The following represents some odds and ends from the Caldwell and Trigg County and demonstrate just how difficult it is to separate surnames from counties. In this case, records were found in three different counties for the same family. This material provided by Willis P. Oliver, woliver@hiwaay.net.

I checked the Livingston Co. Tax lists and found that William Birdsong was first present in 1801 when he had 200 acres on Dry Fork, 4 blacks and 2 horses. In 1804, William had 400 acres on Eddy Creek, 5 blacks and 7 horses. That year, Henry Birdsong was an absentee taxpayer with 200 acres on Eddy Creek and 6 slaves, no horses. In 1806, William had 650 acres on Dry Fork, including 200 entered by Henry, 8 slaves and 9 horses. Henry was not listed but Jesse appeared for the first time. He paid taxes on 200 acres on the Cumberland River, 2 blacks and 2 horses.

I checked the period 1820 through 1830 for Haskins since the Elizabeth Haskins had a tax liability on 175 acres in Livingston in 1829 but found NO Haskins at all.

Caldwell was created from Livingston in 1809.

Jesse Birdsong was a taxpayer in 1809 Caldwell with 200 acres on the Cumberland River, 1 white male 21 or over, two slaves over 16 and 5 horses. He was the only Birdsong. There were no Grasty or Haskins listed.

In 1810, Jesse Birdsong was a taxpayer with 200 acres on Hurricane Creek. He paid taxes on 1 black under 16 and 2 blacks total and 3 horses. [Hurricane Creek is located near the current Lyon Co/Trigg Co. line and is part of the Cumberland River watershed.]

Jesse Birdsong remained on the tax lists through about 1815 but vanishes after that. See the deed abstracts below. He appeared to sell his land, probably to move away. I found no will or probate records for him so he probably didn't die there.

Also in 1810, William Birdsong was a taxpayer with a total of 600 acres on Dry Fork, 6 slaves and 5 horses. Some of his land was entered by Benjamin Keykindale, some by Henry Birdsong and some by William Birdsong. [Dry Fork is actually the Dry Fork of Eddy Creek and lies north of Hurricane Creek. It (Eddy Creek) also drains into the Cumberland River. Many, many of the SC families located on Dry Fork and other branches of Eddy Creek.]

William Birdsong was a well-to-do landowner (600-700 acres) and slave owner (10-15) who also served as Sheriff of Caldwell Co. for a time. Land and slave deeds recorded in Caldwell give the names of some of his children but do not indicate the relationship, if any, between him and Jesse. William was almost certainly one of the SC men.

I found no Grasty until 1820 when a John Grasty appears with 250 acres on Hurricane Creek. See the deed abstracts below.

Caldwell County Deeds:

Book A, p. 298, 26 July 1811. Jesse Birdsong of Caldwell Co., Ky to David Osborn of same, for $46, 9 acres of land on the west side of Hurricane Creek in Caldwell Co. Wit: W. Barton, Levi Greer /S/ Jesse Birdsong Entered 4 Nov. 1811

Book A, p.447, 16 Nov. 1811. Wm. Birdsong of Caldwell Co., Ky to Livinia Stone, his daughter, for love and consideration, one negro girl named Nancy about 8 years old. /S/ Wm. Birdsong Entered 22 June 1812

Book A, p.448, 16 Nov. 1811. Valentine Stone of Bath Co., Ky to Wm. Stone her son, for love and consideration, one negro man named Iruae, 38 years of age and his son Charles, 5 or 6 years of age. /S/ Valentine Stone wit: Thomas Lewis, John Matlock, Wm. Birdsong. Entered 22 June 1812

Book B, p.28, 27 May 1814. Miles Hollowell and Ann his wife of Caldwell Co.,Ky to William Birdsong of same for $123 233 1/3 acres on the Dry Fork of Eddy Creek in Caldwell Co....being part of a survey in the name of Wm. Roberts, assignee of Thomas Redick... /S/ Miles Hollowell Wit: Jno H. Phelps, F. C. Sharp Ann R. (her X mark) Hollowell Entered 27 May 1814

Book B, p. 165, 17 Oct. 1815. Jesse Birdsong of Caldwell Co., Ky to David Osborn of same for $160 40 acres on Hurricane Creek, waters of the Cumberland River in Caldwell Co. ...stake in sd Osborn's line...sd land before sold to sd Osborn... Wit: James Smith, Josiah Thetford, Blake Baker /S/ Jesse Birdsong

Elizabeth Birdsong, wife of Jesse waived her dower interest. /S/ Elizabeth (her X mark) Birdsong on 25 Oct. 1815. Entered 26 Feb. 1816.

