My Genealogy Home Page:Information about Jesse B. Kirby
Jesse B. Kirby (b. October 23, 1757, d. December 17, 1852)
Notes for Jesse B. Kirby:
Jesse and Sophia (CHOICE) KIRBY had 13 children, 11 surviving childhood.Jesse served as a Private in the Revolutionary War, enlisting from Henry County, VA, June 1780 with Col. Faulkener , Virginia Regiment, until Nov. 1781.
The family migrated to South Carolina, and on into North Carolina, finally to Warren County, Kentucky, where they located on Drakes Creek, near Alvaton, Kentucky.
Jesse was a farmer, slave holder, and a hunter.He and others followed a party with Daniel Boone to Kentucky.
The Kirby family were friendly with the native Indians in the area of Kentucky, and one of the men, John Kirby, not identified, but called a 'cousin'[ of Jesse, found a mound of bones, which were called Human Bones, by the Indians.John owned one of the bones, a thigh bone, 4 feet long and the Indians told him, "These men died of the headache".
On Oct. 2, 1810, Jesse Kirby appointed his son-in-law, William POTTER to act as Power of Attorney for his wife, Sophia, to demand the Legacy left to her by her father, Tully CHOICE, Sr., which was in the hands of John CHOICE, her brother living in Franklin Co., VA (Book E., p.123, Warren Co., KY).
Jesse KIRBY dated his will, 4 Nov. 1847, Warren Co., KY (Book D, p. 223):
I, Jesse KIRBY, Sr., of the County of Warren and the State of Kentucky being in my usual health and sound of mind and disposing memory, and wishing not to die intestate, do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other and former will, heretofore made by me.
1st: I desire all my just debts and funeral expenses to be first paid out of my estate.
2nd:I give and bequeath to my wife, Sophy during her life the use, possession, benefits and profits of the whole of my estate, real and personal and mixed, provided she survives me, and at her death or mine if I survive her, it is my will and desire that the whole of my estate of every character and kind of which I, or my said wife may die possessed be the same real and personal or mixed be sold on such credit as my executors herein after named may adopt and proceeds be equally divided between my surviving children and representatives of those deceased representing one share with the following exception.
viz:William KEARBY , my son, now dead, is indebted to me by the account $75.00, which amount is to be deducted from his children's share.They therefor are to have left them a full share of my estate by $75.00.
Isaiah KEARBY, my son, is also indebted to me by a note $75.00 which, without interest is to be deducted from his share and added to my general estate.
My son, Tully KEARBY, also owes me by note $75.00, with which without interest is to account for his share, and made less by that amount.I regard all of my children have heretofore been advanced equally the aforesaid deduction from the aforesaid William's children; Isaiah and Tully equal division, will be met and proper meaning and intending, what the children or family of my deceased son William one share, and the children or family of my deceased son David KERBY shall represent one, and the children of my deceased daughter Nancy POTTER one share.
3rd:It is my will and desire that at the death of my wife and meself that my aged and faithful servants, Tom and his wife Martha, be freed and they are hereby at that emancipated and set free.
4th:It is my will and desire that my executors or either of them hereinafter named, sell and coinvey to the purchase or purchasers of my real estate, good and sufficient dead of conveyance to the same, hereby authorizing them should they purchase claves or lands at my sale to make bill of sale and deed to themselves individually as my executors.And I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my son Jesse KERBY and my son-in-law Fredrick POTTER executors of this will, with full power and meaning to execute the same.
5th:It is my will and desire that my executors give and set apart to my aforesaid Tom and his aforesaid wife or the one who may be alive at the day of the sale herein directed, a good work beast, a good cow and calf with one years provisions, and what ever also my aforesaid executors may agree upon for his comfort, and that of his wife in consideration of their faithful services to myself and their mistress.
In Testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 4th day of Nov. 1847.
