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Thomas LANHAM was born in Prince George County, in the Colony of Maryland in 1757, a son of Stephen and Leah (maiden name unknown) Lanham.^[1]

Thomas was living with his parents on a plantation called "Mizpah", part in Prince George County and part in Montgomery County, located just northeast of present day Washington D.C., at the beginning of the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Thomas enlisted at a public muster with 6 or 8 other young men, as a private in the spring of 1776. His enlistment site was about six miles from Bladensburg on the main road from Bladensburg to Baltimore, this probably was Vansville, which is todays Beltsville, Maryland, on Route 1 between Washington D.C. and Baltimore. He served under Captain Rezin Beal, who later became a general, and is buried at St. Johns Church in Beltsville, and Colonel Smallwood, also later a General, who is buried at Smallwood Retreat, a Historic Landmark in Charles County Maryland. Shortly after enlisting, the Company including Thomas, marched into PORT TOBACCO, on the Potomac River, where he was stationed for about 18 months. After about a year he was attacked with smallpox, which broke out among the troops. It was said that Lord Dunmore had sent a man infected with the disease among the troops to spread it. His company was marched from Port Tobacco, leaving only the sick who were unable to go. After leaving the hospital he was nursed and remained in the home of the Lucket’s until his parents came and carried him back home. On account of this poor health he was never called back into service.^[2]

Thomas married Patience SAPPINGTON, born April 1760, a daughter of John and Margaret Sappington. ^[3]

Perhaps after 1778, Thomas struck out for the Wheeling Virginia area in what is now West Virginia. At that time "The Disputed Territory" was claimed by both Virginia and Pennsylvania. Thomas Lanham did not mention in his pension claim that he also served in the Western Frontier Militia. He served in the Western Frontier Militia Company of Weirton as a , 7th Class in Capt. Edmund Baxter’s Company.  His name on Baxter’s Militia Company roster was spelled Thomas Lannum.  The Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. V. ,pp 681-2 is erroneously labeled “County of Chester”. 

This militia company also had many of Thomas’ future relatives assigned to this company.  Sgt Hartley Sappington, 1st cousin to Capt. Edmond Baxter was on hand.  Hartley’s pension application also mentioned services at the Moravian Massacre, and Crawford’s defeat. Hartley’s father John Sappington, was in the middle of the Logan Massacre of 1774, which lead to the Dunmore War.  Look at Sappington section of this book for more details.  John Sappington jr. was also a 7th Class as was brother James a 8th Class.  Hartley, James and John Sappington were brothers of Patience Sappington, wife of Thomas. Thomas was a member of this company sometime between 1781-1782, and perhaps could have been a member prior to 1780 and or after 1782. 

It is still in question whether Thomas and Patience were already married yet. We have not yet determined Thomas and Patience’s marriage date and place of marriage. 

John Sappington, father to Patience, had a fortified home one and half (1.5) miles from the mouth of Harmon Creek in Weirton, (present West Virginia) which was referred to as the Sappington Fort.  It appears that this block house was located on or near a stream named after the Sappingtons’ as Sappington Run.  Patience’s brother, John Jr, married to Jemina Fowler, had a farm down on the Cross Creek, six miles below John Sr. place near Sappington Run.  Weirton, West Virginia is located 23 miles north of Wheeling with the Harmon Creek running through the town and emptying into the Ohio River.^[4]

Many of Capt. Edmond Baxters’ men (some 15) of the 73 on the company roster ultimately ended up in Kentucky and many residing in Madison County, Kentucky.  Some of the future relatives would be the Sappingtons, Baxters, Fowlers and Mc Queen and Selby.

Patience’s father, John Sappington, went to Madison Co., Kentucky as early as 1778.   John is listed among those at George Boone’s Station, 1780, near Foxtown, now Whitehall, approximately 6 miles west of Fort Bonnesborough, which was established by Daniel Boone in 1775.

