These abstracts summarize early appellate cases decided by the Kentucky Court of Appeals after statehood in 1792. Many disputes involve conflicting preemption claims, treasury warrants, and military warrants, often on land previously settled or improved. Although original appellate case files (depositions, petitions, answers, etc.) do not survive prior to 1863, the published opinions preserve valuable genealogical information.
Date: June Term 1787
Case type: Land
Other names: Cyrus McCracken
OGI: Preemption originally belonging to Thomas Glenn, assigned through David Glenn (HAL). Joseph Hinton received certificate 4 Feb 1780. One hundred acres improved and marked in 1776. [Plat map]
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 2
Date: May Term 1795
Case type: Land
Other names: Wm. McDonald; Dominic Flanagan; John Todd Jr. (N); Simon Kenton (assignee of Flanagan); Francis Patterson (N); Nathaniel Evans (N); Christopher Greenup (N); Alexander McConnell; Samuel McDowell (N); Morgan Bryan (W); Levi Todd. [Plat map]
OGI: None stated.
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 108
Date: October Term 1799
Case type: Land
Other names: James Major; John Floyd (N); James Parberry; Benjamin Netherland; John Maxwell (N); Col. Shelby (N); William Pendleton; Gen. Robert Todd (W); James Greer (N, 1776); John Todd (N); Robert Patterson (N). [Plat map]
OGI: None.
Citation: 1 Hughes 200
Date: Not stated
Case type: Land
Other names: Othey Thorp (N); Matthew Patton (N); Cuthbert Bullett (N); Wm. Thorp (N); Isham Prewett (N); Matthew Walton (N); Caleb Wallace (N); James Newell (N).
OGI: James Thorp held 1780-acre claim, 1783; Cleland held 1000-acre TW 3954. [Plat map]
Citation: 1 Hughes 192
Date: May Term 1799
Case type: Land
Other names: John Floys; William Hogan; James Hogan Jr.; James Hogan Sr. (N); James Forbes (N); John Dobbins (N); Daniel Boone (W).
OGI: Abraham McClelland was HAL of John McClelland; 1400 acres entered 1776.
Date: May Term 1795
Case type: Land
Other names: Nicholas Merewether; John Porter (W); Holman (N); Daniel Sullivan; Aquilla Whitaker; Squire Boone (surveyor); William Pope (W); Benjamin Pope (N).
OGI: Margaret Pendergrass PE 17 Nov 1779; improvement 1777; 1400 acres. [Long case]
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 155
Date: August Term 1795
Case type: Land
Other names: Reuben Gutherie; James Penny (N); James McCollough (W); Patrick Doran (W); William Crow (W); William Fields (N); James Little (W); Mark Hardin (W).
OGI: William White, HAL of Charles White; Evans was assignee of White. [Plat map]
Date: August Term 1795
Case type: Land
Other names: John Reed (N); James Brown (N); Alexander St. Clair (N); George Givens (N); Patrick Stone (N).
OGI: Sinclair held 1000-acre TW (1780). Owen Dever PE 1780, improved 1776; Dennis Dever was HAL. [Plat map]
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 176–
Date: October Term 1793
Case type: Land
Other names: Patrick Doran; Joseph Early
OGI: 1400 acres in dispute.
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 81
Date: October Term 1793
Case type: Land
Other names: Martin Stall (N); Silas Harlan (N); Patrick Doran (N); James Harrod (W); Jacob Sodowski (W); Harman Consilla; Thomas Denton (W).
OGI: Harman Consilla came to KY with James Harrod in 1775; killed while serving under George Rogers Clark. Peter Consilla was his brother and HAL. [Plat map]
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 93
Date: October Term 1793
Case type: Land
Other names: Joseph Conway (N); Isaac Greer (N)
OGI: Egan PEW #937 (1782); John Jack noted as “of full age.” [Plat map]
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 93
Date: October Term 1793
Case type: Land
Other names: Harman Consilla; Irvin (N); Caldwell (N)
OGI: Thomas Swearingen was son of Thomas Swearingen.
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 91
Date: May Term 1794
Case type: Land
Other names: Richard Henderson; John Townshend; Daniel Wilcoxson; John Martin (W); Edward Bradley (W); Robert Whitledge (W); John Waller (W); Patrick Jordan (W). [Plat map]
OGI: None.
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 95
Date: October Term 1794
Case type: Land
Other names: John Craig (N); Humphrey Marshall (N); Edward Holeman (N); John Briscoe (N); Cyrus McCracken (N); Bartlett Searcy (N); Richard Fox; Jesse Ellis.
OGI: Miller granted 1400 acres (1780). Fox held 1480-acre TW 16651 (1784). [Plat map]
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 100
Date: May Term 1795
Case type: Land
Other names: Jacob Myers; Adam Shepard. [Plat map]
OGI: None.
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 103
Date: May Term 1795
Case type: Land
Other names: Jonathan Smith; Margaret Pendergrass (N); Holman (N); Nicholas Mereweather; Porter (N); Squire Boone; William McCoy.
OGI: Whitaker PE 1000 acres; Wilson married Margaret Pendergrass; Sullivan deputy surveyor; Whitaker left and returned Jan 1784. [Very long case]
Citation: 1 Hughes Rpts. 123
Date: Oct Term 1795
Case type: Land
Other names: Anthony Bledsoe (N); John Wilson (N); Andrew Cowan (N).
OGI: Edward Davis PE 1777; improved 1776; Myers was assignee. [Plat map]
Citation: 1 Hughes 182
Date: October Term 1799
Case type: Land
Other names: Wm. McGee (N); Robert Whitledge (N); Grotz (N); Col. John Edwards (N).
OGI: Jos. Kenney improved land in 1776; died after entry. [Plat map]
Citation: 1 Hughes 21
Date: October Term 1799
Case type: Land
Other names: Col. Preston (N); John Maxwell (N); Douglas (N); James Keene; Joseph Frazier
OGI: Kenton PE Dec 1779, 1400 acres; McConnell HAL of Francis McConnell. Kenton first known in Kentucky as “Butler.” [Plat map]
Citation: 1 Hughes 257
Date: October Term 1799
Case type: Land
Other names: John Hoggan; Daniel Wilcoxsin (N); James Logan; Peter Moore (W); Thomas Jones (W); John Verdeman (N); Benjamin Cooper (W); Richard Davis (W).
OGI: Berry taken prisoner at Martin's Station (26 Jun 1780), held until 1784; settled land Mar 1779. [Plat map]