Gabriel AMENT

                   RESEARCH NOTE:  Much research in notes.

(1) AIS census index. FHL. (a) 1700-1810 (b) 1830-1832. (c) 1840. (d) 1850-1860.(2) "Graveyard inscription, Brents' Hill Cemetery," copied by Elizabeth Helm, 29 Oct 1937.(3) "Methodism in Kentucky," by Rev. Albert H. Redford, Vol. II. Cites: (a) Johnathan Stamper, "Home Circle", Vol. III, p.364-365.(4) Obituary of grandson Joseph Pettus Ament.(5) "Marriage Records of Bourbon County, Kentucky 1786-1800," by Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry (Chillicothe, MO). FHL #976.9 A1 #23.(6) Will of Gabriel Ament, Green County, Kentucky Will Book 3, p.163.(7) "Emmigrants to Pennsylvania," ed. by Tepper, p.251.(8) 1850 Green County, Kentucky census, Dist. #1, taken 22 July, house #527, p.70.(9) Carolyn Davidson Carey, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.(10) "History of Davidson Co., Tennessee 1880," by Prof. W. W. Clayton, p.332.(11) Green County, Kentucky land and property records. (a) Vol. 12, p.217. FHL #551,032. (b) Vol . 9 1819-1821, p.301. FHL #591,338.(12) 1820 census, Green County, Kentucky.(13) "Barren Co., Kentucky Heritage," by Goode & Gardiner (Homestead Press, Bowling Green , KY, 1980).(14) "Kentucky Biographies," "Samuel P. Ament", p.424. Source unknown.(15) "Green County Review," Vol. XII, No. 4, Summer 1989, p.66. "Gabriel Ament's Letter," reprinted from an unnamed newspaper. At the top of the article appeared "County, Missouri, Thursday, 11 Dec, 1930."(16) "Cyrus Edwards' Stories of Early Days," by Florence Edwards Gardner, p.46,49-50,147,19 0.(17) Ethel Barnes, Louisburg, Kansas. Cites: (a) Thomas Ament, great-grandson of Gabriel Ament.(18) Bourbon County, Kentucky tax lists, 1787-1793, 1795-1797, 1800-1805. FHL #7,879.(19) Green County, Kentucky tax lists, 1795-1797, 1799-1823. FHL #8,004.(20) Barren County, Kentucky tax lists, 1799-1816. FHL #7,865.(21) Bourbon County, Kentucky Marriage Bonds 1790-1799, Vol. 1, p.26. FHL #183,145.(22) Barren County, Kentucky Deeds. (a) Vol. C, p.13-14, & Vol. B, p.386-387. FHL #209,720. (b) Vol . F, p.319. FHL #209,722. (c) Vol. I, p.457. FHL #209,723.(23) "The National Cyclopedia of American Biography," Vol. 27, p.243-244, Biography of James Eli Ament.(24) Gabriel Ament family Bible (1815, New York, D. Hitt and T. Ware for the Methodist Connection in the U.S.). Photocopy of Family Record pages from Ralph Winant, Fayette, OH, 1995.Birth: (2) Age 88 in 1851 (b. 1763). (3,10) 1760. (3,4,10,16) Germany. (4) Age 90 in 185 0 (b. 1760). (8) Age 81 in 1850 (b. 1769), Germany. (10) On the Rhine. (23) A Native of Alsace-Lorraine. (24) "Supposed age 89" at death in Jan 1851 (b. 1762).Marriage to Hannah Metcalfe: (5) 12 Dec 1795, Bourbon County, Kentucky. (21) Bond dated 12 Dec 1795 , Bourbon County, Kentucky. (23) Mary Metcalf. (24) 14 Dec 1795.Death: (2,24) 10 Jan 1851. (2) At his residence in Green County, KY. (3) 10 Jan 1850. (4) 1850, age 90. (NOTE: Death had to be 1851 if he was alive for 1850 census.) (10) 8 Jan 1850, Green County, Kentucky, Brentz Hill. (6) Will dated 4 Oct 1823, filed in court 21 Jul 1851, Greensburg , Green County, Kentucky.Burial: (2) Gabriel and wife Hannah graves enclosed with a wall on the Joe Perry place (1937) on a bluff above Green River and Russell Crest, occupied by Mr. Milton Vaugh. Brentz Hill Cemetery. (10) Laid to rest on Brentz Hill at the spot he had selected for his own burial.(3) Entered college at age 14.(3) Graduated from college at age 18 with distinguished honor.(3) Entered a theological seminary immediately after leaving college to prepare to Roman Catholic priesthood.(3) A "press gang" tried to press him into German military service for life. He escaped and tried to see his father, but couldn't find him.(3) He boarded a ship bound for Holland. He knew the captain, who hid him in an empty barrel. (15) Ran away from his home when a boy, giving the captain of the ship a gold watch to stow him away, after which the boy worked his passage across.(10) 1778: Came to Philadelphia from Germany. (13,16) Came to America from Germany. (7) 1792, 8 Sep: Gabriel Ament landed in Philadelphia on board the ship "Columbia," William MALEY, C apt. (NOTE: This would be too la
