Description:

Thomas Lincoln
Hardin County, KY, ca. October 1803
Abraham Lincoln's Father Helps Guard Prisoner in Hardin County, Kentucky
ADS

[THOMAS LINCOLN.] Benjamin Helm, Autograph Scribal Document Signed, Order, Hardin County Circuit Court, October 1803, Hardin County, Kentucky. 1 p., 8" x 7.375". Some staining along folds; general toning. Ex-King V. Hostick.

Commissioner Benjamin Helm (1767-1858) of Hardin County, Kentucky, approved the payment of 4 shillings and 6 pence to Thomas Lincoln for helping to guard a prisoner in January 1803. Helm was also the clerk of the county court and owned 6,000 acres of land. He had built a two-story brick home in Elizabethtown in 1802.

Deputy Sheriff Charles Helm (1777-1831), Benjamin's younger brother, had arrested James Wilson for passing counterfeit money, a felony. Like his brother, Charles Helm was also a wealthy landowner with 4,000 acres. He called on Lincoln and five other men to assist him in guarding the prisoner at the Hardin County jail.

Complete Transcript
Hardin Circuit Court Towit
October Term 1803
Ordered that it be certified to the Auditor of Public Accounts that the following Persons are allowed the several sums annexed to their respective names for guarding James Wilson to the Jail of Harding County, who was charged with felony Towit. Henry Ewin four shillings & six Pence for one day Thomas Lincoln the same for the same. Jessee Harris the same for the same. William Allen the same for the same. George Helm the same for the same & Nathaniel Wickliff the same for the same as pr. acct. filed.
A copy / Teste
Benjamin Helm C. Comr.

Acct.
I Charles Helm as Deputy Sheriff for Hardin County, summoned the following Persons as a guard to assist me in Guarding James Wilson to the Public Jail of Hardin County, charged with having passed Counterfeit money, agreeable to a warrant to me directed from Assa Coombs, a Justice of the Peace for Hardin County, Towit, Thomas Lincoln one day Henry Ewin one day, Jessee Harris One day, William Allen one day, George Helm same, Nathaniel Wickliff the same.
Summoned by me in Jany 1803
Charles Helm D.S.
Philip Read S.H.C.
A copy Test Ben Helm C.H.C.

Thomas Lincoln (1778-1851) was born in Virginia and in May 1786 witnessed the murder of his father by Native Americans. His brother Mordecai killed a Native American who was going to capture or kill Thomas. Their widowed mother afterward moved the family to Kentucky. Thomas Lincoln served in the state militia at the age of 19 and in 1802, moved to Hardin County, Kentucky, where he purchased a farm. In June 1806, he married Nancy Hanks (1784-1818), with whom he had two children, including future president Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). Thomas Lincoln bought successive farms in Kentucky before moving his family to Indiana in December 1816 to avoid slavery and Kentucky's convoluted land titles. Lincoln purchased land in Indiana and settled in the Little Pigeon Creek community. After his first wife died in October 1818, he married Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow from Kentucky, in December 1819. By 1827, he owned 100 acres of land in Indiana. In 1830, he moved his family to Illinois, settling in Coles County in eastern Illinois in 1831, where he remained for the rest of his life.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 7.375"
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