. But when they saw this lady in bed, obviously in poor health(we are not sure what was wrong with her - too many children, too muchwork, and too much war, probably!), they politely apologized, didn'tdisturb her, and left. And here he was, hiding under the bed!
Levi Jackson's land was donated as a State Park. This park is stillthere, and is called "The Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park" southof London, Kentucky. You can find the website underwww.state.ky.us/agencies/parks/levijack.htm. This park encompasses 896acres in Laurel County, and includes the Defeated Camp Pioneer BurialGround, McHargue's Mill, and the Mountain Life Museum. In addition tothe historical aspect of the park, they offer a variety of recreationalactivities including hiking, camping, swimming, miniature golf, etc.
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Jack Curtis stated July 2004 that Roscoe had a grocery store on East Mt.Vernon street in Somerset KY. He had a son named Luther who sowed plentywild oats and had a car as a youngster. Something very few his age had.spouse: Colyer, Lucy Alma (1879 - 1965)
Burial - [date: 1944] [place: headstone in Nancy Ky]
[Colyer.FTW]spouse: Colyar, Susan (1835 - )
Cousin of wife. James Lashbrook mother Ursula Colyer?[ColyerV2.FTW]
Cousin of wife. James Lashbrook mother Ursula Colyer?
[Colyer.FTW]spouse: Colyar, Charity (1830 - )
Note that apparently, this husband and wife are cousins. MarcusLashbrook mother was Ursula Colyar sister to AlexanderColyar.[ColyerV2.FTW]
Note that apparently, this husband and wife are cousins. MarcusLashbrook mother was Ursula Colyar sister to Alexander Colyar.
Bethel Church Cem, Blue John RoadBurial - [place: Bethel Church Cem, Blue John Road]
Worked for railroad. Lived in Danville Ky. Edith Colyer stayed withthem in the one semester she attended Centre College.spouse: Mary, ? (*1892 - )
Bethel Church Cem, Blue John Road
Edward was the illegitimate child of Saddie and Brian Lewis. Brian wasthe brother of Saddie's step mother. So Brian Lewis was like the stepuncle of Saddie. Brian lived most of his days in Danville Kentucky.Winnie Lewis his sister and Winnie's step daughter lived in Bay CityMichigan. It is reported by June Avera Girdler that Brian had two otherillegitimate children, but their identities are not known.
Henry worked in post office Greenwood Ky with his sister "Mag". Magolaand he were kind of like midgets. They never married and Magola waspostmaster in Greenwood Ky. House was on Highway 27
Farmer and Baptist Minister perhaps per Pulaski county, KY 1850 censusspouse: Kelly, Mary Jane (1813 - )
Believed to by physician who moved out of statespouse: Martin, Hetty Jane (*1836 - )
According to Audrey Lamothe This John served in the war ofspouse: Heath, Nancy (1780 - )
1812 and in Nancy's application for pension she said that they weremarried
in 1795 in Surry Co, NC but I have not found that record.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kypulask/fact_book/three.htm
Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of Kentucky, Soldiers of theWar of 1812, pp. 62-63, 70 also Bennett H. Young, The Battle of theThames, p. 236. The names in italics were residents of Somerset or heldoffices which compelled them to spend a great deal of time in the town.The following are lists of the three companies from the Pulaski regiment:
Roll of Captain Samuel Tate's Company, Kentucky Mounted Volunteer Militia- Commanded by Colonel Michael Taul. Enlisted August 23, 1813. SamuelTate, Captain; Robert Gilmoree, Lieutenant; Jonathan Smith, Ensign;Samuel Newell, 1st Sergeant; William Hays, 2nd Sergeant; Thomas Gibson,3rd Sergeant; Robert Cowan, 4th Sergeant. Privates: Adam Barnes; JamesBarrier; Abraham Beard; James Beaty; James Bell; Edmund Gregis; WilliamBuster; Elisha Clark; Adey Cooper; Issac Cowan; Allen Cox; GregoryCundiff; Fields Davis; Henry Davidson; John Dishman; Alexander Dunham;Samuel Evins; Parish Garner; Archilles Jasper; Martin Gibson; JohnGilmore; Willia Gilmore; David Humphries; Thomas Hunter; Joseph Kelly;Garrard Langford; John Lewis; John Martin; William Matthews;Reubin Mayfield; Andrew McDonald; James McKinney; William Mintin; BennetMurphy; Issac Neal; Issac Nealy; John Owens; William Owens; WilliamPreston; Joel Richardson; Stephen Richardson; Robertson Ridge; JohnRoberts; Allen Scott; Thomas Short; James Smith; William Stogsdill; NoahSt. John; James Sutherford; Standford Turley; Sullivan Vanhook; JohnWhite; Henry Willis; Thomas Wentland; John Yearns.
Leon' Lewis Colyer, my grandmother, died 1953. She died a day or twoafter having a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke in Ft. Worth Texas. Herbody was brought back by train to Somerset and she was buried in SomersetCemetery. She was 64. She had gone to Ft Worth to visit the grave ofher first son (Roy) who was a twin to Ruby (married name Chestnut).spouse: Colyer, Samuel (1884 - 1972)
Henry worked in post office Greenwood Ky with his sister "Mag". Magolaand he were kind of like midgets. They never married and Magola waspostmaster in Greenwood Ky. House was on Highway 27
Note that her parents were Lewis's and Ballou's as were hergrandparents. June Avera, Somerset, said that there were about 5stillborn children besides Magolia and her living siblings.