(1) Name: Maria Cecil GIST
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Birth: 1797
Death: 1841 Age: 44
Father: Colonel Nathaniel GIST (1733-1797)
Mother: Judith Carey BELL

Misc. Notes
MRS. BENJAMIN GRATZ [1]
(Maria Cecil Gist)
(1797-1841)

The Gist family was once a numerous one in Maryland, from which several remotely connected branches came independently to Kentucky.

A grandson of the emigrant ancestor, Christopher Gist, 1655-1691, was Captain Christopher Gist, 1705-1755, who married Sarah Howard. The eldest of their five children was Colonel Nathaniel Gist, 1733-1797, who was present with his father, Christopher, and his brother, Thomas, at Braddock's Defeat in 1755. For his own service and that of his father, Nathaniel Gist received a 6,000 acre grant, which he located on "Gist's Creek", now known as Stoner, near the Clark-Bourbon border. Later Nathaniel was commissioned a colonel in the "Additional Continental Regiment" in 1777, and was taken prisoner at Charleston in 1780. After his retirement from service, he brought his wife, Judith Cary Bell Gist, to Kentucky and established a home at "Canewood" in Bourbon County, where he died.

Of their seven children the youngest was our subject, Maria Cecil Gist. The first time Benjamin Gratz saw her he wrote to his sister, Rebecca, in Philadelphia, "I have seen but not yet met the lady I am to marry." Their marriage took place on November 24, 1819.

The mother of Mrs. Gratz married as her second husband, General Charles Scott, a veteran of Braddock's Defeat, of the Revolution, and of the Indian wars in Kentucky through 1794, later governor of the state from 1808 to 1812. When Lafayette came to Lexington in 1825, his visit to "Mt. Hope," the Gratz home, was prompted by his wish to do honor to the widow of two of his gallant comrades in arms.

Mrs. Gratzs portrait is a richly colored canvas unusual in showing a beautifully painted hand. It belongs to Jouett's late period, when he began to be influenced by the trend toward romanticism.

Oil on canvas, 30" x 25". By Matthew Harris Jouett (Menefee No. 66)
Owner: Mrs. Anderson Gratz (Fanny Rogers), "Mt. Hope," Lexington
Carter print and data from the owner


Spouses
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1: Benjamin GRATZ
Birth: 1792
Death: 1884 Age: 92

Misc. Notes
LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN GRATZ [2]
(1792-1884)

Leaving Upper Silesia, Germany, to go into the West India trade, two Gratz brothers, Michael and Bernard, came to the colonies. Settling in Philadelphia in 1759, they became prominent and wealthy. Though much of their income was derived from world trade, they were among the merchants who signed the non-importation resolutions of 1765. By his marriage to Miriam Simon of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Michael had eleven children, among them Benjamin Gratz, subject of the portrait.

After his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania in 1811, Benjamin Gratz served as an officer in the War of 1812, took his master's degree in 1815, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. Spending a winter at Vincennes, to investigate land claims for the Illinois and Wabash Company, in which his family had large investments, he decided to move west. But meeting Maria, the daughter of Colonel Nathaniel Gist, he chose Lexington as his home. In 1819 they were married and in three years were settled at "Mt. Hope," where they afterwards entertained General Lafayette and many other notables. Here they reared six children. After the death of his first wife in 1841, Benjamin Gratz was married to Mrs. Anna M. Shelby and had two daughters. From one of them, Annie Gratz, the wife of Thomas Hart Clay, a grandson of Henry Clay, the portrait came to their daughter, Henrietta Clay.

Though he became blind in 1876, Mr. Gratz never ceased in his efforts to build up Lexington. As a trustee of Transylvania, as city councilor, as director ofthe first two banks, as share holder of the first public library in the West, incorporator of the Lexington and Ohio R. R., president of the Kentucky Agricultural and Mechanical Association, charter member of the Kentucly Historical Society, his interests were varied, his services numerous.

