Near Springfield in Washington County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

The Marriage of Nancy & Thomas Lincoln

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

1. The Marriage of Nancy & Thomas Lincoln Marker

Inscription.

The Marriage of Nancy and Thomas Lincoln. . On June 12, 1806, Thomas Lincoln traveled to Springfield, Kentucky, to obtain a marriage license to wed Nancy Hanks. Richard Berry, Nancy's uncle, signed the document as guardian of the bride-to-be. Two days later, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy were married near here, at Richard Berry's Beechland property. The Reverend Jesse Head, a Methodist minister and neighbor of the Berrys, presided over a traditional pioneer wedding ceremony. Thomas and Nancy later became the parents of future president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln., The ceremony was followed by a celebratory feast for the Lincolns. A guest later described the festivities:, We had bear meat...venison, wild turkey and ducks; eggs, wild and tame, so common that you could buy them at two bits a bushel; maple sugar, swung on a string, to bite off for coffee or whiskey; syrup in big gourds; peach-and-honey; a sheep that the two families barbecued whole over coals of wood burned in a pit, and covered with green boughs to keep the juice in; a race for the whiskey bottle., (sidebar) , Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail, 1809 Abraham Lincoln born at Sinking Spring farm, in present-day Larue County, Kentucky. , 1816 Lincoln family moved from Kentucky. , 1841 Abraham Lincoln visited his friend Joshua Speed at Farmington, the Speed family plantation, in Louisville, Kentucky. , 1842 Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd of Lexington, Kentucky. , 1847 The Lincoln family visited Lexington, Kentucky, en route to Abraham’s only term in Congress. , 1860 Abraham Lincoln elected President of the United States in November. , 1865 Abraham Lincoln assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., www.kylincolntrail.com www.heritage.ky.gov www.kylincolntrail.org www.history.ky.gov www.transportation.ky.gov , A project of the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission produced by the Kentucky Heritage Council in partnership with the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

On June 12, 1806, Thomas Lincoln traveled to Springfield, Kentucky, to obtain a marriage license to wed Nancy Hanks. Richard Berry, Nancy's uncle, signed the document as guardian of the bride-to-be. Two days later, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy were married near here, at Richard Berry's Beechland property. The Reverend Jesse Head, a Methodist minister and neighbor of the Berrys, presided over a traditional pioneer wedding ceremony. Thomas and Nancy later became the parents of future president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.

The ceremony was followed by a celebratory feast for the Lincolns. A guest later described the festivities:

We had bear meat...venison, wild turkey and ducks; eggs, wild and tame, so common that you could buy them at two bits a bushel; maple sugar, swung on a string, to bite off for coffee or whiskey; syrup in big gourds; peach-and-honey; a sheep that the two families barbecued whole over coals of wood burned in a pit, and covered with green boughs to keep the juice in; a race for the whiskey bottle.

(sidebar)
Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail

1809 Abraham Lincoln born at Sinking Spring farm, in present-day Larue County, Kentucky.
1816 Lincoln family moved from Kentucky.
1841 Abraham Lincoln visited his friend Joshua

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Speed at Farmington, the Speed family plantation, in Louisville, Kentucky.
1842 Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd of Lexington, Kentucky.
1847 The Lincoln family visited Lexington, Kentucky, en route to Abraham’s only term in Congress.
1860 Abraham Lincoln elected President of the United States in November.
1865 Abraham Lincoln assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.

www.kylincolntrail.com www.heritage.ky.gov www.kylincolntrail.org www.history.ky.gov www.transportation.ky.gov
A project of the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission produced by the Kentucky Heritage Council in partnership with the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Erected by Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1767.

Location. 37° 45.639′ N, 85° 12.899′ W. Marker is near Springfield, Kentucky, in Washington County. Marker can be reached from Beechland Road (Kentucky Route 438) near Lincoln Park Road (Kentucky Route 528), on the left when traveling east

Lincoln Homestead State Park Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

2. Lincoln Homestead State Park Markers

. Located in Lincoln Homestead State Park‎. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5079 Lincoln Park Road, Springfield KY 40069, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln (here, next to this marker); Lincoln Cabin (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Lincoln Cabin (a few steps from this marker); The Lincolns Move West (within shouting distance of this marker); The Berry Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); The Nancy Hanks Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln Homestead State Park (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Lincoln Homestead State Park (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

More about this marker. In the center is a "Sketch image of the Reverend Jesse Head" Courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society

On the lower right is a photograph with the caption, "The Washington County Courthouse was completed in 1816 and currently houses the marriage certificate of Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln. It is the oldest continuously used courthouse in Kentucky, as of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial commemoration." Courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society

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Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail. (Submitted on August 21, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,037 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 21, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.