Court of Appeals for KY 1792

The final listing for the Court of Appeals, and State Representatives:


                                                               Court of Appeals    

                Chief Justice ............................Harry Innes (succeeded by George Muter)

                Judge.........................................Benjamin Sebastian

                Judge.........................................Caleb Wallace

                Clerk..........................................Thomas Todd


                                    United States District Court for District of Kentucky  

                 Judge.........................................Harry Innes

                 Clerk..........................................Thomas Todd,
                                                                       (succeeded by James G. Hunter)

                 District Attorney........................George Nicholas,
                                                                       (succeeded by William Murry)

                 Marshal......................................Samuel McDowell, Junior  


                                                              United States Senators

                                             John Brown                                 John Edwards

                                                          Representatives In Congress    

                                            Christopher Greenup                   Alexander D. Orr

What a list indeed.

State Representatives for KY 1792

This post continues the listing of the first representatives for the State of Kentucky 1792:

Fayette County                                                            Bourbon County         
     William Russell                                                           George M. Bedinger
     John Hawkins                                                              John Waller
     Thomas Lewis                                                             Charles Smith
     Hubbard Taylor                                                           James Smith
     James Trotter                                                             John McKinney
     Joseph Crockett
     James McMillan                                                     Mercer County  
     John McDowell                                                            Samuel Taylor
     Robert Patterson                                                           John Jouett
                                                                                           Jacob Froman
Jefferson County                                                               Robert Mosby
     Richard Taylor
     Robert Breckinridge                                               Madison County  
     Benjamin Roberts                                                          Higgason Grubbs
                                                                                            Thomas Clay
Lincoln County                                                                   John Miller
     William Montgomery
     Henry Pawling                                                        Mason County  
     James Davis                                                                   Alexander D. Orr
     Jesse Cravens                                                                 John Wilson

Nelson County                                                             Woodford County   
     William King                                                                  John Grant
     William Abell                                                                 William Steele
     Matthew Walton                                                             John Watkins
     Edmund Thomas                                                            Richard Young
     Joseph Hobbs
     Joshua Hobbs

Anyone related to any of these folks?  Please leave a comment.

State Senators KY 1792

The last post listed the names of the first officers of Kentucky 1792.  This post will give the list of State Senators for 1792


                                                              STATE SENATORS  

                            Peyton Short ......................................................Fayette County
                            Robert Todd .......................................................Fayette County
                            Alexander S. Bullitt ...........................................Jefferson County
                            John Campbell....................................................Jefferson County
                            John Logan .........................................................Lincoln County
                            John Caldwell ....................................................Nelson County
                            John Allen ..........................................................Bourbon County
                            William McDowell.............................................Mercer County
                            Thomas Kennedy ...............................................Madison County
                            Alexander D. Orr ...............................................Mason County
                            Robert Johnson ..................................................Woodford County

Say hello to these folks, their work had just begun.                      
      

First Officers of KY 1792

Thought it might be of interest to list the very first folks who helped this state to get going.  This list includes the administrative, legislative, and judicial branches of government.  Each branch will be given in a separate post.

Administrative:

                             Governor................................................Isaac Shelby

                             Secretary of State..................................James Brown

                             Attorney-General..................................George Nicholas

                             State Treasure........................................John Logan

                             Auditor..................................................William McDowell

                             Adjutant-General...................................Percival Butler

                             Register of Land Office.........................Baker Ewing

                             Public Printer..........................................John Bradford

                             Speaker of Senate...................................Alexander S. Bullit

                             Speaker of House of Representatives.....Robert Breckinridge

The above names, and those yet to listed are taken from (p. xi - xii) :

Happy Birthday

Earlier this month on the 1st of June, 2017, Kentucky celebrated its 225th birthday.  It was only fitting that this party should happen on the very spot it all began.  "Constitution Square" it has come to be called since the very first constitution of the State was organized and written here.  Over the past several years this blog has given this history discussing the "Ten Pre-State Conventions", the "Acts of Separation", and notes from "The Journal" that was kept by the folks who came up with the final product.  From one of the earliest surveys draw of this "Public Square", it is shown below.

