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

The Berry Cabin

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

1. The Berry Cabin Marker

Inscription.

The Berry Cabin. . Thomas Lincoln proposed to Nancy Hanks in this house, originally located on Beech Creek about one mile from here. At the time, Nancy was living with her cousin, Francis Berry, and his family., Lucy Shipley Hanks and her daughter, Nancy, emigrated to Kentucky from Virginia after the death of Nancy’s father, James Hanks. Mother and daughter moved into the home of Lucy’s sister, Rachel Shipley Berry, and her husband, Richard Berry, Sr. Lucy eventually remarried and moved to Boyle County, Kentucky. Nancy remained in the Berry borne until Rachel’s death and then moved to the home of her cousin, Francis Berry., Thomas Lincoln was also a relation of the Betty family and it was probably through them that he met Nancy Hanks. Thomas was a respected carpenter and cabinet maker. While not wealthy, he owned land in Hardin County, Kentucky, as well as town lots in the county seat of Elizabethtown. Thomas Lincoln courted, wooed and won Nancy Hanks in this house. Tradition holds that Thomas proposed to Nancy in the parlor, in front of the hearth. Nancy accepted the proposal and the couple were married on June 12, 1806., (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

Thomas Lincoln proposed to Nancy Hanks in this house, originally located on Beech Creek about one mile from here. At the time, Nancy was living with her cousin, Francis Berry, and his family.

Lucy Shipley Hanks and her daughter, Nancy, emigrated to Kentucky from Virginia after the death of Nancy’s father, James Hanks. Mother and daughter moved into the home of Lucy’s sister, Rachel Shipley Berry, and her husband, Richard Berry, Sr. Lucy eventually remarried and moved to Boyle County, Kentucky. Nancy remained in the Berry borne until Rachel’s death and then moved to the home of her cousin, Francis Berry.

Thomas Lincoln was also a relation of the Betty family and it was probably through them that he met Nancy Hanks. Thomas was a respected carpenter and cabinet maker. While not wealthy, he owned land in Hardin County, Kentucky, as well as town lots in the county seat of Elizabethtown. Thomas Lincoln courted, wooed and won Nancy Hanks in this house. Tradition holds that Thomas proposed to Nancy in the parlor, in front of the hearth. Nancy accepted the proposal and the couple were married on June 12, 1806.

(sidebar)
Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail

1809 Abraham Lincoln born at Sinking Spring farm, in present-day Larue County, Kentucky.
1816 Lincoln family moved

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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. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 12, 1806.

Location. 37° 45.655′ N, 85° 12.892′ W. Marker is near Springfield, Kentucky, in Washington County. It can be reached from the intersection of Beechland Road (Kentucky

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

2. The Berry Cabin Marker

Route 438) and Lincoln Park Road ( Route 528), on the left when traveling east. Located in Lincoln Homestead State Park‎. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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: The Lincoln Cabin (here, next to this marker); The Lincolns Move West (a few steps from this marker); The Nancy Hanks Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); The Marriage of Nancy & Thomas Lincoln (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); a different marker also named Lincoln Cabin (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 "An artist’s rendering of Thomas Lincoln’s proposal to Nancy Hanks in the Francis Berry Cabin." Original art by Gerald Myers, Campbellsville, Kentucky

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

The Berry Cabin (front) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

3. The Berry Cabin (front)

The Berry Cabin (rear) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

4. The Berry Cabin (rear)

Berry Cabin Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

5. Berry Cabin Plaque

To the memory of
John O. and Julia Scannel Polin
who helped preserve the Lincoln
traditions of Washington County,
this, their home, and the early home of
Nancy Hanks Lincoln
is affectionately dedicated and donated
to the Division of Parks of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky
by their children
Joseph O. Polin
Mrs. hubert P. Simms
John A. Polin
Sister Mary Julia Polin, O.P.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,489 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 20, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.