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Slavery at Clay Hill Farm

        In addition to the descendents of Henry Sanders, Clay Hill Farm was home for many slaves whose labors enabled the farm to grow to its great size. According to family accounts, slaves were on the farm for a period of about 100 years. Slaves staffed Sander's Tavern prior to the Civil War. The cabin depicted below, is noted on surveys as a "slave cabin", but little is known of its history.  Personnel from the Kentucky Heritage Council visited the cabin in the early 90's and documented its construction.  Family records (Edwin L. White, Jr.) indicate that there were 19 such cabins located along the KY 289 road frontage.  Archeologists from the National Park Service visited CHMF during the summer of 1999.  They examined the existing cabin and made recommendations about its preservation, confirmed the presence probable foundation stones for two of the 19 cabins and examined a hand-dug spring where water barrels were filled.  Also they confirmed the existence of a cemetery on the property that, in all likelihood, is a slave cemetery.  

        Estimates indicate the the existing cabin may have been built as early as 1830, but this time somewhat arbitrary.   An oral history of the cabin is needed.

 

In 2004 we constructed a metal building around the cabin to prevent further weather-related deterioration.  When funds become available, the cabin will be restored to serve as a museum space.  As the cabin, spring and cemetery are all that remain as testimony to the history of slaves on Clay Hill Farm, it is our hope that they can be developed in a manner  that will serve as a lasting tribute to that period of time which so divided our nation.

        Tommy Ray Clark, the artist who drew the original pen and ink of Clay Hill Slave Cabin, has donated this original to CHMF and graciously agreed to allow us to replicate it for sale in support of the Cabin Restoration Project.  A limited number of signed, numbered prints are available for purchase.  To purchase a print or.  volunteer information or assistance please contact us.

 

Clay Hill During the Civil War

        James Sanders lived in the Clay Hill Farm House until his death on 1 April 1858.  Prior to his death, he deeded the house and adjacent land to his   daughter Cary Ann Sanders.  By 1883 when he died, James owned 1635 acres of land on Pitman Creek in Taylor County and 321 acres in Larue County.  These properties were divided among the children.  Cary married Harry F. White, from Wales, and their son James Sanders White eventually became the heir to Clay Hill Farm.  James was a physician who practiced medicine in Indiana until the death of Cary.  He then returned to Clay Hill  where he lived out his remaining years. He was known to have doctored the hill people in the region.  Making house calls on horseback.  

During the Civil War, Clay Hill Farm was at times used as refuge for John Hunt Morgan.   Seeking Morgan, Federal troops visited the house where they threatened Cary with bayonets in an attempt to get Cary to divulge the whereabouts of her brother Robert who was a confederate soldier.  History tells that one officer lunged at Cary sticking the bayonet through her sleeve into the wall.  There is still a gouge in the wall where the bayonet entered.  Cary stubbornly refused to tell.  Cary's husband Harry  received payment for the service of one of his slaves (John C. Sanders) as a soldier in the Union Army.  It is interesting that he signed an affidavit denouncing southern interests in order to receive payment.  

Clay Hill Memorial Forest

On May 7, 1996, many descendents of Henry Sanders gathered at Clay Hill Farm to transfer stewardship responsibilities to Campbellsville University and to formally dedicate Clay Hill Memorial Forest.

Through the selfless generosity of Edwin Lee White, Jr. and George W. Howell (husband of Joan Cotty White)  Campbellsville University received title to a part of Clay Hill Farm, with the explicit agreement that the land would be used for environmental and forestry education and research. The donors exhibited a vision for Clay Hill that extends beyond self. Clay Hill Memorial Forest is a living tribute to the Sanders family and the loving care they showed for Clay Hill Farm for 200 years.

Descendents of James Thomas Sanders