In June 2005, I visited the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, KY and copied the file there on the Pendergrast family ~ this page represents family biographies that were typed by someone when there were typewriters, so pre-1980, and more than likely much earlier than 1980 (it was undated).  I am not sure who the author of this material is, 'he' identifies himself as a 'he'.

Each section of the document is about a different member of the Pendergrast family.  I typed them exactly as they appear.

The Pendergrast's of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Kentucky

We find the name, "old Garad Pendergrass" in Pennsylvania at a very early day.  Gerad Pendergrast was also a name in Maryland in the early times.  He was an Indian trader, and at the present moment I am well satisfied that he was the father of Garrett Pendergrast of Mercer county Kentucky, who married Margaret Elliott of Chester County, PA and emigrated to Kentucky while it was yet known only as Kentucky county, Virginia.  He served with distinction in Col John Bowman's famous military company.  He in company with James Harrod was sent by General George Rogers Clark on the important mission to converse with the Delaware's on the Wabash in regard to a treaty they had or were about to enter into with Kickapoos at " O. Post," now Vincennes, Indiana.  He had two sisters, one, Patience, who married a Mr. Theobalds, the other, a Mr. Talbot, and all lived in Shelby County, Kentucky.

Garrett and Margaret Elliott Pendergrast:

There were five children born of the marriage Margaret Elliott and Garrett Pendergrast; three sons, Nathan, Jesse, and Garrett and two daughters.  My note:  I am not sure if I believe this 'story' of another son who was captured by the Indians; HOWEVER, Jesse Pendergrass when accepting his inheritance or some other such thing, he says "it appears my older brother is dead", so perhaps the story is true.

Nathan was stolen by the Indians while he was still a small child, and never heard of again, only by supposition.  Many years afterward an Indiana Chief was slain in battle and found to be a white man.  A most striking resemblance to the Pendergrast family was observed by the ones who saw him, which gave rise to the story that he was the long-lost boy of Margaret Elliott Pendergrast.  Fortunately this discovery was not made until after the death of Mrs. Pendergrast, and thereby her grief was not intensified by living to learn that the little babe once so dear to her heart had attained unto manhood in savagery, and whose tomahawk would have been lifted against her had the opportunity offered.

Jesse married Elizabeth Moore, the only daughter of the first wife of Col James Francis Moore of Pennsylvania.  He excited the ire of the distinguished Col Moore by eloping with his daughter when she was only sixteen years old, and for this offence the Colonel never fully forgave him.   He even remembered him in his will, but not with honor, for he made this unloved son-in-law, Jesse, sell to him his slaves, that he could give them along with the "Fish Pool" plantation to his daughter Elizabeth, and all of which, or any of which, she could dispose of at will, and without the consent or signature of Jesse Pendergrast, her husband.

Garrett married Mary Brooks, daughter of Joseph Brooks who came from Ireland to Virginia, and thence to Jefferson County, KY.  Their farm adjoined the Fish Pool plantation.  He was afterwards divorced from her, and married Susan Richardson, daughter of Dr. Richardson of Louisville.  He had one child by his first wife, Margaret America, who was born in Havana Cuba.  He was a surgeon in the U. S. Army, and was stationed there during the war of 1812.  He resided in Cuba some twenty years.  He moved back to Louisville and lived on Market Street, between 7th and 8th.  America died at this place when she was about twenty years old and was buried in the side yard.  She had quite a nice monument at her grave.  Her remains were afterwards exhumed and buried in the same grave with her father in old Eastern Cemetery.  She was a noted beauty and dresser.  A very fine oil portrait of her is at Jesse' Young's.

The lot on which Garret Pendergrast built his house on Market Street was given him by his mother in about the year 1815 (my note:  this is lot 130 which was fought over in court).  She moved to Louisville from Mercer County after her husband was killed by he Indians and lived in a log house on the same lot on which her son Garret built his house.  She obtained it from an old physician who had boarded with her and was not able to pay his board bill in cash, she took the instrument instead, and traded them for the lot which was occupied by a log house.

