Abstract of Early Kentucky Wills & Inventories, Daviess County, Book A, Page 51.
BRISTOW, JASPER. June 1, 1843. June 1, 1848. Wife: Rachel. Children: Benjamin, Briton, Annie, Samuel, Wm. T., Rachel, Hiram. Other heirs: Elisha Johnson, Harriet Stoats, Elener Jones, James Hendricks. Wit: Wm. Crawford.

Jasper Bristow was born in Virginia in the years of 1784-1786. He was reared on a farm. He was about 7 years old when his father died and about 12 when he came to Kentucky with his family. An older brother, James Bristow, moved to Shelby County, Kentucky about 1804. Two years later the name of James Bristow is joined by that of his brothers, Levin and Jasper, in the 1806 tax list of Shelby County, Kentucky. Jasper Bristow, as in several early records, was listed as "Gasper". In the listing for Jasper Bristow in the 1806 Shelby County tax list the column of male tithables over 21 is blank, while a "one" is entered in the column "males over 16 and under 21". In the 1807 Shelby County tax list following the name of "Jasper Bristo" a "one" appears in the male tithables over 21 column. The 1806 and 1807 tax lists indicate that Jasper Bristow attained the age of 21 during 1807, and if so he would have been born in the year of 1786. In the 1810 Shelby County census, his age is listed as being in the age group of 16 to 26, thus born 1784 - 1794; the 1830 and 1840 Daviess County, Kentucky censuses show him as being born in the decade of the 1780s.
In Shelby County, Kentucky, on June 11, 1807, Jasper Bristow married Clarissa Elliott, who was born between 1784 and 1794. She was his first cousin, the daughter of William Elliott and Frances Powell, and granddaughter of William Powell, Jr. and Eleanor Peyton. Her father died in Shelby County, Kentucky in 1815 leaving children: William, Clarissa, John, Robert, and Charles Elliott. The tax records of Shelby County indicate that Jasper resided there from about 1806 until 1820. He was last listed in the tax books there in 1820, when he was taxed on 100 acres on Elk Creek in Shelby County. In the 1810 and 1820 Censuses of Shelby County his household was enumerated as follows: Jasper Bristow 1 male 1-10 1female 16-26 1male 16-26. Gasper Bristow 1 male 10-16 1 female 26-45 1 male 26-45
In 1820 or 1821 Jasper Bristow moved to Daviess County, Kentucky. In 1821 he was first listed in the Daviess County tax records. He settled in the southeastern area of Daviess County, in the Masonville Precinct. During the 1820s many other families from Shelby County, Kentucky moved to the same area of Daviess County, including the Kirk, Stout, Sharp, Dodson, King, Whitaker, Martin, Cottrell, Miller, Taylor, Barnhill, Karn, Watkins, Hite and Shoemaker families. Several of these were neighbors of the Bristow's in both Shelby and Daviess counties. The farm on which Jasper Bristow made his home was originally 375 acres. It was deeded to him by agents of the May, Banister and Co. on January 10, 1829. The Daviess County tax records show him first paying taxes on the land in 1824. His home was about 3/4 mile southeast of the Bethabara Baptist Church, located in the village of Habit. In leaving Habit on the south the Millers Mill Road travels down a hill into a flat area. This hill was formerly known as "Bristow Hill" and the Jasper Bristow farm extended from the hill down to the intersection of the Millers Mill Road and the Old State Road (the latter on an 1867 plat of the farm was marked "Hinton Road").
In 1825 Jasper's wife Clarissa died leaving him to raise their six children. It was during this same time that Jasper was ordained a minister of the Baptist Church at the Panther Creek Baptist Church, located in Ohio County, Kentucky, about 7 miles from his home. He was ordained by the Reverend Ansel Hall (1776/1780 - 1841), who served as the first Pastor of the Panther Creek Baptist Church in Ohio County, 1815 - 1840, the first pastor of the Bathabara Baptist Church in Daviess County, 1824 - 1827, and the third pastor of the Bell's Run Baptist Church in Ohio County, 1839 - 1840. Jasper Bristow named one of his sons, Ansel Hall Bristow, in 1834 in honor of his mentor. In the History of Daviess County, Kentucky (c. 1883, page 58) under the heading of "Early Ministers" it is stated that "Jasper Bristow was an old fashioned Baptist preacher, on the hard-shell plan, a clever, good, and industrious citizen." Rev. Jasper Bristow served as the second pastor of the Bethabara Baptist Church in Daviess County in 1827 - 1828, and the second pastor of the Panther Creek Baptist Church in Ohio County in 1840. He was also the founder of the Barnett's Creek Baptist Church in Ohio County in 1839, and of the Little Flick Baptist Church in Daviess County about 1847.
