William Adams

  Noted events in his life were:

• Moved, Feb 1770, Carawba Creek, Botetourt County, Virginia.

• immigrated, 1742. Immigrated with James McCoun from Ireland during the forgotten famine.

Great Irish Famine (1740-1741)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Irish Famine of 1740-41 </w/index.php?title=Irish_Famine_of_1740-41&redirect=no>)
Jump to: navigation, search
The Irish Famine of 1740-41 was perhaps of similar magnitude to the better-known Great Famine </wiki/Irish_Potato_Famine> of 1847 </wiki/1847>-49. The eighteenth-century famine was also contemporarily referred to as the 'Great Famine'. Unlike the famine of the 1840s which was caused by a fungal infection in the potato crop, that of 1740-41 was due to unseasonably bad weather in successive years resulting in a series of extremely poor harvests.
There is no information available for the number of deaths caused by the famine: demographic information for the period is lacking, given the absence of census taking in the eighteenth century </wiki/Eighteenth_century>, and the non-existence of Catholic Church </wiki/Catholic_Church> records due to the Penal Laws </wiki/Penal_Laws>. Calculating the death rate </wiki/Death_rate> for the famine of 1847-1849 has also proved difficult, notwithstanding the existence of census </wiki/Census> returns for 1841 </wiki/1841> and 1851 </wiki/1851>. However, Irish historian Joe Lee </w/index.php?title=Joe_Lee&action=edit> has speculated from contemporary accounts, and information on other famines internationally of the period, that the death rate in 1740-41 was similar to that of the famine a century later, namely that ten per cent of the population died.
The year 1741, during which the famine was at its worst and mortality was greatest, was known in folk memory as the 'year of the slaughter' (or 'bliadhain an áir' in Irish </wiki/Irish_language>).

• Moved, 1742, Norfok, Virginia.

• Moved, Abt 1743, Botetourt County, Virginia.

• juror, 9 May 1775. William Adams served as a juror in a court session being held in Botetourt County on May 9, 1775. a Grand jury was sworn in to wit: Samuel Walker, william Walker, william Scott, James Gilmore, andrew Armstrong, John Neeley, William Watkins, Jos. Walker, Jr., Samuel mcclure, Jr. Robert Burdwell, john Cartmill, James Hutchinson, Walter Ralston, john Larkin, willis Mcclure etc. Ref: Annals of Southwest Virginia., 1769-1800, Botetourt, Fincastle, montgomery, Washington, Whyth; published by Lewis preston, Summer 1929.

• Moved, 1779, Mercer County, Kentucky. ⁸⁴⁶ Last Name First Name Acre Location Date Bk-Pg --------- ------------ ---- ------------- ---------- ----- Adams David 664 Salt River 06-03-1780 1-66 Samuel 1000 Salt River 06-26-1780 1-80 W. 400 Salt River 11-04-1779 1-1 William 600 Salt River 04-26-1780 1-23 William 400 Salt River 04-26-1780 1-23

• Will Proved, 29 Jul 1789. ⁸⁴⁷ Will Book 1, page 205 of County of Lincoln, commonwealth of Virginia. Names sons: William Adams, Samuel and David Adams. Daughters, Jennet Adams, anne Adams, Margarret Curry and Mary Wilson. Execeturers Sons, Samuel and Daavid Adams. Written July 29, 1789. Witnesses, Elizabeth Thomas, William Stewart, John Stewart. Proved July Court 1795

• Family History. The family is known to have been Scottish in ancestry. They were a part of a settlement of Scots that settled in Ulster, Ireland in 1606 on land that was confiscated by the English.

• faith: Prebyterian.

• Biography. William was born in Ulster, Antrim County, Ireland, ca. 1717. He came to VA. in 1742 at the age of 25, landing at Norfork in the company of another young man by the name of James McCoun. They engaged themselves for some time "working at the loom" and farming. It is said that James McCoun procured enough money to buy himself a small package of goods and with these he went peddling the back and frontier settlements. In 1744 William Adams married Mary Walker, and this same year James McCoun married her older sister, Margaret. Mary and Margaret Walker had come from Ireland with their brother, Samuel, and an uncle by the name of Thomas Clark, who had married their mother's sister. They landed at Charleston, S.C., moving on to VA. and settling in Roanoke. William Adams purchased 145 acres on Catawba Creek from John and Priscilla Armstrong in Feb 1770. selling the same property to William McClellan in Aug of 1779. This and other records firmly establish William Adams and Mary his wife, as residents of Botetourt County, VA. before moving to Lincoln, later Mercer, County KY. These records also establish that Mary was living in July of 1786, although she had passed away by the time William made his will on 9 July 1789. William and Mary Walker had seven surviving children. All of them were born in Botetourt County, VA. and all of them lived a portion of their lives in Mercer County, KY. William died in 1795 at the age of 83 and is said to be buried in the "old Adams Family Cemetery" located 1/2 mile southwest of the "old Brewer home". That his wife died sometime prior to 1789 is evidenced by the fact that she is not mentioned in her husband's will dated 29 Aug 1789. This will distributes his estate between his sons Samuel and William, and his daughter, Jennet. It states that David, Anne Adams Adams, Margaret Curry, and Mary Adams Wilson had been provided for before this date. This information taken from the KY. Historical Society; Frankfort, KY; Adams file.

• Family History. I will now return to the history of my grandfather McAfee's life while he lived in Pennsylvania. His children were all born at his residence on Octorara Creek, where having six sons besides Malcolm who died on his way to North America, and three daughters, his little farm was not sufficient to keep them all employed, he began to look around him where he could get more land and more room, about 1752 he sold his land and removed to a place on the Conecocheague in the west of Pennsylvania, where he remained one year, and in 1753 he moved across Virginia into North Carolina in the vicinity of the Cowpens, where he did not remain more than two years, when he moved back to Virginia, where he bought land and settled on the Cataba River, where he remained until the family moved to Kentucky, during the old man's residence in Pennsylvania and after he went to Virginia the celebrated preacher Whitefield visited America. And my grandmother McAfee became much impressed and interested to hear him and went several miles for that purpose, which gave the old man much uneasiness, as he had not a good opinion of his earnest zeal and being a seceder, and somewhat of a Pharisee and his ideas of toleration being contracted, he forbid the old lady going to hear him, which had such a serious effect on her that he was compelled to withdraw his objections, with the exclamation, "Well Jenny do as you please, but don't let him come about me." Yet the old man was a strict Seceder Presbyterian in his own way. I gave this story as a specimen of the ideas of toleration held by our ancestors.
1763 - After the close of the French War, in this year, my grandfather removed to the county of Augusta, and his children having generally married - his sons generally soon after they became of age, and his daughters before that age as land was easily procured and wild unsettled wilderness before them, the first thought of the young men as soon as they arrived of age, was to look out for suitable companions, which in those days was not hard to obtain as there was a great equality in the circumstances of the back settlements, as all had little farms with the necessary stock to cultivate it the young women had health and industry and many of them a reasonable share of Beauty. There was no looking after fortunes or dependence on fathers or father-in-laws for support. Each felt that upon their own industry with the blessing of heaven depended their future destiny, all were ambitious to excell and prove their capacity to maintain a family. My father having reflected a short time upon his future prospects, cast his eyes into the family of my grandfather James McCoun who at that time had two or three marriageable daughters, and having met my mother at a neighborhood quilting which was the fashionable place of the meetings of the young people in those days, was not long in concluding a match, as both had youth, health and industry which constituted the principal portions of their fortunes. They were married on the 10th of December 1766. The whole of my father's property at that time consisted of his clothes, a horse and a good rifle gun. My mother had her clothes, a bed well stocked with blankets and rugs, a cow and a calf and young mare. With which they started out cheerful and happy. In the spring of 1767 my father moved into North Carolina near where my grandfather first settled, but the next year he returned to Virginia and went up into Botetourt County and settled on Sinking Creek, and in two years after, in 1770, he bought an additional tract of land upon the mountains near the head of Sinking Creek called the cove. My uncles and grandfather also bought land and settled in that part of Botetourt County, where they lived in great peace and harmony, farming and hunting alternately to supply their families. It was about this time that my father having killed a very extraordinary large Elk, had the skin dressed and with the aid of my mother made a most beautiful rug of many colors by sewing woolen yarn into it, which alone was an ample winter covering for a bed, under which I have often slept. It has descended as an heirloom to my eldest brother Samuel and is now in the possession of his widow and family. When a boy we used to call it "Old Ellick" and many struggles I used to have in keeping "Old Ellick" on the bed especially if the skin side was next to the bed. it was, however, as pliant and soft as the neatest dressed deer skin.
1771-2 - In these years the fame of the "Long Hunters" as they were called, of Finley, Dr. Walker, Daniel Boone and others began to circulate that there was a rich and delightful country to the west of the waters of the Ohio. My father and uncles often held councils together and talked over their future prospects, all of whom being in the vigor of manhood and full of enterprise and adventure, longed to see for themselves, as they could not think of being confined to the sterile mountains of Virigina where only small parcels of fertile land could be found at any one place. The governor of Virginia having also issued his proclomation for grant of 400 acres each to soldiers of the French and Indian Wars, in which they had nearly all participated, and also having understood that surveyors were going out to survey these claims called Proclomation Rights, determined early in the Spring of 1773 to visit this land of promise, accordingly, having made provision for the cultivation of their little farms, having first planted their corn about the 10th of May, in the year 1773, the company consisting of the following individuals:
James McAfee Jr.,
George McAfee
Robert McAfee
James McCoun, Jr.,
Samuel Adams,
being my uncles, and father, excepte Samuel Adams, who was a neighboring young man, who had volunteered to go with them left their residence on Sinking Creek and Cataba in Botetourt County in the colony of Virginia for the purpose of exploring the western waters of the Ohio River, and seeking out their future homes, taking with them my uncle John McCoun and another young man, James Pawling to take back their horses. They were fully aware of the dangers and difficulties to be encountered, but to men enured to hardships, bold and enterprising, the prospects of making future fortunes, and the honor of being among the first adventures in the western wilderness consoled and supported them, together with a firm reliance upon an overruling Providence, whose protecting arm they did not doubt would be with them in their long and dangerous journey. They were all married and had families (except Samuel Adams) who was then not more than 19 years of age, and had received deep religious instructions from a pious mother who had offered up her prayers for their safety, they felt doubly armed in their hazardous undertaking.

