THORN HILL

462 N. Limestone St., Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Birthplace of Gen. John C. Breckinridge
Built 1812

Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.

Few homes can lay claim to the fame of this old residence which was here on April 1, 1812.

It was the dwelling of Capt. Robert Crockett before he went to the War of 1812, the home of John Cabell Breckinridge, Secretary of State under Governor Adair; the birthplace of Gen. John C. Breckinridge, the youngest vice-president of the United States; the house in which Lexington's first mayor Charlton Hunt died; the residence of Dr. Elisha Warfield, Jr., before he removed to "The Meadows," and the place where Benj. Warfield resided when he was killed.

Its name, "Thorn Hill," appeared in the 1838 Directory, when it was occupied by Dr. Elisha Warfield.

Sustaining the claim to General Breckinridge's birth here is the statement in Collins' History that he was born "in Lexington" and deeds recorded showing his parents' residence here at the time of his birth, January 15 or 21, 1821.

On January 4, 1821, "Joseph Cabell Breckinridge and Mary C., his wife, sold Richard Higgins 62 acres on the Russels Road, being the land purchased by said Breckinridge of Levi L. Todd."  Beneath their signature is the attest by J.C. Rodes, Clerk Fayette County Court, that on January 4, Joseph Cabell Breckinridge produced the deed and on January 11 Mary C. Breckinridge appeared before him and relinquished her right of dower. As Mr. Breckinridge removed to Frankfort not long afterward to become Secretary of State, this deed is important in fixing his residence at this time.

John W. Hunt took a mortgage on the property January 6, 1815, from Joseph C. Breckinridge, the eldest son of Hon. John Breckinridge, master of Cabell's Dale and Attorney General of the United States.

The mortgage said "together with the brick house and other houses in the occupation of said Breckinridge, on which were erected thereon on the 1st day of April, 1812, at the time said house and lot was sold to Robert Crockett, who has since sold the same to said Breckinridge."

Capt. Robert Crockett's Company of Kentucky Mounted Volunteers, organized in response to Governor Isaac Shelby's appeal, was the one Matthew H. Jouett, the famous artist, enlisted in September 18, 1812.

It was not until 1824 that John W. Hunt bought the house from Joseph C. Breckinridge's widow, although he evidently intended purchasing it when he had it surveyed September 29, 1814, by Morgan Brown, Town Surveyor. Hunt had his rope-walk on Limestone Street next to the property, and the Surveyor's sketch (filed at the City Hall) showed "Mr. Breckinridge's house" on the corner, a "brick stable" on Fifth St. and Hunt's "Hemp House" on Limestone.

The sketch also showed a "small brick" on Limestone, next to the dwelling, which was described in all the deeds as Breckinridge's law office.

In an ad in the Kentucky Gazette April 9, 1819, "J. Cabell Breckinridge, Attorney at Law" announced that he "has removed his office from Main St. to his residence on Limestone St. where he may be found by persons having business to transact with him."

Breckinridge was named Secretary of State by Governor Adair and removed with his family to Frankfort in the spring of 1821. He died there of fever September 1, 1823.

David Williamson, one of the early hemp manufacturers, built "Thorn Hill" which the Breckinridge mortgage said was there on April 1, 1812.

Williamson had a "rope-walk" next to old Transylvania University--on the east side of present Gratz Park--before purchasing the half-block here in 1809 from John L. Martin. He paid Martin $3,653 for the 5-acre tract of outlots 58 and 59, which Leiby's deed to Martin said "included the oil mill."

In December 1812, Williamson and wife, Susanna, who had removed to Jessamine County, sold the property to John W. Hunt for $17,000. This indicates that Williamson not only built the house but installed the rope-walk, mentioned thereafter in the deeds as John W. Hunt's rope-walk. Hunt sold "Thorn Hill" to Breckinridge, and later bought it back.

The present house is the original with a new front added some fifty years ago.

Mr. Hunt's son, Charlton Hunt, (who became Lexington's first Mayor in 1832) married Miss Rebecca Warfield, daughter of Dr. Elisha Warfield, April 13, 1824, and John W. Hunt made them a wedding present of this house and property of "5 to 10 acres of lots with houses thereon"--including by that time the beautiful cottage next to it on Limestone (Rev. McChord House).

Charlton Hunt died a young man in 1836 in this house, after a brilliant career. "Hunt's Row" on Water Street, built that year and used for many years as the City Hall, was named as a memorial to him. It was through his efforts mainly that the first public city school was established in the city, following the 1833 cholera plague, which orphaned so many children in the city.

This property was bought at public auction from the Charlton Hunt heirs on November 24, 1837, for $6,500 by Thos. B. Warfield, who assigned it to Dr. Elisha Warfield.

By court decree rendered in 1843, Mrs. Rebecca T. Hunt, the widow, was given as her dower the Rev. McChord house, including her "garden."

When Dr. Elisha Warfield moved to his famous estate, "The Meadows," near the city (where the famous racehorse and sire, "Lexington," was foaled this property was conveyed to W.E. Burr and wife.

Lewis Richardson, son of Dr. Wm. H. Richardson (who was son of Wm. H. Richardson, Sr.) inherited this house from his father.

After the death of Lewis Richardson and his wife, Sarah, the heirs sold the property February 26, 1857, to Wm. E. Burr.

The house passed to Mrs. Nancy Warfield, wife of Benjamin Warfield, June 1, 1851. Benjamin Warfield was living here when he was killed in October 1866, and his widow continued to reside here for a few years. Benjamin Warfield's executors sold the property February 21, 1871, when Clara V. Warfield bought it. she sold it to Mary C. Clark and by 1875 its occupant was Mrs. Elizabeth M. Johnson.

The comparative value of slaves in the 1830's is graphically reflected in the sale of part of the estate of Mayor Charlton Hunt, shortly after his death, listed as follows:

Henry $1,000, Fanny $900, Paulina $600, Ned $350, Infant $200, Jane $500. Compared with these were: Law Books $259, Household Furniture $1,424.49, Bank Stock $468, Insurance Stock $615, Carriage $615, Carriage horses $480.

Transcribed by pb, April 2006