WM. S. MCCHESNEY HOME

#172 Georgetown St., 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.

William Williams and wife, Margaret, acquired "part of Francis McConnell's settlement and preemption," of which they sold 23 acres to Jacob Brownston October 1, 1813. The latter tract began "at a stake standing on the north-west side of the Georgetown Road north-west 51 feet from the west corner of Charles Carr's lot purchased of Mrs. Russell, thence with the road south-west 66 feet and north-west 210 feet."

If historians are interested in the original width of Georgetown Road at this point, Williams recorded it in the deed mentioned as "51 feet." Judge Carr's lot was on the east side of "the Georgetown Road" (part of Mrs. Russell's inherited "Floyd Military Survey") and extended from Todd to Second streets. Incidentally, the deed shows that Mrs. Russell laid off Todd Street, named for her family, at an early date.

 Williams had sold his house on Main Street near the Georgetown Road to John D. Dillon (see Wm. Williams House) and built a residence here that was so improved by succeeding owners (Browning and McChesney) that the size of the original is unknown, although it never was razed. That it was large enough for two families, however, is demonstrated by the fact that the 1818 Directory lists "Jacob Bronston, Saddletree Maker, "Georgetown St." and "Margaret Williams, Georgetown Road."

Williams died before 1818, and in January, 1822, Mrs. Margaret Williams, the widow, deeded Bronston the house and remainder of the lot, fronting 51 feet "adjoining on one side to a lot belonging to said Jacob Bronston and on the other side in part by a lot formerly the property of Mrs. May." It extended back along Mrs. May's post and rail fence 180 feet "to a notch in May's fence" and then 70 feet more. The combined frontage of 117 feet held in succeeding deeds for many years.

Bronston married Nancy Hollyman (daughter of Mary Hollyman, who was a daughter of William Stone, Sr., of South Elkhorn) and conveyed the house and lot in 1816 to his brother-in-law, Thomas Hollyman, who returned it to Brownston before the end of that year.

In 1818, Brownston, (that's the way he signed all deeds, although the clerks invariably spelled it Bronston) sold the house to Crawford Terry again recovered it and conveyed it to Nicholas Headington in August, 1823. The latter was a prominent builder and probably was the first to augment the house. Headington sold it to James Wall, but brought suit against the estate of Wall April 1, 1841; bought the house at court commissioner's auction and had it deeded to Edward Allender in January, 1844.

Marcus E. Browning (bank clerk) and wife, Angelin, bought the property in September, 1849, and resided for ten years. They sold "the house and lot formerly occupied by first parties" to William S. McChesney March 1, 1859. The latter deed described the property as fronting 167 feet between "Dr. Drake's corner and D.T. Adams' corner" and extending back "to the lot sold the Covington and Lexington Railroad Co. for a Depot lot." The sale included "also the spring lot below the railroad," which began "at the corner of the fence next to the Freight Depot," extended west 102 feet "to the corner of the Cemetery lot and also corner to Dr. Payne" and thence south 92 1/2 feet "to the corner near the Maysville and Lexington R.R."

Wm. S. McChesney, whose family resided in the house for many years, was a brother-in-law of Col. W.C.P. Breckinridge. McChesney was appointed Lexington Postmaster December 23, 1887, and served until April 1, 1891. The handsome new Post Office building at Main and Walnut Streets (supplanted by the beautiful Federal building at Limestone and Barr Streets recently) was completed during McChesney's term, and he removed the entire contents of the old Post Office at north-west corner of Broadway and Short to the new building in one load. The removal was effected Sunday afternoon, February 4, 1889, with a large transfer wagon--such as the theatres used on the old days.

Transcribed by pb, April 2006