te to be the Gabriel Ament who was excommunicated in 1789 or went to KY in 1790.) (16) Came to America during the Revolution. (NOTE: This would agree with the 1778 date.) (23) c.1769. Settled first in Philadelphia.(3) Was sold to a Protestant man for 3 years to pay his passage. Paid off his indenture in 18 months.(13,16) Served in the Continental Army for several years.(3) 1789: Renounced Catholicism and was anathematized in Philadelphia (banned and excommunicated by the priests).(3) 1790: Emigrated to KY. (10) Moved to KY from PA at age 21. (NOTE: If he was b. in 1763 , he would have been 21 in 1784.) (23) Settled later in KY.(14) Was a successful farmer in Jessamine County, Kentucky. (NOTE: Jessamine Co. was formed from Fayette Co. in 1798. Gabriel Ament does not appear on Fayette Co. tax lists 1787-1797, 1799-1804, or on Jessamine Co. tax lists 1799-1808.)(18) 1796, 4 May: Gabriel Ament taxed Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1 white male over 16.(18) 1797, 15 Aug: Gabriel Ament taxed Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1 white male over 16.(18) 1800, 30 May: Gabriel Amins taxed Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1 white male over 16, 1 horse.(18) 1801, 16 Jun: Gabriel Ament taxed Bourbon County, Kentucky. (17) 1801: Paid personal property taxes.(3) early 1800s: Heard his first Methodist Minister, Samuel Pollard, and Gabriel and Hannah became Methodists. (NOTE: His son Samuel Pollard Ament was b. ca. 1803.)(3) c.1805: Moved from Bourbon Co. to Barren County, Kentucky at a place called the Blue Spring Grove, right on the road leading from Lexington to Nashville. Kept a "house of public entertainment." Was 12 miles from Glasgow. (10) c. 1808 moved from near Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky to Barren County, Kentucky. (13) 1793: Purchased a farm in Barren County, Kentucky, on the Natchez Trace in a heavily wooded section near Blue Spring Creek known as Blue Spring Grove, between Goosehorn (now Hiseville) and present day Park. Stage coaches stopped there, allowing many famous persons to enjoy a good meal and rest a while. (16) Cyrus Edwards recalled that in the spring of 1793, Gabriel Ament was the first settler in the Blue Spring Grove, the first settled tract of the Marshall surveys lying to the south of the Maggard land, in the heart of Big Blue Spring Grove, where he built his cabins. The Aments were among the well-educated families of the early settlers. The Gabriel Ament farm was the center of a neighborhood on Blue Spring Creek, later known as the Hord farm. Ament lived in a large brick house that he had built a few years after settling there on the hill south of the Hord residence of later date, from brick he fired himself. He kept a tavern there for 25 or 30 years. There was a store exactly where the Hord residence now stands, and a large business was conducted there in the goods and tobacco trade by Ferguson & Hardy. Ament kept a large station on the New Lexington Road between Hiseville and Park named Blue Spring Grove, the first post office in the county outside Glasgow. Some time about 1840/5 the stage station was moved about 1/2 mile north and the post office to Dora Gadberry's.(3) 1807: He invited a new preacher in Barren Co. to preach at his house, and the following year it became a preaching place. The house became the Methodist itinerant's home and a place of rest for preachers of all denominations.