Marriages of Mercer County, KY Of 1785-1852 Formerly known as Craborchard, Lincoln County By Lucy Kate McGhee, 1900 172 pages, indexed, searchable - Bonus Book – A Record of the Family of Isaac Van Nuys (or Vannice) of Harrodsburg, KY By Carrie E. Allen, 1916 1627 pages, indexed, searchable ************************************************************************* Digital Book CD Requires Adobe Reader 5.0 or higher to View (or MAC Preview Ver. 3) ************************************************************************** $11.99 + $1.99 shipping and handling http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130393987069 The area known as Mercer County was one of the first settled in the Commonwealth. In 1769, Daniel Boone wintered in a cave on the land occupied first as Trigg's Station, later called Viney Grove. Settlers were attracted by the deep soils, excellent for crops such as tobacco, corn, grains, strawberries and hay; the fertile grasslands were excellent for raising livestock. In 1773, James Harrod built the first permanent residence on the site known as Harrodstown, then Old Town, then later called Harrodsburg. Harrodsburg began as a number of log cabins set upon 1/2 to 5 acre lots, and were distributed to a group of thirty men by lottery. Shortly after these residences were established, Indian raids permeated the area to the point that habitation was impossible, the settlers leaving town in early 1774. In March, after the Shawnee signed the Treaty of Camp Charlotte with Lord Dunmore, Harrod and his party returned to resettle. The company was able to build more cabins and make improvements. However continued Indian attacks wreaked havoc upon the residences located on the outer edges of the community. Construction of a stockade started in the fall of 1775 and was completed the next year. The fort enclosed an area of approximately an acre and a half, with a spring and stream running through for fresh water supply. In the center was a powder magazine. These Stations were centers in which families were gathered for mutual protection; the men gradually extending out their farming operations as safety allowed. New settlers who arrived in Kentucky went out from the fort at Harrodstown to build other stations.