52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 36
Prompt: Tradesman
MOONSHINE
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| photo courtesy of Moonshine Irish buzz (1) |
I'm not certain what Ezekiel C Fueston (1835-1890) distilled. However, based on his documented Presidential Pardon in 1878, he, and 9 others were arrested for illegal distilling. I'm assuming it was Kentucky Bourbon they were producing. I was really hoping to be able to see the land he and our family lived on while here but no records have been proved or confirmed. Looks like another trip to Kentucky is in order.
According to the Kentucky Monthly, The Legend of Big Six, he states "Selling untaxed alcohol is a big no-no, but there still are those who try to get away with it. They're called moonshiners, and they've been around since 1791, when the federal government placed a whiskey tax on any and all alcohol produced in the United States." The article goes on to say that "Kentucky was a hotbed for moonshine activities..." A good read I recommend and can be found at Kentucky Moonshine
A few years ago, the History Channel produced a documentary, Rumrunners, Moonshiners and Bootleggers, tracing the history of moonshine per the Kentucky Monthly. I haven't found the documentary yet but will keep looking.
Another great read on history of moonshine with some pictures that could be our relatives is at KY Supply
I can easily be judgmental and critical, but after looking over the photos on KY Supply I soon realized our folks worked darn hard. They got their hands dirty and weren't afraid to make some of the best moonshine in Kentucky per a newspaper article I need to relocate.
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1878 Presidential Pardon
- Transcript No: 947 Names of persons pardoned: Ezekiel Fueston and nine others Judicial district: District of Kentucky Offense: Illicit Distilling Sentence: Five months imprisonment, each; $100 fine, costs, &c. Date of sentence: Oct. 29, 1877 Date of pardon: Mar. 29, 1878 Remarks: Term expired; held for fine and costs which none of them are able to pay; recommended by District Attorney and Judge; Unconditional. Detail Index to the Executive Documents of the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the Forty-Fifth Congress 1877-1878 Other information List of Pardons by the President Tabular statement of pardons issued by the President. (2)
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- Names of the other men pardoned with Ezekiel are:
- James Forbes, John Francis, Calvin Cox, James Miller
- Daniel Jarvis, Thomas Gregory,
- Andrew Hensley, James S Maxey
- and Edward Weatherford.
Interesting to note is that Ezekiel's daughter Sarah Fueston marries a man with surname of Francis. Could he be a relation to the Francis arrested and pardoned with Ezekiel?
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| Map of Isle of Bourbon |
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| oops, this can happen! Photo courtesy Moonshine Buzz |
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No post on moonshine is complete without a recipe for moonshine. It may not be what our family made but moonshine none the less.
Other notes and fun reads are about Beaver Creek, where Fueston's owned a lot of land between the "black walnut tree and the rocks near the creek."
The story of the Hatfield's and McCoy
The Hatfields and McCoys lived in Kentucky around 1863-1891, the Fueston's from about 1816-1870 plus. Could there have been encounters? We may even have a Hatfield in our tree!
And that's a wrap....
Keeping our family history alive.
Barbara
1)Photos, recipe and map courtesy of Moonshine buzz.
2)Index to the Executive Documents of the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the forty-Fifth Congress 1877-1878
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