This company was afterwards known by the name of the "McAfee Company." They struck across the country to the Great Kanahway, then known by the name of New River and arrived at it about the middle of May 1773 about one-hundred and twenty miles by water above its mouth, having sent back their horses they spent about a week in selecting suitable trees and dug out and prepared two canoes to carry their baggage and clothes the former consisting of their rifles, ammunition, tomahawks, butcher knives, blankets and fishing tacking, including a few fish gigs, etc. They then descended new River to its mouth on the Ohio River where they arrived on the 29th of May and remained to the first day of June (the 29th being Saturday). About twenty miles above the mouth they met Capt. Thomas Bullitt, Douglas and Hancock Taylor, surveyors and their company, who were going down to the falls of the Ohio to survey Proclomation rights of 1763. While there they measured the Ohio River, which was then found to be 400 yards wide, and the Kanahway or New River 200 yards at its mouth.
On the first of June Capt. Bullitt was chosen their commander, and he determined to visit Chilicothe, the chief town of the Shawanoe Indians on the Scioto, with three of his own men and two Delaware Indians, who with several others were going down the Ohio to hunt, Capt. Bullitt proceeded across the country by land. The balance of the companies proceeded down the Ohio in a boat and canoes, Robert McAfee and one or two others considered their best hunters, spent a part of every day out on the south side of the Ohio hunting and generally returned with the necessary supplies, and on the 10th of June the company reached the mouth of the Little Sandy river, where they camped and stayed all night. My father in his excursions struck LIttle Sandy and discovered the Salt Springs on that Creek, and on the 11th of June they arrive at the Mouth of the Sciota, and on the next day my father, Robert McAfee, ascended the high ridge below the mouth of the Sciota on the North side of the Ohio from which he had a good view up and down both rivers, he also examined the Bootom at which Portsmouth now stands and also passed to the South side opposite the mouth of the Sciota, where he found an old French town of nineteen or twenty houses, some of which were of hewn logs and clapboard roofs, but vacant and deserted, apparently built some twelve or fifteen years before, which were no doubt the first houses ever built by Europeans in the new state of Kentucky and previous to the surrender of Fort Duquesne (Pittsburg).
June 13th (Sunday), Capt. Bullitt met them from Chilicothe with a letter from a white man by the name of Richard Butler, who had been living with the Shawanoes several years. As this letter may be interesting to the antiquarian in after times, and may show the means by which an All-wise Providence opened the way for the exploration and settlemend of the western country, I will give it as found in my father's journal:
Chilicothe, June 10th, 1773.
Gentlemen:--
I have been present as a witness and interpreter between Captain Bullitt and the Shawanoes and a part of the Delawares; I believe (and not without some surprise I acquaint you) that his progress in treating with these people has exceeded the expectations of most people, as they claim an absolute rite to all that country you are about to settle. That it does not lye in the power of those who sold it to give this land; and as I am a well wisher to your undertaking I can do no less in justice to Capt. Bullitt than to acquaint you that it is my opinion that it lyes in your power to fulfill every engagement he has made in your behalf by endeavoring to make good order among them and a friendly countenance to your present neighbors, the Shawanoes. I do assure you that it lies in your power to have good neighbors or bad, as they are a people very capable of discerning between good treatment and ill. They expect you to be friendly with them, and endeavor to restrain the hunters from destroying the fame, and that the young men who are inclined to hunt will be regulated by the law of the colony in the case, and as I dare say it is not to hunt the land but to cultivate it that you are about to settle it, it will be an easy matter to restrain those that would hunt and cause your infant settlement to be disturbed, although I am at present a stranger to you all I beg leave to subscribe myself you well wisher and humble servant. To the gentlemen settlers, below the mouth of the Sciota.
RICHARD BUTLER
Captain Bullitt's speech to the chief of the Shawanoe Nation, made in the council house in Chilicothe, June 9th, 1773.
Brothers: --
I am sent with my people to settle the country on the Ohio River as low as the Falls. The King has bought of the Northern and Souther Indians, and I am desired to acquaint you and all people of this great country that the English are and intend to live in friendship with you all and expect the same from you and them, and as the Shawanoes and Delawares are to be our nearest neighbors, and did nor get any of the pay given for it, it is proposed and agreed by the Principals of those who are to be the owners of the land to contribute to make your two tribes a present to be given you the next year and the year after. I am appointed to live in the country; I am sent to settle it in order to keep proper regulations, and as I expcet some more principal men out of my country in a short time, there will be something more to say to you. And the governor was to come through this country last year had he not been been taken sick, so that he may not be out this or next year, as he is desirous of seeing you and the country. I will have a belt of wampum against we have anything more to say as the King did not buy the country for any other purpose than his people to live on and work to support his country. Therefore we shall have no objections to your hunting or trapping on it we shall expect you will live with us as brothers and friends. I shall write what you say to my Governor and expect it to be a good talk.
The Answer of the Chief Cornstalk (Next Morning.)
Old Brothers of the Big Knife: We heard you would be gald to see your brothers, the Shawnees and Delawares, and talk with them, we are a little surprised that you sent no message before you, but came quite near us and then through the woods and grass a hard way without our knowledge, till you appeared among us quited unexpected, but you are now standing among your brothers, who of you and what you have said to us, we have considered your talk carefully and we are pleased to find nothing bad in it, or no ill meaning, but what seems pleasing, kind and friendly. You have mentioned to us of your directions for settling of people over the rive on the opposite side of us, and that it is not the meaning of your King and Governor to deprive us the hunting of hte country as usual, but that your directions are to take proper care that we shall not be disturbed in our hunting, for which we stand in need of to buy our clothing, all of which is very agreeable to your young brothers, your young men we desire will be strong in the discharge of your directions toward us, as we are determined to be strong in advising our young men to be friendly, kind and peaceable to you. This spring we saw some wrong by our young men in disturbing your people by taking their horses but we have advised them to the contrary and have cleansed their hearts of bad intentions, and expect it will be harkened to by them as they are pleased with what has been said.
Notwithstanding their friendly speeches the day before Capt. Bullitt arrived at the mouth of the Sciota, the company who were waiting for him saw four Indians swimming seven horses across the Ohio from the South side with saddles and packsaddles on them which they had no doubt of being taken from the white people. The Indians appeared much alarmed at seeing so many of the whites who did not disturb them, as they made their escape as soon as possible. There is no doubt that a knowledge of their young men being absent to steal horses at this and previous times, was the cause of the allusion in Cornstalk's speech to the conduct of their young men, and also of their astonishment, and suspicion upon the arrival of Captain Bullitt at Chilicothe. As he reached the suburbs of that place on the 5th of June, and as soon as his approach was known, he was immediately halted, and confined by a guard in awigwam at the outer edge of the town; where he was detained several days, until the chief could hold a council, during which time there were many exhibitions of hostility, but through the influence of Richard Butler he succeeded in quieting their fears, as he made no complain against their stealing horses. It was finally agreed that he should be admitted into their council, to make a speech, and explain his views accordingly on the morning of the 9th of June, he was escoted by upwards of one hundred Indians, painted, yelling and brandishing their tommahawks, into the town, and council house where he made the speech I have already given, after which they assumed a friendly attitude, and Bullitt having procured two canoes descended the Sciota to its mouth where he found his company awaiting him, and on the 14th the company left the Sciota and camped again in about four miles, and the next day proceeded slowly down the river, in order to give their hunters time to procure meat and on the 17th, they reached the mouth of Salt Lick Creek where Vanceburg now stands and about half mile up this creek they found a small salt pond or spring which had been much used by the buffaloes, deer and elk and at which the Indians had made salt, at this place the first Military surveys were made by them for Abraham Hempenstall and James MacMahan. From this the company proceeded slowly down the river, making occasional entries and surveys, one of the surveyors by the name of Kennedy was left at the mouth of Salt Lick Creek and laid off a town. The McAfee company and the other companies occasionally separated each one examining the country for themselves, James McAfee and Robert McAfee were generally out hunting - sometimes remaining out several days. On the 24th the company reached a Creek called Limestone, here Robert McAfee went out to examine the country, and as far as I can judge from his journal he passed out the North Fork of Licking and then down through a part of Bracken country, and went down a large creek to the Ohio and found the company had passed on, and he was compelled to make a Bark canoe in which the moon set, where he camped on the shore and at daylight continued his route and found the company at the mouth of Licking River on the morning of the 27th of June, he hunted up Licking next day thirty or forty miles, but was not pleased with the land.
Mr. Douglass one of the surveyors, remained at the mouth of Licking to make surveys, while Bullitt and the McAfee Company proceeded down the Ohio, every day making laborious and fatiguing excursions to examine the land their description of the face of the country and the land is accurately made in my father's & uncle James McAfee's Journal. On the 1st day of July, 1773, the company arrived at the mouth of the Big Miami, and examined the large Bottom land on the South side of the River where they attempted to make some surveys which was given up on account of some difference of opinion as to their form. The Surveyors insisting upon making them in squares while others only wished to take in the good land, The McAfee company wanted to find, springs and streams for mills were not pleased with the Ohio bottoms, never once thinking of the future discovery of steam power and its influence on commerce. Well, exclaims one, what a pity all these things were not known to the First adventurers on the Western country. If we had only known that the Ohio River would one day be the Main Street of some five or six great States what fortunes we could have made!! Do not murmur at Providence, my dear friends, you were nearly all dead before the discovery was made, and your children have already run through much of what you did secure, so that it is much the best for us that we cannot see into future events, which would only make us unhappy.
On the 2d and 3d July the company proceeded down the Ohio and passed Big Bone Lick about ten miles without knowing it, and on next day having discovered their error they returned and arrived at the Big Bone lick on the 4th of July, 1773, where they camped, making use of the short joints of the back bones for stools and seats & their ribs for tent poles to streach [sic] their blankets on. My father in his Journal says of this place, "It was a wonder to see the large bones that lies there which has been of several large big creatures. The lick is about 200 yards long and as wide." Here they met with a Delaware Indian, apparently about seventy years old who was asked if he knew anything about them. He answered that when he was a boy they were just so as you now see them. The company remained here during the 5th and 6th of July and on the 7th started down the Ohio to find the mouth of the Kentucky River, Then called Levisa (spelled in my father's Journal Lewvisa). They went on until eight o'clock at night & camp'd, and started again about an hour before day and reached the mouth of Kentucky at daylight on the morning of the 8th July 1773. Here Capt. Bullitt, and his company parted from the McAfee company, and went on the falls of the Ohio. Hancock Taylor, surveyor, went with the McAfee Company up the Levisa or Kentucky river. They proceeded up to the mouth of Eagle creek and camped there that night (it was then named Eagle creek on account of their seeing several eagles hovering round its mouth). The next day they proceeded up in their canoes to the mouth of Drennon's lick creek where they found the river closed in to about ten yards wide by a Bar created by the creek. At this place the McAfee company left their canoes (as we hear no more of them) and went up that creek to the lick, here they found two men of Bullitt's company one by the name of Drennon & Matthew Bracken, who having heard of this place from the Delaware Indians while at the Big lone [sic] lick had crossed the country by land and arrived 2 days before them, laid claim to the lick who so displeased the company that they were not permitted to proceed further with them. It does not appear that either of these men ever enjoyed any benefit of their discovery made in violation of an implied understanding.
The number of Buffaloes, Elk, Deer, Beaver and wolves at this lick was astonishing. The roads round were as much beaten as in the neighborhood of a populous city. The country round was trod so much for several miles that my father's Journal says, "That there was not as much grass as would feed one sheep." The company remained at this place until the 15th July examining the lick and killing game. They also made several surveys. While engaged in this business James McAfee and Samuel Adams had a perilous adventure, in passing round the outskirts of the lick some of the party fired at a large gang of buffaloes which alarmed them and they broke in the direction where they were standing, and such was their rapidity that Adams had only time to scamper up a leaning Mulberry tree while James McAfee not being so young and active took shelter behind a tree about two feet in diameter and there by close pressing sideways he stood while the horns of the Buffaloes scraped the Bark on both sides. The storm being over he turned to look for Adams who he found hanging to the Mulberry like a coon eyeing his friend's condition unable to give him any aid. This incident furnished many an evening's amusement for many years after.
July 15th early in the morning they left Drennon lick, and as their Journals state took a small Buffaloe path about the size of the road leading out of Williamsburgh (Then the Capitol of Virginia) which went a South East course. They travelled some thirty miles as near as they could guess, and on the next morning in about five miles they struck the Kentucky river where the Buffaloe road crossed it at a ripple where lock No. 4 stands just below where Frankfort now is. From this point they passed up a Branch and down the valley in which the Penitentiary stands to the River bottom in which Frankfort now is, here my father made two surveys, one 400 the other two hundred, including the head of the Branch where they left a Tomahawk and Fish gig in a fine spring & marked a gum saplin at the spring. These surveys included the whole of the Penitentiary valley & the town of Frankfort except the low ground North of the Capitol square as well as the spring which is known as McAfee spring to this day. The last corner made was on the edge of the low bottom, near the three story Brick house occupied by Mrs. Sharpe about 80 or 100 yards N. W. of the present Capitol & camped that night under a large Beach Tree. This was the 16th of July Friday 1773 which was the First survey ever made on the Kentucky River. My father never completed his title to that land, altho he had ample time after the land offices opened, under the belief that others had taken it up.
Next day July 17th they left their camp without dreaming that they had slumbered on Kentucky's proud Capitol grounds, and passed up the ridge on which the Lexington road now runs and the day being very warm & dry after going about eight miles and not meeting with any water they turned toward the River and crossed about seven or eight miles above their camp at a place where there were high cedar clifts and little bottom land on either side. Thence passing through the now county of Anderson across the head branches of Hammond creek found good land but water scarce. The next day the 18th they proceeded a south west course and found the Cove Spring where Thomas Lillard afterwards settled on the turnpike road from Harrodsburg to Frankfort, now occupied by Mr. McCall where They camped all night, which they made their rendezvous until the 21st. On the 19th in the morning they were alarmed by the sound of a gun which they supposed was by Indians. Robert McAfee and James McAfee this day crossed to the Kentucky River and went up and across it for five or six miles but was not pleased with the land. The next day James McAfee had two four hundread acre surveys on the Spring and up south west & west, and on the 21st they searched west and found Salt River which they called "Crooked Creek," and went down the same to the mouth of Hammond creek and commenced surveying by making surveys for James and John McCoun, and again continuing up Salt River made several more surveys including Lucto and above. Being now pleased with the size of Salt River for miles good land and water they determined to make their final Surveys and locate for a future residence.
They continued their surveys up the River on the 22d, 23d and 24th for Sam'l Adams, William Adams, George McAfee and others. The 25th being Sunday the day was kept in camp at James McCoun's spring a mile below Providence Church. The 26 & 27 James McCoun & James & Sam'l McAfee's land was surveyed as well as John Magee's and the land I now live on and where I was born, as all were highly delighted with the land and water.
When my uncle James McAfee found his spring which is on the tract including the Providence church, he took Hancock Taylors (Surveyor) jacob staff & stuck it down on the bluff above the spring and addressing his brother observed, "Men, you may hunt for as much land as you please but for my part I intend to live here my days out with the blessing of Providence." To which my father replied, "Well, James we will try and find as good places near you" -- and sure enough the fine cave spring near which I live was surveyed the same day.
On the 28th they surveyed the land above where I live & surveyed several more tracts of land, and on the 29th lay all day at the mouth of Harrodsburgh branch & platted their different surveys, and on the 30th made surveys for Wm. McAfee including the mouth of the Branch also for John & James Curry and Jeremiah Tilford (1) & one for my father two miles above including Wilson Station & the Bridge over Salt River leading to Perryville, and again camped at the mouth of the town Branch.
July 31st (Saturday). This morning the company held a council as to the road they were to return home, whether to go back and get their canoes & return up the Ohio with Capt. Bullitt or take the most direct route home. The McAfee company decided to go up the Kentucky River and pass out of some of its branches into Powell's valley. It was a difficult and hazardous way, but upon the whole they preferred it to the difficulty of going back to the Ohio. They also heard that Dan'l Boone had found plenty of game & had passed very well high up on this river. Hancock Taylor and two other men who had joined them at the mouth of the Kentucky river determined to join Capt. Bullitt at the falls. Accordingly about twelve o'clock noon the party separated the McAfee company marched directly towards South East for their course and the others in a contrary direction towards the Falls of Ohio.
It is worthy of note that altho a survey made for Sam'l Adams included the mouth of the Fontaine Blue branch and one of its corners stood within two hundred yards of the spring they did not discover it, altho it is one of the finest springs on the waters of Salt River or indeed in Kentucky.
The course of the McAfee company lead them across the southern part of the town of Harrodsburgh and that night they lay under some remarkable shelving cliffs on dick's river, a few miles above its mouth as it commenced raining upon them and continued to rain very hard until near night. Next morning the 1st of August they passed on through the now county of Garrard & Madison crossing sugar creek, paint Lick & silver creek, and it still continued showery during this day & the next.
On the third day of August they came in sight of the mountains and then in about eight miles struck the Kentucky River and went up it with great difficulty crossing its many bends and on the 5th reached its main Fork without finding much game to live on. The mountains & spurs of ridges they had to occasionally cross were covered with pine laurel, Green briars & Brush so that it was with much pain & labor they could get along. They took the main North Fork and in twelve or fifteen miles the river forked again. They still kept the left hand or North Fork & had to raft the River several times. On the 7th James McAfee killed a buck Elk which was the first game of much account they had met with, it was a prize for which they were deeply Thankfull. The river became very crooked and they were greatly annoyed in passing over the Green Briar spurs of the mountains as it was impossible to keep on its banks. This day they came to another Fork, and they took the right hand Fork which is the Fork which comes down past Perry Court House, "Hazzard." It was on this fork James McAfee killed the Elk. Their troubles now seemed to be just commencing. They had to cross the River nearly twenty times a day. On the 10th they attempted to leave the river the mountains were so full of brush and Green Briar, they returned to the River and kept up it twenty miles, and on the 11th August they continued up the river until two o'clock and then left the river and as Robt. McAfee's Journal says, "We travelled across the worst Laurel mountains that I ever saw about 29 miles, and campt with little to eat, and on the 12th we travelled over the same kind of mountains which seemed to us that we should never get out of them. This (says Robert McAfee) looks a little discouraging." They were in a region of country which seemed to be the abode of desolation, nothing but barren rocks on every hand, & silence and solitude reigned supreme, not a living animal was to be seen, beside themselves, even teh Feathered Tribes had fled, and starvation, and death, was staring them in the face. Their feet blistered & legs & thighs raw with the scratches of Green briars & rubbering of the hems of their shirts. In the midst of a region of craggy rocks and clifts under a broiling sun was a scene which appalled the stoutest heart, all day no change for the better. The sun was going down behind the western mountains without having seen a living thing that would furnish food. They were passing to the head drains between the waters of the Kentucky, Cumberland & Clinch rivers and no water to quench their parching thirst. When George McAfee and Sam'l Adams exhausted and dispirited halted and lay down, declaring they could go no farther, and they might as well died at once, they were urged to go on a little longer, but to no purpose. At length Robert McAfee who was always the most cheerful and athletic of his brothers, as a last effort of despair, determined to proceed on across the point of the next ridge to see if he could find anything to kill while James McAfee remained with the others to try and revive their spirits, while James McCoun always cheerful tried to follow Robt. who soon outwalked him. The sun by this time was gilding the highest peaks of the Eastern mountains by his setting rays. When That Almighty Hand which sustains, guides, and directs the affairs of this world as well as the destinies of men, interposed on their behalf Robt. McAfee had not proceeded more than a quarter of a mile across the ridge and was approaching a small branch when he discovered a small spike buck about fifty yards before him! Joy! anxiety and desperation all flashed over at once, and being an excellent hunter he fired and the buck fell and in a moment after he was on him, himself, with his knife, he had scarcely finished killing him by cutting his throat, when he saw the ballance of the company hobling along to the place. The sound of his gun inspired new life and in a few minutes they had a fire kindled with meat and water from the little branch in abundance. Then joy & hunger combined made it the finest they ever had and Robt. was considered as the Joseph of his brethren while heartfelt thanks were returned to a kind Providence. This affair was never forgotten by these men and ought long to be remembered by their children. That a little venison had preserved the lives of their fathers in the wilderness on their return from "the land of Promise." Thus we may trace the workings of an all wise God who amid the highest points of our Western waters preserved a handfull of men who were destined to be the pioneers of civilization & christianity in the great valley of the Mississippi, now numbering many millions.
August 13th, cheered & strengthened they travel across some bad laurel ridges at a slow pace and next day reached the head of Powell's valley and on the 15th got to the home of a Mr. Castlewood at the Ford of Clinch river and after resting a few hours went on eight miles farther to David Gists where they remained all night and the next day they traveled on five miles farther to Capt. Russells, an old acquaintance, with their feet so blistered that they could go no farther, here they remained several days to recruit, and then in a week afterwards they all arrived at home to the great joy of their families who had not heard a word from them after they emarked on New River, which they found all well but deeply anxious for their safety & soon after my father's return viz on the 19th September 1773 my elder brother Samuel was born, which being my fathers first son having three daughters before was the cause of great joy in the family. They met Col. Boone in Powell Valley on his way to Ky. with his family & party but the Indians soon after attacked them & killed the eldest son, which broke up his trip.

