(Comments are added in italics)
Notes:
23 Mar 1784 Date of survey of patent below.
14 Aug 1786 Patent to Thomas Goarham of 500 acres in Fayette County, in consideration of a treasury warrant dated 15 October 1779. Survey dated 23 March 1784. The land lay “on the ridge between Grassy Lick Creek and the middle prong
of Hingston’s (sic) Fork” adjoining Temple Smith, John Darnal, James Hardage
Lane. (Virginia Land Office Grants No. 4, p346)
Note that all three adjoining landowners were from
Loudoun County. This land is located in the northern part of Montgomery
County, Kentucky. At the time, it was in Fayette County, Virginia, which
became Kentucky in 1792. Also note that this is a purchase-money grant, not a
grant for military service.
5 Sept 1787 James Parbery of Franklin County deed to Thomas Gorham of Fayette County, 200a on Stoner’s Fork and Flat Run. Witness: John Gorham, Thomas
Gorham Jr., Richard Matterson. (Bourbon County Deed Book A, p163.)
This land is about 5 miles north of Paris, in
present Bourbon County. Thomas Gorham later deeded parts of this land to sons
Sanford and Alexander, and to son-in-law George Burnough. This land was
included in a dispute over the estate of James Parberry over 20 years later. See
Fayette Chancery Court Case #403. The heirs of Thomas Gorham were named in this
suit as Sanford, Thomas, Alexander, John, William and Joshua Gorham, and Franky
(wife of George Burnoe), Peggy (wife of Thomas Redmon), Ann (wife of John
Beck), Betsy (wife of Thomas Riggs), Nancy (wife of Abner Clarke), and Susannah
(wife of John Boyd). Sanford Gorham and George Burnough were deceased by the
time the case was settled in 1817.
11 Feb 1788 Richard Spurr and wife Franky (signed as Frances) of Loudoun County deed
to Thomas Gorham of Loudoun County, 100lbs, one-third of 800a tract in
Fayette County, District of Kentucky (then part of Virginia). Witness:
William Cotton III, Eliza Cotton, Ann Cotton. (Bourbon County, Kentucky Deed Book A, p196.
Gorham and Spurr were brothers-in-law.
1788 Bourbon County Tax List: Thomas Gorham (Note that he was not on the 1787
tax list.)
Fayette County Tax List: John Gorham (also an unrelated Goring/Gorin)
1789 Bourbon County Tax List: Thomas Gorham
Fayette County Tax List: John Gorham
1790 Bourbon County Tax List: Thomas Gorham, Sanford Gorham
Fayette
County Tax List: John Gorham
27 Oct 1790 Petition to establish a tobacco inspection at Hopewell, from inhabitants of Bourbon County, to Virginia Legislature signed by Thomas Gorham, Sanford Gorham. (Virginia Archives, Petition Number 2277)
1791 Bourbon County Tax List: Thomas Goram, Thomas Gooram
1792 Bourbon County Tax List: Thomas Gorham, Alexander Goram, Sanford Goram
1793 Bourbon County Tax List: Thomas Gorham, Alexander Goram, Sanford Goram
1795 Bourbon County Tax List: Thomas Gorom, Thomas Gorom, Alexander Gorom, Sanford Gorom
10 July 1795 Bourbon County marriage: Alex. Gorum to Saffraph Champ (Register of the Kentucky
State Historical Society, Volume 22, No. 64 (1924))
She must have died before 1799, by which time Sally
Tyler was his wife. See deeds below.
28 Dec 1795 William E. Webb bill of sale for slaves to Thomas Gorham. Witness: James Sillman, Alexander McPherson. (Bourbon County Deed Book C, p660.)