A Joshua McQueen and his wife Margaret Baxter McQueen, moved to Hoy’s Station in Madison County, KY about 1785, and settled alone side the families of Hoy, Crews, Sappington, Brown, Harris, Lanham and Blackwell.  Hoys Station was located on the dividing ridge between the Otter Creek and Tates Creek about nine miles from Boonesborough.  McQueen, thinks the Sappingtons and Lanham had been in this area hunting as far back as 1780. ^[5]

Thomas Lanham, Stephen Lanham, a brother of Thomas, Charles Selby who married Leah Lanham (Stephen) in Prince Georges Co., Maryland, the Baxters, Fowlers and other related families immigrated to Madison County, Kentucky probably about 1785/6/7. We find Madison County Kentucky Tax records in 1787, for Thomas Lanham.

The Sappingtons’ are also taxed.

Mr. Hass goes into bloody detail as to the Indian Wars in the Disputed areas of Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky. John Sappington, Thomas and Archibald ( brothers) Lanham were in this area in the 1780 time frame. The dangers of the frontier were real and affected all the early settlers of the disputed area.^[6]

Thomas Lanham did not mention in his pension claim that he also served in the Western Frontier Militia, but he also served in the Western Frontier Militia, but he served in the 7th Class in Capt. Edmund Baxter’s Co., Associators and Militia with, Hartley, John Jr. and James Sappington, brothers of his future wife, Patience Sappington, and daughter of John Sappington Sr. and wife Margaret, and other kinsmen, Baxters, Fowlers and others. See The John Sappington Family for details.

Thomas purchased 290 acres, 27 July 1796, from Jacob Starnes and wife Elizabeth; land that lay in Madison County on the south side of the Kentucky River about 6 miles from Fort Boonesborough "on the Dividing Ridge between Hinds and Jacks Creek.^[7] The Sappingtons were also on Otter Creek, but by 1807, only James Sappington, brother to Patience was left in the county. In 1809, Thomas Lanham bought 50 Acres on Jack Creek in Madison Co. from Anderson Searcy.^[8] In September 1834, Thomas bought 25 ¼ more acres in Hinds Bend on the Kentucky River side.^[9]

Extracts from a Revolutionary War Pension application show:

LANHAM, THOMAS (S30,534, Md Ser Ky Agcy)

Born 1757, Prince Georges County Maryland. On June 8, 1836 applied for pension, County of Madison, Kentucky, age 79, enlisted 1776, living on line between Prince Georges County and Montgomery County Maryland. (His brother Stephen Lanham, born Prince Georges Co., MD 1760). ^[10]

Thomas Lanham’s application for pension due to his service in the War for American Independence included the following facts:^[11] Thomas Lanham and Revolutionary War Pension, also documented in the DAR "Patriots".

On June 8, 1836, Thomas Lanham said that he was about twenty-nine of age, born 1757 on this father’s farm which lay on the county line, partly in Prince George Co. and partly in Montgomery Co. MD. Stephen Lanham, Brother of Thomas, made deposition 4 June 1836 at his own home in Madison Co. KY, that he was born 1760 at his parents home, same location as Thomas.

Honorable James Simpson, presiding Judge of the Circuit Court for Madison Co. certified with great propriety that said applicant is a man of very excellent character.

The 1810 Madison County, Kentucky census listed the Thomas Lanham household as follows:

Thomas Lanham and John Sappington are both listed on the Historical Markers located at Fort Boonesborough, listing the early settlers and pioneers of Fort Boonesborough, who lived in the Fort or adjacent to it.

In an interview with Dr. John Sappington (son of James Sappington, Son of John Sr)--a doctor of horses—​according to the interviewer Dr. Draper in Madison County, KY, made a surprising, almost an unbelievable statement about Thomas Lanham, husband of his Aunt Patience Lanham. In recounting the story of the capture of his uncle John Sappington by Indians when with Thomas Lanham, George Brown, Jos. Durbin and four others she was out digging ginseng which Dr. Knight of Madison Co. Ky. was buying a good price to ship to China, he declared that even though Thomas Lanham was one of that party, and though he was forted up and in battles, and so much of his life trying to avoid the Indians; yet he never saw one!". Thomas Lanham was, at the time of this interview, John Sappington’s father-in-law as well as, his uncle by marriage, John Sappington having taken as his second wife in 1840 his cousin Sarah Lanham. This interview was at their home in Montgomery Co. KY in 1845. ^{[5] [2]}

The first wife of Dr. John Sappington (son of James Sappington, Son of John Sr) was Parthenia Hoy De Jarnette. ^[12] Since Family tradition states that Patience Sappington and her widowed mother lived with her brother James Sappington who lived on Otter Creek, Madison Co. KY, after the death of their father, John Sappington, Sr., it is assumed that Patience married Thomas Lanham [perhaps abt. 1778] in Madison Co. Ky. Though they would have been older after the removal of the Sappington family and Thomas Lanham from Ohio County in Western VA (Wheeling area) to Kentucky than usual in those days. No marriage record of Patience Sappington and Thomas Lanham has been found yet.

