An Independent Spirit: The Story of Sarah (Handy) McKinney
- Janet England
- Dec 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
In 19th-century America, divorce was a social and legal anomaly. While many couples chose to live apart, few sought the formal dissolution of their marriage. However, in 1859, Sarah (Handy) McKinney took the bold step of bringing her grievances before the Green County Circuit Court. Her husband, William McKinney, had abandoned her and their five children over four years and upwards prior, leaving them without any means of support.
The court records offer a glimpse into the proceedings. Despite a diligent search by court-appointed attorney William H. Chelf, William McKinney’s whereabouts remained a mystery. On June 14, 1859, the court granted Sarah her freedom.
Original court case statement from Green County Circuit Court records
Green Co., KY Circuit Case #38 22 March 1859
Sarah McKinney vs. William McKinney
Sarah McKinney states that some years ago she married William McKinney with whom she lived several years and had five children. Upwards of two years ago, he abandoned her and the children. He left nothing to support them. She wants a divorce.
Depo. of Thomas J. Phillips (16 April 1859)
I have known William and Sarah McKinney for many years and before they were married. William abandoned her and left this county four years ago and upwards and has never returned. At the time of his leaving, they resided in Green Co. Sarah was born in Barren County and has lived in Green County for the last ten years. William left her in a very dependent and helpless condition with nothing to support her and with their five little children. I never knew of any cause that she gave him for leaving. /s/ T. J. Phillips
William H. Chelf, attorney appointed for William McKinney states that after making diligent inquiry he has failed to ascertain where William McKinney resides.
Barbara Wright, compiler, Green County, Kentucky abstracts of Circuit Court records, Vol. 15, (McDowell no date Utica, KY), pg 9.
A Legacy of Resilience
Sarah’s life following the divorce suggests a woman of remarkable independence. By the 1860 census, she was listed as the "Head of Household" with her occupation noted as Farmer. Her estate was valued at $100—approximately $3,900 in today’s currency—representing a significant achievement for a single mother in that era. There is no record of Sarah ever remarrying; she chose to raise her children and manage her land on her own terms.
Her youngest son, Charles McKinney, my 2nd great-grandfather, would go on to serve as a Union veteran in the Civil War. He eventually married a neighbor, Lucy Mildred Jeffries, and the couple was laid to rest on their own land in the McKinney-Jeffries Cemetery in Green County. The name "Sarah" was passed down to my grandmother, Sarah Lela (McKinney) England, who shared the same fierce and independent spirit as her great-grandmother.
The Mystery of William
The shadows in Sarah's story begin well before the 1859 court date. In the 1850 census, Sarah is already listed with her five children, but William is notably absent. Whether this indicates a long-term separation, a search for work elsewhere, or early marital strife remains unknown. Given the prevalence of the name "William McKinney" in Kentucky at the time, his trail goes cold after the divorce. He simply vanished.
Historical Context
The fact that Sarah was recorded as a "Farmer" rather than a "Domestic" or "Seamstress" is a vital clue to her character. In 1860, it was rare for a woman to be credited with the primary labor of the land in official government records unless she was actively managing the operations herself.
Roots to Branches
Learn More
Wright, Barbara, compiler. Green County, Kentucky, Abstracts of Circuit Court Records. Vol. 15. Utica, Kentucky: McDowell Publications, n.d. Digital images. FamilySearch. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/917511-green-county-kentucky-abstracts-of-circuit-court-records : 2025. You can get a free membership for the FamilySearch one world tree and open view these links. This court case is on page 9 or image 14 in the viewer.
"United States, Census, 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M65Q-BS3 : Sun Dec 14 01:30:12 UTC 2025), Entry for Sarah McKinney, 1850. You can get a free membership for the FamilySearch one world tree and open and view these links.
"United States, Census, 1860", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZBF-K5B : Mon Jul 08 07:45:36 UTC 2024), Entry for Sally Mc Kinney, 1860. You can get a free membership for the FamilySearch one world tree and open and view these links.
Kentucky. Green County. 1850 U.S. Census, population schedule. Digital images. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/records/17156130?tid=22465243&pid=1253691427&ssrc=pt/ : 2024. Requires an ancestry.com subscription to open this link.
Kentucky. Green County. 1860 U.S. Census, population schedule. Digital images. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/records/39399046?tid=22465243&pid=1253691427&ssrc=pt: 2025. Requires an ancestry.com subscription to open this link.
