Unique Kentucky History/Heritage

[funfaler]

Isaac Shelby

He is known as the 1st and 5th Governor of Kentucky.   

Prior to his Governorship, he was a frontiersman, surveyor and soldier.    He also served in the state legislatures of both Virginia and North Carolina.

During the Revolutionary War, he was initially commissioned to secure provisions for the frontier army, even using his own money to purchase provisions needed.   

He was instrumental in raising militia and joining with John Sevier, William Campbell, and Charles McDowell, with nearly 1200 riflemen total, to pursue Major Patrick Ferguson, and his 1100 men, the British riflemen, to King's Mountain.   Upon being surrounded, Ferguson declared,  that "God Almighty and all the rebels out of hell" could not move him from it.

This battle is one of the few battles between riflemen on both sides.    The battle of King's Mountain was seen as instrumental in turning the tide of the Southern campaign, it was one of the colonial victories which followed several key colonial losses.   This victory contributed to retreat of the British to Yorktown and their eventual surrender.

Isaac Shelby is the name sake of 9 different counties, in as many different states, as well as numerous cities and towns.   He is a highly regarded Revolutionary War veteran, as well as an honored statesman, a brave soldier, capable frontiersman, and a highly respected man.   

In Kentucky we have a Shelby county, a Shelbyville, and several other locations named after this Founding generation man.   These named locations are meant to honor this man and should serve as a reminder of Kentucky's heritage in the founding of this country.   

The opportunity to connect Kentucky directly to the Revolutionary War, to place a Kentucky son in prominent events and locations can serve to bridge the connection of the 15th state directly to the Founding  Generation, and the Founding events of this country.   These name sake reminders can serve as a daily reminder of our Kentucky heritage, evoking memories, pride and perhaps some humility and sense of obligation unto the people of Kentucky.    Making this link between everyday locations which people casually touch upon daily, to the very struggle and sacrifice which brought forth this country, can personalize these sacrifices for today's Kentuckians.

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Isaac_Shelby

http://www.ashevillelist.com/gb/major_patrick_ferguson.htm

http://www.patriotresource.com/amerrev/battles/kingsmtn.html

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolution/p/kingsmtn.htm

http://www.ccncgov.com/battle_of_kings_mountain.htm

[wcmartin1]

Thanks for that, funfaler.

Good to hear from you again, Sir. 

[funfaler]

General Richard Butler:   

General Richard Butler is the name sake of Butler County in Kentucky (but not the name sake for General Butler State Park).

Initially he was commissioned to negotiate with the Indians on the frontier, in 1775, as hostilities broke out between the Colonies and England.   In 1776, he was commissioned as a Major, to be second in command to Col. Daniel Morgan, with whom he was friends with.   He became commander of Morgan's Rifleman regiment upon Morgan's departure in 1777.

Major Butler served at the battles of Saratoga and Monmouth Courthouse, among others, rising to the rank of General by the time of the battle of Yorktown.   

General Washington had selected General Butler to receive the sword of Cornwallis (recall, Cornwallis was too sick to surrender his sword) who had passed this duty on to a subordinate.   General Washington, likewise selected a subordinate for that task, General Butler.   However, the story goes that Baron Von Steuben demanded to be the one to receive the surrendered sword, and thus is recorded in history as doing so.

General Butler served with his 4 brothers, in the Revolutionary War, noted for their bravery as the "fighting Butlers", and General Washington toasted "The Butlers and their five sons!", after the victory at Yorktown.

After the war, would serve as judge of Allegheny County, PA, and in the Pennsylvania state legislature.

General Butler would die at the Battle of Wabash, in 1791, in a frontier war against the Indians, which many of the Kentucky region saw as a continuation of the Revolutionary War, leading to the War of 1812. 

Richard Butler was born in Ireland, and at age 5, the son of a gun maker, eventually settled in Carlisle, PA.   There Richard's father established his rifle making business, where Richard helped him manufacture "long rifles", and at which time he became friends with Daniel Morgan. 

There is an historical marker on the county court house in Butler County, PA, which reads: 

In memory of
General Richard Butler
Born in Ireland
One of five brothers soldiers
distinguished for bravery and devoted service
Captain 2d. Pennsylvania Battalion 1776
Colonel 9th. Pennsylvania Regiment 1777
Major General United States Levies 1791
Killed in action against the Indians on
the Miami 1791
And in whose honor Butler County
was named.

