USA > Kentucky > Madison County > Boonesborough > Boonesborough; its founding, pioneer struggles, Indian experiences, Transylvania days, and revolutionary annals; > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
Signed by order of the Committee.
JNO. GA JONES, Chairman, ABRAHAM HITE, JUNR, Clerk.
HARRODSBURG, June 20, 1776.
248
Boonesborough
W
PROCLAMATION OF TRANSYLVANIA COMPANY AGAINST SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTED LANDS (JUNE 26, 1776).
(From Cal. Va. State Papers, Vol. I.)
TRANSYLVANIA OR WEST KENTUCKY.
Whereas disputes have arisen respecting the Title of the proprietors of Transylvania to the Soil of that Country and as some short time will elapse before they may be fully and satisfactorily determined (being anxious to avoid all cause of complaint) the said proprietors earnestly desire, that no person may in the mean time take possession of any entered or sur- veyed lands in said Country, with expectation of procuring a title in consequence thereof, as such lands ought, of right, to be granted to the respective persons in whose names those entries were made: and should the absolute title be adjudged in favour of the Subscribers on the present dispute, (as they have no doubt will be the case) they hereby declare their intention of granting such lands, on application to the proper claimants, according to the rules of their office. And the proprietors have hitherto reserved the lands below Green river, and as high up Cumberland on both sides as Manskors' Lick, for themselves, until they could lay uff a small quantity therein for their separate use, they hope that no person will make improve- ment within the said bounds before such surveys shall be made, as such improvement may possibly interfere with choice of some of the copartners, and consequently, not be granted. And as it is unsafe at this time to settle the Country in small detached parties, and the alarming reports with respect to the
Appendix 249
hostile intention of the Cherokee Indians, on the frontiers, will no doubt prevent emigration for some time, to that Country, care will be taken to cause those lands to be laid off as soon as conveniently may be : so that when, from the more pacific disposition of those people, a removal to that Country may be thought safe, every person on Application to the books of the land office at Boonsborough, may be informed of the entered and reserved lands as aforesaid, and direct their choice accordingly. THOMAS HART, JOHN LUTTRELL,
JAMES HOGG,
DAVID HART,
LEONARD H. BULLOCK,
RICHARD HENDERSON,
NATHANIEL HART,
JOHN WILLIAMS,
WILLIAM JOHNSTON.
X
CAPTURE OF THE GIRLS AT BOONESBOROUGH.
(Extract from a Letter of John Floyd to William Preston of Virginia. )
My Dear Sir : BOONESBOROUGH, July 21, 1776.
The 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 is possible to give us some assistance, that the greater part of the people may fall a prey to them. They have, I am satisfied, killed several whom, at this time I know not how to mention. Many are missing who some time ago went out about their business of whom we can hear nothing. Fresh sign of Indians is seen almost every day. I think I mentioned to you before some damage they had done at Lee'stown. On the seventh of this
33
250
Boonesborough
month they killed one Cooper on Licking Creek and on the fourteenth a man whose name I know not at your Salt Spring on the same creek.
On the same day they took out of a canoe within sight of this place Miss Betsy Callaway, her sister Frances, and a daughter of Daniel Boone, the two last about thirteen or fourteen 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 fol- low more than five miles. Next morning by daylight we were on their track; but they had entirely prevented our following them by walking some distance apart through the thickest cane they could find. We observed their course and on which side we had left their sign, and travelled upwards of thirty miles. We then supposed they would be less cautious in travelling, and making a turn in order to cross their track we had gone but a few miles when we found their tracks in a buffalo path-pursued and overtook them in going about ten miles, just as they were kindling a fire to cook. Our study had been how to get the prisoners without giving the Indians time to murder them after they discovered us. We saw each other nearly at the same time. Four of us fired and all rushed on them by which they were prevented from carrying anything away except one shot gun without any ammunition. Mr. Boone and myself had each a pretty fair shot as they began to move off. I am well convinced I shot one through the body. The one he shot dropped his gun-mine had none. The place was covered with thick cane, and being so much elated on recovering the three poor little heart-broken girls, we were prevented from making any further search. We sent
251
Appendix
the Indians off almost naked-some without their moccasins and none of them with so much as a knife or tomahawk. After the girls came to themselves sufficiently to speak they told us there were only five Indians-four Shawanese and one Cherokee. They could speak good English and said they would then go to the Shawanese towns. The war club we got was like those I have seen of that nation. Several words of their language, which the girls retained, were known to be Shawanese. * JOHN FLOYD.
