Excerpt of a letter from John Floyd to William Preston

Draper Manuscripts 17CC180-81

 

Kentucky Levels, 30 May, 1775

 

Dear Sir,

 

We have seen no Indians since our arrival here; no damage done by them except one Boston who has been killed or lost. My company are all settled near Green River on the southern waters of the Kentucky and have erected a little town which they call St. Asaph, where they are making a crop of corn. All the settlers have received Col. Henderson as proprietor of that side the river Kentucky which is called Transylvania Colony. He has called to Boonsborough (another little town) delegates from all the settlements, in order to form some regulations among the people. They are eighteen in number who have made laws for establishing courts of justice; rules for proceeding therein; also a militia law; an attachments law; a law for preserving the game, and for appointing civil and military officers, &c &c.

 

The number of inhabitants, I think, does not exceed three hundred in all that I can hear of, on these waters. They have about 230 acres of corn growing. I need not mention every particular, as you will have it from the bearer.

 

Letter from John Floyd to William Preston

Draper Manuscripts 17CC184-185

 

Harrodsburg, Oct. 30^th, 1779

 

My Dear Friend,

 

We arrived here in six weeks, all safe and hearty, but fatigue, perplexity &c. has almost made a skeleton of me.

 

My wife brought out the little boy without any of my assistance, and neither of them were any trouble on the way. I lost neither horse nor cow, but my trouble in driving them here was too much. I am this morning gathering up my affairs to set out for Beargrass in high spirits.

 

The commissioners are here, and I procured my certificate yesterday for 1400 acres at Woodstock, and was immediately offered six fine young Virginia born Negroes for it. You never saw such keenness as is here about land. I am vexed that I am forced to send your warrants back to be renewed before I can get them surveyed. Do send them out again as soon as possible. My surveyor’s commissions are at Mr. Trigg’s and Col. Robinson informed me Mr. Madison could not procure me a commission for this county without the old one. I wish it could be sent down. I am now very anxious to have a place and I find all your observations about it very just.

 

The court moves to the Falls next week, and I am desirous to be there in order to get places for Capt. Madison and Mr. Johnson. I see many selling their claims here and I think they will do the same there. I hear nothing from Capt. Smith; I fear he has gave out coming, and if so his opportunity in getting land will be soon over. Col. Robinson left Capt. Rowland Madison about Cumberland, with a tired horse. He has not yet got out. Corn is 30 dollars per bushel. I wish I had my corn from Arcadia. I want to hear how my brother Charles goes on, I directed him to bring me 10 cows in the spring; if he can I shall be quite safe for that article, and I believe there is no doubt of Buffalo beef plenty. Smith and Carvin landed at the Falls a few days since, but I don’t hear where they are destined. I have no fear of not getting settlers at my station in abundance, as they are very sickly at the Falls.

 

            Your ever affectionate friend.

 

Letter from John Floyd about conditions in Kentucky

Draper 17CC172-175

 

Boonesborough, July 21, 1776

 

My Dear Sir,

Te situation of our country is much altered since I wrote you last. The Indians seem determined to break up our settlements, and I really doubt, unless it was possible to give us some assistance, that the greatest part of the people must fall a prey to them. They have, I am satisfied, killed several which, at this time, I know not how to mention. Many are missing who, sometime ago, went out about their business who we can hear nothing of. Fresh sign of Indians is seen almost every day.

 

I think I mentioned to you before of some damage they had done at Leesburg. The seventh of this month they killed one Cooper on Licking Creek, the fourteenth they killed a man whose name I do not know, at your Salt spring on Licking Creek. The same day they took out of a canoe, within sight of this place, Miss Betsy Calloway, her sister Frances, and a daughter of Daniel Boon’s; the two last are about 13 or 14 years old, and the other grown. The affair happened late in the afternoon, they left the canoe on the opposite side of the river from us, which prevented our getting over for some time to pursue them. We could not, that night, follow more than five miles before dark.

 

Next morning by daylight we were on the tracks, but found they had totally prevented our following them by walking some distance through the thickest cane they could find. We observed their course and on which side we had left their signs. and travelled upwards of thirty miles. We then imagined they would be less cautious in travelling, and made a turn in order to cross their trace, and had gone but a few miles till we found their tracks in a buffalo path, pursued and overtook them in going about two miles, just as they were kindling a fire to cook. Or study had been more to get the prisoners without giving the Indians time to murder them after they discovered us, than to kill them.

 

We discovered each other nearly at the same time. Four of us fired and all rushed on them, which prevented their carrying anything away except one shot gun without any ammunition. Mr. Boon and myself has each a pretty fair shoot just as they began to move off. I am well convinced I shot one through, and the one he shot dropt his gun, mine had none. The place was very thick with cane, and being so much elated on recovering the three poor little heart-broken girls, prevented our making any further search; we sent them off almost naked, some without their moccasins, and not one of them so much as a knife or tomahawk.

 

After the girls came to themselves enough to speak, they told us there were only five Indians, four Shawnee and one Cherokee, could all speak good English. They said they should take them to the Shawnee towns. And the war club we got was like those I have seen from that nation. Several words of their language which they retained, was known to be Shawnee. They also told them the Cherokees had killed and drove all the people from Watagua and thereabouts, and that fourteen Cherokees were then on the Kentucky waiting to do mischief. If the was becomes general, which there is now the greatest appearance of, our situation is truly alarming.

 

We are about finishing a large fort and intend to try to keep possession of this place as long as possible. They are, I understand, doing the same at Harrodsburg, also on Elkhorn at the Royal Spring. A settlement known by the name of Hinkston is broke up and nineteen of which are now here on their way in, himself among the rest, who all seem deaf to anything we can say to dissuade them. Ten at least of our own people, I understand, are going to join them which will leave is with less than 30 men at this fort. I think more than 300 men have left the country since I came out, and not one has arrived except a few cabbiners down the Ohio.