• Family History. The year 1774 The above company intended to return to Kentucky to improve and look after their lands but previous to their getting ready to start, hostilities broke out with the Northern Indians Shawanoes Mingoes and Delawares on account of the murder of Logan and his family on the Ohio River which eventuated in a war, and James & Robert McAfee & George McAfee joined the troops under Col. Shelby and marched to the aid of Genl. Andrew Lewis, who had a battle with Indians at the mouth of the Great Kenhaway called "the battle of the point" on account of its being at the point between the two rives. But while then absent another company under Col. James Harrod consisting of about forty-one men in all, Harrod having about thirty men with him, was afterwards joined by another company of eleven men on the Ohio they pursued nearly the same route that the McAfee company had, only they ascended the Kentucky river in canoes to the mouth of Landing run (then so called) in the month of May nearly opposite the now village of Salvisa, at a place now called Oregon, & from thence they passed over on Salt River & made other imrpvements on portions of the land made by the McAfees, who had deadened trees and made brush heaps on the most conspicuous places on their several surveys one of these was claimed to have been made by a Mr. David Williams on behalf of his brother Vincent Williams within one hundred yards of my fathers improvement where he had cut the initials of his name on a white oak tree at the Elm Spring (R M F) where I now live which gave my Father & myself much trouble in a long & expensive law suit which I did not get finally settled until June, 1820, it having gone through the several courts in this state. This company also found Fontaine Blue Spring which was claimed by Isaac Hite one of Harrods Company, who finally held it by a compromise with Sam'l Adams. Col. Harrod's company also discovered the big town spring of Harrodsburgh which they made their Headquarters & on teh 16th of June 1774 laid off a town on the south side of the Town branch below this Spring and built some five or six cabbins & called it "Harrods Town." From this point they made their excursion to make improvements by deadening trees and making brush heaps and while there Col. Daniel Boone found them on his way to the falls of Ohio sent by the Governor of Virginia to warn the companies & surveyors of the Hostilities of the Indians and had a cabbin built in company with a Mr. Hinton which afterwards went by this name, about the middle of July Mr. James Cowan, Jacob Sodowsky & two other men being at Fontaine Blue, Mr. Cowan having got some of his papers wet, took them out and was drying them in the sun, and while thus employed was fired upon by the Indians & killed, Sodowsky and one of the others made their escape towards the falls of the Ohio and having made Canoes descended that River and the Mississippi to New Orleans & returned home by sea. The other man escaped to Harrodstown and gave the alarm to the ballance of the company who as soon as they could collect their stragglers broke up camp & returned home by the Cumberland Gap, with the determination to return next spring and maintain their ground. In Harrods company were several men who afterwards became conspicuous in the settlement of Kentucky and its History, The following names I have obtained from Col. Harrods company roll by Abraham Chaplin. [Page of names missing from manuscript].
1775 - Early in the year 1775 The McAfee company prepared to visit their land in Kentucky accordingly about the 20th of February they again left their homes with the addition of David Adams, Wm. McAfee & John Higgins, an apprenticed servant to my Grandfather James McAfee, and came through the wilderness by "the Cumberland Gap" & arrived at James McAfees Spring on Salt River on the 11th day of March 1775, and on the 15th of March Col. Harrod with a reinforcement of his company passed them on their way to Harrodstown again where they again located at their Headquarters, The McAfee Company cut down the small timber in about two acres of ground piled & burnt the Brush, and made a fence of Brush round it, planted some corn, peach stones and apple seed, and my father also planted peach stones and apple seed at a sink hole near my cave & Elm Springs, also the same was done at James McCouns Spring about a mile below where N. Providence church now stands, also intending to plant more corn, preparatory to moving to the country either That fall or next spring, My father was somewhat astonished & uneasy at Finding a pair of poles about six feet high near his improvements & within ten steps of the white oak in which his name was marked George McAfee & William McAfee also cleared a small piece of ground at a spring running into the town branch a short distance below the Harrodstown boundary at this time (now in possession of Jos. Morgan Esq).
About the 10th of April the company concluded to return home leaving John Higgins and Lucien Poulson at Harrodstown To plant more corn and warn other companies of their land, which was faithfully attended to by Higgins who made additional improvements by cutting down the Brush and piling it at the springs where I now reside. As my father intended to settle his father at this point and to make his settlement on the river above Harrodstown, The ballance of the company then continued their Journey toward their homes and on the 21st April met Henderson and his company at the crossing of Scaggs creek (a branch of Rockcastle River) coming on to settle at Boonesborough and grant settlement right claims to land by virtue of Watauga treaty of the 17th March previous with the Cherokees. Henderson was from North Carolina & claimed the greater part of the present state of Kentucky by virtue of this purchase notwithstanding the Treaty with the six nations (Mohawks) made at Fort Schuyler, here a hasty council was held & Henderson laid his plans before the McAfee Company and urged them to return with him and he would grant them land and allow them to make entries; James McAfee resisted his proposition and told his brothers that Hendersons claim could not be valid, as he had made his purchase without the sanction of the Government, and if they sought protection under him they would be deceived, notwithstanding this wholesome and correct advice, such were the alurements held out by Henderson, that his three Brothers turned Back with him to Boonesborough, then for the first time occupied by Col. Boone (about ten days previous) who had preceeded Henderson to open a road, soon after Henderson's arrival he sent for the Harrodstown people and held his famous convention in the month of May which my father Robert McAfee was sergeant at arms. The whole scheme afterwards proved abortive as predicted by James Mcafee as far as related to the entries of land made on Hendersons Books, but which eventually secured their settlement rights by raising corn. Robt. George and William McAfee remained about two months with Henderson and then returned home, and again in the month of September 1775, the same men in company with John Magee, David and John McCoun (and John Higgins who had returned home in July to help them) came back to Harrodstown & Salt River, now for the first time called by that name (on account of Capt. Bullitt having discovered Salt water on it at a place afterwards known as Bullitts lick) & brought with them forty head of cattle which they took down to James McCouns land on the river about a mile below N. Providence church & turned them in the cain & occasionally salted them, commenced clearing ground & Building cabbins. John Magee built a cabbin assisted by Wm. McBrayer on a point between two branches about a mile below my present residence. John McCoun with a part of this company remained during this winter and cleared about fifteen acres of ground in the flatt adjoining James McCouns spring & Planted it in corn in April 1776. Their cattle kept in good condition during the winter on the cain. They ploughed their corn once and in June having discovered & heard the Indians round them one night they broke up and returned home, expecting to aid their families in moving to the country.
1776 - Early this Spring the several McAfee and McCoun families with their friends and relations, the Adams, Currys, John Magee, including sons and sons in laws, commenced preparations for moving to Kentucky. Their wives and daughters had been employed day and night in making a surplus stock of linens, blankets, Flannel & bed clothes of all kinds including rugs, and also extra clothing enough for several years until they could raise supplies at their new home, calculating that the corn they had planted would supply them with bread and the cattle they had sent to the country would be sufficient to give them milk & also to begin with in a new country. The only difficulty seemed to be how they were to take their goods and chattels. It was at length agreed upon to take their heavy & Bulky household stuff by water & up the Kentucky river with part of the company and their families on pack horses through the wilderness by way of the Cumberland Gap -- accordingly in May 1776 they packed up the greater portion of their household property and farming utensils, also kegs of flour, corn, and other seeds in the middle of which they put a bottle of whiskey for safe keeping (which however proved their ruin, as we will see as has often been the case since with others) with these on Packhorses they proceeded across the country to Brown's Ferry, on Green Briar (or Gauly River as it was then called) where they made canoes & put all on board on the 11th of June and proceeded down the river but the season having been dry they had great difficulty in getting along over the falls & rapids of the river, after several overturning their canoes they were compelled to stop about fifteen miles above its mouth and build a log cabbin on a ridge in which they deposited all their goods & covered it well with Bark, Intending to return for their horses and Transport it back to go by land, But by the time they got home the Cherokee war broke out and the men had to go on that expedition which eventuated in burning their towns at Nicajack. As soon as this campaing was over, still determined on moving they collected their packhorses and went after their goods, which was early in September. When they arrived at their cabbin expecting to find everything safe, what was their astonishment and chagrin to find The roof thrown off, and their rugs, Blanketts & keggs lying scattered in various directions entirely ruined & broken open, some of their finest rugs lay under the shade of adjacent trees or clifts of rocks which when attempting to lift them they found rotten. They had apparently been used by some person to sleep on. The keggs which had been broken and found to contain their whiskey had been evidently destroyed for that purpose. The feelings of the company were at once enraged to find all their valuable property and the labour of years of toil thus destroyed, at a time when it was so much needed. They had also keggs of coffee, sugar, spice, tea, etc., which they had laid up for special use, as they did not expect to get such things in Kentucky for several years. It seemed to them that Providence had frowned upon them as all their plans & efforts were frustrated, so it appeared to them at that time, but no doubt a wise Province overruled all these things and saved many valuable lives which would have been destroyed if they had reached their new and dangerous homes in this year. It was no doubt for the best, however they did not then feel it so -- after a short consultation It was first supposed to be done by Indians, but seeing no signs of that kind This opinion wsa given up and It was believed to be done by some stragling white man. They determined to search round to see if they could find the culprit, the company divided off two together, and James & Samuel McAfee took a small track which led towards the river and down it, and in a short distance they met (as James McAfee said) A little diminutive red headed white man, who appeared much confused, he was immediately charged with doing all the mischief which he denied but James McAfee discovering some of their clothing on him on a sudden impulse of passion struck at him with the pole of his tomahawk which glancing off the side of his hat laid him on his back quivering and then drew his knife jumped at him to finish. But his Brother Samuel seized his arm and said, "Stop, James, do not kill the man." This admonition, recalled reflection, and his life was spared, his name was Edward Sommers, a bound servant who had ran away from his master low down in Virginia and was endeavoring to get to the Indains when he accidentally found this cabbin where finding, good rugs and clothing he had made it his headquarters for two months & breaking open one of the kegs to see what was in it found a bottle of whiskey which induced him to break the others upon which he got drunk and riotted like another savage without care or thought for the future not even attempting to preserve anything from destruction. The conduct was so wanton and outrageous that as soon as he came to, he was helped up and conducted back to the cabbin, and as soon as the company were collected a council was held over him, and he was permitted to explain his conduct which was so malignant & indefensible that it was decided that according to their opinion of the laws he had forfeited his life and ought to be hung. This sentence none of them would agree to execute, and by this means his life was saved a second time. James McAfee observing that "if Sam had let me alone There would have been no further trouble with him." They now collected such of their farming tools and some few other articles not injured and returned home to commence anew their laborious preparations, but the blow fell heavy upon every family and prevented any farther attempt to move and the succeeding years of 1777 & 1778. The continuation of the Revolutionary war in which the most of these men heartily engaged in the Virginia Malitia [sic] James McAfee served as a Lieutenant. The others were content to serve in the ranks as they were called on. Bottetourt county was almost unanimously ardent friends of the revolution and staunch whigs. Their principal services were however on the Frontiers, and down to Williamsburgh. The McAfees ranked as brave soldiers who could be relied on, but none of them aspired to distinction or office of any kind. Their education being confined to reading, writing & figures as far as the rule of three, my uncle James judging from his journal wrote an excellent hand for the times, or indeed at any time, superior to many men in high office, my father Robert, wrote a good strong hand and read well being much inclined to reading he was well informed upon all the current subjects of the day, he always took the leading newspapers then published in Virginia & the Kentucky Gazette from its first establishment until his death, he was however deficient in figures which he often regretted altho he could do his own calculations. This was one reason he often assigned for his determination to educate his children male and female. My uncles Sam'l & William also wrote excellent strong hands & were better versed in Arithmetic than any of their Brothers - some of the company visited Salt River in the fall of 1777 to look after the cattle, but by this time they had run wild or were killed by Hunters from Harrodstown, so that not more than two or three were ever heard of again.
1779 - This was an important year for the McAfee family and their friends as well as for the settlement of Kentucky. The Virginia Legislature passed a land law & Commissioners were appointed to sit as a court to examine and grant certificates of Settlements & Preemptions amounting to fourteen hundred acres of land, which met in Harrodsburg on the 13th day of October in this year, of course it became necessary for all those who had claims to land to come to the country and make their claims. My father and uncles & Grandfather McCoun & his family with the Adams, Currys, etc., consisting of three or four Patriarchal families having made extensive arrangements left their home in Bottetourt county Virginia on the 17th of August for Kentucky, leaving Geo. McAfees wife who had just been confined to follow on as soon as she was able to ride, which she was in three days after, the company moved slowly and halted at the Ford of New River for George McAfee to return for his wife, who to his great surprise he met coming the next morning. The company were all on packhorses and came by the Cumberland Gap, and after a long and painful march arrived in safety at Wilsons Station on Salt River about two & a half miles From Harrodsburgh on the 27th day of September & next day a part of the company went on to James McAfees station, my father stopt at Wilsons Station and put up a double cabbin for his family as he claimed the land adjoining. When the Commissioners met at Harrodsburgh, Wilson contested his claim and the Court decided in favor of Wilson. The surveyors office was kept by Mr. May in my fathers house and his brother taught a school part of that fall and winter, when my father lost his claim he entered his settlement right on the river about a mile below, his beginning corner stood on the East Bank of Salt River at the crossing of the old road, leading to Harbison's Station (now Perryville). Wilson's station stood on this high ridge on the East side of Salt River just below the mouth of the Dry Fork -- There being no good land adjoining my father's settlement he declined claiming his preemption of one thousand acres, which was an error which he afterwards had great cause to regret - & in the month of November he came down Salt River & built a cabbin on the Bank of the River near my present mill and moved to it as the winter set in having made an arrangement with John Magee his brother-in-law to divide his preemption with him, which afterwards gave him great trouble and expense.
The winter of 1779-80 proved to be one of great severity. It commenced the last of November & continued until the 15th or 20th February during which time the snow lay on the ground, and their [sic] was continued cold freezing weather. Salt River was frozen in many places to the Bottom, a large portion of the cattle & many of their horses perished my father lost ten head of his horses, so that he had but one yellow horse he called "Chicasaw" & one brown mare left in the spring, many buffaloes and wolves as well as beavers, otters & Turkies were frozen to death, and would frequently come up near the cabbins, at James McAfees Station, and where I live with the tame cattle. The people were reduced to the utmost extremity for bread, one "Johnny cake" (bread baked on a long board before the fire) had often to be divided according to size and number of the family & that only once or twice each day, and even this failed toward the close of winter and for many weeks nothing but meat could be obtained and that poor enough unless a Bear could be found in some hollow tree, which would furnish a feast with wild Turkey for bread. Thus their first winter was spent. James McAfees cabbins were considered Headquarters on Salt River, and among the persons who remained there that winter we find Robert Ewing and Baker Ewing, Joseph Lyon (1), beside James McAfees family and James McCoun Sen., his sons and sons in law ----
My Grandfather James McAfee declined moving with them to the country on account of his age, and difficulties of the road, his family made ample provision for (him) in the family of Mr. Montgomery (a relation) and a Mr. McDonald where he remained until his death in 1785. Cheerful and contented my Grand Mother would not separate from her children and came with them, living a part of her time with my father and a part with my aunt Mary Guant where she died in 1783 and lies buried with her son in law Thos. Guant on a high hill on the S. E. side of Salt River & about half a mile a little south of west from the mouth of the dry fork now in the farm of Archibald Adams and also a half a mile Northwestwardly from the Mudd meeting house (now so called). I am thus particular that the place may be identified. It is the only high ground near and Salt River runs around it on the west and North, commanding a fine view To the East, North & West, and there repose the Mother of the McAfee family in the new Western world to which she had brought her children. It is about three miles Southwest of Harrodsburgh. It may also be worthy of notice That when my father and uncles James McAfee reached their land in Sept. 1779 They found a good crop of peaches and a few apples on the Trees grown for [sic] the seed planted in the spring 1775, so rappid had been their growth, and I have now on my farm two apple trees of the same stock which never failed to bear every year since my recollection making good the old Scotchman's remark "when ever you can find nothing else to do, plant a tree of somekind, it will pay your or somebody else."
1780 -- As already remarked the spring of this year opened early, about the 20th of February, after which a succession of fine pleasant weather inspired them with new life and hopes. The first thing attended to was my Father's and uncles went to the falls of Ohio having heard of the arrival of some corn from "Red Stone" old Fort. It was important to procure seed and some bread for their families, and on their arrival they procured some indifferent corn at sixty dollars per Bushel continental money, my father purchased seven bushels & packed on his two horses home all he had for Bread and seed until he could raise it, and this was ground on handmills constructed by themselves, tin cups were a luxury and gourds they had none until they were grown, and my father who was a good self made mechanic contrived with the few tools he had to supply the deficiency by making what was called "noggins" which he hollowed out of a knot of a tree or with small staves and hoops to hold about a pint of which each child had one, then "necessity the Mother of invention" found means to provide the necessary family utensils, yet will all this deprivation they were happy and contented, and at the station of James McAfee they enjoyed themselves with dancing several times each week. It was not then considered criminal, & it kept up their spirits and cheerfulness in the wilds of the West, and it must be admitted that it added to the health & happiness of the young people and indeed It was not believed to be inconsistent with their religious duties, But after times proved the necessity of limiting this amusement.
As soon as they possibly could each family moved to their land and commenced clearing land, my father and John Magee lived for some time together in a cabbin in which I was afterwards born. My father cleared and planted some five or six acres North of the Elm spring on which my Orchard now grows, and early in June of this year James Thompson, surveyor of Lincoln county surveyed the settlements & preemptions on the river belonging to the McAfee company. But a difficulty took place which involved my father and John Magee in a tedious law suit with Mr. Vincent Williams, who this spring claimed before the Court of Commissioners a preemption by virtue of an improvement made in 1774 as one of Harrods Company by his brother David, But the court decided that having already granted a preemption to John Magee for the same land they could not grant one to him. It was unfortunate That John Magee when he claimed his preemption made on the faith of an improvement in 1775 instead of 1773 under an impression that the improvements made in that year were void as well as their surveys which was a great mistake & gave cause for much trouble thereafter, indeed all the McAfee company had made their claims in the same way, believing that Harrods company had not interfered with them, which not the fact altho John Higgins & Poulson had notified them of the McAfee improvements in 1775 which nted all other interference except by Williams and Isaac Hite the latter of whom wisely compromised with Sam'l Adams while Williams finally failed as will be seen in the sequel after expending ten times the value of the land in that day.
The Indians during this year annoyed the station by killing & scalping stragglers and stealing horses on the North bank of the Kentucky river, while those on Salt river were comparatively left in peace on account of Harrodsburg containing a respectable population and a company of soldiers, yet occasionally that section of the country was assailed. It may be a matter of some curiosity to give the census of Harrodsburgh at this place taken from the Journal of John Cowan in the year 1777, which will prove its importance at that time & since taken on the 1st day of May in that year after the arrival of Col. Bowman --- viz
Men in service..............81
Do not in service..............4
Women..............24
Children above 10 years old..............12
Children under 10 years..............58
Slaves above 10 years..............12
Negro children under 10..............7
______
198
In the year this population had greatly increased, which in addition to continual influx of Temporary & travellers looking for land made it even in that day the principal town of the state.
1780 -- But to return to the event of this year (1780). In consequence of the depredation of the Indians Gen. George R. Clarke with Col. Ben Logan determined to attachk the Shawanoe Indians at Old Chilicothe on the little Miami (now in the State of Ohio) about three or four miles nort of Xenia, with this view Genl. Clarke was to move up the Ohio River in boats with the regular troop and Militia in the vicinity of the Falls of Ohio to the mouth of Licking River. Col.Logan was to descend the Kentucky river & meet him at the mouth of that river. The troops from Lexington, Bryants Station & other places North of the Kentucky were to go on direct to the mouth of Licking. In consequence of this arrangement, the troops from St. Azaphs, Harrodsburgh, McGary's, & James & Wm. McAfees stations met at various points on the Kentucky River, the main rendezvous was at a place called Warwick in the first large bottom above the mouth of Landing run (Harrods landing of 1774) and prepared canoes and collected provisions for that purpose, with this expedition the men from James McAfees station generally went leaving only enough to cultivate a field of corn of about two acres which had been cleared in common in the valley East of the station and to defend the station which reduced them to six or seven men only besides their women and children, my uncle William McAfee commanded the company thus raised from Harrodsburgh & this and the other stations. This Expedition started about the first of July, Capt. Elliston also commanded another company from the other stations. These troops laid in provisions to last until they reached the mouth of Licking expecting to get a supply then from Genl. Clarke at the Public expense, But when about to march from that point, two poinds of flour per man and a small quantity of meat was all that could be had, nothwithstanding they were in high spirits and made no complaints as Genl Clarke had done the best he could. The only draw back on the army, was that one man deserted before they crossed the Ohio and went to the Indian Twon and gave them information of the approach of Clarkes army, so that when they arrived at Old Chilicothe They found the town deserted and burnt and still smoking in its ruins but as the army pushed on to another town called Piqua a few miles distant they found that the Indians had taken refuge in a block house and a small stockade fort. It was about ten o'clock in the morning and Genl. Clarke divided his army into four divisions and directed the leader of each to march so as to enclose the town on four sides. The Indians perceiving this movement sallied out and formed in the timbers on the west side of the town and were ready to receive the whites, a severe battle now commenced, and a running tree firing was kept up The Indians still retreating as the second division of Genl. Clarke army joined in the combat, the other two division which were to cross opposite the town could not get down the Banks of the river and went up nearly three miles to cross & of course did not get engaged in the battle, after the first and second division had kept a running fight for nearly two hours they lost sight of the Indians entirely and not hearing of anything of the other portion of the army they collected together and marched round towards the river above the town & discovered an Indian in a Tree top Capt. William McAfee & Elliston took the same tree, McAfee being outside turned round to look for another tree to shelter himself when the Indian fired and shot him through the breast he did not fall immediately but sat down when a Mr. James McBride discovering the Indian by the smoke of his gun fired at him and killed him on the spot, which closed is exultation. A portion of Capt. McAfees company being left to take care of him The balance marched round the point of a ridge and halted & sat down to listen for the ballance of the army, but all was silence for near half an hour, when suddenly a body of Indians came down the bottom of the Miami below them and commenced Tremendous war whoop yelling, both parties apparently about equal, The white troops immediately rushed down upon them and each party taking a tree a heavy fire commenced, but the Indians soon retreated towards their town and block house pursued by the whites, who for two miles followed them so that when the whites reached to top of one ridge the Indians were ascending another. When the Indians reached the high ground above the bottom where their town was located they formed in line of battle & took trees and here the main battle realy commenced as the Indians in the fort united with their brethren, and the renewed firing having been heard by the detached company they arrived in time to aid in the conflict, after the battle had continued some time and several had been killed on both sides the Indians broke and ran down the hill into their fort and cabbins where the conflict was renewed, Genl. Clarke now ordered up a small three pounder cannon, which he taken with him on a pack horse and opened his fire upon their block house, from a point below the town while the other troops fired upon the Indians as they could occasionally he seen running from their cabbins towards the river, and in this way the firing was kept up until after sun down when it was ascertained that nearly all the Indians had made their escape to the river & ascended under its bank up to a small branch that put in above the town, and in this way got off, and some of them were met by the other division of them were met by the other division of the army which was all the share they had in the conflict -- some fifteen or twenty Indains were killed in this last conflict and nearly as many white men, and a great many wounded. The army encamped in the vicinity of the town & next day destroyed all their corn & houses. Capt. William McAfee altho shot through the breast did not appear to be mortally wounded, he was carried part of the way on a litter between two horses to the Ohio at the mouth of Licking and thence down to the falls of Ohio and out to Floyd Station where (he) remained alive until his wife went from his station near Harrodsburgh to see him, his wound at last produced mortification and he died in August 1780 leaving his wife ensient with a third daughter (afterwards Mrs. Mary Lee). Thus closed the life of a second uncle by the hands of the Indians, and a braver spirit never lived, he was beloved by all his friends, while his loss was deeply felt by his family, consisting of a wife and three infant daughters. My uncle George McAfee who had married Capt. Wm. McAfees wifes sister became the Guardian of the children and the protector of the widow (2), such were the difficulties incident to the first settling of Kentucky which have been deeply impressed on my mind and very probably influenced many of my opinions & feelings during a long and eventful life. The south side of the Kentucky river had peace the ballance of this year. Some time this fall my uncle John Magee moved to his cabbin about one mile below my fathers on Salt river, and no other event of importance took place the ballance of this year, in connection with my family.
The men were generally engaged in tending & gathering their crops surveying their land and killing meat to feed their families, having to bring what salt they used from the falls of Ohio at an exorbitant price. My mother and elder sisters gathered nettles in the fall from which she manufactured a piece of linen enough to clothe some of the children, and an old black woman by the name of Frank & a negro boy called Cornelius the former he had purchased of my Grandfather McCoun and the latter he had purchased when a child & brought both to Kentucky with him, which was his whole stock of servants he ever owned.
1781 -- The winter of 1780-81 was comparative a mild one & the people on Salt River had plenty of provisions for themselves and families. My father had increased his stock of horses he also procured some sows and pigs from Whitleys Station, and everything appeared to prosper reound him, but a reverse was at hand. My mothers youngest Brother Joseph McCoun, a youth about eighteen years of age on the 6th day of March (1781) early in the morning went out to look after his fathers milk cows, & concluded to go to some traps he had set the evening before at a cave high up on the Bank in a clift of Salt River above his fathers cabbin. The Indians discovered him and purused him he ran down Salt River on the west side, and crossed over the Indians keeping between him & his fathers cabbin he ran nearly a mile before they caught him in a small glade now near the Turnpike road North of the Road leading from Vandike's mill to Armstrong's old ferry on the Kentucky river now inside of Robert McAfees wood pasture (formerly Meaux) no(t) returning The family suspected some mischief & took his trail and followed It until they found where he had been taken and tyed with hickory bark. It was in the evening before the alarm was given, and when my father heard at His cabbins where I live he only had time to pack up his household stuff and his children and reach James McAfees station about dark, burying a large chunk of led in his yard, which he never afterward could find. John Magee, Saml McAfee and my Grandfathers family all took shelter in the Station that night, and next morning a party of men made pursuit under the direction of my father. The Indians had retreated with great rapidity & could not be overtaken before they crossed the Ohio above the mouth of Kentucky some distance & the company returned, indulging hopes that as they had not killed him this side of the Ohio that his life would be spared. but it turned out a vain hope, as certain information was obtained a few years afterward from other prisoners that he was taken to a small Indian town on the head waters of Mad River (a few miles beyond where Springfield now stands in the State of Ohio) where he was tyed to a tree and burnt to death. This was a heavy blow to my Grandmother (for he was her darling son), as well as the youngest, she seldom afterwards was seen to smile and in a few years afterward sank to her grave.
All the famiilies on the river except Wm. McAfees having now collected at James McAfees Station they commenced clearing additional ground to plant corn for their families in common, several other families also came to the station. My uncle James McAfee occupied the N. E. corner of the station & my father the S. W. corner house next the River. As they were considered their main reliance in dangers James McAfees cabbin stood near the spot on which he afterwards built his stone house (in which my son William now lives) and the cabbins extended toward the near the head of his fine spring. In the __nth of April the Indians attempted to steal their horses out of a stable near my fathers cabbin when he in company with his brother James took their horses out of one end of the stable while the Indians were in the other with their halters, this was late in the night, and taking their horses into the yard of the Station saved them that time. But this effort was only preparatory to additional trouble, which resulted in a serious attack on the station which on the south side was partly open except a common rail fence. The attack was made on the 9th day of May 1781 in the morning about a half hour or hour after sun rise, at a time when there were only ___teen men in the station, and the Indians expected an easy prey. It appeared afterwards that about one hundred and fifty Indians had lay the night previous at a cabbin & corn crib built by James McCoun Junr, near a spring on the west side of Salt River about three fourths of a mile below the station where James Vanarsdale (formerly Peter Vanarsdale lived) and had before day next morning taken their posts on every side of the place, mostly on the East & South sides, one man passed out of the Station towards Harrods landing, he was advised by James McAfee to take the woods and strike the path some distance off, the Dogs and cattle exhibited some signs of uneasiness in the morning but as no attack was made all suspicion was lulled, Saml McAfee and a man by the name of Isaac Clunendike had taken a horse and a bag to go up to his place three fourths of a mile south for some corn, and Robert and James McAfee had gone out to clear some ground for a Turnip patch about one hundred and fifty yards from the station, taking their guns with them as usual setting them against a tree near where they were working. Saml McAfee & Clunendike had not gone more than a quarter of a mile when passing down into a hollow, the Indians fired on them and Clunendike fell dead and the horse he was leading broke loose and run [sic] off to the station. Saml. McAfee turned to make his escape, but he had not ran more than ten or fifteen steps before he met a huge Indian directly in his path, both rushed on towards each other with their guns at a level until within a few feet, and both attempted to fire at the same instant. My uncles gun made a clear fire and the Indians flashed as he fell and my uncle jumped over his body and made his escape amid the fire of several other guns, My father and Uncle James hearing the firing seized their guns and started toward it, my father being the most active got a head some distance, while my uncle discovered seven Indians rise from behind a brush heap and fired at him which cut close around his head & cut his clothes, he turned and took to a tree, but he had scarely got behind it before six or seven other guns were at him from another direction and cut up the dirt near his feet, he then turned and made good his retreat into the Station, my father ran on until he met his brother Saml, who told him that Clunendike had been shot and not to go there, he notwithstanding pushed on until he came to where the Indian lay, and he saw others scalping him, he then began to look round, to examine his own situation when he found that the Indians had intercepted his path, he then took to the woods and was closely pursued by a tall fine looking Indian with silver rings and moons in his nose and ears, after running some distance he turned upon his enemy who immediately halted & took a tree, my father then ran on & the Indian after him, upon whom he would again turn and the Indian would again take a tree and in this way he was several times closely pressed, both reserving their fire to the last extremity, at length my father reached the turnip patch fence in the flat South west of the station where he again wheeled and the Indian again treed, my father then threw himself over the fence and waited for a few minutes and the Indian put his head out to see what had become of him, when my father fired and shot the Indian in the head and then made his escape into the station to the great joy of his family and the others. For he had been given up as lost. The firing now became general and the Indians approached in every direction, the women ran bullets and prepared patches while the men kept up a constant fire whenever they could see an Indian. Finding that they made but little impression on the station & the horses and cattle all running up round the houses the Indians turned into killing them and several dogs who rushed out to aid their masters -- a portion of the Indians were stationed on the west side of Salt River to prevent any escape in that direction. The firing continued almost incessantly, the men in the station being protected by their cabbins received but little injury one man only being slightly wounded. The Indians made several attempts to rush upon the station but were invariably met with so hot a reception that they retired in order to draw the men out, but the disparity was so great that my father and uncle James McAfee who assumed the command, forbit it ordering the men to keep close and fire only when any Indian would show themselves. In this way John Magee killed an Indian and several others also saw Indians fall after firing. The Indian killed by my father was believed to be one of their chiefs from the number of silver ornaments found on him, and his death no doubt discouraged them, about ten o'clock A.M. Their firing began to slacken, when a sound like distant thunder was heard in the direction of Harrodsburgh, and in a little time a tremendous yelling commenced and Col. McGary at the head of about forty five men were seen approaching on Horseback at full speed, from his station, Harrodsburgh and Wm. McAfees station, several of them without their hats to the great joy of them men, women, & children, while the retiring yells of the retreating Indians were heard crossing to the West side of Salt River. A half of a few minutes was made until the men of the station could bridle their Horses (saddling scarcely thought of) when pursuit was made, crossing the Ford of the river below the station where the Indians killed one man and wounded another, the west bank of the river being very muddy one mans horse mired and he was thrown off which threw him in the rear which gave some cause for unmerited censure. The main body of the Indians were overtaken at James McCoun Junor [sic] cabbins on the west side of Salt River about a mile below the station, where they had camped the night previous, here the conflict again commenced, the Indians retreating and firing from behind trees. Two Indians were killed at the first onset, pursuit was made several miles, as far as George McAfees or Lyons run, near where the Bloomfield road now crosses where the Indians dispersed and could be followed no farther, the whites sustained no farther injury than was sustained at the crossing of the river.
The prompt relief obtained from Harrodsburgh and the other station six or seven miles distant was on account of the stillness of the morning with a gentle breeze from the north, the firing was heard at William McAfees station (now Jos. Morgans) about a mile below Harrodsburgh, an express was immediately sent to that place and McGarys station with orders to meet about three miles below. The men seized their arms and started instantly, such was the spirit and constant state of preparation by the early pioneers to aid their friends, no excuses were made all moved with one heart; several ludicrous scenes took place on their rapid march one of which I will relate, when approaching the station in full gallop the horse of Jeremiah Tilford (the father of John Tilford President of the Northern Bank of Ky) fell under him and tumbled him over his head in a cloud of dust, he held to the bridle of his horse and gun which cut his hand badly, but lost his hat. Nobody waited or looked after him, but Tilford remounted his horse and came in with the foremost in gallant style, bareheaded and covered with dust acting his part in the after conflict to the no little amusement of his companions, having only taken time to tye a handkerchief round his head. In the station during the attack every man and woman done their duty except one whose name was John Robertson afterward known as "little Johnny." He was at first parallized and hid himself but being reproached by his wife he was forced to join in running bullets, I give his name here in order to relieve others from suspicion, as the Rev. Mr. Davidson finding the statement in the Record of the N. Providence without a name supposed I had repressed it on account of his being a relation, not so, he had none of the blood of the McAfees or McCouns in his veins. (3)
After this attack on McAfees station very little injury was done to the station on this part of Salt River. The people of this station, raised their crops in peace and in abundance of the substantials of life such as bread, milk & meat & in the fall of the year were joined by Robt. and Alexander Armstrong the oldest son of John, and William Armstrong, afterwards known as pillars of the N. Providence Presbyterian church, John Armstrongs son being the Father-in-law of its present pastor, the Rev. Doct. Thomas Cleland, whose daughter Margaret he married about the year 1801.

