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.