<title type="main">Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Thomas Jenkins, Indictment Edition created from new transcripts of this manuscript. Initial upload of this work's facsimile images and metadata to FromThePage for editing Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Administrator of the CWGK Migration transcription project on FromThePage Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections made 4 edits between June 21, 2025 and June 21, 2025. Dynamic TEI export from FromThePage (version 22.10)

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 November 11, 2025 Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Apprehension of Fugitives from Justice Papers, 1863-1867 KYR-0001-005-0131 BR7-203

Mercer County, Kentucky Thomas Jenkins (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident) N00005372 Categories: People

Duncansville, Kentucky, resident. Along with Anthony Smith and John Bishop, Jenkins was accused of raping a Mrs. Gray and assaulting and robbing her husband in Mercer County in 1865.

Relationships Legal: Leticia Gray (Mercer County) Legal: William Jameson Steele (Woodford County, Kentucky, attorney and judge) Legal: Woodford County Court Legal: Fantly Johnson (Woodford County, Kentucky, resident) Legal: Benjamin Martin (Woodford County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Mercer Circuit Court

KYR-0001-005-0095. KYR-0001-005-0096. KYR-0001-005-0097. Leticia Gray (Mercer County) N00005371 1830? Categories: People

Mercer County, Kentucky, resident. Kentucky native. Married to Henry Gray. Mother of James Gray, William Gray, Amanda J. Gray, Mary B. Gray, and Margaret A. Gray. Resident in Mercer County in 1860.

Relationships Legal: Thomas Jenkins (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident) Familial: Henry Gray (Mercer County)

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Mercer, District 2, p. 89. William Vandivier (Mercer County, Kentucky, farmer) N00006132 1828-04-15 1897-12-24 Categories: People

Mercer County, Kentucky, farmer. Kentucky native. Married to Lydia Ann Vandivier. Farmer in Mercer County in 1860.

Relationships Legal: Thomas Jenkins (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident)

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Mercer, District 2, p. 72. Find A Grave, "William H. Vandivier (April 15, 1828-December 24, 1897)," Memorial #38415722, http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38415722 (accessed February 2, 2018). Henry Gray (Mercer County) N00006133 1827? Categories: People

Mercer County, Kentucky, cabinet maker. Kentucky native. Married to Leticia Gray. Father of James Gray, William Gray, Amanda J. Gray, Mary B. Gray, and Margaret A. Gray. Cabinet maker in Mercer County in 1860.

Relationships Legal: Thomas Jenkins (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident) Familial: Leticia Gray (Mercer County) Legal: John Bishop (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident) Legal: Anthony Smith (Cornishville, Kentucky, resident)

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Mercer, District 2, p. 89. Richard Reed (Mercer County, Kentucky, resident.) N00006134 Categories: People

Mercer County, Kentucky, resident. Witness to the jury in the indictment of Thomas Jenkins for rape in November 1865.

Relationships Legal: Thomas Jenkins (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident)

KYR-0001-005-0131. Elijah E. Reed (Mercer County, Kentucky, farmer & pvt, 4th Ky Inf USA) N00005916 1828? Categories: People

Mercer County, Kentucky, farmer and soldier. Kentucky native. Son of Samuel Reed and Elizabeth Reed. Married to Lorena Brown Reed in Mercer County, Kentucky, in May 1851. Father of James M. Reed, Samuel Reed, John T. Reed, and George W. Reed. Farmer in Mercer County in 1850. Farmhand in Mercer County in 1860. Farmer in Mercer County in 1863. Served in the 4th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment (U.S.A.) as a private from March 24, 1864, to August 9, 1865.

Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Population Schedules, Kentucky, X Mercer County, District 2, p. 322A. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Mercer County, District 2, p. 671. Ninth Manuscript Census of the United States (1870), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Mercer County, Precinct 4, p. 482A. Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War) NARA RG 110, Mercer County, KY, June and July 1863, p. 11. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky, vol. 1, 1861-1866 (Frankfort: Kentucky Yeoman Office, 1866), 656-57. Lorenzo Hobbs Noble (Lebanon, Marion Co, Kentucky, attorney & commonwealth's atty) N00000470 1818-12-15 1899-03-20 Categories: People

Marion County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney. Paris, Maine, native. Son of Daniel Noble and Hannah Knight Noble. Married to Anne Alice Hogue Noble in Bardstown, Kentucky, on November 21, 1845. Father of Mary C. Noble, William P. Noble, Charles H. Noble, and Daniel A. Noble. Graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1847. Operated a drugstore in Lebanon, Kentucky, from 1848 to 1849. Attorney in Lebanon from 1849 to 1872. Commonwealth's attorney for the 5th Judicial District of Kentucky in Marion County from 1862 to 1867.

