The Dalton Journal: November 2001 ---A monthly forum for assembling families or solving problems--- Pulaski County Kentucky Daltons Extracts from the "Dalton/Daulton/Dolton Families of Pulaski County, Kentucky" written by Robert J. Girdler, robert@girdler.com Kentucky records indicate that the first of the Pulaski County, Kentucky ancestors were George Daulton and wife Nancy Parsons Keesee, first appearing in Pulaski Co., Ky. records on the Pulaski Co. tax list of 1811. It is surmised that George followed the "Great Valley Road" from Pittsylvania Co. due west to Hartsville, Tennessee, where it is surmised he may have had relatives, the family would then continue north on the Bowling Green road into Warren Co., Ky. only about 50 miles from Hartsville. They then probably moved east on what I believe to be present day Route 80, but at that time it was the only trail from Bowling Green through Lexington to Maysville on the Ohio River, this route providing access into central Kentucky and the Ohio country to the north. This route although longer was much safer due to more wagon train traffic hauling commerce headed to New Orleans. This westward route was much better and did not have the horrible road conditions encountered coming through the Cumberland Gap at that time. George obtained land on White Oak Creek, situated in the south western portion of Pulaski County, due south of Logan's Cross Roads, known as present day Nancy, Kentucky, where he lived out the balance of his years. George Dalton married Nancy Keesee in Pittsylvania Co., Virginia. A Keesee family researcher said that Nancy was the daughter of Arthur Keesee & Tabitha Stovall. Arthur Keesee died shortly after Nancy's birth and Tabitha married again within days after his death. Arthur's will provided for Tabitha and children with the provision that if Tabitha remarried, all property, slaves and other holdings were to be sold and the money to go for the children's support, and moneys to be supervised by Arthur's brother Benjamin. This provision left Tabitha out, and I surmise she left or was forced
to leave the children. The eldest son, John Keesee, although married, was not of legal age to assume guardianship of his siblings. The eldest child was a daughter, Elizabeth (Betsy) Keesee, who was married to a William Burton. William Burton, being of legal age, is believed to have assumed custody of the Keesee children. Oral family legend states that the Burtons', Keesees' and Daltons' left Virginia and came to Pulaski Co., Ky. together. Will, census, tax records, and other documents possibly support this legend. The main unclear item is that Nancy's name appears on Arthur's will as Pheobe, although Keesee family members felt that they were one and the same. Various reasons were presented: could it have been a pet name?, did George submit Nancy Parsons on the marriage bond instead of Nancy Pheobe? This theory is possible, as we know that George could not write, and that, her brother, John Keesee was married to a Betsy Parsons, and in the process and confusion a mistaken entry was made??? But under pressure the Keesee researcher was unsure that Nancy and Pheobe were the same person. I believe that the Nancy Parsons Keesee entered on the marriage bond, was her true and accurate name and that she was not the sister to John Keesee but the daughter of John Keesee and Betsy Parsons, married March 19, 1788, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia, with Nancy born to this union later in 1788 (her birth year), and that she was given her mother's family name as were many of that era. This would make Nancy the grandaughter of Arthur not his daughter. The legend of guardianship of the Keesee children and the family movement into Kentucky are unproven but are surmised at present. I should take space to note the various spellings of Dalton used. Seldom, a family in olden time escaped with the correct pronunciation of its name. Even the most simplest can be found recorded with many variations. Many could not write and therefore were dependant on another for this need. So take note of the wording of an early recorder: "It is not surprising that many of the names are incorrectly spelled, they are not autographs; but they were written by the Secretary, according to the sound, as the names were pronounced to him, moreover, it sometimes occurred, doubtless, that he did not catch the sound accurately and therefore mistook the true name." Early findings, are of the Dolton and Dalton variants, with on occasion, the Daulton spelling used. But all three can be found for many same individuals. I tried to determine in my direct line in Pulaski County Kentucky at what point or with which ancestor our lineage began and continued to use the Daulton variation. The records found on George Dalton/Daulton in Virginia are spelled Dalton. The next records in Kentucky vary. After his death most spellings used the Daulton variation, as
all are noted under this name: (1) The Inventory, Sale and probate of George Daulton's personal estate, dated July 7, 1856, July 8, 1856 and September 16, 1856. (2) The deed from George's heirs to Henry H. Todd for 150 acres on White Oak Creek dated March 25, 1871, listing his heirs by name and signed by them, all using the Daulton variant. (3) Another deed to Willis H. Daulton and J.W. Scandland dated January 31, 1874, listing all the heirs and signed by them, all using the Daulton variant. Descendants' Bible notations record the same Daulton spelling, with occasionally two spellings for the same person in the same Bible. My own previous five generations, descended from George, used Daulton, so therefore I used this spelling while compiling the Register Report portion that usually accompanies this text. I find that sometimes even grave markers do not match marriage or Bible records. It is not uncommon to find husband and wife buried close together, with each having a different surname spelling. Early military or government supplied markers all use the Dalton variant as do most compiled group lists, for it was much easier and reduces confusion. During my recording of the descending generations, I tried to incorporate a person's most prominent usage when possible, but if I failed to use someone's preference, bear with me and/or offer correction. While on a recent visit to the Pulaski Co. Historical Society I asked for a Daulton file. The lady there asked if I had a spelling preference. I commented, that I did not, as I was aware of the different variations. She smiled, and answered, " that was good, that they had only one file and she had asked the question because a gentleman had only recently been there. Since the file listing was not the same as his spelling, he refused to accept