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

The Inheritance of Mordecai Lincoln

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

1. The Inheritance of Mordecai Lincoln Marker

Inscription.

The Inheritance of Mordecai Lincoln. . , Mordecai Lincoln, uncle to President Abraham Lincoln, lived in this house from around 1797 to 1811., His father, Captain Abraham Lincoln, the grandfather and namesake of the future president, came to Jefferson County, Virginia, in 1782. In May 1786, Captain Abraham was killed by a group of Native Americans in present-day Jefferson County. He was working in the fields with his sons, Mordecai, Josiah, and Thomas (President Lincoln’s father). Mordecai took charge, ordered Josiah to alert the nearby settlement and told Thomas to remain by their father’s lifeless body. The fight continued. Mordecai retrieved a gun from the family cabin and then killed the man who threatened Thomas’s life. This incident not only left the Lincoln family without a father, but also had a long-term financial impact on the Lincoln brothers., According to Virginia Law, Mordecai, as the oldest son, inherited his father’s entire estate, which included more than 5,000 acres. This law also affected Thomas Lincoln’s path through life. Lacking a formal education, he made a living by hard labor, eventually becoming a carpenter and cabinetmaker., By 1803, Thomas had enough money on hand to purchase a 238-acre Hardin County farm near Mill Creek for $574.07. Thomas spent the remainder of his life working as a farmer, carpenter, and cabinetmaker, skills which he later passed on to his son Abraham. In part, this experience with hard Labor spurred Abraham’s self-education and his will to move beyond this life of labor to one dedicated to the study of law., (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

Mordecai Lincoln, uncle to President Abraham Lincoln, lived in this house from around 1797 to 1811.

His father, Captain Abraham Lincoln, the grandfather and namesake of the future president, came to Jefferson County, Virginia, in 1782. In May 1786, Captain Abraham was killed by a group of Native Americans in present-day Jefferson County. He was working in the fields with his sons, Mordecai, Josiah, and Thomas (President Lincoln’s father). Mordecai took charge, ordered Josiah to alert the nearby settlement and told Thomas to remain by their father’s lifeless body. The fight continued. Mordecai retrieved a gun from the family cabin and then killed the man who threatened Thomas’s life. This incident not only left the Lincoln family without a father, but also had a long-term financial impact on the Lincoln brothers.

According to Virginia Law, Mordecai, as the oldest son, inherited his father’s entire estate, which included more than 5,000 acres. This law also affected Thomas Lincoln’s path through life. Lacking a formal education, he made a living by hard labor, eventually becoming a carpenter and cabinetmaker.

By 1803, Thomas had enough money on hand to purchase a 238-acre Hardin County farm near Mill Creek for $574.07. Thomas spent the remainder of his life working as a farmer, carpenter, and cabinetmaker,

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skills which he later passed on to his son Abraham. In part, this experience with hard Labor spurred Abraham’s self-education and his will to move beyond this life of labor to one dedicated to the study of law.

(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

Erected by Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

Topics and series.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

2. The Inheritance of Mordecai Lincoln Marker

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1786.

Location. 37° 44.913′ N, 85° 12.599′ W. Marker is near Springfield, Kentucky, in Washington County. Marker is on Lincoln Park Road (Kentucky Route 528) south of Fairlane Drive, on the left when traveling south. 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. Lincoln Cabin (approx. 0.9 miles away); Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Marriage of Nancy & Thomas Lincoln (approx. 0.9 miles away); Lincoln Homestead State Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named The Lincoln Cabin (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Lincoln Homestead State Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Nancy Hanks Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Berry Cabin (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

More about this marker. On the upper right is a location

The Mordecai Lincoln House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

3. The Mordecai Lincoln House

map.

On the lower right are document images with the caption, "Virginia treasury warrants were purchased by individuals seeking to claim land on the new frontier in the late 18th century. This 1782 warrant was one of several issued to “Abraham Linkhorne,” grandfather of the future president of the United States Abraham Lincoln, for the sum of “three-thousand-six hundred & thirty pounds.” Courtesy of the Kentucky Land Office, Office of the Kentucky Secretary of State.

Also see . . . Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail. (Submitted on August 20, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

National Register of Historic Places plaque for the House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Doda, December 22, 2018

4. National Register of Historic Places plaque for the House

Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 744 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 20, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on December 13, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.