via http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kirk/53.htm
The KIRK FAMILY. In 1790 James Kirk came from Virginia and settled on Cartwright's Creek, a short distance from the town of Lebanon, Marion County, the territory being then embraced in Nelson County, Ky. He there developed a farm and reared his family, consisting of six sons and two daughters, named as follows: Edward, Dixon, John, Jesse, Travis, Tobesson, Mary and Lucy. (History of Kentucky)
From the book 'Kentucky Biographies':
'James Kirk (grandfather) was a native of Stafford, Virginia, came to Kentucky in 1788; was a soldier in the war of the Revolution; married (first) Annie Horton, who was the mother of his twelve children. He lived to the extreme age of ninety-nine years; and when he was eighty-one years of age he married his second wife, who was 22 years of age.'
In the book "Kentucky: A History of the State"--.....James Kirk, of Virginia, who settled near Lebanon in 1792, and who lived to the age of 99 years.
"Washington Co., KY Bicentennial History" has the following:
'According to depositions, James Phillips & his father, William Phillips, had bonded themselves to John Dicken for their interest in Samuel Cartwright's claim, although the reason for the bond is unclear. As a result, James Phillips & John Dicken (through Power of Attorney dated May 4, 1790 in Nelson Co.) deeded Samuel Cartwright's claim to various early settlers including Francis Simbrell, Joseph Cartwright, Sarah Phillips, Betty Burdyne, Thomas Wright, James Kirk, William Dicken, Thomas Stayton, Thomas Chamberlain, and John Hammett."
Found on Heritage Quest online at the Nashville TN Archives:
State of Kentucky
County of Marion
On this 16th day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, personally appeared before me, the undersigned, Police Judge witness and for the town of Leannon in the county and state afso, James Kirk, aged ninety-six years, a resident of Marion County in the State of Kentucky who being duly divorce according to law, declares that he is the identical James Kirk who wa a private in the company commanded by Captin Louis Thomas-in the _______regiment of infantry from Virginia commanded by Colonel _____ Hawes in the revolutionary war between the colonies & Great Britian. He also served in a company commanded by Captain ______Johnson and then by Captain Booker. Booker was the last Captain under whom he served, that he enlisted at Stafford County in Virginia in the summer of 1782 or 81. He was at the seige of Yorktown and after that enlisted again for three years and continued in actual service in said war for the term of about twenty-two months. He was honorably dicharged but at what point and when he cannot now state with accuracy--neither can he give with any certainty the date & year of his enlistment. He further declares that he is now receiving a pension of fifty three dollars per annum from the government of the United States for his services in the Revolutionary war, and that his pension certificate is recorded in the Pension Office in Book E2 Vol. 7 Page 29 by G.T. Getty clerk and is dated 21st day of July 1854, and he here refers to said certificate & the papers conected from with for a more detailed account and statement of the time and date of his said service.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act approved March 3rd 1855. He also declares that he had not received a warrant for bounty land under this or any other act of Congress nor made any other applications therefor.
He hereby appoints N.S. Ray his true and lawfull attorney with power of substitution to prosecute this his claim for bounty land, to receive the warrant where issued and to do all other acts necssary and proper in the premises.
his
James X Kirk
mark
We Wm L. Kirk and Paul I McElroy, residents of Marion County in the state of Kentucky, upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was acknowledged & sworn to by the said James Kirk in our presence & that we saw him make his mark to the same and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be & that we have no interest in the claim.
Wm. L. Kirk
Paul I McElroy
The foregoing declaration power of attorney and affidvet were sworn to, executed and subscribed before me on the day and year above written, and the said James Kirk made his mark to the said declaration & power of attorney in my presence and I certify that I know the afficiants to be crediable persons, that the claimant is the person he represents himself to be and that I have............. (may be missing a page)
In a letter Ann Hamilton (daughter of Robinson Kirk, son of James T Kirk) in the possession of Warwick R. Tobias on 8/2002:
Lebanon, Ky March 14th 1857
Ann H & Jn L. Hamilton
Dr Madam & Sir
Your Grand Father James Kirk died in Jany last. Made no will and we have been appointed admin. of his estate, he left a widow & 3 living children 32 Grand children & 8 living great Grand children making 43 in all his heirs--he left 14 slaves 5 of which has been alloted to the widow. He owned 287 acres of land 88 1/2 acres of which has been alloted to the widow. The remainder of the slaves and land being not susceptible of division into 43 parts we have been forced to file a petition in court to have a decree to sell as there are many infant heirs. We wish to get the decree as soon as possible and in order to do so & make conveyance a commissioner (some one near you) has to be appointed by this court to take xxx xxxxxxxx acknowledgement. Please to answer us immediately and give the name of someone near you to be appointed com. and we will send you the necessary papers to sign & return to us--the negros being liable to die we wish to press the business and when sale is made we will write you & when money collected transmit your part as you may advise--there is some personal property & some advancements have been made to heirs--all will be settled up right & amts to each heir shown--the estate xxx here are xxxxx yours truly
David Cxxxxxx &
Wm L. Kirk
Per a post made at Genforum by Ben Kirk (http://genforum.genealogy.com/Kirk/messages/2916.html):
In "Kentucky Genealogy and Biography" by Westerfield, James Kirk born 1759, enlisted in Revolutionary War on Aug. 1, 1781, at Stafford Co. VA. He and a brother, thought to be Henry Kirk, relocated to Nelson County, KY about 1790. I have visited James' grave site and have pictures. A Daniel Kirk was often associated with James and Henry and is buried in the same area/plot. The small plot contains the grave of his first wife Ann Horton, Daniel, and Daniel's daughter Lydia. When the family relocated to KY, James and Ann had a couple of children with them; Edward and Dickson. Daniel was also the father of William Henry Kirk who was the father of Benjamin Kirk described in an earlier posting by Max Kirk.