24 May 1796 Thomas Gorham and Peggy his wife, and Sanford Gorham, deed to John Carter, 86a on Flat Run, part of James Parbery’s preemption, adjoining George Burnoe, Alexander Gorham, Williams. Witness: John Allin, Thomas Jones Sr., Thomas Smith. Following is a statement that 36a belonged to Thomas Gorham and 50a to Sanford Gorham. (Bourbon County Deed Book C, pp685-7)
28 June 1796 Thomas Gorham and Peggy his wife, deed to George Branaugh (sic), part of land purchased of James Parbery. Witness: Mareen Duvall, Thomas West, John Carter. (Bourbon County Deed Book D, p27)
4 Aug 1796 100a on Elk Fork of Muddy River in Logan County surveyed for Thomas Gorham
Jr.
This survey referenced in the deed dated 3 Sept
1804.
29 Aug 1796 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to Thomas Gorham, 200a Logan County on Duck’s Lick Fork. (Book 1, p24. The Kentucky Land Grants, W. R.
Jillson (Genealogical Publishing Company, 1971 reprint)
Note that most of the Kentucky grants are entered
as “Goeham”, which appears to be a mistranscription by Mr. Jillson.
2 Sept 1796 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to Thomas Gorham, 200a Logan County on Duck’s Lick Fork. (Book 1, p18; Jillson)
5 Sept 1796 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to Alexander Gorham, 200a Logan County on Little Whippoorwill. (Book 1, p111; Jillson)
5 Oct 1796 Jesse Green and wife Elizabeth to Sanford Gorham of Logan County, 60 lbs, 50a in Logan County. (Logan County Deed Book A-1, p86)
6 Oct 1796 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to Thomas Gorham, 200a Logan County on Elk Springs. (Book 1, p26; Jillson)
8 Oct 1796 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to Thomas Gorham, 200a Logan County on State Line. (Book 1, p25; Jillson)
5 Nov 1796 James Menees of Davidson County, TN to Sanford Gorham of Logan County, 100 lbs, 122a in Logan County excepting 4a for Abraham Standley’s house and springs. (Logan County Deed Book A-1, p135)
10 Dec 1796 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to Thomas Gorham, 100a Logan County on Gaspar River. (Book 1, p252; Jillson)
1796 Bourbon
County (Kentucky) Tax List:
Thomas Goram, Thomas Goram, Alexander Goram
Logan County (Kentucky) Tax List:
Thomas Gorham (also an unrelated Gladden Goran and Henry Goran)
1797 Bourbon County (Kentucky) Tax List: Thomas Goram, Thomas Goram, Alexander Goram
Logan County (Kentucky) Tax List: Thomas Gorham, Sanford Gorham
10 Aug 1797 Thomas Gorham a Lieutenant in Logan County militia. 23rd Regt. (The Cornstalk Militia of Kentucky 1792-1811, G. Glen Clift)
1 Feb 1799 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to Thomas Gorham, 200a Christian County on Pond River. (Book 5, p68; Jillson)
This is the first of three grants in Christian
County, apparently to Thomas Gorham Jr. I did not attempt to track the sales
of this land.
28 May 1799 Thomas Gorham and wife Margaret deed to Alexander Gorham, 82.5a and 50a on Flat Run, part of the Parbery land. (Bourbon County Deed Book D, p118)
29 May 1799 Thomas
Goram Sr. and wife Margaret, of Bourbon County, to John Goram of Fayette County, 266a approx. (the land purchased of Richard Spurr in 1788). (Fayette
County Deed Book C, p69)
Most early records of Fayette County were lost in
the 1803 fire, this from the District Court books.
