Bellaire Ave., Lexington, Fayette
County, Kentucky
Built 1813
Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.
"Coolavin"--the name of Judge Thos. M. Hickey's residence "Sixth St." as given in the 1838 Directory--dates back considerably more than a century, and to a distinguished origin.
When Judge Hickey bought the 5-acre lot, on which the mansion stood, the deed cited the fact that the Hon. James B. January built it.
The deed, dated July 16, 1819, was "between James B. January & Elizabeth, his wife, of Fayette Co., and Thomas Marteontheys Hickey, of the Town of Lexington." Judge Hickey paid $5,000, it said, for "a certain messuage, tenement or house & lot in the said Town of Lex., the lot being known in the general original plan of sd. Town as Outlot No. 83, at the North end of said town on 6th St., supposed to contain 5 acres, the same on which the said James built a brick house, which he sold to W.T. Barry, who assigned to James Haggin, who assigned to the said T.M. Hickey....to have and to hold the said messuage, tenement or House & lot," etc.
Jas. B. January, who was still here March 4, 1820, had owned and occupied, prior to this time, Henry Clay's home on Mill Street, near Second, which Clay sold to him when he removed to "Ashland" in 1806.
January apparently built "Coolavin" house in 1813, as he bought two undivided interests early that year. One, March 1, was from U.S. Senator Buckner Thruston and Jannette, his wife, "of the District of Columbia," and the other, April 1, was from Derrick P. January and Mabella H., his wife, "of Claiborne County in the Mississippi Territory." The latter stated that their interest in Out-lot No. 83 "descended to said Derrick as one of the heirs of his father, Peter January, dec'd; of his brother, Peter January, dec'd., and of his sister, Mary Payne dec'd.
Judge Hickey in 1822 acquired the adjoining Out-lot No. 84 (from John Anderson and James Wilson, who had effected a "compromise with Gen'l. James Taylor, of Newport, agent for Tibbs' heirs" whereby claims of the latter to the property were released.
Judge Thomas M. Hickey was born in Lexington in October, 1797. He died December 27, 1842.
He was educated at Transylvania University, studied law with Judge James Haggin and was his partner for some time. His first wife was Paulina Keen (married May 31, 1821), a daughter of Oliver Keen, who gave him the law office he and Judge Haggin occupied, adjoining Keen's residence on Short Street between Mill and Broadway (site of the Drake Hotel). He also gave him an out-lot "known as Keen's pond lot" on North Broadway adjoining "Coolavin." His third wife, who survived him, was the widow of Wm. T. Barry.
He was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court in 1828 by Governor Desha, serving about ten years.
Judge Hickey made the following announcement in the Kentucky Gazette January 12, 1827:
"Having accepted the office of Circuit Judge, I refer my clients to James Haggin, Esq., and to Wm. T. Barry and C.R. Thompson, Esqs., and to James E. Davis Esq., who will attend to the closing of my law business."
Judge Hickey's second wife died March 9, 1826--"Mrs. Pauline Hickey, consort of Col. Thos. M. Hickey, of Lexington."
In 1843, after the death of Judge Hickey, his widow, Catherine A. Hickey, as executrix divided various properties in Lexington (some of which had "descended from Simon Hickey") among the heirs.
"Coolavin" was deeded to Jas. R. Sloan, who was already occupying it, and two other 5-acre lots, one of which was the Potter's Field, sold to Judge Hickey by the Town Trustees in 1828.
Sloan sold the house and the 3--5 acre lots to Thos. S. Redd January 26, 1850, who conveyed the same properties the next year to P.L. Caleb (or Cable). They were again sold in 1852, the occupant at that time being Thos. E. Boswell.
Transcribed by pb June 2004