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Fort BoonesboroFilson Club Publicatin No. 16, Boonesborough, by George W. Ranck, Louisville, Ky: John P. Morton & Co., 1901. Appendix, p. 151 COPY OF -DEED FROM THE CHEROKEES TO HENDERSON & COMPANY',', MARCH 17, 1775. (Furnished by James Alves for Butler's HISTORY OF KENTUCKY, second edition). Between Oconestoto, chief and first representative of the Cherokee nation or tribe of Indians, and Attacullocullah and Savanooko, otherwise Coronoh, for themselves in behalf of the whole nation to: Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart, and Leonard Hendley Bullock "on waters of Ohio River from the mouth of the Tennessee River up the said Ohio to the mouth or emptying of the Great Canaway or New River and so across by a Southward line to the Virginia line by a direction that shall strike or hit the Holston River six English miles above or Eastward of the Long Island therein and other lands and territories thereto adjoining. Signed by: Oconistoto his mark Attacullacullah his mark Savanooko (otherwise Coronoh) Witnesses by: William Bailey Smith Thomas Houghton J. P. Bacon Valentine Turey George Lumkin Castleton Brooks Tilman Dixon Thomas Price, linguist Davie County Public Library Mocksville, NC Transylvania Colony BY J. T. DORRIS, Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College AT HILLSBOROUGH, North Caro - Lina, on August 27, 1774, Richard Henderson and five others, including Thomas Hart, who later became the father- in-law of Henry Clay, formed the Louisa Company. Their purpose was "to rent or purchase land" from the Indians west of the Allegheny Mountains. It appears that for more than a decade earlier the forerunner of this organization, Richard Henderson and Company, had existed, and Daniel Boone had been active in its service in what is now Tennessee and Kentucky. The Louisa Company soon admitted James Hogg and several other North Carolinians to its membership and changed its name to the Transylvania Company. On March 17, 1775, at Sycamore Shoals on the Watauga River, Richard Henderson and his associates purchased nearly 20,000,- 000 0,000;000 acres of land from the Cherokee Indians for merchandise worth about $50,000. Approximately two-thirds of the purchase was enclosed by the Kentucky, Ohio, and Cumberland rivers. The remainder lay south of the Cumberland. - The area thus acquired was named Transylvania, and plans were hastened to settle it and obtain its recognition as a new English Colony. Daniel Boone was engaged as early as March 10, 1775, to cut a trail to, and establish a settlement on, the Kentucky River. THE FORT AT BOONESBOROUGH As soon as Boone arrived at the Ken- tucky River (April 1, 1775), he began to erect a fort at a salt lick about sixty yards from the south side of the river and nearly a mile below the mouth of Otter Creek. It was not until June 14th, however, that this fort was completed. Boone's fort, apparently, was never of much conse- quence. Its smallness and location did not satisfy Richard Henderson, who, the day after his arrival (April 20th), chose a site further up the river and about three hundred yards from Boone's fort, where another fort was soon begun. This fort stood just above Sycamore Hollow with one corner about sixty feet from the river. It appears that it was not entirely completed until very late in 1776, or very early in 1777, and that in 1778 it was further improved. It is this second fortification to which properly belongs the term Fort Boones- borough. The accompanying illustration of it was reproduced from Lewis Collins' "Historical Sketches of Kentucky," pub- lished in 1847. This conception of the fort was arrived at by studying a drawing of the ground plan of the fort by Richard Henderson, the chief founder of the Transylvania Colony. The date 1775, and the flag in the Collins' illustration suggest errors. The fort at Boonesborough has been estimated as having been about 260 feet long and 180 feet wide. Its greatest* use- fulness was during the Indian attacks of 1777 and 1778. For ten days in 177& (September 7th to 16th), its strength made it possible for thirty men and twenty boys, assisted by the women, to resist four hundred and fifty Indians under Captain De Quindre, who had been sent by General Hamilton of Canada to destroy Boones- borough. Within the fort the cattle and other property of the settlers were also protected during the siege. This victory surely saved other settlements in Kentucky from destruction and made more certain George Rogers Clark's possession of the Illinois country in 1778-79 and the recapture of Vincennes in February, 1779. Soon after the Revolution the fort at Boonesborough disappeared. Its site is marked today by a stone on which are inscribed the names of many of the first settlers of Boonesborough. The marker is enclosed by a stone wall about fifty feet square. The fort is likely to be restored as a part of the present program to estab- lish a national monument at Boones- borough. THE COLONY'S GOVERM ENT Richard Henderson arrived at the settle- ment on April 20, 1775, and soon issued a call for a convention to organize -a govern - 4 a m 0 V W :.w- , ;,` ��'� "_ .� ,. �' � ` . `�" �. ,� _- _ delegates to the legislature were to be elected annually. The convention, acting as the legislature under the constitution, enacted nine laws to' it: (1) "for establishing courts of jurisdiction and regulating the practice thereof"; (2) "for regulating a militia"; (3) "for the punishment of criminals"- (4) riminals';(4) "to prevent profane swearing and Sabbath breaking: ; (5) "for writs of attachment"; !6) "for ascertaining clerks' and sheriffs' fees (7) ' to pre- serve the range"; (8) "for improving the breed of horses"; (9) "for preserving game." It is interesting to note that Daniel Boone sponsored the last three laws, the second of which is indeed significant, in as much as Kentucky is famous the world over for her superior horses. The legisla- tive body adjourned on May 27th to meet again at Boonesborough the first Thursday in September next. On September 25, 1775, the proprietors of the Transylvania Company elected James Hogg to carry a petition to the Continental Congress, at Philadelphia, for the recognition of Transylvania as a member of the United Colonies. But this colonization scheme was doomed to failure. The authorities of Virginia frowned upon it, the Cherokees were declared to have no power to transfer the land, and the proprietors were "charged with republican innovations and Utopian schemes." Fur- thermore, news 'came from Transylvania settlers declaring their dissatisfaction with the company's land policy. The Congress, therefore, did not recognize Transylvania. Harrodstown (later called Harrodsburg) under the leadership of George Rogers Clark, became the center of opposition to the pretensions of the company, and in December, 1776, Virginia created the County of Kentucky, thereby extending her authority over that part of the Cherokee grant now in Kentucky. The first court of Kentucky County was held at Harrods - town on September 2, 1777. BOONESBOROUGH The arrival of Daniel Boone and his party at the Kentucky River on April 1, 1775, was the beginning of the town of Boonesborough. Harrodsburg had been settled in June, 1774, by James Harrod, and a party of Virginians, who abandoned the place late in July, 1774, because of Indian