Dr. Garrett Pendergrast received his medical education in Philadelphia.  He ranked very high as a physician.  He owned the first carriage that ever ran over the streets of the city of Louisville.  He died about 1850.  His city place was a model farm.  It took up an entire half block.  he had his own milk-cow, bees, fruit trees and vegetables.  The house was a fine one, but a quaint one.  It was three stories high, with a very high basement, an iron portico, and as an ornament, he had carved out of a large stone, and beset in the front wall, a lyre, which seemed rather to have amused the people more than to have excited their interest.  The mother of the writer, when she was a little girl, lived here with her mother's uncle, and attended school.

Dr. James Francis Pendergrast, and his descendants ~ (my 3rd great grandfather)

Born on the Fish Pool plantation, Jefferson county KY 1800.  Died on Drummonds Island in Canada, about 1868.  His remains were bought back to Kentucky by his sons, Austin and Garret, and buried in the family burying ground on the Fish Pool place where his mother, father and wife were buried.

His wife was Dorothy Miller, daughter of Cassandra Miller, who was a daughter of Col James Francis Moore, consequently he married his first cousin.  Of this marriage the following named children were born, viz:  John, James Francis, Austin, Pat, Virginia, Garret, Robert, and Matilda, who died in infancy.

John enlisted in the southern army, was captured at Fort Donnelson and sustained a broken leg in the battle.  He was sent to the Gratiot Street prison in St. Louis (McDowel College).  His brother, Austin, who was in the U. S. navy, got him out on parole, and it is supposed he died in Alton, IL in a hospital.

James Francis Jr., during the last years of his life was Wharf-master at New Orleans.  He died in that city in the '70s.  He married a daughter of Captain Smith.

Pat for many years was a well to do farmer in Vermilion Co., IL.  He died there sometime in the '80s (my note: this is incorrect, Patrick died in 1909 in Rossville, IL (Vermilion County).

Virginia married Dr. Waller Cooper, and after his death she married John Briscoe, by whom she had one child, Frank.  She died while her child was very young.

Garrett served in the southern army and for many years was Supt. for Dr. E. D. Standiford who was a very rich farmer some five miles out from Louisville, on the Preston road.

Robert disappeared and his fate was never known to his family.

Dr. James Francis Pendergrast was educated at the Transylvania University, Lexington.  He as a man of great natural talents, and capable of taking a good education.  His reputation as a physician was soon established, and continued to grow until his practice kept him in the saddle and away from home almost all the time.  He was never a success from financial standpoint.  A big and kind heart made it a hard matter for him to collect enough of his services to even pay his household expenses.  When he ran short of funds, which he was certain to do, he would call on his mother, who was there as long as she lived, and after her death, he would call on his sister Mrs. Theo W. Young and if she declined, which she sometime did, "Frank, I will not let you any more money, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for not collecting what is owing you," then Mr. Young would come to his aid, with "Betty, let Frank have some money, those people who owe him any not be able to pay".  As  matter of fact, it is said that may of them were well to do, but took advantage of his kind hart.  Had it not been for his fertile farm and negro slaves, he would, it was said by his family and friends, literally have staved to death.

He was a man of stout build, fine looking, gentle in is manner and a good friend.  But woe be unto the one that tossed up the temper that was latent in his blood.  He was of Irish and English extraction, with more Irish than English.  He well knew his limitations, and guarded most steadfastly against getting into any kind of a dispute, but there always was and we assume always will be a class of people who delight in aggravating a person of this temperament.  And so with him, the evil tongued and gossip mongers were the direct cause of his taking human life, and for which he spent the remainder of his life in disconsolate despair.

"Betsy" (Elizabeth Pendergrast)

It is the tradition that Betsey was born in Baltimore, in about the year 1773, and inasmuch as the family record has been lost, it is impossible to give the exact date of her birth, which fact I regret very much.  I am inclined to the opinion that she was born in either Moreland Manor, or Mt. Holly, KY for two reasons:  first, in the revolutionary army records Capt. James Francis Moore give Moreland as his residence, and second, he gave the name of Mt. Holly as his home place in Kentucky, which he mentions in is will as being situated near Mann's Lick in Jefferson County.