When Thomas made claim for his Revolutionary pension, Thomas stated he had resided in Madison "near fifty years". That would mean he went to KY about 1786, making him about twenty-six years old. In those days it would seem that the folks would be marrying much younger.

Stephen and Thomas did a fair amount of land surveying in Madison Co. Thomas Lanham, 4 Dec 1792, ordered to be appointed surveyor of road leading from the river to where the road leaves Hines Creek. ^[13]

In 1796, Thomas bought 290 acres of land on Jacks Creek in Madison Co. and in 1809 he bought another 50 acres on Jacks Creek. ^[14]

On October 1810, Thomas Lanham was appointed surveyor of a road leading from Jacks Creek to the intersection of the Stone Ferry Road. ^[15]

In 1815, Thomas Lanham bought 39 acres on Jack Creek from Nancy and Elijah Hawkins. ^[16]

In 1836, Thomas, Sr. bought from C.M. Clay and Wife – 59 1/4 acres on Hinds Creek. ^[17] Also in 1836 Thomas Lanham and Patience conveyed to Jno. Arvine 25 and one-quarter acres on Hinds Creek. ^[18]

Per L.P.Goodknight’s book, Lanhams and Patriots, there was much litigation of ownership of land alone the Hinds Creek. Even as late as 1806- 1817, Green Clay complaints and Thomas Lanham defendant were in litigation over bounds of land lying south side of Kentucky river about six miles from Boonesborough, known as Hinds Bent, which Lanham bought in 1796. Litigation was concluded in June 1812, when cost were equally divided between the two men. ^{[19] [2]}

Thomas and Patience (Sappington) Lanham may have had 17 children, 11 sons and 6 daughters ^[2] and other sources. Since most of the birth dates and deaths are unknown at this time the children names to follow may not be listed in sequence of age. To find and confirm the births of these kids has been a challenge for Oran S. Lanham and Clifford W. Lanham now for some 25 years.

Patience was born about 1764. Perhaps being married about age 20.

(i.) Daughter, Leah LANHAM, was born abt. 1785 and died abt 1830. She married James KENNEDY, 1 August 1804. Consent by Thomas, Father of Bride, Bondsman, Stephen ^[20]. They had at least six children: Amanda b. 1812, Thomas, b. 1815 Leah, b. 1816, Patsy M. b. ca 1820, James, Jr., b. 1823 and Mary/Polly. Mary/Polly, who married Thomas H. Ward. Mary and Thomas H. had a son, John Wesley Ward who married Anna Baxter, dau. of Andrew Jackson Baxter. See also the The James Kennedy Family

The 1830 Census; P. 139 shows Thomas Lanham, (father of Leah who married James Kennedy)

The census shows the next door neighbor was Richard Fowler who bought Thomas’ property after Thomas died. Others were Samuel Biggerstaff, James Parrish, and Nathaniel Oldham.

It is believed that Leah had died by 1830. On 25 Jan 1830, James (who could not write his name), sold his worldly goods to Thomas Lanham, including two featherbeds, a bolster and counterpain, a pot, a kettle, pair of pothooks, some glass, cupboard, table and six chairs, a chest, a grind stone and cooper tools. (His son was also a cooper and I suspect his grandfather, Thomas Lanham, gave him the tools his father had.) I can’t read all this document, but he mentions his executor. He may also have been collecting money to support his children. Of course, he could also have been headed for Tennessee. Indications are that James married a Mary West about 1840.

(ii.) Daughter, Mary (Polly) LANHAM was b.1793/4, KY d._. She married John WILKERSON, 7 December 1809. There was a Mr. and Mrs. John Wilkerson listed as part of the early settlers of Fort Boonesborough. They had at least one son, John C. Wilkerson. A Mary Wilkerson is found in the 1850 Madison County records, age 56, born, VA. This would be a birth of 1794, close to the date of posted birth. Her son is John C. Wilkerson, age 23 ( born 1827), Madison Co. and also children Francis, 20; and Susan, 15.

