John Waller Minor

Waller Minor gives his Power of Attorney to Thomas Norman to sell his crops and pay his debts to Richard Y. Wiggington and Company on September 15, 1794. This is done at the same time as Mary Colvin's family sells the land they had inherited from her father. Thomas Norman signs for Waller Minor on this deed and his wife, Polly signs for herself. Members of the Colvin family with Waller, his mother Sarah and his two younger brothers, John Lewis and James Minor must have come together to Kentucky about this time. The first record for Waller Minor in Kentucky is Juley 9, 1796 in Campbell County. On the tax list he is over 21 and has one horse. He remains on the Campbell County tax lists until 1799, when a portion of that county becomes Pendleton County. Waller Minor is recorded in Moses Scott's tax book, List #2. Moses Scott was one of the original large land owners around Falmouth. This shows the Minors were somewhere in the Falmouth area, when they first came to Kentucky. Waller is in Campbell County with his brothers-in-law, Lewis Colvin, John Colvin, Benjamin Gosney and Charles Colvin. John Colvin and Benjamin Gosney remain living in Campbell County, while Lewis Colvin and Waller Minor become residents of the new county, Pendleton. They are on the tax list for that county in 1799 and 1800. On January 29, 1801, there are three successive deeds recorded. The first to Lewis Colvin; the next to William Lightfoot, adjoining Lewis Colvin's South East corner and Waller Minor's line; and the third to Waller Minor on the Licking River. (Blanket Creek) William Lightfoot had married Leannah Colvin, John Colvin's daughter February 27, 1798 in Campbell County, KY. Also in 1801 Waller is the bondsman for the marriage of Catherine Colvin tho Goodrigh Lightfoot, with permission given by her mother Margaret Colvin. These various recordings show the closeness of Waller Minor and his wife's family.

There is also interaction with the two families in Campbell County. At the estate sale of Robert Duckworth in April 1801 in Campbell County, Waller buys a saw and Lewis Colvin buys two hoes. Both of the brothers-in-law are also purchasers. Material possessions were not easy to come by in early Kentucky but, this seems a long way to go to purchase a saw, unless he were visiting family.

The Kentucky State Militia was referred to as the Cornstalk Militia. Many of the members did not have rifles and carried cornstalks when drilling. Waller Minor was first commissioned an Ensign in the 21st. Regiment on September 21, 1802. He is listed in a militia unit, until 1828. Kentucky's Militia Convention - 1784

Source: B.O. Gaines' History of Scott County, Kentucky, Vol. I, page 98. Published 1904.

One of the early and most important laws passed by the Legislature was the establishment of militias, over which the Governor was given almost absolute control. These militias were established for the same purpose that State Guards are used for now, in suppressing riots, mobs, etc. A regiment being unlimited. Each regiment was required to muster once a year. Preachers, cashiers of banks, printers and court officers were the only ones exempt from duty, and nearly every male over sixteen years old was required to do duty or else fined. Sheriffs collected the fines and the County Courts settled with Paymasters for the services of musicians and drummers and the county's pro rata of officers' salaries.

Feeling that the state of Virginia was not protecting the citizens of Kentucky, to which state Kentucky belonged, these fiercely independent frontiersmen decided they must establish their own militia, as well as their own state. The primary decision made at the first of ten conventions leading to statehood in 1792 was the establishment of a militia. Later, in 1811, Kentucky's Cornstalk Militia was established in time to supply soldiers for the War of 1812. The Uniforms Adopted.

The Captains and subaltern officers, a deep blue hunting shirt and pantaloons, with red trimmings, half boots or gaiters, round black hat, black cockade, red plume, and small sword or hanger. Chaplains, Surgeons and Surgeon's Mate not required to wear same. Captains to wear one epaulette on right shoulder and subaltern officer on left shoulder.

As a citizen, he was also assigned to create and repair the road near his home. Later he was sighted by the Pendleton County commissioners, for not having done this. He served on a jury in a case against a colored man. The man was whipped. He next served on a jury for a dispute on an application for a grist mill. The man's application was refused. Lewis Colvin and William Lightfoot were also on the jury, January 6, 1802.

