The first object of those to whom the territory had been ceded by the Cherokees, was to strengthen their right to it by the establishment of a proprietary government.

On the 23d of May, 1775, in obedience to a summons issued by Henderson, a number of persons residing in or around Boonesborough met under the shade of a large elm tree near the walls of the fort, and forming themselves into a legislative body, elected Henderson president, gave to the new country the name of Transylvania, fixed upon Boonesborough as its capital, and passed nine laws. By the compact entered into during the session of this assembly between the proprietors and the colonists, a free, manly, and liberal government was established over the territory. It was further agreed that the election of delegates should be annual; that there should be perfect freedom of opinion in matters of religion; that judges should be appointed by the proprietors, but answerable for malconduct to the people; and that the convention should elect the treasurer, and have the sole power of raising and appropriating all moneys.

This compact was solemnly executed under the hands and seals of three proprietors acting for the company, and by Thomas Slaughter, chairman of the convention, acting for the colonists.

But the new province of Transylvania was destined to occupy but a brief space in the history

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of the North American colonies. Lord Dunmore speedily issued a proclamation refusing to recognise the validity of the cession, and the legislature of Virginia annulled the treaty as being contrary to the chartered rights of that state. But as some compensation to the proprietors for their services in opening the wilderness and preparing the way for civilization, they were granted a tract of land twelve miles square on the Ohio, below the mouth of Greene River.

Notwithstanding the check thus given to the ambitious schemes of the Transylvania Company, the settlements thus began continued to increase, though but slowly.

In the summer of the same year that witnessed the completion of the fort, Boone returned to Clinch River for his family. He brought them to their new home as soon as the journey could be performed, and Mrs. Boone and her daughters were the first white women who ever stood upon the banks of the Kentucky River. They were soon reinforced by the arrival of the three families of McGary, Hogan, and Denton, with their wives and children.

From this time Boonesborough and Harrodstown, or Harrodsburg as it was soon afterward called, became the nucleus and support of immigration to Kentucky. It was during this year, also, that Simon Kenton, subsequently so eminently distinguished as a pioneer and Indian

fighter, erected a log cabin and raised a crop of corn within a mile of the present town of Washington, in Mason county, where he continued until the autumn, when he removed to Boonesborough.

CHAPTER II.

George Rogers Clark-Suggests a meeting of the colonists at Harrodsburg-Appointed with Gabriel Jones a member of the Virginia assembly-Applies to the council for ammunition for the colonists-The daughter of Boone and two other females captured within sight of the fort-The Indians pursued and the captives retaken-Kentucky erected into a county of Virginia-Clark conveys the powder granted by Virginia down the Ohio-Is pursued by the Indians-Secretes the powder at the mouth of Limestone Creek-Colonel Todd defeated near the Blue Licks-Jones and Grayson killedMcClelland's Fort attacked-Kenton and others attacked near Hinckstone station-Harrodsburg invested by the IndiansFearful situation of James Ray-Major Clark assaults the Indians-Heroism of Logan-A spy company organizedSkirmish at Boonesborough-The life of Boone saved by Kenton.

AMONG the numerous adventurers who crossed the wilderness and penetrated Kentucky in 1775, was one whose name afterward became peculiarly conspicuous in the annals of the state-George Rogers Clark. He was then a young man of twenty-three years of age, by profession a surveyor; a business which appears to have presented to the enterprising young men of that day a most congenial and attractive field for the exercise of their energies. How long Clark continued

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in this vocation is unknown. When he visited Kentucky he had already seen service, having, in what was called Dunmore's war, been already engaged at the head of a company in active operations against the Indians. Clark remained in Kentucky during the spring and summer of this year, familiarizing himself with the resources of the country, and from his already well-known and commanding talents, was at once selected to command the irregular militia of the settlements. In the fall he returned to Virginia; but came back again to Kentucky in the spring of the following year, with the view of making it his permanent home. From this time forth his name is closely associated with the progress of western settlements in power and civilization. His mind had been very early impressed with the immense importance of the frontier country to the security of the parent state Virginia, and the necessity of a more regular system of military operations. With the view of accomplishing this design, he suggested to the settlers, on his return, the propriety of convening a general assembly of the people at Harrodsburg, for the purpose of forming a more definite and certain connection with the government and people of Virginia than as yet existed. Owing to the difficulties and disputes arising out of the contested claims of the Transylvania Company, this step was rendered imperatively necessary, in order that the relation

of the settlement to Virginia might be distinctly ascertained. The proposed meeting was accordingly held at Harrodsburg on the 6th of June, 1776, when Clark and Gabriel Jones were chosen delegates to the assembly, which then held its session at Williamsburg, the ancient capital of Virginia. Finding on their arrival that the legislature had adjourned, Jones directed his steps to the settlements on Holston, leaving Clark to attend alone to the Kentucky mission.

He immediately waited on Governor Henry, then lying sick at his residence in Hanover county, to whom he stated the objects of his journey. Bearing a letter from the governor, Clark next waited on the executive council of the state, and made application for five hundred weight of gunpowder for the defence of the various stations. To this application the indefinite state of the relations existing between the colonists and Virginia interposed a temporary obstacle. It was at length, however, overcome by the firmness of Clark, and an order was passed on the 23d of August, 1776, by which the keeper of the magazine was directed to transmit the gunpowder to Pittsburg, to be there delivered to Clark, or to such other persons as he might appoint to receive it, for the use of the people of Kentucky.

This liberal conduct on the part of the council may probably have been hastened by an incident which had already occurred at Boonesborough,