It measured 14 poles 10' 6" wide, and 20 poles 6' 3" in length. [ 1 pole = 16.5 ft ]  What a deal!  Happy 225th Birthday Kentucky from the place it all began.

The Journal (11)

"Friday the 13th day of April 1792"

"The Convention met according to Adjournment"

"Resolved That this Convention do now according to the order of the day resolve itself in a Committee of the whole to take into farther consideration the matters to them referred Mr. Garrard was elected to the Chair and after some time spent The President resumed the Chair and the Chairman reported that the matters to them referred and come to sundry resolutions thereon, which he delivered in at the Clerk's Table where they were twice read, some of them amended & then the whole agreed to as follows viz..."

Thus begins the foundation for the first constitution of the State of Kentucky.  The Journal gives a series of "Resolved" lasting several pages which was then written as the first constitution.  To give you some idea of this document I will give a few of the first resolutions.

"Resolved That the power of Government ought to be divided into three distinct departments each of them to be confided to a seperate body of Magistracy Towit, those which are legislative to one, those which are executive and those which are judiciary to another except such cases as may hereafter be particularly excepted."

"Resolved That the legislative power ought to be vested in a General Assembly to consist of a senate and a house of Representatives."

"Resolved That all free male citizens who have arrived to the age of Twentyone years who have been resident in the State two years or the County in which they offer to vote for one year before, ought to enjoy the right of suffrage but no person shell be entitled to vote but in the County in which he actually resides."

The resolutions continue on the next five pages of the text, and a select Committee was appointed to prepare a formal document which became the Constitution.

The Journal (10)

The next day:

"Thursday the 12th of April 1792

The Convention met according to Adjournment.

Resolved That this Convention will now resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into their farther consideration the matters to them referred.  Mr. Shelby was elected to the Chair, and after some time spent the President resumed the chair and the chairman reported that the committee of the whole had taken into their farther consideration the matters to them referred and had made some farther progress therein but not having time to go through the same have directed him to move for leave to sit again tomorrow - which is granted.

Resolved that this convention will to-morrow again resolve itself into a Committee of the whole to take into farther consideration the matters to them referred.

The Convention then adjourned until tomorrow morning 10 O'Clock."

Almost there...Friday the 13th is the next day!

The Journal (9)

The next day:

"Wednesday the 11th day of April 1792"

"The Convention met according to adjournment."

"Resolved That the Convention do now according to the order of the day resolve itself into a Committee of the whole to take into their farther consideration the matters to them referred Mr. Garrard was elected to the Chair and after some time spent The President resumed the Chair and the Chairman reported that the Committee of the whole had taken into their farther consideration the matters to them referred and had made some farther progress therein but not having time to go thro' the same have directed him to move for leave to sit again Tomorrow which is granted.  Mr. David Rice from the County of Mercer resigned his seat as a member of this house and entered his resignation in the following words viz.  I David Rice a member for the County of Mercer do hereby resign my seat in the Convention chosen by the freemen of Kentucky to frame a fundamental constitution for the Sate of Kentucky Given under my hand this 11th day of April 1792. David Rice."

"Ordered. That a Writ be immediately issued for the election of a Member for the County of Mercer to supply the place of Mr. David Rice who hath this day resigned and that the election be held at the Courthouse of the said County on Friday the 13th day of Instant."

"Resolved That this Convention will Tomorrow again resolve itself int a Committee of the whole to take into farther consideration the matters to them referred."

"The Convention then Adjourned untill Tomorrow morning 10 O'Clock."

