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Jerry E. Jones, MD, MS, The Jones Genealogist. Library of Congress No. 6192-01064476.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Go "West" to End Up "East"
All those merchant folks in Europe wanted to get there first. They understood that Cathy [China] was on the 32 degree parallel [latitude] and in theory, all one would have to do is sail western along this latitude, and bingo...you would hit it. They certainly did not count on this huge land mass in between them and all those riches. The picture above shows "China" as it was drawn on a very early map. The compass is drawn "east - west" along the 32 degree latitude, with China to the right. Simple, yes.
Well the English folks had to squeeze between the French to the north, and the Spanish to the south, seeking their door to this land of riches. The mouth of the James River is along the 37 degree parallel. All one had to do is find a water way flowing northwest to the 32 degree parallel. The James River, or one of those other rivers along this tidewater would certainly lead to China. Let's go and see.
It took a little while, but the first folks to find a new river which flowed to the west was 1650. Edward Bland and his fellows describe the "...firft River in New Brittaine, which runneth Weft; being 120. Mile South-west, between 35. & 37. degrees, (a pleafant Country,)...". This would be just 2 degree below China! Little did they know that this little town of Danville would be built along this 37 degree parallel, a little further along this river road to China.
[I do not know the origin of the map pictured above. It is copied from a wall hanging I have. Any one know the source? Bland and his account can be found: Alvord, C.W., Bidgood, L. The First Explorations of the Trans-Allegheny Regions by the Virginians 1650 - 1674. Clearfield Company, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, 1912. The context and story can be found: Jones, J.E., "KEN-TAH-THE" The Life and Times of Walker Daniel, Founder of the Town Lands of Danville, Kentucky, 18th Day of June 1784.]
Friday, June 1, 2012
Who's The First
"The City of Firsts" is what it is called...this town of Danville, Kentucky. But before there was ever this town, or state, or country, the French, Spanish, and English were all trying to get here first.
However, the first to occupy this land that was to become Kentucky, were ethnic groups called the Shawnee and Cherokee. As early as 1673 [When the French were roaming the land.] the Shawnee had defeated the Cherokee and occupied a major settlement and ceremonial grounds called "Eskippakithiki". This was along one of the earliest recorded trails west of the Appalachian mountains called "The Warriors Path". North to south, it ran along the length of the eastern side of this land that was to become Kentucky and my own family's home at Clark County, Kentucky.
What the Shawnee and the Cherokee were yet to face were the arrival from the north, of the powerful Iroquois. The warfare which resulted between these ethic groups was felt to have been a cruel and devastating struggle leading to the defeat of the Shawnee and the Cherokee. The last battle in this struggle is believed to have been fought near the Falls of the Ohio before the year 1700. The Iroquois were left the victors and claimed the right by combat to the title of the valley of the Ohio. Therefore, they were actually the first to name this area "Ken-tah-teh" which means "tomorrow", or "coming day". How about that! The Iroquois were the first to name this land.
Documentation is taken from: Wallis, F.A., Tapp, H.(eds.) A Sesqu-Centennial History of Kentucky. Vol.I - III, The Historical Record Association, Hopkinsville, KY, 1945.
However, the first to occupy this land that was to become Kentucky, were ethnic groups called the Shawnee and Cherokee. As early as 1673 [When the French were roaming the land.] the Shawnee had defeated the Cherokee and occupied a major settlement and ceremonial grounds called "Eskippakithiki". This was along one of the earliest recorded trails west of the Appalachian mountains called "The Warriors Path". North to south, it ran along the length of the eastern side of this land that was to become Kentucky and my own family's home at Clark County, Kentucky.
What the Shawnee and the Cherokee were yet to face were the arrival from the north, of the powerful Iroquois. The warfare which resulted between these ethic groups was felt to have been a cruel and devastating struggle leading to the defeat of the Shawnee and the Cherokee. The last battle in this struggle is believed to have been fought near the Falls of the Ohio before the year 1700. The Iroquois were left the victors and claimed the right by combat to the title of the valley of the Ohio. Therefore, they were actually the first to name this area "Ken-tah-teh" which means "tomorrow", or "coming day". How about that! The Iroquois were the first to name this land.
Documentation is taken from: Wallis, F.A., Tapp, H.(eds.) A Sesqu-Centennial History of Kentucky. Vol.I - III, The Historical Record Association, Hopkinsville, KY, 1945.
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