Oil on canvas, 19 1/2" X 15". By Thomas Sully (No. 645 Sully Register)
Data from the owner: Miss Henrietta Clay, Lexington
F. A. R. L. print
-----
BENJAMIN GRATZ, [3] retired, Lexington, whose portrait appears in this work, is of that race descended from the ancient patriarch Abraham, the called of God, and of the tribe of Judah. His father Michael, born 1740, in Upper Silesia. Germany, went, while yet a youth, to join his brother, Bernard, in the East India trade, and both came to America about the year 1763. Their names live in the history of the Nation, among those of 375 merchants of Philadelphia who signed the Non-Importation Resolutions, October 25. 1765, Michael's autograph being the 345th.and his brother's next on the precious old document. Michael invested large amounts in lands in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky; also bought a large tract at Unadilla, now Cooperstown N. Y., but lost it through the rascality of an English agent. He died in Philadelphia in 1811. His wife was Miriam, daughter of Jos. Simon, of Lancaster, Penn., a strict Jew, wealthy and benevolent. Benjamin was born in Philadelphia September 4, 1792, and there lived during his childhood and youth. He had a sister whose rare beauty, amiability and accomplishments won the admiration of Washington Irving, who was engaged to her friend Matilda, daughter of Judge Hoffman, of New York. When Irving visited Sir Walter Scott, he described Miss Gratz to the (,reat Scottish novelist, who was so pleased with his guest's exquisite word-picture of' the loved one, that he made her the type for the charming character of Rebekah, in "Ivanhoe." Benjamin Gratz, while still in his teens, entered the University of Pennsylvania, whence he graduated in 1811. He joined the Pennsylvail ia Volunteer Troops in 1813, enlisting under Gen. Thomas Cadwallader and Col. Biddle, serving till the close of the war and holding the rank of Second Lieutenant, John Swift's company. On the return of peace he studied law with Charles Hare and William M. Meredith, afterward Secretary of the United States Treasury: was admitted to the bar in 1817, and practiced only a short time before being sent west to prosecute claims for the Illinois & Wabash and Company, which had received grants from King George III, but was restricted in its operations by a prohibition relating to purchases from Indians. He spent the winter at Vincennes, Ind.; returned in 1819 to Philadelphia, and moved to Lexington, Ky., where he married his former fiance, Maria, daughter of Col. Nathaniel Gist, of the Revolutionary army, then living in that part of Bourbon. subsequently formed into Clark County. Locating in Lexington, he engaged in the manufacture of hemp with Col. James Morrison and John Bruce, continuing the business with the latter after Col. Morrison's death in 1823, and speedily becoming prominently identifled with such concerns as related to the city's advancement. The death of his remaining partner, in 1836, left him the sole manager of it very extensive trade, which he conducted with great success for a quarter or a century longer. His first wife, who was one of the first managers of the Orphan Asylum, dying on November 4, 1841, he married on July 6, 1843, choosing for his second domestic partner Anna M., widow of the late O. Shelby, of Tennessee. In 1861, he retired from active business. During the war, he was a zealous Union man and at various times turned his residence into a commissariat depot and cook-house for companies of Federal soldiers. As it Whig, and a voter against Jefferson, he was a consistent opponent of secession, and has always been a conservative Democrat. His connection with public affairs has been various and valuable. He is one of the oldest living trustees of Translvania University, was one of the committee to assist in raising funds for the removal from Harrodsburg to Lexington, of Kentucky University in which he has always taken a lively interest; is of those who gave up their original bonds for perpetual shares in Lexington Library and was the first resident of the Kentucky Agilcultural and Mechanical Association. In 1829, he was on the committee to advance the construction of a stone road froin Lexington to the Ohio River, probably the first Macadamized road in the State; was one of the incorporators, in 1830, of the Lexington & Ohio Railroad, and its second President; was a member of the first City Council, in 1832, was, in 1834, on the first directorate of the Bank of Kentucky, and a director of the Northern Bank of Kentucky on its foundation the following year; was on the committee of arrangements for the funeral of Henry Clay, and of the Clay Monumental Association in 1857; and was one of the first members of Fayette Historical Society, formed in 1870. Though Mr. Gratz lost his sight in 1876, he has never ceased to interest himself in the material and moral welfare of Lexington, where he has continued to reside, deeply respected by all classes of the people, for whom he secured a pleasure ground in the midst of the city, a part of Kentucky University lands, now known as "Gratz Park." The old gentleman adheres to the faith of his forefathers; takes his daily walks amid physical darkness, and has a friendly greeting for all, for all are his friends; and, as he has it retentive memory and a thorough appreciation of passing events, his conversation is particularly interesting. He received from President Johnson the appointment of United States Revenue Inspector for tile Seventh Congressional District, and fulfilled the duties of the office from 1866 to 1869. Of the five children of his first wife, Benjamin, Hyman, Cecil and Cary Gist are dead; Michael Bernard, is a farmer at Spring Station, Woodford Co., Ky.; and Henry Howard, is tile editor of the Kentucky Gazette, Lexington. The only son born of the second marriage, Mason Brown, died in infancy; one of the two daughters, Miriam, died after her marriage with Commodore Crosby, the other, Annie, is living and the wife of Thomas Hurt Clay, a grandson of the great Henry.

Marriage: November 24, 1819
Children: Annie


Sources
1. Whitley, Edna Talbott. Kentucky Ante-Bellum Portraiture, (The National Society of Colonial Dames of America, 1956), pp. 156-157
2. Whitley, Edna Talbott. Kentucky Ante-Bellum Portraiture, (The National Society of Colonial Dames of America, 1956), pp. 154-155
3. History of Fayette County, Kentucky, edited by William Henry Perrin, Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 1882; New Material Copyright 1979 by the Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr., Southern Historical Press, pp. 612-614.

