Lynam-Potts Family Papers, 1847-1948

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator:  Lynam-Potts family

Title:  Papers, 1847-1948

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Curator of Special Collections.

Size of Collection:  1.0 cu. ft.

Location Number:  Mss. A L987

Scope and Content Note

Papers of a Newburg, Kentucky farming family in the nineteenth and early twentieth century.  Papers document daily work on a Jefferson County farm, and show expenses and profits for farm related activities.  Twentieth century papers include sermons, materials related to local schooling, and Lynam, Potts, and King family genealogies.

Volumes one and two are diaries of William David Lynam, 1879-1891.  Entries consist of a few lines describing work on the farm, weather, and occasional notes that Lyman went to town or to church.  Family members and other members of the community are occasionally named, but entries do not go into great detail.

Volumes three, four, and five contain similar diary entries, as well as daily lists of expenses and receipts for various goods and services Lynam utilized.  Dates range from: 1898-1909.

Volume six contains a list of receipts and expenses incurred by the Lyman family from 1847-1873.  Entries are arranged by the name of the person or institution the family was doing business with.  Near the end of the volume is a family record listing birth dates for members of the Lynam family.

Volume seven contains a daily list of receipts and expenses incurred by the Lyman and Potts families from 1919-1923.

Volume eight is a school trustees’ record book from District No. 8 of Jefferson County, circa 1900.  The record book contains an annual census and enrollment of students (including names of children, names of parents or guardians, age of children, and date of enrollment), teacher contracts, records of levy and tax, records of meetings of trustees, and results of district elections.

Volume nine contains one or two undated sermons or speeches, possibly related to promoting Christianity in Japan and China.

Folder ten contains newspaper clippings circa 1930s.  Clippings cover taxes, health, and general information concerning the Louisville, Kentucky area.

Volume eleven contains funeral plans for Mrs. Virginia (Lynam) Potts and names of those calling at the funeral or visitation.  Brief genealogies of the King, Potts, and Lynam families are included at the back of the volume.

Folder twelve contains miscellaneous correspondence, bills, sermons, and material related to children’s education dated 1900-1925 and undated.

 

Biographical Notes

Lynam

The Lynams were a farming family in Newburg, Kentucky.  Newburg was annexed by Louisville in 2003.

David Lynam (1807-1887) married Sarah Ann Augustus (1817-1892) on 18 April 1833.  Their children were John Thomas Lynam (born 23 May 1836), Mary Jane Lynam (born 2 February 1839), Marthy (possibly Martha) Ann Lynam (born 16 December 1841), Nancy Elizabeth Lynam (born 21 November 1843), Sarah Lynam (14 May 1846), Arabella Lynam (born 27 April 1848), Sabina Lynam (born 5 August 1850), and William David Lynam (born 28 November 1856).  The 1860 Federal Slave Schedule shows David Lynam as owning five slaves (their names are not provided on the schedule).

Potts

Virginia Lynam (1880-1948), daughter of William D. Lynam (1856-1934) and Leila King (1854-1929), married Jesse T. Potts (1880-1967) on 24 October 1912.

 

Folder List

Volume 1: Diary of William David Lynam, 1879-1881

Volume 2: Diary of William David Lynam, 1883-1891

Volume 3: Diary and Expenses and Receipts of William David Lynam, 1898-1902

Volume 4: Diary and Expenses and Receipts of William David Lynam, 1903-1909

Volume 5: Diary and Expenses and Receipts of William David Lynam, 1909

Volume 6: Expenses and Receipts of John Lynam, 1847-1873, Lynam Family Record

Volume 7: Expenses and Receipts of William David Lynam, 1919-1923

Volume 8: School Trustees’ Record Book, District No. 8, Jefferson County, circa 1900

Volume 9: Sermons, undated

Folder 10: Newspaper Clippings, circa 1930s

Volume 11: Genealogies and Funeral Plans, 1933, 1948

Folder 12: Miscellaneous 1900-1925, undated

 

Subject Headings

Education – Kentucky – Jefferson County

Farm life – Kentucky – Jefferson County

Jefferson County Public Schools.

King family

Newburg (Ky.)

Potts family

Prices – Kentucky – Jefferson County

School children – Kentucky – Jefferson County

School taxes – Kentucky – Jefferson County

Sermons – Kentucky – Jefferson County

Slaveholders – Kentucky – Jefferson County

Speeches, addresses, etc.

Wages – Kentucky – Jefferson County