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There were yet, no families moved into the country, nor any permanent residence commenced; but in the course of this year, a cabin was built at Harrodsburgh; since'so called, from James Harrod, who had led a party of Monongahelians to that place. There, they made a stand-and there, the hunters, and surveyors, took refuge, from the inclemency of the weather, or the fury of the Indians, then at war. Hostilities having been openly proclaimed between the tribes north-west of the Ohio, and the Virginians; the adverse armies, met at the mouth of the great Kenhawa; and after a severe battle, which terminated in favour of the Virginians, the enemy fled home, and the victors called the field of action, POINT PLEASANT: Whence many of the soldiers, returned to their residence, in the south-western parts of the colony, by the way of Kentucky.

Governor Dunmore, then commanding the main army of militia, who had not been in the action of the Point, marched into the Indian territory; where, soon after, peace was made, between him, and the savages. With returning peace, the surveyors returned to Kentucky; and in this year, and the next, completed the execution of their commissions.

[1775.] In 1775, the people of Virginia, and the neighbouring colonies, being much better informed, than before, of the circumstances of Kentucky; and apprehending less danger from the Indians, in consequence of the recent peace; repaired to the country, in various small parties, for the purpose of selecting tracts of land, for improvement, and future settlement.These improvements were made without intention of continued. occupancy; and consisted principally, in cutting the under brush, and belting the larger trees-to which, was sometimes: added a log pen, called a cabin; with open top, or bark cover; as the foundation of future claim. Upon the approach of winter, these adventurers generally returned home; and contributed by extending information of the country, to rouse up other adventurers-who, the next summer, made a like visit, for similar purposes; and after making the usual improvements, also returned home.

However, in this year, 1775, a few permanent settlements were made-particularly at Harrodsburgh, and Logan's camp, afterwards called St. Asaphs, near the present Standford, under the auspices of Virginia; the settlers being generally from that colony-besides the settlement at Boonesborough; which was made under the influence of Henderson, and company, from North Carolina: all of which are to be more particularly noticed.

During the interval between the return of Daniel Boone from Kentucky, in 1771, and this period, he had not been either silent, or inactive. The accounts, and descriptions of Kentucky, first circulated by Finley, and his little party, and afterwards authenticated, and enlarged by Boone; had reverberated through North Carolina, awakened the attention, and excited the cupidity, of Col. Richard Henderson, and others; who, anticipating in their minds, the immense riches to be amassed by the acquisition of the country on the south side of the Kentucky river, (then claimed as far as the Tennessee river, by their neighbours, the Cherokee Indians;) determined, in order to colour the possession, which they contemplated taking of that vast region, to make a purchase of it from the Indians; and then force the settlement, and occupancy, of the territory. For these purposes, having first associated themselves, and brought about the necessary treaty with the claimants; the purchase was accordingly effected-a deed executed--and in the same year, (1775,) possession taken, at Boonesborough--so called after Daniel Boone, who had been the principal, though not the first harbinger of the new world-the agent, in making the purchase from the Indians; and the leader of the first colony, to the bank of the Kentucky river.

Henderson, and his associates, now considering themselves, the proprietors of this spacious, and fertile territory, opened an office for selling out the lands to purchasers; to whom they pro posed making deeds, in virtue of their Indian title.

Whether the gentlemen of this association were ignorant of the Virginia charter; or supposed it to give no pre-emptiveright of purchase from the Indians; or whether they were en

couraged to this act of aggression on the sovereignty of the colony, by the increasing difficulties, and beginning war, between Great Britain, and her American subjects, is not cer tainly known. But whatever the principles were upon which they reconciled these transactions to themselves, or expected to justify them to the world, they seemed determined to persevere; and not only encouraged people to settle on the lands, by offering bounties, but actually made deeds to sundry purcha sers, for specific tracts.