Y
THE BOWMAN LETTER (TO COLONEL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK) ON THE LAST SIEGE OF BOONESBOROUGH.
(From original, held by the late John B. Bowman. )
Dear Sir -
HARRODSBURGH, October 14, 1778.
This day I received yours by Wm. Miers and with difficulty I shall furnish him with a horse to ride to the settlement on.
The Indians have pushed us hard this summer. I shall only begin on the 7th of September when three hundred and thirty Indians with eight Frenchmen came to Boonesborough, raised a flag and called for Capt. Boone who had lately come from them and offered terms of peace to the Boonesborough people. Hear- ing that the Indians gladly treated with you at the Illinois gave them reason to think that the Indians were sincere; two days being taken up in this manner till they became quite familiar with one another ; but finding the Boonesborough people would not turn out and having Col. Callaway, Maj. Smith, Capt. Boone,
252
Boonesborough
Capt. Buchanan and their subalterns eight in number, in the Lick where they had their table, (you know the distance, about eighty yards) the Indians getting up, Blackfish made a long speech, then gave the word go, instantly a signal gun fired, the Indians fastened on the eight men to take them off, the white people began to dispute the matter though unarmed, and broke loose from the Indians, though there were two or three Indians to one white man. In running the above distance upwards of two hundred guns fired from each side and yet every man escaped but Squire Boone who was badly wounded though not mortally ; he got safe to the fort. On this a hot engagement ensued for nine days and nights, constant fire without any intermission, no more damage was done however but one killed and two wounded. The Indians then dispersed to the different forts where they still remain in great numbers and waylaying our hunters. Gen- eral McIntosh who commands the army intended against Detroit I understand received instructions to strike the Indians and not meddle with Detroit. For other northern news I refer you to the Gazettes I herewith send you.
The Indians have done more damage in the interior settle- ments this summer than was ever done in one season before. Absolute necessity obliges me to send Capt. Harrod for salt that we may be able to lay up a sufficient quantity of provision for the next summer. I hope you will send us one hundred bushels for that purpose, send an account of the same and I will send you the money by Capt. Montgomery in the Spring. Your compliance in this matter will enable us to keep our ground if not we shall be obliged to break up for want of provision for necessity will break through stone walls. I was obliged to promise six shillings per day to every man that returns with Capt. Harrod that I sent. I beg this as a favor to let every
253
Appendix
man of them have the value of forty dollars in goods as may best suit them and I will pay it with the above.
I am, dear sir, your humble servant JNO. BOWMAN.
N. B. Pray forward the newspapers to my brother after your looking over them.
P. S. We have been reinforced from Washington County with eighty men but their time was near out before they came this length so they return immediately again.
COL. G. R. CLARK.
Z THE TRANSYLVANIA PURCHASE DECLARED VOID BY VIRGINIA IN 1778.
(From Journal Virginia House of Delegates. )
In the House of Delegates, Wednesday, the 4th of Novem- ber, 1778.
Resolved, That all purchases of lands, made or to be made, of the Indians, within the chartered bounds of this commonwealth, as described by the constitution or form of government, by any private persons not authorized by public authority, are void.
Resolved, That the purchase heretofore made by Richard Henderson and Company, of that tract of land called Transyl- vania, within this commonwealth, of the Cherokee Indians, is void; but as the said Richard Henderson and Company have been at very great expense in making the said purchase, and in settling the said lands, by which this commonwealth is likely to receive great advantage, by increasing its inhabitants, and estab- lishing a barrier against the Indians, it is just and reasonable to allow the said Richard Henderson and Company a compen- sation for their trouble and expense.
Tuesday, November 17th, 1778 : Agreed to by the Senate.
254
Boonesborough
I
AN ACT TO VEST CERTAIN LANDS ON THE OHIO AND GREEN RIVERS, IN FEE-SIMPLE, IN RICHARD HEN- DERSON AND COMPANY AND THEIR HEIRS.
PASSED AT THE SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIR- GINIA BEGUN AT WILLIAMSBURG OCTOBER 5, 1778, AND IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
(From Henning's Statutes at Large, Vol. IX, p. 571.)