10 June 1799 James and Mary McDowell to John Gorham of Fayette County, tract on waters of Cane Run, a branch of Elkhorn. (Fayette County Deed Book B, p402)
1799 Logan County (Kentucky) Tax List: Thomas Gorham, Thomas Gorham Jr., Sanford Gorham
5 Sept 1799 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to Thomas Gorham, 200a Logan County on Red River. (Book 2, p179; Jillson)
30 Nov 1799 Thomas Gorham to Samuel Caldwell, negro Lucy aged 23 and negro Henry aged 3. (Logan County Deed Book A-1, p308)
8 Jan 1800 Will of Noah Sugg, probated January term 1800, names daughter Sally Gorum. (Robertson County Will Book 1, p44)
1800 tax
lists Logan County: Thomas Gorham Sr., Thomas Gorham, Sanford Gorham, William Gorham
Bourbon
County: Alexander Gorham
18 Aug 1800 Date of Survey: Two Kentucky Grants to Thomas Gorham, one of 200a in Christian County on Pond River, and one of 200a on Pond River in Muhlenburg County. (Book 5, p69 and p70; Jillson)
19 Aug 1800 Date of Survey: Another Kentucky Grant to Thomas Gorham, 200a Muhlenburg County on Caney Fork. (Book 5, p75; Jillson)
All of these grants west of Logan County appear to
be on either side of the Pond River near the present-day intersection of Todd,
Christian, and Muhlenburg counties. Although the lands lay in other counties,
they were actually quite close to the other Gorham surveys in Logan County,
only about 5 miles from the town of Clifty.
24 Nov 1800 Guy Warrick to Thomas Gorham, 200a on Pond River. Witness: Bryan W. Nolin, Thomas Gorham. (Logan County Deed Book A-1, p425) This apparently in present-day Todd County, probably a deed to Thomas Gorham Jr.
5 Dec 1801 Marriage of Mary A. Gorham and John Beck. (Logan County General Index to Marriages 1790-1818)
27 Apr 1802 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to Thomas Gorham, 200a Logan County on Little Whippoorwill. (Book 15, p484; Jillson)
31 Oct 1802 Thomas Gorham a Captain in Logan County militia. 23rd Regt. (Clift)
15 Sept 1803 Ambrose and Mary Maulding to Thomas Gorham, 60 lbs, 1000a on Big Whippoorwill. (Logan County Deed Book A, p84)
16 Sept 1803 Richard and Elizabeth Maulding to Thomas Gorham, 33 lbs, 100a on Little Whippoorwill. (Logan County Deed Book A, p85)
16 Dec 1803 Alexander Aster to Thomas Gorham Sr., 61 lbs 19 sh., 200a. on Red River. Witness: Thomas Gorham Jr., Finas Ewing, William Trimble. (Logan County Deed Book A, p159)
13 June 1804 Date of will of Jane Bradshaw, probated in Fayette County April 1805. Executor: John Gorham. Witness: Priscilla Gorham. (Fayette County Will Book A, p247)
19 July 1804 Finas Ewing and wife Peggy to Thomas Gorham Jr., $1800, 225a on little Whippoorwill. (Logan County Deed Book A, p184)
28 July 1804 Marriage of Nancy Gorham and Abner Clark. (Logan County General Index to Marriages 1790-1818)
3 Sept 1804 Thomas Gorham Jr. and wife Sally to Presley Morehead,
$500, 100a surveyed 4 August 1796…Elk Fork of Muddy River…including mill seat
and still seat. (Logan County Deed Book A, p263)
This is the first of three deeds 1804-1807 by
Thomas Jr. and his wife Sally. A joint deed implies that they were married at
the time the land was acquired, so Sally is undoubtedly Sarah Sugg(s).
27 Sept 1804 Sanford Gorham and wife Hanner of Bourbon County to Thomas
Gorham Sr., 160 lbs., 122a south side of Red River. (Logan County Deed
Book A, p278)
The same land Sanford Gorham bought in 1796.
18 Oct 1804 William McGerris (?) to Thomas Gorham, 60 lbs, 100a on Big Whippoorwill. (Logan County Deed Book A, p236)
9 Mar 1805 Thomas Gorham Jr. and wife Sally to Ninion Edwards, $400, 200a on Big Whippoorwill. (Logan County Deed Book A, p337)
14 Aug 1805 Abner Clark to William Gorham, $200, 100a in fork of Red River near the state line. Witness: Thomas Rigg (sic), Joshua Gorham, Thomas
Gorham. (Logan County Deed Book A, p359)
Clark and Riggs were brothers-in-law.