• Family History. The winter of 1781-2 was comparatively mild and my father cleared about ten acres of ground this winter and spring on the place where I now live (The field on the river adjoining the present bridge across the Salt River). It was heavily timbered with oak, elm and sugar trees, but having less underbrush he selected it on that account, cutting down the small timber and deading the large by belting.
(1782) -- This field he cultivated in corn in the year 1782, while he lived with his Family in the station, he always took his gun with him and set it against a tree about the middle of the row he was plowing in, he was however never molested by the Indians, who this year were very troublesome on the North side of the Kentucky River, stealing horses and attacking stations and murdering stragling Travellers, until in August a general attack was made on Bryant Station, which eventuated in the disastrous battle of the Blue Lick on the 19th of August in this year in which none of the men in James McAfees station did not participate as they did not get notice in time to overtake the troops.
The inhabitants of Jas McAfees station continued to reside in the station which they had stockaded after the attack already related, but cultivated their several farms returning every evening to their Fort, killing meat for their families on their rout; nothing of importance took place until about the middle or last of July, when a party of young people young men and girls with one or two of the heads of the McCoun family with whom I had two Sisters went down to my grandfathers place to pull a patch of flax and having completed their work started back to the Fort. After crossing the dry Branch near where they had been at work my uncle John McCoun proposed to go up its valley & hunt for plumbs to which they all agreed, after gathering as many Plumbs as they could find they returned to the station, through the woods passing to the East of N. Providence Church where all arrived in safety.
Next morning as my Father & uncle James McCoun with several others returned, to look after their flax, they found an Indian Blind made of Bushes cut down & stuck in the ground about a quarter of a mile from the Flax patch at a point where the patch crossed a narrow ridge obliquely so that any person approaching it from below would not see it until within a few steps of the place. Behind which they counted the prints of Eight Indians who having discovered the party pulling flax had gone to this place with a view of capturing or killing the whole party. This event was always thereafter regarded as an extraordinary interposition of Providence in their favor, for which many heartfelt thanks were returned to the Almighty by the Parents of these young people, who amidst all their dangers did not forget to dance and amuse themselves in the station when ever they could get the opportunity. Those who had no flax gathered nettles and made linnen of it, my uncle James McAfee had an Irish girl bound to him before he left Bottetourt by the name of Jane McMillins, who has often told me that she had upon many a dozen cuts from the lint of nettles which was as fine as flax but not so strong, she afterwards married a Mr. Joseph Lyon long known as a worthy good citizen which I will notice again.
I recollect of seeing the Brush of this Indian blind still remaining when I was a child in my parents arms as we went to Grandfather McCouns and my Father took special pains to impress the story on my mind & my mother observing "see how Good God was in preserving our lives."
During the Fall of this year Isaac Hite put up a small tub mill on the Fountain Blue Branch about half way Between the Spring and the river, in which he placed a pair of hand mill stones. This was the second mill ever built on the waters of Salt River, Mr. Andrew McConnell having built a mill of similar kind on The Town Branch in Harrodsburgh in October 1777 In which he also had a pair of Handmill stones, he would often set it to grinding and leave for hours to itself as it scarcely ground more in the day than half supplied the Fort, one morning McConnell having started his mill went to Breakfast and on his return found a large wild Turkey (Gobler) taking his breakfast out of the hopper in such earnest order That McConnell caught him in the act, and made his dinner out of him, The Turkey had no doubt been in the habit of helping himself, without regard to any of the laws of civilization which in any wise incroached on his natural rights to take what he could find.
It has not been my intention to enter into the details of the history of the First settlers of Kentucky beyond what may be incidentally connected with my own family hence I have not entered into the events connected with Col. Danl Boone beyond the year 1775 any farther than to show That Harrodsburgh has the right to claim the priority of actual settlement as decided by our Court of Appeals in 1813. 3rd Bibbs report page 128. In case of Thomas & others vs. Bowman, In which the Court says "Harrodsburgh is proven to have been settled as early as 1774 and its notoriety from that period to the date of the Appellees entry is clearly and abundantly proven." I do not intend to notice any other matters farther than I have already done except in connection with events necessary for me to investigate.
1783 -- In the Spring of this year my Father moved out of the station to his own land where I live, and he now assertained that Vincent Williams had filed a caveat against the issuing of the Patent for his land the year before. Thus he had the prospect of a long law suit, which was the second for the land on which he expected to raise his family and to which he belived he had clear and indisputable title, he however went to work clearing ground and planted his crop, and then went back to Bottetourt to see my Grandfather To whom his children sent clothing and other necessarys & after his return in the summer of this year My Grandmother McAfee departed this life while living with my aunt Mary Guant, who had lost her husband Thos. Guant, killed by the Indians while out hunting on the west side of Salt River opposite where (he) had built a cabbin four miles above Harrodsburgh on the same day of the Battle of the Blue Licks last year, and she was buried by the side of her son in law at the place I have already described.
In the fall of this year my father seeing and feeling the great difficulty in grinding their corn and wheat of which he had raised a fine crop he with the assistance of his brothers Saml. & James and one or two hired hands built a log dam across Salt River & put up a small Tub mill which afterwards done a good business for many years, and settlers from Benson near Frankfort often came to his mill with packhorses loaded with grain, yet the Inhabitants had no market for their produce except To emigrants who began to Flood the country who generally brought money with them which kept in brisk circulation & the preliminaries of Peace having been signed with England, the people of this then remote region began to hope that they would enoy [sic] the blessings of peace, but in this they were greatly deceaved as will appear in the sequel. It was now believed that Kentucky had at least thirty Thousand inhabitants which were rapidly augmenting by new arrivals anxious to secure a home in a land which they were told was "flowing with milk & honey." Land warrants called "Treasury warrants" had been issued to the amount of many millions of acres by which Virginia took her paper money which had issued during the Revolutionary war so that it was believed That a large portion of the State of Kentucky was covered three times over by different entrey of Warrants which involved the people in tedious and expensive law suits for many years, of which my father was destined to have his share. They however had abundance to live on and their stock of Hogs & cattle as well as horses increased rappidly. The cane, peavine, and Wild grass and clover called Buffalo clover (a large white kind) supplied them with pasturage with little feeding (excepting salting) both winter & summer. It was usual for those who had surplus stock to drive the same to the range (or wood) & cut down a large tree and cut down a large tree and cut small Troughs or notches in it, to salt their stock in, which they called a "lick log" and then once a week supply them with salt which was procured in small quantities from Bullitts lick in Bullitt Country at the price of three dollars per Bushell & sometimes as high as Five Dollars in silve (June 3d 1784 my Grandmother McCoun died & Revd. David Rice preached funeral next day).
1784 -- The winter of 1783-84 was a severe one with an unusual quantity of snow, my father being a thoroughing going, industrious, persevering man, assisted by my Eldest Brother Samuel & his negro boy Cornelius, attended to his mill & farm, and during this winter cleared and made about four acres of meadow on the south side of the valley running through my farm north of his cabbins and appeared propserous and contented, yet a sad blow awaited him, a second son born in 1778, took sick and died on the 6th day of February his name was Robert, and on the 18th day of the same month (Feb. 7, 1784) I was born and was destined to supply my brothers name and place & was called Robert B. in honor of a favorite young lawyer John Breckinridge, a favorite of my fathers in Bottetourt who a few years afterwards moved to Kentucky & settled in Lexington, and afterwards on North Elkhorn -- not long after I was born my Mother was attacked with fever and ague which added to the distress of the family and I had to be fed with milk from a bottle by my Eldest sister Margaret, to whom I was always attached afterwards. It was some months before my Mother recovered her health. My first recollections were my plays round my fathers cabbin as soon as I could walk and of sliding down as ash pile on which ice had formed and of slipping & cutting my head on a broken pot on its top as I slipped down, my next exploits were in my mothers safe or dairy which sat at the back of the house, when I helped myself to as much cream as I wanted and I have loved good cream ever since. I will now give a definite description of my birthplace where I now live as well as a personal description of my Father and Mother.
My Father Robt. McAfee was five feet and eleven inches and a quarter in height, remarkably large round and full breasted, well made in proportion indicating great strength & activity and endurance, he was considered the most athletic of his family, large, well proportioned face, with prominent square forehead & strong natural powers of mind very black hair thick set on his head & inclined to be curly which he always wore short, he was a good specimen of the Scotch race. Firm and decisive in his character and when his purposes were made up, he had the most unwearied perseverance, so that to decide, was to do, so that impossibility with him was seldom permitted to come within his calculations, his eyes were black or very dark hazel, which strongly indicated a Spanish cross of blood in some of his Ancestors during the intercourse of that nation with Scotland.
My Mother was rather above the ordinary size with grey eyes, a round expansive forehead, dark auburn hair, straight and abundant and so long that she could sit on the end of it when hanging down her back, kind and affectionate to all her acquaintances, especially as to her children whom she regarded as her Jewells so much so that she could not rest long if she did not know where they were, I recollect being so mischevious that I have frequently crawled under the bed to hide, that I might hear her call & search for me when I was a mere child. This conduct I afterward considered as my first offense against the best of mothers, who regarded me as her idol, and for which I have often reflected on myself, she was always regarded as among the best of women, and my many acts of disobedience to her often rises in judgement against, and has ever made a deep impression on my mind, so much so, that no offense gives me more pain than disobedience or ingratitude to parents especially the mother. My fathers cabbin in which I was born stood on the East bank of Salt River not more than eight or ten yards from the same. It was on the site of one of the many Indian towns which existed perhaps five hundred years before in many places all over Kentucky. It is very certain that the Indians had been driven from this State many centuries before any European set his foot in this State, as no Indian village had been occupied for ages before any white man came here. It seems to have been long reserved as the hunting ground of the Northern & Souther aborigines without any acknowledged or exclusive owners In which they had their bloody conflicts as their various hunting parties met, but It is also certain, that it was once populated by some tribes as indicated by the appearance of their Fire places since the country has been cultivated by the whites. It is also certain that the Southern Indians from Mexico were the victors as the Shawanoe Indians were found on the North side of the Ohio who are of Southern origin as held in their Traditions but it is also certain that Kentucky all North of the Cumberland mountains & River and south of the Ohio river had been merely an Indian hunting ground from time immemorial even among the Indians. The sites of all their villages & the remains of several antient [sic] Fortifications on Salt River four or five miles above Harrodsburgh & on Elkhorn about Lexington & on North Elkhorn where some nation had dug for lead ore, were covered with timber of the same size & appearance as in any other place.
After my father began to plough & cultivate the ground North of his house and down the river & out from his cave Spring The remains of numerous Fireplaces or heaps of stone burnt into lip & sandstone were found from one to two feet below the soil & in several places large piles of muscle shells had been thrown out, and became petrified and conglomerated together, in various strata some of them full size & wholly turned into stone, the native seemed to have fed on them & thrown them out in piles by their lodges & fire places & as the upper soil was washed off the ground above the cave spring hundreds of flint arrow heads were found & some stone axes. These arrow heads I have often picked up when a child, and one of a remarkable shape was found a few days since (May the 25th, 1845) by one of my little daughters, which I have preserved with other specimens & fossils in my museum.
The people of Kentucky therefore cannot be charged (as they have been by some ignorant Philanthropists) with robbing and taking by force the lands of the innocent natives. They had driven each other off ages before and in addition to the purchases of the Pretended titles of the Northern Indians at Fort Stanwix in 1768 and by Henderson in 1775 of the Souther Indians we found the country unoccupied & the State of Virginia could have used by the best of titles, derived directly from the God of nature--
1785) -- My fathers land suit came on for Trial in the supreme Court for the district of Kentucky at Danville on the Caveat, a Jury was empannelled, a verdict was found that His improvement was the eldest & of course the caveat was dismissed, Harry Innis, Esq was the Lawyer of William & John Brown Esq for my Father & John Magee, Innis and Brown went on that fall to the Virginia Legislature, The former was instructed to file a new caveat, & the latter took with him the record of the Court ordering the dismissal of the suit, They Travelled in company until within two or three days journey of Richmond, when Mr. Brown suspecting that Innis intended to file a new caveat, hired an express and sent him on with instructions to present the Record and get out my fathers Patent as soon as he could. Mr. Brown was then in no great hurry to get on and when he and Innis arrived The Patent was issued to the no little chagrin of Mr. Innis, which finally secured the lands altho Williams by the advice of his counsel afterwards filed a Bill of chancery which cost my father and myself much money and trouble until it was finally settled in my favor in June, 1820. The spring 1785, New Providence Church was erected.
1786 -- My father continued to extend his farm, and raised an abundant crop which he sold to new settlers which poured into Kentucky every year.
In the fall 1783 the Revd. David Rice Came to Kentucky & Revd. Adam Rankin the former settled near Danville and the latter in Lexington. Mr. Rice organized a Presbyterian Church on Cane Run three miles East of Harrodsburg and the latter another near Lexington, The Salt River people were included in the Cane Run church and in March 1784 Mr. Rice baptized three children, My grandfather James McCoun & uncle Geo. Buchanan were among the First Elders, and for several years afterwards the men always carried their Guns with them to church, ready to defend their wives & children.
In the fall of 1786 my father prepared Hewed logs to put himself up a house which he erected in the Spring 1787, 26 feet in the clear with neat dovetailed corners eight feet on the north side cut off by a log Petition for a shed one story high the main part two stories which he finished that fall & moved into it. It was then the best house in the country. The carpentry was done by Nathan Nield who afterward married my eldest sister, Margaret, in April 1787. The Indians came to my fathers place one dark rainy night and stole all his horses but one which he had in a pound near his house--They took them out of his meadow about one hundred & fifty yards north of his Cabbins. They also at the same time took Capt. Peter Caseys horses and my uncle John Magees. Next morning as soon as the horses were missed my father raised a company of ten or twelve men and made pursuit, as their trail could be easily followed. The Indians passed down west of Salt River and crossed below the mouth of Hammond about three quarters of a mile at a place afterwards called the Indian gap a low place in the ridge leading over to Indian Creek now in Anderson county and up that creek to its head over to Benson and down Benson to its mouth crossing the Kentucky River at the present Lock & Dam below Frankfort and thence to Eagle Creek in the direction of the Shawanoe tribe on the Miami. After crossing Eagle Creek in ascending a long ridge The Indians had passed along on the north side of the ridge near half a mile gradually approaching the Top when crossing directly over to the south side of the ridge, they had returned back near a quarter of a mile so that they could watch their back trail. About ten o'clock A.M. on the third monring my fathers company approached them and the sign of their trail being fresh one of the company who was on the flank rode near the top of the ridge discovered the Indians who had halted & taken off their packs, a charge was instantly ordered with the usual yells & the whole company rushed upon them, being about equal numbers, The Indians taken by suprise immediately fled, leaving one of their number killed, and all their plunder with the horses, These were soon gathered up as they were hobbled, and before night The company were many miles on their way back toward home where they arrived next night, all safe with their horses & the Indian packs in which they found many silver broaches, rings and other ornaments, This event I can distinctly recollect, particularly the congratulations on their return and seeing the silver ornaments spread out on the floor.
My father seldom took any part in the Political discussions of the day except as a private individual, he was a decided Whig, the friend of John Brown and Christopher Greenup, who often called to see him, his education did not justify him (as he thought) to aspire to any office altho he was popular & much beloved by all who knew him, as he was always sociable & cheerful under the most difficult & trying circumstances, as no person ever applied to him in distress without being aided to the extent of his power, and his word and honor was implicitly relied on, he was a great admirer of Patrick Henry, and I can recollect his attempted description of his eloquence as he had several times heard him speak, he always concluded, that he believed that he had not his equal in this world, and that no language he could use, could describe his powers. This year a family by the name of John Goudy moved on my fathers place.
1788 -- On the 21st January In this year my youngest Brother John was born and during this year my father a man by the name of Leary for a miller (his farm & other business all requiring his attention) whose wife was very fleshy and weighed at least three hundred, he lived in my fathers old cabbin near his mill, and the back door being very narrow, I often amused myself with watching the old woman in trying to pass out & in she always had to turn sideways. A little adventure took place at this time which altho a trifling matter in itself, always made me cautious in striking any living animal afterwards. My mother had made me a pair of leather breatches out of dressed deer skin which was the first pair I ever recollect of having after I had got them on I sallied out to show myself to old Mrs. Leary as proud as Julius Caesar. I sauntered along on the side of the hill toward the river, making a considerable noise, and at length got hold of a stick, five or six feet long (one end of a small fishing pole) and went on with it, striking right and left until I got among the old ladies hens, when swinging my stick around I struck one of them on the head & down it fell, looking at it and seeing that I had killed it, I took to my heels back to my mammy, with my pride all gone, expecting to get a good switching, the old woman came out as I ran & exclaimed, "o that bad boy." I received a sound lecture from my good mother, and never put on my breatches afterward without thinking of the old ladies chicken, and my foolish pride. I never was proud of fine clothes afterwards. This adventure always kept me humble--
1789 -- My elder brother, Sam'l, who was now sixteen years of age had not made very rapid advances in learning altho he learned well what he did learn yet he did not get along as fast as my father desired, who was impatient to have a son capable of attending to all his business now determined on giving me as good an Education as he was able, my brother could read, write & cypher all of which he done well, but he was too slow for my fathers temperant [sic]. Capt. John Thomas had been their teacher of my fathers elder children but his residence being two miles distant towards Harrodsburgh, my father & Capt. Peter Casey built a small schoolhouse at the side of the bottom on the East side of Salt River about one hundred and fifty yards below the mouth of the Fontain Blue Branch Rob't Pogue (afterwards Genl. Pogue of Mason County, Ky.,) Then a young man & brother to Mrs. Thomas took up school for a quarter and I was started to school with my youngest sister, Anne, being furnished with a paddle with my letters & Abs pasted on it, and to the great joy of my Father in two or three days, I had mastered my paddle & demanded a Primer or Dilworth spelling book, which were procured and before the quarter was out I could read tolerable well. This was my first school and I had acquired the character of a very promising boy.
A little event took place at this school which I will relate because it had influence upon my after life and may be of service to others, not long after the school commenced my sister was taken with the ague & fever, and was permitted to return home at play time and I was left to go home in the evening by myself. It was then all in the woods and only a narrow path, with a small branch or a spring in sight of my fathers house (where I now live) Just before I reached the branch I cast my eyes into the bushes on the side of the path & saw something rolled up in a heap covered with whith & black stripes I turned out to pick it up. It rose up suddenly with its tail over its back & reared up on its hind legs to make battle & in a moment the most horrible smell assailed my olfactories and I soon took to my heels and the "Polecat" after me a short distance. I was dreadfully alarmed & never ceased running until I got home & told the alarming story to my father who only laughed at me, and said that I was a pretty soldier to be scared by a skink which if I had made battle at it would have ran from me, I was not satisfied that this would really have been the case, as it appeared very warlike bristling up at me most furiously--
The second day afterwards my sisters ague again came on and I began to think of some way by which I could get home with her. The cracks of the school were all open, we had a dirt floor on which was alternate strips of sunshine and shade. The day was very warm and (I) took a seat where I could put my feet in the shad & soon began to show symptoms of cold & shivering, and asked that I mighty accompany my sister home, The thoughts of having to go home by myself and perhaps encounter the "polecat" again were most distressing, But my counterfeit ague did not seem to effect Mr. Pogue as I suppose it was badly done, and having a fresh ruddy face the symptoms would not all show. Mr. Pogue told me that he thought he could cure my ague in a very short time, as he was very anxious for me to learn my book and beat all the bigger scholars. it being near play time, he took me with him to Salt River and we both stripped off our clothes & went in to swim, as he assured me it would effect a cure, I splashed about in shallow water and he washed and scrubbed me well, for near half an hour, and after dressing he took me to the race paths (which had been made by the larger boys from the river out to the foot of the hill), & putting me in one path, he took the other and directed me to do my best, away I went at full speed & he permitted me to beat him, and then praised me very much saying that "I ran like a buck" now says he do you feel much better! O yes Sir, I believe I am well. This being all done in the kindest spirit, not intimating even a suspicion, that I was playing oppossum in the whole matter, yet young as I was I thought I discovered from his eyes that he knew all about me, as I have no doubt he did. This at once determined me, never to attempt deception again and always to speak the Truth, If I spoke at all, and I have experienced immense advantages from this course in my after life. Thus even at four and five years of age I had imbibed two important maxims or lessons, which shows that children If they think at all, begin much earlier than their Parents suppose, yet it is true that there are thousands who do not trouble themselves with reflection. However, to conclude my story, on that evening and ever after when I had to go home by myself I always thought of the Polecat with an aching heart & passed the place at full speed, and never attempted to make any more excuses or pretexts under which were not true in order to obtain leave to go home, This simple narrative I hope will make other little boys think right---
In the fall of this year my Eldest sister to whom I was much attached was married to Nathan Nield, it was an unfortunate match he became intemperate, Treated her cruelly & brought her to her grave in ten years afterwards, after she had four children, one daughter & three sons (1)-- I was much distressed when my sister left the family as next to Mother she was my best friend.

