County of the Month: Wayne

The first white men to reach the region known as Wayne County, Kentucky were the "long hunters," who came in the summer of 1770 to establish a camp near Mill Springs. In 1775 Benjamin Price built a cabin and established Price's Station, one of Kentucky's first permanent settlements. Although the settlement was a prime spot for agriculture due to its being located among the Cumberland Plateau, the Knobs, and the Pennyroyal Plateau, continued Indian raids limited the settlement's expansion.

At one point, Captain Billy Russell sent Daniel Boone and Michael Stoner to warn settlers and surveyors of an impending major Indian uprising. This became known as the Battle of Long Island Flats of the Holston and Clinch. During this battle, settlers and military formed a line a quarter of a mile long to fend off the savage Indian warriors and were successful in defending the settlement. Many instances of Indian uprisings occurred after the battle, but persistence of the militia on the frontier finally made the border a safer region.

In May 1779, the Virginia Assembly enacted a law opening Kentucky to general settlement by survey, entry, and residence. In that same year, the General Assembly of Virginia passed an act for marking and opening a road over the Cumberland Mountains. By 1781, the Wilderness Road was created, originating in Hand's Meadow, Virginia through the Clinch settlements, by Cumberland Gap to the Cumberland River, and on to "The Orchard" (Crab Orchard), Kentucky. The creation of this road brought in several settlers as well as Revolutionary War veterans who received land grants as payment for their service.

By 1800, there were enough settlers in the region to constitute taking parts of Pulaski and Cumberland counties to establish a separate county. In December, the State Legislature passed an act establishing a new county named Wayne, in honor of General Anthony Wayne, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Monticello was established as the county seat; it was named for the home of Thomas Jefferson by Col. Micah Taul, the first Wayne County Clerk.

Wayne County Trivia

The term "hillbilly" originated in Wayne County, Kentucky before the Civil War. The story behind it is as follows:

"There was at least one of the visiting Long Hunters of 1770 possessed of the baptismal name of William. For male progeny, John and William have always been the most frequently selected Christian or forename of the inhabitants of Wayne County. The favorite pet name for an individual possessing the Christian or forename Williams "Billy." Hence, soon after the territory was settled there were persons possessing the forename living in the valleys, on the plans, the hillsides and hilltops. It was easy enough to distinguish two or more persons possessing the forename, William and the pet name Billy living on the hillsides or hilltops from those living elsewhere by simply calling them 'the Billys from the hill' or 'hillbillies'."

It was not until a number of years following its origin that those new to the community ascribed it a negative connotation: one expressive of contempt or meaning ignorant.

"The Irony in 'Hillbilly'." Guy C. Shearer. The Wayne County Outlook, 1/24/1963.

General "Mad" Anthony Wayne

"General Anthony Wayne, in honor of whom Wayne County is named, was a distinguished officer in the American Revolution. He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1745. He received a good education and at the age of eighteen became a surveyor. In 1776, the Continental Congress appointed him colonel of a Pennsylvania regiment.... He displayed great bravery in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth.

"In July 1779, President Washington appointed him Commander of an army engaged against the Indians of the Western frontier. Some feared that he would be too rash to win against the cautious Indians but on August 20, 1794, he completely routed the Indians in the Battle of Fallen Timbers and brought the war to a successful close.

He died in December 1796, only four years before our county was named in his honor."

Ida Mercer, Exploring Wayne County, Catalog Number: K976.964 WALK

Family History and Wayne County Research Resources

Below are some resources available at KDLA for genealogists and researchers interested in the Wayne County area.

County Clerk records

• Agency history
• Articles of incorporation books (indexed) - 1902-1999
• Administrator's bonds books (indexed) - 1884-1908
• Guardian's bonds books (indexed) - 1853-1904
• Guardian's settlement book - 1875-1905
• Minister's bonds book (indexed) - 1916-1986
• General cross index to deeds - 1800-1996
• Deed books (indexed) - 1801-2001
• Commissioner's deed books (indexed) - 1877-1994
• Inventory, appraisement and sale bill books - 1816-1907
• General cross index to marriages - 1801-1969
• Marriage bonds - 1801-1813
• Marriage books (indexed) - 1853-1900
• Marriage register - 1832-1848
• Medical register (indexed) - 1894-1991
• Mineral lease books (indexed) - 1877-1886 and 1895-2001
• Miscellaneous books (indexed) - 1906-2001
• General cross indexes to mortgages - 1906-1996
• Mortgage books (indexed) - 1832-2001
• Order books (indexed) - 1801-1822 and 1824-1902
• Power of attorney books (indexed) - 1924-2000
• General cross indexes to real estate conveyances - 1996-2000
• Tax assessment books - 1801-1892
• Will books (indexed) - 1801-1835 and 1840-2001

Circuit Court records

• Agency history
• Committee bonds book (indexed) - 1890-1896
• Bonds in liquor cases book (indexed) - 1923-1926
• General indexes to civil cases - 1930-1977
• General index to civil cases - defendant - 1819-1930
• General index to civil cases - plaintiff - 1819-1930
• General index to criminal cases - 1951-1977
• Civil and criminal case files - 1819-1872 and 1914-1928
• Civil case files - 1846-1977
• Criminal case files - 1830-1834 and 1840-1904 and 1921-1978
• Grand Jury indictments - 1927-1933
• Master commissioner's report of land sales book (indexed) - 1913-1957
• Idiot inquest book (indexed) - 1925-1956
• Lunacy inquest books (indexed) - 1919-1961
• Mental inquest book (indexed) - 1958-1966
• Judgment book - 1851-1852
• Civil judgment books (indexed) - 1928 and 1934-1935
• Judgment by default book (indexed) - 1864-1894
• Order books (indexed) - 1805-1892 and 1897-1904
• Civil order books (indexed) - 1904-1977
• Criminal order books (indexed) - 1904-1977

Quarterly Court records

• Civil order book (indexed) - 1955-1977
• Criminal order books (indexed) - 1959-1977

Court of Quarter Sessions records

• Order book (indexed) - 1801-1804

Fiscal Court records

• Order books (indexed) - 1895-1929 and 1937-2001