17 Aug 1805 Thomas Gorham Sr. to William Ragsdale Sr., 170 lbs., 172a south side of Red River…bank of Maulding’s Fork. Witness: Thomas Rigg (sic), Joshua Gorham, Thomas Gorham. (Logan County Deed Book A, p359)
28 Sept 1805 Marriage of Sucky Gorham and John Boyd. (Logan County General Index to Marriages 1790-1818)
19 Jan 1807 William Gorham to James Little, $320, 100a. Witness: Thomas
Riggs, George L. Locker? (Logan County Deed Book B, p21)
William is selling the land he bought eighteen
months earlier from Abner Clark, in anticipation of the deed below.
20 Jan 1807 Thomas Gorham Sr. to William Gorham, for $1, 181a on Red River. (Logan County Deed Book B, p30)
The first of several deeds by Thomas Gorham distributing
land to his children. Except for one, the consideration in each deed was a
token $1.
25 Feb 1807 Thomas Gorham Jr. and wife Sally to Hugh Cathy, 130 lbs, 200a (one of the earlier surveys). (Logan County Deed Book B, p37)
30 June 1807 Marriage of George Gorham and Sally Graves in Fayette County. Also recorded as 2 July in Bourbon County.
15 Oct 1807 Date of Survey: Kentucky Grant to William Gorham, 200a Logan County on Red River. (Book 5, p316; Jillson)
22 Dec 1807 William Gorham a Captain in Logan County militia. 23rd Regt. (Clift)
25 June 1808 Thomas Gorham to James Thompson of Fayette County, 62 lbs., 52a
in Fayette County on Elk Horn…part of Colonel Christian’s old military grant.
(Logan County Deed Book B, p242)
Not sure why this deed was recorded in Logan
County.
3 Sept 1808 Power of attorney from Benjamin Thruston to Thomas Gorham to sell 250a tract. (Logan County Deed Book B, p254)
9 Sep 1808 Marriage of George Gorham and Nancy Graves in Fayette County. Also recorded as 11 September in Bourbon County.
13 Feb 1809 John Gorham granted administration of estate of Ignatious Taylor. (See Fayette County Will Book B, p63 dated October 1809 for reference)
22 May 1809 Ann
Robertson, late Ann Hart, and Joseph Robertson her husband, to Thomas Gorham
Sr., $5, 200a on Red River patented to Ann Hart 25 Oct 1808. (Logan County
Deed Book B, p474)
Although the price paid is surprising, the reason
is evidently that no warrant was give for the title.
8 June 1809 William Gorham and wife Nancy to Henry P. Broadnax of Nelson County, $30, 200a on Red River. (Logan County Deed Book B, p478)
Aug 1809 David
and Mary Hooser of Christian County, to Thomas Gorham Sr., $5, 200a on
Red River. Witness: Thomas Gorham Jr., Morton Maulding, Bartley Pitts, Z.
Achey? (Logan County Deed Book B, p544)
Another surprisingly low price.
16 Aug 1809 Marriage of Absalom Cavins to Sally Gorham, consent of John
Gorham, in Fayette County.
See also 18 March 1814 entry for a linkage to
Absalom Cavins’ father. Cavins family records indicate that Absalom’s brother
William Cavins married Margaret Gorham, probably Sally’s sister.
19 Oct 1809 Thomas
Gorham Sr. to Joshua Gorham, $1, 181a…whereon I now live…William
Gorham’s line whereon he now lives. On Sinking Fork of Whippoorwill. (Logan
County Deed Book B, p614)
All the land given away here and below is located
about 3 miles north of Adairville in southern Logan County, part of Thomas
Gorham’s large contiguous tract.
20 June 1810 Thomas Gorham Sr. to Abner Clark, $1, 181a whereon sd. Clark now lives…adjoining Joshua Gorham and Betsy Rigg. (Logan County Deed Book C,
p130)
Note that Thomas and Betsy Riggs have not yet been
deeded the land referred to here. Apparently several sons and daughters of
Thomas Gorham are already living on the land prior to these deeds, which are
effectively deeds of gift.
