| Notes |
- MHR note: William R. Hedges had a big orchard and back of it one could see across the Licking River to the Fox place, tall trees and magnolias. Great grandfather was across the river and we went over in a canoe dug out of a big log.
MHR note: The following incident in the early life of William Ribelin Hedges was told by George Edward Hedges, son of James Alva Hedges and his wife Philora (Allen). When "Willie Riblan" was about 10 years old, he shot and wounded a bear on or near the home place in Kentucky but did not kill it. He ran to the house in excitement to get the dogs. Upon hearing what was afoot, his father Levi Hedges said he knew where the bear would go and knew a short cut to the place. He went with Willie Riblan" with his own gun and intercepted the bear. He shot it himself and Willie was outraged as it had been his bear and he had not been allowed to polish it off.
In another telling of the tale:
When Wm. Riblin Hedges was 10 years old his father sent him from their house on the Licking River in what was then Fleming County, on an errand over on Triplett River and he carried a gun. Hearing a squealing pig, he investigated and found a bear in the act of killing and eating it. Resting his gun across a log he shot and wounded the bear, which rushed into the woods, crossing the log behind which Wm. Riblin lay. He went home for his father and the dogs. His father put him in charge of the dogs and taking the gun, went across country to where he expected the bear to appear when the dogs chased it. He had figured correctly, so that when Wm. Riblan and the dogs got there, they found the bear already dispatched. Wm. Riblan had counted upon finishing what he had started and his disappointment threw him into a huff.
[2]
- MHR note: Ida Cronkhite said (in pink letter of 28 December 1949) she thought that “Aunt Betty” Hopper (Eliz. B.1820) who was found with the William Ribelin Hedges family in the 1870 census, was a distant cousin through the Armstrongs. She cared for her mother who died when Betty was about 25 years old. Malinda Hedges needed help, so Betty made her home with them. She got board and room and one third of the wool. Betty was so shy she put on her sunbonnet before coming downstairs and few ever saw her face. Lonely widowers found her not only unresponsive, but unwilling to talk to them. When 81 and nearly blind, she fell downstairs and died shortly thereafter. She helped rear the second generation and “Uncle Will” said she'd been a second mother.
[2]
- MHR Note: Letter from Melissa Lucinda Hedges, to her brothers, William R. Hedges, James A. Hedges and Levi M. Hedges and sister Philora (Allen) Hedges telling of their father's death. This letter was in the possession of Anna (Hedges) Bagley, Purdin, Missouri when Mary (Hedges) Reiner visited her in 1940. The heading “at home” refers to the home of William R. and Malinda R. Hedges on the bank of the Licking River at the mouth of the Bluebank, Fleming County, Kentucky, in the part of Fleming County.
At home, December 1, 1885.
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
It is with a sad heart I take up my pen to write the sad news of our dear father’s death. He departed this life Saturday, Nov. 28, at 25 minutes after six o’clock in the morning. After a serious illness of 12 day. He suffered more than tongue can tell. He lay in an unconscious state for several hours. He suffered greatly from the time he was taken. The doctor had to draw his water from him. Oh it was so hard to see him suffer so, but it had to be. Rose came to see him; staid several days then went home; came back after he was down. Ike got here after he was dead. Uncle Jesse staid with him all the time. We laid him in the old graveyard where sister Mary was laid, there to slumber till Gabriel’s trump and the voice of the Lord shall awaken the dead from the old churchyard.
I sent postals to you all when I found he was so bad, but I suppose it was not so any of you could come. He never talked about any of his children, but thought he could not live from the start. We done all we could for him but nothing done any good. He has done paid the debt we all have to pay and we can go to him; he cannot come to us; Oh how we miss him. Mother sits around and looks so sad. I can hardly bear it. She is not well. She send her love to you all.
My love to you all. Write soon as you all are very close together. I want this letter to be read by all. I would love to see you and talk to you face to face but we are far apart. Yes we are scattered – we are scattered, though a joyous band were we. Now this letter is for one and all of you. Write as often as you can.