Whereas it has appeared to this Assembly that Richard Henderson and Company have been at very great expense in making a purchase of the Cherokee Indians and although the same has been declared void yet as this Commonwealth is likely to receive great advantage therefrom by increasing its inhab- itants and establishing a barrier against the Indians it is there- fore just and reasonable the said Richard Henderson and Com- pany be made a compensation for their trouble and expense.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly that all that tract of land situate, lying and being on the waters of the Ohio and Green rivers bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at the mouth of Green River, thence running up the same twelve and a half miles when reduced to a straight line, thence running at right angles with the said reduced lines twelve and a half miles on each side of the said river, thence running lines from the termination of the line extended on each side the said Green River at right angles with the same till the said lines inter- sect the Ohio, which said river Ohio shall be the western boundary of the said tract, be, and the same is hereby granted to the said Richard Henderson and Company and their heirs as tenants in common subject to the payment of the same taxes as other lands within this Commonwealth are
255
Appendix
but under such limitations of time as to settling the said lands as shall be hereafter directed by the General Assembly but this grant shall and is hereby declared to be in full compensation to the said Richard Henderson and Company and their heirs for their charge and trouble and for all advantage accruing there- from to this Commonwealth and they are hereby excluded from any farther claim to lands on account of any settlement or improvements heretofore made by them or any of them on the lands so as aforesaid purchased from the Cherokee Indians.
II CAPTAIN JOHN HOLDER'S COMPANY AT AND NEAR BOONESBOROUGH IN JUNE, 1779.
(From the John B. Bowman papers. )
Holder, John, Cap't. Estill, James.
Porter, Samuel.
Ark, Uriel.
Fear, Edmund.
Proctor, Nicholas.
Bailey, Thos.
Gass, David.
Proctor, Reuben.
Ballard, Bland.
Hancock, Stephen.
Rollins, Pemberton.
Baughman, John.
Hancock, Wm.
Ross, Hugh.
Bedinger, G. M.
Hawiston, John.
Searcy, Bartlett.
Berry, James.
Hays, William.
Searcy, Reuben.
Bryan, James.
Hodges, Jesse. Horn, Jeremiah.
South, John, Jr.
Butler, John.
Kirkham, Robert.
South, John, y'ng'r.
Callaway, John.
Kirkham, Samuel.
South, Thomas.
Collins, Elijah.
Lee, John.
Stagner, Barney.
Collins, Josiah.
Lockhart, Charles.
Stearns, Jacob.
Collins, William.
McCullum, John.
Stephenson, John.
Constant, John.
McGee, Wm.
Vallandigham, Benoni.
Cook, David.
Morgan, Ralph.
Weber, John.
Coombs, William.
Morris, Wm.
Wilcoxson, Daniel.
Cradlebaugh, Wm.
Wilson, Moses.
Dunpard, John.
Perry, James. Pleck, John.
South, John, Sr.
Bunten, James.
256
Boonesborough
III AN ACT FOR ESTABLISHING THE TOWN OF BOONS- BOROUGH IN THE COUNTY OF KENTUCKEY.
PASSED AT THE SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA HELD AT WILLIAMSBURG, COMMENCING OCT. 4, 1779, AND IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
(From Henning's Statutes at Large, Vol. X, p. 134.)
Whereas it hath been represented to this present General Assembly that the inhabitants of the township called Boons- borough lying on Kentuckey river in the County of Kentuckey have laid off twenty acres of land into lots and streets and have petitioned this Assembly that the said lots and streets together with fifty acres of land adjoining thereto may be laid off into lots and streets and established a town for the reception of traders and that Six Hundred and forty acres of land allowed by law to every township for a common may also be laid off adjoining thereto. Be it therefore enacted, That the said fifty acres of land adjoining the said forty lots already laid off shall be and the same is hereby vested in Richard Callaway, Charles Mimms Thruston, Levin Powell, Edmund Taylor, James Estre, Edward Bradley, John Kennedy, David Gist, Pemberton Rollins, and Daniel Boone, gentlemen, trustees to be by them or any six of them laid out into lots of half an acre each with convenient streets which together with the lots and streets so laid off in the said township shall be and the same is hereby established a town by the name of Boonsborough.
And be it further enacted, That so soon as the said fifty acres of land shall be so laid out into lots and streets the said trustees shall cause a plan thereof together with a plan of the said township as the same is already laid off to be returned to the court of the said County of Kentuckey there to be recorded, &c. &c.
257
Appendix
IV
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS OF THE TRANSYLVANIA COMPANY, JANUARY 6, 1795.
