ROBERT KIRKHAM
Born: in 1754 on Woods Creek, Augusta Co, VA (in what is now Rockbridge County, Virginia).
Died: 1819, Harrison County, Indiana
Buried: Pearson Cemetery, Harrison Co, Indiana.
We are in the process of getting a military marker for this site and hopefully have it in place by middle of 2004
Descendant Robert Kirkham of New Middletown, Indiana is standing in Pearson Cemetery. This cemetery is not too large- its approximate size is about 100 ft wide by 60 in depth, less than a dozen stones are still in place- and would be worthy of fixing up.
Service: Robert was in the Militia in Kentucky in 1778 with his brother Samuel. According to an old Militia record that was found he served for 105 days in Col John BOWMAN'S militia. Robert returned to Washington Co., VA in 1778 according to court records, but was again in Kentucky in the Spring of 1779. He served in the militia unit of Capt John HOLDER (again with his brother Samuel) at or near Boonesborough in May 1779. He was part of a raid that the Kentucky Militia mounted agianst the Shawnee Indian town of Chilicothe which was located near the present town of Dayton, Ohio.
Proof: Collin's History of Kentucky., Vol 1, page 13
Married: Jane BOYD
Children:
Margaret:
Henry
Jane
Anna
Elizabeth
Sarah
Polly
John
Prudence
Michael
Robert
William
Directions: Pearson Cemetery, Harrison County Indiana is located in Township 4 south, range 4 East, of Section 35. This is on the Elizabeth- New Middletown Road
GPS on March 13, 2004 North 38 07.599
West 086 02.280
Photos & Directions by Stephen D Franklin
From New Albany, Indiana take Intersate 64 West to exit 113 Lanesville, turn left off of ramp and go to the T in the road which is OLD HWY 62 turn right and go about 3 miles to the New Middletown Rd, which you have to turn left on. Stay on this road al the way into New Middletown, just after the school on your left their is Payton Rd and just beyond it on the left is Elizabeth New Middletown Rd, turn left and go approx 3 miles and Pearson Cemetery is on your right. The Road just beyond it is Pump Station Road.
Robert Kirkham moved with his parents, Henry and Margaret KIRKHAM to their new home on Buffalo Creek in 1749. Buffalo Creek is about 5 miles southwest of the present town of Lexington, Virginia. At the time this was Augusta Co, Virginia and the area was at the extreme western edge of the settlement of Virginia.
After his fathers death in 1765, Robert appears a few times in the records of Augusta County, VA but he had moved to southwestern VA by 1772 when he signed a call for a minister in Washington County. The Wilderness Trail to Kentucky was to run through this area a few years later.
Based on the birth dates of their chldren, Robert married Jan about 1776. No record of this marriage has been found, nor have marriage records been found for any of his brothers or sisters.
Robert moved to Kentucky permantly by late 1779 and lived in Lincoln Co, KY near to his brothers Michael and Samuel. Each of the three brothers appeaar in the 1783 court records of Lincoln Co, KY. Robert appeared as a witness for Michael in November. MIchael won his case and as usual in this era of almost worthless paper money was ordered to pay those who appeared in court in his behalf in tobacco. He paid Robert fifty pounds of tobacco for two days attendance as a witness.
Also in the November Court of 1783, Robert KIRKHAM, Samuel KIRKHAM and others were sworn as a Grand Jury of Inquest for the body of the county, withdrew to consider their presentments and after some time returned to the court and presented:
James PHARIS for retailing Spiritual Liquors without a license
Phillip HOGAN for betting and winning a horse worth 10 pounds.
John LEESY for retailing Spiritous Liquors.
John SUTTON for betting and losing a horse valued at ten pounds.
IN 1786 Robert Kirkham was one of several citizens of Lincoln Co, KY to petition the Virginia House of Delegates to establish the town of Stanford and to make it the County Seat of Lincoln County.
In 1810 Robert sold land in Nelson Co, KY and moved to Harrison Co, Indiana he purchased a quarter section (160 acres) of land in the Northwest quarter of section 35, township 4 south range 4 east. His son Henry purchased the 160 acres next to him. Robert died and is buried on his farm.
Information collected by Miss Mabel CLAXTON of French Lick, Indiana
A lot of the military and history was provided by Robert Kirkham of New Middletown Indiana on March 13, 2004.
Robert also showed me the burial location so that we can order the VA Marker and place it when it arrived
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