You sister, M. L. Stenrod
[2]
- LKH note:
The Hedges family did not move between the 1850 and 1860 census.
Rowan County was created in 1856 from parts of Fleming and Morgan counties.
[4, 6]
- 1850 US census, enumerated 20 August 1850
Division 2, Fleming County, Kentucky
William R Hedges, age 52, farmer, real estate $3000
Malinda R, age 44
Addison W, age 24, farmer
Viana J, age 22
Peter T, age 19, laborer
Levi M, age 17, laborer
Rosannn S, age 14, attending school
Malissa L, age 12, attending school
William R, age 9, attending school
James A, age 6, attending school
Isaac A, age 4
Mary Ann Crouch, age 26
Peter L Crouch, age 2
William N Cassity, age 18, laborer
[4]
- 1860 US census, enumerated 15 Aug 1860
Rowan County, Kentucky
W R Hedges, age 62, farmer, real estate $3000, personal property $1060
Malinda R, age 54
Viana J, age 31
Malissa I, age 21
William, age 19
James, age 16
Isaac, age
Elizabeth Hopper, age 40, domestic
[4]
- 1870 US census, enumerated
Cross Roads, Rowan County, Kentucky
William Hedges, age 72, farmer, real estate $5000, personal property $1000
Malinda, age 64, keeping house
Melissa Demere, age 30, domestic servant
Malinda Demere, age 5
Elizabeth Hopper, age 50, at home
In the 1870 census, four household are listed next to each other: William Ribelin Hedges and three of his sons: Levi, William R. and James Hedges.
[4]
- June 4, 1889
Deed Book #2, page 374. Rowan County, Kentucky.
The Grantors James A. Hedges and wife of the town of Sidell in the County of Vermilion and the State of Illinois for the consideration of $1000 convey and Quit Claim the P.T. Hedges of the Town of Oakwood County of Vermilion and Sate of Illinois all interest in the following described Real Estate, to wit: All the right title and interest in and to the Estate of William R. Hedges deceased of County of Rowan and Bath, and State of Ky. Also to any and all notes and chattels and all personal property of said Estate situate in county of Rowan and Bath in Sate of Ky. Hereby release . . . all rights under and by virtue of the Homestead Exemption laws of the Sate. Dated this 29th day of August 1888. Signed in the presence of A. C. Woody.
James A, Hedges
Philora Hedges
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C377-H37T?cat=112267&i=198&lang=en
[7, 8]
- Sept. 20, 1888
Deed Book #2, page 376. Rowan County, Kentucky.
Know all men by these present that we the heirs of W.R. Hedges Deceased our names annexed do appoint and convey full power our attorney in fact for us our heirs and assigns to P.T. Hedges, of Vermilion County and State of Illinois granting him full power to sell, rent, transfer or convey all personal property and Real Estate belong to the Estate of W.R. hedges, Decd. In the County of Rowan and Bath and State of Kentucky and after paying all just debts against the said Estate to divide the remainder equally between the said heirs of the home survey in Rowan County, Ky.
Signed:
M.L. Steenrod
Joseph Steenrod
Isaac A. Hedges
Julia M. Hedges
H. R. Hedges
Sue Hedges
V.J. Ham
L.M. Hedges
R.S. Guilkison
Peter T. Crouch
Hattie L. Crouch
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C377-497Y-F?cat=112267&i=199&lang=en
[7, 8]
- Morehead, Rowan Co. Ky
Deed Book. #1, p. 439
This indenture this the Sixth of October of the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy between Wm. R. Hedges of one part and Jesse Hedges of the second part, both of the County of Rowan of the commonwealth of Kentucky. Witnesseth: that Wm. R. Hedges hath bargained granted and sold to Jesse Hedges a certain tract or parcel of land for and in consideration of Eighty two dollars and fifty cents paid in hand the receipt whereof is here of acknowledged lying and being in the county of Rowan and the state aforesaid and on the Blue bawn branch beginning at a stone planted corner to Hand & Berry now Morgan and Berry and in the line of Hedges and Cassity then N 57 E 7 poles to a stone corner in said line thence N 26 West 56 poles to a stone corner to Said line, thence S 35 east 44 poles to a Stone corner to Cassity and Hedges thence on a straight line 78 poles to Morgan and Berry, thence with their line 32 poles to a stone on the edge of the branch thence to the beginning 10 poles, supposed to be sixteen acres and one half be the same more or less which boundary of land ___ have and sold to Jesse Hedges, heirs or assigns from me and my heirs to have and to hold from me and my heirs forever, and if my wife shall claim a dower in it the money is to pay it to come out of my estate to pay it and if the land should be lost , the money is to be paid back with out interest.