(2) Name: Colonel Nathaniel GIST
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Birth: 1733
Death: 1797 Age: 64
Father: Capt. Christopher GIST (1705-1755)
Mother: Sarah HOWARD

Misc. Notes
My source starts with a time line of 1775, but something major happened at Boston in Oct, 1774.

April 19, 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord.

June 17, BUNKER HILL;

July 3rd, 1775, Washington takes command;

Nov 13 1775 Montgomery takes Montreal;

Dec 9,1775- Great Bridge, Va

Dec 12,1775 attact on Quebec fails

March 17,1776 BRITISH LEAVE BOSTON

JUNE 21-28 Charlston beseiged by British

Aug 27, British victory at Long Island, NY

DEC 26, WASHINGTON surprizes Hessians

Jan 3, 1777 Battle of PRINCETON NJ DRAPER COLLECTION: Preston and Va Papers Calander Series No. 1

MAY 13, 1776 Gabrial Shoat swears in Fincastle Co, VA that the Cherokee are about to make war, and they are aided by Cameron, Sturat, and Capt Nathanial Gist. Isaac Thomas named as his source.Sworn deposition, but 2nd hand info.

May 30,1776, John Carter writes-"John Bryan returned from Cherokee. The activities of Cameron and Capt Nathanial Gist with the Cherokee.

June 15, 1776, COL Wm Preston (Christian?) writes for instructions with dealing with Tories. Isaac Thomas engaged as a messenger to Cherokee in attempt at maintaining peace. Dorsey, pp. 34-35, "After the attacks of the Indians upon the settlers, Col. Wm. Christian was sent on a campaign against the Cherokee with instructions from Gov. Patrick Henry to insist upon the Indians giving up all those among them who had been concerned in bringing on the war. When Col. Christian reached the French Broad River, Gist came in from the Indian side under a flag of truce to the camp of the colonel. He reported that one thousand of the Cherokee from the Carolina side of the mountains had joined the Overhills, who would not give battle until the troops crossed the Little Tennessee. Christian wrote to Gov. Henry on Oct. 15, 1776: 'I judge the flag was only an excuse for him to get with me. I believe he is sorry for what he has done. I did intend to put him in irons, but the manner of his coming will prevent me...' In a short time Gist went to Virginia and laid a memorial before the governor and the council of the state. The order entered by the council December 17, 1776 was as follows: A memorial having been presented to his excellency the Governor by Capt. Nathaniel Gist lamenting the suspicions that many of his countrymen entertain of his having taken an inimical part against America by aiding and assisting the Cherokees in their late hostile Proceedings and requesting his Excellency and the Council to make Inquiry into the same as a preparatory Step to his Acquital or Condign Punish-ment. The Board accordingly considered the several Depositions transmitted to the Governor by Colonel Christian and which have been laid before the General Assembly and moreover examined Colonel William Russell, Major Eyan Shelby, and Isaac Thomas upon oath relating to the conduct of the said Capt. Gist from all which it appears and therefore this Board are of the opinion that the said Captain Gist is really a Friend to his Country and was acting in that character most effectually at the time he was suspected of encouraging Indian Hostilities. (Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia, I, 285)

Shortly after this, Nathaniel Gist received the following letter from General Washington, which gives his appointment as Colonel of a regiment in the Continental line. [note these letters are online at: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwhome.html] To Colonel Nathaniel Gist Head Quarters at Morris Town, January 11, 1777 Whereas the Honorable Continental Congress, by Resolve of the 27th. Ulto., have appointed Sixteen Battalions more to be raised, in addition to eighty eight voted in September last, and have authorized me to Nominate and Commission the officers for the same. Know you that I reposing the utmost confidence in your abilities and attachment to the United States of America, by Virtue of the Power aforesaid do constitute and appoint you a Colonel of one of the said Battalions, giving and granting you Authority, by and with the advice of your other Field officers, to appoint All officers under the rank of Field officers necessary for the same, nevertheless reserving to myself, the right of ratifying or rejecting such appointments. George Washington (Fitzpatrick, Writings of George Washington, VI, 491, 494-95)

Two days later Washington wrote:

To Colonel Nathaniel Gist
Morris Town, January 13, 1777

Sir: You are hereby authorized and Impowered to raise four Companies of Rangers upon the Continental pay, Rank and establishment. To enable you to do this, you are furnished with a Warrant for 3,000 Dollars to recruit with: part of the bounty to be given at the time of Inlisting, and the other part when the men join the Battalion or Corps they belong to You are to delay no time in forwarding these Companies to the Army (under my immediate command) as fast as possible .... you are to keep me duly advised of your proceedings that I may know in what time to expect your assistance.
George Washington (Ibid., VII, 6, 7)