 

I want as much to return as any person can do, but if I leave the country now there is scarcely one single man hereabouts, but what that will follow the example. When I think of the deplorable condition a few helpless families are likely to be in, I conclude to sell my life as dear as I can, in their defense, rather than to make an ignominious escape.

 

I am afraid it is in vain to sue for any relief from Virginia, yet the convention encouraged the settlement of this country; and why should not the extreme parts of Fincastle be as justly entitled to protection as any other part of the colony. An expedition being carried on against those nations who are at open was with the people in general, might in a good measure relieve us by drawing them off to defend their towns. If anything under Heaven can be done for us, I know of no person who would more willingly engage in forwarding us assistance than yourself.

 

I cannot write, you can better guess at my ideas from what I have said than I can express them.

 

I am Sir, yours most affectionately,

 

John Floyd

 

The letter of Daniel Boone to Col. Henderson

Draper Manuscripts 17CC166-67

April 1^st, 1775

Dear Colonel,

After my compliments to you, I shall acquaint you of our misfortune. On the 25^th of March, a party of Indians fired on my company, about half an hour before day, and killed Mr. Twitty and his negro, and wounded Mr. Walker very deeply; but I hope he will recover. On the 28^th as we were hunting for provisions, we found Samuel Tate’s son, who you gave us an account that the Indians fired on their company on the 27^th. My brother and I went down and found two men killed and scalped, Thomas McDowell and Jeremiah McFeeters. I have sent a man down to all the lower companies, in order to gather them all at the mouth of Otter Creek. My advice to you, sir, is to come or send to us as soon as possible. Your company is desired greatly for the people are very uneasy, but are willing to stay and venture their lives with you, and now is the time to frustrate their intentions, and keep the country while we are in it. If we give way to them now it will ever be the case.

This day we start from the battle ground, for the mouth of Otter Creek, where we shall immediately build a fort, which will be done before you can come or send to us. Then we can send ten men to meet you, if you send for them.

Daniel Boone.

N.B. We stood on the ground and guarded our baggage till day, and lost nothing. We have about fifteen miles to Kentucky at Otter Creek.

Petition from Settlers at Harrodsburg

To the Honourable the Convention of Virginia

The Humble Petition of the Committee of West Fincastle of the Colony of Virginia, Being on the North and South sides of the River Kentucke (or Louisa). Present John Gabriel Jones Esqr. Chairman, John Bowman, John Cowen, William Bennett, Joseph Bowman, John Crittendon, Isaac Hite, George Rodgers Clark, Silas Harland, Hugh McGary, Andrew McConnell, James Herrod, William McConnel, and John Maxwell, Gent’n.

The Inhabitants of this Frontier part of Virginia who are equally desirous of contributing to the utmost of their power to the support of the present laudable cause of American Freedom, and willing to convince and prove to the world that tho they live so remote from the seat of Government that they feel in the most sensible manner for their suffering Brethren; and that they most ardently desire to be looked upon as a part of this Colony, notwithstanding the Base proceedings of a Detestible, Wicked and Corrupt Ministry to prevent any more counties to be laid off, without the Inhabitant would be so pusillanimous as to give up their right of appointing proper persons to represent them (in Assembly or) in Convention; And as we Further conceive that as the Proclamation of his Majesty for not settling on the Western parts of this Colony, is not founded upon Law, it cannot have any Force, and if we submit to that Proclamation and continue not to lay off new Counties on the Frontiers that they may send Representatives to the Convention, its leaving an opening to the wicked and Diabolical designs of the Ministry, as then this immense and Fertile Country would afford a safe Asylum to those whose Principles are inimical to American Liberty.

And if new Counties are not laid off, as Fincastle County now Reaches and already settled upwards of Three Hundred Miles from East to West it is impossible that two delegates can be sufficient to Represent any such a Respectable Body of People, or that such a number of Inhabitants should be bound to obey without being heard. Ans as those very people would most cheerfully cooperate in every measure tending to the Publick Peace, and American Freedom. They have delegated two Gentlemen who was chosen by the Free voice of the People, and which Election was held Eight days at Harrodsburg (on the Western waters of Fincastle on Kentucke) after the preparatory notice of Five Weeks given to the Inhabitants and on the poll being closed Captain John Gabriel Jones and Captain George Rodgers Clark, having the majority were chosen and not doubting the acceptance of them as our Representative by the Honorable the Convention, to serve in that capacity; as we conceive the precedent Established in West Augusta will justify our Proceeding; and we cannot but observe how impolitical it would be to suffer such a Respectable body of prime Rifle men, to remain (even in a state of Neutrality) When at this time a Certain set of men from North Carolina, stiling themselves, proprietors and claiming an absolute right to these very Lands taking upon themselves the Legislative authority, Commissioning officers, both Civil and military, having also opened a Land office, Surveyors General and Deputies appointed and act, Conveayances made and Land sold at an Exorbitant Price many other Unconstitutional practices, tending to disturb the minds of those, who are well disposed to the wholesome Government of Virginia, and creating Factions and Divisions amongst ourselves.

