Joseph Staton (Stayton) is listed on the 1793 and 1800 Mason County, Kentucky tax records. He also is a witness to a land purchase that took place 27 August 1793. Mason County, Kentucky court records, Book E 1803-1806, show that Joseph Staton (Stayton) had died in 1803 and three of his children, listed as orphans, are bound as follows:

May 9, 1803-Bound-Robert Staton, orphan of Joseph Staton dec’d, to James Johnston to learn the trade of a Tanner and Currier.

June 13, 1803-Bound-Hill Staton, orphan of Joseph Staton dec’d, to Joseph Coryell to learn the trade of a Tanner and Currier.

June, 1803-Bound-Ruth Staton, age about 8 years, orphan of Joseph Staton dec’d, to Thomas Cush.

November 14, 1803-Bound-Ruth Staton age 8 years on the 17th day of April last, orphan of Joseph Staton dec’d, to James Wilson to learn the trade of housewife.

There is strong evidence to support the fact that these children were not orphans. Their mother, Martha (maiden name unknown, but likely Glover) Staton is found living after the death of Joseph. Robert Sheets who is doing genealogy research on Evan Harry who married Ruth Staton, 2 June 1814, Mason County, Kentucky, states that Joseph Staton (the above Joseph’s son who was born in 1798) was a witness and the mother’s name was Martha Stayton according to the marriage bond, which Robert Sheets says he has a copy. Robert also states that the father’s name was also Joseph and he was deceased in the late 1700’s.

I believe the use of the word “orphan” was incorrect in the 1803 Mason County court record. Joseph had died, but Martha was still living. She just could not take care of all her children and had to bound the older ones out. Joseph Stayton of Champaign County, my g, g, g, grandfather, would have been about five years old when his father, Joseph, died in 1803. It is likely that Martha kept him and the other younger children, since they were too young to be bund out to learn a trade.550,551,552