Three years after buying his 129 3/4 acres of land, Waller makes application, February 25, 1804, to build a water grist mill on Blanket Creek, a few logs above the mouth of white oak branch. Lewis Colvin and Charles Colvin are two of the men the court appoints to examine the site. The mill can not pollute the waters of the creek, or cut down on the flow of water to the orchards or gardens of the properties down stream. The dam will not impair the health of the neighbors with stagnate water, nor would it overflow properties back of the dam. Waller owned land on both sides of Blanket Creek and is given permission to build an 8 ft. high dam for his grist mill. He was living on Blanket Creek at the time. He remains a miller, as evidenced by court cases in later years. We today think environmentally. It is surprising to find there was the same concern 195 years ago.

An interesting event takes place on February 6, 1806. Waller Minor gives all his land and his personal possessions to his children, for love and affection. The land goes to his two sons, Beverly Minor and Johnston Minor. To his daughter Sallie he gives one Sorrel mare named Frankey, to Nancy one Sorrel mare named Jin, to Malinda one Sorrel horse named Jolly and to Susana three Feather beds and two horned cows. Why would a father do this when his sons are only 3 and 5 years old? Could he have been ill or did he have financial problems? He may have been protecting his property from creditors, remembering the insolvency of his father, Owen Minor. Waller continues to farm the 129 3/4 and pays the taxes until his son Beverly Lewis Minor marries and takes over the farm.

In the Order Book for Pendleton County, August Court 1807, it is ordered that Waller Minor be appointed Surveyor of the road leading from Blanket Creek, as far as where the road turns out of said road, between John and Robert Forsythes, leading to the meeting house and to include the lands in the following bounds, to wit, " all the lands below Lewis Colvin s on the upper side of Blanket Creek with the said creek to the Widow Augals from thence to include Daniel Williams and from thence to S. Colvins being the balance of the lands allowed William Stites". Waller was later sited in court, for not keeping up this road. From the description, it appears, the road that adjoins the Minor?Applegate farm today was part of the original road laid out by Waller Minor and his neighbors. In those days the adjoining property owners were responsible for the upkeep of the roads by their own labor and costs. On November 29, 1809 Waller signed a note for $166.67 1/2 to Joseph Merill, due in 10 days, which may be discharged in whiskey at 3 shillings per gallon, delivered in Falmouth. But it is understood that Merrill is not to bring suit in case said Minor fails to discharge this obligation, until March 1, 1812. and Minor is to pay lawful interest from December 9, 1809 in case of failure to discharge this obligation on March 1, 1812. Goodrich Lightfoot was his Surety. There is a second note for $166.67 1/2 to Merrill dated May 17, 1811. This is do March 1, next. Merrill brings suit March 9, 1812, which may be discharged in good merchantable whiskey delivered in goo title (tight) casks, delivered in Falmouth at three Shellens (Shillings) per gallon as witness my hand and seal this 15 of May 1811. Signed Waller Minor with Goodrich Lightfoot, Surety." Merrill is given a judgement by the court for all three notes. Whiskey was the main cash product of Northern Kentucky. Casks were put on barges and flat boats on the Licking and went down the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans. There was little hard cash or currency in Kentucky. Did Waller make the whiskey or did he take it in trade for grinding a farmers corn and wheat?

This was not the end of Waller Minor's court cases. Joseph Merrill is of Union Co., KY. in 1812. He had sold 100 acres on the Main Licking to Waller Minor in 1809 and Waller quit claims it back to him in 1812. Waller made a note for $100, May 21, 1812, to Joseph Merrill to be discharged by 200bu. good merchantable wheat, delivered in Falmouth on October 15th, next. The note is signed by Waller Minor with Goodrich Lightfoot and John L. Minor. Waller gives 61 bu, 21 lbs. between January 18, 1813 and January 30th. Merrill assigns a note for $63.12 to Joseph and Thomas Best. They jointly bring suit on October of 1813, to collect the note, going against Waller Minor, John L. Minor and Goodrich Lightfoot. Alexander Monroe has acted as Surety for the three defendants and give a Bail Bond May 29, 1813. Again, Waller Minor has to pay.

