This article, written by Todd Preston, the president of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the November 8, 2007 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper. The Salyersville Independent is a weekly newspaper published and edited every Thursday. For inquires or comments, please write to P. O. Box 29, Salyersville, KY 41465. Yearly subscription rates are $22.00 in Kentucky and $26.00 per year out of state.

In addition to my busy schedule, I have spent a few hours cleaning the cemetery of William Patrick, Jr.  He married Nancy Prater who was born in 1802 and died in 1880.  I had visited and mapped this cemetery in 1978 when the late Boone Howard told me where it was located along with the burial site of “Little” Nora Patrick which we have brought out of its abandoned condition, thanks to several contributions of family kinsmen.             When I first copied this abandoned cemetery, I listed the following markers I had found “Bill” (William) Patrick b. 4 Dec 1794 d. 13 Jun 1880 and Nancy Patrick b. 2 Jun 1802; Rebecca Patrick d. 29 Nov 1851 plus some fieldstones marked with a “W” which I thought to be Wards but now I’m doubting that idea, anyway at that time I found what I thought to be 8 to 10 unmarked graves.  The reason for these details is that several “Bill Patrick’s” show up in younger generations.             We have obtained a memorial monument to set in this cemetery with the front reading William Patrick, Jr. b. 4 Dec 1794 d. 13 Jun 1880 at age 85, m. 8 Apr 1816 Floyd Co. KY, son of William Patrick, Sr. and Mollie Reins, served in War of 1812.  The back of the monument reads: Husband of Nancy Prater b. 2 Jan 1802 d. 24 Sep 1880, dau of Archibald Prater and Sarah Fugate. Children listed are Lewis Patrick m. Lucy Adams, Charlotte Patrick m. “Squire” John Patrick, Hiram Patrick m. Elizabeth Spradlin, Greenville Patrick m. Eveline Rice, Robert Patrick m. Mary Ann Hurt, Mary Patrick m. William Risner, and Rebecca Patrick b. 1843 d. 1851 (it is her gravestone that is still somewhat visible).             I go into a detailed description of this cemetery listing to clear it from the other “Bill Patricks” and secondly we hope to have a dedication of this monument and invite participation from descendants in bringing this abandoned cemetery back into the minds of the present generation of gr/gr/gr grandchildren.  Let us know if you are interested in helping. This cemetery is located behind the new Bethel Assembly Church on lower Burning Fork.             If we’ve inspired you to participate in the foregoing plea for help or assistance, let’s move on to William Patrick’s parents who are buried in the Meredith Patrick Cemetery located on up Burning Fork at Bradley behind the Bradley Freewill Church where a small fieldstone can be found with only “W. P.” to denote where William Patrick, Sr. is buried.             In a recent conversation with Phillip Howard, who along with us, feels William Patrick needs a more decent and permanent marker as the little field stone is sometimes moved when mowing is done by a large mowing machine.  Phillip agreed to head up a committee to procure funding so we have put in an order for a monument, a twin to that of William Patrick, Jr.  This marker will have: William Patrick, Sr., son of Jeremiah Patrick and Sarah “Sally” Blair, husband of Mollie Reins (dau of Meredith Reins) and the back will list their children:  Reuben Patrick m. Charlotte Wilson, Nancy Patrick m. Meredith Prater, William Patrick II m. Nancy Prater, Jeremiah Patrick m. Nancy Marshall, John B. Patrick m. Patsy Kennard, Jincy Patrick m. Elijah Prater, Richard Patrick m. Eleanor Kennard, Meredith Patrick m. Rebecca Williams and Polly Patrick m. Matthew Adams.             This early settler has thousands of descendants and now it is your turn. We would like for you to take note and band together in planning and implementing dedications for these two Patrick Memorials.  I’m sure Phillip Howard would welcome financial help as he volunteered to be in charge of this venture or you can contact us for details.             You turned out great for “Little” Nora Patrick’s dedication. She was the great granddaughter of William Patrick, Jr. and therefore a gr/gr/granddaughter of William Patrick and Mollie Reins.             My children are gr/gr/gr/grandchildren of William and Mollie Reins Patrick and there’s many more out there that fall into that category.             Jack Frost made a visit to our locality this Monday, the 29th and as he was about a month late this year, our flowers were re-blooming.  During my squirrel hunting last week I saw more mosquitoes and gnats than I have seen all summer. The recent rains had apparently helped hatch out a lot of dormant eggs. We have witnessed a year of very peculiar seasons.              Leola Cole had let us use the giant pumpkin she raised to decorate the yard in our Pioneer Village.  I have been wrapping a blanket around it at night to keep it from getting frostbitten as she plans to make a lot of pies out of it to treat us this winter.  This 214 pound pumpkin will make a “bunch” of pies!             The historical society was host to a group of students from the Prater-Borders Elementary School Monday. They entertained us with a video plus some live violin music.  Their CD is labeled “Grand Ole Appalachia".  It never ceases to amaze me how advanced elementary students are in their studies.  I don’t even remember ever hearing the word “Appalachia” in grade school…didn’t know that was such a place (SMILE).             Our library was also visited by a few hundred of our young elementary students on Wednesday (Halloween).  Dorothy, Connie and I were pleased to see them all and we enjoyed their costumes and comments.  We thank the teachers, aides and parents who brought them in to visit our facility.             John Carpenter (with his machinery) and I went to the William Patrick Cemetery and gave it another good clearing and cleaning and now it is ready for the monument and dedication ceremony. We appreciate your help, John and I look forward to hearing from Patrick descendants. Our genealogy library is located at 191 South Church Street in Salyersville and our telephone number is 606-349-1607. You may also write to us at Box 222, Salyersville, KY 41465 (or email [email protected]).