(iii.) Son, James LANHAM, was b.1787, KY d._. He married Polly PARRISH , 22 July 1810. Noted in Green, Platte Co. MO in 1850., p 378 hh208. According to Madison Co. KY Deeds K, p. 496 he purchased a number of items for the amount of $50.00 and certified by brother Sylvester, 12 April 1815. They had at least two children: Colby, b. 1815 and America b. 1827. James and Polly may have also had a son, Thompson B. Lanham. Thompson B. Lanham is found on page hh.193, Green, Platt County, MO 1850. Thompson age 39, born 1811, KY married to Emeline, 35, born 1815, KY.

(iv.) Daughter, Margaret LANHAM, was b.1796, KY d._. She married Lephmiah Fowler , 29 December 1814 in Madison Co. Their Children were Thomas Fowler b. 1817, Wesley b.1824, Susey b. 1826, Sarah b. 1828 and a Mary b. 1829.

(v.) Son, Sylvester LANHAM, was born 1790, and married Jane (Jeanne) ESTES OF RICHMOND. See The Sylvester Lanham Family for details. Died 1863.

(vi.) Daughter, Jemima LANHAM, was b. abt 1800 d._. She married John S. MALOTT , 7 January 1818, St. Louis, MO. May have lived a few doors from sister Leah (Lanham) Kennedy. The Malott family has been found in Missouri including Nodaway, Green, Platte Co. and Clay Co. MO. Ancestry.com has a John S. Malott dying in Platte Co., MO in 1842.

(vii.) Son, Benjamin LANHAM, was b. abt. 1800/1 d. _. Madison Co. Order book W, p. 408, dated 4 June 1839. He was also listed on the Tax rolls 1831-1836, Madison Co. Benjamin married Susannah BAILEY 24 Aug. 1833. It appears that Benjamin (Lanom) may have been living with a James and Martha Samuels in Madison Co. in 1850.

The jury…​.. do find the said Benjamin Lanham…​.. has no land, or tenements, or slaves. He has about two hundred and thirty dollars in cash; notes in the hands of his brother Archibald Lanham. His nearest relation is his Father Thomas Lanham aged eighty- two years ( 82). The age of the said Lanham ( Benjamin) we find to be thirty - four (34) years. Archibald Lanham was appointed guardian of this brother, Benjamin’s estate and person, and on 5 June 1839, rendered his account to the court having received for Benjamin $311.00 ^{[21] [22]}

There must have been some hard times between Father Thomas and Benjamin for Dad only willed Ben the total sum of $1.00.^[23]

(viii.) Daughter, Sarah LANHAM, was born 17 August 1798 and died 2 January 1884 in Montgomery Co.( Mt. Sterling), Ky. Sarah married a few days after her fathers death, to her cousin, Dr. John Sappington, son of James Sappington, son of John and Margret Sappington, a Veterinarian, 12 April 1840. This was Sappington’s second marriage. Sarah was awarded pension for John’s Service in the War of 1812 #22 - 203. Sarah was at least 48 years of age when she married which at that time was unusual. They had one child, Thomas Sappington who died very young and is buried with other members of the family at the Sappington - Parrish Family Cemetery near Mount Stering, Montgomery Co. KY. In 1860, John Sappington, owned one female, age 26. He also owned three boys, ages 48, and 2. Presumably this is the Hariett with three children. These are the only slaves he owned in 1860. Since he died in that year, it would be interesting to know what happened to Hariett and her children.

(ix.) Daughter, Elizabeth LANHAM, ^[24] was b. abt 1802/3 d. 1880. She married Weeden HAWKINS , 18 Aug. 1821(30 Oct 1821?) ( Thomas father of Bride) in Madison Co. Ky. In 1850, Elizabeth and Weeden are found in Honey Creek, Adams Co. Illinois. The birth of their children indicate that they went to Missouri by 1827 and then to Illinios by 1837. Their son Elijah apparently returned to Boone Co., MO. Weeden was born abt 1797/98 and died 3 May 1855. Elizabeth died in Boone Co. MO in 1880. Many of Elizabeth’s children appear in the census into the 1870s. Maybe the children never married or married later in life.