Wit:Urban E. JohnHis Mark
Zach SmithX
and Wm. LovingJesse Kirby
Warren County Court, 1st Dec. Term 1852
" A REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER FALLEN "
"Died at his residence in Warren County, KY, on the 17th day of Dec. 1852.Mr. Jesse Kirby, aged ninety five years, on month, and twenty-five days.They were married the 18th day of March 1778, and lived together seventy-four years, eight months and 29 days.Mr. Jesse and his wife Sophia Kirby lived in Warren County for fifty-four years.
Mr. Kirby served as a volunteer soldier three terms in the Revolution and was honorably discharged.
Alas, the patriots of the Revolution have nearly all passed away and when shall such another race of men appear?They were men who did not consider liberty too dearly bought, though purchased with their blood.May the spirit which animated them live in their posterity.
Mr. Kirby joined the Baptist Church in 1812, of which he remained a constant member till his death.His last affliction was borne with patience and resignation.He died of chancer of his mouth and for some weeks before his death, he was anxious to depart and be with Christ.
His surviving relations and friends have reason to believe, that while his body rests in the grave, his spirit enjoys the bliss of heaven.May they all follow him to glory.
Mr. Kirby had thirteen children, one hundred and thirty-five grandchildren, three hundred and three great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren, making his decendants number FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHT.
It rarely happens that a man has so numerous a progeny at his death, and so far asw the writer knows, Warren County, in this instance is in advance of every other county in Kentucky.
"Honor to whom honor is due".
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Jesse Kirby applied for pension of his Revolutionary War Service, 23 July 1832, and gave testimony of his service.It was approved and he received $32.22 per annum for the rest of his life, which was to start the month of March 1831.
At Jesse's death, Sophia appeared to obtain the provision of pension be continued, J. R. Underwood, on the 16th day of February 1853, attested, "I have known Jesse Kirby, now dead, and his wife more than thirty years.They have been highly respected.For their age the length of time they have lived together as man and wife, the number of their descendants, it presents the most extraordinary case of the kind which has probably occurred in the County in which I live and in which he lived and died and I trust a pension may be granted to his widow without delay."
Sophia Kirby, widow of Jesse, then listed each child and their birthdate.To this act, we descendants thank her from the bottom of our hearts.
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More About Jesse B. Kirby:
Burial: Unknown, Kirby family Cem. (in the chicken yard).
More About Jesse B. Kirby and Sophia Choice:
Marriage: March 18, 1778, , Henry, VA.
Children of Jesse B. Kirby and Sophia Choice are:
- +David Kirby, b. January 27, 1779, , Henry, VA, d. May 10, 1831, , Warren, KY.
- Nancy Kirby, b. October 23, 1781, , Henry, VA, USA, d. March 11, 1844, , Warren, KY, USA.
- Lucy Kirby, b. October 27, 1783, , Henry, VA, USA, d. January 05, 1872, , Warren, KY, USA.
- Joel Kirby, b. 1784, d. date unknown.
- +William Kirby, b. February 15, 1786, , Henry, VA, USA, d. March 30, 1846, , Warren Co., KY.
- +Cyrus Kirby, b. December 25, 1787, , Surry, NC, USA, d. December 27, 1858, Watkins, Menard Co., IL.
- Elizabeth Kirby, b. January 27, 1790, , Henry, VA, USA, d. date unknown.
- Jesse R. Kirby, b. March 06, 1792, ,, SC, USA, d. date unknown.
- Isaiah Kirby, b. August 05, 1794, Greensville,, SC, USA, d. date unknown.
- John C. Kirby, b. February 27, 1797, , Warren, KY, USA, d. date unknown.
- Mary Ann Kirby, b. February 26, 1799, , Warren, KY, USA, d. date unknown.
- Tully Choice Kirby, b. November 11, 1802, ?,, KY, d. date unknown.
- Polly Mary Kirby, b. 1818, , Madison, IL, USA, d. 1843, ,, IL, USA.
- Mary Kirby, b. 1764, , Pittsylvania, VA, USA, d. 1836, ,, VA, USA.
- Elisha Kirby, b. 1768, Hays Fork Crooked Creek, Franklin, VA, d. November 01, 1845, , Madison, KY, USA.
- Judith Kirby, b. 1769, d. 1840.