21 June 1810 Thomas Gorham Sr. to John Boyd, $1, 187a adjoining Joshua Gorham. (Logan County Deed Book C, p130)
23 June 1810 Thomas Gorham Sr. to Thomas Redman, $1, 187a adjoining Betsy Riggs. (Logan County Deed Book C, p132)
1810 census Fayette
County:
John Gorham 21101 – 02010
George Gorham 10100 – 00100 – 1
Logan County:
Thomas Gorham 21010 – 22010
Thomas
Gorham 11010 – 00101
Bourbon County:
Sanford Goram 33010 – 20010 – 1
Alexander Gorum 20010 – 21110 – 0
Scott County:
John Goram 00100 – 00000
The 1810 census for Robertson County, Tennessee is
lost, although it is not clear that there were any Gorhams living there quite
this early.
29 Nov 1810 Thomas Gorham Sr. to Thomas Riggs, for 5 shillings and the natural
love and affection I have for my son-in-law Thomas Riggs, 97a adjoining John
Boyd, Joshua Gorham, William Gorham. (Logan County Deed Book C,
p282)
Note that this is the only one of the deeds to his
children which is not for $1.
Dec 1810 Will
of George Burnough proved, dated 3 November 1800(?). Names only “my dear
companion” who was certainly Francis Gorham, daughter of Thomas. The
children named included John, Polly C., George, Thomas Gorham, Peggy, and
Susan. (Bourbon County Will Book D, p134)
22 Mar 1811 William Fletcher to Thomas Gorham Jr. and Anthony Butler, both of Logan County, Kentucky, 400a in Robertson County, Tennessee…crossing Red River…part of Isaac Phillips 640a grant…adjoining Owen Battle, Jesse Gardner, James Johnson…for $3,000. Witness: John Potter, Daniel Highsmith, C. B. James. (Robertson County Deed Book H, p504)
1814 Sanford Gorham mentioned as a whiskey distiller in Bourbon County in article on http://www.shawhan.com/whiskey.html.
18 Mar 1814 Thomas
Gorham a witness to will of Edward Caven (Fayette County Will Book B,
p63.)
One of the children was the Absolom Cavins who
married Sally Gorham in 1809.
19 Mar 1814 Tennessee Grant to Thomas Gorham (Junior), as assignee of William Lyth Jr. 150a in Robertson County, Tennessee on north side of Red River. (Recorded 20 years later on 7 Nov 1834 in Robertson County Deed Book X, p522)
4 June 1814 Joshua Gorham to John Boyd, $49.50, 12.5a part of Joshua Gorham’s 181a...adjoining John Boyd, Joshua Gorham, and William Gorham. (Logan County Deed Book D, p144)
4 June 1814 Joshua Gorham to William Gorham, $50, 12.5a part of Joshua Gorham’s 181a. (Logan County Deed Book D, p159)
12 Dec 1814 Joshua Gorham and wife Elizabeth to William Gorham,
$293.50, 49.25a part of Joshua Gorham’s original 181a. (Logan County Deed Book
D, p247)
The three deeds above imply that Joshua Gorham was
attempting to raise cash for some reason by selling off parts of the land given
to him by his father. Note also the later entries that suggest Joshua may have
been financially strapped.
19 Dec 1814 Inventory of personal estate of Thomas Gorham, deceased, recorded January 1815. (Logan County Will Book A, p380)
29 Dec 1814 Sale of personal property of Thomas Gorham, deceased, recorded January 1815. (Logan County Will Book A, p377) A separate list of personal property sold recorded January 1815 is in Will Book B, pp1-2.