Children were:

(x.) Son, Archibald LANHAM, was born abt 1807, d. abt 1860 /70. He married Anna LLOYD (Loid), 25 May 1825 in KY. He was listed on the Tax rolls 1831-1836, Madison Co. Archibald and Anna sold their land on Jack’s Creek in 1847 to William Fox. (of the Foxtown Foxes). Archibald died probably in Owen Co. or Shelby Co. KY and Anna died in Decatur Co. Indiana after 1870. Children were:

Archibald was the executor to his brother Jess in 1840.

(xi.) Thomas LANHAM, was b.abt 1790. in KY d.__. In the 1830 census, Thomas Sr and Thomas Jr. both appear in that way. He is shown as 30-40, which also fits the guess of being born about 1790. There is a Thomas and Polly, 1830 census, that sold land to John Summers in 1830. The land was on Otter Creek, which was where Stephen, brother of Thomas sr. lived. Polly shows again in the 1865 census. She freed a slave named James in that year. Polly dies in 1868 leaving a will.

(xii.) Richard LANHAM, was born 20 Oct 1789, Madison, Kentucky ^[25], d. 29 April 1852 in Ashland, Boone, Missouri. He married 1st cousin Sarah Sappington born 4 Dec. 1798 in KY. [d/o Richard, son of John and Margaret Sappington], m. 29 Sep 1814 (appears to be married at age 16) in St. Louis, MO. Richard is buried in New Salem Baptist Church, Section 3, Township 46, Range 12 north of Ashland, Cedar Township, Boone County, Missouri. Richard most likely went to Missouri soon after Hartley and Stephen arrived in the territory. Richard appears in Boone County combined tax list, 1821 and 1825.^[26]

1830 census, Lanham, Richard 5-130, Cedar Township.

1830 Richard Lanham is listed in the 1830-40 and 1850 census of Boone County, Missouri.

This is the area where Daniel Boone lived after leaving Madison Co., Ky. With them in 1850 is a daughter, age 25 or 35?

1840 census, Lanham, Richard 6-103, Cedar Township

1850 NARA M-432, Roll 392, census Boone Co, MO Dist No 8 p441, # 1567:

In the Evans and Thompson, Wills and Administrations of Boone Co., MO, page 50: LANHAM, Richard - No 1105 - Admin. Robert Nichols, Admr. Gr. 8 June 1852. F.S. Sept 11, 1856.

Heirs - Sarah Lanham, w., Nancy T. Lanham, Cordelia Nichols,w. of Robert Nicols, Bradford Lanham, Margaret Sappington, w. of Overton Sappington, Mary A. Elvira T., Richard T., Edwin R., John W., Eli B., and Sarah F. Lanham.

In the Columbia Missouri Herald, 16 May 1902, p.20, 50 Years Ago DIED: Richardson LANHAM, 63. ^[27]

Marriage 1 Sarah Sappington b: 4 Dec 1798 in Kentucky Father: Richard Sappington b: BET 1756-1760 in possibly Maryland. Mother: Nancy Jones b: 7 Mar 1778 in possibly Madison Co. KY

Richard and Sarah Lanham’s 12 Children:

(xiii.) Hartley LANHAM, was born abt. 1782/3 died May 1834 in St. Ferdinand, St. Louis, MO . He is said to be buried on Hiram Cordell’s farm ^[28]. Hartley went to Missouri very early. He was probably already in St. Louis when Louis and Clark started on their expedition in 1804. It appears he went to Missouri with the Sappingtons [John] relatives. In 1804, Governor James Wilkinson was governor of Missouri and was very unpopular. Wilkinson was involved in a number of scams and intrigues and was tried alone with Aaron Burr, charged with trying to take Missouri and the rest of Louisiana territory away from the United States, probably so he and burr could rule. Not sure as to whether Wilkinson was related to Wilkinson and Polly Lanham of Madison, KY in 1809. In 1804, a number of citizens of Missouri wrote a petition to President Jefferson, stating that they were perfectly satisfied with Wilkinson, the Governor. Among those who signed were Hartley, Thomas, and Richard Lanham and Zephaniah Sappington. To sign a petition one would think the signer would have to be at least age 18.

