From: KyArchives [archives@genrecords.org] Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 1:55 PM To: Ky-Footsteps Subject: Captain.George.Little.1900.Daviess-Barren-Mclean.HISTORY-Letters Captain George Little 1900 Daviess-Barren-Mclean County KyArchives History Letters Lucius Powhatan Little was a prolific writer and kept excellent notes regarding his lineage. George Little I. Biographic Sketch from History of Davies Co., Ky.-1883- pages 129-130-121-132. Short and simple are the annal's of the pioneer. To the unsteady hand of tradition we owe most of that which yet remains of all that was said and done, achieved and suffered byu those who came to Kentucky as the red man departed. Their very names are being blotted out from the memories and records of men. Deserving a better fate than this the name of George Little is here se down. He was born in Scotland about the year 1733. The particuler locality of his birth is now a matter of conjecture. The patronymic has long been known in different parts of that country. The station in life of this particular stock in the old country as well as its history, are both unknown. As tradition eagerly transmits the faintest suspicion of exalted rank, as it has done so in this case, the presumption is against it's existence. All hopes of ancestral conectuion with those twin roots of britist nobility--- the Danish buccaneers and Normen plunderers-- are thus forever blighted. For this deprivation Scotia's own bard has furnished the consoling couplet-- Rank is but the guinea's stamp: A man's a man for a'that. This unpedigreed lot is indeed to be preferred, even if it were possible to trace a lineage to that ancient and noble house. Enterdating all modern nobility-- founded by the worthy baron alluded to in Charles Dicken's History of Martin Chuzzlewit, as the Lord Nozoo. In early manhood he emigrated from the old to the new world. His first known residence in America was at Newbery, in the colony of South Carolina. His pursuit were agricultural and he was so engaged at the rapture between the colonies and the mother country. What his previous sentiments, politically, had been is unkown but he was opposed to war that ensued. Without fortune or political influence,. he asked no mor of Goverment then liberty to pursue, unmolested, his private affairs. Possibly his attachment to the mother country, or kindred left behind, influenced his opinions. A did senter from the established church, he early joined the Wesleyan movement, which before the Revolution had a considerable membership this side of the Atlantic. His religious faith--embracing the doctrins ofsubmission to the powers that be--may havae colored his political views. However this may be, when war came and the colonial Goverment required his services, he enlisted in the American Army, no record of the nature and duration of his sevice survived. Nothing more is certianly known than that in an engagement between the American Forces and a detachment of the enemy under Tarleton's command he received a bulle wound in the hip. As the result of this he went to his grave a cripple. The ball was never extracted. Independence and peace finally came and great rejoicing at the result. But the sturdy Scot still persisted that rebillion was a mistake and died nearly forty years after with his opinion unchanged. He remained in South Carolina until the end of the century. He had married before the Revolution and his children were born before or during that war. Sometime after the war how long can not be stated--his wife died. His children, five daughters and five sons, reached womanhood and manhod, married and sought homes of their own. His own home was thus broken up. Age and infirmity approached, avant courier of the beginning of the end. On the terminationof the Revolutionary war, the exploits of Daniel Boone in the forest beyond the mountains were borne by rumor from his old home on the Yadkin to the four winds. Alluring account were afloat of the new country beautiful and fertile! Watered by a river that rivaled the charms of its shores by its own grace and majesty. To the young and adventerous this propect was irresistable! to all it was inviting. Jonas and John Little, two of his sons, decided to try their fortune in this new utopia, with their families they turned their backs on civilization and their old home in S.C. and started on their journey. Their father accompanied them. Their first halting place was in Barron Co., KY. Here they settled in 1800 or 1802. John Little, becoming dissatisfied, removed Tenn., where he resided until old age. He went thence to Texax and shortly after, died. George Little and his son Jonas, remained in Barren Co for two years. They then removed to and settled a few miles north of the Long Falls of Green River in what was then Ohio Co. The town of Vienna (now Calhoun) at tha point on the river had maintained its fortune from it establishment in 1784. It succeeded a fort of block house erected there some years before. George Little engaged in farming such as supplied the wants of that primitive day. He had never acquired any considerable means, and was dependent on his own exertions when the time for toll had about passed for him. The Ohio County Court exempted him from poll tax. On account of bodily infirmily! But not probably intended in part a patriotic recongition of his sufferings for his chosen country. These last years were comparatively unaventful in local affairs in this region. Society was primitive, business limited, and mostly in the farming way. The muster day and the religious meetings were about the only occasions when people assembled together. The pioneer necessarily lived along------exempt from public haunts: Finding tongues in trees, books in running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything. The warwhoop of the Indian had scarcely ceased to echo around the settlers' cabin. Indeed, the Ohio River bounded the Indian country on the south, which reached the Great Lakes on the North and stretched from the Muskegan to the boundless west. Bear hunting was still good, deer abundant, and the wolf and panther still lingered. Many years after the death of his first wife Mary? he intermarried with Mary (Handley) Douglas, widow