Daniel Mayo
1762-1838
From an article by Jim Reis reprinted here with his
permission from Pieces of the Past Volume 3, pages 19-21
An early Newport pioneer was Daniel Mayo, born on Sep 30, 1762, in the town of Roxbury, Massachusetts. After moving west, Mayo settled in the fledgling community of Cincinnati and began purchasing land in Northern Kentucky. Ohio was not yet a state, so on Campbell County legal documents Mayo identified himself as living in "Hamilton County of the Northwest Territories."
During his time in Cincinnati, Mayo was appointed the city's postmaster. Accounts vary, but Mayo was either the second or third Cincinnati postmaster, serving from 1795 to 1796. Because of his land purchases in Newport, Mayo moved there in 1796, a move that cost him his job as Cincinnati postmaster. But, he became Newport's first postmaster that same year. A later account recorded that Mayo served in that capacity until his death on December 25, 1838. He was buried in the Newport City Cemetery and later moved to Evergreen Cemetery.
In addition to his postal duties, Mayo was appointed "captain of patrole" by the Campbell County Court in April 1800. Court records say he was responsible for the "upper side of the Licking River" in the county. Some of Mayo's land purchases were in partnership with Richard Southgate, namesake of the Southgate House in Newport and the Southgate family in Northern Kentucky, and Jacob Flower, who operated one of the first taverns in Newport. Mayo also was a slave owner. County deed records in October 1802 show Mayo purchased a female slave named Becky, "between the age of 20-30 years old," from Joseph Carico of Washington County, Md.
Daniel Mayos Deeds and Court Orders
Mayo's wife, Mary Putnam was born in Brooklyn, Conn. Aug 5, 1773. It is not clear how many children the Mayos had, but a deed recorded Dec 25, 1837 shows four were living then. Mayo sold to each of his children a lot in Newport for "love and consideration of $1."
Children of Daniel Mayo and Mary Putnam
1. Daniel Dudley
2. Henry Hunt-born 1810 died 4 Jan 1877
3. Mary Aurelia-born 1811 m
Captain Andrew Lewis
1 Oct 1829 d-4 May 1844
4. Harriet-m a Taliaferro of Oldham Co