Hartley married Harriet Cordell, born 1783, the daughter of John Cordell , ( b.1749 Fauquier Co. VA, died 1799, St. Louis) and his wife Judth Blackwell, b. 1753, VA, d.1842, Missouri and then a second wife, Mary ( last name unk) about____. The children of Hartley and Harriett and Mary were: Hiram, Wilson, Hartley jr., Ellen, Sally, Fanny and Missouri. Hartley died in 1841.Mary Lanham remarried to a John J. Williams EX Book 434,197-200.

Stephen Lanham, brother of Hartley also married a Cordell, sister of Harriet.

See the separate chapter on Hartley Lanham toward the end of this collection.

(xiv.) Stephen LANHAM, was b.abt. 1780/3 in KY d. 1841, per probate, St Louis, MO. Like Hartley, he too married a Cordell. He married Mary Cordell sister of Harriet Cordell wife of Hartley Lanham. The St. Louis records stated that Stephen was born abt 1783. This would mean that he was one of the early children of Patience Lanham and perhaps named after Stephen (1726) Madison Co., KY, father of Thomas Sr. Lanham. Like Hartley, brother of Stephen, went to St. Louis very early maybe even with Hartley and the Sappington’s.

(xv.) Jackson LANHAM, was b. _ in KY ? d._. No birth or data has been found on a Jackson Lanham. ^[29]

(xvi.) Jess LANHAM, was b.abt. 1808 in KY d. 1840. He was listed on the Tax rolls 1831 and 1836, Madison Co. Also listed as Bondman in Madison Co. Marriage Records, 1823- 1851. A Jess Lanham was the bondsman for Mary/Polly, daughter of James and Leah Kennedy, when she married Thomas H. Ward in 1824. There are no indications that Jess Lanham ever married.

(xvii.) Green LANHAM was bd..   Not much is known about Green Lanham. There is a Green Lanham in the 1820 and 1830 census. The 1820 (146-8) census shows Green at age 16-25.   Would this place his birth at about 1795-1800? He is shown with two boys below age 9 and his wife between 16-25. Could he and his wife be the same age, estimated to be 20?   In the 1830 census( 144-26), Green is recorded as 022001 for males and 210001 for females. In other words he now has 4 boys and three girls.   Madison County marriage records show a Green Lanham marrying a Mary G. Dixon, 24 April 1823.   The marriage ages and the census do not seem to match up, so Green and Jackson Lanham are still on the research agenda to determine if these two boys were children of Thomas and Patience.   Thomas' Will shows Green as owing some $100.00. See Thomas Lanham’s Will.

On 4 Dec 1792 -Thomas Lanham was ordered to be appointed surveyor of a road leading from the river to where the road leaves Hines Creek.^[30] On 6 Aug 1799 - Stephen Lanham surveyed road from middle of fork of Otter Creek and Asa Searcy was to allot the titles.^[30]

On 4 May 1796 - Deed From Robert Tivis to Stephen Lanham and approved by John Sappington. On 6 Aug 1796 - Stephen and Thomas ordered recorded a deed from Jacob Starns to Aron Lewis also a deed from Jaccob Starns to John Sladens.

Thomas and Patience also sold some their land in the late 1830’s. On 7 June 1836, Thomas and Patience for $100.00 Conveyed to John Arvine 25 ¼ acre piece of property.^[31] Madison tax records from 1787 show ^[32]:

Thomas Lanham also exists in Madison County Tax records in 1787, 1788, 1789, 1791,(1792 T. Land), 1793, 1794, 1795, (1796, Stephen and Thomas) and again both in 1797 and 1799.^[32] so we can trace him to Madison county, Kentucky during these years.

From this we know that John Sappington was with George Boone’s Station near Foxtown, now Whitehall as early as 1780. Thomas Lanham may have arrived in the area sometime between 1780 and 1787. The question remains as to when Thomas married Patience Sappington, dau. of John Sappington and their family arrival in the Boonesborough area.

The following historical records show property ownership transactions from Starns to Lanham.^[33]

The following source document excerpts show additional property transactions from Lanham to Arvine. ^[33]

                                                                      Att. David Irvine C.M.C.C.

