Tempus Fugit: Boonesborough

Showing posts with label Boonesborough. Show all posts

Boonesborough Trade Fair

Lucy has very clearly stated that she will NOT be sharing the Six Shillings with me, and Rose will not be sharing her pay as Sheriff with me. And to make matters worse, young mister Fischer, who was consigned to be my new apprentice ran off after the Court Session was over! I have legal papers, and by jove I'll sue!

Remembering Boonesborough

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 Siege at Fort Boonesborough part 2

Saturday, Sept. 26th- I could hear the driving rains all through the night on the roof of the cabin, it refused to subside. I awoke early and dressed and watched the still falling rain from the doorway. I made my breakfast of a small biscuit and a spot of gravy.

I finally got out and gathered the blue box from the wagon and took it to the cabin mr. Farmer had set aside for my use as an office. The roads and paths were awash and made travel about the fort difficult. I splashed in newly formed creeks and rivers that flowed upon the paths and draped my pigskin apron over my head in an attempt to spare myself from some of the rain, to no avail.

The crowds of publick were light due to the falling weather, but I spoke to those that were interested enough to brave the waters.

A fortunate effect of the weather was that it seemed to ward off the impending indian attack. I suspect they did not have enough canoes to cross the soggy ground between their camps and the fort to wage an attack.

Afternoon brought a break in the rains and more publick to talk to, great numbers of them. I crowded them in and spoke to them in the largest groups I could.

It would appear that the fort has a cat lurking about, I found the door to the common house open, and there it sat, eating something I could not identify. I think I frightened it away, so I closed the door, lest it return.

I took my supper with Parson John and a very amiable group of others. We ate and made merry for several hours as the sun set. It was good to have the companionship, it was much needed.

The Siege at Fort Boonesborough

Friday Sept. 25th- I arrived in Kentuckee as a thick, damp fog fell and brought with it sporadic falling weather. These parts have been no stranger to the wet, the evidence being in the rain soaked grounds of my destination: Fort Boonesborough.

I arrived later than anticipated, and discover'd that mr. Farmer, by whose invitation I had been brought to these parts, was no where to be found. I encounter'd mr. J. Hagee at the front gate of the fort and he took me in and showed me where I might bed down for the night.

The cabin was large and used by everyone, being somewhat of a 'common house'. I sat and watched the men come and go, and listened to the ticking of the clock opposite the hearth. It was good to have a bit of solitude, it gave me pause to reflect on the week past, and the goings on that had filled my days.

I took a walk of the fort interior in the dark, no moon or stars shone upon me as I took my turn. I was able to get an idea of the size of the place, much larger and with cabins in greater abundance than Martin's Station.

I retired to my bed and put out the light in the hope that sleep would find me quickly.

There is a barrier of solitude that surrounds me everywhere I go, a fact that I have long since grown accustom'd to. Perhaps the fault lies within myself, I have always been a solitary creature of particular habits and have never met new people well. I find that, after the initial introductions, I have very little else of interest to say.

A new place full of relative strangers, all happy to see the 'Doctor', but I find that, for the first time in a long while, I am lonely.

My Life of Late

T SEEMS like a great deal of time has passed since last I took up to write in this journal. My mind has not been as devoted to it as it has been in the past, it has been preoccupied with other things. Life, the girls, my writing of papers for the benefit of others being among just a few of the distractions.

Currently, I have been retained to create a series of broadsides that contain an amusing (and rather bawdy) song about the Cherokee for mr. N. Kobuck. I have additionally been retained to write a series of letters of various sorts, and an indenture contract. The contract will be my first.

I have also been retained by mr. Farmer of Fort Boonesborough in Kentuckee to attend their coming event at the end of this present month, as well as an additional event in November for the 'Kentuckee Woodsmen' and one again in Febry of next year in which I will give a chat by the fireside. I have been made to understand that, as a visiting guest, I will have a cabin for my use while I am there.

Captain Johnson, late of Schoenbrunn Village, above ye Ohio, was very kind to send me images of the cabin I will be staying in when I travel there next month to demonstrate the art & mystery of Physick. I believe he called it the 'Connor' cabin... two white washed rooms separated by a dog-trot.