In a suit recorded in Shelby County, Kentucky, John Riely told in his deposition that Hester Middleton had a leasehold for “three lives” for her own and her 2 sons, James and William. This was on the piece of property where she had license to keep a tavern. A copy of this leasehold could not be found as some of the books of Berkeley County have been lost or destroyed. This is an old form frequently found in old Virginia records. Later this property was sold and Hester, with all her children, went to live with her son-in-law, John Riely, until such time as they could make arrangements to move to Kentucky. This they did in 1799-1800. William and James married in Shelby County - one in 1802 and the other in 1803. Hester and her son, David, purchased a farm when they first came to Shelby County (now known as the “Coots Place”) where they lived until December 1824, when Hester died and was buried on the farm. David Middleton sold the farm immediately. David survived his mother only 5-6 years. His will was contested by the heirs. This will was never recorded, but was filed among the papers of that term of court. This suit gave most of the information in the deposition of John Riely, a son-in-law of Hester Middleton. He was a Revolutionary pensioner and in his deposition to obtain a pension gave the place of his residence in Virginia as Martinburg, Berkeley County, now West virginia.

When the family came to Kentucky, not only were John Riely and Hester’s daughter, Jane (2nd of the name) married, but also Adam Middleton had married Mary “Polly” Fulton in 1794 in Berkeley county, Virginia (now West virginia). Adam brought with him a grant of land, which is now (1925) in the possession of Mrs. Wallace Barnes Middleton. He had several land deals here, all recorded in Shelby County records. Thus living on the “State Road” Mary “Polly” and Adam decided to keep a tavern, obtained a license, and chose as his sign, one used on an old tavern in Burlington County, New Jersey many years prior to the Revolution - that of crossed keys.