hostilities. They returned, how- ever, March 15, 1775, and made Harrods- burg a permanent settlement, thus ante- dating the settlement at Boonesborough by seventeen days. Boonesborough played an important part ' in the early history of Kentucky, as is told elsewhere in this article. By the time of its incorporation in October, 1779, a town plat of twenty acres has been laid off into streets and 119 lots. It was estimated that fifty acres more would soon be needed for the same purpose. The remainder (570 acres) of the section of land allotted the town was to be used as "commons" by the townspeople. The act of incorporation named Daniel Boone, Richard Callaway, James Estill, and seven others as trustees. They declined to serve, however, and in 1787 a supple- mentary law vested the government in -ten other men, including Green Clay, William Irvine, and Robert Rodes. Boonesborough may be said to have had an auspicious beginning. It was estab- lished by the Transylvania Company, whose purpose was to found a colony west of the Allegheny Mountains. It had the first considerable fortification, and it was the first seat of government in what later became Kentucky. One of its citizens, Richard Callaway, obtained the first ferry rights (October, 1779), in Kentucky at Boonesborough, and it was the first town in Kentucky to be incorporated (October,&j 1779). The town was also first in other particulars, but it was doomed to oblivionm as an urban community. =1 It appears that in 1789 Boonesboroughv had "upwards of a hundred and twentym houses," and in 1792 it was conspicuous for its shipments of tobacco in barges o - down the Kentucky River. In 1792,6 Green Clay, William Clark, William Irvine, U and thirty other Kentuckians offered the w State 18,550 acres of land and 2,630 pounds > sterling to locate its capital at Boones- borough. The town's prosperity, however, continued to wane. The census of 1810 gives its population as sixty-eight, and other government records show that it was intermittently a United States postoffice until December 4, 1866, when, it appears, postal service was discontinued and not C+ U KENTUCKY SCHOOL JOURATAL the valley and the settlers suffered greatly. Panic among them was general. Most of the settlers fled to Fort Dodd or to hastily erected neighborhood forts for safety. Many others fled to the settlements near the coast. Among the latter were Daniel and Rebecca Boone and their two young sons, James and Israel, and several other families of Boones and Bryans. Daniel took his family to Culpeper County in eastern Virginia where he found employ- ment in hauling tobacco to Fredericksburg. Although peace had not returned to the frontier, sometime in 1760 Boone returned with his f amily to the Yadkin. In the following year he served in the militia under Colonel Byrd and -later under Colonel Stephen against the Cherokees. Upon his return home after peace had been made with the Indians, Boone organized and led a party of hunters across the mountains and roamed the valleys of southwestern Virginia and eastern Tennessee, finding game particularly abundant in the valley of the Holston. It must not be concluded from their passionate devotion to hunting that the backwoodsmen of this period led a shiftless existence. Farming upon the Virginia and Carolina uplands was crude as to methods and insignificant as to crops. The principal wealth of the well-to-do was in herds of horses and cattle which grazed in the wild meadows, and in droves of swine that fed upon roots and acorns in the forest. For the average family on the outer fringe of settlement much of the food came from the woods. For months at a time bread was seldom seen in the cabins. To the forests then went the pioneer for his food, the long hunts providing food, furs, and skins- -which, having a ready sale in the market towns of the east, provided them with such necessities as salt, tools, and iron. It was to the forest, therefore,, that the. backwoods farmer then looked largely for his sustenance. Boone was now a typical backwoods farmer. Pontiac's uprising of 1763 only slightly disturbed life on the Yadkin. But after more than five years of war; life on the Carolina borders was demoralized. To restore order and overawe the disorderly elements the best citizens formed associa- tions whose members were called "regula- tors." Into this movement Boone was 23 drawn. Upon one occasion he led a company of men against a band of outlaws, generally given to horse thievery, who had kidnapped a girl and carried her off to their stronghold in the hills. During the fall and early winter of 1765, Boone with seven companions made a journey on horseback to Florida, the new colony that England had obtained from Spain in 1763. Apparently they went with a view of moving there if the country seemed attractive. They explored Florida all the way from St. Augustine to Pensacola, having on the whole a wretched time. But Boone seems to have been much attracted to Pensacola, for there he bought a house and a lot to which he apparently planned to bring his family. But upon his return he abandoned the plan, and also his investment. On the Yadkin he was to remain a few years longer, though he seems not to have given up his old idea of a hunting trip into the now much -talked -of land of Kentucky. Notwithstanding his longings Boone might never have gone to Kentucky had affairs remained satisfactory on the Yadkin. But with increasing settlement, game was becoming scarcer and harder to find, and Lord Granville, the principal landholder of the region, was pretending to find flaws in the land titles. This gave rise to a general discontent. Boone's protest con- sisted in leaving the Sugar Tree Settlement and moving northwes r si' - ve In es to r e ea a ere a a ove Wilkes- boro he bui t a rough cabin. ter a time, issatisfie wit d fi urt er up Beaver Creek. Again he changed is mind and___moved A i_n this time buil ing ­Tcabin on th pnnpr Ya kin us a e ou of Beaver Creek. H ' ,were game, fish, and the range were plentiful, Boone resided con- tentedly for several years, making his first hunting trips into Kentucky, and prospering until crowded out by advancing settlement, when he eventually moved to Kentucky. The cause of human progress is our cause, the enfranchisement of human thought our supreme wish, the freedom of human conscience our mission, and the guarantee of equal rights to all peoples everywhere the end of our contention. (1tiV1:: w l J PA�-1'WOVIIIe, IV. G. .