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.