1.
John KEARNS
The surname Kearns, sometimes spelled as Kerns, Kernes, Karnes, Karns, Carnes, Cairns, Cairens, Karrens, Kerrens (and others) is probably Irish in orgin, according to family tradition.
According to the following biography, John Kearns came from Virginia. However, his birthplace (as well as his wife's) according to son Thomas Kearns' 1880 Census data, son Hugh Kearns' 1880 Census data, and daughter Isabella Cunningham's 1880 Census data was Maryland.
A HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS
By E. Polk Johnson (Chicago-New York: Lewis Publishing Company), 1912:
Volume III:
pp. 1557-1558:
"John Kearns, his [William Thomas KEARNS, born 1842] paternal grandfather, a native of Virginia, followed the tide of emigration to Kentucky about 1795, and located on Two Lick pike, in Harrison county, where he purchased a tract of timber land, from which he hewed a homestead. In common with the other pioneers of that day, he labored with unceasing toil to provide a home for his family, helping in the meantime to develop the resources of this now rich agricultural region."
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY, by William Elsey Connelley & Ellis Merton Coulter, 1922:
Volume IV:
p. 280:
"B. F. KEARNS. Rural school superintendent for Harrison County, B. F. Kearns is a veteran educator, and has given upwards of half a century to this dignified and important service to humanity.
He was born in Harrison County, October 16, 1855, a son of Thomas B. and Eliza (Fooks) Kearns. His paternal grandparents, John and Kate Kearns, were natives of Ireland, while his maternal grandfather was Benjamin Fooks, a native of England, whose wife came from the same country. These families established homes in Harrison County, Kentucky, more than a century ago, when all the country was new and civilization was just beginning in Kentucky."
Harrison County, KY, Tax Lists, 1794-1808--LDS Film #008,021:
White males above 21--White males 16-21--Total Blacks--Blacks
under 16--Horses
1794:
William KERNS 1-0-0-0-1
1795:
July 11, William KERNS 1-0-0-0-1, 100 acres, Second lick run
1796:
District #1:
Aug 24, John KEARNS 1-0-0-0-1
Aug 24, William KEARNS 1-0-0-0-1, 100 acres, 2nd Lick
Harrison County, KY, Marriage Bonds, 1794-1808--LDS Film #216,878:
File 1, 1-259:
#64, John-J mark-KERNS & Peggy Miller, 28 Mar 1796; bondsman: William
KERNS (signed)
Harrison County, KY, Marriage Returns--LDS Film #216,864:
September 5, 1796: John KEARNS & Margaret Miller, by John Whiteker, Minister
Harrison County, KY, Tax Lists, 1794-1808--LDS Film #008,021:
White males above 21--White males 16-21--Total Blacks--Blacks
under 16--Horses
1797:
Aug 1, William KEARNS 1-0-0-0-2, 100 acres, Second Lick
Aug 9, John KEARNS 1-0-0-0-1
Harrison County, KY, Marriage Bonds, 1794-1808--LDS Film #216,878:
File 1, 1-259:
#188, William KEARNS & Ruth Wiggins, 29 Dec 1798; bondsman: John KERNS
Harrison County, KY, Tax Lists, 1794-1808--LDS Film #008,021:
White males above 21--White males 16-21--Total Blacks--Blacks
under 16--Horses
1799:
May 24, William KEARNS 1-0-0-0-2, 150 acres, Sec Lick
May 24, John KEARNS 1-0-0-0-3
1800:
May 28, John CARNS 1-0-0-0-3
May 28, Wm CARNS 1-0-0-0-3, 150 acres, Second lick run