� THE RICHMOND DA Where Did Battle -Scarred Fort Boonesborough Actually Advanced As To The Location Selected By ;First Settlers I According To John Crooke's Records It Was Built At Rim Of Sycamore Holl By W'ILLIA.vf G. EATON (Copyright 1997) Location of the battle Scarred fort at Booaeeborough bad hcen o source of conilderablt comment for many years and several theories have been ad vaned as to the actual elle. Theeo contrasting opinlom have grown out of Interwoven historical fuels and fascinating legends which have been handed down Imn, family to family for many generations. [lie a,oel frequently voiced opinion, which le In direct com trael with the gcromilyaccepts d f-rtsile at Sycamore Hollow, az- sorin that the historic Biomass. borough fort was erected "at Zmouth of Otter Creek" — , taro or one )title and d quar. ter farther up the river. Served An Londnmrk No doubt the locallon referred tau nerved a. nn impatient land. mark during the early days and that the phrase was perpetuated by the aspiring young noleoh w,esters historian, John 9Ylson, hoa bli.hcd a promotional oar retic,. about the wonders of Ken- tucky In 1791 right years of lar Col. Richard Henderson'. proprietary Transylvania ver. lure had failed. The emir, Buaneeborough oma presents unusual and peculiar problem. In topography and orientation. Any effort to prove I hal the fort Blood In ill. bottoms at Otter Creek would be can. fronted with problems with which It would be Impossible to deal. For example, the location of numemw Important landmarks umst Al be accounted for In ec- card:.ma with known (arta, both In disbmcr untl In the lay of the I.o.d. ;,a well na bring In a pro- Ia-r pcespeetive and relation with cvrll olhrr. It would be n more logical ap. preach to disprove the Otter Creek theory xnd to prove that Ilw wtual sill. was located on lir rim of the historic [.How— e lading the nwmerlallmd plot uud the Inunedl.le are. to the north and northwest. This uni. que site was, by reason of long. slanding facts, traditions and legends. recognized he Wing correct In HW. WNL. the fort [BOB faded a' way any decade. ago, the phrase hoe lingered through the fertile mcadowlandsto he historian, special writers e other Interested persons v have sought to verily the act site of the vanished fort many yearn. Crooke Survey$ Important Major John Crooke, v served an Madison County I veyor for 82 years (17501& located msay of the hint, pointe In the county (with aid of other well-informed I neer,, and left on record re Information concerning the ea history of the county than other Individual. The most revealing of U pioneer records (for the Imre at hand) Is the survey wt Major Crooke began on Der, bar 1. 1512, at the direclior the Madison County LTr, Court. A largo amount of 1 was Involved and the result plat was used in the hotly, tented case of Gen. Green C veraue John Reed and other, The pioneer surveyor eat Wen of numerous nttleme and pre-emptions In retailer the old fort at Boonesboroug a fact which reveals the gem location of the palisaded structure for an ingwilive somewhatpuzzled generation the present time. Recorded Distance Beginning at tills historic cation, Major Crooke recon We distance In poles (each p manenl marking was a mile part), as the surveying pa, progressed along Bourse's , Trace leading from the forts toward Richmond and heyon A major portion of the cont versy centered around the of ership of the choice lends loi led near the headwalors of Of Creek and Pumpkin Run; mac ly, the 1,005 acre pre-empt and fortelte of Capt. James I till. The general vicinity was bout six it.. southeast of I The detailed survey not , provided the requlmd [.far, tion for the lengthy court ca but when completed, It also came a part of the official si vey of the rugged William Hoard—from the forfeits Cumberland Gap. A portion of Motor Crook, explanatory notes yields the I lowing valuable Informatle. concerning the location of his. teric Fort Ieoona.Wrough; .larked By Letter Is "The little square. act the [at- ter atler F on the bank, of Kentucky River represent. the fort at Baoneaborough near the old Sul. phur Lick which place wall showed me by Oswald Townsend Joseph Proctur, .levee Hedges, David Lynch, William Cradle bough and Lawrence Thompson of Otter Creek." (Note: IN poles Is exactly one colla and a quar• ter In distance.) There are several additional Hope which were made by Ma - Joe Crooke, each an the survey of the Trace to Tale's Bottoms In 1802 and the Log Lick Trace survey In 1811; there ere num. hereon revealing depositions which were made by We early settlers for court purposes; and sketches of the fortelte which were mode by the strug. filing first Kentuckians who once lived In the torted community. 1. addition, - copy of the or[. ghat Bconeeborough lownehe plat of 1787 has been handed down and appears In cover-] IcngaccepMd historical pubs- milmes. Collectively, or sepa- rately, these pioneer records pro- tide Infann.tion which definitely establishes the fact that the :rude pioneer structure was lo. cated at historic Sycamore Ho - ow, rather than "al the mouth of Otter Creek." Had the controversial phrase been a part of an Important sur. vey. Its literal Interpretation would have here ecmdr d sad only ad a practical and k tenting means of marking final point on the rugged R ernesa Trail, with the main Jetties (the pre-.0.etod R. the proposed 11th Colony) be strategically located •Within section of land Juni attend, to disquiet contrasting ch and opinions — even after claps- of mom than 150 y In lila colorful history of Bhe,graxn state. Plan Certificate The actual location of the neer fort In revealed In an e. Madison County survey known a as "A Plan Certificate of Boonesborough," which evident 1. fly was d complete plat of the frontier settlement as It ap. p peared prior to 1101. of The valuable pioneer record a. probably was prepared by Cour w ly Surveyor James French and s, Ills depullea, Wllllnm Clerk and .. WIIlla... O'Reaq ,, n and 1787. The hereabouts of wthe original w document la not known, although the Important survey we"re. b.. turned and ordered to be re- JI eorded by the Mndlsan County lb Court Clerk on October f, 1707." S, Even the recorded account did. p. gppeared sometime after the 1; 1870s, according to W. H. Miller to -- a well-known Madison County gi gene.ilogls-htstorhm. N However, Judge French TIP. lot, (a prominent Madison Come, ill ly lawyer, newspaperman and c, historian) had limited access to or, the plan sometime before his un- b, timely death In IN]. Ws an ri published notes on thirteen de. cades of Madison C-unly hletory re contain handwritten Id hllghts B, of the valuable certificate. 11, Compared With Shine's o' It has been cold, by way of in comparison, that the "Tiplon papers are to Madison County Pr what the Shone papers are to E' Kentucky." gl The preserved portion reveals the following much-needed facts 11 which uncover the truth ..nceIs. to Ing several Important locations B at the historic site: ti. "Pike W yds. W. running dw n, N. & S. thence— n The Lick Branch at Banner. al borough tromes Into Lick bear. D Ing N. 21) E. to 18 yds. from sulphur well to kl center of branch. t1, Well at right "side on left Ic of long line. Well S. 78 E. from big tree. w, Fort S. 30 E. tram sulphur ap well. 1„ Springs. BeW. tram well. 80 Isle. from well to fence to- wards fort. c, 20 yde. from fence to fort. to Lick N. of ravine 7e yds." Unfortunately, the sire and tlO orientation of the code log fort ac was lot recorded and the Its t of the Divine Elan was not In v 1v eluded. However, the course of Spring Lick Branch wall charted c, a. It meandered through the re vine at that time, and the Ioca- Lion of two big sycamore treed was oleo established. 1. addlUon, the fallowing brief notation concerning the arca "el the mouth of Otter Creek" wen Included: "River at mouth Utter courses N. M W. Rune N. 20 E. to bend above eulo rt r branch (see White 24 VMM 0� MAIVM BLUE GRASS HARDWARE COMPANY /p DAVIE COr PU$UC U v g I 1 g _.. Hurl PLUMBING �.p?