Still part of the colony of Virginia, Mercer County was formed 1785 from parts of Lincoln County.   At this time, it was geographically in the middle of the state. [Centre College took its name in 1819 when it was still Mercer County. ]  The name was taken from Gen. Hugh Mercer, a native Scotsman, who became a military officer in the French and Indian War.  By 1776, he was commissioned a Colonel of the Third Virginia Regiment, and became a Brigadier-general before his death in battle 1777. 

The Journal (8)

The weather in Kentucky can sure change quickly...you know those April showers.   The following entry is made:

"Monday the 9th day of April 1792."

"The Convention met according to Adjournment.  There not being a sufficient number to proceed to business thro the inclemency of the weather Ordered That the Convention do adjourn untill Tomorrow morning 10 Clock."

The following day is recorded:

"Tuesday the 10th day of April 1792."

"The Convention met according to Adjournment."

"Resolved, That this Convention do now resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into farther consideration the matters to them referred. Mr. Garrard was elected to the Chair and after some time spent Mr. President resumed the Chair, - Mr. George Nicholas the the County of Mercer being reelected appeared & took his seat the Convention again went into a Committee of the whole & Mr. Garrard was again elected to the Chair and after some farther time spent therein the President  resumed the Chair & the Chairman reported that the Committee of the whole had taken into their farther consideration the matters to them referred & had made some farther progress therein but not having time to go thro the same had directed him to move for leave to sit again Tomorrow which was granted."

"Resolved That this Convention will Tomorrow again resolve itself into a Committe of the whole to take into father consideration the matters to them referred"

"The Convention then Adjourned untill Tomorrow Morning, 10 O'Clock."

The Journal (7)

The Convention Continued Saturday, the 7th day of April 1792: [day 7 of the convention]

"The Convention met according to Adjournment."

"Resolved That this Convention will now according to the order of day resolve itself into a Committee of whole to take into their farther consideration the matters to them referred.  Mr. Shelby was elected to the Chair and after sometime spent Mr. President resumed the Chair and the Chairman  reported that the Committee of the whole had taken into their farther consideration the matters to them referred and had made some farther progress therein but not having time to go thro' the same had directed him to move for leave to sit again on Monday next which was granted.

     George Nicholas Esquire a member for the County of Mercer resigned his seat as a member of this House and entered his resignation in the words viz 'I George Nicholas of the County of Mercer do hereby resign my seat as a member of the Convention chosen by the freemen of Kentucky for the purpose of framing a fundamental Constitution for the State of Kentucky.  Given under my hand this 7th day of April 1792.'  George Nicholas

     Ordered That a writ for the election of a member for the County of Mercer be immediately issued to supply the place of George Nicholas Esquire who has resigned his seat and that the Election be held at the Courthouse of the said County on Monday the ninth day of the present month.

     Ordered That Mr. Crawford have leave of absence from the service of this house untill Tuesday next, Mr. Smith and Mr. Frier untill Monday 12 O'Clock.

     Resolved That the President of this Convention do present the thanks thereof to George Nicholas Esquire for his particular attention & zealous & useful assistance in conducting the business while a member of this House.

     Resolved That this Convention will according to the order of the day again on Monday next resolve itself into a Committee of the whole to take into farther consideration the matters to them referred.

     The Convention adjourned untill Monday 10 o'clock."

The Journal (6)

The Convention continues:

"Friday the 6th day of April 1792"

"The Convention met according to Adjournment."

"Resolved That this Convention will now according to the Order of the day resolve itself into a Committee of the whole to take into farther consideration the matters to them referred.  Mr. Shelby was elected to the Chair and after sometime spent the President resumed the Chair and the Chairman reported that the Committee of the whole had taken into farther consideration the matters to them referred and had made farther progress therein but not having time to go thro' the same had directed him to move for leave to sit again Tomorrow which was granted."

"Resolved That this Convention will Tomorrow again resolve itself into a Committee of the whole to take into farther consideration the matters to them referred."

"The Convention then adjourned untill Tomorrow morning Ten O'Clock."