Relationships Legal: Thomas Jenkins (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident) Legal: Mercer Circuit Court Legal: William H. Woods (Green County, Kentucky, Presbyterian minister) Legal: John Patterson (Mercer County, KY, resident) Social: Elison H. Carter (Mercer County, KY, blacksmith and private 9th KY Cav USA) Legal: John St. Clair (Marion Co, Kentucky, petitioner) Legal: Marion Circuit Court Legal: Felix C. Jenkins (Marion Co. postmaster and hotel keeper) Political: Beriah Magoffin (Governor of Kentucky 1859-1862)

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Marion County, Lebanon, District 1, p. 553. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1861, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: Jno. B. Major, State Printer, 1862), 303-08. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1862, Legislative Document Series, No. 24 (Frankfort, KY: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1863), 298-306. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1863, Legislative Document Series, No. 10 (Frankfort, KY: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1864), 301-06. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1864, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1865), 9-12. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1865, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1866), 9-12. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1866, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: John H. Harney, Public Printer, 1866), 347-50. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1867, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: John H. Harney, Public Printer, 1867), 360. Harvard University Quintennial Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates 1636-1930 (Cambridge: Harvard University, 1930), 1375. Lucius M. Boltwood, History and Genealogy of the Family of Thomas Noble, of Westfield, Massachusetts (Hartford, Conn.: Case, Lockwood & Brainard, 1878), 153. Vital Statistics Original Death Certificates – Microfilm (1911-1964), KDLA, Roll #7007129, Jefferson County Deaths, p 162. James Brewster Irvin (farmer, Mercer County) N00006136 1802-07-02 1889-04-01 Categories: People

Mercer County, Kentucky, farmer. Married to Lucretia Starnes Irvin on November 5, 1829. Farmer in Mercer County in 1860.

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedule, Kentucky, Mercer, District 2, p. 112. Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry, comp. Marriage Records of Mercer County, Kentucky (1800-1815), Vol. II (Chillicothe, MO, 1965). Find A Grave, “James Brewster Irvin (July 2, 1802-April 1, 1889),” Memorial #58178488, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=58178488 (accessed June 3, 2017). Richard Board (Mercer County KY Circuit Court Clerk) N00002356 1827? 1888-02-03 Categories: People

Mercer County, Kentucky, court clerk. Shelby County, Kentucky, native. Married to Caroline Virginia Thacker Board in Mercer County on August 23, 1859. Father of Richard Board, Jr., and William E. Board. Clerk of the Mercer Circuit Court in Mercer County from 1862 to 1866.

Relationships Legal: Thomas Jenkins (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident) Legal: Mercer Circuit Court Economic: Mercer Circuit Court Legal: John Patterson (Mercer County, KY, resident) Political: John Patterson (Mercer County, KY, resident) Political: John Kemper Slaughter (Mercer County Broom Maker) Social: Elison H. Carter (Mercer County, KY, blacksmith and private 9th KY Cav USA)

Ninth Manuscript Census of the United States (1870), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Mercer County, Harrodsburg, p. 591B Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records (1852-1910), KDLA, Frankfort, KY, Roll #994049, Mercer County Marriages, p. 7-8. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1862, Legislative Document Series, No. 24 (Frankfort, KY: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1863), 298-306. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1863, Legislative Document Series, No. 10 (Frankfort, KY: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1864), 301-06. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1864, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1865), 9-12. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1865, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1866), 9-12. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1866, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: John H. Harney, Public Printer, 1866), 347-50. Mercer County, Kentucky P00000556 Categories: Places

County in central Kentucky. Seat at Harrodsburg. Located on the Kentucky River.

Relationships Political: Ephraim J. Polk (Mercer County, Kentucky, attorney and examiner for Mercer County)

37.7623, -84.8433 "Harrodsburg, Kentucky," USGS: Earth Explorer, accessed September 25, 2019, https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/. Ron D. Bryant, “Mercer County,” in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, ed. John E. Kleber (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 627. Commonwealth of Kentucky O001025 1792 Categories: Organizations

Administrative body of the state of Kentucky. Capital at Frankfort, Kentucky. Governor(s): Beriah Magoffin (1859-1862), James F. Robinson (1862-1863), and Thomas E. Bramlette (1863-1867).