It is also the tradition, and as to the correctness of this I think there is no doubt, that Capt. Moore moved his family to Kentucky in about the year 1778, and took up his residence in the old block-house that as known as Sullivan's fort, which was situated on the Beargrass Creek, about four miles from the falls of the Ohio on what is now the Bardstown pike.

Betsey was only one year old when she was brought to this place and at the age of three, that most unwelcome visitor that knocks on the door of every home be it mansion or hovel, knocked at the door of this (old fort) and took little Betsey's mother from her forever.  Betsey was then taken to Baltimore to the house of her Uncle, Nicholas Ruxton Moore, to be reared up and educated.  The following letter shows the kind affection that existed between those two brothers.  (I would like to obtain a copy of this letter).

Betsey was fourteen years old when this letter was written, and it was very short time after this that her father went on to Baltimore and brought Betsey back again to the old fort.  The writer has in his possession the above mentioned letter, which was in the keeping of Rear Admiral Pendergrast.

Betsey had no doubt entirely forgotten her  father by this time and only knew him by hearsay.

After the visit to Baltimore was over, Col., Moore and his little daughter started on their long journey, horse-back, bound for Kentucky.  He mounted on one horse and she on another.  Slowly they wended their way across the state of Maryland, thence through Virginia to the Cumberland Gap, where they would strike the Wilderness road which had been blazed out by that lover of the wild forest, Daniel Boone.  It was along this road that so many of the brave old pioneers lost their lives, yes, even Daniel Boone saw one of his sons stricken down by the hand of the red man.  So in constant dread and fear of the arrow that flieth by day and the assassin that stalketh by night, did the brave father and the equally brave little girl cautiously proceed on their way to the old Sullivan fort on the Beargrass.  Providence always favors the brave, and in due time, their safe arrival was made known to the residents of the fort.  Betsey had made this journey once before, but not with her recollection, so it must he been a most wild and romantic trip for her as well as a very tedious one.  They were so long on the road that the continuous jolting while in the saddle caused Betsey's bonnet strings to wear in two, and the only recourse, as well as resource, was for her father to skin a paw-paw bush and make others for her.

Betsey had far different surroundings now to what she had while she was living with her uncle Ruxton in Baltimore, for he was a man of high position and wealth, and her association there could not have been any but the very best, as well as the most refined and cultivated.  Now she has the unlettered and uncouth youth of the wild-wood, and the lurking Indian, whose delight was to steal the children of their white enemies.

After the novelty had worn off, we can see Betsey romping around the old fort, her playmates were the children who had been born in this historic place, and whose parents had passed through many blood-curding experiences and had many many hair-breadth escapes from the Indians, whichever on the alert to waylay an pale faced intruders as they came and sent to and from other forts in the vicinity.

The children of many of the occupants of Sullivan's fort became prominent in the affairs of Kentucky in after years.  There is no doubt but that the most of Col James Francis Moore's children were born in this old fort, for he had twelve children by his second wife and it was not at all likely that he would attempt to live away from this place of security and protection for many years after his first wife died, and he was a military man, his duties would naturally keep him away from his family a great deal of the time.  He was an officer under General George Rogers Clark, and was perhaps with him in his campaign of the Northwest.  If not engaged in the field with him, he was left in command of the post at the falls of the Ohio.  he was named in the original grant of the assembly of Virginia is one of the Commissioners to answer to the soldiers and officers, that served under General Clark in his campaign in the northwest, their quota of land.

Well, we will now return to the principal subject of this part of my story, Betsey.  She is now getting acquainted with her new home, and has visited the grave of her mother and may have a faint recollection of her mother's death, and burial under a big locust tree that stood near the fort.  It is now sad to relate that her mother sleeps in an unknown and unmarked grave.