As we have not hitherto been Represented in Convention; And as at this time of General Danger we cannot take too much Precaution to prevent the Inroads of Savages, and prevent the Effusion of Innocent Blood. We the Committee after receiving a message from the Chiefs of the Delewares who are now settled near the mouth of the Waubash, informing us that a Treaty was to be held at Opost, by the English and Kiccapoos Indians, an that they would attend to know the purport of the same, and if their Brothers and the Long Knives would send a man they could rely on, they would, on their return, inform him of the same, as they were apprehensive the Kiccapoos would strike their Brothers the Long Knives, therefore we thought it most prudent, and shall send immediately a certain James Herrod and Garret Pendergrass to converse with them on the same. And as it’s the request of the Inhabitants that we should point out a number of men capable and most acquainted with the Laws of this Colony to act as Civil Magistrates, a list of the same we have enclosed. And for other matters relative to the country we conceive that Captain Jones and Captain Clark our Delegates will be able to inform the Honourable the Convention, not doubting but they will listen to our just petition and take us under their Jurisdiction. And your petitioners as in Duty Bounty &c.

Signed by order of the Committee, Herrodsburg, June 20^th 1776.

J.G. Jones Chairman

Abraham Hite Jnr. Clerk

Signed by:

Joseph Bowman

George Rogers Clark

Silas Harlan

John Gabriel Jones

Andrew McConnell

William McConnell

Hugh McGary

George Edwards

Draper Manuscripts 18 S 116

George Edwards, son of Hayden and Penelope Edwards was born Dec. 24, 1761 and died 30 Aug 1835. He was a native of Edward’s Ferry region on the Potomac.

George Edwards came to Kentucky when eighteen years of age, cut down a tree where Cincinnati now is, fastened a buffalo skin around the stump thus forming a mortar with the smoothed top of the stump for the bottom. With a pestle or pounder, he pounded his pint of corn for sustenance.

He guarded Mrs. John Edwards on Cooper’s Run at an early day with his loaded gun, while she picked the greens for dinner. George Edwards came seven times to Kentucky. His parents remaining for a long while in Virginia. Aug. 27. 1863

Yelverton Peyton

Draper Manuscripts 18 S 238-242

Yelverton Peyton was the son of Henry Peyton and was a native of Albemarle Co., VA on the James River. Henry was killed by Indians in going from his house to his barn of the Virginia frontier.

Yelverton, John, Ephraim, and Thomas Peyton (all brothers and all grown men) and a stranger named Bonham followed the Indians. At night while the whites camped, the Indians crept in and shot at them wounding John’s right arm, Thomas’s thigh was broken and Ephraim broke his ankle jumping a steep bank. Bonham was mortally wounded. Ephraim, hearing the Indians cocking their guns, kicked the blankets covering them over the fire which darkened the place or else all might have been killed. Bonham was found at the camp scalped. Evidently he had crept off and when the Indians departed he was so cold he crept back to the camp and died there.

Yelverton escaped unhurt and John and Thomas Peyton got in. Ephraim always had a turned foot in consequence of his broken ankle. He settled and died in Warren Co., KY and died since the War of 1812 about 8 miles below Springfield. John got in and the shattered bone was taken out and gristle grew in, so he could write and survey lands. He lived and died in Tennessee.

A party went back with Yelverton Peyton and buried Bonham and brought in Thomas and Ephraim who were considerable distance and had some trouble in finding them. Thomas finally settled in Missouri.

Yelverton Peyton came with a guard to Boonesboro in 1775, through Boone’s Gap, In Madison County, between head waters of Roundstone and Silver Creeks, a range of mountains through which Boone’s Trace passed. In passing through Powell’s Valley, they were fired on and several killed.

Once Yelverton and Charles English were together near English Station, returning from hunting a horse stolen by a white man. English had heard one night that a rattlesnake bit him in the side and next day as they were riding along, Indians fired on them from the came and shot English, who fell from his horse. Peyton slid from his horse and darted into the cane hearing as he fled the tomahawk cleave English’s skull. Horses ran to English Station and a party went back with Peyton and buried English.

Yelverton was selected to act as a spy and guard from Boonesboro to Boone’s Gap. Sometimes out as many as nine days at a time, to watch and reconnoiter for Indian sign and kill his game to live on and had to be exceedingly cautious when he would shoot a deer or turkey, lest an Indian might hear the report of the gun and steal up and shoot him while securing his game. If signs were discovered he would report at Boonesboro.

Near Boone’s Gap, two miles north of the gap, is the Slate Lick. There he came one day and discovered a drop of fresh blood spreading upon the water in the Lick and at once knew an Indian had shortly before killed a deer there. He instantly made his way into the cane. While on this service, he one day shot a deer and watched his game and soon discovered an Indian watching him and raised his gun to shoot the Indian when the latter commenced zig-zagging, jumping one way and then another, by aid of his hand seizing a bush and then another, so Peyton could not get a shot. The Indian got out of sight and cleared himself

The above information was given by Guffey Peyton, son of Yelverton, who was born in Madison County, Ky August 29, 1796.

Ruddell’s Station

Draper Manuscripts 18 S 113-115

Ruddell’s or Hinkston’s Station was located about three miles below where Ruddell’s Mills now are and about half a mile in a straight course below the mouth of Townsend, on the north bank of Licking, which here runs nearly east and west course on something of a bluff, but a higher bluff, on same side of the river, above or east of the fort, about 150 yards, covered with thick tinder, in which the Indians took position and commenced firing into the fort, and the whites returning the fire, made it too hot for the Indians.

One Indian managed to get under the puncheon floor, perhaps in the night, and Mrs. McFall poured hot water between the cracks and the Indian rolled out in a lively manner, and jumping up, he ran in a zig-zag manner, when several shots were ineffectively discharged at him. The Indians retired. and went off vowing vengeance. Got cannon and the British to aid them. There was some fighting, but Capt. Ruddell soon surrendered and all blamed him for not maintaining his position longer.