Paul Blanchard, "Office of Governor" in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 380. Malcolm E. Jewell, "General Assembly" in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 366. Paul J. Weber, "Court System" in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 233. Mercer Circuit Court O00000424 Categories: Organizations

Located in the 5th Judicial District of Kentucky. Judge(s): George Kavanaugh and John E. Newman. Commonwealth’s Attorney(s): Andy Barnett and L. H. Noble. Clerk(s): Benjamin C. Allin and Richard Board.

Relationships Legal: John Murphy (Garrard County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Richard Board (Mercer County KY Circuit Court Clerk) Legal: John Glover Kyle (Mercer County, Kentucky, attorney, judge, & col Mercer Co militia) Legal: Martin B. Debaun (Mercer County, Kentucky, hotel keeper and soldier.) Legal: John W. Debaun (Mercer County, Kentucky, resident) Legal: Thomas Jenkins (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident) Legal: John Bishop (Duncansville, Kentucky, resident) Legal: Anthony Smith (Cornishville, Kentucky, resident) Legal: Leticia Gray (Mercer County) Legal: John Patterson (Mercer County, KY, resident) Legal: Moses D. Hall (Harrodsburg, Kentucky, grocer) Legal: William Daviess (Harrodsburg, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Robert P. McGrath (Mercer County Merchant) Legal: Sidney S. McFatridge (Mercer County, KY, farmer & sheriff) Legal: John "Isaac" C. Vanarsdall (Mercer County, Kentucky, sheriff. ) Legal: William Payne (Mercer County, merchant and farmer) Legal: George W. Tompkins (Mercer County, sheriff) Legal: Benjamin Casey Allin (Mercer County, Kentucky, circuit clerk) Legal: O. S. Poston (Mercer County, Kentucky, attorney) Legal: Nimrod Harris (Mercer County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Thomas H. Buckner (Mercer County, KY, planter) Legal: John W. Cardwell (Mercer County, Kentucky, bank cashier and merchant) Legal: Thomas Allin (Mercer County, county clerk) Legal: Philip Burton Thompson, Sr. (KY prov govt, attorney ) Legal: Theodore H. Daviess (Mercer County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Charles Westerfield (Mercer County, Kentucky, laborer and farmer) Legal: J. Harvey Vanderipe (Mercer County, Kentucky, farmer and grocer) Legal: Charles Catlett (Mercer County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Holman R. Crow (Jessamine County, Kentucky, carpenter and livery keeper) Legal: Milton Crow (Grundy County, Missouri, saddler) Legal: Eli Crow (Jessamine County, Kentucky, farmer and merchant) Legal: Elison H. Carter (Mercer County, KY, blacksmith and private 9th KY Cav USA)

“Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1861,” in 1862 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1 (Frankfort, Ky.: Jno. B. Major, State Printer, 1862), 303-08. “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1862,” in 1863 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 24 (Frankfort, Ky.: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1863), 298-306. “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1863,” in 1864 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 10 (Frankfort, Ky.: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1864), 301-06. “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1864,” in 1865 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1 (Frankfort, Ky.: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1865), 9-12. “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1865,” in 1865/66 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1 (Frankfort, Ky.: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1866), 9-12. “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1866,” in 1866 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1 (Frankfort, Ky.: John H. Harney, Public Printer, 1866), 347-50. Mercer County, Kentucky 1865-11-28 Legal/Financial English Version 2 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 2 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "2": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "1": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile.
1

Be it remembered that on Nov 28th 1865 the Grand jury impannelled for the County of Mercerfound the following indictment

The Commonwealth of Kentucky vs } Mercer County Circuit Court Thomas Jenkins

The Grand Jury of Mercer County in the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, accuse Thomas Jenkins of the Crime of rape committed as follows: The said Thomas Jenkins on the 10th day of September 1865, in the County aforesiad forcibly, unlawfully and against her will and consent carnally knew Lette{Lettee} Gray a white woman against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,

Witness before the Jury

Lettae Gray, William Vandavier Mr Gray -- husband, Richard Reed E. E. Reed

L. H Noble Att'y for Commonwealth,

A True Bill, J. B. Irvin Foreman of Grand Jury

2

1865 Nov 28 found & filed.

Richard Board clk,

I Richard Board Clerk of the Mercer Circuit do hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the ^foregoing^ Indictment found in the above Court & the same is ^of Recod and^ on file in my office

Richard Board C M. C, C,