Boonesborough Report


 WAS quite pleased with my lecture given to the Kentuckians at Fort Boonesborough. They seemed genuinely interested and receptive to the subject matter. I made every attempt to impress upon them the importance of my trade if they were to have a prolonged and successful experience upon the frontier.

You can read the favourable report writ about my talk by Mr. J. Cummings on his journal.

You may also view a rememberance of part of the talk as well.

Fort Boonesborough

AVING recently returned from Fort Boonesborough, I find that my household has increased by one!

During my visit I came across a young woman who had recently found herself stranded upon the frontier, and was attempting to find work. She had nearly decided upon laundering clothes as a means to provide for herself when I crossed her path.

After some brief discussion, I set upon the idea of hiring this poor creature as a Governess for my children, as my girls could use some refinement of the more civilized and female variety. She seemed quite excited by the prospect and was able to produce excellent references. After a satisfactory conclusion to our interview in my cabin, I told her that I thought she was perfectly suited for the position, so we settled on a wage and struck hands upon the deal.

A portrait of the Governess at Fort Boonesborough

That evening, Saturday the 19th, I took a light supper and gave a lecture to a large assembled group. They seemed to take great pleasure in my talk, and I slept well in the knowing that I had armed these new 'Kentuckians' with the knowledge to perform some simple surgeries in the event the worst should befall them and the fort.

More on this at a later date, as the candle grows dim and I must away to bed so as to be fit to know upon the morrow.

The Frontier Winter

WILL upon this coming week's end travel once again into the Kentuckee region where Fort Boonesborough lies so as to give a talk to interested parties about the Art & Mystery of my profession. It will be quite to their advantage to know some of the techniques employed in my profession if they are to survive upon the frontier against such foes as weather, accident and even the local savage.

I will be packing the blue box of medical instruments into the wagon this very evening and leaving for the fort first thing in the morning.

According to my correspondence with Mr. Wm. Farmer, I am to give my talk at half past five after a supper that will be served to the group.


It has been a long cold winter here near the Cumberland River. I feel as though I have spent a great deal of the winter buried in snow. All the time indoors in the cabin has afforded me plenty of opportunity to re-read all of my favorite books as well as dye my waistcoat again (though the dye has been frozen solid in the bucket for quite some time). Several weeks ago I was so bored I brushed out my wig and tied a fresh queue in it. The poor old thing needed it.