There is ample biographical information about Martha West and William Dever, because they were two of the approximately 50 white people lynched in Kentucky between 1880 and 1950. Martha West (also identified as Pattie Funk, Miss Patty Funk, and Martha Funk) was born around 1861 in Kentucky. According to the 1870 Federal Census, her mother […]
Brinkley III, Ephraim
Ephraim Brinkley III was a white lynching victim in the 1880s, and there is considerable historical documentation about his birth, family ties, labor, and various residences during his life. On June 14, 1857, Ephraim Brinkley III was born to Ephraim G Brinkley II and Francis (Sarah) Elizabeth Brinkley in Person County, North Carolina. He also […]
Colston, Abithal (aka Bithael Colson) and Smith, Mollie (aka Maud Smith)
Abithal Colson and Maud “Mollie” Smith were white lynching victims in Trigg County, Kentucky on June 28, 1895. As a white male lynching victim in the 1890s, Colson’s life has more documentary information than Smith, who was a working-class white woman. There are detailed records of Colson’s birth information, education, and employment, but there is […]
Griffey, Willis
Willis Griffey (also identified as William Griffey and Willis Griffery) was an African American man who lived in Christian County, Kentucky. He was born around 1859 to his mother Priscilla Griffey and her husband, an unidentified man. According to the 1870 Kentucky Census, Priscilla is listed as “Press Griffey.” Priscilla Griffey is listed as a […]
Scott, George
George Scott was an African American man born between 1873 and 1879. In 1898, he worked as a farm hand for William Scroggins 2.5 miles east of Adairville, Kentucky (a small town in southern Kentucky, bordering Tennessee). There is little extent information about Scott. Accounts of his life and his work have been drawn from […]
Ray, George
George Ray was an African American man living in Washington County, Kentucky in 1895. Nothing else is known about his personal life. According to the Courier-Journal, sometime prior to late April 1895 Ray was “…taken from his home and given a sound thrashing and given orders to leave the county. He paid no attention to […]
Stivers, C.P. (Christopher P.)
C.P. Stivers, (or Christopher P. Stivers) was one of roughly 20 white men lynched between 1900 and 1950 in Kentucky. Due to his race, gender, and his position as Police Judge in Manchester, there was considerable documentation of Stivers’ life and death. Stivers was born in December 1891 to James W. Stivers and Lucy T. […]
B.F. Carrier, B.F.; Effington William; King, L.M.; Thomas, John
There is little extent information about B.F. Carrier, William Effington, L.M King, and John Thomas. This is an unusual research outcome since the four men were white landowners and farmers in Fayette County and Versailles County. Newspaper accounts of the deaths stated that the four men were between the ages of 25 and 40. Research in […]
Wilson, George
There is little extent biographical information about George Wilson. Contemporary accounts stated that Wilson lived in Carlisle, Kentucky, located in Nicholas County. One newspaper, the Maysville Evening Bulletin, said that Wilson was a prominent member of the African American community in Carlisle, and he was a member of the Oddfellows Fraternal Order. Another newspaper, the […]
Haggard, Robert
Robert Haggard of Winchester, Kentucky was born in 1873. According to the 1880 Census data, Robert Haggard lived with his mother Nelly, and two brothers, Dillard and West, in Pinchem, a small area outside of Winchester. Robert’s oldest brother, Dillard, was born enslaved sometime between 1840 and 1845. It was likely that Nelly was born […]