Warren County Local
History by Dallas Bogan |
Contributor: |
Dallas Bogan on 3 August 2004 |
Source: |
original article by Dallas Bogan |
Return to Index to see a list of other articles by Dallas Bogan |
Sometime ago I wrote about an early resident of the area of Hopkinsville,
Col. John Hopkins. Another resident of the area that made his
mark in early Warren County was James
Hart.
James Hart was
born in Northern Ireland to a family that was Scotch-Irish. (This term does
not imply a breeding of the two bloods, but merely means the Scots resided in
Ireland.)
James' father was a resident of Antrim County. He was a weaver
by trade and owned what was called a "bleach-green," or a meadow on
which linen fabrics were exposed to the sunlight for bleaching.
James was subject to ill-treatment by his stepmother and subsequently
ran away from home. He had one full-blooded brother named John,
and four half-brothers. Apparently all the brothers immigrated to this country,
James being the first.
James was a mere youngster when he arrived in America. He for
some time lived in Philadelphia where he worked at the peddler's trade. He seems
to have evolved into quite a businessman having traveled in several parts of
Pennsylvania.
A vocational relationship was struck with Andrew Gibson in
the peddling venture which seems to have been quite successful. Hart
and Gibson eventually married into the Hopkins
family, some of whom later resided in Hopkinsville, outside of Morrow.
James Harts's many residences in Pennsylvania and the time
spent in the State is unknown. He later moved to Rockbridge County, Virginia,
where he became a soldier in the Revolutionary War. (Sometime before the war
he married Elizabeth Hopkins either in Pennsylvania or Virginia.)
He was said to have been a private in the war and took part in the final victory
at Yorktown in 1781.
His home for many years was in Rockbridge County. His next move was to Kentucky,
and about 1803 moved to Warren County, Ohio, where he lived until his death.
(There is a possibility that James Hopkins, father of Col.
John Hopkins, and James
Hart had been neighbors in Virginia and Kentucky for they arrived
in Warren County about the same time.) Land at this time was $1.00 per acre
on the east side of the Little Miami which was an enticement to buy and settle
in the neighborhood of where Hopkinsville would later be located.
James Hopkins bought of William Lytle in 1807,
260 acres for $260. In 1811, Lytle sold 200 acres to James
Hart for $200, and in 1817 to Samuel Hart, son
of James, 125 acres for $125. There is a possibility these
lands may have been purchased at an earlier time, settled upon, and in use before
the recording of the deeds.
The Hart family in Ireland appears to have been Scotch Covenantors. In America
James became a member of the small branch of Presbyterians
called Associate Reformed. There were churches in Rockbridge County, Va., of
this sect in which the Hart and Hopkins families probably belonged. In Warren
County James Hart was a member of the Sycamore Church.
Hart died about 1822 at an advanced age and was buried in the
graveyard at Deerfield. No tombstone has ever been found. His will was signed
July 15, 1820, and was probated October 19, 1822. Before his death, he sold
his farm in two tracts of 100 acres each to his sons, John
and George. His will mentioned only personal property such
as household goods, cattle, horses, sheep and hogs, his farming implements,
and his loom and fishing apparatus.
His son John Hart and nephew John Hopkins
were executors of his will.
All twelve of James and Elizabeth Hopkins Hart's
children were born before their arrival in Ohio. There were seven sons and five
daughters.
The birth-years of the children range from 1774 to 1799.
1. John, married Jane Farquer in 1811; lived
and died in Warren County; had four sons and two daughters.
2. James, married Mary Tilford and had ten
children.
3. Hugh, married Elizabeth Tilford, and died
at Georgetown, Ky., leaving two daughters.
4. David, died of Cold Plague in 1814 after serving in the
war with England. He was the second man in Warren County who died of the disease.
He was unmarried.
5. Nancy, married James Bone of the vicinity
of Lebanon and had 12 children.
6. William, died unmarried at Deerfield, Ohio.
7. Samuel, married Jane Bigham in 1812 and
had three daughters: Elizabeth (Mrs. Zebulon Davis);
Mary (Mrs. John McCready); and Sarah
(Mrs. Thompson).
8. Sarah, married Absalom Runion in 1812 and
had two sons.
9. Margaret, died in childhood.
10. Mary, married William Heston (?) and had
one daughter.
11. Elizabeth, married William Haney and had
two sons and two daughters.
12. George, married Martha Sleasman in 1823.
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This page created 3 August 2004 and last updated
28 September, 2008
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