Thinks there were at least 18 or 20 families there, with blockhouses and pickets. The Ruddells, Kyles, McFall, Robert C. McDaniel and others. Christian Spears was there a young man, taken to Detroit, there married a fellow prisoner and after peace he removed to and settled in Ky.

John McFall was a prisoner with the Indians, got away by Clark’s army invading the Indian country. His wife was retained by the Indians some years and finally got back. They settled on Mill Creek in now Harrison County.

Capt. Isaac Ruddell died at Ruddell’s Mills some years before the War of 1812.

Andrew Calvert Interview about Bryan's Station

Draper Manuscripts S 18 123-4

From Andrew Calvert, born March 1797, eldest child of John and Sarah Calvert and grandson of Andrew Johnson.

He thinks Andrew Johnson was a native of Culpepper Co., Va. and married Jane Faulkner about 1770. Their children were Lewis, born about 1771, died about 90 years old; Sarah, born about 1773, married John Calvert and died in 1859 aged 86; Isephene, married Presley Calvert (brother of John); Catherine; John (died young); Elizabeth, Andrew, Melinda and Berrywise.

Mrs. Sarah Calvert (daughter of Andrew and Jane Faulkner Johnson) related that her father was in Bryan’s Station during the siege and family lived there. That he mother went out to milk the cows and a small negro boy went along and helf the calf by the ears while the milking was being done and while milking the Indians began to fire on the fort. When Mrs. Johnson ran for the fort and casting a look behind while on the way, discovered the faithful Negro lad still holding the calf fast by the ears when she called him away.

Mrs. Johnson was busy making bullets during the siege.

An Indian crept up to and got ensconsed in a cluster of vines running up one of the corners of a house or cabin when several shots were fired at him and he tumbled out dead.

Nothing recollected about Andrew Johnson’s captivity, nor particularly about his participating in Blue Licks battle. Thinks he used to relate about Aaron Reynolds helping Capt. Patterson on a horse and about Reynolds pulling off his wet buckskin breeches to facilitate his escape. Reynolds early moved to Duck River (whole my informant was a small boy) in Tennessee and his Mr. Ben Reynolds served in war of 1812. Aaron Reynolds was rather a small man, lived on Elkhorn about Great Crossings, Scott Co., Ky.

Thinks Andrew Johnson died about 1820 and about 75 years of age. When young was light frame, perhaps 5 feet 8 or 10 inches, became heavy in advancing years, perhaps 200 pounds weight. He was many years a Baptist–a member of Stamping Ground Church. Was not in a habit of speaking of his services. Had a vein of humor about him.

Near the Great Crossings settled Col. Robert Johnson, Judge Twyman, Andrew Johnson, John Gatewood (who died probably soon after 1843 or ‘44), Aaron Reynolds & Thos. Flicklin - all old Bryan’s Station defenders.

Indian Raids in Kentucky, 1790s

These are just three raids that were mentioned in the Draper volume I was working in.

Draper Manuscripts, 16 S 221
Considerable damage was done by a party of Indians at and around the town of Frankfort, Kentucky, about the middle of May. They were pursued over the Ohio by a party of volunteers, who found the savages too strong to be attacked, and returned without doing anything. National (Phila) Gaz. July 4, 1792.

Draper Manuscripts, 16 S 223
Papers state that about 1st July ‘92 Indians did mischief by stealing a large number of horses and Negroes near Frankfort, Ky, when Colo. McDowell raised 300 men and pursued to the Ohio; left 100 men to guard the horses at thr river, and went on 15 miles, overtook the Indians, and were overpowered in a severe engagement and obliged to retreat and sent for those left behind. The next day resuming the fight defeated the Indians; took several prisoners, six Indians and several English and French from Detroit, and retook all the Negroes and horses.

Draper Manuscripts, 16 S 227
Lexington Ky March 8th 1794. A party of Indians lately stole a number of horses on Limestone, in Hardin county, they were pursued by a party of men under Capt. William Hardin and overtaken and all the horses recovered. Captain Hardin received a wound through the body.

Revolutionary War Pension of Ancil Goodman

Page 3-9

State of Kentucky
Russell County

On this twenty ninth day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court, it being a court of record setting in and for the county aforesaid, Ancil Goodman , resident of said county ages about eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benifit of the Act of Congress passed 7th June 1832.

That in the state of Virginia in the County of Stafford in the year as well as he can now remember 1777, he entered into the service of the United States, under Captain Charles Watkins, and was ordered to Kentucky with the balance of the company for the purpose of assisting the inhabitants in their battle against the British and Indians.

That the company was composed of fifty odd men, that they were promised forty schillings per month and the period of their enlistment was for six months. That very soon after their enlistment the were marched to Kentucky by their Capn. and arrived at Boonsborough on the Kentucky River in the now state of Ky. which was a Fort, sometimes called a station at which place we found Col. Daniel Boon, and some men and families under his command. We were placed under the command also, of Col. Boon and acted in the capacity of defenders of the Fort against the enemy and also as Indian spies.

Some considerable time after being so employed upon constant duty and very short allowance himself and as well as he can now recollect about twenty others under the command of Col. Boone were ordered out upon an expedition to make salt for the use of those in the Fort. They marched to a place about 70 or 80 miles from the Fort then and now known and called the Blue Licks after being there about three weeks, engaged making salt.

Col. Boone was absent from the company hunting and trapping, when a party of the Shawnees of about one hundred Indians commanded by their chief Blackfish fixed several guns at him as he, Boon, told this applicant, and run him some distance and he, Boone, discovering he would be taken, stopped, put his gun behind a tree, stepped out and gave up. The Indians then marched with Col. Boone to where the balance of us were, and we were ordered by Col. Boone to stack our guns and surrender. We did so.

