Chenault Family Papers, 1783-1870 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Luiz E. Simonetti

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Collection Overview

Title: Chenault Family Papers, 1783-1870

Extent: 0.22 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 06/09/1999

Subjects: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Kentucky--Social life and customs--19th century., Slavery - Kentucky

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Chenault Family Papers are an interesting collection for researchers in the area of slavery, religion, and the economic situation in Kentucky during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The collection has important documents regarding slavery in folder eight. Information regarding religion can be found in folders, one, two and three. In folder two a collection of sixty-two marriage licenses can be found. In folder three important church documents reveal historical breaks in the church. Theological discussions regarding Campbellism and other movements of the time can also be found.

Collection Historical Note

"David Chenault (30 Sep 1771 - 9 May 1851) was a pastor of Unity Church. His father, William Chenault, was of French extraction, but was born in Virginia. He was a soldier under Washington during the American Revolution. He moved to Kentucky in the fall of 1786, and settled near Richmond, in Madison County, where he died of the "cold plague," in the spring of 1813. Many of his descendants have been and are among the most valuable citizens and church members in Madison County. David Chenault was born of Baptist parents in Albemarle county, Virginia, September 30, 1771, and he came with his parents to Kentucky in 1786. He was married to Nancy Tribble, (6 Nov 1778 - 2 Aug 1862) daughter of Elder Andrew Tribble, in 1793."

The children of David and Nancy Tribble Chenault were:

1. Cabell Chenault (25 Jul 1795 - 10 Jul 1878) married Emily Mitchell (28 Nov 1805 - 1 May 1883) on 11 Sep 1823.

2. Joyce Chenault (5 Dec 1797 - 18 Jul 1858) married James Munday (5 Dec 1792 - 18 Jun 1858) on 9 Sep 1813.

3. David Chenault (15 Feb 1800 - 2 Dec 1883) married Louisa Quisenberry (29 Sep 1811 - 30 Apr 1887) on 25 Oct 1827.

4. Hervey Chenault (29 Sep 1802 - 18 Sep 1843) married Anne Douglass (24 Jul 1810 - 25 Oct 1891) on 30 Mar 1826. After Hervey's death Anne married William Letcher.

5. Sally Chenault (13 Nov 1805 - 4 Aug 1824) married Duke W. Simpson on February 13, 1822.

6. William Tandy Chenault (17 Feb 1807 - 27 Jun 1862) married Virginia Quisenberry (13 Nov 1828 - 20 Jan 1894) on 13 Nov 1828.

7. Waller C. Chenault (21 Apr 1809 - 25 Aug 1843) married Lydia McRoberts (4 Aug 1818 - 8 May 1843) on 17 Nov 1835.

8. Anderson Chenault (8 Feb 1812 - 18 Jul 1884) married Margaret Kavanaugh Oldham (25 Oct 1829 - 22 Jun 1919) on 30 Sep 1852.

9. John Chenault (16 Dec 1815 - 18 Oct 1843)

10. Nancy Chenault (27 Jul 1819 - 16 Jan 1893) married Alexander Tribble (5 Apr 1810 - 13 May 1888) on 26 Oct 1843.

"He joined the church at Mt. Nebo about the year 1795, and was baptized by Peter Woods. His ministry commenced during the great revival of 1800-3. He possessed only a common school education; but he had a strong intellect and sound practical judgment. He was an extensive farmer, and held the office of Justice of the Peace about twenty years. He was a successful business man and accumulated a fortune of not less than $100,000; and was inclined to be penurious, rather than liberal. He was, however, an active pastor, usually serving four churches for a period of nearly fifty years. Besides this, he preached a great deal in the mountains of Kentucky, even down to old age. Among the churches he preached to besides Unity, were Cane Spring, Lulbegrud, Log-lick, White Oak Pond, Mt. Tabor, Stoners Branch and Union."

"He was a Hyper-Calvinist in doctrine, and very uneven in his religious ministrations. Some times his zeal amounted to a burning enthusiasm, at others he was dull and chillingly frigid. But he swerved from the path of conscientious rectitude. At a ripe old age he fell asleep in Jesus, May 9, 1851."

From the book History of Kentucky Baptists, 1886. By J.H. Spencer. Special Collections call number BX6248.K4 S7 V.1.