(20) 1808, 4 May: Gabriel Ament taxed in Upper District, Barren County, Kentucky, for 150 acres on Blue Spring Creek in Barren Co., entered in the name of Marshal, surveyed for Marshal, granted to Marshal. 1 white male over 21, 3 horses.(22a) 1808, 21 Nov: Warranty deed, James Hughes and Mary his wife of Fayette County, Kentucky to Gabriel Ament of Barren County, Kentucky, for $750, 150 acres in the Blue Spring Grove in Barren Co., part of Marshall's two surveys of 1000 acres each, bounded by the N.E. corner of the upper survey, the N.W. corner of the upper survey, Robert Edwards' line, the E. line of the upper survey. Wits. John Garrett, Randal Harlow, Isham Hardy, James Black. Recorded 19 Jun 1809. Mary Hughes acknowledged deed 23 
May 1810 before Duvall Payne and Benjamin Bayless of Mayson Co.(20) 1809: Gabriel Ament taxed in Upper District, Barren County, Kentucky, for 150 acres in Blue Spring Grove, entered for Marshall, surveyed and patented for Marhsall. 1 white over 21, 3 horses.(1) 1810: Living in Barren County, Kentucky, 5 males and 1 female under 10 years of age living in his household.(20) 1810, 15 Jul: Gabriel Ament taxed in Upper District, Barren County, Kentucky, same information as 1809 tax list except 2 horses instead of 3.(20) 1811: Gabriel Ament taxed in Upper District, Barren County, Kentucky, same information as 1810 tax list.(20) 1812: Gabriel Ament taxed in Upper District, Barren County, Kentucky, same information as 1811 tax list, except 3 horses instead of 2.(20) 1813: Gabriel Ament taxed in Capt. Thompson's Co., Barren County, Kentucky, for 150 acres in Blue Spring Grove, rest of information the same as 1812 tax list, except 2 horses instead of 3.(20) 1814: Gabriel Ament taxed in 45th Regiment, Hardy's Co., rest of information the same as 1813 tax list except 4 horses.(20) 1815: Gabriel Ament taxed in Hardy's Co., Barren County, Kentucky, 1 black over 16, 2 total blacks.(20) 1816: Gabriel Ament taxed in Creek's Co., Barren County, Kentucky, 1 white over 21, 1 black over 16, 2 total blacks.(16) One of the jurors in the noted Hamilton trial in Glasgow.(22b) 1818, 2 Feb: James Hughes released mortgage on Gabriel Ament's purchase of 21 Nov 1808 for 150 acres on which Gabriel Ament resides at Blue Spring Grove in Barren County, Kentucky. Wits. J. R. Underwood, Joel Yancy. Recorded 22 Mar 1818.(3,10) 1818: Moved to Green County, Kentucky, settling 1 mile from Greensburg.(11b,17) 1819, 25 Dec: Gabriel Ament deed from Hugh and Jinny Montgomery, for $1,375, 100 acres near Clover Lick Creek, beginning in the back line of a 100 acre survey in the name of DUDLEY, bounded by the road from Greensburgh to the mill on Russels Creek and the line dividing the survey of Abner & Winlock.(9) Bought a farm from the Brents, which was purchased by the Perrys after his wife Hannah died. Gabriel and Hannah are buried there.(19) 1819: Gabriel Ament taxed Green County, Kentucky, for 100 acres on Clover Lick, entered in the name of Dudley, 1 white male over 21, 1 black over 16, 3 horses.(12) 1820: Living in Green County, Kentucky, 1 male & 1 female 45+ (b. before 1775), 1 male 18-26 (b. 1794-1802), 1 male 16-18 (b. 1802-1804), 1 male 10-16 (b. 1804-1810), 3 males & 1 female under 10 (b. 1810-1820). (NOTE: Son George enumerated in own household 1820, daughter Amelia married. 18-26 male = Samuel; 16-18 male = Thomas; 10-16 male = John; female under 10 = Mary Ann; 3 males under 10 = William, Henry, & ?)(19) 1820: Gabriel Ament taxed Green County, Kentucky for land on Clover Branch.(19) 1822: Gabriel Ament taxed Green County, Kentucky.