Samuel Isaacs and Nancy Baldridge
Samuel Isaacs was born about 1773, probably in North Carolina. He was the son of Godfrey Isaacs. He married Nancy Baldridge about 1790, most likely in North Carolina, since their sons Godfrey and William, both listed North Carolina as their birthplace on various censuses. Nancy Baldridge was born about 1773 in North Carolina. She was the daughter of William Baldridge.
Samuel and Nancy were living in Russell County, Virginia prior to moving to Floyd County, Kentucky. Samuel first appeared on the Russell County Tax records in 1797, along with his brother, Godfrey. We assume Samuel and Nancy were in Floyd by 1812, because their son, Godfrey, married in Floyd County in 1812, and Samuel gave his consent. Samuel and Nancy sold their land in Russell County in 1812, and the deed was recorded in 1813.
Russell County Deed Book No. 4, Page 543
May 20, 1812 [Grant Deed from Samuel and Nancy Isaacks to Andrew Long]
This Indenture made this twentieth day of May one-thousand-eight-hundred and twelve between Samuel Isaacks and Nancy his wife of the County of Floyd and State of Kentucky of the one part and Andrew Long of the County of Russell and the State of Virginia of the other part, __that for and in consideration of the sum of two-hundred and fifty dollars to them...they doth acknowledge do bargain and sell unto the said Andrew Long and his heirs a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Russell on the north side of the north fork of Cars Creek, a part of the waters of Mockensin Creek and borders as follows, to wit beginning at a white oak and a red oak ... Containing thirty-one acres.
In the presence of Samuel X Isaacks
Colbird Fugate
Jean Baldridge
Robert Fugate
Nancy X Isaacs
Mary Dorton
Proved and Recorded January 5, 1813
Teste, James P. Cassell, D.C.
According to Barry Isaacs, the North Fork of Carr Creek is along VA 699 and VA 673, east of U.S. Highway Alt. 58 between Hansenville and Dickensonville, (Virginia), approximately 15 miles north of Bristol, Tennessee.
Samuel Isaacs and his brother Godfrey were both listed in the 1820 Clay County census. They also appeared on the Clay County tax list that same year. Both were listed as over 21 but neither owned any land or had a horse, so their total tax value was zero. Godfrey continued to appear on the Clay County tax list, but Samuel was not listed from 1821 to 1824. Perry County was formed in 1821 and Samuel Isaacs Sr. was listed in the first Perry County tax list. Samuel reappeared on the Clay County tax list in 1825 with one horse with a taxable value of $50.00
On the 1st Saturday in August, 1826 Samuel and Nancy Isaacs were received into the Elk Lick Baptist Church "by letter." (To be received "by letter" indicates that they had previously been a member of another Baptist congregation.) At that time the Elk Lick Baptist Church was located in Clay County. The same month that Samuel and Nancy joined the Elk Lick Baptist Church, another Samuel Isaacs was received "by recantation." The 2nd Samuel was most likely Samuel and Nancy's son Samuel. There are several references to Samuel Isaacs in the minutes of the Elk Lick Church, some make reference to committee work and I would guess that those involved the senior Samuel. There are also a fair amount of references to disobedience, and I would imagine that those concern the younger Samuel, especially since the senior Samuel died in about 1828, but the references to ill behavior continue long after that. Some examples:
June, 1826: The church required Samuel Isaacs to come forward and let them know why he had blasphemed the name of God. The church getting no satisfaction after due labors, excluded him for the church.
February 1827: Brother Reynolds laid a report against Sam Isaacs saying, "he had been drinking too much spirituous liquor and using profane language.
July 1828: S. Isaacs received by recantation.
March 1832: The church takes up the matter concerning Brother Samuel Isaacs from last meeting "laid in by Brother Reynolds. Brother Moore "says that Brother Isaacs told him that he had acted wickedly and wishes the church to wait with him." The church concludes to "exclude Brother Samuel Isaacs from her fellowship."
July 1837: Samuel Isaac came forward and "let the church know he had acted in disorder." The church took up the matter and "say they are satisfied with the brother's acknowledgment."
April 1839: Samuel Isaacs let the church know he had "done wrong pertaining to his family. The church took up the matter and laid it over to the next meeting."
In 1828 Samuel received a land grant for 100 acres in Clay County. He was listed on the tax record that year with 100 acres on the Sturgeon River and two horses. Samuel died in either late 1828 or early 1829. Samuel's name appeared on the 1829 tax record with the same 100 acres on the Sturgeon but only one horse. He was probably already deceased when the tax was accessed, but if the estate hadn't been settled, Samuel's name would still have appeared on the tax rolls.