1790 -- In the year 1790, My Father had a school house built on his own land on the point of a ridge near where there is a stone quarry, about one hundred from a spring and Branch south of his house, not 1/4 of a mile from my Present residence, which shortened my road to school deing directly on my old path. At this place I went to school six months to an old English gentleman who was a good English scholar, but used his rod pretty freely. I do not recollect however of ever feeling it as I was very attentive and made rapid progress in learning to read & write I commenced in the Testament and shortly after in making my first Pothooks in my writing book, I ended with him in the Bible & Multiplication Table. My father took the Kentucky Gazette and I was able to read it & often puzzled him with asking the meaning of hard words and places about his Geographical knowledge did not extend, and when strangers came to stay all night instead of going to bed with the other children I always sat up to hear their convseration, by which means I learned many things and could tell my school mates of the passing news of the day. My father observing these things indulged and encouraged me to read and notice all important matters that I heard, during this school two events occurred one of which was the cause of deep sorrow as well as furnished with a new rule for my future conduct, The other a mere pleasantry which we who were concerned very much regretted--
The first occurred during one of our play times, It was usual for the boys and girls to play together, we were one day playing at Pawns, which were to be redeemed by a kiss, one of my cousins who was a very homely girl, and larger than me had won of me and approached to give me a kiss and I spit at her--she immediately threw up her hands over her face and burst into tears, while the other children gave me a look of indignation. I felt the rebuke strike into my heart, and I would have given worlds if I had not done it our plays were instantly broken up, and I went away with the feelings of the utmost misery, I could not hold up my head until on our way home that evening I sought the first opportunity to confess my guilt and ask her pardon, my good cousin granted it, but I have never pardoned myself even to this day, she was even kind to me afterwards and I sought every occasion to treat her with respect afterwards until we were both grown--It has had an influence on my who life, never to wound the feelings of others by act or word, remembering that the poor and the humble as well as the most homely persons have feelings as acute as our own--The truth is I deserved a good slashing for this offense, and I have receaved it mentally every time it rises in judgement against me--
The other was an accidental foible. It was usual for our Teacher Mr. Taylor to give the smaller boys an intermediate play time, so one day about Ten oClock A.M. Four of us about the same size viz Ben W. Casey, Enos Ashby, Robt. Goudy & myself were let out of school to play ten or fifteen minutes, we all paraded out on the side of the hill when Ben Casey asked us If we had ever heard the Indians yell, we told him we had not that we recollected, "Well boys (says he) If you will join with me I will show you how it is done" & with that he commenced yelling most hideously and we joined in chorus, which soon brought odl man Taylor out who did not seem to relish such yelling & we were ordered in the house, we gave Ben a reproachful look, and he whispered to us--pshaw the old man dont understand Indian! This matter broke up our play & we never got any more--
In the fall of this year my father rebuilt his mill he tore down the old mill house and made a kind of Barn of it and built a new hewed log house and had entirely new mill works for two pair of stones put in it, by a Mr. Boucher It was double geared, having one large water wheel, and one large cogwheel with two smaller ones besides the Trundle head in the old stile, all in complete order, and for a second pair of mill stones for wheat he got them out of the Bank of Salt River at the first bend below my uncle Saml McAfees, three forths of a mile above the old McAfee station. The mill wright work cost him one hundred pounds and he had to sell one hundred acres of his settlement land, on Salt River S.W. of Harrodsburgh to pay it, he had however one of the best mills of that day, altho the wheat stones were pure limestones yet they made First rate flour--This Mill house is yet standing and contains my present mill, my father also built a saw mill and put it on the west side of the River There being at that time an abundance of Poplar timber in the field adjoining out of which he sawed more than one hundred thousand feet of poplar plank growing on not more than thirty acres on which there is now not one Tree, I name this, that after generations may know, the condition of our native Forests. My fathers stock of all kind increased abundantly & we then had cattle, Horses & Hogs equal to any Durham or Berkshire I have ever since seen in this country, and sheep done equally well, altho the wolves often made sad havoc among them even in the sheep fold in which they were penned every night, scarcely a night passed without hearing their united howls to the no little alarm of the children & poor sheep who instinctively huddled together with the Rams at the outposts ready to make battle. My uncle James McAfee this year built his stone house where my son William now lives, his stone masons were James Curran & Joseph Adams were after married my sisters Sally & Mary, & William Davenport one of his carpenters married his daughter Elizabeth, being industrious steady young men, being as good matches as could be had in those days of pristine simplicity.
1791 -- I went to school to an Irishman by the name of John Forsythe, he was a good Teacher especially in Arithmetic and writing. I went to him six months in a school house built by my father and John Threlkeld & Ben & Walter Bohon who had settled on Can Run west of Salt River This school stood on the point of the ride on the west side of the River about two hundred yards from my fathers saw mill, I soon became a favorite with this Teacher, who often boasted of it, long after I had entered public life, his school extended to Christmas of this year, & my father was often pleased with seeing the exploits of school boys, having created a Brewery in which he had employed an old Dutchman by the name of Rupertsburgh, promised to treat us to as much beer as we could drink If we would turn Forsythe out to get Holiday, accordingly the day before Christmas we met early & barred the doors well & provided ourselves with clubs & sharp stick sin warlike style many of the boys boasting of their prowess & what they would do if our Teacher ventured near and none talked louder than a large Flax headed boy by the name of Bill Bowling in whom we thought we had a generalissimo. It was not long before Mr. Forsythe made his appearance, and we rallied to our Portholes, he came up to the door and pushed at it, and demanded admission, I told him he must give us a holliday or he could not come in, he made some heavy threats which were replied to by a majority of us the girls included who if anything was braver than the boys, not hearing Bill Bowlings voice we looked round and round him hid under one of the writing benches looking pale and confused, the girls reproached him but he was so confused & alarmed that he could say nothing. After parrying some time longer Mr. Forsythe turned off and went to my fathers mill pond where finding a canoe he crossed over to my fathers leaving us to ourselves, we did not hink of sallying out on him until it was too late, we remained in possession until evening making merry when finding that he had no intention of returning we broke up and went home feeling that we had been outwitted and had got nothing, we however got Christmas day, and my father treated us well as laughed at us into the Bargain. It being the latter part of the week we all returned to school on Monday following and things went on as if nothing had taken place. This little incident proved to me that those are not the bravest who talk the loudest or brag the worst of their valor--
In this year the first constitution of Kentucky was formed, I reccolect [sic] the deep Interest my father took in the event and of his attending the convention in Danville.
1792 -- In the spring of this year I went with my father in his wagon to Louisville after a load of Goods for Capt. Casey & John Waggoner who put up a store house on the spot where Thomas Hutchinson has built his present brick house in which he now resides -- It was considered dangerous on account of Indian depredations and had only one other waggon with us, I will recollect my fathers caution where he camped always preparing himself for a night attack, we went past Kincheloes station and returned by Bardstown, Louisville at that time was but a small place confined to one street on the second bank below the mouth of Bear Grass, and all the houses hewed logs and frame, I do not recollect of seeing a brick house in this place, it was but a small village, The sight of the Ohio river and the roaring of the Falls was a grand thing to me, I was never tired in looking at thme, and it filled me with enlarged & astonishing views of the greatness of the Western country, and its increasing prosperity--
On my return I was sent to school to a Mr. Work who taught near Col. Geo. Thompson where I boarded a week or two & was afterwards placed at Col. Gabriel Slaughters afterwards Governor of this State where I was treated with the utmost kindness, as much so as if I had been his own child, but my heart was at home, and this first experiment of living from home taught me how deeply I loved my native place, I could not learn as I used to and not long after a distant relation by the name of Thomas Adams (1) took up school in my old school house on the west side of Salt River & I returned home to my great joy. This circumstance has ever made me unwilling to force my children from home to go to school, I had suffered mentally the extremest tortures and considered as a prelude to other sufferings as I knew my father intended to send me to school until I had go the best education the country could afford--
1793 -- In the month of February in this year my father went to Philadelphia he rode a fine bay mare he had bought of my uncle James McCoun (the one who married my aunt Susan) and for which he gave one hundred acres of land, --his business was to endeavor to obtain from Congress a grant of Land N.W. of the Ohio on the waters of White River, Mr. John Breckinridge having removed to Kentucky & settled in Lexington being an old Virginia acquaintance of my fathers from Rockbridge & Bottetourt county my father had employed him in his land suit with Williams, Mr. Breckinridge encouraged to engage in this enterprise, and agreed to go partners, with him, my father had also the aid of John Brown who I think was then in the senate of the U States from Kentucky, he remained in Philadelphia attending Congress several weeks but did not succeed as the Indian title had not been extinguished, he however obtained promise from many of the members to aid his views, as soon as the Indian claim was obtained--On his return Mr. Breckinridge agreed to pay him twenty shillings for every Thousand acres he would survey, In compliance with this agreement, my father & Brother Saml (who was his surveyor) James Magee, James Currens, Matthew Forsythe (2) & Richard Steele, Junr got canoes and embarged on the Kentucky river at _____ with knapsacks their rifles & Provisions in the month of ______ and descended the River to the mouth, where having hid a few of their heavy articles in a hollow tree, they took Genl. Wilkinson & Genl. Scotts Trace along which they had made an excursion to the Indian towns on the Wabash & went out to the East and Middle Forks of White River, principally in the present county of Jackson and around Brownstown, where they surveyed upwards of thirty Thousand acres of land and two thousand acre tracts. They suffered very much for bread as all they had was packed on their backs but their guns furnished meat in abundance, They were fortunate in not falling in with any Indians who were then hostile, but had their attention directed to the troops building Forts & escorting provisions on the rout of the army about to move against them from Cincinnati, my father had calculated on this and selected his time accordingly, They however several times heard the guns of stragling Indian hunters, having finished their labors they all returned home in safety.
This speculation turned out a blank Congress refused to make any more grants and determined to survey all their lands purchased from the Indians before making sales and the granting large bodies of land to companies was found to be injurious to a regular settlement of the country, so they had all their labor for nothing, which I have often thought was fortunate for my father and his family, because if he had obtained this land such was the annoyance he felt from the law suit pending over his home place he would have probably moved to it--which afterwards proved to be unhealthy & some of the best lands he had surveyed were annually overflown--James Magee tried the experiment about the year 1809, he sold a fine farm on Salt River & purchased a part of the land he had surveyed, to which he moved with his family when after severn years annually shaking with the ague and fever he returned to Kentucky and afterwards moved to Missouri--
In the meantime on my fathers return I was put to school to a Mr. Ward, a one legged man who taught a school at Providence in the log cabbin built for a church and school house, about fifty yards S. W. of the present Brick church, and I was boarded at my uncle James McAfees, here I was doomed to suffer that contempt which I offered to my poor cousin at my second school with about as little reason, and from a similar source, my uncle James had a daughter by the name of Margaret, who went to school in company with my and another cousin by the name of Susan McAfee, the daughter of my uncle George McAfee, who also board at my uncle James, Margaret had for some cause taken a deadly hatred to me, altho I was not conscious of giving her any offense, on our way to school she took every occasion to abuse me in the grossest manner, she had taken up the Idea that her father was boarding me for nothing altho my father was paying for it in flour from his mill, I bore it patiently & tried to parry her abuse by kindness but all would not appease her my cousin Susan took my part and would shame her for it which caused me to over her ever afterwards. At length weary of her persecutions I complained to my father who took me away and I boarded with my Grandfather McCoun, who then lived alone, except his black people which was a sore trial to me as I wanted some person to cheer me, of course I did not learn much this summer and my father took me home before the school was out, and fortunately a young man by the name of Dunlavy came to the neighborhood enquiring for a school & my father employed him for six months, he commenced his school some time in September, he was a young man of fine Education having receaved a classical education and I was once more in my old school house, he was a first rate reader, his only defect was that he did not write a very good hand, he afterwards studied law and became a distinguished Judge in the State of Ohio, and had a brother who figured largely among the Shaker at Pleasant hill in Mercer County Kentucky and at Turtle Creek in Ohio, he wrote a book explanatory in deference to their doctrines--
With Mr. Dunlavy I progressed rapidly in learning to read distinctly, and also in Grammar and writing he classed his scholars, and I had in my reading class my three Indian yelling boys, Ben W. Casey, Enos Ashby & Robert Goudy who were about the same age and was very ambitious to excell each other, and at the close of his first quarter he had premiums for the best reader & Capt. Thomas, the surveyor of the county & an old teacher was selected as the judge, when time arrived I had practiced assiduously and we each had out portions of reading assigned us. I commenced with a beating heart, and had the high gratification to receive the Premium which I believe was a fine pen knife the other boys yielded the palm to me with a good grace and I was as much pleased as if I had received a kingdom--which was greatly increased at seeing my Sweetheart by the name of Jane Curry receave the Premium on the part of the girls, she was a pretty girl and had a fine clear voice and was of a pleasant happy Temperament, and I was destined (young as I was) to feel cupids arrows deep in my heart, I do not know that it was reciprocated, as I never told her except by my looks and constant effort to make myself agreeable to her, by sharing with her all the good things I could get hold of, which she took in good part so that I finally resolved to make for her my wife if I ever lived to get old enough, But all my visionary prospects, altho I was firm in my resolve for many years but after we left school, and absence, for some time cured me, she lived in the neighborhood which I was sent from home I did not meet her again for ten or eleven years when we met at a wedding of one of my relations upon whom I waited and my love had all evaporated, I contended myself with telling how much I had loved her at school but did not venture to renew the subject, as my circumstances forbid my marrying at that time & she was greatly changed.
I was now considered the best reader at school & my good mother required me to read her a chapter in the Bible or Testament every Sunday, she had taught me the Lords prayer and the shorter Catechism of the Presbyterian church at home as well as the child's prayer, "now I lay me down to sleep &c" which I was punctual in saying over every night when I went to bed-yet my heart was not in it, and I often thought her too rigid especially in keeping me in the house and from playing on the Sabbath day. But I have had reason to thank Almighty God that my dear mother taught me these things so early altho at that time I often eluded her vigilance, and one anecdote of the kind I will relate which took place at this time which made a deep impression on my mind ever afterwards & was of essential benefit to me in secular affairs, I had a cousin by the name of Saml Walker Kerr who had lost his father & mother when an infant before my family moved to the country and my father became his Guardian, he was several years older than me and was my daily companion, one Sunday morning after we had read our usual task of reading in the Bible to my mother we slipped out, and went down Salt River and round to the North side of my fathers plantation, and came upon a large Fox so suddenly that he ran up a leaning White walnut tree. I [sic] leaned so much that the Fox was not more than fifteen or twenty feet from the ground, we were delighted with the idea of securing our prize, but we had neither dogs or an axe, upon consultation my Cousin Walker, as we called him proposed to me to go back to the house and get the dogs and an axe and he would stay and watch the Fox; away I went and slipped silently to the woodpile and got an axe & made signs to the dogs to follow me dreading every moment that my father or mother or some one of the family would see me, however I got off safe and on my way back I began to calculate what I would get with my Fox skin which then sold for thirty seven and a half cents, after cogitating over various things I wanted I finally concluded to buy a good Barlow pen knife, a pair of sleeve buttons & a ginger cake, and full of this scheme I got back safe and found the Fox still up the tree and my Cousin watching him with the most intense anxiety, and as cutting the tree down would make a noise we concluded to try & make the Fox jump off the Tree as we had no doubt the dogs would catch him as he fell. The Fox had gone out to the extreme end of the limbs & we got sticks & threw at him, and every moment we looked for him to jump, dogs and all being right under him some thirty or forty feet from the root of the Tree but Reynard had no idea of being taken and making as if he was about to jump down in our midst he suddenly wheeled & ran down the tree by which means he got at least twenty yards before the dogs saw him, & away he went with the dogs after him when we saw this my heart began to fail as it was evident we were in a fair way to loose our prize. After a close race of about two hundred yeards our Fox was safely housed in a sink hole and away went my fine calculations, which like many others often made in this world, fortunately left a practical influence on my mind, never to indulge in doubtful speculations of success of any kind, long before I had read, of the hunter selling the Bear skin before he had taken it, and I relate it that others my profit by it--
My Cousin Saml Walker Kerr was about this time put to the Trade of a Hatter in Harrodsburgh to Mr. David Sutton, very much against his inclination, my Father thout it his duty to give him a trade as he had no property to support himself, he went with as heavy a heart as I did to board from home and it was unfortunate that he did so as he had no capital to begin with, he however attempted to follow it but never succeeded at it and finally it was abandoned as his heart was never in the matter--This even always prejudiced my mind (and experience justifies the opinion) never to put a boy to any Trade or business which he does freely select himself, as nine times out of ten it will turn out a failure, almost every person has a genius for some kind of business if permitted to follow it, you cannot force nature or give boys inclination which they do not possess, and if any person does not possess talents to make a fortune, they would not keep it if made to their hand, if Parents or Guardians would oftener consult the natural temperament of their children and wards, they would save many heartaches & disappointments--
during [sic] this summer and fall my Mothers health began to fall it was evident that consumption had taken hold of her lunghs but she was as yet not confined to her bed, I could discover from the anxious looks of my father and my mothers distressing cough and wan appearance that Her final end was fast approaching--
My father seemed to be set upon my Education, and to make Provision for my future welfare, and Mr. John Breckinridge having heard that I was a boy of some promise, and being also a warm friend of my fathers he had proposed to take me into his office and complete my Education, and on my part I was to copy any papers he might need, by this I understood that I was to be a Lawyer, which pleased me very much, as my father had often taken me to Harrodsburgh where I was seated in the Bar fo hours to hear the Lawyers plead, I was delighted with the idea as it was an honorable profession and I felt ambitious to rise to distinction and give proof that my Father and his friend would not be disappointed, my whole heart was in the matter and I then resolved to devote myself to the subject. I was however not aware of the long road I had to Travel and how much I yet lacked in my Education before I could get a fair start--
1794 -- In the month of February of this year I was taken from Mr. Dunlavys school and after having the best clothes my father and mother could procure made up I was sent to Lexington with my Uncle James McAfee who was going there to get some Lineseed and other necessaries to paint his house he had several packhorses with flour to sell, I rode one of them, but rode into town behind him and went to Mr. Breckinridges house, he lived in one which Thomas Hart afterward lived in (Mr. Clays father in law) I will never forget his fine carpets which were new furniture to me, I hesitated to walk on it until my uncle seeing my embarrassment ordered me to walk on, Mr. Breckenridge was not in at the time but came in soon after & after inspecting me very closely he told my uncle that Small Pox had made its appearance in town & that he thought he outght not to have me as his own family had not had it and he thought it would be dangerous, The small pox originated in the army then stationed at Cincinnati and was then spreading all over the country I was glad to hear this, as notwithstanding my high anticipations, I was truly glad to get back home, as I had left with a heavy heart, so much so that I had slept none the night before but lay and tossed all night, and when the cocks began to crow for day I had taken a hearty cry, I thought I was doomed to a hard lot & all my ambition had evaporated my mental sufferings were extreme, but when I heard that I could return home I was supremely happy as the thought of my kind & indulgent parents rose before--
We staid that night at a Mr. Keisers on the hill on high street and next morening the ground was covered with snow, but I was happy. My uncle had to go about two miles East of the Town to the oil mill owned by a Mr. _____ and we had to pass through the Transylvania Seminary lot which was then uninclosed & we had to pass near the old Brick Seminary, I was mounted on a pack saddle and in this style rode over the lott, (something like Franklin when he first entered Philadelphia) the school boys were out snowballing each other & as I approached I good [sic] several at me which I thought very unmannerly of them, I took a good view of the house as I knew I was destined to go to school there as it was agreed that I should return as soon as the small pox ceased, It came to Lexington sure enough and the town suffered severely as all who could not get away were innoculated, The Kine Pox was not then known, Mr. Breckenridge was near dying with it and I made a fortunate escape as it ravages were principly confined to the North side of the Kentucky river. As soon as I returned home I went back to my school dressed in my fine clothes as I was anxious to show off to the best advantage to my pretty Miss Curry--which added to my enjoyments--
But my dark days were now rapidly advancing when I was destined to pass through the crucible of adversity. The health of my mother was declining and she was confined to her bed. I well recollect her kind anxious looks as I passed through her room when her eyes would follow me as long as I was in view, she at last after being confined for several months expired like one going to sleep I was at home and myself and younger brothers slept upstairs, I remember my deep feelings, when awakened by my sister about day break on the morning of the 25th ____ to come down and see my Mother die. It was a solemen moment my father stood by her side and all the family round in silence while her breathing became feebler & shorter, until it was announced that she was gone, we burst into tears and my happiness seemed extinguished forever, I then Began to feel my true situation, all my acts of disobedience and neglect of attention rose in judgement agains me and I would have given worlds if she could have only come to life that I might prove to her how much I loved her, as in many instances I had not waited on her as I should have done; These feelings have been so deeply impressed on my heart that I never see children disobey their Parents and especially their Mother without admonishing them and having my own disobedience brought to my view, and I fully believe that disobedience of Parents & particularly of the Mother, is more offensive to the Almighty than almost any other sin, when I see children act thus or abuse their parents I always remember what Solomon says "whoever curses the father or Mother The Eagles shall pluck his eyes out," and I hope this reflection will have an influence on my posterity as long as any of them remain in this world.
After the death of my Mother, I was boarded with my Brotherinlaw James Curran who married my sister Sally & lived about a mile & a half N. E. of the present village of Salvisa near a large swampy pond & went to school to Mr. Joseph Bomar (a Brother of Majr Harman Bowmar near Versailles) who taught in a small log cabbin on Cedar Run a short distance above a fine spring -my Brother Saml went with Genl Scotts mounted men on Waynes Campaign against the Indians and was in the Battle of the 20th August at the foot of the Rapids of the Maumee.
The ballance of the family consisting of my Sisters Mary & Anne & my youngest Brother John remained at home with my father, and during that fall my sister Mary married Mr. Joseph Adams of Maryland, As to my father the world had become a blank, all was dark before him, he appeared inconsolable and mixed but little in society, he finally determined to prepare for a voyage to New Orleans, in a flat boat with flour, Bacon, Lard and such other articles as he could obtain, having raised a fine crop of wheat, he ground it on his own mill & packed in a large room of his house, and about the last of January 1795 he commenced his boat at Armstrongs ferry on the Kentucky river and had all ready by the 1st of March.
The summer of 1794, I continued at school and made rapid progress in writing and Arithmetic in a class with a youth by the name of Benjamin Hensley a year or two older than I was, we went through all the rules in Dilworths Arithmetic setting down our sum and writing as much as we could every day--Dilworth was then the only book used, and in consequence myself and Mr. Hensley learned to write as good a band as we ever did afterwards, This was just after I had completed my tenth year, and I had now acquired the reputation of an extraordinary pensman, of my age, Mr. Hensley afterwards became a highly respected in Frankfort, and ever afterwards were warm friends and often talked over our school incidents while I attended the Legislature, he is now the Keeper of the Indiana Penitentiary at Jeffersonville and a more worthy upright man does not live.
While attending this school altho I was living wiht my sister who was kind to me my heart was at home and I have often retired by myself to take a hearty cry when I thought of home and the death of my Mother, and every two weeks on Friday evenings or on Saturdays I walked eight miles over a new cut out road filled with small stumps of underbrush altho I knocked off nearly all my toenails on the way & on Monday morning I twas almost death to start back altho my father always sent me on Horseback--After my school was out I remained at home assisting my father when I could in his preparations, and in the month of February 1795 previous to his departure I was taken back to Lexington, and by the advice of Mr. John Breckenridge was placed at an English school kept by a man by the name of Duty who kept a school on Water Street opposite the Public square and I was boarded at Mr. Samuel Ayers (a silve smith) who then lived on high street in the upper part of the town, but afterwards moved down on Main street opposite the Seceder church built the next year for the Revd. Adam Rankin of whose church my father was a member--The parting with my father was a severe trial, he took leave of me in the door of my cousin James McCouns store who was to have the superintendence of money matters and see that I was well taken care of--I well recollect the long anxious look my father gave me with his eyes filled with tears, which were also trickling down my cheeks as he took my hand for the last time exhorting me to be a good boy and keep out of bad company gave me a handfull of money & then got on his horse and slowly rode down the street from opposite the court house while I stood like a statue looking after him until he turned round the corner into Main Cross street, something seemed to tell me I was never again to see him, all my troubles were upon me at once, my heart was still with him at home, and I thought I never could be reconciled to live away from it--and often afterwards have cried myself to sleep--Mr. and Mrs. Ayres were kind to me and were indeed to me a second father & mother. At school I soon became a favorite, my teacher proved an excellent one and I was so far advanced for my age that I was soon made one of the Monitors, I now reviewed my Arithmetic, writing, grammar, &c., This school continued three months, and I then entered Transylvania Seminary under the charge of hte Revd. Harry Toulman, a Unitarian Preacher from England. In the latter part of August news reached me that my Brother Sam'l had returned from Orleans and that my father had been killed by some unknown person while sleeping in his boat. The circumstances as related by my brother were as follows, He had nearly sold out his boat load, and had but few articles left, he lay in the fore part of the boat & my Brother slept in the stern, & some person came in & struck him with the edge of an axe on the side o fhis head over his ear, being a very athletic man & watchful he sprung up & the villain alarmed for fear that his blow had not taken effect made his escape he called to my brother who hastened to him & was told that he was badly wounded & then tyed a handkerchief round his head, This was about an hour before daylight on the 10th day of May 1795--he still continued in his senses until an hour by sun when he began to grow delirious and died about ten o'clock A.M. only saying to my brother that his end was come and to do the best he could. My Brothers troubles now began & having only time to make a safe deposit of his moeny, The Government officers seized his boat & such articles as they had not sold as Government property. Totally ignorant of the law, or customs of the country, my brother did not know what to do when a Mr. Thompson, who had been several times down at N. Orleans before with a boat & who lived in the same county in Kentucky near Danville called to see him and told him what to do, by his advice he employed counsel & filed his petition in their court claiming the property as the eldest son of my father which he proved by Mr. Thompson and after a Tedious trial the property was returned, my brother than sold out the ballance of his load, but still he had other difficulties to encounter. It was against the law for a foreigner to carry out of the country any gold or silver and he had also to obtain a passport and return home by sea as in those days there was no other way of getting back unless through several Indian nations whose friendship could not be relied on, my brother finding a vessel bound for Charleston, South Carolina, under the advice of his friend Thompson he sewed his money (about $1500.00, the greater part in Gold) in a bet and buckled it round his waist next his skin & then sending a few hams of meat to the custom home officer he was permitted to pass with but a slight examination to the vessel and in this way returned home by sea landing at Charleston he got home about the middle of August--such were the absurd and oppressive regulations of the Spanish Government in relation to their trade. It was no wonder that the Kentuckians were incensed against the Spaniard & truly rejoiced when by the treaty of 1795 our Government secured a place of deposity & more liberal regulations, I was in Lexington (Ky.) when the news arrived of this even and assisted in making Bon fires out of pine boxes & Tar barrels the night after the news was received--
Soon after I heard my brother had returned I insisted on going home & remained several weeks at my Brotherinlaws M. Forsythes, I then returned to school I felt myself solitary and alone cast upon the world without the guardian care of Parents at the tender age of Eleven years, I viewed my situation as dark and gloomy enough, tis true I had many relations, who no doubt felt anxious that I should do well, but my impressions were that none of them took much interest in my future prospects, none gave me their counsel except my relation James McCoun who had been left by my father with John Breckenridge the Executors of his will, but both of whom having business enough of their own to attend to declined the trust, My brother Samuel became the adminstrator & managed my Estate as well as acting as my voluntary guardian, and in addition to all my troubles the law suit of Williams was revived against me, and my younger brother John to whom my father had left his home farm where I now live which placed in jeopardy, my patrimony and place of my birth, the expenses of which took all that could be raised from the rents. In the fall of 1795 Mr. John Cardwell from the State of Virginia came to the neighborhood and rented the farm for the ensuing year giving the third of what he could raise, young as I was I felt the full force of my difficulties and then took a firm resolution to look to my own effort for my future support, and from that moment determined to qualify myself for business, I felt as if I had no home or any friend who cared much for me and soon lost all desire or anxiety to return to my native home now in possession of strangers until I had completed my Education and was prepared to occupy it when of full age my portion of my fathers Estate was about one thousand dollars part of which was already expended

