Dramatis Personae

"Also Mr McNaff stands indebted to me one dollar exclusive of what mentioned in this note which I was of him throwing heads or tales."

Several years ago while on a trip to Indiana, I rented a car and headed south to Springfield, Kentucky. The trip was admittedly not very well planned, and a good portion of it was a race against the clock to make it to the Washington County Courthouse. It was worth the trouble though, and now that I know so much more than I did then, I have to make the trip again. What I found in the records was a series of debt suits and judgments against John T. Some happened before he went missing. Others were clearly a result of his absence, with court officers responding "Not found within my Bailiwick either in person or property."

Two marvelous lists can be made in from these documents. The first is a list of people who were part of John T and Polly's lives. The second is a list of goods that were sacrificed from the estate to cover the debts. I'll cover those in another post. Here is a list of people who had some of a relationship with John T - either business dealings or familial. What can't be said is how friendly these dealings were, though there are a few indications that there may have been some hostility. Did they harass our poor Polly and her family about the money? Were they sympathetic but backed into their own financial corners? I imagine each one may have played out in its own way.


Allies

• James Abell, apprentice, sued for discharge in Jan 1803
• Philip Cleland, in 1799, John T was appointed overseer of the a road that was bounded by Clelands' property, summoned as garnishee in Parrott debt suit
• Graham Family, in 1799, John T was appointed overseer of the a road that was bounded by "Graham's Hill." Mother-in-law was possibly Jane Graham Wright and Thomas Wright Jr, possibly Polly's brother, married a Mary Graham.
• John Gray, garnishee in Riley case and Drake case, Major Gray's property bounded patrol district, 1801
• Moses Rice, Witness to marriage bond in 1798
• Thomas Wright, Signed marriage bond in 1798, summoned as garnishee in Payne debt suit, Parrott debt suit 

Neighbors/Colleagues

• Richard Chandler, made district patroller with John T in 1801
• James Edmonsons, made district patroller with John T in 1801
• James Feanlland, captain of patrollers when John T was made a district patroller in 1801
• Samuel McElroy, property bounded patrol district, 1801
• George Young, took over road upkeep when John T was relieved in Jan 1802
• Capt Weaver, property bounded patrol district, 1801
• Their are several Thompson families in Washington County. That is John T's middle name. Could there be a connection?

Debt Holders 

• Nathaniel Drake, Feb 1803, sued John T in the amount of 170 dollars, of Jessamine County (with John Starr); Drake appears to have been a tavern keeper
• Hillary Hays(t), Mar 1800, party in suit with Jonathan Payne 
• John Hurry, party in suit with Amos Riley
• Stephen Lankford, Jun 1803, sued John T in the amount of 35 dollars and interest, lent him money Mar of 1800?
• Rodham Parrott, Mar 1800, sued John T in the amount of 30 pounds or 29 pounds 13 shillings and 6 pence and 3 dollars 64 cents and 15 shillings costs 
• Jonathan Payne, Mar 1800, sued John T in the amount of 21 pound 15 shilling and 3 pence. 
• Amos Riley, Mar 1803, sued John T in the amount of 19 dollars and 99 cents, John T signed promissory note to him in April of 1802
• John Starr, Feb 1803, sued John T in the amount of 170 dollars, of Jessamine County (with Nathaniel Drake)

Officers/Functionaries

• Richard Beall, Sheriff of Washington County (Payne case, Parrott case)
• Frederick Beysey (?), witness on promissory note with John T to Amos Riley 
• A Grant, court officer (Parrott case) 
•  Head, Justice of the Peace
• John Reed, court clerk (Parrott case, Lankford case)
• Reason Richards, court officer, when John T appointed road overseer
• Terah Templin, Presbyterian circuit minister who married John T and Polly in 1798. 
• Charles Wickliff, Esq, Signed release of James Abell from apprenticeship
• Henry Young, court officer (Lankford case, Riley case, Drake case

There's clearly a lot of work to do here, and mapping out these names seems like a good step. I can't leave this as it is without one more gem. It was an addendum to Riley's suit that gives some insight into the lives and character of these men. I'm not entirely sure how I want to interpret it yet, so I'll leave you to your own devices:

Amos Riley, "Also Mr McNaff stands indebted to me one dollar exclusive of what mentioned in this note which I was of him throwing heads or tales."