"When I want a thing well done
I order a Butler to do it."
LaFayette

(sounds like a Rifleman to me _{my note, not part of the quote}  )

We know the history of the "long rifle" in the Revolutionary War.   With this history, and the acclaimed service of Richard and his "Butler brothers", General Butler's family served this country very well.   General Butler's father continued to serve his country, during the Revolutionary War as an armorer, teaching and supervising the manufacture of rifles and muskets for the Continental army.   His mother is quoted as saying,

"This country needs every man who can shoulder a musket."

, and she stood by this sentiment by sending her 5 boys to serve the cause of Liberty.  General Richard Butler's family heritage is closely linked to our country's Rifleman Heritage.

He is honored by county names in Pennsylvania (as well as a city), Ohio and Kentucky.

A good read:  http://www.thebutlerfamily.net/topics/fighting_butlers.php

http://genealogytrails.com/penn/butler/rbutler.html

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Richard_Butler_(general)

http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Richard:Butler:general.html

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25945748

http://www.nps.gov/york/historyculture/butlerbio.htm

[funfaler]

Charles Carroll:         

Charles Carroll is a signer of the Declaration of Independence.    If seeking his name on the Declaration, one will note that he signed it, "Charles Carroll of Carrollton".  Legend has it that after signing his name on the Declaration, a fellow signer commented that Charles risked little of his vast wealth, as there were many in the colonies with such a name, at which point he returned to the document to add, "of Carrollton", to ensure his proper identification to the King. 

Charles Carroll was the longest surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, dying at the age of 95, in 1832. 

Carroll was an early proponent of armed resistance to England, earning much respect for his positions in written debate, in the newspapers, opposing the King's imposition of taxes and laws upon the colony without representation of the people.   He later, during the debate for Independence, was instrumental in getting the colony's representatives to release their delegates to the Continental Congress,  from their previous instructions to NOT vote for Independence.    This allowed for the delegated from Maryland to vote for Independence.

He was involved with the burning of the "Peggy Stewart", a British tea ship, in Maryland, in 1774, part of the Colony's tea party protest.   Contrary to other tea party events, the Captain of the Peggy Stewart appealed to Carroll to use his considerable influence and respect by the people of Maryland, to stop them from destroying the ship.   However, Carroll convinced the Captain that the only way to survive the ordeal, and to insure the safety of his crew, was to burn the ship to the water line, which was its fate.

Charles Carroll was considered one of the wealthiest of the Colonies, and he was honored by many for his financial and emotional contributions to the Revolutionary War efforts.    He served on the Committee of Safety, and of course as a delegate to the Continental Congress, during this period.   

After the Revolutionary War, Carroll served as a member of the House of Representatives and Senate for the state of Maryland, on the federal level, as well as serving as a Senate in the Maryland state Senate. 

It is said of Charles Carroll, that

Charles Carroll of Carrollton--the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence--was widely regarded as one of the most important Founders. 

Carroll was an advocate for Independence before most of the Founders, and was instrumental in shaping the thoughts of the day, for Independence.   While history may have forgotten Carroll's critical contributions for the Independence movement, his peers and those of his generation did not overlook his importance to the cause.

He is honored in Kentucky by the name of Carroll County, and the county seat of Carrollton (an Appleseed location).   Named in his honor are counties in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Virginia, as well as East and West Carroll Parishes, Louisiana.

http://colonialhall.com/carroll/carroll.php

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Charles_Carroll_of_Carrollton

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Charles_Carroll_of_Carrollton

http://www.adherents.com/people/pc/Charles_Carroll.html

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/carroll.htm

http://thedeclarationofindependence.org/CharlesCarrollofCarrollton.com/

http://www.catholiccompany.com/american-cicero-life-charles-carroll-p1002080/?aid=117&gclid=CNLT9sn-6qwCFQyFQAodz3TlKw

[funfaler]

There are various Kentucky Counties named in honor of Revolutionary War heros.   Men who need little introduction or explanation of who they are and their contributions to our Independence.    I list these below for reference and confirmation that they are indeed named in honor of those obvious contributors to America's Heritage.   We can trust, and hope, that these honored individuals need no bio attached to their names:

Fayette (estab. 1780) Marquis de LaFayette (1757-1834)

Franklin (estab. 1795) Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Green (estab. 1793) Gen. Nathaniel Greene (1742-1786)

Hancock (estab. 1829) John Hancock (1737-1793)

Henry (estab. 1799) Patrick Henry (1736-1799)

Jefferson   Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Knox (estab. 1800) Gen. Henry Knox (1750-1806)

Marion (estab. 1834) Gen. Francis Marion (1732-1795)

Morgan (estab. 1823) Gen. Daniel Morgan (1736-1802)

Washington (estab. 1792) George Washington


http://www.kentuckystewarts.com/Kentucky/KentuckyCountyNames.htm

[Unbridled Liberty]

Thanks Funfaler, I appreciate the local history.

