Brothers

It was the summer of 1779 that the "Illinois Campaign" had help neutralize the British forces north of the Ohio River.  A fellow who had been involved in this campaign was named Walker Daniel.  Along with his younger brother Thomas, he explored and surveyed land on the south side of the Ohio.  On May 20, 1780 he files a land entry for 960 acres on "Holders Creek", and for an additional 960 acres on May 25, 1780 on "Holders Creek". [To become Jefferson Co.]   His younger brother explored further south recording 400 acres on "Stoners Fork" and 2000 acres on "Green River".  This was the beginning of the Walker's family involvement in this new land that was to contain the city of Danville.

The records can be found in "Land Entry Book No. A", Cook, M.I., Cook, B.A., Fincastle & Kentucky County VA - KY, Records and History, Vol. I, p. 141, Cook Publications, EvansvilIe, IN, 1987.

The whole story can be found in the book (cover shown below):

Three New Counties

The years between 1776 and 1780 were very difficult for those gathered in the three forts outlined in the last post.  George Rogers Clark had made things a little more stable after his military activity into the  "North West Territory", and by 1780 the legislature of the "Commonwealth of Virginia" past a law creating three new counties in this part of Virginia called "Kentucky County".

On June 30, 1780;  Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln counties were formed.  Jefferson County was named after Thomas Jefferson, who happened to write the Declaration of Independence.  Fayette County was named after a 23 year old Frenchman who was helping the cause of American independence.  Lincoln County was named after General Benjamin Lincoln who was one George Washington's chief lieutenants. 

Louisville became the county seat of Jefferson.  Lexington became the center of the new Fayette County.  St. Asaph (Stanford) was the county seat of Lincoln.  It was out of the county of Lincoln that the city of Danville would be formed.

Events 1776 - 1777

Events that were happening in this newly formed "Kentucky County" during December 1776 and early 1777, lead to the folks joining together within three forts.  A general geographic relatioship of these forts are shown in the figure below.  It is traced from John Filson's map of 1784, but only the three forts are drawn.

What was to become the town lands of Danville was roughly ten miles NNW above Fort Logan and along the trail to Fort Harrod.  According to Ann Bolton Bevins, the Indian attack on McClelland's fort Dec. 29, 1776, resulted in  "...the Kentuckians' decision to hover together in three forts rather than four."  She states that there were forty men at Boonesborough, twenty men at St. Asaph's (Fort Logan), and seventy or eighty at Harrodsburg.   Poor Boonesborough was not an easy trip between these forts.  Henderson's Transylvania Company was centered here, and these folks were from NC.   Folks from PA and VA had moved into the area south of the Dick's River.  Interesting that the lands halfway between the PA and VA groups would be later selected as the Town lands of Danville.

Reference is: The Royal Spring of Georgetown, Kentucky by Ann Bolton Bevins, Scott County Historical Society, Georgetown, KY, 1970.

A Long, Long History

As noted in the last post, before Kentucky was a "state", it was a "county" of Virginia.  From 1776 to 1780, it was called "Kentucky County".   It certainly has a long, long history.

"Chickacoan" was the "Indian District" which it belonged prior to 1648.  It became "Northumberland" (VA) in 1648 having received many folks from the English Civil War.   In 1651 it became "Lancaster Co."... then "(Old) Rappahannock Co." in 1656... then "Essex Co." in 1692... then "Spotsylvania Co." in 1720... then "Orange Co." in 1734...then "Betetourt Co." in 1770...leading to "Fincastle Co." in 1772.  It was out of Fincastle Co. that Kentucky County was formed 1776, lasting until 1780.  The years between 1776 to 1780 were a difficult time for the folks in this new county of Virginia. 

Kentucky Co. VA 1776

The humble petition of Junes 1776 (see previous eight posts!) was acted upon fairly quickly by those folks in Virginia.  The Bill that created Kentucky Co. [also Washington and Montgomery Co.s] was introduced into the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia by a fellow named Thomas Jefferson.  The date was October 26, 1776, and it would have been only four months after the folks from Harrodsburg had put their pen to the petition.   The Bill was approved on December 7, and was signed into law by the then governor of Virginia, Patrick Henry. [Another fellow not very well known!]

The Bill was to become effective on December 31, 1776.   Fincastle County was no longer after this date. [Fincastle Co. was in existence from December 1, 1772 until December 31, 1776.]  For the genealogist, this is the earliest records of what was to become the State of Kentucky...this new county of Virginia called "Kentucky County".

A Humble Petition 1776 (part 8)

The petition from 1776 continues form (part 7)...

"Upon the whole we Cheerfully submit to the Authorities and Jurisdiction of this House, not doubting but you will take us under your protection, and give us such direction by our Representatives, as you in your great Wisdom may think Best, and your petitioners as in Bound &c.

     Herrodsburg, June 7 - 15th. 1776
     Signed by order of the Inhabitants
                                                                                           Abraham Hite, Jr.
                                                                                             Clerk."

A note in Robertson's text p. 38 reads: This was sent first to the committee of Fincastle County and by them to the Convention.

It is important to notice that the Hite family plays an important role in the early settlement of Kentucky.  Isaac Hite is involved in the future settlement of what was to become Danville.

A Humble Petition 1776 (part 7)

The petition of 1776 continues from (part 7)...

"And as we sincerely concur in the measures established by the Continental Congress and Colony of Virginia, And willing to the utmost of our abilities to support the present laudable cause, by raising our Quoto of men and bear a proportionable share of Expense that will necessarily accrue in the support of our common Liberty.  And that good order may be observed we proceeded to Elect a Committee consisting of Twenty one members, already some in West Augusta and which precedent we rely upon to justify our Procedings to the world, for without Law or authority, Vice here could take its full scope having no Laws to Restrain or Power to Controul."

The Continental Congress and Colony of Virginia appear to be the focus of authority being sought by the folks in these parts of Fincastle County during the year of 1776.  It would seem that they were in agreement to the "present laudable cause" and in "in the support of our common Liberty".