We were all taken first to the Indian towns over the Ohio River on the Little Miami. Some of the company were taken to the British. This applicant and a few others were retained by the Indians, and from the day he was taken up to the time he run off, a period of eight months, he suffered misery and wretchedness, hunger, cruelty and oppression of almost every sort. The night after he was taken his arms were tied behind him, a rope or buffeloes leg tied fast around his middle, and the other made fast to an Indian on each side of him, and the one around his arms was made to go around his neck, and tied fast to a tree, and in that position he had to sleep upon the snow. A little while before he reached the Indian Town, he was compelled to strip himself, cold as was entirely naked, his arms again made fast and a load of bone meat packed upon him. It was a heavy load. Indeed he was packed heavily, from the time he was taken until he arrived at the town and just as he got there, he was met by many Indians from the town, and run the gauntlet with the load of meat, and was very severely beaten and bruised in the race. Before they got in sight of the Town, he was made to sing as loud as he could hollow. The object of that he afterwards learnt was to give notice of their approach. After running the gauntlet, he and the other prisoners were ordered to dance like the Whites. A Negro who was prisoner with them, acted as interpreter. Col. Boon was taken a while to the British and they give him a little horse and a saddle, and he returned with the Indians, and was taken off with a party mostly of squaws to make salt. There he made out to run off and got back to Boonsborough safely. This applicant, having stayed as he before mentioned eight months, he in company with two others, George Hendricks and Aaron Ferman, run away, and having learnt from some of the Indians before they started, that there was some white men at the Falls of Ohio, they made their course that way.

Before they arrived there, being pressed with hunger, they were getting some red haws when a party of Indians come upon them, and after a chase retook George Hendricks, but his other companion and himself arrived at the Falls. he remained there upwards of two months, having engaged as a soldier and performed duty under Capn. Wm. Harrod. He has no discharge, no written evidence of his services whatever. From the time of his enlistment, until he got back to Virginia, was one year and nine months .

He can prove by a living witness, Arabia Brown of the county Garrard the fact of his enlistment and his service.
Publish Post
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of the agency of any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Ansel Goodman

Revolutionary War Pension of Moses Nelson

This is not the complete pension record, just the part that relates to Kentucky.

Page 5-6

State of Kentucky
County of Bath

On this 8th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Honl. Judge of the Circuit Court of the County of Bath, now sitting Moses Nelson a resident of the County of Bath and State of Kentucky aged 74 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passes June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated (to wit)

About the first of June 1778 I enlisted in Captain John Holder’s Company in Rowan County in the state of North Carolina and marched to Kentucky. On the 24th day of June 1778 we arrived at Boonesborough Ky. where we found the people in the garrison, in a most distressed situation, in want of almost every thing within, besides the danger they were constantly exposed to from the Indians without lurking in the cane watching an opportunity to take a prisoner or a scalp.

In this situation we continued until the month of August ensuring when the ten Frenchmen and Capt. Blackfish the Shawnee Chief with 300 warriors appeared in sight of the forts and professed friendship upon condition that Colo. Boon would surrender the fort into their possession. Colo. Boon and his men declined to accede to the proposition then Capt. Blackfish proposed a treaty, which was agreed to. The next day Colo. Boon and his officers were to meet Blackfish and his Chiefs at a Spring about 60 yards from the fort. Accordingly they preceeded to the appointed place. At the conclusion of the said treaty, Blackfish said the custom among then was for two Indians to take hold of one white man, and shake hands strong to make a lasting treaty. When the Indians had got hold of the white men’s hands they attempted to make prisoners of them. The men from the fort fired on the Indians, they run and all our men got into the fort safe and unhurt, except one man who received a slight wound. The Indians then attacked the fort and besieged the fort for nine days and nights without a cessation of hostilities. They then raised the siege. The Indians continued very troublesome throughout the whole country. There were at that time only four garrisons in the Country (Towit) One at Boonsborough, one called Logan’s Station, the Falls of the Ohio, and at Harrodsburgh. We were kept in constant service. About the last of May 1779 Colo. Bowman raised a company of volunteers from the garrisons to march against a Shawnee town called Chilicothe. I belonged to Capt. Holder’s company. We arrived about day break at the town whereupon a battle ensued and continued until about 9 oclock when a Negro woman came out and told our officers that they had sent runners to Preaway [?] for Simon Gurty, and a strong party of Indians. Colo. Bowman upon that information ordered a retreat, we left the town. The Indians pursued us and about one or two oclock they came up with us in the woods. They attacked us, we formed and gave them battle, each party took shelter behind trees. We remained on the ground until late in the day where we charged them and drove them off the ground. We lost 9 men killed and got two scalps. We then returned to Kentucky, I went to Boonesborough and remained there till the spring 1781. I then went to the falls of the Ohio, and I think about the first May 1780. I enlisted in the regular service under Captain Weatherton in the Illinois regiment for two years. I marched immediately to the Iron banks on the Mississippi under the command of General George Rogers Clark, continued there until my term of service expired, marched back to Kentucky and was then discharged. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. And that he has so lost or mislaid his discharge so that he cannot get it, but can prove his services partly by Josiah Collins, and partly by Edward Parker.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Moses Nelson

Revolutionary War Pension Application of George Michael Bedinger

This is not the complete pension record, just the part that relates to Kentucky.

Page 7-9
In the spring of 1779 on the first day of March, this affiant in company with nine others left his home in Berkley County Virginia, and arrived at Boonsborough in Kentucky on the 7th of April, where we found Capt. John Holder with only about fifteen men under his command and the fort in great distress and eminent danger, in consequence of a Mr. Starns and a party of 10 or 12 men having left the Fort, a day or two before our arrival. And who, as it afterwards appeared, had near all fell into the hands of the Indians one of the party who made his escape got into the fort, about 2 hours after we did and gave the information of the defeat of Starns and his party.

