The Irish in Jefferson County KY #kentuckypioneers #kygenealogy

The Irish in Jefferson County

There were Irishmen in Kentucky long before the exploration of Daniel Boone. Colonel George Croghan, an Irishman, wrote in his journal June 1, 1765, "We arrived within a mile of the falls of the Ohio (Louisville) where we encamped after coming 50 miles this day." Colonel Croghan was a connected by marriage to General George Rogers Clark, who reduced the British possessions in the entire Northwest and made it first possible for the United States to acquire this territory. If General Clark was not an Irishman himself, his records show that he had many Irishmen with him as soldiers. His sister married William Croghan.

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General George Rogers Clark #kentuckypioneers #kygenealogy

General George Rogers Clark

With General Clark came to Louisville, in 1778, John Haggin and John Montgomery, and both were captains in his command. They landed at Corn Island, in the Ohio river, at the head of the falls, opposite where Louisville now stands. In 1782 there lived in Louisville, with their families: John MacManus, Hugh Cochran, John Doyle, John Caghey, John Cunningham, Michael Humble, John Handley, Andrew Hines, Thomas McCarty, Thomas Purcell, James Sullivan, James Brown and John McCarland, and most of these came with Clark. That was a pretty good Irish settlement for those days when a man who went out to plough corn was obliged to take his rifle along to defend himself against hostile Indians. Source: Conquest of the Northwest Territory by George Rogers Clark and his associates.

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Index to Kentucky Wills and Estates

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Colonel John Campbell, Irish Presbyterian #kygenealogy #kentuckypioneers

Colonel John Campbell, Irish Presbyterian

During 1773, the first survey made of Louisville was made by Captain Thomas Bullitt; his associates were John Fitzpatrick, James, George and Robert McAfee. Dr. John Connolly owned two thousand acres of land in Louisville in 1773. Colonel John Campbell, a native of Ireland and a resident of Louisville about this time, was afterward a member of the first State Constitutional Convention, held in Danville in 1797. A proud full-blooded Irishman in this region was Colonel Campbell. He was Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives and after wards a member of Congress. He was often a delegate to the Presbyterian Synods in Kentucky and was always spoken of as an Irishman, without any prefix, though he was born in the province of Ulster. Colonel Campbell was a faithful patriot, and being a large landowner, sent for many of his countrymen to come to Louisville, which was another cause for swelling the early Irish immigration to Kentucky.

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Simon Kenton, Irishman #kygenealogy #kentuckypioneers

Simon Kenton, a Brave Irishman to Kentucky

Simon Kenton, the companion of Daniel Boone, came to Kentucky in 1771 and was of Irish parentage. His father was born in County Donegal. Another Irish companion was Michael Stoner. While still a minor, Kenton fled from his state because he believed he had killed a rival for the hand of a fair Virginia damsel. Simon Kenton record said that in 1775 he located in the Upper and Lower Blue Licks where there was an abundance of game, and he considered it a paradise. When in Kentucky, assumed the name of Simon Butler. He was known for his many deeds of personal bravery; indeed, it was asserted by many that he was the greatest Indian fighter the country ever produced. In 1782, upon hearing that the man he had struck down with his fist was still alive, he resumed his name, and in 1795 served as major under General Anthony Wayne. He founded the Kenton Station and Maysville, and planted the first corn raised in the state north of Kentucky river. Michael Stoner, one of his companions and Thomas Kennedy, another Irishman, built a cabin and made some improvements on Stoners fork of Licking river, in Bourbon county in 1774. Source: Early Irish Settlers in Kentucky by Edward Fitzpatrick, Louisville, Kentucky.
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Swapping Horses #kentuckypioneers #genealogy

Swapping Horses

Twentieth century observers of Kentucky noted the absence of paupers and beggars in the towns. Somehow misfortune and ill-fortune and old age save themselves here from the last hard necessity of asking alms on the highway. Also, that the appearance of Kentuckians could easily lead you to a wrong impression simply because their dress and speech and manners in the market-place are not their best equipment. The Kentucky farmer or horseman has always been hard-working.

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Index to Kentucky Wills and Estates

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