Cornelius Newkirk (abt. 1770 - abt. 1839)

Born about 1770 in Berkeley County, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Powell) Newkirk — married 19 May 1794 in Clark County, Kentucky

Descendants

Died about 1839 at about age 69 in Crawford County, Indiana

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Biography

Cornelius Newkirk was part of the Low Dutch Settlements in Kentucky, 1780-1810

Some researchers have shown his name as Christopher Columbus Newkirk but there are no documents or proof he ever used the name Christopher. Everything presently known about him uses the name Cornelius Newkirk.

The birth date for Cornelius Newkirk has been calculated on the assumption he was about 24 years old when he married in 1794. Cornelius' father Elias Newkirk was living in Fishkill, New York until 1761 according to tax lists. Then he began moving west taking his family onto the far western frontier. Elias' father (Barent Newkirk) was living in Berkeley County, Virginia where Elias was probably living when Cornelius was born about 1770. By 1773 Elias had settled in Yohogania County, Virginia, (later it became Fayette County, Pennsylvania). Thus the best assumption for Cornelius' birth is about 1770.

Cornelius married Elizabeth "Betsey" Powell in Clark County, Kentucky 1794. Bondsman: Simon Powell Consent of Thomas and Ann Powell parents of Betsy Powell, attested by Omar Powell and Robert Stivers ^[1]

In the 1800 tax list for Kentucky (used as a substitute census) Cornelius Newkirk was in Clark County, Kentucky. Living in the adjoining Montgomery County, Kentucky were Elias and Henry Newkirk. ^[2]

Cornelius Newkirk was a staunch Baptist and member of the Red River Church (then in Clark County but later Estill County, Kentucky). He was chosen a messenger from the Red River Church to the meeting of North District Association of Baptists meeting in 1802 at Unity Meeting House in Clark County, Kentucky. ^[3] Again in 1803 held at Bethel Meeting House in Montgomery County, Kentucky ^[4] and the Association meeting held in 1804 at the Providence Meeting House in Clark County, Kentucky. ^[5] At the 1804 meeting his father Elias Newkirk was messenger from the North Cane Creek Church. [1]

Cornelius in 1805 purchased 183 1/2 acres of land on the Red River in what then Clark County, but later was Estill County, Kentucky. In the 1810 census for Estill County, Kentucky Cornelius Newkirk is listed on page ?740. ^[6]

He died in 1839, Crawford County, Indiana and left a will. Will of Cornelius Newkirk (March 5, 1839) In the name of God amen I Cornelius Newkirk of the County of Crawford State of Indiana knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death being of sound mind , and infirm in boddy Do make and publish this my Last will and testament hereby revokeing and makeing void all former wills and testaments by me at any formers time made or made heretofore at any. 1st I direct that my boddy be decently intered and my funeral be conducted in manners corresponding with my estate and situation in life and as to such worldly concerns and affairs as it pleased God to intrust me with I dispose in manners following (to wit) I direct first my Just debts be paid including my funeral expences as soon my decease as possible out of the first money that shall come to the hands of my Executors from any portion of estate whatever. Secondly I direct that all that part of my _____property consisting in notes ____money to be collected by my executors (except the notes I hold on Julius Woodford and Seth Leavenworth and Abner McDonald which shall be desposed of as herein after directed) and by equally divided between my six sons Barrett Newkirk Thomas Benjamin John Elias and James Henry Newkirk- Share and Share and Share alike so soon after my decease as the same can consistently then be done and furthers I direct the note I hold on Julius Woodford and Seth M Levenworth due in April next be collected by my executors and by them equally divided between my five daughters herein named (to wit Margaret now Margaret McDonald Mary now Mary Hall Nancy now Nancy Snowden Malinda now Malinda Briley Jenny now Jenney Ray Share and Share alike and further I direct and ordain that the Eleven notes I hold on Abner McDonald my son in law for fifty dollars each falling due annually commencing on the first day of Decembers AD 1839 be by my executors collected and by them loaned if the loans can be done in safe hands in the same can be done as they fall due at the end of five years from after the first day of January 1839 (Eighteen hundred and thirty nine when the same shall be called in by the executors and then divided as follows to wit Give to my five daughters above mentioned the sum of twelve dollars each which with the first ___ with them will constitue the sum of twenty five dollar each sum shall constitute their intire portion of my estate the balance then in the hands to my executors shall then equally divided amongst and between my several before mentioned sons share and share alike ---- and further I direct that the remainding notes on said Abner McDonald be by my executors collected as they fall due and by them loaned as they first is directed to be untill the last note falls due and is collected as which time I direct the niot amount be divided equally amongst my severally herein mentioned sons, share and share alike If in case any of my children shall die between the time of my decesed and the time of distrubution then and in that case the heirs or proper representatives shall be entitled to such share or shares as their representative ancestors would have been entitled to receive if they were still living and I hereby make and ordain my beloved son Elias Newkirk and my worthy friend Issac Sand executors of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I Cornelius Newkirk the testator have hereunto let my hand and Sed this the fifth day of March in the years of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty nine. Cornelius Newkirk ^[7]

