My Claim to Fame

My ancestor Joseph Bookhout was born in Holland in the year 1700 and died in Rameur, Randolph Co, N.C., in 1806 – yep, he lived 106 years.

Joseph and his family Americanized their name to Bookout when they got off the boat, so to speak.

But this is not about Joseph. It is the Halloween season. It is about his brother John Bookhout. Here is what notes I have on him:

"The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow" (the Headless Horseman) started in the cemetery at the Dutch Reform Church, Tarrytown, New York (near the Hudson River).

John BOOKHOUT, or his son, was serving on the Board of Elders when the legend was born. Later Washington Irvin made the legend into a published story.