The most flattering prospects of wealth and power, now presented themselves to the associates, when an account of their proceedings, was transmitted to the public functionaries of Virginia; whence arose rumours, and murmers, of the most inauspicious nature, to their future success.

Virginia, hitherto, under some restrictions from the crown of Great Britain, as to her western territory; or occupied by the momentous contest then existing between the mother country, and her colonies, on the subject of taxation; had paid but little attention to Kentucky; so late the residence of wild beasts only-or the resort of Indians still more wild and untractable. The next year however, changed the state of the case. Congress, having adopted the declaration of independence, for which Virginia, in feeling, and sentiment had been previously prepared; she took the decided attitude of a free, independent, and sovereign, state; formed a constitution of government-and asserted her territorial rights, to be coextensive with the limits of her royal and colonial charter of the twenty-third of May, 1609, by James I., of Great Britain. Within these limits which extended from the Atlantic, to the Pacific ocean, she asserted the exclusive right of purchasing the soil from the aborigines.

In pursuance of these principles, the legislature, afterwards declared the purchase made by Henderson and company, ut erly null, and void, as it related to them; but effectual as it related to the extinguishment of the Indian title: which consequently devolved on the state; in whom was vested the para. mount right-and exclusiue privilege, of purchase, from the Indians.

Thus vanished the golden dream of Colonel Henderson and his speculating associates: and an incalculable fund of future wealth, jurisdiction, and power, was acquired by the commonwealth; without any advance of money, or exertion of physical force on her part. Henderson and his companions, were however deemed worthy of compensation; and a tract of two hundred thousand acres of the same land, was assigned to them, by law, at the mouth of Green river.

With this grant, the associates became satisfied: and the settlers under them in the other parts of the country, universally acquiescing in the authority of Virginia; they all henceforth looked up to her for their titles, and protection.

In the interim, the legislature also confirmed a purchase made by Colonel Donaldson, of the country north of the Kentucky river, from the Six Nations; which for a time had been improvidently slighted.

Thus, was the Indian title, to the whole of Kentucky, north of the Tennessee river, extinguished by purchase: which reconciled the demands of justice, with the dictates of sound policy, on the part of Virginia-who, now stood high, in the estimation of her sister states, for patriotism-for populationfor talents-and for riches: extending her territorial dominion, and settlements, to the Ohio; eight hundred miles from the Atlantic.

CHAP. II.

Incidents relative to the First Settlers, Biographies, &c. prior to 1776′′ HAVING ascertained the commencement of several perma[1775.] nent settlements in Kentucky, in 1775-the attention of the reader will now be turned more particularly on those adventurers, by whom the first families were led into the wilderness-the first strong holds built-and the country first occupied, in the birth of her white population.'

To appreciate the merit of an enterprize, we should have in view the difficulties which opposed its execution. Thus it is, we judge of Cecrops, the founder of Athens-of Cadmus, of Boeotia-and of Danaus, of Argolis: Thus it is, also, that culogiums have been multiplied, or enhanced, on Romulus, and his hardy followers:--In a similar manner, we speak of the first settlers in America. No less than those, have Boone, and others hereafter to be named, merited the appellation of foun ders: no less than those do they deserve the notice of posterity.

Among the first of these was Daniel Boone; who did not, like Moses, of Egyptian memory, find himself the leader of a host of armed followers; impelled by the fear, or love of the Lord, to obey his commands, in a journey through the wilderness; while he traversed one equally as extensive, and as savage, as that of Zin. His attendants were his voluntary comrades; who without a miracle, reposed their confidence in his sagacity, and fortitude. Besides, the names of those heroes, and legislators of antiquity, have been transmitted to us by the pens of profane historians, or poets; who availing themselves of the fictions of past times, have amplified and embellished, their subjects with all the inventions of genius, and all the graces of oratory, and of poetry; or else, under the influence of divine inspiration, the Prophet of the Israelites, has astonished us with the narrative of the wonders which he wrought,—and which has been handed down to posterity, as miracles. But Daniel

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