The next day General Washington sent another letter with the following instructions:

To Colonel Nathaniel Gist
Morris Town, January 14, 1777

Sir:,
By virtue of the powers to me given by the Honble. Continental Congress, I do hereby Authorize you, after appointing the Officers of the four Ranging Companies mentioned in my instructions of yesterday, and setting them to Recruiting; to proceed immediately to the Cherokee, or any other Nation of Indians in which you may have Influence and there use your utmost endeavours to procure a Number of Warriors (not exceeding in the whole 500) to join the Army under my immediate command. They are to come provided with Arms, Blankets, & ca. but shall be supplied with Ammunition and Provisions, they shall receive in lieu of presents, the same pay as the Troops in Continental Service do, and if they have Officers of their own people, you may engage such advanced pay provided it bears a similarity to the difference in ours, but not greater. The Expence of the March will-be borne by the Public; for the necessary provision consumed on Route, you are to pass Certificates, which will entitle the proprietors thereof to claim upon the public; consult economy, and use every dispatch in Your power, ever bearing in mind the shortness of the time you have to deal in. Wishing success to your undertaking and a speedy return.

N.B. This body of Indians (if obtained) are to consider you as their head and are to be informed that they are to obey all such orders as you shall receive from me, and deliver to them. George Washington (Ibid., VII, 11, 12)

July 31,1776 Archibald Cary -Letter to Capt Wm Preston:

Sorrow at hearing of Cherokee invasion; Plasure of hearing of young Shelby's good conduct at the battle. (“stigmatizing Gist" -index says Gist censured).

Nathaniel Gist's wife was Judith Cary Bell, daughter of Col. David Bell and Judith Cary, and grandneice of Archibald Cary. (Draper's "Tn and Kings Mt papers”)


Spouses
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1: Judith Carey BELL
Children: Judith
Maria Cecil (1797-1841)

(3) Name: Susan GIST
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Birth: 1824
Death: 1850 Age: 26
Father: Rezin Hammond GIST (1797-1834)
Mother: Rachel DAWSON

Misc. Notes
SUSAN GIST (1824-c. 1850) [1]
(Mrs. Leander M. Cox)

From Baltimore County, Maryland, Lieutenant David Gist came at the age of fifty-two to Clark County, Kentucky, in 1805, bringing his eighteen-year-old son, Rezin Hammond Gist, to settle. David was fourth in descent from the English-born Christopher Gist, 1655-1692, who emigrated to Maryland before 1680 and was appointed justice of Baltimore County. His son, Richard, 1684-1741, married in 1704 Zipporah Murray and had eight children, among them Thomas, 1713-1788, who married Susannah Cockey, 1714-1803, and became David's parents. David's wife was Rebecca Hammond of Annapolis, prior to her marriage.

Soon after marrying Rachel Dawson of Bourbon County, Rezin Gist enlisted in the War of 1812. Serving as captain in that tragic effort to relieve General Harrison at Fort Meigs, known as Dudley's Defeat, When so many Kentuckians were killed or captured, he escaped death in running the gauntlet only to be shipwrecked on Lake Erie while being transported to a British prison. After being paroled, he walked home to Clark County. Later he moved to Montgomery County where he became active in political life. Admiring Henry Clay, he named a daughter for the "Sage of Ashland." To Henrietta Clay Gist (Mrs. T. H. Fox), the portrait was given at her sister's death, without issue. Mrs. Cox's niece and namesake, Susan Gist Fox, became the next holder. She gave it to her sister, Eliza Bell Fox, Mrs. John Clark Rogers, mother of the present owner.

Oil on canvas, 24" x 3o". By Oliver Frazer, about 1843
Owner: Mr. William H. Rogers, Danville
Simmons print and information from the owner


Spouses
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1: Leander M. COX

Sources
1. Whitley, Edna Talbott. Kentucky Ante-Bellum Portraiture, (The National Society of Colonial Dames of America, 1956), pp. 60-61

(4) Name: Captain Thomas GIST
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Misc. Notes
Notes on Thomas Gist:
The reference below may be that of our subject.--REF
Many others came into Bourbon in small companies in 1775 and 1776: Enoch Smith, John Field, Lewis Lunsford (1776), Jacob Sodowsky, David Williams (1773), Nathaniel Randolph, Peter Higgins, Robert Shanklin, David Williams (1775), Joseph Robinette, James Douglas, Thomas Gist, John Douglas (1775), James Galloway and Moses Kirkpatrick (1776), Thomas Kennedy, John Kennedy (son of Daniel), John Kennedy (son of John), Joseph Kennedy (1776), James Galloway (1774), and others. (Pamphlet "Paris Sesquintennial: A Record of the 150th Anniversery of the Founding of Bourbon’s County Seat" by Mrs. Julia Breckenridge Ardery, p. 13)