Fortunately for us, we had missed the path, and at the time the Indians who killed Capt. Starns and his party were passing on it, we were in a thick cain brake near to it. We had not traveled more than about a half mile until we got into the path again, and were surprised to see a large trail that had just been made and from broken bows, the shape of the feet, and particularly the pigeon or great toe (as some call it) we were convinced that a number of Indians had passed and that providentially our lives had been saved by our missing the path at that place.

We proceeded on in the path that evening and got within 6 or 7 miles of the Fort, and encamped for the night, made a fire and laid by it until day brake without a centinel or spy to watch for the approach of the Indians. This incautious conduct was occasioned by Col. William Morgan, he was I think the oldest man except one, in the company, had been in Genl. Braddock’s line, an Indian warrior, spy and scout, who when some of the young boys as three of us were called, proposed going out from the path for greater safety observed that "we would not die, until our time come." So we remained near the path; and it was believed that this apparently improper conduct induced another party of Indians who were seen that evening and had chased two spys towit, Col. Estel and another.

The Indians came out of the path that we were on and it was believed they saw our fires, horses &c but that they expected the fire was made to deceive them and to draw them into an ambuscade. This they were the more ready to believe, from the fact that the people of Boonsborough had but a short time before tied an old mare by the heel, out in the cainbrake then laid in ambush, but the Indians discovered the deception and cautiously avoided the trap set for them. A prisoner who escaped from them reported "that the Indians laughed that the white people should think that they (the Indians) could be caught in a trap like a beaver. This affiant for fear of not giving the general circumstances of his services, discovered that he had digressed too far by running into particulars he hopes the digression will be excused and will return to the main subject.

When we arrived at Boonsborough the distresses of the Fort, induced me to join Captain John Holder’s company who had the command of the Fort at that time, in which company and service I served seven months. A part of the term I acted as an Indian spy, scout and hunter, always taking my turn with the other men of the Fort as hunter. To this course I was induced by the by the feeling of humanity and sympathy for distressed women and children who were unable to leave the country and who if they had attempted it, would have been sacraficed by the Indians, who were constantly scouring the country around the Fort and would have in all probability have taken it had we not joined it when we did.

I have even considered the service I performed at this place and during this time as the most dangerous and difficult and at the same time the most useful to my country. As we were almost continually surrounded by parties of Indians who were lying in wait for us and as we had to supply ourselves and the inhabitants of the fort mainly by the success of our hunting excursions to effect which we had to slip out at night, retire to some distance from the Fort, kill our game, which was generally buffalo and pack it in, in some succeeding nights and by our exertions the population of Boonsborough was retained and the lives of the inhabitants preserved.

During the above mentioned term of service an expedition against the Indian town then called Chilicothe now old Chilicothe under Col. John Bowman, was planned and executed in which expedition I was called on and acted as Adjutant Quarter Master in which capacities I acted not less than 2 weeks. We proceeded by the way of the mouth of Licking River, were detained some time waiting for other troops to join us, then went on to the town, made our attempt to surprise and take the town, but owing to one of our men stationed near the houses, in the night firing his gun at and killing an Indian, the Indians were apprised of our near approach, went to work and by daylight had so secured reinforced and prepared themselves, as to induce us to make a retreat the best way we could which we proceeded to execute, were surrounded and so kept for about 9 hours, when as a last resort, we made a charge and broke through their forces and made our escape after having fought them about from 12 to 15 hours, and carried of from them about 300 horses and some trinkets. Was told the horses had been stolen by them from Kentucky.

Our company returned to our fort (Boonesborough) where I remained into spring aforesaid term of seven months then returned to my home at Shepherdstown. … I further state that while I was at Boonsborough I acted fro about 3 months as commissary in issuing out salt and some provisions purchased from hunters for the use of the Fort.

Cost of Traveling in 1799

Madison County Kentucky Court Order Book B, 2 Jul 1799

In early Kentucky the county courts set the rates for liquor, lodging, meals and ferry passages. This entry from Madison County was recorded in pounds, shillings and pence.

The court proceeded to rate the liquors, etc.

For Rum per gallon 1 16 0
For Wine per gallon 1 16 0
For French Brandy per gallon 1 16 0
For old peach brandy per gallon 0 16 0
For whiskey per gallon 0 8 0
For mault beer per gallon 0 3 0
For sider per gallon 0 4 0
For dinner 0 2 0
For breakfast 0 1 0
For supper 0 1 0
Hay per horse for 12 hours 0 0 9
Corn or oats per gallon 0 0 8
Lodging 0 0 6

Ordered that the several ordinary keepers within this county take and receive agreeable to the foregoing rates and no more.

The Daniel Boone Pipe

Draper Manuscripts, 18 S 276

Mrs. Halley, Lexington, Ky., says the Boone pipe was dug up at Boonsboro in digging post holes. It was a small stone pipe, in the shape of an opossum’s head and neck, with Boone’s initials “D.B.” cut on it. That one Blaine, a carpenter, worked at Mr. Halley’s and carried it off without leave. He left the country and since got killed on a railroad.