(American Archives.)
To the Honorable the Congress of the United States :
The Memorial of Thomas Hart, of the State of Kentucky, John Williams, Leonard Henley Bullock, and James Hogg, of the State of North Carolina, sheweth,
That in the fall of the year 1774, your Memorialists, in company with Richard Henderson, William Johnston, Nathaniel Hart, John Luttrell, and David Hart, all now deceased, entered into bargain with the Overhill Cherokee Indians, for a purchase of some of their lands; and agreeably to preliminaries then agreed to, they, in March 1775, met at Watauga with the chiefs of the said Indians, attended by upwards of twelve hundred of their people; and then and there, in fair and open treaty, after several day's conference, and full discussion of every matter relating to the purchase, in presence of, and assisted by inter- preters chosen by the said chiefs, and in consideration of a very large assortment of clothes and other goods, then delivered by the said Company to the said chiefs, and by them divided among their people, they the said Company obtained from the said Indians two several deeds, signed by Okonistoto their king or chief warrior, Atakullakulla and Savonooko or Coronoh, the next in the nation to Okonistoto in rank and consideration, for them- selves, and on behalf, and with the warm approbation of the whole nation. These two grants comprehended, besides a great tract of land on the back of Virginia, a vast territory within the chartered limits of North Carolina, lying on the rivers of Hol-
34
258
Boonesborough
ston, Clinch, Powell, and Cumberland, and their several branches, to the amount of many millions of acres.
This purchase from the aborigines and immemorial possessors of the said lands, being concluded more than a year before the Declaration of Independence, before the very existence of the Americans as States, or their claim to such lands, and not con- trary to any then existing law of Great Britain or her Colonies, your memorialists and their copartners with confidence concluded that they had obtained a just, clear and indefeasible title to the said lands; and being then by the said Indians put into the actual possession of the said country, they immediately hired between two and three hundred men, and proceeded across their territory, to the river Kentucky, which with all its branches was comprehended in their purchase; and there about the 20th of April in the said year of 1775, began a settlement to which they gave the name of Boonsborough. The raising of necessary accom- modations for their infant Colony, and building forts for their defence against the Shawanese and other hostile Indians, on the northwest of the Ohio, added much to the prime cost of their lands, and was attended with imminent risk and danger, and even with the massacre of some of the proprietors and several of their friends and followers.
After thus possessing and defending their property at a vast expense, trouble and danger, for several years against the sav- ages, the Company were much astonished to find that first the Assembly of Virginia, and some years afterwards, the Assembly of North Carolina, began to call in question the rights of the said Company. It would be to no purpose at this time, to trouble Congress with any thing relating to the negotiation of the said Company with the Assembly of Virginia, as the com- pensation in lands, made to them by that state, remains untouched
259
Appendix
and unclaimed by any person or persons whatever against the Company, as far as has come to their knowledge. But the dif- ferent fate of the lands granted them by the Assembly of North Carolina, makes some detail necessary.
This Assembly, in their May session of 1782, enacted that a great part of the lands lying on the river Cumberland and branches thereof, all within the said Company's purchase, should be laid off and reserved for the officers and soldiers of the North Car- olina line, and soon thereafter, opened a land office for the sale of their whole purchase. However, after repeated remonstrances, presented to them by the Company, the Assembly, by way of compensation for their trouble and expense, agreed that the Com- pany should retain 200,000 acres on the waters of Powell and Clinch rivers, part of the Company's purchase, with the grant or
guarantee of the state for the same. The Company felt them- selves grossly aggrieved by being thus arbitrarily dealt with ; but they saw no alternative: they had not power to do themselves justice ; and there was then no tribunal to which they could appeal. One of the conditions of this grant or guarantee was, that it should be surveyed within a certain limited time. The Company, therefore, found it necessary to have the survey made within the time prescribed ; and though the Indians were then hostilely disposed, they ventured to depute one of their partners with a surveyor, chain carriers and guards; but after incurring an expense of £300 and upwards, the survey and plot were found defective, owing to the hurry in which the business was done. This misfortune obliged the Company to apply to the Assembly for further time to have a new survey. Time was accordingly given, and agreeably thereto, at the expense of £200 more and upwards, the survey was completed, and soon there- after conferred by the Assembly.
