Working paper on Thomas Eaton of Bourbon Co. KY (German)
Working paper on Thomas Eaton of Bourbon Co. KY
(Please email Becky Mason Walker [email protected] with additional information)
Thomas’ surname could be spelled Eaton, Eatin, Eadon, Eton, Easton, Eitin, Etin, Eden, Eaden, etc.George Wesner who married Nancy Eaton d/o Thomas Eaton are my ancestors.
Some of Thomas Eaton’s children married into families of German descent.Nancy Eaton married George Wesner.Thomas Eaton Jr. married Hannah Shrout, widow of Peter Strout Jr., a 2nd generation American.Judith Wesner, George’s sister married George Miller who immigrated with his father Abraham from Germany.The Miller’s bible records were in German and Judith said they spoke German at home.So while it is tempting to link this family with the Welsh Eaton’s who were also in the area and seem to have similar naming patterns, Thomas was likely of German descent as well.Eaton in its various forms is also a German surname.
What is known about Thomas Eaton is that he appeared on the Bourbon Co. KY tax list in 1792/1793 along with Thomas Jr.He is listed as the father of Elizabeth Kennedy who married Thomas Kennedy 1793 in Bourbon Co. KY and he signed the bond for Nancy Eaton who married George Wesner also 1793 in Bourbon Co. KY.
A Thomas Eaton (8 occupants), Joseph Eaton (4) and Benjamin Eaton (3) appear on the 1782 Continental Census for Moorefield, Hampshire Co. VA.On the 1784 census, Thomas is listed with 9 occupants, Benjamin with 3 and Joseph with 3.The Eatons were gone by the 1810 census.Peter Shrout Jr. came to Bourbon Co. KY from Hampshire Co. VA, is listed on the 1797 Montgomery Co. KY tax list and died before March 19, 1804, the date of Peter Shrout Sr. will in Moorefield, Hampshire Co. VA. [from Larry Phalin]His widow, Hannah married a Thomas Eaton 1805 in Bourbon Co. KY.Conclusion:Thomas and family came to Bourbon Co. KY from Hampshire Co. VA with Peter Shrout Jr.The number of occupants in Joseph & Benjamin Eaton’s household indicate that they are likely just starting their family and are probable sons of Thomas.
A Thomas Eaton is listed on the tax list for Montgomery Co. KY in 1799, 1801 and 1803.In 1805, a Thomas Eaton married Hannah Shrout, widow of Peter Shrout in Bourbon Co. KY.Hannah is listed on the Montgomery Co. KY census in 1810.A Thomas Eaton also appears on the 1799 & 1800 Bourbon Co. KY tax list.Conclusion: Given the age of Thomas Sr. in 1805 and her age in the 1810 census, Hannah probably married Thomas Eaton Jr. who is deceased by 1810.Thomas Sr. likely died between 1800 and 1810.
The number of occupants in the 1784 Hampshire Co. VA census plus Benjamin and Joseph who are listed separately would seem to indicate that Thomas had 9 children.Since none were listed in the 1810 Hampshire Co. VA census, it is probable that they relocated together.
In 1784, Fayette Co. KY covered most of the eastern portion of present day Kentucky.There were apparently two Eaton families that came to Fayette Co. KY in the late 1780s – Jonathan Eaton of the Welch Eaton’s out of Rowan NC and Thomas Eaton’s family presumably of German descent from Hampshire Co. VA.Jonathan Eaton settled in that part of Fayette Co. KY that became Clark Co. KY and Thomas’ family lived in Bourbon and Montgomery Co. KY near the border of those two counties.Thomas’ family had left the area by 1820 and Joseph Eaton’s family of Woodford Co. KY appears in later records.
1784 Fayette Co. KY covered most of the eastern portion of present day Kentucky
1785 Bourbon Co. KY was formed from Fayette Co. KY
1787 Fayette Co. KY tax list - Jonathan Eaton
1788 Fayette Co. KY tax list - George & Joseph Eaton
1789 Fayette Co. KY tax list - George & Joseph Eaton
1790 Fayette Co. KY tax list - Charles & Jonathan Eaton
1792 Clark Co. KY is formed from Bourbon & Fayette Counties
1793 Bourbon Co. KY tax list – George, Joseph, Thomas Jr. & Thomas Sr. Eaton
1793 Bourbon Co. KY – George Wesner m. Nancy Eaton bond Thomas Eaton
1793 Bourbon Co. KY – Elizabeth Eaton m. Thomas Kennedy father Thomas Eaton
1794 Clark Co. KY – Samuel Eatin m. Frances Powell (appears on 1797 tax list)
1796 Bourbon Co. KY tax list – Benjamin Eaton
1796 Montgomery Co. KY was formed from Clark Co. KY
1797 Clark Co. KY Tax List - Jonathan & Samuel Eaton
1798 Bourbon Co. KY - Oct 25 Zachariah Eaton m. Ann Durbin (too old to be one in Clark Co.)
1799 Bourbon Co. KY tax list – Benjamin & Thomas Eaton
1808 Estill Co. KY formed from Clark & Madison
1810 Estill Co. KY census – Saml Eaton (b. before 1765 d. 1818)
1810 Clark Co. KY census - Jonathan Eadon (b. before 1765 d.1835) & Zachariah Eadon (b.1787 NC)
1810 Bourbon Co. KY census – Benjamin (41011-22120) & Daniel (00100-00100) in Stoner
1810 Montgomery Co. KY census – Benjamin, Hannah, Solomon & Joseph Eaton (over 45)
1818 Crawford Co. IL state census – Benjamin (1-6), John, Joseph, Richard & Stephen, Solomon & Benjamin Jr. Eaton
1820 No Eaton’s listed in Bourbon Co. KY census & a young Benjamin Eaton listed in Montgomery Co. KY
Benjamin, Joseph & Solomon Eaton, George & Nancy (Eaton) Wesner along with George & Judith (Wesner) Miller relocated to Crawford Co. IL by 1818 where they are listed on the state census.
Where was Thomas living prior to 1782 when he is listed in the Hampshire Co. VA census?He is perhaps a German immigrant?