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Godfrey Isaacs and Keziah Johnson Godfrey Isaacs was born about 1793 in North Carolina. He was the son of Samuel Isaacs and Nancy Baldridge. He married Keziah Johnson on 20 February 1812, in Floyd County, KY.
Keziah was born about 1794 in Virginia or North Carolina to Patrick and Delila Johnson. Both the Isaacs and Johnson families moved to Floyd County from Virginia. There were two Godfrey Isaacs in Clay County in 1820. One had four males under 10 and 2 females under 10 in the household. The other had three males under 10 and 1 female under 10 in the household. The age of the adult male and adult female in the household were the same. I think these two Godfreys were probably the same person. There might have been a counting error either the first or second time the children were counted, or perhaps Keziah had twins between the visits. If we assume that there was really only one Godfrey Isaacs in Clay County, we still have to account for yet another Godfrey Isaacs who was also in the 26 to 45 age group, but enumerated in Estill County on the 1820 Kentucky census. Distinguishing between these two families has been difficult because both Godfreys generally lived in the same areas; their children were about the same ages, and they seemed to both like the same given names. It helped when I discovered that the "other" Godfrey (Betsy) left considerable property in Jackson County that was divided among his children after his death. Knowing who didn't belong to Godfrey (Keziah) helped narrow the field. The Godfrey who married Keziah Johnson was a nephew to the other Godfrey (Betsy). The Godfrey who married Betsy Howard was a brother to Samuel Isaacs who married Nancy Baldridge. Both Samuel and Godfrey (Betsy) were sons of yet another Godfrey. We don't know all the children of Godfrey Isaacs and Keziah Johnson. On the 1860 census, Godfrey and Keziah had unmarried children Samuel (22) and Rebecca (21) living with them. But these children were not listed on the 1850 census with their parents. However, they do seem to be accounted for on the 1840 census of Laurel County which listed 1 male under 5 and one female under 5. With the help of another Isaacs researcher, we might have made some headway identifying two other children of Godfrey and Keziah's. [See the discussion of Godfrey and Keziah's children below.] If we look at the 1820 and 1830 censuses we find additional children we have not identified. However, those that were under 5 in one census year and were not listed in the next census year, were most likely, but not necessarily, deceased. It would be nice to have a family bible surface somewhere to answer all our questions. Godfrey and Keziah, as well as their children Andrew, Rebecca and Samuel all died in September 1863 of typhoid fever. Jackson County Court Records, February term, 1864:
Children of Godfrey Isaacs and Keziah Johnson 1. Jacob Isaacs was born about 1813. He married Rebecca Bowman, the daughter of Jacob Bowman and Elander Evans on 9 August 1832 in Clay County. Jacob married 2nd Sarah Landrum about 1863. He died July 1877 in Williamstown, Grant County. 2. Isaac Isaacs was born about 1815. He married Vicy Triplett on 23 February 1834 in Floyd County. They had one son, Linville, who was born about 1835. Vicy deserted Isaac after two years of marriage. The divorce papers are in the Kentucky State Archives in Box 208, Bundle 415. The year 1836 is written on the outside of the bundle. That date coincides with the date that Vicy supposedly deserted Isaac. However the divorce was not granted until Tuesday, 24 March 1857. While she was doing some original research in Laurel County several years ago, Susan Isaac, an Isaacs researcher, found a marriage bond for Isaac Isaacs and Susannah Huff dated 6 September 1841, that had been misfiled. I don't know if an actual marriage took place since there wasn't a marriage return recorded. (However, the absence of a return is not uncommon.) Isaac Isaacs and Susan Huff had at least twelve children between the years 1839 and 1862. I have no idea if Isaac and Susan were ever legally married. Isaac Isaacs died prior to November 1869, when his son Andrew Isaacs was appointed administrator of his estate. Susan was listed as a widow on the 1870 census of Jackson County. 3. Andrew Isaacs was born about 1819. He married 1st Mahaly Lakes/Lax, daughter of Carter Lakes/Lax and Edy Skinner, on 27 April 1840 in Estill County. She must have died soon afterwards, because he married Lucinda Carpenter 28 September 1841 in Laurel County. Lucinda was the daughter of Stephen Carpenter and Nancy Walker. Andrew served during the Civil War in Company A, 47th KY Volunteer (Mounted) Infantry as a 2nd Lieutenant. He died on 2 September, 1863 in Jackson County of typhoid fever. An account of Andrew's death, as well as that of his parents and brother and sister was given in a deposition by Elizabeth Truett, on behalf of his brother, Godfrey, who had also served in the Civil War. The complete account is listed under the Godfrey and Lydia Isaacs link. This is an excerpt from Elizabeth Truett's deposition:
Funeral services for Andrew were held in the Annville Baptist Church in Laurel County. Andrew is buried in the Annville Cemetery. Lucinda received a pension for Andrew's Civil War service. She died 25 April 1873, in Jackson County. Two of her children, Mary and Lydia were minors at that time. Their uncle, Godfrey Isaacs was appointed their guardian. Jackson County Court Records, May term, 1873:
4. Rhoda Isaacs was born about 1824. She married James Hillard on 13 April 1842 in Laurel County. I can't find her on the 1850 census, but she and James were listed on the 1860, 1870 and 1880 Jackson County censuses. During the June 1863 term of the Jackson County Court, the Commonwealth brought charges against James and Rhoda Hillard, and it was ordered that the cause be continued. The records don't indicate what those charges were. The cause was again continued during the June 1864 and the November 1864 sessions. During the June term, 1865 the Commonwealth brought separate charges against James Hillard to which he plead guilty and was fined $2.50. The cause against James and Rhoda Hillard was again continued. During the November 1866 term the defendants were granted separate trials. p. 477 Commonwealth plaintiff against James & Rhoda Hellard, defendant
During the April 1878 term of the Court, James Hillard was found not guilty of house burning. During the April 1880 term of the Court Robert Jones sued James Hillard for non-payment. Apparently James Hillard bought a piece of property from Robert and Polly Jones on the waters of Big Clover Bottom Creek, that was bordered by some trees on Robert Jones' current property and continued to the fence of James Hilliard's property. The court decided that James Hillard did owe the Jones' the money and he was ordered to pay.
James Hillard was living with his son Jacob Hillard in Jackson County in 1900. He was listed as a widower.
Godfrey's father and mother, Godfrey and Keziah, as well as his older brother Andrew, younger brother Samuel, and younger sister Rebecca, all died in 1864. Godfrey Isaacs Jr. was appointed the executor of his father's estate, and later the guardian of his brother Andrew's minor children.. Jackson County Court Records, February term, 1864:
According to his Civil War pension documents, Godfrey Jr. died 28 February 1896, in Egypt,
Jackson County, and his wife Lydia died on 10 January 1913 in Jackson County.. Elisha must have had an accident or gotten sick, because the Grant Co. Order Book C., p. 649, dated Oct 1855 lists claims against the Grant County Court for services rendered: ...to J.A. Johnson for medical attention to the widow Milton and to John J. Hicks, and to Elisha Isaacs. On the 1860 census, Amanda was again listed as a widow. Abstracted County Records by Janet Pease list Amanda's death, " Amanda Isaacs, 79, white female, died 17 August 1898 of stomach trouble and old age, widowed, housekeeper, born in Grant." **I am not completely sure that Elisha was a son of Godfrey and Keziah. But at this point it seems to be the "best guess." 7. Eleanor Isaacs was born between 1830 and 1832. She married James H. Collins on the 8th of April 1850 in Laurel County. The vital records of Laurel County show that they had a son Harden on 6 February 1852; a daughter Mahala on 1 December 1853; and a daughter Rebecca on 4 December 1855. The vital records of Jackson County show they had a son James F. on 10 April 1858. They appeared on the 1860 census of Jackson County, but I can't find them on the 1870 census. On the 6th of June, 1885, Nelly (Isaacs) Collins, while living in Dwarf, Perry County, applied for a Civil War pension on behalf of her deceased husband's service, but was rejected. Evidently there were several problems with her application. The dates on the application (in 1885) differed from the vital records and the county marriage record. She listed her marriage as the 9th of April 1853 in Jackson County, but a deposition from the Laurel County clerk included in the application listed the marriage as the 8th of April 1850 in Laurel County. She listed the children's birth dates as: Hardin - 16 February 1854 The Kentucky vital records ended in about 1860 so we didn't find a record of the birth of Samuel J. Collins. But I would imagine that he was probably born in 1860 or 1861. On the 1880 census (Perry County) he listed his age as 20. Samuel was listed on the census as maimed, crippled, bedridden or otherwise disabled. In addition to the problem with the dates, Nelly listed her
husband as having been a private in Co. C, commanded by John Wilson of the 8th
Regiment of Kentucky Infantry. She explained that he was furloughed on the
1st of October 1863 because he had typhoid fever and he came home. He died
on the 15th of October, 1863 in Jackson County. Apparently the James Collins who
had served in that company was alive and already receiving a pension in another
county. She thought her husband might have served under the name James
Hudson since he sometimes used that as an alias, but the description of James
Hudson didn't match her husband. She did find a different James Collins
that she felt was most likely her husband, but apparently this James Collins was
listed as deserted, not furloughed. I assume at this point Nelly was disillusioned
enough that she didn't fight anymore. She never received a pension. In 1880 Nelly Collins was living with her daughter Mahala and her son in law Lewis Holiday in Perry County. Nelly's son Samuel was living with them and designated disabled. A Martha Collins, age 10 was also living with them, but I am not sure of her relationship. 8.**Jackson Isaacs was born about 1830 in Owsley County according to his Civil War military service record. Owsley County was created in 1843 from parts of Clay, Breathitt and Estill counties. And parts of Owsley were taken to form Jackson County in 1858.