Atts:
L.W. Hedges Wm. R. Hedges
Malinda Hedges
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C377-NS1C-Z?cat=112267&i=225&lang=en
[7, 8]
- Text from Mary Hedges Reiner: “The following letter is a copy of that from William Ribelin Hedges, written from his home in Rowan County, Kentucky, to his daughter-in-law, Mary Ann (Vawter) Hedges, wife of Peter Thompson Hedges, 30 August 1863 at Bryantsburg, Indiana where she had gone to teach school while her husband was away in the Civil War. Her parents, Pascal Vawter and Eliza (Mavity) Vawter, were with her, as was her four-year-old son, Thaddeus. Her sister, Samantha Jane (Vawter) Hedges and her three small children went to live with her in-laws, as her husband, Levi Marion Hedges, was also away at war. Later, when the war troubles became more threatening, William Ribelin Hedges, wife Malinda, Samantha and her three small children would move to Aberdeen, Ohio, to wait out the war.”
August 30, 1863.
Dear Daughter:
After so long (a) time neglecting to answer your first letter, we now have taken our pen to answer boath. We received yours of the 17 August, and heard your complaint of getting no answer. We think you have a right to complain, not knowing all of our troubles. It was not of any disrespect. About the time we should have wrote, the rebels was in, and thare is no mutch confusion here, that no time we do not feel like we could compose a letter, and we do not want you to think hard of us on that account, but be assured it (is) not for want of respect we have neglected to write to you. And Peter – we got a letter from him, requesting that Thompson should take the mare and to get the money that is in Howard’s hands. We have not went as yet to see about it, but will go in a few days, and he will be bound to have a saddle, and if we do not get that money, we can’t fit him out. The rebels took boath of my saddles so we tell you that we will do the best that we can, and as Malisa has wrote several times, she has give you the occurrences of the neighborhood.
You requested to know about the Hedges family. My father said that thare was 3 or 4 brothers landed at Filadelphia and one of them went to Verginia, and the rest we do not remember whare they went. Our grand father settled in merriland state, and when in the revolution, he joined the army and took the small pocks and went home and died.
(new page)
His name was William Hedges. We had a(n) uncle name(d) Andrew. He lived on the old stand and died thare in merriland. We had an uncle named William. He went to Philadelphia and we never heard of him since. Thare was several cousins in Ohio, about 20 miles north east of Chillocotha. This is the best account we can give of the relations.
And now Maryann, as we have not bin prompt in answering yours, do not take the pouts and quit writing to us. Remember that we are old and (have) many difficulties to encounter, for we every fiew days hear some threat, and some depredation from the rebels. We are told that they are coming down after a while and the horses that they do not want, they will kill, so as you have some idea of our troubles, we bid you farewell, hoping that if we meet no more in this world of trouble, we may live so that we may be prepared (to) meet whare trouble never comes, and parting will be no more. Tell Thaddus to be (a) good boy and learn his book, and be good to his mother. Give our respects to grand father and mother Vawter, and all inquiring friends.
Yours as ever,
Wm. R. Hedges
M.R. Hedges (he signed for Malinda, apparently)
We forget to tell you that we had frost here this morning. It did not hurt any thing that we have seen.
Dear Sister:
The children & I are well & getting along well. I am at Papy Hedges. Excuse my short note.
Yours, Samantha.
End of letter.
[7]
|
1798 - 1885 (87 years)
[1, 2, 3, 4] 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
