James Logan

Narrative:

     James Logan was born in 1750 in County Galway, Ireland.^5,6,7,8 He was known to family as Irish Jimmy, after he settled in the United States.¹⁷
     James immigrated in 1790 to Valley of Virginia where there were already Logans, from County Galway.^17,18
     James moved to Lincoln Co., Kentucky, in 1791 at the same times as the family of John Logan of Botetourt.^17,18
     James married Mary Logan, daughter of John Logan and Ann McClure, on 16 Nov 1792 in Lincoln Co., Kentucky.^9,10,11 According to family lore, James settled on Little Bullskin Creek in Shelby Co., where he bought "1500 acres and a bunch of negroes" in 1792.^19,18
     The 1800 U.S. census was lost in the War of 1812, but James did appear on the 1800 tax list of in Shelby Co., Kentucky. He reported 500 acres of second class land on the Bullskin water course, one white male over age 21, nine Blacks including four over age 16, and six horses.²⁰
     James appeared on the 1810 Federal Census of Shelby, Co., with a household consisting of four males under age 10 (sons Benjamin and Clark and another), one age 16 to 26 (James), and one over age 45 (himself), one female under age 10 (daughter Ann), one age 10 to 16 (Sarah), one age 16 to 26 (unknown), and one age 26 to 45 (wife Mary). There were also eight slaves.²¹
     James appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Shelby Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of one male under age 10 (son Gordon), one age 10 to 16 (son Clark), one age 16 to 18 (Benjamin, who also appeared in 16 to 26 group), two age 16 to 26 (William and Benjamin), and one over age 45 (himself), two females age 16 to 26 (daughters Sarah and Ann), and one over age 45 (wife Mary). There were also nine slaves, two males under age 14, two age 14 to 26, two females under age 14, one age 14 to 26, and one age 26 to 45. Four people were reported as engaged in agriculture.²²
     James left a will dated 14 Sep 1829 stating he was of Shelby Co., Kentucky, in which he left is wife for her natural life one third of all his estate, both personal and real. Of the real estate, she was to receive a part of the house they lived in, specifically the kitchen and three rooms next to it, the smoke house, the barn, and one third of the land laid off from the north side of his tract, including where the buildings were. Anyone entitled to occupy the rest of the house they were permitted to cut doors or add stairs as needed at their expense. the The balance of his land and slaves were to be equally divided between four of his children, Sarah, Ann, Benjamin, and Gordon. At the death of his wife, they and his son William were to share equally in the property he left to her. William was also to receive aquittal of an obligation for property he had already received. To his son James he left $50 "and no more." He appointed Alexander Reed Sr., Newdigate Orosley, and Samuel White as executors, and asked that they provide "a tombstone" for him and a son buried in the garden.²³
     James appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Shelby Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of one male age 70 to 80 (himself), two females age 30 to 40 (daughters Sarah and Ann) , and one age 50 to 60 (wife Mary). There were also 13 slaves, four males under age 10, one age 10 to 24, and three age 36 to 55, and 2 females under age 10, on age 10 to 24, on age 24 to 36, and on age 36 to 55.²⁴
     James appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Shelby Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of one male age 20 to 30 (unkown, perhaps an overseer), one age 80 to 90 (himself), one female age 30 to 40 (daughter Sarah), and one age 60 to 70 (wife Mary). There were also 15 slaves, three males under age 10, two age 10 to 24, and two age 36 to 55, and three females under age 10, two age 10 to 24, one age24 to 36, and two age 36 to 55. Six people were reported as engaged in agriculture.²⁵ He was described well educated, prosperous, a Presbyterian, and had a sense of humor.¹⁷
     James amended his previous will with a codicil dated 9 Aug 1842 in Shelby Co., Kentucky, in which he directed that all the land, slaves, or personal property that his will left to his son Benjamin would instead go to Major Samuel W. White and N. Owsley to be held in trust for the support and maintenace of Benjamin's children, and at his death go to them outright. The trustees were allowed to entrust the management of the trust properties to Benjamin.²⁶
     His wife died on 20 Feb 1844 in Shelby Co., Kentucky.^27,28
     James died on 19 Jan 1846 in Shelby Co., Kentucky.^12,13,14 He was buried in Shelbyville Cemetery, Shelby Co., Kentucky, with his wife Mary, in the lot of their son, Benjamin Harrison Logan.^15,16
     His will and codicil were probated at the Feb 1846 term of Shelby Co. court. Samuel White and N. Owsley, two of the executors named in the will refused to serve, and the third, Alexander Reed had died. Sam I. Boyd was named administrator by the court and and posted bond of $11,000.³⁰
     A sale of James's personal property was held on 10 Mar 1846, bringing a total of $812. Sale items included farm tools and equipment, livestock, farm produce, and household goods. His daughter Sarah and son Gordon purchased a number of household items. The administrator also reported he had collected $350 from three notes due, but found another note for $110 could not be collected.³¹
     The Shelby Co. court at its Jan 1848 term approved the division of James's slaves by the commissioners the court had appointed at its Oct 1847 term. His son Gordon was allotted three male slaves, a female and her child, and another female, valued at $1,825. His daughter Sarah was allotted a female and her child and three others, valued at $1,400. His son Benjamin was allocated three slaves valued at $1,750. The difference in value allocatted to the three siblings was due to a slave that would have gone to Sarah being allocatted to Gordon in accordance with an agreement between them. The heirs of his late son William were allocatted two slaves valued at $750. James's wife had died before him, and the other children named in his will had died without issue by the time of the division.³²
     The Shelby Co. court at its Feb 1848 term approved the division of James's land by the commissioners the court had appointed. A survey was made 19 to 26 Oct 1847, which found the the tract contained 705 acres. The commissioners laid out four lots. They assigned Lot 1, 167 acres, to his daughter Sarah, Lot 2, 215 acres, to his son Gordon, Lot 3, 210 acres, to his son Benjamin, and Lot 4, 112 acres, to the the heirs of his late son William.²⁹