Subject/Index Terms

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Kentucky--Social life and customs--19th century.
Slavery - Kentucky

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Acquisition Source: Chenault, James S.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Folder OS 1: David Chinault's Letter to the Citizens of Kentucky, July 1812],
[Folder OS 2: Land Survey of the 'Bend' Section of Madison County, KY],
[Folder OS 3: Broadsides, 1851; 1862],
[All]

Box 1

Barcode: 31234014110959

Folder 1: Baptist Church Minutes, 1828-1834

6 documents

Item 1: Minutes of the North District Association of Baptists, 25 Jul 1828
Item 2: Minutes of the North District Association of Baptists, 20 Feb 1830
Item 3: Minutes of the South District Association of United Baptists, 19 Aug 1831
Item 4: Minutes of the Organization and Proceedings of the Laurel River Association of United Baptists, 30 Sep 1831
Item 5: Minutes of the Redbird Association of United Baptists, 15 Sep 1832
Item 6: Minutes of the Spoon River Regular Baptist Association. Mill Creek Church, Adams County, Illinois, 27 Sep 1834

Folder 2: David Chenault - Marriage Licenses, 1806-1847

Item 1: David Chenault - Marriage Licenses, 1806-1847: The folder contains important information for genealogy researchers in Kentucky, these marriage licenses are arranged chronologically and include marriages from Madison, Clark and Estill Counties. (62 documents)
Item 2: Aaron Logsdon to Martha Jane Johnson, 7 Jun 1847
Item 3: Robt. Adams to Elizabeth Ful___, 18 Jan 1847
Item 4: Cornelius Old to Martha Ann Roberts, 28 Dec 1846
Item 5: Alexander Tribble to Nancy Chenault, 26 Oct 1843
Item 6: Overton Harris to Naomi Fielder, 31 Jan 1842
Item 7: Joseph Wren to Elizabeth Smith, 30 May 1840
Item 8: William W. Fielder to Elizabeth Burgess, 7 Sep 1839
Item 9: Anderson Chenault to Mrs. Nancy Harris, 3 Aug 1837
Item 10: Lewis Moore to Nancy Cutwright, 15 Sep 1836
Item 11: William Lackey to Narcissa Carlen, 15 Sep 1836
Item 12: James Shanks to Tillatha Johnson, 10 May 1836
Item 13: Wade Hampton to Rebecca Hodgkin, 9 Apr 1833
Item 14: Joseph Webb to Joicy Noland, 27 Mar 1833
Item 15: Ebenezer Swope to Lucinda Robinson, 4 Feb 1832
Item 16: David S. Stuart to Cynthia White, 10 Dec 1832
Item 17: James Noland to Amanda Easter, 28 May 1832
Item 18: Jourdon Eades to Polly Shearrer, 12 Mar 1832
Item 19: James Cobb to Lucinda Hamilton, 21 Feb 1831
Item 20: Charles Wood to Francis P. Lane, 25 Sep 1831
Item 21: Richard Stephens to Sally McChristy, 5 Feb 1830
Item 22: John A. Gee to Ellen Nichols, 15 Jan 1829
Item 23: William H. Davis to Catherine Hale, 2 Apr 1829
Item 24: Silas Berry to Prudence Messick, 15 Jul 1829
Item 25: Thos. Hendricks to Melvina Richardson, 31 Oct 1826
Item 26: Talton Turpin to Nancy Baker, 28 Mar 1825
Item 27: James Berry to Kitty Ann Elder, 14 May 1825
Item 28: William Hardin to Permelia Clements, 23 Jul 1825
Item 29: Martin Lee to Sarah Johns, 12 Apr 1825
Item 30: Jewell Philbert to Allice Fullilove, 4 Sep 1824
Item 31: Henry Skinner to Frances Fielder, 30 Oct 1823
Item 32: Nelson Bridwell to Christina Allumbaugh, 3 Jul 1823
Item 33: Daniel Sims to Polly Ellumpuch, 10 Apr 1823
Item 34: Burgis Eliott to Nancy Laremore, 29 Dec 1827
Item 35: Joseph K. McWilliams Elizabeth Hudson, 7 Oct 1822
Item 36: John Finney to Susan Webber, 1 Apr 1822
Item 37: Nathaniel Floyd to Nancy Fielder, 5 Aug 1822
Item 38: Duke W. Simpson to Sally Chenault, 8 Jul 1822
Item 39: Mather Clayton to Margaret Hudson, 7 Sep 1819
Item 40: Alexander Lanter to Sarah Webb, 20 ___ 1819
Item 41: Andrew Henson to Sarah Roach, 4 Dec 1819
Item 42: Charley Woodes to Narsisa Vaughn, 13 Apr 1818
Item 43: Benjamin Straughan to Peggy White, 14 Mar 1818
Item 44: Joseph Hopper to Polly Tincher, 7 Jul 1815
Item 45: James White to Deborah Cobb, 2 Jan 1813
Item 46: John Fluty to Catherine Turner, 4 Aug 1813
Item 47: John Brown to Ann Hamilton, 5 Jul 1813
Item 48: Francis Tincher to Sada Lackey, 17 Jun 1813
Item 49: James Sparks to Susanah Rogers, 16 Mar 1813
Item 50: Samuel Forkner Moore to Dorcas Hanson, 17 Nov 1812
Item 51: Oliver Noel to Allice Dowcey, 23 Nov 1812
Item 52: Thomas Brooks to Betsey Lee, 11 Apr 1812
Item 53: James Allen to Ruth Henderson, 4 Mar 1811
Item 54: William Wilson to Polly Philips, 16 Sep 1811
Item 55: Robert P. Clark to Melinda M. Trigg, 17 Oct 1811
Item 56: Lewis Bledsoe to Elizabeth Brooks, 24 Dec 1810
Item 57: John Highley to Jane McKinney, 31 Jul 1837
Item 58: Thomas Powell to Hanah Pike, 1 Jan 1807
Item 59: Thomas Gray to Hannah Noland, 30 May 1807
Item 60: Samuel Chestnut to Rachel Grimm, 8 Dec 1807
Item 61: David Stewart to Elenor Larrison, 15 May 1807
Item 62: Walter Barnes to Lidia Barnes, 27 Apr 1807
Item 63: Samuel McClain to Mary Henderson, 20 Dec 1806