• Family History. ⁸⁴⁸ At school my classmate was a youth a few years older than myself Mr. William Wilkins of Pennsylvania who had an uncle living in Lexington, we commenced the Latin Grammar together and progressed rapidly as far as selecta -- during this summer, during the April vacation I was taken into my Cousin McCouns store with Mr. John Castleman his partner, while he took a trip to Philadelphia for more goods. The store house was a small frame building with the gable end to Main street opposite the court house. The stock of Goods was not large, Mr. Castleman was not very attentive & the main business fell to my share, I could often see people passing by & looking in when seeing no person but a small boy & few goods, they would not come in, I was staisfied that we did not sell enough to pay our board. This cured me of ever wishing to be a merchant, as I was convinced that I never was made for one, and no doubt saved me from ever having anything to do with a store, I slept in the back on a mattress against the door entering the store, Mr. McCoun had a black man and his wife who occupied the upper part of their house which was only one story and occasions they had negro visitors, one night a negro woman came down the steps & took the key from under my head & entered the store while I was asleep, I awakened soon after and turning over felt the door give way, being alarmed I seized the door to close it and found some person pulling it open I then seized a billet of wood in the fire place and was about to strike the person when the woman spoke and made apologies that she had only done it to alarm me, she had taken some few articles which I made her lay down and in the morning I found that she had taken some money from the drawer, she lived in the country and I got a horse and pursued her and finally by making treats [sic] of prosecution got a small sum back, visitors were debarred after this -- While living in the store I witnessed so much licentiousness among the young men in the adjoining store, that I came to a solemn resolution never to permit myself to be drawn after them and it has no doubt saved me from many difficulties in my after life--
The Election for Governor came on this year and Col. James Garrard being elected, Mr. Toulman was appointed Secretary of State & gave up the school which during his administration was never very large, The Trustees not being able to supply his place until the commencement of the October session, some time in the latter part of July I returned to my home residence to my Brother Sam'y McAfee who had in the meantime married Mary Cardwell the daughter of Mr. John Cardwell who had rented my place and soon after John B. Cardwell his son married my sister Anne, my brother occupied one room of the house and I stayed with him, old Mr. Cardwell had a large family of boys and girls, who were careless and mischievous, windows and doors were shattered and the mill was going to wreck my brother not having the inclination or means to keep it in repair, the dam was finally washed away & the bolting cloths torn off I felt these things sensibly but could say nothing.
Mr. Wilkins returned to Pennsylvania, his father living in the vicinity of Pittsburgh he was an amiable young man of fine Talents, and I never saw him again until March 1833, when he was preparing for his Russian Mission & I was on my way at the same time as Charg d Affairs to Bogota South America, we met in Washington City & were introduced by Col. R. M. Johnson, we renewed our early friendship, and could not help noticing the coincidences of our fates, when in the same year he was going North & me South in the service of our common country which had never crossed our thoughts when we were boys at the same college. While I remained at my Brothers I occasionally worked in his corn field, which under a hot sun made me prefer school, but it being only the closing of the work it did not last long. I now determined to learn to swim as I had a good opportunity as the young Cardwells, Wiltshire, Thomas, &c were in the River two or three times every day, I never ceased to visit the River a short distance below my Bridge until I had learned to swim well, which when once learned never can be forgotten--I was stimulated to this, by the recollection of a narrow escape I had from being drowned, which I have forgotten to relate. I think it was during the time I went to school to Mr. Forsythe, I was crossing Salt River on my fathers mill dam the water was running over it in several places & I was running carelessing along and when about two thirds of the way over, my foot slipt & down I went on the lower side over a very deep hole, when I caught the Top of the dam with the fingers of one hand only and held on until I drew myself up, and passed on Trembling at the danger I had just escaped from, If I had gone down into the water I must have been lost, as it was very deep & I could not swim, and no person saw me when I fell, my learning to swim saved my life after this at a most interesting period of my life which I will relate in its proper place--hence I seriously advise all parents to learn their boys to swim and girls too if they can, and If I had fifty sons I would never cease until they were all learned this most important art, as we know not what my Happen.
About the 1st of October I returned to school at Transylvania Seminary Still boarding Mr. Saml Ayers who always received me with kindness and only charged me sixty dollars a year which was very moderate--The Trustees had been able to secure the services of the Revd James Moore an Episcopalian preacher and one among the best men who ever lived, he had been superseceded by Mr. Toulman under circumstnaces calculated to wound his feelings, yet upon earnest solicitation from his friends he again took charge of the school, which brought to it a considerable increase of students , Mr. Toulman was a fine scholar, and as to learning was amply qualified for a Teacher, yet he was deficient in the natural tact necessary to make a Successful Teacher, his school had dwindled down to not more than eighteen or twenty scholars--
On the 3d day of October 1796, I resumed my Latin & added the study of Geography, & Occasionally Arithmetic, in a class consisting of Nathaniel Hart and John Cape, whose Mother lived adjoining the Seminary lot on the S E side The former was the brotherinlaw of the Honbl. H. Clay & was killed at the River Raisin, the day after the Battle of the 22d Jany 1813.
We commenced in the Latin Grammar again & Nat Hart & myself progressed rapidly but were somewhat delayed by our friend Cape who could not keep up with us without great trouble and Labor, we had a pretty full school and among those since distinguished were William Logan, Martin D. Hardin and John Marshall, Mr. Logan & Hardin only continued the First Session as they had been to school longer and were just completing their Education as I was Beginning mine. There was one trait in M.D. Hardin, which I deem it my duty to relate, he was a youth of remarkable sober and regular habit, and with all very pleasant and agreeable, he was universally known & called by the boys "The Priest" and would always answer to that name without taking offence, our amusements were palying marbles, and Ball against the North end of the lot, and of course we would have frequent disputes & wrangles about our play, which were uniformly refered To the "Priest" Hardin would hear the stories on both sides and then gravely decide it and such were the equity & Justice of his decisions that I never knew an appeal taken from his opinion, but all instantly acquiesced, until he seemed at length really our rightful judge. This event I afterwards thought had an influence on Mr. Hardin when in 1819 he was Speaker of the H. R. of Kentucky I was a member It was thought that he was rather too arbitrary in his decisions on questions of order, But he was one of the most correct upright men I ever knew as well as conscientious in all his acts--
We spent half the day only at our lattin and Geography the other half, filling the intervalls with writing, we had the use of Globes and a good Telescope among the Philosophical apparatus. The Revd Mr. Moore our President was attentive--was among the most Pleasant men I ever knew.
Mr. Ayres lived a long distance from the college, I had no separate room to stay in and was obliged to take my chance with his apprentice boys, but slept in the upper room of the house (next the roof) one or two of his apprentices were very wicked boys, but Mr. Ayres being a religious man & keeping family prayer night and morning in his house, (he was a Baptist) he kept a strict reign over his boys however they contrived to get cards and I learned to play, and on my way to school having to pass near a Billiard room & frequently called in until I had learned to play with great facility, I had no money and of course did not play for money except once I played with one of Mr. Ayres apprentices by the name of Ryland on tick until I won six or seven dollars from him, he never paid and here ended my gambling for money, I also once bet a small sum on a Horse race, This was not paid and I never bet again, my Billiard Playing was so amusing that I was in great danger from this, But I resolved that it should never interfere with my school hours, or cause me to neglect or loose a lesson and I faithfully kept it, on account of having no room to study in, when it was good weather I often went into the garden & sat in the shade until I learned my lesson in which which was always punctual, indeed I have no recollection of ever being called to account for any failure to say my lessons or for not saying them as well and many times better than my classmates--I was now weaned from home and did not care much about returning to see my friends, I dressed pretty fine and felt several degrees above any of my humble relations who often visited Lexington to purchase goods, I found this spirit take strong hold of me ever since I had been in my Uncle McCouns store as I frequently kept store for him on Saturdays or on other days when we had no school, I must here relate another anecdote which took place about this time which had an influence on me ever afterwards (as to the Fashions). The French Revolution had driven many Frenchmen to the U States and several came to Lexington, and as a Frenchman can live any where & support himself where an Englishman would starve they were greatly admired for their neatness of their dress, coats waistcoats and pantaloons fitting to the skin. This fashion soon took the town and all the young Merchant clerks followed suit, seeing this I determined not to be behind, I procured some fine corded stuff to make me a pair of Pantaloons and took it to Mr. McCullocks who was then The fashionable Tailor, and gave him special instructions to make them to the height of the Fashion and as tight as the skin & for fear he would forget it, I repeated my request several times. When the Pantaloons were ready, I had great difficulty in getting them on, and I could not bend my knees, not yet having to learn to stand like a Frenchman and lean over or back as circumstances required--however they were made according to order and I could say nothing; away I went to the College and at Play time I went to playing Marbles as usual, but I was greatly annoyed, I though I would try Ball & in a little time running round I stumbed my toes against a Brick bat and down I come with both my knees out of my Breaches, my folloy now rose before me, and when I went to my Boarding house at Night, I had both knees tyed up in Handkerchiefs I have never since given a Tailor orders to make my clothes after the full fashion. My instructions to follow common sense and comfort, and I never have been a Fashionable man since and hope I never will--
Being now located permanent at school I will take a short retrospect of the state of society, Politics, & religion, of my family connections--My Ancestors on my Fathers side were cultivators of the soil as far back as I can trace them, and were generally owners of the land they lived on, my great Grandfather owned a good stone house in the county of Armah in Ireland, and on which Grandfather lived with his mother previous to his removal from that country to the U States, none of my progenitors, followed any other profession or calling on that side of the house but farming, my Grandfather McCoun emigrated from the county of Antrim in Ireland and on his Side of the house followed Trading and selling goods--In religion they were Covenantors and after the restoration of Charles the 2d and at the accession of James the 1st of England and the 6th of Scotland They had suffered severely the persecutions carried on against them and emigrated to the North of Ireland the precise year I never have been able to ascertain, but they were in Ireland previous to the Revolution of 1688 & took sides with William & Mary, There residence previous to this emigration was in Scotland between Edinburgh & Glasgow, and in the vicinity of the latter, my father and uncles were staunch Whigs during the revolutionary war, my Uncle James was a Lieutenant on several campaigns previous to his emigration to Ky, and my uncle William commanded a company on Clarks campaign of 1780 when he was killed as already related and my uncle Saml McAfee was the A Justice of the peace and the first or second Sheriff of Mercer county when the State was organized, he was a Justice of the peace when the county was organized in 1786 & voted for its first Clerk Thomas Allin--These were the principal offices held by any members of the family, in the early days of Kentucky, The family were noted for enterprise and a love of independence, opposed to tyranny or an invasion of their religious rights and like the Scotch strongly attached to their family clans, These considerations with the great distance to the Seat of Government in Virginia, induced them to espouse the side of an early separation from that State, as the wilderness was always dangerous from the attack of the Indians, my father & uncles attended the first convention called to consider this subject and voted for the separation & petition to the Virginia Legislature in 1785, but they had no idea of such a separation as would exclude them from the Confederation so as to unite with any Foregin State or Government either Spanish, French or English, as has been since charged, which induced the Spanish Government to pension Judge Sebastian, such an opinion never was entrusted to any of the family altho, John Brown, Isaac Shelby and Saml McDowell, then and until their deaths stood high with the family yet in after times George Nichols and John Breckenridge were the Political friends of the family. As to Sebastian, he never had their confidence and my earliest prejudices were drawn from this source against him our familywere devoted to the doctrines of Mr. Jefferson & against Hamilton yet Genl Washington had their warmest gratitude & admiration. My fathers death happened previous to the full development of party principles and divisions, The family have ever since been consistent Democrats, and I hope ever will be which their distinctive principles are the Soverignity of the people, equality of rights & no exclusive Privileges to any class or party, aiming at the greatest happiness of the greatest number at the same time obedience to all constitutional laws, together with a strict construction of the Federal constitution, possessing delegated power only--
The first settlers on Salt River were nearly all connected by family tyes or became so in a few years, and of course the greatest friendship & equality subsisted between them, and being generally of the Presbyterian persuasion They had a fixed regular state of Society at first, which has continued ever since, but still as their families grew up and increased, little difficulties would arise which were soon settled, one matter only led to a serious division which occurred between my Grandfather and uncles James McAfee on account of their land boundaries. There was a vacant space of forty poles between the original 400 acre Surveys of 1773 which was to be divided between them in laying their Settlements & preemptions, but a misunderstanding took place when it was surveyed & my Grandfather got the whole. This divided the family and became the cause of different burying ground, yet no other serious difference grew out of it.
In the year 1783 In the fall the Revd David Rice came to Kentucky and settled near Danville then a small village & next spring collected a church called Concord, and next spring 1784 collected another church on Salt River & Cane Run three miles S. E. of Harrodsburgh and built a log cabbin on John Haggins land for a school house & meeting house & in March 1785, twelve of the Salt River people viz
James McAfeeJohn Armstrong
James BuchananGeorge McAfee
John MageeJoseph Lyon
George BuchananWilliam Armstrong
Saml McAfeeRobert McAfee
James McCoun SrJames McCoun Jr
met near the present N. Providence church & agreed to build another house near that place to be used for the double purpose of a school & for Preaching, both of these churches afterwards in the same year elected two Elders George Buchanan and James McCoun for N. Providence & afterwards George Buchanan was transferred to Cane Run, with James Curry and John Haggin who was afterwards for some cause deposed, when George Buchanan was Transfered to Cane Run William Armstrong was elected for N. Providence--George Buchanan, John & William Armstrong removed to Kentucky in the fall 1784, N. Providence was called after a church of the same nmae in Virginia of which my uncle Geo. Buchanan was a member--
The Revd David Rice preached at Providence once a month until about 179(?). In the fall of 1789 the N. Providence people met & agreed to build a large house of Hewed logs & in the year 1790 a double hewed log house 50 feet by thirty was erected by subscription each person furnishing a portion of the logs and other materials. This was again enlarged on the south side in 1805 and finally pulled down in 1821 and the Present Brick church was erected in its place, I have thus hastily stated facts which may point out the gradual progress of things, and I have been more particular as to early years in order to show the various circumstances which were an influence on my future life, & finally fixed my character & prospects, I will not detain the reader with a minute detail of events & will only enter into detail of events when I may deem them important--
I remained at school at Transylvania Seminary in Lexington from the 3d of October 1796 to the 19th November 1797, during which time with my two classmates Nat. Hart and John Cape, made rapid progress in the Latin language Geography & other branches, devoting half of our time only to the Latin, we had pretty well mastered Virgil, during this time I boarded with Mr. Saml Ayers from whom and his worthy lady I was treated with as much attention as if I had been their own son--It was during this time that I lived with Mr. Ayers, that an unfortunate occurrence took place with a Mr. Barrett a celebrated Baptist Preacher, who had an amiable family especially a daughter who was young and handsome as well as the Belle of Lexington Mr. Barrett lived about two or three miles below the Town on a farm in the country but visited town almost every day and as Mr. Ayers was a leading Baptist Mr. Barrett always put up at his house and frequently preached there at night, he was a good speaker, very fluent with his tonge, and made himself very agreeable indeed he became very popular with the Merchants & their clerks, so much so that he had access to their stores and houses at all times, things went on swimmingly for eight on nine months, I was a particular favorite of his and several times visited his house where he lived in the first style. In this time he contrived to steal from all most every house or store to which he had access, Mr. Ayers would often open his desk were he kept his money and leave Barrett to write or pretend to write letters, and notwithstanding he frequently missed small sums of money he had no suspicion of his brother Barrett, he also began to miss watches from his silversmith shop, which gave him great uneasiness as he had to pay for some of them, Barrett generally wore a heavy surtoot coat with large pockets and would go into the stores on Main Street and whenever he found none but the clerk or store boy, he would make some few purchases and ask for some articles which they would not have & then ask the boy to step out to another store to get them for him & he would stay until they came back he would then fill his pocketts with such articles as he wanted, he would also find articles outside of their doors and remove them to the next door, and request a place to put them until his return next day, I recollect one day while I was keeping store for Mr. McCoun he came in and gave me a fourpence asked me to run across the street and buy him some apples, I done so, but did not like the sign as he had his big pocketts on, I was very expeditious about it, yet I have no doubt that he helped himself to such things as he could by his hands on at length he stole a saddle from one of the stores, and made off down the street with it, and after crossing below Main Cross street to nearly opposite the old Baptist Church and burying ground he was pursued and overtaken, and the saddle taken from him he protesting his innocence declaring he had purchased it from a man in the street he was permitted to go home, but that evening several merchants who had lost articles in a mysterious manner issued a warrant against him and also a search warrant, when the constable approached his house early next morning Barrett made his escape and he proceeded to search his house, and to the astonishment of every person a considerable store was found of almost every kind of merchandise or articles kept in store for sale and among the rest, several of Mr. Ayers lost watches. This explained his rascality in the full, in a day or two he was arrested in a Rye field in vicinity & brought to Lexington, the news flew in every direction and I witnessed his introduction into the court house he had leather leggons on & was wet above his knees, he was tried and found guilty & I think he was punished by branding & whipping--he afterwards removed to Green county where some of his descendants became respectable citizens, but he was a rascal as long as he lived, I believed he finally removed to Cumberland county where he died--
My reason for leaving Lexington were that my finances were getting low and my brother having purcahsed a tract of Land (now including one half of Salvisa) was not able to provide the necessary funds, It was necessary for me to accomodate myself to my circumstances & a Presbyterian Preacher by the name of William Mahan having purchased a farm of 95 acres from My uncle George McAfee on Salt River now including McCoun & Kennady's Mill and also having taken charge of N. Providence Church he had opened a small school to aid in his support, Mr. Mahan was a fine scholar having graduated at Princeton (N. Jersey) under the celebrated Doer Witherspoon was fully qualified to teach the Languages and every other science, he was a Virginian by birth and had married a Miss Venable a highly respectable Virginia family--Previous to my leaving Transylvania, President Moore took an opportunity to give me his advice, he urged to perseverance & assured me that I had talents which would some day give me distinction, and that by pursuing a correct course specially looking to and relying on a kind Providence, I would be an honor to my friends, This friendly adivce sunk deep into my heart, and when I left him I fully resolved to avoid all vice, and never to play cards or Billiards again, and I have kept my promise to this day, My recollection of this kindness from my Perceptor, deeply impressed me with the importance of Parents, guardians & friends to give advice to those under their care it is like "Bread cast on the waters It will be found after many days" children are never too young to receive good advice, Hence I have always paid particular attention to little boys and girls especially those who give promise of sprightliness, and I have had my reward in many of them in after years reminding me of the advice I gave them which I had forgotten, This has made me somewhat of an enthusiast in the cause of Education.
I was always fond of reading from my earliest recollection and while at school in Lexington I had collected a little Library of more than fifty volumes, mostly small histories & novels costing about twenty five cents each which was generally the extent of funds, which I generally applied in this way, among my books as a matter of course I had "Robinson Crusoe & Gullivers Travels," I have often satt up until past midnight reading my little books after I had got my school lessons, These books increased my appetite for reading and filled my head with Romantic notions which I afterwards corrected by more solid reading, but I would not advise young people to indulge too much in novel reading It will give them a taste for reading but it must be checked in order that we may form plain common sense opinions as to the affairs of this world, my list of novels were none of them immoral, but many of them inculcated extravagant notions of the heroes or heroines of the Book which do not exist in human nature--
I boxed my books & clothes together & meeting with a waggon under the care of Mr. Fielding Delany (a son of the old gentleman who formerly owned McCouns Ferry on the Kentucky river) I left Lexington on the 19th of Nov 1797, and we camped by the side of the road about two & a half miles this side of town near a branch of fine water, and next evening I arrived safe at my Brothers on the Frankfort road (just above the present college of Salvisa), and on the 2d day of December I commenced going to school with Mr. Mahan on Salt River, who had but a few scholars I had for my classmates, two young gentlemen who were preparing for the Ministry Joshua L. Wilson & Joseph B. Lapsley, both of whom afterwards became Presbyterian Preachers, The Revd Mr. Lapsley settled in Bowlingreen where he died about the year (?) and The Revd Mr. Wilson first settled in Bardstown and afterwards removed to Cincinnati where he had and now has charge of the 1st Presbyterian church as is now the Revd Doctr Wilson both of these young men had Talents and were numbered among my best friends, We were soon after joined by Mr. John Simpson of Shelby county a young man of six feet seven Inches high he was afterwards in the year 1810-11 Speaker of the H. R. of the Kentucky Legislature and commanded a company in Col. John Allens Regt in the Battle of the River Raisin where he was killed on the 22d January 1813--Thus it has been my good fortune to have been the classmate of boys who afterwards became distinguished men.
My Brother Saml, Then lived in a plain log cabbin 18 feet by twenty with only one room and I had occasionally to sleep in the loft if any company came which was pretty frequent as he lived on a main public road to Frankfort But I was cheerful and felt happy as I was once more with my relations Mr. Wilson & Lapsley being advanced in their learning about as far as I was we went on together and during the year 1798 we applied ourselves assidously and I made some progress in the Greek but gave it up as I was firmly determined to study law & become a politician, I studied surveying, Euclids Elements, natural Philosophy & having procurred Morses large Edition of his universal Geography I reviewed that branch of my Studies--when I commenced Euclide I could not get along. I could not comprehend the use of Mathematics & once or twice concluded to give it up but upon reflection I determined that I would not be outdone as I had never yet failed to master any science that was deemed useful to me, I concluded to memorize the propositions & demonstrations whether I could understand them or not, and in this way I got along for several days but before I reached his fifth proposition I began to understand him and new light broke in upon my mind, that I was able to take the lead of my class & never ceased until I became what was then considered a good Mathematician.
I was again without a room to study in and often had to get my lessons in the chimney corner or out in my Brothers guardian [sic], my classmates lived at Capt John Armstrongs Senr near N. Providence & had a separate room to themselves, Mr. Wilson was twenty two years of age and Mr. Lapsley eighteen or nineteen while I was only fourteen, but regularly kept up with them in our class, this somewhat ruffled their pride & while reading the old of Horace they concluded to give me a Specimen of their superiority, we had agreed upon our lesson and when on next morning we had finished it, I was aksed if I could read another ode! I replied go on, and read my part well, I was again bantered for another! go on was my reply, and when through and hearing no farther challenge, I said to them "Boys let us read another which was declined, & Mr. Wilson laughingly remarked "He has caught us in our own Trap" no more manouvers were ever made upon me and I was afterwards admitted to full equality. Mr. Mahan was delighted with the whole scene and ever after treated me with marked attention--
The truth is I had in some way suspected the whole affair from something that had dropped from them & instead of getting three odes (which were short) which was our Lesson, I got six that morning & they had only learned five, which gave me unexpectedly the victory. We made it our daily practice to speak the Latin tonge to each other and this way when I completed my studies I was considered a first rate Latin scholar as I could converse in the language and write it correctly--As the Spring of 1798 advanced we made a stand and benches under some beach Trees at the foot of the hill now directly in front of McCoun & Kennedys mill house which we dignified with the name of "Beach College" here in the open air we studied our lessons & every Friday evening delivered our orations in the presence of such of the neighbors as choosed to attend & sometimes we had large and respectable audiences.
We also organized a debating Society at N. Providence which was dignified by the name of "Free Society" by Mr. Wilson, almost the whole neighborhood round Providence & for four or five miles round became members, we met every third Saturday & debated such questions as were selected by a committee & among them such political questions as then agitated the country of course the Alien & Sedition laws were debated & John Adams standing army as well as our relations with France then in a critical situation, our Teacher Mr. Mahan was a Federalist, in favor of the Policy of President Adams & against Mr. Jefferson, who he said was an Infidel, he however said but little on political subjects, but what he did say was to me and for a time I felt very much inclined to think with him, but all my relations & indeed every body else who I heard spek on the subject were Republicans and also understanding that Col. Nicholas & Breckinridge took the Republican side, This at once decided my mind & I became a staunch Jeffersonian in Politics altho I did not then fully comprehend the theory of our Government I had however learned to Hate the British for their outrages during the Revolutionary War & highly respect the French--In our debating society I did not make a speech for some time, until reflecting that I was preparing to study law, I must of course speak young as I was, with this view I memorized a speech on the French question, and when I got up to speak I became blind but on I went pell mell until I was through, and was told I had made a pretty good speech altho I was so alarmed that I really hardly knew what I said, being encouraged for my first effort, I soon afterwards could make short speeches without being much embarrassed. The experience I derived from this society was useful to me in after life--
In September 1798 we had an exhibition and public speaking at our Beach College including several scenese of dialogues This was a great day with us, we had a large Audience, and a pretty respectable shoe to the satisfaction of all present our school continued until the 1st of April 1799. In the meantime on Saturdays during the winter I aided my brother in making sugar at his sugar camp on Cheese Lick creek in the N. West corner of Mercer county, and our Reacher requiring us to write a composition, my first effort after much cognition was to write upon the nature of the Sugar Tree and the mode of making sugar; It was a lame affair. It consisted of a detail of facts with but very little reasoning or argument in it, I was conscious of its defects, but I had not learned to analyze my Ideas or to draw conclusions, however, it cost me much pain and I had almost determined never to try to write again but Mr. Mahan encouraged me to persevere, which I did and was soon able to write with tolerable facility and in after life to write with great fluency and ease to myself, The first great rule is to understand the subject on which you write, before you put your pen on paper--I name this to encourage other young ment to persevere and never to abandon anything because it is hard to accomplish, reflection, study, and a firm resolve will make many things easy, which at first appear impossible or hard to do--
The time I spent at this school was the happiest of my life, we were all in moderate circumstances, tis true I had a handsome land Estate left to me and my younger Brother by my fathers will, yet our unfortunate law suit with Williams including lawyers and clerks fees took all the money we could raise by the rent of my fathers place and, I never had any surplus money beyond what the most pressing necessities demanded and another change was rapidly approaching. Our Preceptor Mr. Mahan began to loose the confidence of his church at Providence, as he preached half his time there and the other half at the upper Benson church in Franklin county, he was unhappy in his domestric relations, he had a number of Black women and having no employment for all of them within doors, of course several of them had to work out in the corn field, Mrs. Mahan tho otherwise a pleasant good woman was Hypochondrial and seldom left her room and when Mr. Mahan was absent, the servants were negligent and disobedient, of course numerous complaints were made on his return which compelled him to correct them, sometimes severely, and after night they would visit the neibors [sic] houses and make desperate complaints of their hard usage, showing their backs and arms, and complaining that they neither had enough to eat or to wear--when the truth was they were the worst set of negroes I ever saw as well as too lazy to work even to feed or clothe themselves, scarcely ever trying to do right, I have known one of his women when laying off corn ground to make her rows like a half moon merely to show her contempt of her masters orders, and besides they were encouraged and told by some white families that they ought not to work out, It was no wonder then that Mr. Mahan was driven to drink to drown his difficulties which he indulged in secretly at home but never or seldom when abroad, He was however cited before his Presbytery, and finally silenced a year or two afterwards, I was called as a Witness but declined to attend on account of my high respect for the old gentleman--