Harrison County, KY, Minute Books--LDS Film #216,872:
Volume A, 1796-1809:
4 Nov 1800:
Payment to John KEARNS for an old wolf's head
Payment to John KEARNS for 2 same
Harrison County, KY, Tax Lists, 1794-1808--LDS Film #008,021:
White males above 21--White males 16-21--Total Blacks--Blacks
under 16--Horses
1801:
May 26, William KEARNS 1-0-0-0-4, 150 acres, Second
May 26, John KEARNS 1-0-0-0-3, 200 acres, Bourbon County,
Hinkson water course, entered to Bullard & McCawley
1802:
May 6, William CARNS 1-0-0-0-5, 150 acres, Second Lick Creek
May 6, John CARNS 1-0-0-0-4
Harrison County, KY, Minute Books--LDS Film #216,872:
Volume A, 1796-1809:
7 Nov 1803:
Payment to John KEARNS for one grown wolf's head
Harrison County, KY, Tax Lists, 1794-1808--LDS Film #008,021:
White males above 21--White males 16-21--Total Blacks--Blacks
under 16--Horses
1803:
Mar 22, Wm KERNS 1-0-0-0-6, 150 acres, Second L
Mar 22, Jno KERNS 1-0-0-0-5
1804:
Mar 30, John KEERNS 1-0-0-0-4, 76 acres, Second lick
Mar 30, William KEERNS 1-0-0-0-3, 160 acres, Second lick
Harrison County, KY, Deeds, 1808-1816--LDS Film #216,850:
Book 03:
pp. 003-004:
13 Dec 1804
John Miller of Harrison Co, KY, to John KARNES of Harrison Co
for 76 pounds
land on waters of Second lick run
beginning at stake in field running from there S30W150 poles to
sugartree corner to John Cunningham, thence E150 poles to elm &
two hackberries, thence N17E 42 poles to sugartree dogwood & elm,
thence N47W127 to beginning
containing 76 acres
Signed: John Miller LS
Wit: Wilnr Hall, Philip Hall, John Hall
Harrison County, KY, Minute Books--LDS Film #216,872:
Volume A, 1796-1809:
5 Aug 1805:
Commonwealth vs. John KERNS who refused to swear to the list of
his taxable property; opinion of the Court that he be fined one
dollar and pay the costs herein
Harrison County, KY, Tax Lists, 1794-1808--LDS Film #008,021:
White males above 21--White males 16-21--Total Blacks--Blacks
under 16--Horses
1805:
Mar 16, William KERNS 1-0-0-0-3, 150 acres, Second lick
Mar 16, John KERNS 1-0-0-0-4, 76 acres, Second lick
1806:
District #2:
July 11, John KEARNS 1-0-0-0-5, 75 acres, Second lick
July 11, William KEARNS 1-0-0-0-5, 150 acres, Second lick
1807:
May 2, John KARNS 1-0-0-0-5, 75 acres, Second lick
May 11, William KARNS 1-0-0-0-6, 150 acres, two lick
1808:
May 27, John KERNS 1-0-0-0-5, 75 acres, Second lick
May 27, William KERNS 1-0-0-0-2, 150 acres, Second lick
1810 FEDERAL CENSUS, HARRISON COUNTY, KENTUCKY:
p. 320:
John KERNS household:
3 males age 0-10
3 males age 10-16
1 male age 26-45
2 females age 0-10
2 females age 10-16
1 female age 26-45
[Editor's Note: John Kearns apparently left his wife and children in Harrison County and moved to Boone County, KY, before 1820. The 1820 and 1830 Harrison County, KY, Census, showed Margaret Kearns as head of household. John Kearns appeared in Boone County, KY, in the 1820 and 1830 Census and apparently had six children, born between 1820 and 1830, by Mildred Davis whom he did not marry until 1836. In 1832-1833, they were indicted in Hendricks County, Indiana, for living in adultery. By 1840, they were back in Boone County, KY, where John Karnes was listed as head of household in the 1840 Census.]
