I forward this with Sandi's permission -- as many of us had people who were in Kentucky at one time..... Nancee -------Original Message------- From: Sandi Gorin Date: 12/3/2009 7:36:36 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [KYRESEARCH] TIP #895 - WAS YOUR FAMILY THERE? - A KENTUCKY TIMELINE TIP #895 – WAS YOUR FAMILY THERE – A KENTUCKY TIMELINE Quite a few years back, I posted several tips on Important (or unusual) events in Kentucky from it’s founding in 1792. I would like to revisit This topic and cover the important events and Dates with some names included It is unknown Exactly who the first white man was who stepped On pre-Kentucky soil. Indians (Native Americans) Traversed the land for untold years with tribes >From the north and the south visiting here. This Was a hunting ground for them; the tribes will Possibly be listed in another post. 1750: The first documented history of Anglo-colonial Kentucky starts with a man Exploring with his scouting party – Dr. Thomas Walker. 1751: Christopher Gist who was an employee of the Ohio Company was recorded in Kentucky; thankfully He kept a journal of his travels to confirm this. There were others recorded to have been on our Lands, likely prior to Gist: John Lederer, Gabriel Arthur, Abraham Woods, Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam. Likely there were many more whose Names have been erased with time. 1754-63: This was the period of the French and Indian War. Both French and Spanish explorers had Traveled along the western rivers; and the French And British were battling over British traders. A Strong Indian trade had developed over the years. This war was the beginning for Kentucky – it Opened the Ohio River area up to settlement. 1763: The Treaty of Paris was signed this year And many of the barriers, politically, were done Away with and the lands “beyond the Appalachian Highlands” were opened for settlement. 1763-1783. Huge areas of land in pre-Kentucky Were explored during this time frame. We read of The Long Hunters who came here for game, trade With the Indians and scoping the lands for Possible settlement. In 1769, Daniel Boone and John Finley brought a hunting party; Boone Traversed the western country as it was known. By 1775 the word was spreading that Kentucky was a Beautiful, unspoiled country and pioneers started Dreaming of the rich lands, abundant game and a new start on life. 1775 – 1785. Exploration was likely thwarted During this time period; the Revolutionary War Occupied the young men. Some settlers ventured Here in 1774 and 1775 however with James Harrod Leading the way. He brought 37 people with him And established Harrod’s Fort or Harrod’s Town Which was the first permanent settlement in Pre-Kentucky. He and his party were not alone However as others came – George Yeaker, John Strader, The McAfee brothers, Thomas Bullitt, Simon Kenton, Hancock Taylor, Michael Holsteiner. Then another interruption: Dunmore’s War in 1774 stopped the expansion. Harrod’s group In 1775 built their fort; Richard Henderson with The Tranylvania Land Company and his men were Establishing Boonesborough. Benjamin Logan was Building St. Adaph station. The Wilderness Road Was soon to be established as Boone laid out a Tril from Sycamore Shoals in eastern Tennessee Through the Cumberland Gap and on to the south Bank of the Kentucky River. Forts, block houses, Stations – they were being built in many places With families entering in to the semi-shelter >From the Native Americans who were still not Happy to see the “white man.” There were constant Attacks on the Wilderness Road as the wagons Rolled along with children, adults and live stock Attempting to reach the promised land. Forts were Attacked and many of our early settlers gave Their lives to protect their homes. 1776: We became the United States of America … Are few straggling states in number 13, seeking To live in a free world with their own Government. On December 7th the Virginia General Assembly created Kentucky County Virginia out of Fincastle County VA. On the 31st of the month, Virginia tried to roughly define the boundaries Of Kentucky County; which fairly well matched the Current boundaries. By 1780 the counties of Fayette, Lincoln and Jefferson were formed – Still a part of Kentucky County, Virginia. 1780s. Talks began with the early leaders in Kentucky – they wanted to be an independent state And not under Virginian rule. Conventions were Held periodically between 1784-1782), the first Newspaper, Kentucky Gazette, ran articles about The topic. Most of the original leaders who Forged a way to Kentucky were gone or no longer Involved in politics. The people wanted new Leaders, not the old frontier pioneers named Above and including also George Rogers Clark, John Bowman, John Floyd and others. One man remained standing firm from the “old guard” – Benjamin Logan. New names were now most often heard, those of George Nichols, Caleb Wallace, James Wilkinson, John Brown, Harry Innes, Samuel McCowell, Isaac Shelby, Thomas Marshall …. new names, new ideas. Instead of being the strong and adventurous Long Hunter men; these men were more well-educated and professional men by that day’s standards. But, Virginia was dragging its heels about granting statehood to Kentucky County. In 1789, Virginia had enacted legislation submitting to the separation of its “western counties.” The act was known as the Virginia Company which assured more Virginians heading off to Kentucky County. 