Betsey has now become Mrs. Jesse Pendergrast, and an heiress, for she now has a plantation as well as slaves.  The Indians have ceased to commit their murderous assaults upon their white successors, only when they felt doubly sure that the could take a scalp and get out of the country before a company of the organized militia could be gotten together and overtake them before they could set across the Ohio.

The Fish Pool plantation is given her by her father, a two room log house is built, a small patch is cleared, the necessary out houses will in due time appear, but the chickens have not been transported from the old fort.  Corn bread without eggs begins to be unpalatable, the men are too busy to go back to Sullivan's fort to see if the hens were still in business there, so the women concluded they would rather risk their scalps or being taken by the Indians than to hear so much complaint about plain corn bread.  Two of the Kentucky broods are saddled, Mrs. Pendergrast and her nearest neighbor, an equally brave woman, mount their fleet footed steeds and start for their old stomping ground but fully mindful that the Indians were not near so scarce as they tried to make it appear they were, and these two brave women were not going to be caught napping, while there were only two of them, a sentinel would be posted just the same.  They arrive at their old and familiar haunt, and what was once a busy and bustling place is now a forlorn and uncanny sight to their eyes, no inhabitants but the chickens, and eggs in super abundance.  The wily red man had left them as a bate, knowing that in due time the white man would come along, and if he could do nothing more, he could steel his horse while he was chasing the chickens and gathering eggs.  But alas the pale face man had learned to be about as cunning as himself, and no longer walked into his trap.

Jesse Pendergrast ~

The first building erected on the Fish Pool place was a small "block house," surrounded by a stockade  logs standing on end, set in the ground some two feet.  They were very common in the early days of Kentucky, and the very spot on which many of them were located is well known, even unto this day. 

The one on the Fish Pool place was located near what is now known as the "old spring," a short distance from fish Pool creek.  The locust and cedar trees that were planted around it during the Indian days, many of them ware still to be seen, and had the power of speech, an interesting tale could they unfold the buffalo trace ran quite near the old spring - perhaps not over fifty yards away from it. 

The "trace" was the thoroughfare, not only of the buffalo, but both the white man and the red man made use of it.  It was along this old trace that the inimitable character, Daniel Boone, spent many an hour, awaiting a shot.  For many years after the Indians had ceased to haunt this historic road, and poor old Daniel Boone had taken his way westward to the Missouri Territory, could be seen his name and date carved on a beech tree and could be deciphered to read as follows, cilled a deer hear may 17, 1788."  That old Boone tree was sacred for many years, but the ravages of time upon it brought its life to an end, and gradually decay obliterated the letters until they could be no longer read and Jesse Crump, the owner of the land, laid the axe to the root of it and it was no more.

Below is an article that I found that gave me more information on the family and the murder:

