Lot of 2: 1817 Land survey, 7pp, 8 x 12.5 in., with hand-drawn map on second page. Estate of John Cunningham, for lands adjacent to the land of Green Clay (Kentucky's largest land and slave owner-father of Cassius Marcellus Clay), assigning various lots to Cunningham's heirs: Mahala Cunningham, Presley Atley, Elizabeth Cunningham, Robert Cunningham, Sally Cunningham Williams, Nancy Cunningham Rollin, Soloman Cunningham, Maxamillia Cunningham, Polly Cunningham, Prudence Cunningham Atley, and Francis Cunningham Atley. Signed by several of Kentucky's early pioneers: John Hedges, Peter Clarkson and Henry Clay. John Hedges came to Bourbon County by 1789 (at the age of 17), when the population was primarily dispersed into small "stations" of a dozen or so cabins, maybe a fort for protection from Indians. Peter Clarkson apparently came to Bourbon Co. from the Virginia Piedmont with Anselm and William Clarkson, between 1780 and 1790; Manoah Clarkson came by 1810. Peter married Mary Bedford, May 29, 1806 in Bourbon, KY, and appears on the census of 1810 (one of 9 Clarksons in Bourbon Co.). Henry Clay was born in Hanover Co., VA, and served several notable personages in Virginia politics, eventually being admitted to the bar in 1797. Within a couple years he married Lucretia Hart at the Hart home in Lexington, KY, and the couple moved to Lexington later that year. He was elected to Senate seat of John Breckinridge, serving less than a year, but now making his mark in US politics. At one point a young Abraham Lincoln called Clay "my ideal of a great man."
Bill from Wm. M. Stout of Danville, KY, who advertises as a dealer in "Drugs, Books, Stationery, Perfumer, and Fancy Articles." For the year 1853. Includes the purchase of
Uncle Tom's Cabin on Mar. 29 (50 cents), and Bayard on the Constitution just over a week later. He also purchased prescriptions, soap, tobacco, quills, paper, liniment, powder, ink, a cane, and several other books, such as "Political Quotations" and "Sim[on] Kenton." This is most likely Green Clay Smith (1826-1895), since Green Clay died in 1828. Smith served in the state House of Representatives 1861-1863. He was commissioned Colonel of the 4th KY Cav. (Union) in 1862, rising to the rank of Bvt. Maj. Gen. of Volunteers before he resigned to serve in the US House for the Unionist Party. After the war, 1866-1869, he served as Territorial Governor of Montana. While there he was ordained as a Baptist minister, and became active in the temperance movement. He ran for President on the National Prohibition Party ticket in 1876. The bill was paid by Brutus J. Clay, brother to Cassius Marcellus Clay.
Condition
As expected, with the usual folds. land document with some toning and foxing. Bill with just a little toning on a couple folds on verso.