John Minor, Owen Minor's brother dies in Culpeper Co., VA. in 1802. He wills 200 acres to the heirs of Owen Minor, after the death of his wife. In 1814 the four Minor brothers give Power of Attorney to Press Kennett to go to Virginia and do any and all to claim, whatever is their inheritance, as heirs of Owen Minor. John Lewis Minor goes to Cumberland Co., KY. to get the Power of Attorney, from his older brother, Thomas. Press Kennett sells this land to Thomas Porter of Faquier Co., VA. for $500. The question has been asked me... why would they trust Kennett: Kennett had been the Sheriff of Pendleton Co., KY. and had lived in the county for many years. The brothers were well acquainted with him. It may be that his two hundred acres had, at one time, been in the possession of Owen Minor, since his brother John bought back a parcel from one of Owen's grantees.

Then in 1822 Joseph K. Glinn rented his plantation to Waller Minor for one year, from and after March 1822. Waller agreed to pay him at the expiration of the term the sum of $60 in notes of the bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Waller took possession of the plantation and held it for one year, without paying the rent. James Paton, Mollie Stephens (late Molly Glinn), the administrator of J. K. Glinn's estate bring suit to collect, filed October 20, 1827, Copies were excused on Waller Minor January 26, 1828. The jury finds against Waller. By this time Waller Minor is not well. He has been maintained by his two sons. Richard Johnston Minor is a carpenter and lives in the town of Falmouth on the Licking River. Beverly Lewis Minor has married in 1827 and becomes the total support of his father, after his brother dies in 1829. Waller had built a second cabin south of the creek and on the side of a ridge. He lived in this house, when Beverly builds his brick home and Waller lives there until he dies in 1835. This log cabin was partially standing in 1935. It was just on the other side of the white picket fence, in the side yard of Beverly Minor's brick house. The log cabin collapsed in a storm.

Waller Minor dies sometime before April 1835. His executor, Beverly Lewis Minor buys 4 1/2 yard of Shrouding Cambrick for $2.25 and paid $8 for his coffin. Waller must be buried on his Blanket Creek farm. There is a family cemetery, the location of which was known until the area become overgrown with weeds and two evergreen trees that marked the cemetery blew down in a tornado in the 1960's. When Beverly Minor moved to Missouri he sells the farm, but exempts the 60 square foot family cemetery from the deed. No doubt his father, mother and even his grandmother were buried there.

The appraisement of Waller's estate was recorded April 25, 1835. He would have died just before this date. Among Waller's personal belongings sold at his estate sale were the following items. Beverly Lewis bought two razors and case, the family bible, one fire shovel, one looking glass, a loom and sley, one reel, one kettle, hook and ladle, one square table, one arm chair, a set of 6 Windsor chairs, one clock, a Sugar desk, one large cupboard and a wire seive; Nimrod Colvin bought a coarse Hatchel (Hackle) and 1 razor and strap, one small cupboard, a dining table and one bed and bedding; Joseph Routt acquired a fine Hatchel; Simeon Boston bought one set of shoe tools and one large chest; Nancy Colvin bought cupboard ware, one brass candlestick, a small kettle, one trunk, and a lot of bedclothes; Malinda Colvin bought a small looking glass. The estate of Waller Minor, without owning any land, came to 103.25. The administrator had an additional $24.50 in cash. All of the items listed in the inventory are those needed by a single man living alone. There is no mention of any products coming from the farm or grist mill, since that was under the ownership of Beverly Lewis Minor. One of the bills paid from the estate was to a doctor. The final accounting of Waller Minor's estate was made by his Administrator. Beverly Lewis Minor at the November Pendleton County Court Term, dated September 15, 1836 and recorded November 16, 1836.

Waller Minor appears in court records again in 1842. The clerk of the county had not acknowledged the Deed of Gift, given 40 years before to Waller's children. The resolution of this problem is part of Beverly Lewis Minor's story.

What kind of a man was Waller Minor? He wrote his own name, he was adventurous enough to leave an established area in Culpeper Co., VA. to travel to Kentucky, where he cleared land and built a home for his mother and two brothers. He raised a family of 9 children. He must have been able to use figures, to work and run a grist mill. However, there does seem to be the trait of caring for his own needs, but being lax in paying debtors on time. Still, he started the Westward movement of the Minor family and becomes part of American History.

Buried Blanket Creek farm. Near the Applegate house which was built by Waller Minor. The bricks were made with the help of his slaves.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 1 2021, 3:27:13 UTC