18 Jan 1815 Contract between Springfield commissioners and William B. Gorham, 2.5a in town of Springfield. (Referenced in Robertson County Deed Book Y, p8)
4 Mar 1815 William Gorham and wife Nancy to William Harding, $473, 94a on Little Whipporwill, part of a grant to Thomas Gorham. (Logan County Deed Book D, p278)
14 Aug 1815 George Gorham guardian of Thomas & Henrietta McKoy, orphans of Hugh McKoy. (Fayette County Guardian Bonds Book A, p259)
10 Mar 1816 Inventory of Sanford Gorham estate by administrix Hannah Gorham. (Bourbon County Will Book E, p416)
16 Apr 1816 Date of newspaper report of Sanford Gorham’s death, killed by a falling tree. (Reported in Ardrey Papers, Logan County Library, as having been published in the Western Citizen.)
2 May 1816 George Gorham mentioned as examiner of estate in Fayette County. (Will Book D, p36)
15 Aug 1816 Presley N. O’Bannon to Joshua Gorham, $326, 48.25a on Muddy River on Gallatin Road. (Logan County Deed Book E, p127)
This several miles north, near the town of
Russellville.
11 Dec 1817 Joshua Gorham to heirs of Thomas Gorham. Whereas Joshua
Gorham has set up a claim to a negro woman named Rose and her child Betty by
virtue of a pretended purchase from his mother Margaret Gorham deceased…
Joshua Gorham now releases his claim to the other heirs in consideration of a
final settlement of the estate, retaining his share in common for the two
negroes. The heirs named are: William Gorham, John Gorham, Thomas Gorham,
Franky Burnoe, the heirs of Sanford Gorham, Alexander Gorham, Margaret Redmon
(wife of Thomas Redmon), Betsy Riggs (wife of Thomas Riggs), Anna Beck (wife of
John Beck), and Susan Boyd (wife of John Boyd). (Logan County Deed Book F,
p128)
Apparently, Joshua had claimed a purchase of the
slaves from his mother. But either he had not paid her (or couldn’t pay her
estate) or, more likely, Margaret Gorham had only a life interest in the slaves
and could not legally sell them. Whichever was the case, this is helpful as an
additional list of the heirs since the estate itself was not settled for
another six years. It also tells us that Margaret Gorham was deceased by this
date. Unless I missed it, Abner Clark and his wife Nancy Gorham were not
listed in this deed, though they are included in all other lists of the heirs.
11 Dec 1817 Date of will of John Cabaniss, proved 22 June 1818 in Green County, Kentucky. Names among the children “my daughter Hannah Gorham”, wife
of Sanford Gorham deceased. (Green County Will Book 2, p28)
Note that Mrs. Schooler’s 1944 DAR application
gives Hannah’s maiden name as “Cavendish” citing “family knowledge” as the
source. It appears that her maiden name was actually “Cabaniss” or “Cabiniss”.
John Cabaniss was on the 1793 tax list of Bourbon County, about the time Hannah
and Sanford probably married. There were no Cavendish families in the area.
Cabaniss appears to be a Huguenot name.
20 Dec 1817 Joshua Gorham and wife Elizabeth to William Gorham, $800, 100a …mentions old road leading from William Gorham’s to Thomas Redman’s. (Logan County Deed Book F, p176) This is the last of Joshua’s original 181a.
4 Dec 1817 Josiah Fort to Thomas Gorham of Robertson County, $737.50, 300a on Red River…on road leading from the Elk Fork to Springfield. Witness: Sugg Fort, Josiah Fort, William Fort. (Robertson County, TN Deed Book O, p87)
19 Jan 1818 Appraisal of estate of Margaret Gorham dec’d by William
Gorham with George Duncan, Thomas Clark, Elisha Herndon. (Logan County
Will Book B, p96)
The settlement of the estate of both Thomas and
Margaret did not occur until 7 April 1823. William Gorham was administrator of
the joint estates, and paid legacies to twelve heirs including himself.