The Bethabara Baptist Church in Daviess County, Kentucky was founded October 5, 1825 in a log house built in 1820 by the citizens of the neighborhood to be used for a school house and a house of worship. In the same year Jasper Bristow was ordained into the ministry. Rev. Ansel Hall served as the church's first pastor. Upon his resignation in 1827, Jasper Bristow was called to the pastorate. At this time (from 1825 until 1832) the church held services in a log meeting house, constructed for all denominations, on the farm knowm as the D. A. Miller farm near Habit. In 1832, a church was built where where the Bethabara (Habit) Cemetery is now, about 1/4 mile north of the present church (Habit). The first burial in the Bethabara Church Cemetery was probably made in the same year, 1832. The oldest gravestone in the cemetery is for Bannister Hall (1783 - 1832). The word Bethabara is a Hebrew word which is said to mean "house of passage".
Jasper Bristow served only about a year as the pastor of the Bethabara Baptist Church. In the History of Daviess County, Kentucky (c. 1883, page 661) in a chapter on the church it is stated that "some trouble arose and Mr. Bristow resigned." The nature of the trouble is not cited. It may have been concerning the question of missions which arose as a divisive issue in the churches in which he was subsequently affiliated. He strongly held to the views of the Primitive (Hardshell) Baptist and opposed any missionary activity on the part of the church. His views and influence later lead to divisions in the Panther Creek and Bell's Run Churches.
In 1827 Jasper married Rachel Barnhill Cruze, widow of Thomas Cruze. Rachel was the daughter of Hannah Boone. Jasper and Rachel settled in Masonville Precinct, on a farm 3/4 mile east of Bethabara church, where he built the first brick building in the county. Jasper died there in 1848. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church at Bethabara. She died in 1870. They had a family of nine children.
In the book titled, "History of Daviess County, Kentucky" the following story is told. Little Flock United Baptist Church, more commonly known as Bristow United, is not recognized as a denomination by the regular Baptist association. When the Panther Creek Baptist Church adopted the work of missions as an especial part of its work, one Jasper Bristow made several motions in the church, which were voted down by the members. Finding all his wishes entirely disregarded, he took his hat, arose and said, "All who believe as I do, follow me." Several followed him, and they left the house. They then assembled in another place, drew up their letters, sent delegates to the Green River Association, claiming to be THE church. Those remaining in the church transacted the usual amount of business, drew up their letter for the Association, sending delegates as usual. The Association decided that those who remained in the house constituted the Panther Creek Church. Bristow and his followers continued their work, calling themselves the Green River Association of the United Baptist Church. The Bristows bitterly opposed the missionary work adopted by the Panther Creek Church. They also believed in the practice of feet-washing, and did not believe in a paid ministry. Those were the main points of difference between them and the mother church. The Little Flock congregation was organized about the year 1847 with six or eight members, by the Reverend James Sample, Reverend Jasper Bristow, and William Hendricks. They first worshipped in private houses, but soon built a small log cabin.


Aunt Oma writes: The family came to Kentucky from Henry County, Virginia. They were guided by Daniel Boone, on his third trip with settlers. First to Shelby, Oldham, then to Daviess and Hancock Counties, Kentucky. Clarissa Elliott Bristow died in Oldham County Kentucky.

3rd Great-Grandfather of Former Governor and Senator Wendell Hampton Ford.

My 3rd Great-Grandfather - cawatkins