Boone County, KY, Tax Lists, 1799-1824--LDS Film #007,873:
1799-1816: Negative
White males over 21--Blacks over 16--Total Blacks--Horses
1817:
John KARENS 1-0-0-3 value 115
1818 book missing
1819:
John G. Kern 1-0-0-0
John KARNES 1-0-0-2 value 120
1820:
John G. Kern 1-0-0-0
1820 FEDERAL CENSUS, BOONE COUNTY, KENTUCKY:
p. 022:
John KARNS household:
2 males age 0-10
1 male over age 45
1 female age 0-10
1 female age 26-45
1820 FEDERAL CENSUS, HARRISON COUNTY, KENTUCKY:
p. 196:
Margaret KERNES household:
3 males age 10-16
2 males age 16-18
2 males age 16-26
3 females age 0-10
1 female over age 45
Boone County, KY, Tax Lists, 1799-1824--LDS Film #007,873:
White males over 21--Blacks over 16--Total Blacks--Horses
1821: Negative
1822:
John KERNS 1-0-0-3 value 160
1823:
John KERNS 1-0-0-3 value 120
1824:
John KERNS 1-0-0-2 value 100
Harrison County, KY, Deeds, 1828-1832--LDS Film #216,854:
Book 11:
pp. 349-350:
2 Sep 1829
John KERRENCE of Boone County to Thomas KERRENCE of Harrison County
for one dollar,
tract on waters of Second Lick, 143 acres,
adj. Blackburn, L. Garnett, P. Garnett, S. Garnett, F. Hamilton
Signed: John-x mark-KERRENS
Wit: ? Comely, Richard Barrend, Elizabeth Barrend
1830 FEDERAL CENSUS, BOONE COUNTY, KENTUCKY:
p. 276:
Jno KEARNS household:
1 male age 0-5
1 male age 5-10
1 male age 10-15
1 male age 15-20
1 male age 60-70
1 female age 0-5
1 female age 5-10
1 female age 15-20
1 female age 20-30
1 female age 30-40
1830 FEDERAL CENSUS, HARRISON COUNTY, KENTUCKY:
p. 171:
Margaret KEARNS household:
4 males age 20-30
2 females age 10-15
1 female age 50-60
Hendricks County, IN, Circuit Court Minutes, 1824-1841--LDS Film #488,430:
Book 1, 1824-1833:
pp. 336-340:
16 April 1832
Emily, otherwise Milly Davis, and John KEARNS both of Hendricks County are bound unto the state in the amount of $100 each, 22 October 1831, Emily Davis to appear before Court on first day of next April term to answer charge against her for living in adultery,
Signed: Milly-x-Davis, John-x-KEARNS
Milly and John KEARNS, the security, make default; fails to appear
Book 2, 1834-1839:
pp. 78-89:
April term 1833
State of Indiana vs. John KERNS
16 April 1832, bond of John KERNS & Thomas Samuel of Hendricks County, bound to state of Indiana for $100, that John KERNS is to appear before Circuit Court on first day of next April term, to answer charge against him for living in adultery
Signed: John-x mark-KEARNS, Thomas Samuel
John KEARNS, thrice called, comes not but makes default, and Thomas Samuel the security of said John.
Charges that John KEARNS living in open & notorious adultry with one Emily, otherwise Milly Davis.
1840 FEDERAL CENSUS, BOONE COUNTY, KENTUCKY:
p. 250:
John KARNES household:
1 male age 0-5
1 male age 15-20
1 male age 20-30
1 male age 70-80
1 female age 10-15
1 female age 15-20
1 female age 50-60
Boone County, KY, Wills, 1839-1846--LDS Film #523,715:
Book D, 1839-1846:
pp. 602-603:
Feb 22, 1846
Will of John KEARNS of Boone County, KY,
to my wife the third of my farm where I now live and all my personal
property, balance of my land to my two sons Jackson KEARNS and Lewis
KEARNS equally, and at my wife's death her dowery be equally divided among my three daughters Emily, Cynthia and Zerilda
Signed: John KEARNS
Wit: Thomas D. Kelly, J.M. Brann
Appoint wife and son Jackson my executors
will proved April Term 1846
[Editor's Note: A possible brother to John Kearns was William Kearns. 1 Jan 1799, Harrison County, Kentucky, William Kearns married Ruth Wiggins. This family was in Harrison County in the 1810 Harrison County Census but by 1820 had moved to Daviess County, Indiana, where William Kearns, age 85, died in 1850 (appeared in 1850 Mortality Schedule, listed as born in Maryland). William was probably a brother to John Kearns, but this is based solely on the circumstantial evidence of their ages (both born in the 1760's), place of birth (both born in Maryland), and proximity in Harrison County, KY (both married in 1790's there). A son of this William was Rev. John Kerns, about whom the following was written --
NORTHERN MINNESOTA CONFERENCE OF 1895:
Memoirs:
Rev. John KERNS, born Harrison County, Ky, Jan 2, 1809, died
Fullerton Neb, August 7, 1895. 68 years a minister in Methodist
Episcopal Church.
10 years old, father from Ky to Jo Daviess Co, Illinois [should probably be Daviess County, Indiana].
1831 in Indiana, deacon in 1829, elder in 1831
1854 transferred to Wisconsin which included Minnesota
first wife, Edna Smith, sister of Rev. Dr. Smith; she died 1876
second wife, Mrs. Dr. McCullough of Winona, Minn, died in Texas, 1892]
9.
David KEARNS