of Alexander Douglas. She was a native of Scotland (she heired an estate there) whence she came in childhood. In early life she married Douglas of Pa. They had several daughters, one of them (Betty) married Jonas Little. In 1784 or '5 Douglas came to KY., with his brother-in-law, Capt. John Handley, a surveyor, to examine the country, survey and locate lands with a view of ultimate settlement. They separated to go to their respective homes. Douglas never returned and was presumably murdered by Indians. His death is still a mystery. George Little died in 1815. In 1824, his widow married Edward Atterbury of Daviess Co., She survived her third husband several years. Outliving most of her generation. From youth to old age she was noted for her beauty, the grace of her manners, and rare charm of her colloquial powers. Mary Handley Douglas Little Atterbury was buried beside her secon husband in Anthony Thompson's graveyard. He was her sister, Rachel's husband and the first Justice of the Peace in all this region. On this 1st. of Feb. 1815, (Daviess County was established that year.) George Little made his will. He left the bulk of his small estate to his wife. Shortly after-- having reached fourscore--he departed this life. Or in the quaint words of his will, he gave his soul into the hands of Almighty God that first gave it and resighned his body to earth "believing that at the general resurrection" he would receive it again. His mortal remains were interred in the Anthony Thompson graveyard where his dust awaits the final summons. In personal appearance he was stoutly built, rather under than over middle height, with dark hair and eyes and marked features. He expressed himself freely in conversation, his broad Scotch dialect was readily understood. He was a pious man, being established in his religious opioions beyond all shadow of turning. He had a clear mind and an acute observation. Perhaps he was obstinate, equally in the right or wrong. To express a kindley feeling for Great Britain after the Revolution and during the collisions that culminated in the War of 1812, was not only unpopular, but was defying a General and heated public sentiment. But to the last the old gentleman soldier maintained that under the fastering care of the British Government the American people would have best secured their prosperity and happiness. In the light of all that had followed, who knows ??? This is our George Little's will and the date it was re recorded is 1867 after they found it in another book that was damaged. Book A-B Page7 Attest Geo Handly Clerck D. C. C. State of Kentucky } Daviess County Court} June Term 1867 The book in which the within will now recorded having been destroyed. It is now ordered that the same berecorded. Witness my hand this 10 June 1867 Thos _ J__ In the name of God Amen I George Little of the County of Ohio and commonwealth of Kentucky being at thistime under sore? affliction of body by the hand of Almighty God but of perfect mind and memory and callingunto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men ouse? to die I do makeconstitute and ordain this to be my last will and testament Ratifying and confirming the same and revoking allother wills Legacy's or Bequerl by me made in bequeathed in manner and form following viz 1st I give my soulinto the hand of the Almighty God that first gave it to me & my body I resign to the earth to be buried in asdecent a manner as my Executor may see proper believing at the given at resurrection I shall receive the sameagain and as touching such worldly goods or estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I willdivided and bequeath of in the following manner. Item first, It is my will that my dearly beloved wife Mary shallbe my sole Executor of this my last will and testament and heir all my estate that I may die possessed of to herown proper use and benefit with the following proviso that she pay to each of my heirs whom is hereafternamed out of my estate One dollar in one year after my decease if they shall call for the said x (viz) to AbnerSray? who is intermarried with my daughter Mary, to Richard Harris who is married to my daughter Sarah, toJohn Phillips who is married to my daughter Susanna, to John Hunt?? in his legal representatives in heirs whomarried my daughter Jane deceased, to Henry Cockburn who married my daughter Nancy, to Joseph Littlemy son, to John Little my son, to Jonas Little my son and testimony of the same I have hereunto set my handand seal this 1st day of February 1815. George x Little Signed and acknowledged in presence of us Nathan Thorman? Daviess County Court September Term 1815 The within instrument of writing perperling the last will and testament of Geo Little deceased was established inCourt and Anthony Thompson & I said we each subscribing witnesses to said will came into court and madeoath that the said George Little Deceased signed sealed and pronounced the said writing as and for his last willand testament and that the said Geo Little was in his senses? and memory and that they subscribed their namesas witnesses thereto in his presence and there upon the said is ordered to be recorded Attest William R. Griffith C D. C. C. http://www.usgwarchives.org/ky/daviess/photos/documents/darmarke520gph.jpg DAR MONUMENT Put in place by Laura Simmons Little Hawes, daughter of Lucius Powhatan Little. Abstracts of wills & inventories, Daviess County, Ky.- Cont'd. Little, George - Feb. 1, 1815 - Nov. 13, 1815 Wife: Mary, Sons: Joseph, John , Jonas, William, Thomas, Daus: Mary Spray (wife of Abner), Sarah Harris (wife of Richard), Susannah Phillips (wife of John), Jane Hunt, Dec. (wife of John), Nancy Cockburn (wife of Henry), Ex: wife Mary. Wit: George Handley, William Glenn, C.T. Duncan. September 23, 1765 the Lt Governor of South Carolina, William Bull, granted George Little 300 acres of land between the Tyger and Enoree River just north of present day Delta South Carolina. 1790 Census of Union County South Carolina 96th district with 5 sons and 5 daughters. George Military Service: Capt. of Patriot Service Prisoner at Charleston South Carolina on May 12, 1780. Submitted by: Kathy Cochran kathycochran@juno.com This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/