| Notes |
- Benjamin VanHook, son of Benjamin VanHook and Frances was born 23 August 1801, as given in his father's Bible that was in possession of Dr. Samuel Munson of Springfield, Illinois, in the 1930's. Benjamin's grave stone gives a birth date of 25 December 1800. According to the 1850 and 1860 census, and his death record in the 1880 census mortality schedule, Benjamin was born in Virginia. This could be possible, if his mother was living back in Russell County, VA, at the time of his birth - but his father was appearing in the Harrison Co., KY, tax lists at this time.
When he was about 7 years old his family moved to Pulaski County, Ky., after the death of his mother. We first find Benjamin on his own there in the 1822 tax lists. Benjamin married Esther Gaston there 28 December 1822 [marriage bonds, book 1, page 183]. The surety on the bond was James Gaston (either Esther's father or brother).
Esther was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Gaston. She was born 1 February 1805 in Kentucky. She had a large number of brothers and sisters as shown in the settlement of her father's land in 1846. Benjamin and Esther raised a family of 13 children.
(notes from Matthew VanHook) - Benjamin was a farmer, although his family wanted him to be a doctor. Went to local elementary school. One of the many farm crops was apples, which were taken to a distillery and made into brandy. After the death of his first wife, who bore him 13 children, he married his second wife, Orpha ___; she died of cancer. He is buried in "Rambo Cemetery" , Pulaski County, KY
In 1857 Esther became ill with a stomach ulcer and gradually got worse. She died in December of 1859 just short of her 55th birthday [Pulaski Co., Ky., Census 1860 mortality schedules, page 536]. She is buried in the Starns family cemetery in Pulaski County on Welborn Road off Highway 39.
Benjamin married second Orpha Ely on 22 July 1861 in Pulaski County [marriage bonds, book 1, page 185]. The surety on this bond was James VanHook, probably Ben's son. On this marriage bond Ben's age is 61 years and birthplace of Virginia. Orpha was 41, born Lee County, Virginia. Orpha was born 20 October 1820. They were married less than a year when Orpha passed away on 15 May 1862. She was buried near Benjamin's first wife.
Benjamin married third Rebecca Lawrence on 18 February 1866 in Pulaski County [marriage bonds, book 3, page 236]. The was no surety on this bond, it was purchased by Benjamin himself. On this marriage bond Ben's age is 65 years and birthplace of Virginia. It also states his father and mother were born in Virginia. This was also the third marriage for Rebecca Lawrence. She was 51 at the time and was also born in Virginia. Rebecca must have died, for on Ben's death record he is listed as a widower.
Benjamin died on 26 May 1880. He was buried with his first two wives in the Starns cemetery. His death record [Pulaski Co., Ky., Census 1880 mortality schedules, page 981] states he is age 80, widowed, and died of cancer of the liver and dropsy. The attending physician was George Perkins. It gives his birthplace as Virginia, and also states his father and mother were born in Virginia.
Benjamin's 14 year-old daughter Harriet is also buried near him, as is his daughter Jane VanHook and her husband William H. Price. Some of Jane and William's children are also in this cemetery, as well as William H. Marcum (born 17 April 1823, died 11 October 1895), Benjamin's son-in-law (husband of Elizabeth).
1822 - Pulaski Co., Ky., Tax lists - Benjamin VanHook, 1 white male over 21, 1 horse, no land.
1830 - Pulaski Co., Ky., Census, Page 20: Benjamin Vanhook
1840 - Pulaski Co., Ky., Census, Page 311: Benjamin VanHook
1850 - Pulaski Co., Ky., Census, Page 26 gives the following names and ages: Benjamin Vanhook age 50 Farmer born Va
Esther 45 Ky
Samuel 21 Ky
Nancy 18 Ky
Polly 17 Ky
Susanna 15 Ky
Mary 13 Ky
William 11 Ky
Robert 9 Ky
Ellen 7 Ky
Harriet 4 Ky
22 June 1860 - Pulaski Co., Ky., Census, page 87, district 1 gives the following names and ages:
Benjamin Vanhook age 60 Farmer born Va
William 20 Ky
Robert 18 Ky
Ellen 16 Ky
Harriet 13 Ky
Baby Hicks 12 Ky
17 August 1846 - Pulaski Co., Ky., Deeds Volume 13, page 653 - Harrison Gaston, William Gaston, Benj'n Vanhook & Esther his wife late Esther Gaston, Elizabeth Reagin late Elizabeth Gaston, John Gaston and Rebecca his wife, Jackson Gaston, James Gaston, Adam Gaston, James M. Bryant & Jane his wife late Jane Gaston, heirs of James Gaston dec'd & Elizabeth Gaston widow of said James Gaston sold to William Eoff 200 acres on Buck Creek for $16.66&2/3 to each of them. All of the above signed plus: Washington Gaston, Samuel Gaston, and Jane Gaston were signed by Benjamin Vanhook their agent by Powers of Attorney.
Signatures were recorded at various times from 17 August 1846 till 11 August 1849.
notes: Elizabeth Gaston m. William Reagan 1 May 1817, John Gaston m. Rebecca Surber 15 March 1824, Adam Gaston m. Mary Davis 1 March 1850, James M. Bryant m. Jane Gaston 11 February 1845.
7 August 1865 - Rockcastle Co., Ky., Deeds, Book J, Page 208 - Benjamin appears as one of the heirs in is father's farm in Rockcastle County.
- (Medical):1880 KY Census Mortality Schedules, Pulaski Co., page 981
Ben Vanhook, age 80, white male, widowed
born Va., father b. Va., mother b. Va., farmer, died May 1880
physician George Perkins, died of Cancer of Liver / Dropsy
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1801 - 1880