260
Boonesborough
But while these things were doing, the General Assembly, in the year 1789, had ceded their western lands to the United States, and the United States in 1790, accepted this cession, on certain conditions, one of which was, that all entries made by, and grants made to, any persons within the limits ceded, should have the same force and effect as if the cession had not been made. Within this cession the whole of the Company's grant from the General Assembly was comprehended ; and though, in the opinion of the Company, it was a compensation very inadequate to their trouble and risk and expense, yet being now in possession of a State right as well as Indian right, they flattered themselves their title to it was beyond a cavil. They concluded it to be of considerable value ; and as the Holston settlements were rapidly advancing around it, they were pursuaded they could venture to form settlements on it, or at least dispose of it to advantage. They therefore had a bill of partition filed in the district court of Washington ; and being now in view of a speedy partition and of receiving some small compensation for their great expendi- tures and trouble, they could not help being greatly astonished and extremely mortified, when they learnt that almost the whole of their grant from the Assembly was ceded to the Cherokee Indians by the United States at the treaty of Holston, made on the day of 179
Such a seizure and disposal of the property of citizens without any previous stipulation with the proprietors, nay without the least notice given them or any crime alleged against them, appeared to your Memorialists not only improper but unjust ; but for the honor of the States, your Memorialists hope, that at the time this cession was made to the Indians, the government was not aware that such private property was comprehended in t. At any rate, if for political reasons, and for the interest of
26
Appendix
the States, it was found expedient to make such a sacrifice of the rights of a private company, it is to be hoped that Congress will be disposed to make ample compensation.
Twenty years have nearly elapsed since the Company made their purchase from the Indians. The expenses of this purchase from first to last have been great, and have been the means of reducing some of the Company to great difficulties ; for, owing to the facts and circumstances above set forth, they have not to this day, been able to receive the smallest recompense.
The injustice and oppression complained of are flagrant, and the facts and circumstances above set forth are notorious, at least they are well known to the Senators and Representatives in Congress from the state of North Carolina, and the deeds and other vouchers are ready to be produced. And that all difficulty and dispute may hereafter be done away, your memorialists are willing, upon receiving proper compensation, to relinquish all claim to the lands purchased by them from the Indians within the chartered limits of North Carolina, an extensive territory now held by the United States in which the Indian claim was extin- guished by fair purchase, at the expense of your Memorialists. Your Memorialists therefore, without further detail, beg leave to submit their case to the wisdom and justice of the Congress of the United States, and from them hope for speedy and ample redress.
Your Memorialists have only further to request, that whatever compensation Congress may be pleased to give them, may be directed to be dealt out to your Memorialists and Company, and their representatives or assigns, respectively, in proportion to the share to which each is entitled by the copartnership.
Signed for and in behalf of the Company, by
JNO. WILLIAMS, Chairman.
6th January, 1795.
INDEX.
PAGE
Abingdon
37
Adams, Charles Francis
44
Adams, John
43, 229 Adventurers . 58, 166
Aikin, Samuel
1 30
Alleghanies
30
Alves, James
151, 196
Ambuscades 16,88 American Pioneer 69
Anderson, Nicholas 108
Anthony, James 108
Appendix
139
Ark, Uriel.
255
Arrows Blazing.
96
Artillery, Dread of
82, 119
Ash Hopper
41
Athens, Kentucky
121, 131
Attacullaculla
8, 151, 161
Attempt to Burn Fort.
59, 96, 101
Bacon, J. P.
156
Bailey, Thomas
255
Ballard, Bland.
116, 255
Baubin, Charles
65, 86
Baughman, John (Boffman)
121, 255
Bear Meat.
163, 166, 176
Bedinger, G. M
255
Bennet, William
244
Benton, Jesse
45, 238
Berry, James
255
Bible Class
49
Big Hill, Kentucky
10
Big Sandy
5
Big Turtle (Boone)
65
264
Index
Bird, Henry 108, 119
Black Bird . . 72, 86
" Black Dan " .32, 36
Black Fish
56, 65, 66, 68, 72, 80, 81, 84, 87, 88, 103, 108, 109
Blackfish Ford
76
Black's Fort
37
Black Hoof.
74
Bledsoe, Captain
170
Block Houses
. 35, 79, 88, 107
" Block House, The "
36, 37
Blue Grass
18
Blue Licks, Battle of
129
Blue Licks, Lower
64
Blue Licks, Upper
51, 75, 82
Blue Ridge, The
2, 4
Boffman's Creek
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.