• James McCoun. Name: James McCoun III 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sex: M Birth: 29 OCT 1716 in County Antrim, Ireland Death: 4 OCT 1800 in McAfee, Mercer Co., Kentucky Burial: Lambert Derling Brewer farm located one mile north of Old Providence Cemetery. Will: 22 APR 1800 Mercer Co., Kentucky Event: Will Probated OCT 1800 Mercer Co., Kentucky Note:
Came to Virginia from Ireland when a young man and landed at Norfolk in company with another young man by name of William Adams in 1742. They engaged for some time working at the loom and farming until he procured money enough to buy himself a small package of goods. Then he (McCown -- should be McCoun) went to peddling in the back and frontier counties which at that time did not extend farther than lower counties on the Roanoke, but as the settlements extended, James McCown (McCoun) and William Adams married & some years afterward settled on the Catawba in Bedford Co. These marriage took place in 1744 about two years after they arrived in Virginia, having met with Margaret and Mary Walker who came to North America about the same time with their brother Samuel Walker and landed at Charleston, So. Carolina, with an uncle by the name of Thomas Clark, who had married their mother's sister. Their family moved to Virginia and settled on Roanoke, where James McCown married Margaret, the eldest sister who was said to be a remarkably handsome neat Irish girl ... (the writer here states that he has in his possession a little rocking chair which had been -) hers previous to her death in March 1784. James McCown often went to Philadelphia to get his goods. Thomas Clark returned to Ireland and again came back to Charleston where he took sick and died before he reached his family. Samuel Walker hearing of his death went to see after his affairs, and was never heard of afterward. It was supposed he was murdered or taken sick and died at or near Charleston. (Taken from Haddon, McClure, Curry and Allied Families)