Louisville Courier Journal June 5, 1898 Vol. XC New Series-No.10749 NAVAL HEROES OF OTHER DAYS Commodore Pendergrast a Jefferson County boy AN INTERESTING CAREER A Fighter of the Old School and His Record GREAT BATTLE ON THE LAKES The Elliot Family Also Resident of the County (written for the Courier-Journal)     Heroes are often better known abroad than at home. In thinking over a list of the naval heroes of Kentucky there are two from Jefferson county who are much better known in other lands than in their own. The writer was visiting relatives about nine miles out on the Preston street turnpike, when some one mentioned the fact that the late Commodore Garrett Jesse Pendegrast was born in that neighborhood and that after he had acquired great fame as a sea fighter he and his wife had lived there among his relatives. The farm, now owned by Mrs. Martha Farman, is situated immediately on the turnpike. In his grounds every flower, shrub and tree that were prized by civilized man had been transplanted to beautify his place. His presence in that community was an inspiration as he introduced scientific farming and gave an impetus to landscape gardening and the breeding of blooded stock that has developed the best resources of this county to their present high degree. His wife was also of a refining influence, as there have been few women of this country that had had such advantages of travel and education. Commodore Pendegrast was born on December 5, 1802 and died in Philadelphia November 7, 1862.   Commodore Pendegrast had no children, (my note, I believe he and Virginia did have children, they at least had a son who died young as there is a marker next to his father's stone in Philadelphia.) but adopted Austin, the son of his brother, Dr. Frank Pendegrast, who resided on an adjoining farm. The nephew Austin was born in 1829, and died in 1874. He became Commodore Austin Pendegrast. It would seem to a historical student rather remote to connect natives of this county with so important a place in military and navy circles, especially considering those early days, and the fact that the country was so undeveloped that a visit to the Eastern cities entailed a long overland journey in a stage. How on earth did those country boys know anything about warships and sea fighting in that time? There is an interesting story that connects the West with the East and which should be written for the benefit and pride of every Kentuckian. In the first place the Pendegrast is one of the pioneer families of this State.   Long before Kentucky was a state, Garrett Pendergrast had removed to this section. He married Margaret Elliott, a daughter of John Elliott of Chester County, Pa. They came out during the many Indian raids and in Collins’ history Margaret Elliott Pendegrast is mentioned as one of two brave women who remained in the fort at Harrodsburg during the winter, many times being left alone in this vast wilderness expecting an attack from savages. Garrett Pendegrast had been able to gain the confidence of the Indians, and could do more with them that any other resident. When this State drew up a petition of rights to send to the Assembly of Virginia and to Congress asking to become an independent State, Garrett Pendegrast was deputized to carry the petition. It was while making this journey on horseback that he was fallen upon by the savages and murdered. His wife was in consequence left a widow in a new land to look after herself and family.  (My note:  this is NOT how Garrett was killed, see the story of how he was killed elsewhere).    It was about this time that Capt. Robert Wilson and wife sought a new home in this state, they having lost all they had by the Revolutionary War. Capt. Wilson married Jean Elliott, daughter of John Elliott of Chester county, Pa., who was a sister to Margaret Elliott Pendegrast. When they came to Kentucky they did not like the outlook at “The Falls” and consequently concluded to buy land back in the uplands. They therefore bought ground about twelve miles out the Preston-street road. They there built their block houses and among the first things they did was to establish a Presbyterian meeting-house on the bank of a creek that they called Pennsylvania run. Such it is called to this day as the families were all God-fearing Pennsylvanians.   So much for the Kentucky branch of the families. Jean and Margaret Elliott it will be observed came of blue-blooded stock. Their father was a descendant of John Elliott, the pioneer preacher to the Indians, who translated the Testament into the Indian language. They had a brother who lived in Maryland. The brother’s son afterward went into the United States navy. This nephew of the Elliott sisters of this county was no other that Jesse Duncan Elliott who became a Commodore. Commodore Elliott was born July 4, 1782 and died December 18, 1845. Of him John R. Spears in his “History of Our Navy” writes as follows: “The student of American history who reads through the proceedings of the Congress for the year 1813 finds two paragraphs marked approved, January 29.” They are brief-the first contains sixteen printed lines and the last only seven. But in the first, gold medals are awarded to Hull, of the Constitution, Decatur, of the United States, and Jones of the Wasp for the astounding results they achieved in their combats with the Guerriere, the Macedonian and the Frolte.   