Book B, p. 221, 17 Oct 1815, Jesse Birdsong of Caldwell Co., Ky to Blake Baker of same for $1000 175 acres on Cumberland River....Eaglestons line...Gillahans line...Birdsongs old line....corner of George line...crosses Hurricane Creek. Wit: James Smith, Josiah Thetford, David Osborn. /S/ Jesse Birdsong

Elizabeth Birdsong, wife of Jesse waived her dower interest. /S/ Elizabeth (her X mark) Birdsong on 25 Oct 1815. Entered 26 July 1816.

Book C, p. 9, 23 Sept 1818. Wm. Birdsong of Caldwell Co., Ky to Lavinia Stone, wife of Wm. Stone and daughter of William Birdsong for love and consideration he bears for said Lavinia Stone, and $1, 130 acres on the Dry Fork of Eddy Creek in Caldwell Co. /S/ Wm. Birdsong Wit: Wm. C. Hayden, J. Mercer [No wife waived dower rights.]

Book C, p. 165, 2 Oct 1818. William Birdsong of Caldwell Co., Ky to John Corlew [?] of same for $140 200 acres on the Dry Fork of Eddy Creek .. part of a survey patented and granted to William Birdsong assignee of Henry Birdsong bearing date of 29 Jan 1816. /S/ William Birdsong Wit: Reuben Rowland, Wm. Birdsong

Mary Birdsong, wife of William Birdsong waiver her dower interests. Entered 17 Oct 1818

Book C, p. 236, 23 Feb 1818. George Elliot of Caldwell Co., Ky. to John Grasty of CHRISTIAN CO., KY for $1400, 250 acres on the west side of Hurricane Creek in Caldwell Co. /S/ George (his X mark) Elliott Wit: Nathan Oliver, Jeremiah Benton Sarshell Grasty. Entered 27 Mar 1820.

Book D, p. 287, 29 Oct 1824. Wm. Birdsong Sr. of Caldwell Co., Ky to Roger Tandy of same for $1700 350 acres on the Dry Fork of Eddy Creek in Caldwell Co....William Birdsong, Jr.'s line, Roger Tandy's line...Robert Draper's house...James Rucker's corner...Thomas Draper... /S/ W. Birdsong Wit: Thos. Draper, Robert W. Draper, Wm. Stone Entered 2 Nov. 1824

Book D, p. 305, 29 Oct 1824. Wm. Birdsong of Caldwell Co., Ky to Wm. Stone of same for $53 100 acres on Dry Fork of Eddy Creek....Polly Birdsong's line.. Wit: Thos. Draper, Henry T. Perry /S/ W. Birdsong Entered 20 Dec 1824

Deeds not read or abstracted:

William Sr. to ????? D310

William to Heirs of Roger Tandy E102

William to Rucker E129

William to Stone E155

William to Draper E185

William to Urey? F262

Caldwell Co. Deed Book D, p. 310. 30 Dec. 1824. William Birdsong to Lawson Robertson, both of Caldwell Co., Ky. for $653.75 130 3/4 acres the Dry Fork of Eddy Creek....part of Wm. Birdsong's 200 acre survey...Roger Tandy's line... Wit:Samuel Kilgore, L. Robertson /S/ W. Birdsong Entered 312 Dec 1824

Caldwell Co. Deed Book E, p. 102. 30 Sept 1826. William Birdsong of MADISON COUNTY TENNESSEE to Henry Perry and Anna his wife, formerly Anna Tandy, Robert Draper and Frances Draper his wife, formerly Frances Tandy, James B. Perry and Polly Perry his wife, formerly Polly Tandy, Roger Tandy, John Gray and Nancy Gray his wife, formerly Nancy Tandy, Elizabeth Tandy, Sarah Tandy, Henry Tandy, Amelia Tandy and Harriett Tandy, legal heirs of Roger Tandy, deceased .. to provide a clear title to 350 acres previously sold to Roger Tandy ....[See D287] /S/ W. Birdsong

Entered 30 Sept 1826.