� IPMAY, DR47EMUM I, IgM Where Did (Continued From Age Two) preted as being located at law -lying site within the pre sent ravine — near the rolls euulh rim of the unique de premium. he relation to the tradition. forlalte an indicated by the ex- latmg DAR marker, Me area Ilea 76 yards north and 61 de- grees went. It this Information Is inter- preted strictly on Me basis of Me present appearance of the historic elle, the newly-deslg- noted larallo^ "does not make practical sense," the present- day group remarried. However, when known facts are carefully reconsidered and are incorporated with Ne sur- vey note. contained In the Plan Certificate, the fosel- noting puzzle begins to take on new meaning. As a result, a somewhat altered and though. provoking viewpoint appears to emerge for objective con- aidemtlon. Interviewed Shane For example, George Bryan related In an interview which was taken by the Rev. Jahn D. Shane In 1 3, Met — "The end of Me tort at Ex. hisbarotgh came down almost to the mouth of that branch o, drene. The Bandy top Of the bank has washed away an an be begin where the tort was, now nearly to Me edge of the banit. Sandy bank; stock inn on It and heavy rains washed 11 away. The edge of the fort wall, Irom the pitch of the hill' W the water'. edge — Bay 40 steps. The gmund le of 1778), na Mat you can as where they dug." Addishner Iniowatlon per- Wning W Me actual fmislte and the crude log structure It - tion of the fort as it Is the angle of placement. Most in- formation Indicate. that It was constructed more or lona parallel with the river, end that t h e doweriver end war situated a considerably closer to the bank, thereby, creating an unknown bangle. _ Heonver, the much -used Bconesborough Iownsite plat reveals otherwise. This map, which had been previously mentioned, illustrates the fort us bemg oriented more nearly at a right angle with the river, An Opinion Presented The writer ventures to pre- sent the following calculated opinion, which Is based upon the original plana of Col. Rich. .rd fienderaon and atatemente of other early Kentucky plo- neere, concerning the placement of the fort: Col. Henderson', drawing of the proposed indicates is K In 7s lh t itwas tobe ndic oriented N. 13 degrees W. The Plan Certificate reveals that the river inn N. 30 degrees W. near the fartsite — a difference of 17 degrees from being parallel with the river. To clarify this, let's assume that the fort was constructed perfectly parallel MM the river —wining N. 30 tlegrees W. Now, let's mentally anchor the bastion closest to Me river bank an Ne dowertver end Inorth). Then, let's swing the opposite end (anuth) away from the river, using the anchored bas- tion as a pivot, until it is oriented according to Col. Henderson's original drawing; Nue, achieving what Is believed to have been most nearly the fort's true placement. We must also take Into can: sideration Nat Col. Henderson lett Boonesborough before the fort was actually completed and that It was enlarged to. word the neat prior to the long I THD RICHMOND DAD, THE NEW FORTSITE — When Interproted, the pioneer plum hldicatr historic fort stood at (or near) the IoW -lying site Be Illustrated. Cho located a few yards closer to the river. Only detailed excavations ca, outline of the settlement. be called -upon to Beek the made possible through One d retail a' to some of the long- special historical material pm .1anling mysteries at Boonen- vlded by Me clerk's office N borough. Ne Madison County Circuit 'Me hardy spirit of the Court; the Dorris Museum and struggling first Kentuckians In University Library at Eastern ' still silently reflected through- Kentucky University; the UN - out the picturesque valley, vanity of Kentucky Library; which originally was the site and the Public Library In Lex. of Me battle -carred wildernw lagton and Winchester. fort; 'later, the location of . Appreciation Is hereby ex. prospective river tobacco town. pressed to personnel cannected Both were doomed to fade with Mese public sources of m. Into the misty recesses of formation, for providing help-'. oblivion many decades ago, and ful assistance an well as use - the unique "Ands" which were ful material to complete lhu accomplished by the resourceful account. tante of Booneland, have Ante Incomes a pert a ate', colorful pioneer Indian stege of 1778. The reawakened area no This may have altered Its appears to be just as alluring sJ! N eocmded be the pioneer appearance somewhat as well late Iowa and Benstein d Mrs. as Ira relative Fashion to N IGlraheM laergue dLnmes. river. However. It le more lik 4'<vge )Yyan. Jstejce fetors ly fbl+xps4f..aherar3®s Exp lea 3umea aDt>�s_: aAdcuarr ov . peed Ike muse bum a Bda,ead Ar � yea ce �I muse ad- d tie materuf as Pevrea� tested tx articles I only to a miser way hum tM Record Verthlb I.mNtion orialasl also. The writer hastens to point out that the Plan Certificate dyes not ronlredict. the low. tion ae establlehel by the Booneeborough Chapter of the DAR In 1607. Quite to the contrary — It seem. to verify the established location an being some part of the pallesded fart. FLrtleen the yysneer record indicates that Lhe low-lying area wee .leo the location of name portion of the speclous log structure. In fact, ell aeid.,e Indicates Nal a major pert of t h e destined ferlrrn. tae generally north of the DAR monument, rimer than extending soum- word from Me marker over the more level terrain — as traditional Information has as- sorted. The rem "history no ger," Ibmn Is not M much the I. - tj.a. . . Future Looks Prombing Actually, the pioneer i Certificate le rather llmltm coverage and It does not ane all of the questions. Even It reveals much mom an ieformtlon than has been I sented heretofore on subject. These definite feet. figures may lead to est.bltshment of the exact o' all foAelte, as welt as of ever, experienced archaeologists hove stated that It would be . difficult seek. Indeed, to recover anY rcmneate whateoever of Mev i had 1 1 for thousands of pleasure- seek e Ing travelers, u the original e- meadowland paradise was and hr border d buaprr bunadoea d and )tea 1 dwm ler e+�s � of ewer early a:pewma suet hssb fhat settler. And the future of the hmWrse site — even mare promleingl (Author's Comments) This paper Is the result of al- most three years of faeclnating research and study. The com- pletion of such an article was Ne primary aim of the writer when the self -assigned project was begun. Numerous source of hdormation have been co.- suited on suited during the revealing study. In addition W this, th main article, at least 16 other V have also been prepare on relo tM .ub,_,. ' a pro ject le not yet complete. This particul.r compnutio of Important feet. rind little known Information has been Recognition la also exlended f w - (reatrd la( to MO. Saroh Calk Herrman " �O of Montgomery County, who hen granted the writer special " permission to use materiel Interesting and aseful material; from private family papers;. further. Mat It will serve as a worthwhile contribution [owned S and to Mr. Louie F. Baldwin t Of Winchester, who provided of widely -known Fust^Baoneeborough technical advice and nsaistanct Is recemry as complete the —9. v+rl- � ipP++"�au re a W Mr, 1. A. WEh Boonnberrtugtlr, rvho bei r� provided invaluable asslasencr .� as well as much helpfdt m- 9� formation throughout the pre - feet. Numerous consultations with Mrs. Walter West, els. of the le been helpful. trtbuted to the project In s - e d - ^ •Kon various ways. Crateful ap- �O precmtlon Is hereby expressed. 