Michael Stoner’s Bear Adventure

Draper Manuscripts 18 S 248

Once Yelverton Peyton and Mike Stoner were in the woods together and came across a bear tree. Stoner said he would climb up an adjoining tree and rout the bear out, when he desired Peyton be in readiness to shoot it. Peyton remonstrated, but Stoner never faltered–clambered up the adjoining tree and out on a limb so as to reach the tree at a large aperture where the bear had ingress and egress, and then with his tomahawk pounded sharply on the tree and hollowed out ‘who keeps de house?’ A stirring was heard within when Peyton again begged Stoner to desist and come down quickly. Stoner renewed the pounding–soon the bear appeared, first thrusting his head out of the hole, looking around and reconnoitering and then made a dash for the limb on which Stoner sat. As the bear got near enough he cooly chopped off the toes of his fore paws and the bear in pain tumbled to the ground, where the dogs attacked him and soon Peyton shot him.
Sept 10th 1863

A List of Prisoners taken by the Indians – Inhabitants of Kentucky. 3 Sept. 1794

Draper Manuscripts, 16 S 206-209

• Merriot T. Scot, taken 1790, on Hawer’s campaign, left wounded on the field by Shawnees.
• Miss Mitchell, taken in 1790, on the Wilderness Road by the Iowas.
• Israel Hart, Crab Orchard
• John Johnson, 1790
• David Glenn, 1782, Wheeling by Wyandotts
• Elizabeth Hart and one child, taken in 1789 at the mouth of Salt River. Her husband and one of the children were killed when she was captured; two of her children were taken at the same time, one is since dead, and the other was recovered at the Upper town on the Wabash by Genl. Wilkinson in 1791.
• Elizabeth Young and child, taken Apl. 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station
• Name Raughley, , taken Apl. 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station
• Rachael Becraft, , taken Apl. 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station
• Mary Ann Stanton, , taken Apl. 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station
• Benjamin Becraft, , taken Apl. 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station
• Thomas Sudduth and James Brice, both taken by Shawnees, left on the field wounded on Harman’s campaign.
• Robert Peek, taken 1792, captives on Kentucky Road Jul 26, 1793
• Miss Paridge, Wheeling, her father was killed and her sister taken with her and exchanged since.
• Elizabeth Anthony and Jenney Corder with some children, taken on the Wilderness Road, on 26 March 1793
• Jane Halbruck and Sarah Halbruck, sisters, taken on Brashear’s Creek, May 29th 1789. Jane was about ten years old when taken
• Sarah Kesine, taken on Brashear’s Creek in September, 1790
• Samuel VanCleve, taken on Brashear’s Creek Feb 1794
• Peter and John Smock, , taken on Brashear’s Creek March 1794
• Samuel Thorn, taken on Brashear’s Creek March 1789
• Presley Bolling, taken on Brashear’s Creek March 1789
• Robert Samuel, taken by the Pottawattamies, below the mouth of Salt River, in April 1794
  Timothy Love, taken on head of Big Benson, May 1792
• James Hughes Mitchel, was taken by the Shawnees in April 1787 or ‘88 on the Ohio near the mouth of Big Miami, the Indian who commanded the party was called Captain Jim
• Thomas Peek and Robert Peek, brothers, taken on Mill Creek near Cincinnati in 1792
• Susannah, Thomas, Robert, John, David, Polly and Enoch Ashby taken in May 1788, on the Ohio near the mouth of Kentucky. Susannah is mother to the other six. Her husband and her eldest son were taken at the same time. The husband made his escape, the son was killed.
• Ruth Riley and her sister were taken in 1790, above Wheeling on the Indian shore; their mother was captured the same time at the sugar camp and made her escape. The Indian that was taken by William Wells gave information that they lived with the Indians near Roche de Bout.
• John Shaw and son, William, taken in April 1792, near the head of Beargrass.
• Peter Smith, taken in May 1793 near Falls of Ohio.
• John Brown, taken in May 1792, on head of Beargrass
• Henry Smith, in 1791 on west side of Ohio above the Falls.
• James Burge, in May 1791, near Clarksville.
• Moses Hogkins, Floyd’s Fork, fishing, no date given
• Isaac Romine, in 1786 by Pottawattamies, near Lees Town.
• James McCarty, taken in 1790, on the Ohio, above the mouth of Green River
• Mary Sharp, taken in 1786, by Shawnee near McAfee’s.
• Polly Ford, taken in 1786, by the Wyandotts, on the Wilderness Road, she was about eight years old when taken.
• Jane Stinson (Stevenson) taken in 1792 at Paint Lick.
• Jacob Everman, taken in 1790, on Miami.
• One Negro woman takne on Brashear’s Creek in 1789, property of Anderson Long and said to be in Detroit.
• A Negro, taken on Elkhorn in 1792, the property of Col. Harry Innes.
• Samuel Lusk, taken in 1793, on the head of Sandy River, he is about eighteen years of age and supposed to be with the Shawanese.

River Trip From Boonesborough to New Orleans

Madison County, Kentucky Circuit Court Suit #5129

James Barnett, William Barnett and Richard Gentry (plaintiffs) entered into a contract with Asa Smith on 4 November 1808 which employed Smith to navigate two boats loaded with tobacco and other goods to the city of New Orleans. Smith was paid $600 and was allowed to take a horse in one of the boats. Smith was obliged to make sale of the property in the boats for the best market that could be got, and make returns of the proceeds to the plaintiffs. Smith also had the benefit of the sale of the boats after the goods were delivered. Peggy Breden was the witness to this contract.

The plaintiffs were to furnish two boats in the Kentucky River and load them with tobacco, flour, whiskey, linnen, thread, etc. James Barnett’s boat was called Venture, and William Barnett’s boat was called Fox.

The boats were loaded at the Goggins warehouse on 21 March 1809 by John Goggin with goods owned by James Barnett, Samuel Lackey, Gabril Lackey, Elijah Moran, Nicholas Hawkins, William Hawkins, Joseph Goin, John Bowling, John Ross, Joseph Stephenson, Charles Cothren and Elijah Moran. On 23 March they took on eight hogsheads of tobacco at the Quantoro Warehouse some of which was owned by William Montgomery. This manifest was certified by Richard Allen, warehouse inspector, and Achilles Ballenger was listed as the captain with Asa Smith called the master.

