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A memoir written about 1920 by Ernest Greenwood Maddox about the Maddox family, stated that William was Irish and his wife, Priscilla Boswell, Dutch. It also said that they settled in Virginia, moved to Indiana and about 1820 to Kentucky. Additional information was received from mortenson@mindspring.com "Moreland/Boswell information.

Julia Mortenson explained her search for the Moreland family. If you check William Moreland’s story you will find a strong connection to Trimble County Kentucky and Shenandoah County VA.

Those counties have records that make a connecting thread. For instance, #1 William had a grandson Franklin Moreland whose Trimble county marriage license showed he resided in VA and his father was born in Maryland. When Julia searched the net she found Rob Moreland’s web site of Morelands from Maryland. The original website connection is lost, but Rob has a will of WIlliam Moreland that is listed on the Rootsweb under Charles County Maryland.  I got there by a search.  I suggest trying that as addresses seem to change too often to keep current.  

There she found William, son of Walter and Tabitha Dent. One of William’s sons (In Trimble County Kentucky) was John D. Moreland. D, possibly for Dent.
John Hambaugh, husband of Sarah #7 and Daniel Trout who married one of William oldest daughter and moved to Trimble County, witnessed a Shenandoah deed.
There were other connections between Trimble County and Maryland and Shenandoah County to firmly link the family. Good detection, Julia!

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 So on to the story, as we know it about William Moreland.

William Moreland was born about 1765 in Charles County, Maryland . His parents were Walter Moreland and Tabitha Dent. William and Priscilla probably wed in Charles County about 1787/8.

William’s father Walter died in 1787 and William inherited 3 slaves. His mother inherited the bulk of the estate. However, in 1790 Tabitha was head of household in Prince George’s County, just to the north of Charles County and William must be on the estate.

The Head of Families Maryland 1790 list two William Moreland in Charles County Maryland with 1 male, 3 females and 6 slaves.

There is record of a William Moreland being a bondsman on marriages in Shenandoah County, Virginia. It is likely they moved from Charles County to Shenandoah County between 1793 and 1796. Shenandoah County is on the upper northwest edge of Virginia. They were on their way to Kentucky.

The county just south of Charles is St. Mary’s. In the History of St. Mary’s County by Hammutt on page 93 is a chapter on Kentucky Ken. This chapter states that "Between 1790 and 1810 the population of St. Mary’s County decreased. A large portion can be attributed to the westward migration to the North Central Kentucky counties. Land was offered as a means to promote settlement of the frontier. Some had lost property in the war, some could not pay bonds " so they took advantage of this offer.

Their known children according to the Ernest G. Maddox memoir were;
1 . Anna Moreland born September 1, 1788 married Daniel Trout. She died February 19 1847 and is buried with her husband in the Moffett Cemetery in Milton, Trimble County, Kentucky
2. William Moreland born August 12, 1793 married Margaret Ott. He died April 4, 1863 in Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Virginia.
3. John D. "Jackey" Moreland born March 6, 1796 in Virginia. He married Mary "Polly" McGannon in 1817 in Gallatin County, Kentucky. He died May 1, 1876 in Trimble County Kentucky and is buried on the Hampton Farm, Luckett Lane.
4. Elizabeth "Betsey" Moreland born 1798 in Virginia married William Maddox. By 1840 they were in Trimble County.
5. Walter A. Moreland born June 1800 in Virginia married 1st Kitty Floyd by whom he had 5 children and 2nd Jane Cox Suddith on November 20, 1841 in Trimble County. He died there February 3, 1855 and is also buried on the Hampton Farm.
6. Martha Moreland who married a Trout, though another source said Floyd.

The 1810 Kentucky Census lists William Moreland of Shelby County, Kentucky on page 215.
The household consisted of:
1 male 10-16 (Jack)
1 male 45 and older (William)
1 female 10-16 (Elizabeth)
1 female 26 – 45 (Perscilla)
1 female not of the family (Maybe Tabitha?)
1 slave

The 1820 Kentucky Census lists William Moreland head of household, but it is the son of our William. The Henry County 1820 Census needs to be reviewed to find our family.

The Moreland family can be found in four different counties of Kentucky. However, they could have stayed in the same spot and changed counties as the new ones were formed. Shelby County was formed in 1792. From Shelby Henry County was formed in 1798. Oldham County was formed from Henry, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties. Finally, Trimble County was formed in 1836 from Henry, and Oldham and Gallatin.

The Moreland family was early members of the Corn Creek Church. It can southwest of Mt. Pleasant in Trimble County. The church cemetery is the final resting-place of many Moreland descendants.

Oldham County Kentucky Will Book, probated 10/16/1826 was written by William on 9/11/1820. He lists his children Walter A., John D. William, Anna B. Trout, Martha Floyd , Elizabeth B. Maddox and Granddaughter Lucinda, daughter of John D. but not Priscilla, his wife. She must have died prior to Sept 1820.

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