1y The writer hopes that Nu V paper will provide readers with y Interesting and aseful material; further. Mat It will serve as a worthwhile contribution [owned S the overall promotion of the popular site — now the Ivan-vs. B of widely -known Fust^Baoneeborough state Park Is nn o ng fortreb at this - late data. No doubt the valuable record will provide a definite orle mad Squire Boone, Brother Of reliable background for pro- fwlaW persmuwl soba may When He Was Needed—Tarmec T DAVIE CO, PUBLIC LIBMANY He Served S' 1ugg MQCKWIWtF*,f\ ti urs+ (Copyright lues) In Various V�/'. YS; The auppnrtind role which J uaula l,U•hbad OU141 ,TJ -F v or portion of ^ *"_- 3 TIE TRADITIONAL tQOATION — Reliable Information roveela that a con) po neer plan Indicates that a porUon a the the crude log Structure was located 75 yards north end north-west of the traditional DAR Illustrated Chances are that It was marker, with "the slid of the fort at Ro°naborvugh coming down almost to the mouth of I excavatlms can determine the exact that bench or time,, rtocolda,g to Olotge Bryan. /� . [lie a lob pro-/tZW,/OTIL[ [t/a!! %/� °[flee of //�fJ1� l/ ;y circuit V ��/ �t .�/�/ scum and / Ger u/f "�CU-(/I a6u �O Nw GI rfO t Eastern `tfefi it INC x 0AIZA aw �eG alfwlU {p . the Om- 0 Library: ���ttt r ✓%� /(/ // 'V In Lmi-• / LA - !�/P r� f/ lL u�(� /�� J(l�.lo LJ '//W �fj�rHN 4'��eau/i raMCaedQ� ries o[ m-�y�� ,f')a✓urte�j dfng help-(h*.)fit!'t/ttofi(h*.) "'^"'�f0 1 OW•✓IfitJ :ll ee use. ��//"�' Mu'� ►TT. oplero this r emended [/, f!•t.) N LCLli t.C(/IA/� C��a .� a �2�J Herrmann ntnty, who der special ,,material ii/0 �f �Ytt) �(�OLtl �W (ITNw✓ is Baldwin �) Q! d.l�ifl K. ,e' is provided y °•8 ,t 1 htaatance. ! ` ty aplete the:. (�. PYIlG rr r.J 'Qe dive h ex-. SW who has , w� '9 I andetmce —w�'01w -..°.. o, t e'd C: dhdpha rin.. 8SR ',.. •C °'•'• .{V� "• \ys} •x )wl the with � V\� O a V ? -,\y Y :� O e/seowith V �, •�f°.., I V rwnmmluh ly� tl b ` ka >a Wild]. ala con. ywled '" Ilut h` V .der Mth \( antero; t� .� r: p to .�• t^ .'l� � N • V nw a a \ �... ,� .S �3 s. n .. towards �• : tl be Ie1PORTANT SURVEY — This pioneer survey reveals the general location of historic the 14 yam'. Fart Rooneaborough. The valuable survey was exemted by Major john Crooke in Dacem• (plot... provided by NY. beet Eloo It 1Uuetratea the site as being located at letter "F' on the banks of Kmtuclq author) ,vuD poles below the controversial mouth of Atter Croak.: I. I 'near the mouth of Otter Creek. The skilled woodsmen spentthe f paniel, Had Way Of Appearing On Scene 'ImAi of 1170territory an numerous such locations throughout the ma- cinalh:g ttlement and retursometime ed in to aha settlements somellme in Termed A'Great But Unsung Pioneer Hero'tha ...... This time, however, they were choir feta In gelling Wear cumin tura out of the Indian toric ldadlson County; IL. hunting grounds. Just u they obllsk - •�' stone, wr were randy W lead Wetrheavily. some v is and meu - laden pack horses through the Struggling First Kentuckians Hfea us preset :yap Into comparative safety, an the G disco, by, � walting band of Indians robbed ays' First Preacher In Area �ilarO 9.1892 ham of the Bnllro catch and they 1 Flnllard ta1..: . owned the were fortunate to escape with upon which .a Dloneer s[ut.a thaIr lives. QA1UE CO. PUSUC W d at mat Uma. see° that ExpeNUm Rurseeaml'_r. Nle. 11 has been m dISPleY m Wcxs ME, roc PAf3E rf1ey V%- V• if THE RICHMO" DAILY 1 Where Did Battle -Scarred Fort Boonesborough Actually Si Advanced As To The Location Selected By First Settlers In According To John Crooke's Records It Was Built At Rim Of Sycamore Holl( By WILI.IA.'1f G. EATON (Copyright 1987) Location of the batUe-scarred fort at Boonesborough. has been a source of considerable comment for many years and several theories have been ad- vanced as to the actual site. These contrasting opinions have grown out of Interwoven historical facts and fascinating legends which have been handed down from family to family for many generations. The most frequently voiced opinion, which Is In direct con. treat with the generally -accepted fortsile at Sycamore Hollow, as- serts that the historic, Boones. borough fort was erected "at the mouth of Otter Creek" — a distance of one mile and a quar- ter farther up the river. Served An Landmark No doubt the location referred too served as an important land- mark during the early days and that the phrase was perpetuated by the aspiring young school- master -historian, John Filson, who published a promotional nar- rative about the wonders of Ken- tucky In 17114 - eight years af- ter Col. Richard Henderson's proprietary Transylvanla ven- ture had failed. The entire Boonesborough area presents unusual and peculiar problems In topography and orientation. Any effort to prove that the fort stood in the bottoms at Otter Creek would be con- fronted with problems with which it would be Impossible to deal. For example, the location of numerous important landmarks " must all be accounted for In ac- ' 3 cordance with known facts, both In distance and in the layof the land, as well as being In a pro. -' u -per perspective and relation with each other. o It would be a more logical ap- 6 proach to disprove the Otter -^ Creek theory and to prove that the actual site was located on ' 9 the rim of the historic hollow— p including the memorialized plot A and the Immediate area to the north and northwest. This uni- -1- que site was, by reason of long- standing facts, traditions and Qi} legends, recognized as being Z correctfn 1007. e ll While the fort Itself faded I- CJ way many decades ago, the phrase has lingered throughout the fertile meadowlands to haunt historians, special writers and other Interested persons who have sought to verify the actual site of the vanished fort for many years. Crooke Surveys Important Major John Crooke, who served as Madison County Sur- veyor for 52 years (1795.1g47), located many of the historic. points In the county (with the aid of other well-informed plo. neersl and lett on record more Information concerning the early history of the county than any other individual. The most revealing of these pioneer records (for the purpose at hand) Is the survey which Major Crooke began on Decem- ber 1, 1812, at the direction of the Madison County Circuit Court. A large amount of land was Involved and the resulting plat was used in the hotly -con, tested case of Gen. Green Clay versus John Reed and others. The pioneer surveyor estab- linea of numerous settlements and pre-emptions In relation tc the old fort at Boonesborough— , fact which reveals the general location of the palisaded log structure for an Inqualtive and somewhat -puzzled generation at the present Ume. Recorded Distance Beginning at this historic lo- cation, Major Crooke recorded the distance in poles (gash per- manent marking was a mile a- part), as the surveying party progressed along Boone's Old Trace leading from the fortalte toward Richmond and beyond. A major portion of the contro- versy centered around the own- ership of the choice lands loca- ted near the headwaters of Otter Creek and Pumpkin Run; name- ly, the 1,000 acre pre-emption and fortalte of Capt. James Es- till. The general vicinity was a. bout six miles southeast of the county -seat town. The detailed survey not oly provided the required Informs. tion for the lengthy court case, but when completed, It alsobe. came a part of the official sur- vey of the rugged Wilderness Roard—from the fortalte to Cumberland Gap. A ,portion of