Folder 3: David Chenault - Correspondence, Sermons, and Church Book, 1820-1848

This folder contains documents pertaining to Old Cane Spring Baptist Church and the Baptist association in central Kentucky. The correspondence includes discussions regarding religious conflicts at the period, including Campbellism and other divisions in the Baptist Church. The correspondents are various Baptist pastors including John Debell, Theophilis, James Renfro, Lewis Holladay and Thomas Gillison. The sermons are interesting for the theological content. The Church book has administrative information, including the names of members of the church. Includes several handwritten hymns. Original 1812 printed circular letter "To the Citizens of Kentucky" filed oversize. Letters of dismissal for David Chenault as he moved to various churches apparently serving as pastor. (21 documents; includes some partial transcripts)

Folder 4: Land Records (Deeds), 1798-1864

Consist of information regarding the land of David Chenault and his heirs in Muddy Creek, Madison County. (26 documents)

Folder 5: Correspondence, 1808-1853

This folder is one of the most important in the collection because the letters contain information about slavery, morals, and life at the period mentioned above. (10 documents)

Folder 6: Muddy Creek Land Records, 1783-1828

This folder has information about the lands of Col. William Black and Higgason Grubbs, neighbors of David Chenault. (21 documents)

Folder 7: Muddy Creek Land Surveys, 1811-1851

The surveys were done mainly by John Crooke for David Chenault. One can see divisions of land in Muddy Creek. Important rivers and creeks are shown in the survey, including the Kentucky River and Muddy Creek. One original survey filed oversize. (9 documents)

Folder 8: Slave Receipts, 1800-1841

6 documents

Item 1: Receipt for Slave, 18 Apr 1800: Sale by M. Pinkston from Madison County to David Chenault from Madison County. Two slaves named Harry and Priss(?).
Item 2: Receipt for Slave, 5 May 1806: Sale by Samuel Brown from the state of Ohio to David Chenault from Madison County. A woman named Petty and a girl named Judy.
Item 3: Receipt for Slave, 6 Jun 1814: Sale by Thomas Austin from Albemarle County, Virginia, to David Chenault from Madison County, Kentucky. A 7-year old girl by the name of Luanner and a 5-year old boy by the name of Mordica [Mordecai].
Item 4: Receipt for Slave, 11 Aug 1815: Sale by Moses Reynolds from Garrard County to David Chenault from Madison County. A 13-year old boy by the name of Israel.
Item 5: Receipt for Slave, 5 Nov 1823: Sale by Anderson Mitchell from Henry County to Emily (Chenault) Mitchell. A 6-year old girl by the name of Nelly.
Item 6: Receipt for Slave, 13 Jan 1841: Sale by John Hicklin from Montgomery County to Cabell Chenault from Madison County. A 16-year old boy by the name of Alford.

Folder 9: Legal Documents, 1810-1861

Includes tax receipts, bonds and summons. (15 documents)

Folder 10: Kentucky Land Grants (Gov. James Garrard), 1798

Land grants signed by the 2nd governor of Kentucky, James Garrard. These grants were made for John Flournoy from Muddy Creek, Madison County. (3 documents)

Folder 11: Mitchell Family Records, 1824

This folder contains a family tree made for the Mitchell Family. The head of the family is Andrew Mitchell. Andrew Mitchell's daughter married Cabell Chenault, son of David Chenault. (1 document)

Folder 12: Railroad Survey, 1853

Survey organized by the Chenault Family to bring the Railroad to Madison County. The survey mentions the names and the payments of citizens that contributed with the cause. The railroad would connect Richmond to Cincinnati and Knoxville. (1 document; includes photocopy of the portion that contains faded pencil notations)