Dickey Diaries Interviews-Anderson Philpot

Anderson Philpot
March 21, 1898
Submitted by: THEPURDYDAWG(AT)aol.com
Submitted on: January 1, 2004

I was born in Clay County KY March 2, 1822. I am the son of Thomas Philpot who was born in England. When Thomas was a lad, he came with his father to America. He died August 5, 1847, in his 99th year. This would place his birth ca 1749. He was probably about 10 years old when he emigrated to America. This would place the arrival of the Philpot's in this country 1759. They landed at Charleston South Carolina and located in that state not far from Charleston. His brothers were Timothy, John, Peter, Joseph and James, one sister Polly . Thomas married Nancy Bates, perhaps related to the Bates of Letcher, as they to came from that State. I think they had 3 or 4 children when they came to Kentucky. My sister Ester was born first after they came here, She died at home at the age of 71 or 72. This would make his coming ca 1800. Thomas told me that he made boards to cover the first salt shed put up on Goose Creek. It was made at the mouth of Tanyard Branch, half a mile from town. He gave me the froe he used and I still have it. When the wood gave out there, they moved the furnace to where Manchester now stands. One can see the ashes near Doug White's stable now. Next they moved the furnaces to Dr Burchell's gate and pumped water from the same well above town.

Abner Baker made salt at the latter place. My Uncles remained in South Carolina and North Carolina when my father emigrated to KY.

My grandparents died in South Carolina. My father was in the Rev War, hr fought under Lafayette. He said the Tuscaloosa River was red with blood during the engagement. My Uncle Joseph was captured by Tory guerilla's. I think my father had two or three brothers in the Rev War. My grandmother 's maiden name was Wood or Woods. She belonged to a wealthy family and said that there would be a fortune coming to him someday. I have been advised by a letter that such a estate exists. The information came from Philpot living in the west. He visited a neice of mine in Louisville and she wrote me at his request. I have heard nothing since. My father had 12 children; seven sons and five daughters. I am the youngest and only one living. They all lived and died in this county except two, one died in Missouri and one in Indiana. Granville Philpot is my nephew. I have seen the furnace back near the water after coal was used.

When I was a young boy the corn sack was tied on my horse. The grist mill was just this side of James Benge's still house. My father lived then where Cotton's Mill now stands on Radar Creek, 5 miles from Manchester and Cornett's Mill. 11 miles via the one Radar and one near Colston's Store where Dick Allen lived recently. He sold it to Helton. Henry Radar, for whom the creek was named, lived near where Ponder's Mill is now. He was a german or Dutchman and came to settle on the creek that is now named after him. When he was old and a widower, he used to shave barrel timber for my father. My father made salt barrels, Henry Radar had 3 sons; George, John, Henry. The Radar's of Jackson County are their decendants. The toll gate at Rubin Cornett's was first in Laurel, kept by Soaper.