I can't find Jackson Isaacs on the 1850 census but a Jackson Isaacs did marry Mary C. Pierce on 25 April 1851 (bond) in Grant County. Jackson's brothers, Jacob and Elisha were both in Grant County in 1850 and it seems likely that Jackson was there as well. He might have been working as a laborer on some farm and not enumerated.
There is an entry in the Jackson County Vital Records: "James William Isaacs, son of Jackson and Polly Isaacs born August 1859 in Jackson County recorded in Jackson County"
I
haven't been able to find Jackson and Polly Isaacs on the 1860 census, although
they were most likely there as Jackson was
indicted by the Jackson County Court for "weaponry" in November
1859. Jackson
enlisted in Co. G. 3rd KY Volunteer Cavalry on 29 October 1861 at Richmond,
Madison County, KY. He listed his age at the time as 31. He was 6 feet 1 inches
tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, and a farmer, by trade. Jackson
was appointed Saddler
in the place of John King on 17 January 1862. His military service record
listed him present on all bi-monthly company muster rolls through 31 December 1862,
but he was
absent without leave on the company muster roll dated 31 October 1862.
There were three references to Jackson Isaacs in the Jackson County Circuit Court Records:
November Term, 1860, 3rd day p.168 Commonwealth, plaintiff against Jackson Isaacs – Indictment - weapons Ordered that this cause be continued and that an alias summons issue to Grant County.
June term, 1862, 2nd day p. 208 Commonwealth, plaintiff against Jackson Isaacs, defendant: Ordered that this cause be continued and that further process issue
June Term, 1863, 1st day p. 230 Commonwealth, plaintiff against Jackson Isaacs, defendant Ordered that his case be abated on act of death of defendant.
I don't know anything more about the death of Jackson Isaacs or about what happened to his family.
**I am not completely sure that Jackson is a son of Godfrey and Keziah. But at this point it seems to be the "best guess." 9. Rebecca Isaacs was born about 1838. She died September
1863 of
typhoid, along with her parents and brothers. I don't believe she ever
married. According to the census records, Godfrey and Keziah's children, Godfrey Jr. and Rhoda were both born about 1825. Godfrey is quite consistent, being 25 in 1850, 35 in 1860, 45 in 1870 and 55 in 1880. I haven't found Rhoda on the 1850, but she is 35 on the 1860, 45 on the 1870 and 57 on the 1880. It is possible that they were twins, more likely that they were born very close in age to each other. It is also a fact that in the 1800's people did not keep tract of their age as diligently as we do today. Since, with only the records I have available, it would be impossible for me to know the true birth order of these Isaacs children, I have simply assigned them an age, trying to conform to the information available. Barry Isaacs' analysis of the land records concerning Godfrey and Keziah Godfrey and Keziah began by purchasing a Land Grant on Beaver
Creek in Floyd County that was surveyed in March 1825. They continued
buying land through September 1831. Beginning in February 1834 they were
selling land on Beaver Creek. They continued selling land in Floyd County
on Beaver Creek through November 1839. The Right and Left Forks of Beaver
Creek form just south of Martin in present day Floyd County.
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