Basil Hayden, Sr.

Basil Hayden, Sr.

• Basil Hayden, Sr., Whiskey University
• Find A Grave Memorial ID # 10063233

Basil Hayden was honored by his Grandson, Raymond Basil Hayden, with the Whiskey "Old Grand-Dad". Beam Suntory, Inc. now owns and produces O.G.D., and in 1992 began production of Basil Hayden's Bourbon.

"In 1796, Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr. broke 'the rules' by mixing small grains into the mash of a traditional corn base. A Maryland transplant unafraid to stand out amidst the residing establishment, Basil conjectured that the spicy flavor of rye would be a striking complement to the sweet smoothness of corn in his distillery's standard bourbon. And much to the chagrin of the traditionalist set, Basil was right. His recipe was a masterpiece, resulting in a unique, singular small batch bourbon whiskey that was blessed with rich hints of peppermint, notes of pepper, slight citrus overtones, and a spicy, warming finish. Artfully aged at a relatively mild 80 proof, Basil Hayden's® is as novel and delectable a bourbon whiskey as it was when the master distiller rolled out his first barrel over 200 years ago. Marked by a rich cascade of aromas and flavors, Basil Hayden's® is still a small batch bourbon, but with broader appeal. And just as it was in 1796, the only 'rule' to enjoying our Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is that it should be done responsibly." Beam Suntory, Inc.

Basil Hayden is listed in "The Centenary History of Catholicity in Kentucky" by Benjamin Webb as one of the leaders of the Maryland League of 1785.

THE Pottinger's CREEK SETTLEMENT.

In the year 1785, "a league" of sixty famihes was formed in Maryland all Catholics, and mostly residents of St. Mary's county each one of whom was pledged to emigrate to Kentucky within a specified time. Their purpose was to settle together, as well for mutual protection against the Indians, as with the view of securing to themselves, with the least possible delay, the advantages of a pastorate and a church. They were not all to emigrate at once, but as circumstances permitted. The tradition of this league is sufficiently general among old people, as well in Maryland as in Kentucky, to give to it certainty.*

Of the sixty families subscribing to the compact, twenty-five Ieft Maryland early in 1785, and reached Kentucky before the end of spring of the same year. Their journey was prosecuted by land to Pittsburgh, and thence in flatboats down the Ohio River to Maysville. This landing was chosen for the reason, the country bordering on the river, above the Falls of the Ohio, was known to be infested by Indians. The party marched inland from Maysville and arrived in due time at Goodwin's station (near the present town of Boston, in Nelson County), which was the nearest fortified post to their prearranged and ultimate destination, the Pottinger's Creek lands.

Leaving the women and children under the protection of the fort, the able bodied men and youths of the party soon set out in quest of their future homes, the sites of which lay some twelve or fifteen miles southeast of the station. The lands being found and identified, the work of clearing them of their forest growth at once began, and this was soon succeeded by that of dwelling-house construction. Rude enough were the tabernacles our forefathers in the faith set up in the wilderness. They sufficed for shelter, however, and heaven be praised, daintiness was not a characteristic of those who were to dwell in them.

The names borne by these twenty-five families are not now all certainly known; but the principal among them was Basil Hayden, whose bond for his land, signed at Baltimore in 1785, is of record in the Nelson county clerk's office. On the face of this bond appears the name of Philmer (Philip) Lee, as Hayden's security. It is quite certain that Basil Hayden and Philip Lee were living on adjoining farms on Pottinger's creek in the year 1786. Lee may be said to have been a man of method. While still in Maryland he was in the habit of keeping a record of passing events.

From the entries in that record extending back to the year 1735, continued after his removal to Kentucky, it appears that his neighbors in both States bore identical names. Among the names most frequently met with in Lee's diary are: Lancaster, Coomes, Brown, Thompson, Smith, Rapier, Cash, Bullock, Hayden and Howard.

Though there's little doubt that the list that follows does not include the names of all the Catholic settlers on Pottinger's Creek up to the year 1800, it is reasonably certain that the omissions are few in number and not of special consequence.

