Greenville, Muhlenberg, KY

This was copied from an old yellow, torn newspaper clipping found among
Blanche Murphy's things in 1968.  There was no date on the clipping, which
was extracted from the Greenville, KY newpaper.  Written by Richard T.
Martin, penname Rondo.  Jeff Murphy, kybiog@starbase21.com.

BRIEF SKETCH OF THE FAMILY OF BENJAMIN HANCOCK, BORN IN VIRGINIA

We here give the following brief sketch of the family of Benjamin Hancock,
who was born in Virginia and came to Kentucky in 1793, and to Muhlenberg
county during the first quarter of the nineteenth century, and settled on
the waters of Long Creek.  This family was a respectable, prominent family
and one of the leading families of the county for many years.  The family
of Benjamin Hancock consisted of three sons and two daughters, John, William
and James, Nancy and Agnes.  John Hancock went to Missouri and his family
is scattered in that state and elsewhere.  William Hancock, the second son,
was born in 1801 and became a prominent farmer; he was a captain of the
militia and was also a captain of the regulators that were in force during
the many years of the 30's and 40's; a history of which would require an
article of itself.  William W. Hancock was one of the committee selected
to look after the building of the second court house in 1835 and he became
the contractor and built the house which stood for seventy years a monument
to his name.

William W. Hancock first married Delilah Baker and to this union were born
three children, James, Frank and Elizabeth.  James, William's oldest son,
married Sarah Dennis, a daughter of Abram Dennis, who was a son of John
Dennis, in whose house the first court of Muhlenberg county was held.  James
Hancock had two sons, Frank and William.  Frank D. lives about two miles 
south of Greenville, a prominent farmer and respected citizen.  William
moved to Missouri some years ago.  In 1850 James Hancock went to California
and never returned.  He afterwards went to New Mexico where he married again
and raised a large family and died there some years ago.

Frank B. Hancock, the second son of William W. Hancock, was born in 1826.
He married Julia Downer, a daughter of Benjamin Downer.  To this union was
born one child Frank B. Jr., who now resides in Christian county.  Frank B.
Hancock, Sr., was a leading merchant and business man in Greenville for many
years.  His second wife was Laura Grumbley, of Elkton, Todd county to which
place he moved and died in 1904.

Elizabeth Hancock daughter of W. W. Hancock, married A. M. Drake and was the
mother of nine children.  She still survives at the age of 87.  She is the
mother of W. E. Drake and Mrs. H. H. Haviland, of Greenville.  A. M. Drake
was a son of Moses C. Drake, who was the son of Albritton Drake, who came to
Muhlenberg county in 1808 and settled on the waters of Pond river.

W. W. Hancock's second wife was Margaret Rice, daughter of James Rice, who
came to Muhlenberg county at an early date.  To this union was born two sons
and two daughters, W. W. Jr. and Green R., Susan and Kate.  W. W. Jr. 
married Ann Moberly, daughter of Esquire Moberly, of Todd county.  He lived
in Muhlenberg county for many years and engaged in various business affairs
and then moved to West Virginia, where he died.  His family is scattered.

Susan Hancock married Newton McDavid, of Logan county, where she lived and
died.

Kate Hancock married Thomas Covington and lived and died in Todd county.
Green R. Hancock the only living representative of Wm. Hancock's second
wife, resides in Earlington, Hopkins county.  He married Fannie Grace, a
daughter of Wm. Grace.  Their family is scattered.

Wm. W. Hancock died in 1864.

James Hancock, the third son of Benjamin Hancock was born in 1803 and became
a prominent citizen of the county.  He was colonel of the militia and 
afterwards became Major General.  His first wife was Susanah Martin, the
daughter of Wm. Martin, who came to Muhlenberg county in 1805.  To this
union were born two children, Walker and Ann.  Walker married Amanda
Robinson, a daughter of Jackson Robinson.  The children born to them have
scattered and he and his wife are both dead.  Ann Hancock married Wm. Estes,
and they went to Texas and she died.  James Hancock's second wife was
Mahala Craig, a daughter of Garland Craig.  Garland Craig was a son of 
James Craig, who was a pioneer settler of the country and was one of the 
first magistrates and merchants of the county, a great grandfather of Jesse
Craig, of Greenville.  To this union was born one child, Sarah Hancock, who
married Wm. Evans, a brother of Judge Walter Evans.  They live at Rochester,
Butler county.  J. Hancock's third wife was Mathersa Welborn, a daughter of
Robert Welborn, who was the son of James Welborn, an early pioneer.  Robt.
Welborn was the father of Ephraim Welborn, the father of Mrs. T. L. Roll,
of Greenville.  No children [were born] to this union.  James Hancock's 
fourth wife was Sally Weir, a daughter of Samuel Weir, a pioneer and a 
brother of James Weir, the prominent merchant of Greenville.  To this union 
was born two children Samuel and Louella, and Louella died before reaching 
maturity; Samuel resides in Texas.  James Hancock died in 1857.  There are 
now but two representatives of his family, Sarah Evans and Samuel Hancock.

Nancy Hancock, the oldest daughter of Benjamin Hancock, married Strother
Jones, being his second wife.  Jones came from Bourbon county to Muhlenberg
county in 1820.  He was the father of W. G. Jones, by his first wife.  W. G.
Jones was the second elected judge of Muhlenberg county.  He was elected
judge in 1854 and in 1858.  Nancy Jones was the mother of three children,
John M., Thomas J. and James, all of whom are dead.  John M. died during
the 90's.  T. J. Jones was a prominent citizen, and merchant of Greenville
for many years.  He was county court clerk during the civil war.  He died
in 1904.

Agnes Hancock, daugher of Ben- [line omitted] Campbell, son of David 
Campbell, who came to Muhlenberg county in 1795.  Wm. Campbell was the
father of Ben Campbell.  He moved to California in 1849.  Joseph Lovell,
an uncle of Wm. and Eugene Lovell, of Greenville, married a daughter of
Wm. Campbell.

We have given this scattering sketch of some of the old settlers and first
families of the county, many of whom are becoming extinct.

					Rondo

Hancock Baker Dennis Downer Grumbley Drake Haviland Rice Moberly McDavid
(McDavitt) Covington Grace Martin Robinson (Robertson) Estes Craig Evans 
Welborn Roll Weir Jones Campbell Lovell
=
VA MO CA Christian-KY Todd-KY WV Logan-KY Hopkins-KY TX NM Butler-KY 
Bourbon-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/muhlenberg/hancock.b.txt