And in the second the President of the United States is requested to present to Lieut. Elliott of the navy of the United States an elegant sword with suitable emblems and devices in testimony of the just sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in boarding and capturing (the British brigs Detroit and Caledonia while anchored under the protection of Fort Erie. It was no small honor to have one’s name coupled with Hull, Decatur, and Jones but a few months later, July 13, 1813, Elliott’s name once more appears in an act of Congress, this time in connection with that of Lawrence. Lawrence and his men get $25,000 for the destruction of the Peacock. Elliott and his officers and companions get $12,000 for the destruction of the Detroit. The fight in which Lieut. Jesse Duncan Elliott won these honors if compared gun for gun and man for man with the battles of the great naval heroes with whom his name was mentioned was but small and unimportant. They fought with well-manned fully-equipped ships on the high sea; he, in row boats on a fresh water lake in the backwoods, and armed with borrowed weapons. At that time, 1812, the American shore was sparsely settled, while the Canadian side of the waters was well settled. Kingston being the chief naval and military port. And while the Americans were building one slow brig to prepare for the inevitable war, the British had built and armed a squadron of six vessels. They were commanded by Commodore Earle.   Along with Commodore Chancy came Lieut. Jesse D. Elliott. He had the confidence of the Commodore and was at once sent forward to Buffalo where he was to purchase any number of merchant vessels or boats that might be converted into vessels of war or gunboats and further, to take measures for the construction of two vessels of 300 tons each, six boats of considerable size and quarters for 300 men. In those days, Black Rock was a village about two miles from Buffalo on the road toward Niagara Falls. It was at Black Rock that Elliott decided to establish the navy yard. At first thought this might seem to have been a hazardous undertaking because directly across the river was a strong British post, Fort Erie. However, if the British might be expected to try crossing to interfere with Elliott’s ship building, it was also possible for him to keep a good watch on British movements. So it happened that when two brigs came down the lake from Detroit and anchored under the guns of Fort Erie on October 8, 1812, Elliott learned the fact instantly. One of these brigs was new and almost ready for service at Detroit, the other brig was called the Caledonia. Elliott knew that those two vessels were just what he wanted for use on the lake and that it would be very much better for the American cause to go over and take them than to buy and build a score. At that time Winfield Scott was a Lieutenant Colonel in command of troops at Black Rock and to him Elliott applied for arms and men with success. It is interesting to note that when application was made to the militia for arms for the expedition across the river the order to obtain them read; “All the pistols, swords and sabers you can borrow at the risk of the lenders.”   Let it be borne in mind that the Detroit was a well-built war brig, fully armed and manned, that the Caledonia was well manned by the hardy lake seamen accustomed to dealing with the savage Indians of the far West, and that both were anchored under the guns of a strong military post. One needs to see the mighty sweep of the Niagara river past Black Rock to appreciate the task of the seamen under Elliott, who had to row boats up the Canadian shores. They embarked at midnight and at 1 o’clock found themselves in the current of the Niagara. For two hours thereafter they pulled with steady stroke, and then, as the anchor watch on the Detroit was noting the hour of 3o’clock, a pistol shot from a big boat that suddenly loomed alongside roused the crew from their overstrong feeling of security. A volley of musketry followed, and then over the rail rumbled fifty men, led by Lieut. Elliott, and the Detroit, was in American hands. The Caledonia was captured in less than ten minutes. Meantime Elliott had carried the Caledonia clear of all and she was the first member of the fleet that enabled the gallant Perry to write: “ We have met the enemy and they are ours.” For that naval encounter Congress thanked Perry, and his men through him. It voted gold medals to him and to Elliott.   To return now to Jefferson County- Margaret Elliott Pendegrast’s children had grown old enough to do something for themselves. Frank Pendegrast had studied medicine under his uncle Garrett Pendegrast, so long one of the ablest and oldest practitioners of this city, whose house was on Market street, between Seventh and Eighth, where a transfer stable is now located. He was the most intimate friend of Judge Bibb.   