Information sent by Lois Werline by email, 22 June 2005.
See History of Kentucky, five volumes, edited by Judge Charles Kerr, American Historical Society, NY & Chicago, 1922, Vol. V, pg 330, Clark Co.
In Clark County members of tgeh Haggard family have been prominent in agriculture and otehr affairs for several generations. Henry Rider Haggard, the distinquished English novelist (who claims kin with the Haggards of Clark Co.) is author for the statement that the Haggard family are descended from Andrew Ogard of Denmark, who setteled in County Norfolk, England, in the year 1433, was naturalized there, and was knighted by King Henry VII. Though they have made no effort to trace the connection the Haggards of Clark County are certainly descednded from this Sir Andrew Ogard, whose name was anglicized into Haggard.
So far as is known the first Haggard to come to America was James Haggard, who had been educated for the Episcapal ministry in England, and came to Norfolk, Virginia, in 1698, being then not yet twnety one years old. He taught school in Norfolk for years and eventually married one of his pupils, whose name has not descended. (This pupil was Elizabeth Gentry b. abt 1687, in New Kent Co., VA. -- from Lois Werline) They had four sons, Nathaniel, Edmund, Zachary and Gray. It is only with Nathaniel that htis sketch has to do. Nathaniel Haggard was born November 21, 1723. amd ,arroed E;ozabetj Gemtru. (His cousin and niece of the above Elizabeth Gentry --Lois Werline). They settled in Albemarle Co., VA, and in 1788 they went to KY, settling three miles south of whereWinchester now stands and where George W. Haggard now lives, in the same house, which is undoubtedly the oldest building of any kind in the county. Nathaniel Haggard died August 21, 1820, at the ripe age of ninety seven years. He raised a family of seven sons and three daughters. All of his children were born in Virginia.
This family were all Baptists and most of them were members of Providence Chruch at the old stone meeting house.
Merle Haggard, the country western singer also descends from this line.