The first names given are thought to be, in part, those borne by the twenty-five families of the Maryland "league," to which reference has been made: Basil Hayden, Philip Lee, William Bald, Bernard Cissell, Charles Payne, William Brewer, Leonard Johnson, Henry McAtee, Joseph Clark, Stephen Elliott, James Mollihorne, Henry Norris, Ignatius Cissell, Ignatius Byrne, Randal Hagan, Ignatius Hagan, Jeremiah Brown, Robert Cissell, Ignatius Bowles, Hezekiah Luckett, Stanislaus Melton, Thomas Bowlin, John Baptist Dant, Philip Miles, Harry Hill, John Hutchins, Isaac Thawles, John Spalding, William Mahony, Henry Lucas, William Bowles, John Bowles, James Queen, Bernard Nally, James Stevens, Ignatius French, Washington Boone, Francis Bryan, Jeremiah Wathen, Thomas Mudd, Raphael R. Mudd, Walter Burch, Philip Mattingly, Joseph Spalding, James Dant, Joseph Dant, Urban Speaks, Joseph Edelin, Joseph Howe, Joseph Mills, Harry Miles, Monica Hagan, Rodolphus Norris and Francis Peak.

It is eminently proper that what the writer has learned concerning individuals in the above list should be here recorded:

Of Basil Hayden, the leader in the scheme of Catholic emigration to Kentucky, little is now known beyond the fact that his acknowledged influence over his associates was at all times exerted with a view to their interests for time and eternity. The date of his own death is uncertain. His aged widow was a pious member of Holy Cross congregation up to the year 1837, when she was called to a better life.

William Bald, Bernard Cissell, Charles Payne and William Brewer, named above, formed the first board of trustees ever organized in the State for the secure tenure of Catholic Church property. The deed of transfer of the grounds attached to Holy Cross church, the first erected in the State, reads as follows:

"This indenture, made this first day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1798, between Basil Hayden, Sr., of the county of Washington and State of Kentucky, on the one part, and William Bald, Bernard Cissell, Charles Payne and William Brewer, of the county and State aforesaid, of the other part, witnesseth: That the said Basil Hayden, for and in consideration of the sum of five pounds, good, lawful and current money of Kentucky, to him in hand paid by the said William Bald, Bernard Cissell, Charles Payne and William Brewer, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and thereof do release and acquit them, the said William Bald, Bernard Cissell, Charles Payne, and William Brewer, their heirs, executors and administrators: I, the said Basil Hayden, hath this day granted, bargained and sold unto the said William Bald, Bernard Cissell, Charles Payne and William Brewer, their heirs, executors and administrators, for the use of the Roman Catholic Church forever, a certain tract or parcel of land containing two acres, more or less, situated, lying and being in the county of, Washington, and on the waters of Pottinger's Creek, including the chapel in the centre, and bounded as follows: Beginning at a hickory standing 45" W., twelve and a half poles from said chapel, running thence due east eight poles to a white oak sapling; thence due south eighteen poles to a white oak and hickory ; thence due west eighteen poles to a dogwood ; thence due north eighteen poles to the beginning; and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging; to have and to hold the said two acres of land, to the said William Bald, Bernard Cissell, Charles Payne and William Brewer, for the only purpose and benefit of the Roman Catholic Church; and I, the said Basil Hayden, Sr., for myself and my heirs, unto the said William Bald, Bernard Cissell, Charles Payne and William Brewer, and their heirs, do the said land and premises from my heirs and all and every person claiming by or under us, warrant and forever defend. In testimony, etc. Basil Hayden."

"Attest: John Reed, Clerk."

• The United States Catholic Miscellany of Wednesday, December ist, 1824, mentions the fact that about twenty Catholic families reached Kentucky in the year 1785.

Ben. J. Webb, The Centenary of Catholicity in Kentucky; Charles A. Rogers, 1884; Reprinted by McDowell Publications