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

The Lincoln Legacy

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

1. The Lincoln Legacy Marker

Inscription.

The Lincoln Legacy. . The Lincoln Legacy. Ca. 1782 The Lincoln, Hanks, Berry and Shipley families begin migrating to the Beech Fork in Kentucky., 1806, June 12 Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln are married by Reverend Jesse Head at the home of Francis Berry in Washington County., 1809, February 12 Birth of Abraham Lincoln., 1858 Abraham Lincoln searches in vain for proof of his parents' marriage, never to know that the truth was housed in the Washington County Courthouse., 1861-1865 Abraham Lincoln serves as the sixteenth president of the United States of America., 1865, April 15 President Lincoln is assassinated in Washington, D.C., 1878 W. F. Booker, Washington County clerk, discovers the marriage bond and minister's return., The Certificate of Marriage Return. Washington County, Kentucky. I do hereby certify that the following is a true list of marriages solemnized by me the subscriber from the 28th of April, 1806, until the date thereof., June 26th 1806 Joined together in the holy estate of matrimony agreeable to the rules of the M. E. C. Morris Berry and Peggy Simms November 27th 1806 David Mize and Hanah Xter March 5 1807 Charles Ridge and Anna Davis March 24 1807 John Head and Sally Clark March 27th Benjamin Clark and Dolly Head Jany 14th Edward Pyle and Rosanah McMahon Decr 22nd 1806 Silas Chamberlin and Betsey West June 17th 1806 John Springer and Elizabeth Ingram June 12th 1806 Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks September 23rd 1806 John Cambron and Hanah White October 2nd 1806 Anthony Lypey and Keziah Putte October 23rd 1806 Aaron Harding and Hanah Pollet April 5th 1807 Daniel Payne and Christiana Pierce July 26th 1806 Benjamin Clark and Polly Clark May 1806 Hugh Hoskins and Betsey Dyer September 25th 1806 John Graham and Catherine Jones Given under my hand this 22 day of April 1807., Jesse Head, D.M.E.C. Marriage Certificates. Washington County Court., The Lincoln Legacy Began with this bond of marriage. Know all men by these present, that we, Thomas Lincoln and Richard Berry, are held and firmly bound unto his excellency, the Governor of Kentucky, for the just and full sum of fifty pounds, current money, to payment of which, well and truly to be made to the said governor and his successors, we bind ourselves, our heirs, etc., jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals, and dated this 10th day of June, 1806. the condition of the above obligation is such that, whereas there is a marriage shortly intended between the above bound Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, for which a license has been issued. Now, if there be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then this obligation to void, else to remain in full force and virtue in law., John H. Parrott, Witness Thomas Lincoln Richard Berry, Gardin

The Lincoln Legacy
Ca. 1782 The Lincoln, Hanks, Berry and Shipley families begin migrating to the Beech Fork in Kentucky.

1806, June 12 Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln are married by Reverend Jesse Head at the home of Francis Berry in Washington County.*

1809, February 12 Birth of Abraham Lincoln.

1858 Abraham Lincoln searches in vain for proof of his parents' marriage, never to know that the truth was housed in the Washington County Courthouse.

1861-1865 Abraham Lincoln serves as the sixteenth president of the United States of America.

1865, April 15 President Lincoln is assassinated in Washington, D.C.

1878 W. F. Booker, Washington County clerk, discovers the marriage bond and minister's return.

The Certificate of Marriage Return
Washington County, Kentucky.
I do hereby certify that the following is a true list of marriages solemnized by me the subscriber from the 28th of April, 1806, until the date thereof.

June 26th 1806 Joined together in the holy estate of matrimony agreeable to the rules of the M. E. C.
Morris Berry and Peggy Simms
November 27th 1806 David Mize and Hanah Xter
March 5 1807 Charles Ridge and Anna Davis
March 24 1807 John Head and Sally Clark
March

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27th Benjamin Clark and Dolly Head
Jany 14th Edward Pyle and Rosanah McMahon
Decr 22nd 1806 Silas Chamberlin and Betsey West
June 17th 1806 John Springer and Elizabeth Ingram
*June 12th 1806 Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks
September 23rd 1806 John Cambron and Hanah White
October 2nd 1806 Anthony Lypey and Keziah Putte
October 23rd 1806 Aaron Harding and Hanah Pollet
April 5th 1807 Daniel Payne and Christiana Pierce
July 26th 1806 Benjamin Clark and Polly Clark
May 1806 Hugh Hoskins and Betsey Dyer
September 25th 1806 John Graham and Catherine Jones
Given under my hand this 22 day of April 1807.

Jesse Head, D.M.E.C.
Marriage Certificates. Washington County Court.

The Lincoln Legacy Began
with this bond of marriage
Know all men by these present, that we, Thomas Lincoln and Richard Berry, are held and firmly bound unto his excellency, the Governor of Kentucky, for the just and full sum of fifty pounds, current money, to payment of which, well and truly to be made to the said governor and his successors, we bind ourselves, our heirs, etc., jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals, and dated this 10th day of June, 1806. the condition of the above obligation is such that, whereas there is a marriage shortly intended between

The Lincoln Legacy Began, located at the base of the Abraham Lincoln statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

2. The Lincoln Legacy Began, located at the base of the Abraham Lincoln statue

Location is ground level on the front side facing East Main Street.

the above bound Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, for which a license has been issued. Now, if there be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then this obligation to void, else to remain in full force and virtue in law.

John H. Parrott, Witness
Thomas Lincoln
Richard Berry, Gardin

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is June 12, 1806.

Location. 37° 41.102′ N, 85° 13.315′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Kentucky, in Washington County. It is at the intersection of West Main Street (Business U.S. 150) and Cross Main Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street. Location is on the marble base of the Abraham Lincoln statue, facing the Washington County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 W Main St, Springfield KY 40069, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s The Knobs.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Was President Lincoln Born Out-Of-Wedlock? (a few steps from this marker); In Honor of Louis Sansbury (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln - Hanks (within shouting distance of this marker); War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln Homestead (within shouting distance of this marker); Felix Grundy (1777 - 1840)

Reverse side of Abraham Lincoln statue. Marker attached to base. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

3. Reverse side of Abraham Lincoln statue. Marker attached to base.

(within shouting distance of this marker); World War I Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Busy Day In Springfield (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

Abraham Lincoln statue. The Legacy Began marker at the bottom out of photo range image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

4. Abraham Lincoln statue. The Legacy Began marker at the bottom out of photo range

Abraham Lincoln Son of Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln

Joined Wedding Rings made of brick in front of the Abraham Lincoln statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

5. Joined Wedding Rings made of brick in front of the Abraham Lincoln statue

The Legacy Began marker at base of the statue

Washington County Courthous. Lincoln Statue and markers at far NW corner image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

6. Washington County Courthous. Lincoln Statue and markers at far NW corner

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 3, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.