"JOHN ISREAL CONSTRUCTED AND RAN A RACE TRACK NEAR CORBIN, KY IN THE LATE 1700'S AND EARLY 1800'S. HE LATER BUILT A FLATBOAT AND MOVED HIS HORSES AND OTHER EFFECTS DOWN STREAM TO NATCHEZ MISS. HE DIED A VERY WEALTHY MAN. He Received A Land Grant in 1803 at Knox County, Kentucky. His data record was Updated on 19 June 2003 by Glenn W Mayfield."

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Phil Norfleet:

"According to a family legend recounted by a direct descendent, Jacob N. Mayfield in 1933 (see above), Israel Mayfield supposedly abandoned his wife a few years after their settlement in Knox County KY; he was said to have gone to Natchez MS where he became financially successful, gambled, raced horses and died in about the year 1835. I have never seen any credible evidence supporting this old legend; however, the above cited evidence does strongly imply that Israel Mayfield abandoned his family in the early part of the year 1806.

Even though Israel is mentioned in the Knox County KY records, in the 1804-1806 time frame, his name does not appear in the 1810 Federal Census for KY (in Knox County or anywhere else in the state). There is a certain John Mayfield listed for Knox County in 1810; unfortunately, I have no idea as to his identity. A careful review of the 1810 Knox County KY Census indicates that Israel's wife, Martha, and their children were probably living in the household of Martha Mayfield's parents - David and Jane Prewit.

October 1808: Israel Mayfield sues Micajah Mayfield (1748-1838) and two of his sons, Micajah, Jr. and Southerland Mayfield in the Jefferson County Court of Chancery for land fraud. The alleged fraud was connected with the sale of 100 acres of land, located near Mayfield's Station in Williamson County TN and is the subject of a separate essay appended to this web site.

"I now believe that this first Israel Mayfield (of Natchez legend) was dead prior to October 1812. There is primary evidence of this from the comparison of two court records -- one from Knox County KY in 1805 and the second record from Williamson County TN in 1812.

1) From the minutes of the Knox County KY Court (also see above) is the following entry concerning a lawsuit involving a certain Jacob Myers vs Israel Mayfield:

Myers complains that Israel Mayfield is indebted to him in the amount of 24 pounds, 13 shillings and asks for a further 10 pounds in damages. Summons issued to Mayfield on 01 July 1805. On 02 July 1805, Mayfield posts a bond of 49 pounds, 6 shillings, the same to become void if Mayfield appears in Circuit Court to answer Myers's charges at the next day of Court, i. e., 03 July 1805.

2) From the minutes of the Williamson County TN Court, October Term 1812:

"Jacob Myers vs Israel Mayfields heirs: Debt $107, Dam. $50. Justices Samuel Akin, Collin McDaniel, John J. Henry. Jury: Wm Dowdy, Thos Walker, ... David Craig say plaintif sustained damages by reason of detention of debt to $13.49. That 24 pounds, 13 shillings Kentucky money is equal to $82.16. Therefore plaintif recovers agt defendants debt of 24 pounds, 13 shillings KY money equal in cash to $82.16 and interest on the debt from 01 March 1805. ... "

It is apparent, given the fact that the exact amount of money involved (24 pounds, 13 shillings) is the same in both cases, that the same people, i.e., Jacob Myers and Israel Mayfield, are involved and that Israel Mayfield is dead at the time of the above cited jury trial (October 1812).

1818: The area in which the family of Israel Mayfield lived becomes part of the newly formed County of Whitley.

1820: In the 1820 Census for Whitley County KY, Israel's wife, Martha (Patsy) Mayfield, is listed as the head of household in her own right.