21 Jan 1818 John Roher Jr. and wife Catherine to Joshua Gorham, $172, 23a. (Logan County Deed Book F, p154)
18 Feb 1818 Baptist Church of Christ organized in Paris, Bourbon County with Hannah Gorham among the charter members.
11 Mar 1818 John Hutchison to William B. Gorham, $400, 100a on Wartrace Creek. Witness: Benjamin Tucker, William Seal. (Robertson County Deed Book O, p74)
20 Oct 1818 Thomas Gorham of Robertson County, Tennessee to John Boyd, $1, 53.5a on Little Whippoorwill. (Logan County Deed Book F, p477)
21 Oct 1818 Thomas Gorham of Robertson County, Tennessee to William Gorham,
$1, 180a on Little Whippoorwill. (Logan County Deed Book F, p481)
Thomas Gorham Jr. essentially gifting his brother
and brother-in-law his lands in Logan County. Although it is not in this
chronology, both William Gorham and John Boyd returned the favor in 1825. Both
sold Thomas Gorham, then of Chariton County, Missouri, their lands in Missouri
for $1.
26 July 1819 Thomas Rigg and wife Elizabeth to William Gorham, $1000, 100a on little Whippoorwill, part of the land received from Thomas Gorham Sr. (Logan County Deed Book G, 342)
25 Mar 1820 Anthony Butler to Thomas Gorham, both of Logan County, Kentucky, $1000, my moity (half interest) in tract conveyed to Butler and Gorham by William Fletcher. Witness: George L. Browning, John Smairs?, Charles G. Wilcox, M. B. Morton. (Robertson County Deed Book P, p58)
25 Mar 1820 Alexander
Gorham and wife Sally of Bourbon County to Joshua Gorham,
$800, 242a. (Logan County Deed Book H, p181)
Alexander had evidently held onto his original
grant and the land his father sold to him. “Sally” is Sally Tyler. Her release
in this deed indicates that she was married to Alexander Gorham by 1799 when he
purchased the 42a parcel included in this deed.
9 Oct 1820 Bourbon County suit listing heirs of Josiah Ashurst includes daughter Polly, wife of Sanford Gorham. (Bourbon County Chancery Court Records, Box 744)
25 Aug 1820 Thomas Gorham to Alexander Gunn, both of Robertson County, $1287, 214.5a on south side of Red River. Witness: Thomas Gunn, J. W. Fort, J. H. Fort. (Robertson County Deed Book P, p293)
1820 Census Logan
County, Kentucky:
Joshua Gorham 300010 – 20010 – 0
William Gorham 320010 – 31010 – 5
Fayette County, Kentucky:
John Gorham 011201 – 00001 – 3
George Gorham 21001 – 10010 – 4
Bourbon County, Kentucky:
Alexander Goram 220001 – 51010
Harvy T. Gorham 110200 – 02001 – 0
Sanford
Gorham 000100 -10100 – 1
Scott County, Kentucky:
John A. Gorham 100010 – 20100 – 1
Robertson County, Tennessee:
William Gorham 100210 – 10101
Thomas Gorham 011101 – 21010
The following two items are not really part of a Kentucky Chronology, but I add them here as a sort of transition.
Letter
written by a granddaughter of Thomas Gorham in 1880: “…My grandfather, Thomas
Gorham crossed the ocean from England with two brothers; one of them a
lawyer with one arm, the other a farmer. They settled in Virginia, from there
they moved to Pennsylvania and lived there until it was made a free state. An unknown brother sold his slaves and went to Massachusetts and Thomas
Gorham went to Loudoun Co., Virginia with his slaves…” west
I would note that the author of this letter could
not have known either of the “two brothers” nor is it likely that she knew her
grandfather, except as a young girl. This is an excellent illustration of the
accuracy of family legends – there is some truth to it, but also considerable
fiction. One wonders if Sanford was the one-armed lawyer, since that might
account for his levy-free status in Loudoun County.
A great-great-grandson of Thomas Gorham, writing in the 1930s, stated that his great-grandfather “Jack Gorham, was one among the pioneer settlers of Fayette County, Kentucky it was either 1767 or 1776 when he came there from Lonadall (sic) County, Virginia…” (Samuel J. T. Gorham (1876-1940) writing to the editor of the Springfield Herald-Sun, undated clipping in the Logan County Library.)
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