Nancy Baldridge Isaacs appeared as head of the household on the 1830 census in Clay County. She
did not appear on the 1840 census. However, since the 1840 census only
listed heads of households, she could have been living with one of her children. She
was living with her daughter Polly Mays in Owsley in 1850 and with her
daughter Jane Agnes Gabbard in Owsley in 1860. I cannot find Nancy Isaacs on the
1870 census. She probably died
sometime between 1860 and 1870. Samuel Isaacs is buried in "The Samuel
Isaacs Cemetery," on small ridge just east of KY 399 approximately one mile
north of Vincent in Owsley County. The cemetery is at the very upper end of the
Duck Fork watershed. The Isaacs home site was north of the cemetery (also east
of KY 399), across a small hollow from the cemetery. Nancy is buried with
husband Samuel in "The Samuel Isaacs Cemetery."
I probably don't have a complete list of the children of Samuel and Nancy. They might have left married children in Virginia when they came to Kentucky. It is also possible that I might have contributed a child to them who doesn't belong.
Children of Samuel Isaacs and Nancy Baldridge
1. Godfrey Isaacs born about 1793 in North Carolina. He married Keziah Johnson in Floyd County on the 20th of February, 1812. Keziah Johnson was the daughter of Patrick Johnson and his wife Delila.
20 Feb 1812 Godfrey Isaach and Patrick Johnson are bondsmen for the marriage of Godfrey Isaachs and Keziah Johnson. I give my consent for my son to marry Keziah Johnson, 18 Feb 1812, Samuel Isaachs. Annals of Floyd County, Kentucky p.132
Godfrey and Keziah, and three of their children died in September 1863 of typhoid.
2. William B. Isaacs was born about 1794 in North Carolina. He married Sarah Johnson on 7 August 1813 in Floyd County. She was the daughter of John Johnson and Caty Reynolds.
7 Aug 1813 William Isaach and Amose Stone are bondsmen for the marriage of William Isaac and Mary Johnson. I give my consent for the marriage of William Isaac and Sarah Johnson � John Johnson. Annals of Floyd County, Kentucky p.136
There has been some confusion because the names Mary Johnson and Sarah Johnson are both named in the bond. However, the name Sarah is used consistently on the census entries. Sarah died 11 March 1875 in Floyd County and William died 6 June1876 in Floyd County.
3. Samuel Isaacs was born about 1795 in North Carolina. I assume he married prior to 1824 when his son George W. Isaacs was born. I haven't been able to find a record of this marriage. An 1858 Jackson County land record lists Samuel and his wife Sarah selling a piece of land to their son Andrew. Sarah's maiden name remains a mystery. There are a lot of unknowns concerning Samuel and his family, thus the nickname, "Mystery Sam." The death of a Samuel Isaacs was listed in Rockcastle County Death Records, "Samuel Isaacs died August 1859, age 65 of fever, sick for 35 days." A Sarah Isaacs, age 65, appeared on the 1860 Rockcastle census with the family of Godfrey Isaacs and Malinda Wilder. Since this Godfrey was the son of "Mystery Sam" it seems likely that this was his mother, and that the death record was for his father, Samuel.
4. Elizabeth Isaacs was born about 1803 in Virginia. She married Herod Johnson 24 November 1820 in Floyd County.
Herrad Johnson and Elisha Isaacs are bondsmen for the marriage of Herrad Johnson and Elizabeth Isaacs. I am willing that Herrad Johnson marry my daughter Betsy Isaacs and Samuel Isaaacs. Annals of Floyd County, Kentucky p.259
Betsy Isaacs to Herrad Johnson 24 November 1820 - Marriage Return
I am not sure who the bondsman, Elisha Isaacs is. Elizabeth's brother Elisha would only be about 12 years old in 1820, and probably too young to serve in such a capacity.
Herod Johnson most likely died in Floyd County prior to 1840 as Elizabeth Johnson was listed as the head of the household on the Madison County 1840 census.
On the 1850 census, Elizabeth Isaacs Johnson was listed as Elizabeth Tillery, the wife of Isaac Tillery. The census stated they were married during the census year. I haven't found a record of the marriage, although it seems likely they were married in Madison County. Isaac Tillery's death was listed in the Madison County Vital Records, "Isaac Tillery 70 years old, cooper, resided at Indian Creek, Madison County, born in North Carolina, died February 1852, pleurisy."
Elizabeth Isaacs Johnson Tillery appeared on the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses of Jackson County.
5. James Isaacs was born about 1804 in Virginia. He was first married in Perry County. Since the records that exist only mention the name of the groom, we do not know the name of James' first wife. The record we have states, "21 August 1823-James Isaacs married by John Morris"
James married a 2nd time on 22 August 1847 in Madison County to Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, a widow. James already had a large family when he married Elizabeth, who had a large family of her own. However the Laurel County court record indicate that Elizabeth Davis left most of her children with friends and family in Laurel County. The 1850 census taker made it difficult to figure out who belonged to whom when he listed all the children from both marriages as Isaacs. Some of the problem was cleared up with the 1860 census, but questions still remain.
James died sometime before June of 1862 in Jackson County. His heirs were listed several times in various land records.
6. Elijah Isaacs was born about 1808 in Virginia. He married Sally Bowman 15 April 1830 in Clay County. He appeared in the 1830 census of Clay County, but I can't find him on the 1840 census. He appeared in Owsley County on the 1850 through 1880 censuses.
