Hi folks, Lots of people have asked me about the Estill that Estill County was named for. While going through some papers tonight (can y'all tell I've been doing that...if not...take a look at the Estill Co. page..grin), I found some information on him and thought I'd pass it on. I'm not sure how correct this is as it's from family information and I haven't confirmed it, but thought I'd pass it along anyway. It was originally written by Jack Elliott with some additions by me. Captain James Estill was born November 9, 1750, at Bull Pastures, Augusta County, Virginia. Captain Estill was a descendant of the famous Estill family of England, and on the maternal side a descendant of William Wallace. His mother's ancestors were in Londonderry at the time of the great religious troubles in Ireland. Captain Estill hiked the 300 miles from Virginia for a promising spot to settle. He spent three years at Boonesborough and became a well noted soldier. She was a resident in the fort when an attack was made on Boonesborough on August 8, 1778 by five hundred Indian warriors led by Canadian officer Duquesne. The siege lasted nine days after which the Indians were finally repulsed. Captain Estill had previously established Estill's Station three miles south of what is now Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky, and had made many trips by horseback up and down the Wilderness Road guiding early settlers from the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky. Captain James Estill, for whom Estill County was named, was killed in battle with Indians at Little Mountain March 22, 1782. Colonel Benjamin Logan, commanding officer of the region was stationed at Logan's Station, learned that the Wyandot warriors were in the area on warpath. He dispatched 15 men to Captain Estill at Estill's Station with orders to increase his force by 25 more men and reconnoiter the country to the north and east. Following orders, Captain Estill reached the Kentucky River a few miles below the mouth of Station Camp Creek and camped that night at Sweet Lick, now known as Estill Springs. On the day after they left Estill's Station, a body of Indians appeared there at dawn on the 20th of March, they raided the fort, scalped and killed Miss Innes in sight of the fortification and took Monk, a slave of Captain Estill, and killed all the cattle. As soon as the Indians retreated, Samuel South and Peter Hackett, two young boys, were dispatched to take the trail of the men and inform them of the news. The boys found them near the mouth of Drowning Creek and Red River early on the morning of March 21. Of teh 40 men, approximately 20 had left families within the fort. They returned with the boys to Estill's Station. The remainder crossed the river and found the Indian trail. Estill overtook the Indians at Hinckston's fork of Licking, near what is now called Mt. Sterling (Montgomery County) and engaged in battle. during the battle, Captain Estill and several of his companions were killed. Of the survivors, only three remained to tell the tale. These were Joseph Proctor, unhurt; James Berry, thigh broken; William Irvine, shot through the lungs.