The McAfee Family from Scotland source states "My grandfather, James McCoun, was in person of the ordinary size, about five feet nine or ten inches, heavy made and became fleshy before his death in 1800; grey eyes, heavy eyebrows and finely rounded forehead. Was a man of extraordinary strong mind with a great fund of cheerfulness and good humor, in which the Irish character predominated. He was an excellent farmer and great economist. Fond of his friends and much attached to his sons especially the eldest. Was a Presbyterian of the Scotch (Seceder) denomination.

Will of James McCoun --
In The Name of God Amen. I James McCoun of the County of Mercer and Commonwealth of Kentucky being of sound and perfect mind and Memory but calling to mind the uncertenty of Earthly thins do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in the manner & form following
first I commit my Soul to god who gave it and my Body to the dust to be decently Buried at the discretion of my Executors and Dispose of All my Worldly concerns as followeth
I will and ordain that all my Just and Lawful Debts Shall be payd -- First I gave to my son John McCoun a tract of land on Salt rive at the mouth of Birch Creek patented in my Name Containing four hundred acres and the following Negroes (To Wit) Nat Sarah and her children Gilbert Nanny Phil Soloman Edmund and Anna Neetty and Patrick together with all their increase The whole to him and his Heirs and Assigns forever Likewise all the farming utensils and Waggon and The Crop now in the ground to be Disposed of at his Discression and all the corn and provision now on hand and what Whiskey I have for the use of Lawing The crop and all my Books and the whole of the moveable property except Eight Sheep and the Household furniture I gave to my Daughter Mary the following Negroes (To Wit) Dilfy Nelly George John and mary and four Sheep and half of the Household furniture --
I gave to my Daughter Ginney the followin Negroes Vis Bob and Amy four Sheep and half of the Household furniture -- I gave to James McCoun son of my son James McCoun Dearest the tract of Land now Live on to him and his Heirs forever. I gave to my Grandson Samuel Walker Kerr and Moses McCoun a tract of Land Situate and Lying on Salt River patented in my name containing three hundred and Eighty acres to be equally divided to them and their Heirs forever -- I Gave to my Grandson John McCoun son to my Daughter Susanah one Hundred acres of Land Situate on the South fork of Benson - I gave to my Grandson Samuel McAfee all the Debt due from his fathers estate. I also gave unto the children of my Daughter Betsey Ben or his value to be paid by James Ledgewood -- and I hereby appoint my son John McCoun and my Grandson James McCoun Executors to this my last Will and Testament hereby Revoking all former Wills by me made in Witness where of I have Signed Sealed published and Declared this my last Will and Testament this Twenty Secd Day of April Eighteen Hundred -- I gave to my son John McCoun all my Money Notes Bonds and Debts due except that of Robert McAfee --
Signed in the Presence of --James McCoun (Seal)
Robert Armstrong
John Armstrong
John Armstrong Jun


Mercer Set October County Court 1800
This Last Will and testament of James McCoun Deceased was Exhibited into Court and proved by the oaths of Robert Armstrong, John Armstrong and John Armstrong Junior three subscribing Witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded

Teste Tho. Allin C. C.
Roots web.com

• Family History. William Adams
William I. Adams came to America from Antrim County, Ireland in 1742 at the age of 25 years. A loomer and farmer by trade, he came with James McCoun. Both were Scots-Irish (Scots who had settled in Northern Ireland after 1600 as part of the plan of James I of England to settle Scots in the region to free up land in Scotland for grazing and pacify the unruly Irish the Ulster region).
The Ulster Plantation is modern day "Northern Ireland," which is part of the United Kingdom and the subject of much news over attempts to bring peace to this violence torn region. The Ulster Plantation was formed in the early 1600's by King James I of England (who was also James VI of Scotland). England since the time of the Normans had been unable to subdue the Irish - yet refused to withdraw from the island - for fear of giving its strong enemies - such as Spain and France - a friendly foothold, so close to its borders.
Elizabeth's soldiers - just prior to her death - subdued, in a very bloody fashion, an Irish rebellion in the north. James declared the rebel chiefs property as forfeited to the crown, and offered to Scottish Presbyterians the opportunity to settle in the Ulster provinces. This solved multiple problems ( in the short term) for James. The Scottish lowlands were horribly impoverished and overpopulated. Scottish noblemen wanted more grazing lands for sheep herding. The Irish were Catholic, and James wanted protestants to secure his borders.
Hundreds of thousands of Scots settled in Ulster. Between 1700 and 1800, hundreds of thousands of these Scots came to America. they were called "Scotch-Irish" to distinguish them from the native, Catholic Irish. They were not Irish, but did come from Ireland.
At the time of the Revolution, they represented about 10% of the population. They were poor, rugged and courageous settlers, carved the frontier and bore the brunt of the Indian attacks on the colonies.
There are many reasons for immigration from Scotland to Ulster. The reason would typically depend on the time of their migration. The principal move of Scots to Ulster began when James I of England (also James VI of Scotland) made it policy to settle Scots in Ulster. His decision was an attempt to deal with a multitude of domestic troubles. Landowners in Scotland wanted fewer tenants. Crime and theft in the lowlands was becoming rampant as the clan orders were breaking down, food supplies dwindled. He also was faced with Irish Catholics who would not submit to English rule. His "solution" was to settle Scot Presbyterians in Ulster. This would free up tenancies, give land to Scots and create a counterforce to the troublesome Irish.
However, Northern Ireland proved a temporary home for many of the Ulster Scots. Most did not receive land as promised. Conflict with the Irish was constant. In 1700, the English mercantile policies effectively destroyed the woolen industry of Ulster, and a huge number of Scot-Irish migrated to America.
William married Mary Walker in 1744 and had seven children (Anne, Margaret, Samuel, David, Jane (also called Jennet), Mary and William, Jr.). They settled on the Carawba Creek in Botetourt Co. These families migrated to Mercer Co. KY in the spring of 1779 with a group called the McAfee Company. Mary Walker came to Virginia with sister Margaret, an uncle, and her brother Samuel. Margaret married James McCoun, Sr, the man who arrived with William I Adams in 1742. Samuel returned to Ireland to settle the uncle's affairs after his death and never returned. The uncle was Thomas Clark, who was the husband of Mary's mother's sister, and related to George Rogers Clark.
William assisted in establishing American Independence, while acting in the capacity of juror in Botetourt Co. May 9, 1775. According to the Journal of Robert B. McAfee. A reference to this has also been identified as:
The Annals Of Southwest Va. 1769-1800, page's 242 & 243, published by Lewis Preston Summers, Abington, Va. 1929
Prior to settling in Kentucky, William's son Samuel (born March 27, 1752) was one of the early explorers of Kentucky and took part in the pre-Revolutionary War Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 between Virginia Colonial forces and a confederation of Indian tribes opposing settlers. The defeat of the Shawnee Indians by Virginia militiamen opened the way for numerous settlers to Kentucky. This Samuel was an adventurer and explorer at the age of 18. He was part of a group of 10 men known as the McAfee Company that surveyed Kentucky in 1773. The men established claims in the area but did not settle there until the Shawnee Indians were defeated.
This Samuel, the son of William I. Adams, had a son named William. This William was born in 1777 in Botetourt County, VA and died 1851. He married a Mary Woods.
William I had a son, William Jr., who was born in 1768 in Botetourt County, VA and died in 1808 in Mercer County, KY. He married a Mary Curry.
Some land transactions for early Adams' include (Book #1 is in Lincoln Co, Book A is in Jefferson):
Last Name First Name Acre Location Date Bk-Pg Adams David 664 Salt River 06-03-1780 1-66 Samuel 1000 Salt River 06-26-1780 1-80 W. 400 Salt River 11-04-1779 1-1 William 600 Salt River 04-26-1780 1-23 William 400 Salt River 04-26-1780 1-23 Curry John 400 Chaplins Fk 05-24-1780 A-96 William 400 Chaplins Fk 05-24-1780 1-50 McAfee George 400 Salt River 11-14-1779 1-1 James 400 Salt River 11-03-1779 A-2 1000 Salt River 04-26-1780 1-21 Robert 400 Salt River 11-03-1779 A-1 600 Salt River 05-20-1780 A-79 Samuel 400 Salt River 11-03-1779 A-2 William 400 Salt River 11-03-1779 A-2 McCoun James 1000 Salt River 04-26-1780 A-26 James Jr. 1000 Salt River 04-26-1780 A-26 McCowan James 400 Salt River 11-03-1779 A-2 John 400 Salt River 02-03-1780 A-10It is obvious that William Adams and James McCoun remained friends long after their arrival in 1742. Both acquired 400 acres of land with the first few days of November 1779, although one in Lincoln, and 1 in Jefferson, it is probable that they were still not all that far from one another. Both purchased, at the end of the following April, six months later, 1000 acres, and all the land is along the Salt River. James McAfee also purchased land at the same two dates, proving a long standing friendship with the McAfee family.
William Adams married Mary Walker in 1744, the same year that James McCoun married her older sister, Margaret, as before mentioned. Both families settled on the Catawba River in Bedford County. We know almost nothing about the life and times of William Adams. He and Mary Walker Adams had seven surviving children, all were born in Augusta County, Virginia. Ann, the oldest, was born circa 1747. Augusta County was divided in 1770 and the southern portion became Botetourt County with its county seat at Fincastle. Courthouse records show that William Adams purchased 145 acres on the Catawba Creek from a John Armstrong in February of 1770. The sale of this same property to a William McClellan was recorded in 1779 as he prepared to move his family to Kentucky. William was now 56 years old and his family included his youngest son who was just 11 years old, two unmarried daughters, and nine grandchildren.
All of William and Mary's children lived a portion of their lives in Mercer County, Kentucky. ...Anne 1747 Margaret 1749 Samuel 1752 DAVID 1754 (Jane) Jennet 1765, Mary 1766 William 1768 is interesting to note here that in 1747 James McAfee,Sr. moved his family from North Carolina to land on the Catawba Creek which was then in Augusta County, Virginia. The original deed settled in McAfee's name was dated February 17, 1748. In December of 1749 he received a grant for another 300 acres on both sides of the Catawba.
William Adams, Sr. is often involved in land transactions with his sons and sons and these are found in Courthouse records: "this indenture made and concluded on the ninth day of July Anno Domini 1786 between WilliamAdams and Mary Adams his wife of the one part and Samuel Adams of the other part, son to the former party, both of Lincoln County and the State of Kentucky and the State of Virginia. Witnesseth that the said WilliamAdams and Mary for the consideration of the sum of Three Hundred Pounds to us in hand paid by the said SamuelAdams, the receipt whereof, we do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained and sold, alienated and confirmed unto said Samuel Adams, his heirs and assigns forever, all the parcel or tract of land containing Four Hundred Acres, the residue in full of a Preemption Warrant".
William Adams, Sr. died in 1795 at the age of 72 and is said to be buried in the "old Adams's Cemetery" located one mile southwest of the "old Brewer Home". This old cemetery is unfenced, in the middle of a large pasture. Cattle seeking shade among its remaining trees have scattered and destroyed the old markers, very few names or dates can be identified. That William's wife died sometime prior to 1789 is evidenced by the fact she is not mentioned in her husbands's will dated August 29, 1789, Book 1 page 205
(Last Will and Testament, July 28,1795) In the name of God Amen. I, William Adams, Sen. of the County of Lincoln in the Commonwealth of Virginia, being frail and weakly of body but sound of mind and memory, blessed be the Almighty God for the same, and calling to mind that there's an appointed time for all men to die, do therefore make and ordain this my last will and testament for the better regulating and disposing of my worldly estate and affairs after my death viz. in the manner and form following, First, I agree and resign my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body to the dust to be buried in a Christian and decent like manner at the direction of my executors hereafternamed and for the worldly estate and goods that providence has blessed me with I agree and bequeath in the following manner. I order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid. Item, I agree and bequeath to my son, William Adams, all my horses and horse creatures, except a bay mare and colt hereafter mentioned, and all my cattle, hogs, farming utensils, one bed and bedding, a dutch oven, half of my pewter, and a frying pan to him and his heirs forever. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Jennet Adams, all my beds and bedding, except the bed and bedding before mentioned, and one big pot, and one kettle, a trunk, a pair of spoon moulds, half my pewter, a crock or pot tramil (trammel), a loom of tacking, one bay mare and colt, all these particular to my daughter, Jennet Adams, her heirs and assign forever.
Item, I agree and devise to my daughter, Jennet Adams, a missuage survey and tract of land containing four hundred acres being part of my settlement and preemption survey situated in the Couty of Mercer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and on the waters of the Salt River being that part of said survey adjouning George McAfee's land below, to have and to hold the said four hundred acres to her, the said Jennet Adams and her heirs, being her issue lawfully begotten, and their assign forever. But if it should happen that my daughter should die and leave no child or children lawfully begotten, that then it is in such a case my will that the four hundred acres of land descend and be the absolute property of my son, Samuel Adams, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and devise to my son, William Adams, a missuage survey of a tract of land containing six hundred acres being part of the afore mentioned settlement of preemption survey that adjoins the four undred acres before devised and below the same, to have and hold the said six hundred acres to the said William Adams, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item, I give and bequeath to my son, Samuel Adams, a quantity of iron sufficient for a wagon, a pair of smoothing irons, my family Bible, the Westminster Confession of Faith and F Works, to him, his heirs, or assigns.The reason why no provision is here made in this my last will and testament for my son, DAVID ADAMS, and my daughters Anne Adams, Margaret Curry, and Mary Wilson is because they have all been provided for according to my abilities before this date. And lastly, I hereby appoint and constitute my sons Samuel and DAVID ADAMS to be executors of this my Last Will and Testament and disannulling all wills and testaments heretofore by me and done pronouncing publishing and delivering this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty Ninth day of July Anno Domini 1789 signed and sealed and acknowledged to be the last Will and Testament of William Adams by him in the presents of us. Elizabeth Thomas William Stewart John Thomas Mercer County July Court 1795 This Last Will and Testament of William Adams, Sr. Deceased, was exhibited in Court and approved by the oaths of Elizabeth Thomas, William Stewart and John Thomas witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded. Test. Tho. Allin, Clerk of Court
Agreement to dispose of articles not included in the will of William Adams,Sr.Articles of agreement agreed upon and concluded between Samuel Adams, DAVID ADAMS, and William Adams, and Samuel Adams, John Curry, Robert Robertson, and Thomas Wilson, sons and sons of William Adams, deceased, late of the County of Mercer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. That whereas the said William Adams, deceased, in his lifetime by Last Will and Testament bearing the date July 29, 1789 devised and bequeathed several articles therein mentioned to the several legatees above mentioned in his will. These presents is therefore to notify to all persons to whom these presents may come, Greetings. The said articles that now appears over and above the estate of the said William Adams, deceased, we the said heirs and children of the said deceased will abide and have consented the same shall be divided and disposed viz. One bay mare and colt to be the property of William Adams and also one bed to be delivered to him as his real property to him and his heirs and assigns forever, and further one brown mare colt year old to be the property of Robert Robertson his heirs and assigns forever. To which each and every one do bind ourselves our Heirs and Executors respectively to guarantee and conform to each persons so mentioned as its proper owner. Given under hands and seals under penalty of One Thousand Pounds Virginia Currency this Twenty Eighth Day of July Anno Domini 1795.
Comments: William Adams' will was written when he was 66 years old, six years before his death. He describes the land he gives to his son and daughter as being in Mercer County, while he considers himself a resident of Lincoln County. Mercer had been formed from Lincoln three years earlier, in 1776! It is interesting that he left the bulk of his estate to the youngest children and his feeling that he had already "adequately provided" for the older heirs. He was concerned that his daughter, Jennet was 24 years old and still unmarried. As it worked out, Jennet was married and almost presented him with a grandchild before he died, certainly she left no chance for any "unlawfully begotten heirs".

William married Mary Walker on 1 May 1744 in Botetourt County, Virginia. (Mary Walker was born in May 1723 in Newry, Down, Ireland and died before 1789 in Mercer County, Kentucky.)