1792: In Danville (KY), a convention was held in April of that year which drafted a constitution for Kentucky. It was the 10th meeting of this convention and over the years much had been debated, argued and agreed to about the separation. The bare-bones constitution showed the three divisions of responsibilities when becoming a state; provided for the election of a governor and included an extensive Bill of Rights. This group met in Lexington and was officially organized on June 4, 1792. Lincoln County held the honor of being the home of the state’s first Governor – Isaac Shelby. He was well known and respected by the majority for his heroic efforts at the battles of King’s Mountain and the Cowpens and he had great integrity. The selection of senators and representatives were laid out but Lexington was not to become the capitol of Kentucky. It never was under consideration. Robert Todd, John Edwards, John Allen, Henry Lee and Thomas Kennedy were appointed to chose a permanent site that same year and they chose Frankfort. This town offered available to water ways (the Kentucky River), it was near the center of the population of the state and had sufficient raw materials. 1793: 47 members of the General Assembly meet in Frankfort for the first time on November 1st; being without offices, they assembled at a farm owned by Major James Love. The main concern of this meeting was to select which Virginia statutes would be carried over to Kentucky and establishing new laws. Had the population grown over the years? According to the Kentucky Encyclopedia: in 1790 the estimated population was 61,133 whites and 12,430 slaves plus 114 free persons of color – a total of 77,677 living in Kentucky! By 1800 there were 220,955 citizens of which 43,343 were slaves. The Wilderness Road almost had an early day traffic jam with wagons rolling in constantly. The Ohio River entry was just as crowded with settlers coming down the Falls of the Ohio by boat and then trekking on to a spot to build their homes. Many things transpired after Statehood. In addition to organizing the governmental offices, the settlers had a lot to do. It was found that wheat, corn, hemp and tobacco grew well here; the Virginia lands had been farmed so long and rested so little that much of its lands were small producers. The timbers provided not only lumber for the cabins and government offices, but were cut and floated down the rivers to other ports. Livestock did exceptionally well with all the lush meadows. Game and fish were plenteous so the people could live off the land. When the Louisiana Purchase was completed in 1803, this opened up an entirely new market for Kentucky goods. Roads had improved somewhat; in 1795 the Wilderness Road was improved to allow for more traffic. 1798: The General Assembly passed the Kentucky General Assembly of the Academy Act. This granted each county 6,000 acres of undeveloped land (not settled and not set aside for the soldiers and officers of the Revolutionary War). 1801: Revival meetings broke out along the Muddy & Gasper Rivers in south central Kentucky and spread to Cane Ridge in Bourbon County. This continued for many years. 1811-1850. One of the main concerns during this time frame was improving the waterways to make them navigable. There was great excitement in December of 1811 when the “New Orleans” steamer pulled in at Louisville with Nicholas Roosevelt at the helm. In 1825, the Kentucky General Assembly granted the Louisville and Portland Canal Company a charter to construct a bypass around the Falls of the Ohio; the steamer “Uncas” was the first vessel to pass through the canal. In 1830 the Lexington & Ohio Railway was chartered by the General Assembly and in 1850 a charter was granted the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company. New names were being spoken of during this time frame, many of whom are familiar to Kentuckians today: Henry Clay, Humphrey Marshall, John C. Breckinridge, John Jordan Crittenden, Richard M. Johnson and others. The state also claims two Presidents – Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. The War of 1812 brought out the best in Kentucky’s young men. Governor Isaac Shelby walked away from his official role and went to war with the Kentucky troops. In 1819 a financial crisis hit Kentucky, brought on in some ways by the War of 1812. Inflation and speculation added to a poorly run state banking system left many in debt and caused a panic. But Kentuckians are strong, smart and willing to face any battle. In 1820, anti-slavery movements rose in the state. By this year there were estimated 126,732 slaves in Kentucky and this grew to 248,809 by 1850. 1845 -50: An attempt was made to revise the old constitution and slavery was a major issue. The Fugitive Slave Law was enacted in 1850. To be continued next week. © Copyright 3 December 2009, Sandra K. Gorin KYBIOGRAPHIES Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=kybiographies KYRESEARCH: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.kentucky.tips/mb ashx ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message