Major Crooke's explanatory notes yields the fol. lowing valuable Information concerning the location of his- toric Fort Boonesborough: Marked By Letter F "The little squares at the let- ter F on the banks of Kentucky River represents the fort at Boonesborough near the old Sul- phur Lick which place was showed me by Oswald Townsend Joseph Proctor, Jesse Hodges, David Lynch, William Cradle- buugh and Lawrence Thompson of Otter Creek." (Note: 400 poles Is ekactly one mile and a quar- ter in distance.) There are several additional maps which were made by Ma- jor Crooke, such as the survey of the Trace to Tate's Bottoms In 1802 and the Log Lick Tracej survey In 1811; there are num- berous revealing depositions which were made by the early settlers for court purposes; there are several rough drawings and sketches of the fortslte which were made by the strug. gling first Kentuckians who once lived in the forted community. In addition, a copy of the ori- ginal Boonesborough townsite plat of 1787 has been handed down and appears In several long -accepted historical publi- cations. Collectively, . or sepa- rately, these pioneer records pro- vide information which definitely establishes the fact that the crude pioneer structure was lo- cated at historic Sycamore Hol- low, rather than "at the mouth of Otter Creek." Had the controversial phrase been a part of an Important sur. vey, its literal Interpretation would have been required and justified. Whereas, It served only as a practical and long. lastingmeans of marking the final point on the rugged Wild. erness Trail, with the main ob. jective (the pre -selected site for the proposed 14th Colony) being strategically located within the section of land just ahead. Once againcourt-proven facts and well -calculated figures serve to disquiet contrasting claims and opinions — even after an elapse of more than 150 years In the colorful history of the Bluegrass state. Plan CerdBcate The actual location, of the pio. neer fort is revealed in an early Madison County survey known Oak Fo ns "A Plan Certificate oft tly was a complete plat of th( frontier settlement as it ap geared prior to 1781. The valuable pioneer recone probably was prepared by Conn ty Surveyor James French and his deputies, William Clark ant William O'Rear, around 1797 The whereabouts of the origina document is not known, althougl the important survey was "re turned and ordered to be re- corded by the Madison Cmmtl Court Clerk on October 4, 1797." Even the recorded account die appeared sometime atter the 18709, according to W. H. Mille -a well-known Madison County genealogist -historian. However, Judge French Tip, ton (a prominent Madison Coun ly lawyer, newspaperman and historian) had limited access t( the plan sometirrie before his un timely death in 1001. His un published notes on thirteen de- cades of Madison County hlstorl contain handwritten highlights of the valuable certificate. Compared With Shane's It has been said, by way of comparison, that the "Tipton papers are to Madison Count] what the Shane papers are to Kentucky." The preserved portion reveals the following much-needed facts which uncover the truth concern. Ing several Important locations at the historic site: "Pike 80 yda. W. running dos N. h S. thence - The Lick Branch at Baona borough comes into Lick bear- ing earing N.20 E. 15 yda. from sulphur well is center of branch. Well at right angles on left of long line. Well S. 78 E. from big tree. Fort S. 30 E. from sulpha well. Spring S. 84 W. from well. So yde. from well to fence to wards fort. 20 yds. from fence to fort. Irick N. of ravine 70 yde!" Unfortunately, the size and orientation of the crude log font was not recorded and the site of the Divine Elm wee not u - eluded. However, the course d Spring Lick Branch was charted as it meandered through the I* vine at that time, and the loca- tion of two big sycamore tree was also established. In addition, the following bdd notation concerning the Area "it the mouth of Otter Creek" wa Included: "River at mouth Otter course N. 20 W.. Rune. N. 20 E. to bend My R'ER Stand? Numerous Area Madison County ""Afro bEUP?Ii ER i,1S47 A Fort survey) ." much larger that one Would "the well to be cleaned as loiI.Virinchester; usefulness for present-day orated On Knoll normally judge. it must have been at least three-quarters of as it was before; the work to completed by the first of Se needs. The group consisted of LautO engineer of It must be explained at this that the White Oak Fort, an acre in size and perhaps larger — covering a large area tember next. The undertakerF. give bond with approved, seeu Baldwin, civil William G. Eaton, Dint the White Oak Spring Station it commonly called, on both • sides of the branch within Sycamore Hollow, or the ty for the work to be finish In the time prescribed, for which amateur historian and photo- grapher, also of Winchester;: s was more as located on the knoll just ''sulphur well bottoms" as the been the money shall be paid as soon be recelved by and John A. Walters Jr., lock- master at Boonesborough• Ruth of the old Lisle graveyard -1700 feet west of the river and ravine has sometimes called. as the work shall the Commissioners." Record Aocntsf iree•quarters of a mile south- est of Fort Booneaborough, Bslt SUM -1 (7onidde� Boone originally chose the uni• The old well was much -Used durin gthe "dark and bloody Although the self -assigned project is somewhat limited in This station was built in 1771' y Capt, Nathaniel Hart —one que locality because of the pos- sibilities which the lick offered days" at the Kentucky outpost and it served the early townsite It coverage, preliminary verificaj tion efforts indicate that t h s f the aristocratic proprietors of Transylvania Company. to provide the much-needed settlers in a like manner. ,continued to serve curious visl- pioneer record is "remarkably -- considering t h e to everAl Low Dutch families from commodity of salt for the early pioneers living in the farted tors who came to the privately resort until around accurate" fact that numerous changes in 'ennsylvania lived there from 779 to around 1'182, in addition community. And of course the free-flowing fresh water spring owned river 1920. topography have occurred at the historic site over the years. Capt. Hart's large family who originally came from was also an important factor in Its flow of curative water gra- dually decreased and the old Mr. �dy� points out that the survey notes are somewhat ,roup forth Carolina. The location of this Boone's decision. The choice proved to be a however, pump slowly rushed away. The exact site was evident until the , unusual. they are. • stated in rather than in poles — general 1 -fated smaller fort may have bitter disappointment, the saline content of the inceh-fed early 1980s. The location soon yards the more commonly used untributed soniewhat to the er- oineous belief that Fort Boones- lick was too low brancyield the precious crude product i became vague and it was even- tually obliterted completely, as "tides" method of surveying in those days. This fact indicates that Borough itself once stood on a Ise near the mouth of the creek. quantity. in This unfortunate circumstance a result of numerous which since have covered the the original survey may have been executed by an AwnY It would be more nearly cor- ect to theorize that this site in forced Boone and his compan- ions