Caldwell Co. Deed Book E, p. 129, 30 Sept 1826. William Birdsong to Milly Rucker for $1, 3/8 of acre on which James Rucker erected a mill.... /S/ W. Birdsong [no witnesses, no place of residence stated] Entered 30 Sept 1826

Caldwell Co. Deed Book E, p. 155, 16 Dec. 1826. William Birdsong of Madison County TN grants power-of-attorney to Richard Stone of Caldwell Co., Ky. to convey title of land in Caldwell Co. Wit: William Birdsong, Jr. Jno. C. Birdsong /S/ W. Birdsong Entered 30 Dec 1826.

Caldwell Co. Deed Book E, p. 185, 20 March 1827. William Birdsong of Tennessee to Robert Dryer? of Caldwell Co., Ky for $180 120 acres on Dry Fork of Eddy Creek. Wit:John H. Phelps /S/ W. Birdsong Entered 20 March 1827

Caldwell Co. Deed Book F, p. 262, 16 Dec 1830. William Birdsong of Madison Co., TN to ??Urey?? for $458 ?298 1/2 acres on Dry Fork of Eddy Creek. [This deed is almost unreadable] Wit:[unreadable] /S/ W. Birdsong Entered 30 Dec 1830.

Caldwell Co. Tax lists:
1822 Birdsong, William Jr., under 21 years, 1 black, 4 horses. 
[1822 list is incomplete. Wm Sr. not listed]
1823 Birdsong, William Jr., 21 or over, 3 blacks, 2 horses. 
     Birdsong, William Sr, 669 acres, 20 blacks, 8 horses. 
     Grasty, John, 250 acres, 1 black, 4 horses. 
     Grasty, Sharshall, no white males 21 or older, 2 blacks. 
1824 Birdsong, William Sr. 620 acres,5 blacks, 2 horses
     Birdsong, William Jr.  4 blacks, 2 horses
     Grasty, John 250 acres 1 black 4 horses
     Grasty, Sharshall, 1 white male 21 or over, 1 black
1825 [list incomplete]
1826 Birdsong, Mary, 298 acres on Dry Fork, 4 slaves, 3 horses
     Grasty, John 250 acres, 1 black, 4 horses
     Grasty, Sharshall, 65 acres, no white males>21, 1 horse
1827 No Birdsongs
     Grasty, John Sr. 250 acres in Trigg on Hurricane Creek, 2 white males 21 or over, 4 horses.
1828 No Birdsongs, no Grastys
     Haskins, Elizabeth, 175 acres on Clay Creek in Livingston County, no personal property.
1829 No Birdsongs, No Grastys
     Haskins, Thomas, 1 horse.
1830 No Birdsongs, no Grastys, no Haskins. 

Trigg Co. Tax lists:
1820-1826 no Birdsongs, no Grastys
1827 Grasty, John 250 acres on Hurricane Creek, 3 horses.
1828 Grasty, John 200 acres on Hurricane Creek, 2 blacks, 4 horses
     Grasty, Sharshall, 75 acres on Mabry's Creek, no white males 21 or over.
     Grasty, John, 1 horse.
1829 Grasty, John Jr. 1 horse
     Grasty, John Sr. 200 acres Hurricane Cr. 2 blacks, 4 horses
     Grasty, William, 1 white male 21 or over, no personal property
     Grasty, Sharshall, 75 acres Mabry's Creek, 2 horses
1830 Grasty, John, 200 acres, 1 black, 3 horses
     Grasty, William, 1 horse
     Grasty, John M., 1 horse
     Grasty, Sharshall, 65 acres Cumberland River, 3 horses.

I don't have the microfilmed Caldwell Co. marriage records so I don't know if the Mary Birdsong listed with 298 acres in 1826 was the widow of William Jr. or not but it seems likely. Since there are references to a Polly Birdsong in at least one Deed, and one other deed identifies a Mary as the wife of a William, things a little complicated.