[funfaler]

George Rogers Clark:   George Rogers Clark is a tremendous figure in the Revolutionary War, in the frontier.   He is the Founder of Louisville, KY, and an instrumental figure in the war effort in the frontier of colonial America.

"If a country is not worth protecting it is not worth claiming."

The inscription at the base of the George Rogers Clark statue in the monument to this patriot and frontiersman.    This sure sounds like a possible Appleseed slogan to me.

George is the older brother of William Clark, of "Lewis and Clark", so obviously these men had rifleman built into their DNA...indeed they were doers.  It is interesting to note that he was only 24 years old when the Revolutionary War started, his exploits were completed by the age of 30.

George organized the Kentucky militia to address the assault of the British, and the Indians the British employed, against the colonial frontier.   He chose to take the offensive in the frontier, to thwart the efforts of the British to make inroads into the frontier flank of the colonial efforts.

He started his recruitment efforts at forts in Harrodsburg, in 1776

Clark took the war as far West as St. Louis, taking over several outposts, interfering with the Mississippi access of the English, and denying the British the advantage of domination of that avenue of trade and transport.  He further hampered the British control of the frontier by taking the fight to them, at a time when 18th century warfare typically dictated a winter break from action.

His efforts encompassed parts of Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.   He spent a good deal of his efforts during the winter, realizing success when the British were retiring for the winter.     

Upon engaging a British fort, it is said that,

They opened fire on the fort with such accuracy that the British were prevented from opening their gunports.

, this sounds like Rifleman activity to me.

George Rogers Clark is honored in the name of Clark county of Kentucky, and as the founder of Louisville. 

http://www.nps.gov/gero/historyculture/inside.htm

http://www.nps.gov/gero/historyculture/index.htm

http://www.grccsar.org/grc/

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/George_Rogers_Clark_National_Historical_Park

http://www.locustgrove.org/

http://www.answers.com/topic/george-rogers-clark

[funfaler]

The second largest city in Kentucky (63rd in the nation) is directly connected to the battle of Lexington and Concord, MA, April 19th, 1775.

In June of 1775, a group of frontiersmen, led by William McConnell, were camping at a site near Elkhorn Creek (a location named McConnell Springs) received notice about the battles of Lexington and Concord.   They were moved to name their camp site "Lexington", in honor of the battle and success of Patriots on that day.   

It is interesting to note that it took about 2 months for the information of the "shot heard around the world" to reach this remote location.   By some estimates, this was quite rapid for that era.   It is also interesting to note that these frontiersmen were aware enough of current conditions within the colonies, and their understanding of the ramifications of the events, motivated to honor this event by naming their camp "Lexington".     

This tends to support the notion that support for opposition to British rule was wide spread among the colonies.   

Also of note, at this location was established a gun powder production facility which provided gun powder for the War of 1812, which many frontiersmen saw as a continuation of the Revolutionary War.

http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/kentucky/lexington

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Lexington%2c_Kentucky

http://www.gtscom.com/Smith_Family/Smith_Family_Tree_Pictures/Fayette_Lexington_History.htm

http://www.kaintuckeean.com/2011/06/nod-how-horses-found-lexington.html

[Unbridled Liberty]

Thanks funfaler.  McConnell Springs is just a couple miles from my house.  It is a beautiful little park that is worthy of a visit by anyone coming through Lexington.  Their campsite is actually very close to what is now called Town Branch Creek, which flows underground through Lexington and daylights next to Rupp Arena where the UK Wildcats play.  Town Branch flows past my house and empties into Elkhorn Creek. 

Another interesting note:  The Town Branch Trail (a multi-use walking/biking trail) goes past my house, following the Town Branch Creek.  About 1 mile from my house, surrounded by a subdivision, is Lewis Manor, which is the former home of a Rev War veteran, Col. Thomas Lewis.  http://www.townbranch.org/info/category/trail-landmarks/  I salute him every time I pass by on the trail.

[funfaler]

....Lewis Manor, which is the former home of a Rev War veteran, Col. Thomas Lewis.  http://www.townbranch.org/info/category/trail-landmarks/  I salute him every time I pass by on the trail.

How about some history on Col, Thomas Lewis?   Any word on if he is one of the famed Lewis brothers who fought in the war?   Any items in the area named in his honor which can serve to remind people of their Revolutionary War Heritage?

TIA

[Unbridled Liberty]

....Lewis Manor, which is the former home of a Rev War veteran, Col. Thomas Lewis.  http://www.townbranch.org/info/category/trail-landmarks/  I salute him every time I pass by on the trail.