(22c) 1822, 26 Sep: Warranty deed, Gabriel Ament and Hannah his wife of Green County, Kentucky, to George Jamison of Barren County, Kentucky, for $4,000.00, 150 acres in the Blue Spring Grove in Barren Co., part of Marshall's 2 surveys of 1,000 acres, bounded by the N.E. corner of the upper survey, N.W. corner of the said survey, Robert Edwards line, and E. Line of the upper survey of the above Grove. Signed Gabriel Ament and Hannah X Ament her mark. Wits. George S. Jameson , Nelson Read, Robert Gatewood. Acknowledged by Hannah Ament, Green County, Kentucky, 26 Sep 1822, before James Murray and Mactin Kelly, J.P.s.(19) 1823: Gabriel Ament taxed Green County, Kentucky.(6) 1823, 4 Oct: Signed his will. Of Green County, Kentucky. Witnesses Joseph and Thomas AKIN. (17) Wits. William Ament.(11) 1824, 28 Jun: Bought from Peter B. ATWOOD 2 slaves, 1 man named Tom, 1 woman named Judah, for William AMENT, Green County, Kentucky.(11a) 1824, 26 Oct: Released lein on slave woman Judah, Green County, Kentucky.(13) 1825/1830: Built a long, low schoolhouse on his farm in Barren County, Kentucky. The school was named Blue Spring Seminary, and housed seasonal schools, its curriculum confined to elementary subjects. It also served as the locat
ion for monthly preachings and summer camp meetings. Blue Spring Grove became a thriving settlement, including a stagecoach stop, Simon MONTGOMERY's blacksmithy, a tobacco warehouse, the Blue Spring Grove Post Office, and Gabriel Ament's large brick house and store. (NOTE: He was not living there any more.) (16) The schoolhouse was built by the neighborhood people by private subscription a few years before 1830.(11a) 1827, 8 Mar: Bought from Peter B. ATWOOD a negro woman and a boy Frank.(13,16) c.1830: Sold his Barren County, Kentucky farm at Blue Springs Grove to Maj. Burwell LAWLESS, a Glasgow lawyer. (16) Lawless later sold it to Hord.(1) 1830: Living in Green County, Kentucky.(17) 1830: Bought from P. B. Atwood 2 slaves, Tom 22 and Amy 19, for $400. A not of obligation was given, paid off 1854?(1) 1840: Living in Green County, Kentucky, southern div.(15) 1849, 6 Feb: Wrote a letter to his son John P. Ament, Esq., Harrisonville, Van Buren Co., MO, from his home in Green County, Kentucky. The letter was folded and sealed with green wax. "The chirography is splendid." He is replying to John's letter of 1 Jan, and speaks of "your long affliction." He also speaks of writing "your uncle, Thomas METCALF, in Washington City" asking him to use influence in securing John an appointment as Indian Agent. (See son John P. AMENT.) "Your mother and myself are now quite old and feeble. We are both very much afflicted with rheumatism, your mother more so than I. She is often confined to her bed for weeks. We are living entirely alone except for our Negroes, and we are very lonesome. It would be a source of great pleasure to us to see our children in our old age and enjoy the comforts of their society, but we are almost entirely deprived of that pleasure..." He mentions daughter Mary of Barren Co. about 25 miles away, and sons Samuel and Henry of Nashville. (See their notes.) Mentions medicine Hannah sent for John's daughter. "Your mother and myself, as we approach our final destination, which in the ordinary course of nature must happen soon, feel an abiding confidence that by the grace of GOD we are prepared for our final doom, and we hope that by grace divine you and all yours may be prepared to meet us in that better world where parting will be no more. You should remember that the promise is to those to hold faithful to the end in the diligent use of the means..." Signed "Your father, Gabriel Ament."(8) 1850: Living in Green County, Kentucky. Census lists Gabriel, age 81, Hannah, age 74, his profession as farmer, value of real estate $3,000.(3a) His manners were simple and honest and his conversation sometimes quite amusing. (16) A man of excellent character and standing, and was very popular among his neighbors and wherever known.