to make the tragle journey sheltered level within the ever- changing, naturally -produced de• man. Range fiudera and other In .' he river bottoms was the lora- .on of Boone's Tobacco Ware- to the lower Blue Licks durin the bitter winter of 1778 for the pro�On• Source Is Recaed struments which are used by Army personnel even today are louse, which was established in purpose of making salt — the older residents of the area ca'l'ibrated to use the yardage Re town of Boonesborough in 7g7 —the - beginning of the outcome - of which is a matter of controversial record in the now recall the general location the once - water source system- In addition, there may be ad, 'row nous River Warehouse 'Gra. colorful annals of the rugged o! popular and relate that it was 16 feet much as four degrees variation in Magnetic declination. be - 3piing Also It�tBtruTr c frontier country. The Boonesborough Commis• deep, six feet in diameter and walled with native stone: ' tween surveyg which were made date and those Judging from the contents o the Plan Certificate, the old sul- sionerg decided to make bettorOnce use of the prolific sulphur spring again the site of the old sulphur well within the ravine at that early of the present time. As a re- of this normal occurrence, suitphur well north of Spring Lick Branch was an important lova• sometime around 1792. Meagerbecomes information indicates that the an important location, me historic Fort Boonea• along with the topographic changes, it was calculated that tion at the time the survey was made — just as it had been for course of the branch was altered at its entrance into the ravine borough stood exactly 100 yards southeast of this pioneer land- the accuracy of the pioneer sur - vey could be stated as follows: many years earlier: The proms- discovered by at the apps r end; the lick b was drained; and • the spring mark, The only'visibld u6 UUMI I.• The minimum variation neer• is two the maximum ;ing site was Daniel Boone Haid his compan- the valleys of the Ysd- was cleaned out and walled with common field atones , thus mark remaining at the popular site today, however, to fresh all yards; --eight yards. Assuming t h a t the maximum variation exists ions from kin during their daring explora• forming the old sulphur well. water spring and it produces a and making even a maximum tion of the coveted territory be- DreW, Up •IDetsiled plaw flow of water only its a wet pea• allowance for additional possible tween the years 1769-1771. The strong now of brackish These changes, along with` ad -OM ditional improvements and In. This known location provides errors and Wand changes, the designated fortsite would be waY- water from the original ancient spring was largely responsible ducements, were made in an ef- fort to obtain the "permanent an important checking point n the fading Inmeans altered only in a minor IReferenees linterprow for the formation of the large salt lick at Boonesborough, or seat of government" at Boones• borough, which was the largest a link with past the fascinating qui to of the That the sits could be located a few yat� "Big Lick" as it 'was usually town in the newly -created state establish the actual site vanished fortificatlon —first closer to the. river and on a life -- called b ythe early explorers, hunters and Indian fighters whoOn at that time. June 24, 1787, William known as "'s Poart" ms straight east -west with the flow of sought refuge at the pioneer settlement. , 1.long-time Calk and John Wilkerson, both promoters of the On October !i, 1968, another surveying party appeared on the branch alongside the old sulphur well site in the hollow. In comparison with the first two—acre. Iots as illustrated by ging pioneer settlement, drew up detailed plans for "Re- the historic grounds at Boone- borough •-- this time to "prove The references to the "fence". and the •TorV► have been inter - the , much -used 1787 map• the to be pairing the Lick in Booties- or disprove" the pioneer Plan Certificate and to-8etermine its Li0onttnued Od ,�) egg-shaped lick appears borough" and advertised for t' .. .•. - �. � .iii•. �' 17 ./.. '•� .1 e;. ,,� , 'i.♦ �. 1 , , .• • . . . . - 0"13 bA1LI "MU19rlitt Uayle UO. I'k . Llbl-ty ui,...hr\lNlu N C. UNuut k 0, 010m ►IU181'y plan indicates that a portion of the [rated. Chances are that it was :avations can determine the exact TBE TRADITIONAL LOOATION — Reliable Information reveals that a major portion of the crude log structure was located 75 yards north and north-west of the traditional DAR marker, with "the end of the fort at Boonsaborough coming down almost to the mouth of that branch or dmue, • according to George 'Bryan. a pro- p of U��.-J ' C/tZ[.a./iGrezlQi9`. iz/ali ui iY'77•tUJ l0 (/!u �!c!J (,�7tt{ aG if �� �/U �d rcn and / �J stern CNea'J Q. Ici COIL Q� UN• � Li•'/rL1 ti�.C{Y!f/LU-�O GrU/�ill('G vary: l.ex• �j 999 ex- Iz- ectad )e in- help - use. this manvlrrriL n�vrt't\� ti crGt) P.FaJu� Pct+.r7 ta- who serial Gyf7cviN�V% L(�wvCvI IJTN1✓nJq o •sj� lJ 'r O de�% Iwia ,vided / tance Q the �,w )p r' f p\ Is ex- ra Jr. o has � `4 ... •p•.,� I awith �V� ..V O...a...: o••:A \J V `, ,i, of thoCp.' noofty, .� b �, ,� ,� `F•1 i oelpful. ` fi ,`V je con- ,`c�j p rk 'pub v0 �� d this n with `��t41 y I AD ID>POSTANT 6USVEY — Tnthe Is pioneer survey reveals the general location of Historic e Foti Birt BoonesborougH. The valuable survey was executed by Major John Crooke In Deoem- Pi tures - provl4oQ by tho bar, 1812. It Illustrates the site as being locgted at latter r,,,oa,f�.pa}dtp Oi $eutucky iuthor)' ve las below a controversial mouth of tter Cr,*..; . . .. - �. - ....._ .. Q- l - Where Did IosNland iYmn fto ilea) Protest as bow lac"W at *V431106 rate tnthia the p OW Metes — mar the roll sett► rise of W unique promwa Am ralabod to the lradltl tertale as uWicaled by the Wu� DAR marker, the 1tr 1t yards north and 41 g� WOOL U lisle Information Is in pretad strictly on the basis of the present appearance of the historic site, the newly-deslg ailed location "does not mak practical sense," the present day group reasoned However, when known facts are carefully reconsidered and are Incorporated with the sur. vey notes contained In t h e Plan Certificate, the feed- nsting puzzle begins to take on new meaning. As a result, a somewhat altered and though - provoking viewpoint appears to emerge for objective can. alderetlon. Interviewed Sham For example, George Bryan related in an interview which was taken by the Rev. John D. Shane in 1843, that — ' The end of the fort at Boonesberough came down almost to the mouth of that branch or drene. The sandy top of the bank has washed away so as to begin where the fort was, now nearly to the edge of the bank. Sandy bank; stock ran on It and heavy rains washed it away. The edge of the fort wall, from the pitch of the hill' to the water's edge — say 40 steps. The ground Is perceptibly lower at the place where they attempted to mine into the fort (the Indian siege of 1778), so that you can see where they dug." Additional Information per- taining to the actual fortalts and the crude log structure it- self is included in the pioneer Interviews and writings of Mrs. Elizabeth Poague Thongs, George Bryan, Judge Moses Boone, Peter Huston and others. The writer has Introduced a@ of this material in Previous articles. Record Vertltlde Location The writer hastens to point out that the Plan Certificate