How about some history on Col, Thomas Lewis?   Any word on if he is one of the famed Lewis brothers who fought in the war?   Any items in the area named in his honor which can serve to remind people of their Revolutionary War Heritage?

TIA

Been meaning to research him for quite a while.  Let me see what I can dig up in the Kentucky Room of the Lexington Public Library.

UL

[funfaler]

John Breckinridge:   

John Breckinridge was born in Virginia, in 1760.   He was elected to the Virginia Legislature at age 19.  During the Revolutionary War, John served in the Virginia Militia, for those keeping score, John was 14 on April 19th, 1775, and 22 when the war ended. 

John became a lawyer, moved to the Lexington area, and started a horse farm of nearly 2500 acres, which is one of the original horse farms in Kentucky, known today as Castleton Farms.

He was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for Virginia, but resigned before taking office, this was just prior to his move to Kentucky in 1793 (Kentucky became the 15th state on June 1st, 1792).   

John served as Attorney General for Kentucky, then served as a Representative to the US House, where he was selected as Speaker.   Later in his political career, he was elected as Senator for Kentucky, and resigned that position to become Attorney General for the United States, appointed by Thomas Jefferson.

Mr. Breckinridge helped Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the drafting and support of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, with him receiving the bulk of the credit in drafting the Kentucky Resolutions. 

There are several honorary namings for John Breckinridge, to help Kentuckians to remember his contributions to their heritage, most notably Breckinridge County and Breckenridge Lane in Louisville. 

An interesting side note on this subject, Breckenridge, Colorado is named in honor of John C. Breckinridge, the grandson of the man who is the subject of this topic.   John C. Breckinridge was the Vice-President to President James Buchanan, until 1861.   After the start of the Civil War, John C. Breckinridge joined the Confederacy as a General.   This upset the pro-Union citizens of Colorado, so they changed the name of their town by changing the second "i" to an "e", to make Breckenridge.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breckenridge,_Colorado

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/John_Breckinridge_(1760-1806)

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000787

http://lawbrain.com/wiki/John_Breckenridge

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/John_Breckinridge_%281760-1806%29

http://www.geni.com/people/John-Breckinridge-U-S-Senator-and-Attorney-General/6000000009858634849

Ethelbert Dudley Warfield's book The Kentucky Resolutions of 1798: An Historical Study    http://www.archive.org/stream/kentuckyresolut01warfgoog/kentuckyresolut01warfgoog_djvu.txt

[funfaler]

Benjamin Harrison, of Harrison County:

The Harrison name is rich with American heritage, and as one tries to wade into this particular Benjamin Harrison, you can quickly get mired in the intertwining of the Harrison history.   

Harrison County of Kentucky is named after Benjamin Harrison, 1745 (or 1750)-1805.    Benjamin was born in  Orange County Virginia.   At the start of the Revolutionary War, he was commissioned as a Captain, joined Washington's army in New Jersey, in the Spring of 1777.   

He continued with Washington's army through the Battle of Brandywine, Germantown and Valley Forge.   Later in the war, he transfered to Col. William Russell, who was ordered to attack Detroit in 1778 (the attack did not happen as planned), and later was transfered to George Rogers Clark, in 1780.

Benjamin became involved in settling Kentucky, participating in the Kentucky Constitutional Convention and in the drafting of the Kentucky Constitution.   He participate in the establishment of Kentucky's statehood.   

While we have two Presidents by the name of Harrison, the later Benjamin Harrison, our subject Benjamin Harrison seems to be only a very distant cousin.    Benjamin is also a distant cousin of the Benjamin Harrison , the signer of the Declaration of Independence.

An interesting heritage point is that in the 1600s, there were three Harrison brothers who were quite active and well known for their activities in the early establishment of the American colonies.   These men seemed to have instilled a great deal of what can be described now as an "American Spirit" upon their off spring, as their posterity were very active in the formation of our country.    The intertwining of these "cousins" throughout our early history makes it difficult to get a clear history of any one of them as an individual.

From a retrospective view, looking at our subject's history and heritage, we can gain some appreciation of the culture and setting of the American Revolutionary period.     

First, which strikes us is the closeness of the population of the colonies, in the early 1700's.   The population of the colonies, being less than 3 million, was relatively close.   They shared many common ideas and cultural traits, which are repeatedly demonstrated through their many cohesive protests and boycotts of British intrusions upon their commonly held views of their Freedoms and Liberties.   