The cargo of the Venture consisted of 37 hogsheads of tobacco, 200 bushels of corn and flour which were sold before the boat was sunk, one double barrel of whiskey, one horse belonging to Asa Smith, one little horse for Arington Sowel, 200 pounds of hoggs lard belonging to Smith, 243 pounds of lard belonging to Wallice Estel and thread being sold for Mrs. Jane Morrison.

The Venture and Fox traveled with a boat owned by William Coleman who had traveled down the river ten times. A few of the employees who gave depositions were Moses Nethercutt, Arington Sowell, David Hunt, Newton Sowell, William Sanders and Johnathan Taylor. There were twenty or thirty employees altogether.

On the Mississippi River about six miles below the Chickasaw Bluffs in the evening David Hunt landed his boat. For some reason Smith and Colman passed him by and landed further down river about 40 or 50 yards apart.. After having the Venture cabled, stern fastened and bailed out Smith started to go ashore to get green cane for his horse. However, Colman stated that he called to Smith to come to his boat and drink grog and that Smith and James Cummins were both drinking when the Venture sank. Smith and another deponent stated that Smith was just leaving the Venture to pick cane and was still aboard when it sank.

In the meantime the Fox, captained by David Hunt came on downstream to tie up near the other two boats. Coleman yelled for him to tie up above his boat, but when he was not able to reach that spot, he commanded him to pull in between the two boats and to put out siting poles to keep the boats apart.

Hunt passed on down to Smith’s boat and one of his hands (Newton Sowel) threw the cable on top of Smith’s boat and jumped on himself. Somehow he fastened the cable around the steering oar which slid down to where the oar lay on the top of the stanchen that had the pevin and threw out the starn, pulling apart the end of the boat. A cry went up that Smith’s boat was sunk. About twenty to thirty men from the different boats collected to the sunk boat and first got out the horses which swam to shore. Then they got what corn, flour and light plunder they could get. Coleman urged Smith to take out the tobacco that they could get, but Smith went to one of his hands and talked to him and they hung back and would not work at length. Coleman told his hands that as Smith and his hands had quit, that they would too.

Here the story again varies by deponent as Smith claims that he worked as hard as he could considering that he had been sick for several days. He and two other men also claim that they worked till midnight to salvage everything onto two small skiffs and one canoe. There was willow in the way preventing them from unloading the tobacco easily. When they finished at midnight they were wet and cold and sat around a large fire on shore drinking whiskey freely.

The next morning Smith was counseled to go back to the garrison for help, which he did. Benjamin Allen hired a diver to retrieve the barrels, but all were sopping wet; even the best coopered barrels had leaked and all the tobacco was ruined.

About 9 or 10 o’clock in the morning the other two boats started for New Orleans again.

The court ruled that Asa Smith did nothing wrong, but that he should pay the plaintiffs for the goods that he was able to sell.

Interview with William Nelson

Draper Manuscripts, 18 S pp.230-233

From Wm. Nelson, aged 60, near Boonesboro, Ky. says his grandfather, Edward Nelson was a native of Culpeper Co., Va. Early went to Yadkin, Rowan Co., N.C. where he was mostly raised -- migrated to Boonesboro with his family (my informant's father two years old - born in 1773 and died in 1858 at age of 85 -- must have gone in 1775 to Boonesboro - was there when the Boone and Calloway girls were taken - and during the long siege.
At the siege in 1778, Wm. Cradlebaugh hearing the French and Indians undermining at the river, threw buffalo bones over the fort picketing at them. They cursed back and said the people in the fort must be getting out of ammunition when they had to resort to throwing bones.
Mr. Ed. Nelson was on Bowman's campaign, and brought home a pony, which soon after strayed off. United with his old friend Colo. Dl. Boone, in settling Boone's Station - near Athens - went on Logan's Expedition in 1786 and from the effects of exposures on it finally died not long after his return, and was buried at Boone's Station. His grave is forgotten and unrecognized.
His wife survived till 1839 and died over 90 years of age, in Clark Co. Ky. (not on pension rolls). They have but one child living, a widowed daughter near Owenton, Owen Co., Ky.
My informant says, his father pointed out the charcoal at mouth of Raven Creek, [in Madison Co.] where it unites with the Ky river, a wild rocky spot, where Col. Boone once wintered [or camped] - a secluded place from the Indians.
Salt making at Boonesboro. - Mrs. Edwd. Nelson said she had made salt from the water from the sulphur well at Boonesboro - very tedious - it taking 60 gallons for a pound.
A young man perhaps named Waters*, came to Boonesboro [abt. 1778] in spring - and was out in the woods with Edward Nelson and making large wishes that he might meet an Indian. Nelson quietly replied that he might meet one much sooner than would prove desirable; and had hardly uttered the words when some guns fired, and Waters was shot through and ran for Boonesboro - and reaching the river opposite the fort - river full and swimming with ice, in his alarm plunged in, but from exhaustion sank before reaching the southern shore. A few days after a French trader's boat made its appearance - the first that ever appeared there - and when in sight fired off a small swivel, which caused the body to rise - it was recovered and buried.
This trader brought some taffia, goods and amunition and drove a good trade with the inhabitants. This visit was quite an era in the history of the fort.
When the first corn raised at Boonesboro - so was fit for roasting, that was a great time of rejoicing. Sept. 8th and 9th 1863.

*James Waters, Int. 1860, vol. 6, p. 14, was in Ky in Nov. 1777.