7. Jane Agnes or Agnes Jane Isaacs was born 24 December 1811, in Russell County, Virginia. She married Isaac Hugh Gabbard on 27 Feb 1827. A record of the marriage is listed in Clay County, but a note on the bond states that the actual marriage took place in Estill County.* Isaac Hugh Gabbard was born 14 May 1805 in Washington County, Virginia, the son of Henry Gabbard and Barbara Hunsucker. Nancy Baldridge Isaacs was living with Isaac Hugh and Jane Agnes in 1860. The census indicated that she was blind. According to their tombstones Isaac Hugh Gabbard died in 1892 and Jane Agnes died 1 April 1896. Both are buried in Owsley County.
*a note from Barry: Samuel Isaacs' family was living on a strip of land that is in present day Lee County, but on the Clay/Estill line in 1827.
8. Rachel Isaacs was born April 1813 in Floyd County. She married George Harrison, the son of Elisha Harrison and Ipha/Effie Baker on 3 March 1831 in Clay County. George was born about 1809 in Estill County. A bond for the marriage of George Harrison and Rachel Isaacs was filed in Clay County.
George Harrison and Rachel Isaacs joined in holy marriage 3 March 1831 -- signed: E.W. Bowman, with Henry Gabbard as bondsman.
Mr. Abner Baker, sir: Pleas to let George Harrison have marriage lisons for my daughter Rachel Isaacks and her father is dead, and you will much oblig your friend, Nancy Isaacs, given under my hand this 2 March 1831 also signed by Henry Gabbard and James Isaacks.
The deaths of George Harrison and one of his daughters were recorded in the Madison County Vital Records.
Died of flux in September 1852, George Harrison, 40 years old, male, farmer, resided in Clover Bottom.
Daughter Harrison, no age given, female, resided in Clover Bottom, daughter of George Harrison, died September 1852 of Flux.
The daughter who died might have been Iphy who was born about 1843. She appeared on the 1850 but not on the 1860 census. I don't think Rachel ever remarried.
Rachel appeared on the 1880 and 1900 censuses of Jackson County. In 1900 she said she had nine children, five of whom were still living. She was listed as 87 years old, and a widow.
9. Fielding Isaacs was born about 1816 in Clay County. He married Susan Bowman on the 1st of September, 1830 in Clay County. Susan Bowman was born about 1816 in Booneville, Owsley County. Because both Fielding and Susan would have only been 14 in 1830, there has been some question about the accuracy of this date. In her Civil War pension deposition of 13 November 1884, Susan said she was 18 when she married Fielding. Even though this later date does not agree with the county's recorded date, it does seem to coincide a little better with the birth of their first child in 1835.
According to many of the depositions given on behalf of Susan Isaacs (she claimed a mother's pension based on the service of her son Jasper, who died during the Civil War), Fielding was a womanizer who had had numerous affairs before he deserted his family about 1861. Fielding and Susan's divorce was granted in November of 1867, and became effective one year later. In 1870, Fielding was living in Garrard County with an 18 year old girl named Jennie Johnson. In 1880 he was living with the same Jennie in Wayne County.
10. Nancy Isaacs was born about 1817 in Clay County. She married Hardin Sloan about 1838. Hardin was born about 1812 and died before 1865:
Jackson County Land Records, Book 1 Pg. 441
9 Jan 1865 Heirs of James Isaacs on the first part and Nancy Sloan and heirs of Hardin Slone on the 2nd part, in consideration of $100.00 paid to James Isaacs while he was still alive, Hardin Sloan bought a tract of land on Birch Lick Waters of Indian Creek, 25 acres more or less, bounded by James Isaacs land, embracing the boundary of land marked out by James Isaacs to Hardin Sloan and the same now in possession of Nancy Sloan. Signed by: James R. Isaacs, Lucinda Isaacs, Andrew Isaacs, Silas Isaacs, G.W. Isaacs, Jane Isaacs, Mary Jane Isaacs, Fielden Isaacs, William Riley Isaacs, Isaac Harrison, Harden Isaacs, Emily Isaacs, Masiah Isaacs, Leuta Harrison, Louisa Isaacs. I have no interest in this land: JM Johnson & Hezekiah Isaacs.
Nancy was in Jackson County in 1870, and in Madison County in 1880.
11. Polly Isaacs was born about 1818 in Clay County. She married Giles May 12 November 1838 in Clay County. The consent for her marriage was signed by her mother who was a widow at the time.
11 November 1838: I do hereby certify that I, Nancy Isaacks of this county of Clay and State of Kentucky Doth this day agree that Polly Isaacks, my daughter shall be permitted to marry Giles Mays this acknowledgment is made in the presents of Patrick Hamilton and Fealdon Isaacks. This is therefore to authorize you to licen and permit you then (?) for the same. Atest: Patr Hamilton & Fealdon Iaacks.
Nancy Baldridge Isaacs, was living with her daughter Polly in Owsley County in 1850. Polly Isaacs Mays appeared in Owsley County on the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses.