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

The Lincolns Move West

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

1. The Lincolns Move West Marker

Inscription.

The Lincolns Move West. . President Abraham Lincoln’s great, great, great, great grandfather, Samuel Lincoln, left England in 1637, settling in Hingham, Massachusetts. The next four generations of Lincolns continued to move south and west , to New Jersey, then Pennsylvania and, finally, to Virginia., Captain Abraham Lincoln, grandfather of the sixteenth president, left Rockingham County, Virginia, about 1782 with his wife, Bersheba, and their five children. The Lincolns entered Kentucky through Cumberland Gap, settling in what is today Casey County (5). About 1784, Abraham moved his family to Jefferson County (6). There, in May 1786, Captain Lincoln was killed in an Indian attack., Shortly after Abraham’s death, Bersheba Lincoln moved her family to what is today Washington County (7). Abraham and Bersheba’s youngest son, Thomas, married Nancy Hanks in 1806. The young couple was living in Elizabethtown (8) when their first child, Sarah, was born in 1807. The family moved to the Sinking Spring farm (9) in 1808. Their first son, Abraham, named for his grandfather, was born there in 1809., Two years later the Lincolns moved to the Knob Creek farm (10) where Abraham spent his early childhood. The family remained at Knob Creek until 1816. When problems with the title to the farm arose, Thomas Lincoln decided to leave Kentucky., The Lincoln Family moved to Indiana (11) and later to Illinois (12). As a young adult, Abraham Lincoln moved to New Salem (13), where he eventually established a law practice. After his second election to the state legislature, the future president moved to Springfield, the state capital (14)., Though he left Kentucky before his tenth year, Abraham Lincoln left a strong attachment to the state. His wife, Mary Todd, was a Kentuckian, as were many of his closest friends, including Joshua Speed, William H. Herndon and Cassius Marcellus Clay., (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

President Abraham Lincoln’s great, great, great, great grandfather, Samuel Lincoln, left England in 1637, settling in Hingham, Massachusetts. The next four generations of Lincolns continued to move south and west — to New Jersey, then Pennsylvania and, finally, to Virginia.

Captain Abraham Lincoln, grandfather of the sixteenth president, left Rockingham County, Virginia, about 1782 with his wife, Bersheba, and their five children. The Lincolns entered Kentucky through Cumberland Gap, settling in what is today Casey County (5). About 1784, Abraham moved his family to Jefferson County (6). There, in May 1786, Captain Lincoln was killed in an Indian attack.

Shortly after Abraham’s death, Bersheba Lincoln moved her family to what is today Washington County (7). Abraham and Bersheba’s youngest son, Thomas, married Nancy Hanks in 1806. The young couple was living in Elizabethtown (8) when their first child, Sarah, was born in 1807. The family moved to the Sinking Spring farm (9) in 1808. Their first son, Abraham, named for his grandfather, was born there in 1809.

Two years later the Lincolns moved to the Knob Creek farm (10) where Abraham spent his early childhood. The family remained at Knob Creek until 1816. When problems with the title to the farm arose, Thomas Lincoln decided to leave Kentucky.

The

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Lincoln Family moved to Indiana (11) and later to Illinois (12). As a young adult, Abraham Lincoln moved to New Salem (13), where he eventually established a law practice. After his second election to the state legislature, the future president moved to Springfield, the state capital (14).

Though he left Kentucky before his tenth year, Abraham Lincoln left a strong attachment to the state. His wife, Mary Todd, was a Kentuckian, as were many of his closest friends, including Joshua Speed, William H. Herndon and Cassius Marcellus Clay.

(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
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Lincolns Move West Map image. Click for full size.

2. Lincolns Move West Map

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: 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° 45.655′ N, 85° 12.898′ W. Marker is near Springfield, Kentucky, in Washington County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Beechland Road (Kentucky Route 438) and Lincoln Park Road (Kentucky Route 528), on the left when traveling east. 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. The Lincoln Cabin (a few steps from this marker); The Berry Cabin (a few steps from this marker); The Nancy Hanks Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); The Marriage of Nancy & Thomas Lincoln (within shouting distance

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

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, August 17, 2011

3. Lincoln Homestead State Park Markers

of this marker); a different marker also named Lincoln Cabin (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 map detailing the Lincolns move west.

On the lower right is a drawing with the caption, "The 17th and 18th centuries were characterized by a great move westward. The Lincoln family typified the migration west, leaving England for the Americas, then the east coast for Kentucky, which was then the Virginia frontier The westward movement continued in the early 19th century with many Kentuckians, like the Lincolns, moving to Indiana and Illinois."

Also see . . . 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 604 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 21, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.