does not contradict the loca- tion as established by the Boonesborough Chapter of the DAR in 1807. Quite to the contrary — it seems to verify the established location as being aeon part of the pallsaded fort. Further, the Pioneer record indicates that the low-lying area was also the location of some portion of the soaclous log structure. In fact, all evidence indicates that a major part of t he destined fortress Jay generally north of the DAR monument, rather than extending south. ward from the marker over the more level terrain — as traditional Information has as. ....sew tion of the forte ort a it Is the aagte of placement Most In- formauon Indicates that it was constructed more or less parallel with the river, and that -t h e downriver end was situated a considerably closer to the bank, re- thereby, creating an unknown thg angle. However, the much -used G- Boonesborough townsite plat onsl reveals otherwise. This map, �- which has been previously area mentioned, illustrates the fort �, as being oriented more nearly at a right angle with the Later. river. An Optalon Pt,°Benled The writer ventures to pre. . sent the following calculated e opinion, which is based upon the original plans of Col. Rich. ard Henderson and atatements of other early Kentucky pio. neers, concerning the placement of the fort: Col. Henderson's drawing of 'heProposeindicates that it fo was tort in beoriented N. 13 degrees W. The Plan Certificate reveals that the river ran N. 3o degrees W. " near the fortslte — a difference of 17 degrees from being parallel with the river. To clarify this, let's assume that the fort was constructed perfectly parallel with the river — Cunning N. 30 degrees W. Now, let's mentally anchor the bastion closest to the river bank on the downrlver end (north). Then, let's swing the opposite end (south) away from t h e river, using the anchored bea. tion as a pivot, until It is oriented according to Col. Henderson's original drawing; thus, achbA g what is belleved to have been most nearly t tie fort's true placement. We must also take Into con- t sideration that Col. Henderson left Boonesborough before the I fort was actually completed 1 and that it was enlarged to- ward the east prior to the long h Indian siege of 1778. This may have altered its a appearance somewhat as well f as its relative position to the t river. However, it Is more like- ly that repairs, alterations and f additions over a period of a several years would have af. c fected the fort's orlentatton e only In a minor way from the fit, original plan Future Looks Promising Actually, the pioneer 1 Certificate Is rather llmltei coverage audit does not ane all of the questions. Even It reveals much more usu information than has been sented heretofore on subject. These definite facts figures may lead to establishment of the exact o' all fortsite, as well as of impirtant locations within toric Sycamore Hollow. H ever, experienced archaeolog have stated that It would b difficult task. Indeed, to race any remnants whatsoever the vanished log fortress at I late date. No doubt the valuable ret THE RICHMOND DAIL rna rn:w a'VAm"WE — When interpreted, the pioneer plan tndieate: historic fort stood at (or near) the IoW -lying site as illustrated. Char located a few yards closer to the river. Only detailed excavations can outline of the settlement. be called upon to seek the solution to some of the long. standing mysteries at Boones- borough. The hardy spirit of the struggling first Kentuckians 1s still silently reflected through- out the picturesque valley, which originally was the site of the battle -carred wilderness fort; later, the location of a prosperous river tobacco town. Both were doomed to fade Into the misty recesses of oblivion many decades ago, and he unique "firsts" which were accomplished by the resourceful nhabitants of Booneland, have ong since became a part of the state's colorful pioneer eritage. The reawakened area now ppears to be just as alluring or thousands of pleasure- seek. ng travelers, as the original meadowland paradise w a s or hordes of hungry buffaloes nd primitive Indiana; for ountless numbers of curlous 1 arly exp@orers and thrifty rat settlers. And the future of the historic to — even more promising! (Author's Comments) This paper is the result of al- anost three years of fascinating research and study. The com- pletlon of such an article was the primary aim of the writer when the self -assigned project was begun. Numerous sources of information have been con- sulted during the revealing study. In addition to this, the main article, at least 15 other articles have also been prepared on related subjects. The pro- ject Is not yet complete. This particular compilbtion of Important facts and little. (mown information has been Is possible through use or tial historical material pro. ed by the clerk's office of Madison County Circuit irt; the Dorris Museum and varsity Library at Eastern Bucky University; the Uni. lty of Kentucky Library; the Public Library in Lex. )on and Winchester. .ppreciat(on is hereby ex- ised to personnel connected 1 these public sources of in. nation, for providing help• assistance as well as use. material to complete thu Recognition is also extended to Mrs. Sarah Calk Herrmann Of Montgomery County, who has granted the writer special PermimlOn to use material , from private family papers; and to Mr. Louis F. Baldwin Of Winchester, who provided 1. technical advice and assistance , necessary to complete the unique survey. Special appreciation Is ex. tended to Mr. J. A. Walters Jr. Of Boeneaborough, who has Provided invaluable assistance as well as much helpftll In. ' formation throughout the prr ject. Numerous consultations with Mrs, Waller West, also of the Boonesborough community, have likewise been helpful Many others have also con- tributed to the project in various ways. Grateful ap. preciation Is hereby expressed. The writer hopes that this paper will provide readers with Interesting and useful material; further, that it wfli serve as a r worthwhile contribution toward _Z the overall promotion of the copular site — now the Inca - don of widely -known Fort 2r, aconesborough State Park. .. .. a vsrri L 4 kQw: 1 I N.3J•L. /r I� I� II /0VA7- OF II fi PLAN eo"T/F/L',4TE OF A s!/.PYfY OF L/tK BQ,4NG/,/, BDONBSB�L'� "A1,: Z oe ot.Rw✓.ceor>• surrcyre><ca dy QCT• -f, /70/ ,Carib /r Ga/o'wif P!. //�M-sa .?Gr/<6 MZr/O�7 o/✓a✓rvir /rra.crvrc.ncnfr /:rd.'ci/s/.ter yar.�t. u THE PLAN OESTMOMM — The actual location of the tate of Booneaborough;' It reveals important details concern - fort is given In an early -day survey which has remained Us- Ing the fortsite and surrounding area at Sycamore Hollow. published until the present time. Known as "A Plan CWW- �V C h 1 �\ 1 �D i o by 7 ` � V LIQ I/NwI r1 YY oil* N. sex.0 (� N.404:4 a{} Ni.q/e y N. Sow. 7 vsrri L 4 kQw: 1 I N.3J•L. /r I� I� II /0VA7- OF II fi PLAN eo"T/F/L',4TE OF A s!/.PYfY OF L/tK BQ,4NG/,/, BDONBSB�L'� "A1,: Z oe ot.Rw✓.ceor>• surrcyre><ca dy QCT• -f, /70/ ,Carib /r Ga/o'wif P!. //�M-sa .?Gr/<6 MZr/O�7 o/✓a✓rvir /rra.crvrc.ncnfr /:rd.'ci/s/.ter yar.�t. u THE PLAN OESTMOMM — The actual location of the tate of Booneaborough;' It reveals important details concern - fort is given In an early -day survey which has remained Us- Ing the fortsite and surrounding area at Sycamore Hollow. published until the present time. Known as "A Plan CWW-