John Clark 1774

On the same day that John Crow had his settlement right certified [Oct. 28th 1779], a fellow named John Clark claimed his settlement right.   It reads:

"(Cert Issued for 1400 fees &c pd D.D.)

  John Clark this day claimed a right to a settlement and preemption to a tract of land lying on Clarks Run on the road leading from the Boiling Spring to the Knob Lick by improving the same in the year 1774 and residing in the country 12 Months since making the said improvement.  Satisfactory proof being made to the Court they are of Opinion that the said Clark has a right to a settlement of 400 acres including the said improvement, & a preemption of 1000 Acres adjoining and that a certificate issue for the same."

Clarks Run is a branch of the Dick's River that flows through the southern part of what is now Danville.  Its name would suggest that the Clark family were the first to settle this area since they could name the creek.   By 1779 landmarks were "Boiling Spring" [James Harrod's settlement] and "Knob Lick" [what was to become Issac Shelby's settlement].  A "road" existed connecting both settlements which would be close to old 127 highway today which runs through the city of Danville.  More to come in the year 1774.

The Names of 1774

The folks who managed to get their names into the survey books of 1774 were an extra special group of guys.  These were the  first to establish their claims to the land that was to become Danville, Kentucky.  The following is a list of these men who became "official" owners of the land.  This information has been abstracted from "Certificate Book of The Virginia Land Commission 1779-1780".

James Brown, Clark's Run, 1000 acres, p. 215

John Clark, Clark's Run,, 1400 acres, p.22

John Cowan, Clark's Run, 1400 acres, p. 22-23

John Crow, 1400 acres, p.305

Azor Rees, 1000 acres, p.260. [Isaac Shelby was to obtain this land on Knob Lick 1776, p.8]

As best as I can tell, these men were the first to claim Danville, KY.  On survey, 1400 acres would be contained in a 1 mile x 2.2 mile area.  These folks would have roughly a 6 mile square area of land.