The following source data shows reference to Thomas Lanham, 1757, Madison County KY: Page 17. Thomas appointed to Lieutenant, 3 April 1792.^[30] Page 44.

Thomas appointed surveyor of road from Hinds Creek to intersection with Jacks Creek , 4 Dec 1792.^[30]

Page 106 Thomas Lanham and Adam Woods enter into bond and security for last Will of Richard Timberlick, 5 May1795.^[30]

Page 157 A deed from Jacob Starns to John Sladen was proved by Thomas West, Stephen and Thomas Lanham ordered records, 2 August 1796.^[30]

The following source data shows reference to Stephen Lanham, in Madison County KY:

Page 147 A deed from Robert Tivis to Stephen Lanham was proved by John Sappington sr, 4 May 1796.^[30]

Page 255 Stephen Lanham to allot tithes to the middle of fork of Otter Creek, 6 Aug. 1799.^[30]

Page 266 Allott Hands of Asa Searey to do surveyor of roads and return list to courts, 3 Dec 1799.^[30]

The following is from the Madison Co. Land Deed Index:

Lanham, Thomas & Patience (grantor) – John Arvine-deed-W-3000-Jun 7, 1836/Aug 29, 1836 – 25 ½ A Hinds Creek After Thomas’ death in 1842:

Lanham, Thomas Hrs. (heirs) (grantor) – Richard Fowler-deed I-64 - Nov 7, 1842/Dec 5, 1842 – 186 ¾ A Hinds Creek

Lanham, Thomas Hrs. (grantor) – Benjamin Howard –deed-I-65 – Nov 17, 1845/Dec 5, 1842 – 69 ½

Hinds Creek ^[34]

Richard Fowler acquired the Hinds Creek tract of 186 ¾ acres from Thomas' Executor John Smith, 17 Nov 1842. ^[34]

On 17 Nov 1842, John Smith, Executor of Thomas Lanham dec’d conveyed to Benjamin Howard for $2124.10 a tract of land on the waters of Hinds Creek containing 69 ½ acres, proved 5 Dec. 1842.^[34]

Since Patience Lanham is not mentioned in Thomas’s Will it can be assumed that Patience died sometime about 1836.

Green Clay, the biggest landowner in early Madison County, sued Thomas Lanham. The gist of it was that the Lanham land overlapped Clay’s land. Apparently this went on for months, if not years, and in the end they compromised. I understand there are drawings of their claims and that the land is what is now Boone’s Trace subdivision, where the lots sell for $40-50,000 each in 2004 and the houses up to half a million. I believe there is a copy of this lawsuit at Eastern Kentucky University library.^[35]

After 40 years, Thomas Lanham cleared his right and title to the land in Madison Co. which he paid for in 1796 and later.

Will executed 26 March 1840 by Thomas Lanham:^[36]

At the sale of Thomas Lanham’s Estate, John Sappington bought half interest in little Harriet, and Harriet lived with John and Sarah Sappington the balance of their lives.

Thomas Lanham property is listed in his Will.

November 7, 1842, John Smith as executor of Thomas Lanham, deceased, sold to Richard Fowler for $3,093.00 186 3/4 acres on Hind’s Creek.

Thomas property was sold: Archibald purchased the following items: Looking glass, $1.00; 2 buckets for $.25 and a pair of saddle bags. There was also an Arch Lanham purchasing a number if items.

Who was this Arch Lanham? A John Sappington also purchased a number of items.^[37] We suspect this was Dr. John Sappington.

On 12 April 1840, six days after the probate of Thomas Lanham’s Will, 6 April 1840, Sarah Lanham married her cousin John Sappington, in Madison County. It was John’s second marriage. John Sappington was a Doctor of Veterinarian

The following Lanhams owed money to the estate of Thomas:^[38]

Over all the amount owed to the estate was $ 4134.55. That was a sizable amount of money in those days. Again Archibald was the Executor.

According to the Will by Thomas Lanham dated 26 March 1840 ^[40], was probated 6 April 1840—directed that all of his property be sold, the land in two parts so as not to obstruct the road from my house to Hine’s Creek, and said:

On November 7, 1842, John Smith as Executor of Thomas Lanham, deceased, sold to Richard Fowler for $3,093.00 186 3/4 acres on Hind’s Creek.

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