Garrett Jesse Pendegrast, the other son, went into the navy under his cousin, Commodore Elliott, and worked his way up from a midshipman to a Commodore. The sister of Dr. Frank Pendegrast and Commodore Pendergrast was Elizabeth Pendegrast who married Mr. Theodore Young of this county. She died about seven years ago. Mrs. Young was a woman of rare intelligence and was the first graduate of Science Hill, Shelbyville, the female seminary established by Mrs. Julia Tevis many years ago. Her children still reside not far from the old home in the county; they are William, Jesse, Garrett, and Miss Patty Young, Mrs. Henry Holman, and Mrs. Langsford of Bloomfield.   Of Garrett J. Pendegrast who became Commodore in the late war it is interesting to note that he was given the first orders by President Lincoln during the late war. The first point blockaded was Hampton Roads. Flag Officer G. J. Pendegrast established the blockade there and issued the following proclamation on April 30, 1861: “To all whom it may concern: I hereby call attention to the proclamation of His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, under date of this 27th of April 1861 for an efficient blockade of the ports of Virginia and North Carolina and warn all persons interested that I have sufficient naval force there for the purpose of carrying out that proclamation. All vessels passing the Capes of Virginia, coming from a distance and ignorant of the proclamation will be warned off, and those passing Fortress Monroe will be required to anchor outside the guns of the fort, and subject themselves to an examination.” G. J. Pendegrast Commanding Home Squadron United States Flagship, Cumberland, Off Fortress Monroe, Va. April 30, 1862.   In the squadron of Commodore Pendegrast were several streamers, bearing the names of his relatives of this county. Two of them were called Margaret and Jesse.   Commodore Pendergrast married Miss Virginia Barron, daughter of Commodore Barron. The latter was an intimate friend of Commodore Duncan Elliott, he having been his second in a duel fought by him and Commodore Decatur. Commodore Decatur was killed, while Commodore Barron sustained very painful wounds. In this connection it may be mentioned that all of the Elliott and Pendergrast blood were hot-headed and intrepid.  (My Note:  Both lines, Elliott and Pendergrast were Irish).   Dr. Frank Pendegrast, a beloved and popular family physician of this county killed a school teacher while in the heat of anger. Dr. Pendergrast was a scholar of high merit, and in going over a Latin lesson with his son he was displeased at the way his teacher had rendered a translation. When he called at the school a hot dispute followed, which so exasperated him that he jerked out a pistol and shot the teacher, who died shortly afterward.   The affair was one of the most unfortunate that have ever happened in this county as he left home and was a wanderer in distant lands. His wife had died some years before, and his large family of six children were deprived of his companionship. Dr. Pendergrast regretted his rash deed also. He escaped to Canada, where his remaining days were spent in sorrow. He was given refuge by the Elliott family, that part of it having remained subjects of England as there was a wide gulf in the Elliott family during the Revolutionary war. The young family, so early left without parents, was adopted and reared by relatives. One of the sons was Austin Pendergrast, who was adopted by his uncle, Commodore G. J. Pendergrast. He arose rapidly in the navy and became a Commodore. His chief encounter was in the Civil War. Two Confederate gunboats that had come with the Merrimac got under the stern of the Congress, which was commanded by Lieut. Austin Pendergrast. For an hour the crew of the Congress had stood to their guns, when Lieut. Smith having been killed and the ship being on fire in several places, Lieut. Pendergrast hoisted a white flag.   According to historians, just as soon as the Congress surrendered the Confederate Commodores ordered their gunboats alongside to take off his crew and set fire to his ship. He surrendered to Lieut. Parker of the Beaufort. Delivering his sword and colors, he was directed to return to his ship and have the wounded transferred as rapidly as possible. All this time the shore batteries and small arm men were keeping up an incessant fire on the vessel.    Finally it became so hot that the gunboats were obliged to haul off with only thirty prisoners, leaving Lieut. Pendergrast and most of his crew on board, and they afterward escaped to shore by swimming or in small boats. Commodore Austin Pendergrast died in 1874 and is buried in the naval cemetery at Philadelphia with his uncle Commodore Pendergrast and his relative, Commodore Elliott.   Dr. Frank Pendergrast died in Canada, but at his request his remains were brought back to his old Kentucky home and interred at Fishpool, the family burial place, in Jefferson county. As account of naval heroes are being written and read with such interest, surely Jefferson county should be proud of the record made by these brave sons. Besides the relatives named heretofore, Mrs. K. P. Thixton, Mr. W. A. Wilson, of this city, and Dr. William Christy Wilson of New Orleans, Mrs. George Glover of California and others are near relatives.   M. M. Thixton