Act To Form Campbell County
Department of State Archives; Copied from Original Parchment Enrolled Bill in State Archives and published in "Early Kentucky Tax Records" from the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society in 1984. A copy of this book #7075-2006-0086 is at the Campbell County Historical & Genealogical Society in Alexandria.
An Act for forming a new county from the counties of Harrison, Scott and Mason.
Sec. I-Be it enacted by the General Assembly that from and after the tenth day of May next, all those parts of the Counties of Harrison, Scott and Mason, within the following bounds, to wit: beginning on the Ohio at the mouth of Locust creek on the lower side thereof; thence a straight line to the mouth of the north fork of the licking; thence by a direct line to the mouth of Crooked creek, on the south fork of Licking; thence up said Crooked creek to the head of the main branch thereof; thence west to the dividing line between the counties of Scott and Woodford; thence along that line to the mouth of Big Boone lick creek, on the Ohio river; thence up the Ohio river to the beginning, shall be one district county and be called and know by the name of Campbell.
Sec. 2-The Courts of quarter Session shall be held on the first Mondays of January, March, July and October in every year and the County Courts shall be held on the first Monday of very month in which the Court of Quarter Sessions is not by this Act directed to be held.
Sec. 3-The Justices to be named in the Commission of the Peace for the said County of Campbell shall meet at the house of John Grant in town of Wilmington in the said County upon the first Court day after the division shall take place and having taken the oaths prescribed by law and the Sheriff being legally qualified to act, the Justices shall proceed to fix upon a place to hold Courts in the said County at such place as shall be deemed most eligible and convenient and thenceforth the County Court shall proveed to erect the Public buildings at such palce and until such Buildings are completed the Court of Quarter Sessions and County Court may adjourn to such place or places as they may severally think proper. And the Justices of the Court of quarter Sessions at their first Session and also the Justices of the County Court at their first Court shall proceed to appoint and qualify their Clerks. Provided always the appointment of a place to erect public buildings shall not be made unless the majority of the Justices of the County concur, nor of a Clerk unless a majority of the Justices of the Court for which the Clerk is to be appointed concur, but such appointments shall be postpones until such majority can be had. It shall be lawful for the Sheriffs of Harrison, Scott and Mason Counties to make distress for any public dues or officers fees unpaid by the inhabitants within their respective bounds at the time such division shall take place; and they shall be accountable in like manner as if this Act had no been made.
Sec. 4-The Courts of the Counties of Harrison, Scott and Mason, shall have jurisdiction in all Actions and Suits depending therein at the time of said division and they shall try and determine the same, issue process and award execution in the same manner as if this Act had not been made.
Sec. 5-This Act shall commence from and after the tenth day of May next.
Ro. Breckinbridge, Spea. H Rep. Alexr S
Buttlitt, Spea. of the Senate. Approved December 17, 1794
Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky
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First Courts of Campbell County (Extracts
from Executive Journal)
December 19, 1794
The Governor nominated and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate made the following appointments.
John Craig, Washington Berry and Charles Daniel; Justices of the Court of Quarter Session for Campbell County
John Roberts, John Cook, Robert Benham, Phillip Bush, James Little, Thomas Kennedy and Samuel Bryant; Justices of Campbell Co
Squire Grant-Surveyor
Nathan Kelly-Sheriff of Campbell Co
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December 19, 1795
The Governor nominated and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate made the following appointments:
John Bush, Henry Brashier, John Hall, James
Miller, Squire Grant and John Ewing; Justices of Campbell Co
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Campbell County, Order Book 1, June 1, 1795
At the house of John Grant in the Town of Wilmington the Justices met agreeable to Act of last Session of the General Assembly;
Justices: John Craig, Washington Berry, Charles Daniel, John Roberts, John Cook, Robert Benham, James Little, Thomas Kennedy, Samuel Bryan and Samuel Bush.
James Taylor, Clerk; Nathan Kelly, Sheriff; Squire Grant, Surveyor
Ordered that Newport at the Confluence of the Ohio & Licking Rivers be fixed on as the place for holding Court of this County in the future. Letters of Administration granted Rebecca Campbell; widow of Colin Campbell, her late husband.
John P Smith licenses to practice law, water
grist mill & saw mill in Town of Falmouth.
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Deed Book A, page 1 1/2, September 1, 1795
James Taylor Senior, of the County of Caroline,
State of Virginia to John Roberts, John Cook, Robert Benham, James Little,
Thomas Kennedy, Samuel Bryan & John Bush, Gents. Justices of Campbell County
Court, a parcel of Ground in the County of Campbell & Town of Newport,
containing One acre & 152 square poles and known as the "Public Square" for use
of Public Buildings in consideration of fixing of the Seat of Justice. one
Shilling, &c.
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Note from book;
Campbell County the 19th in order of formation, was erected 1794 (Dec 19) out of parts of Mason, Scott and Harrison; and embraced so much territory that Pendleton, Boone, Kenton and part of Grant County have since been erected from it.