This executor's notice appeared in the local paper on 25 July 1839: EXECUTOR'S NOTICE. THE undersigned having taken out of the Clerk's Office of the Crawford Probate Court, letters testamentary on the estate of Cornelius Newkirk, late of Crawford county, Indiana, dec'd. All persons indebted to said estate are hereby notified to make immediate payment, and all having claims against the same, are requested to present the same, authenticated for payment. Said estate is solvent. ELIAS NEWKIRK, ExecV. July 25, 1839. 8 St IS ^[8]

List of children for Cornelius Newkirk--as named in his will

Mary Newkirk, b. 31 Dec 1797, Clark, Kentucky d. 15 Apr 1876, Orange, Indiana Married Garrett Hall. (Named in will of Cornelius)

Barrett Newkirk, b. 13 Aug 1799, Clark, Kentucky d. 1 Sep 1870, Red Bluff, Tehama, California (Named in will of Cornelius)

Malinda Newkirk, b. 1801, Clark, Kentucky d. 18 Jan 1871. Married Briley. (Named in will of Cornelius)

Thomas Newkirk, b. 1802, Clark, Kentucky d. 1849, Kentucky (Named in will of Cornelius)

Margaret Newkirk, b. 1803, Clark, Kentucky d. 3 Apr 1857. Married Abner McDonald. (Named in will of Cornelius)

John Newkirk, b. 1808, Clark, Kentucky d. 24 May 1862, Dubo, Indiana (Named in will of Cornelius)

Elias Newkirk, b. 1809, Clark, Kentucky d. 6 Jun 1880, Paris, Lamar, Texas (Named in will of Cornelius)

Benjamin Newkirk, b. 14 Feb 1810, Jefferson, Kentucky d. 5 Mar 1887, Heltonville, Lawrence, Indiana (Named in will of Cornelius)

James Henry Newkirk b 1812 (Named in will of Cornelius)

Nancy Newkirk, married Snowden. (Named in will of Cornelius)

Jenney Newkirk married Ray. (Named in will of Cornelius)

Child attributed to Cornelius but not named in his will)

Elizabeth Newkirk, b. 16 Mar 1795, Crawfordsville, Montgomery, Indiana d. 29 Oct 1856, Greenfield, Orange, Indiana (NOT named in Cornelius' will)

Sources

1. ↑ Clark County, Kentucky Marriage Bonds
2. ↑ Clift, G. Glenn. "Second census" of Kentucky, 1800; a privately compiled and published enumeration of tax payers appearing in the 79 manuscript volumes extant of tax lists of the 42 counties of Kentucky in existence in 1800. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co. 1966. p 216.
3. ↑ Minutes of the North District Association of Baptists Friday, October 1st 1802 Held at Unity Meeting House on Four Mile in Clark County
4. ↑ Minutes of the North District Association of Baptists Saturday, October 1st 1803 Held at Bethel Meeting House in Montgomery County
5. ↑ Minutes of the North District Association of Baptists, Saturday, October 6th 1804, Held at Providence Meeting House in Clarke County
6. ↑ Year: 1810; Census Place: Estill, Kentucky; Roll: 6; Page: 8; Image: 00019; Family History Library Film: 0181351
7. ↑ Will Records, 1818-1946; Author: Crawford County (Indiana). Clerk of the Circuit Court; Probate Place: Crawford, Indiana
8. ↑ Hoosier State Chronicles (Leavenworth, Crawford County, Indiana)1 August 1839, Volume 2, Number 9, page 3.

See also:

• Newkirk, Adamson B. n.d. Descendents of Barent Newkirk: the line of Cornelius Newkirk and his wife Elizabeth Powell : includes related families of Hall, Brown, Cunningham and Ray. Vol. 1.

• Space:Low_Dutch_Settlements_in_Kentucky