Secondly, it is interesting to note that the early forefathers of our Revolutionary War era leaders and heros were so important in the development of the American Spirit which prevailed in that effort.    Often we jump into the heritage of America on April 19th, 1775, with a misguided view that this was some new and spontaneous event, but in truth, it can be said it was in the making for over 150 years.   

The Harrison family history is a great illustration of the flow of events in the formation of the American Spirit, and can serve as a critical reminder to us the importance of Heritage in forming our culture and framing our future actions, as a people.   

Those of the American Revolutionary period were very much concerned about what sort of country they would hand down to their posterity.   They were keenly aware of their status as "posterity" for those generations which settled our country.

This is further demonstrated by the fact that the Harrison posterity continues to be very active through the War of 1812, and Civil War.  Again, linking generations and demonstrating the impact that previous generations have upon the actions of later ones.

This trans-generational view of one's heritage is what gave backbone to the American Spirit which birthed a nation.    This trans-generational view is part of what will be required to preserve the American Spirit and country.

So while the absolute history of a single Benjamin Harrison, the name sake of Harrison County, Kentucky is very difficult to isolate, the very fact that his history is so intertwined with that of so many of his distant relatives is enlightening and can serve as a great opportunity to explain and preserve our American Revolutionary War spirit.

http://www.frontierfolk.net/ramsha_research/benharrison.html

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~harrisonrep/harrbios/benjaminHarr3468VA2.htm#H1BENHARKY

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~harrisonrep/harrbios/benjaminHarr3468VA.htm

http://frontierfolk.net/ramsha_research/Notes/harrison.html  New notes at bottom, of interest.

[funfaler]

In researching further Isaac Shelby's role in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, some interesting aspects of the Battle of King's Mountain came to surface.

The frontiersmen of the Revolutionary era, especially in the Kentucky/Tennessee/North Carolina areas were not overly active in the beginning of the war.   They were removed from the fighting and were engaged in the same struggles with the Indians, which they were before the war.   They were also well engaged in the daily struggles of frontier living.

There is much speculation that if Maj. Ferguson would have conducted himself differently, these "Overmountain Men" may not have gotten as engaged in the war, and perhaps the battle of King's Mountain would not have happened, and perhaps neither would have Cowpens.   

Maj. Ferguson sent a message over the mountain, to these men, that they were to lay down their arms, and submit to the British, swearing a loyalty to the King.   This threat did a couple of things, neither of which were the goals of the British.

First, this threat brought the war to the door step of a large number of relatively disinterested individuals.    This aroused their understanding of the threat which the Colonies were facing.   This made this "their war" as well.

Second, the frontiersmen, by their nature, were problem solvers.   They were Riflemen, they did not wait around for orders or others to solve their problems.   They went to the frontier, and by their nature they were aggressive in addressing those issues which they faced, to enact a solution.

So what did our frontiersmen do?   Well, they demonstrated what being a Rifleman is all about.   They gathered like minded individuals along with them.   They did not seek permission, they set out to take the needed actions on their own, with their own resources.   

These men did not have "permission", or "authorization" to do what they did.    Several leaders gathered men, and marched toward the "sound of the fighting", they advanced to confront the threats to their way of life.   

Being they were obviously very independent personalities, one has to marvel at how a handful of leaders were able to rally hundreds of other independently minded personalities, then mesh these independent groups focused on a single cause.    But as they headed out to cross over the mountain, they were determined that only one of two outcomes were acceptable.    Either they would destroy Maj. Ferguson and his army, or they would be defeated.   There was little middle ground, and their actions demonstrated this.

It is striking to see this great illustration of what a Rifleman is, what a Rifleman does.    This trait was a shock to the British.   They did not expect such reaction.   

Further, once the battle of King's Mountain was over, there is reference to the Overmountain Men sending dispatches to General Green, telling him what they DID.   

These men saw what needed to be done, they marched off to accomplish it, and sought no permission to do what was right, but they did cooperate with each other, and they were able to understand they were but a small portion of a bigger picture, thus understood the importance of coordinating their efforts with the larger forces and larger picture.

On final, and fun note on this.   The time from the Overmountain Men receiving this threat, to them initiating action is likely best measured in minutes or hours.   They were very aware of the threats to their Freedom and Liberty, and were well aware that if THEY did not face these threats directly, no one else would likely do so for them.   

There is a reason that there are MANY locations and landmarks named after these men.   They are men worthy of remembering and of emulating.    Their actions are worthy of being remembered and learned from.      In fact, the actions by these men, and in many cases, these men themselves, continued the Rifleman Heritage some 30 years later in a similar conflict with the same foe.   These men passed on the Rifleman Heritage to their posterity, because they understood that such character traits are necessary for Freedom and Liberty to survive and thrive.