the file contents or even to look at it." I can assure any researcher that they should look at all variations or they will not get far researching this family. All the Dalton, Daulton or Dolton persons that I have found recorded in Pulaski Co., Kentucky to-date are all related and descend from the common ancestor George Dalton/Daulton of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. George did have a brother Elijah who migrated with him to Pulaski County. Elijah is found on early records as are the marriages of his daughters. It is not known if Elijah died in Pulaski County, but it is assumed so. Coinciding with his dropping from Pulaski County records this total family group Elijah's descendants migrated to Indiana where additional descending family records are found. This movement left only George and his family members remaining in Pulaski Co. Many of our Pulaski Co. ancestors served in the Civil War. I am not sure that I have an accurate accounting of all that did serve, but I have entered data on those known
under their individual listing. Most served in the 1st Kentucky Cavalry or the 19th Kentucky Infantry, both involved in the Historic "Battle of Mill Springs" also known as the battle of Logan's Crossroads and battle of Somerset. Residents of Pulaski Co. are sure to be familiar with this conflict, but I will touch on it for those of us that are not. On January 19, 1862, there was a Union Army victory at the Battle of Mill Springs and the Confederate General Felix K. Zollicoffer was killed. Rebel forces were routed and were forced to flee southward, over the Cumberland River into Tennessee. This engagement took place in the area due south of then named "Logan's Crossroads", now known as Nancy, Ky. If the reader would stand in front of the stone wall that fronts the Mill Springs National Cemetery in Nancy, and look southward, over the area, approximate direction of route 235, you will view the battle area. In this battle area lived our Dalton/Daulton ancestors. The Confederate force had been located and had built extensive fortifications in close proximity to the Buster/Daulton Cemetery. The 1st Kentucky Cavalry was engaged in the battle, and it was their scouts that informed the Union officers that the Confederates were moving to the attack. The 19th Kentucky Infantry were brought in to secure and to destroy both the Rebel entrenchments and also over 500 well-built houses that had been constructed by these Confederate troops as their winter encampment. Just south of Nancy, on Route 235, can be found Zollicoffer Park, where there is buried many of the Confederate soldiers who fell in this battle. You could find them honored by a mass grave memorial marker as well as a memorial monument to their fallen leader, but I understand they are being now honored by individual markers. Local residents continue the tradition of yearly decorating the large Oak tree that grows there and against which the wounded General Zolicoffer lay and died from battle wounds. With this battle occurring on their farms and with the endangerment to their families, I find reason for the enlistment of our 14-16 year old ancestors who served in this bloody conflict. [Some of the] Pulaski County Dalton/Daulton [who enlisted were]: William B. (Willis), Co. A-F, 1st Ky. Cav. - Pvt. Booker W., Co. G, 19th Ky. Inf. - Pvt. Thomas D., Co. A-F, 1st Ky. Cav. - Pvt. Bluford L., Co. A, 1st Ky. State Cav. - Pvt. George W., Co. A-F, 1st Ky. Cav. - Pvt/3rd Sgt. Wyatt, Co. G, 19th Ky. Inf. - Corp. My Great Grandfather, Bluford Lewis Daulton, was one who served during the Civil War, enlisting at age 15 into the 1st Ky. State Cavalry. I will include a short and little known account of the troops recruited by the State of Kentucky.
The Kentucky State troops, or Capital Guard Regiment, was raised under sanction of the War Department, dated July 11, 1863, and consisted of three battalions one stationed in the neighborhood of Frankfort, one at or near Paducah, and one in the Sandy Valley. The remainder of the State forces, except the Mercer County State Guards and Casey County State Guards, were raised under an act of Kentucky Legislature, approved January 26, 1864, entitled "An act empowering the Governor to raise a force for the defense of the State". The two State Guard companies mentioned were raised under the militia law of the State, and being ordered on duty, were assigned for service to the battalions with which they appear. All of these troops did valuable and efficient service to the State and the General Government, as the history of the time would fully show. The Sandy Valley Battalion rendered most important services during the Saltville raid. The Frankfort Battalion protected the Capitol from the frequent incursions of guerilla forces. The Paducah Battalion protected the southwestern portion of the State. The troops raised under act of January 26, 1864, were enlisted subsequent to the muster-out of the Capital Guard Regiment, and were located as follows: (1) The Three Fork's Battalion in the extreme southwestern portion of the State, with headquarters at Booneville. (2) The Hall's Gap Battalion in the locality between Stanford and Hall's Gap; headquarters at Stanford. (3) The Green River Battalion in the counties between the Ohio and Green rivers, with headquarters at Calhoon. (4) The Middle Green River Battalion in the southern portion of the State with headquarters at Rochester. (5) The South Cumberland Battalion also in the southern portion of the State, with headquarters at Burksville. (6) The 1st Kentucky Cavalry in the central part of the State, with headquarters at Lebanon. (7) The Frankfort Battalion was assigned to duty in guarding the Louisville and Lexington railroad, and the county adjacent thereto. All of these Battalions performed the most valuable services against rebels and guerillas under Morgan, Johnson, South, Lyon, Mundy, Gent, Jesse, etc., and for some time freed the State from incursions of the troops. Although the men in the State Guards did their share during the civil War, soldiers
were denied pensions when claims were filed and were rejected by, no title, not in the U.S. service. It appears that these men were treated as separate from those who actually fought on the battlefields during the War or were listed as soldiers of the Federal Government. 1st Kentucky State Cavalry: 92 mustered in; 2 killed; 2 deserted; 2 not acc'td for, 86 mustered out. Next month: A contemporary (22 Jan 1862) newspaper account of The Battle of Somerset. The Dalton Journal is an appendage of the Dalton Gang Letter. If you have a topic you would like to write about for the Journal, please contact me (below). Distributed by hcrain@nc.rr.com 2001 Melanie Dalton Crain