Trans-Allegheny Migration
Kentucky from 1780 to 1792 was part of Virginia, a royal land grant that stretched west to the Mississippi River. It was called Kentucky County, a virgin wilderness untouched by Indians except for summer hunting expeditions. First men who explored the Bloody Hunting Ground were Daniel Boone & Simon Kenton. Others were soon to follow.
Thousands of land-hungry pioneers left Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania in "The Great Migration." Some families traveled in open ox carts; some in one-seater buggies with baggage piled on top, some on horseback, others on foot pushing their belongings in a wheelbarrow. Whenever they met along the trail, they shared news about the location of the best land or conditions of the road ahead.
All were hurrying toward the confluence of the Monongahela and Ohio River to a frontier outpost called Fort Pitt. Along its river banks were boatyards and sawmills where large barges called flatboats could be purchased. The streets were crowded with wagons: farm wagons, lumber wagons, and freight wagons. Rough-looking rivermen stood around the docks hoping for a job steering the flatboats to Limestone, Ky., a debarkation point on the Ohio.
In 1784, Simon Kenton built the first fortified stockade at the mouth of Limestone Creek. It became known as Kenton's Station. From Limestone, trails led over the hills to Lexington and points south and west. The town just up the hill became known as Washington. Vets from the Revolutionary War poured into Va's Military District because payment for war service was in bounty land. The higher in rank the officer, the larger the grant. Several on the Licking were 5000 acres.
National Road: Pioneer Highway to the West
"NATIONAL ROAD HERITAGE PARK" along US Route 40 follows the old NATIONAL ROAD. This route was followed by our Kentucky ancestors. For those who wish more information on the Heritage Park, go to the National Park Heritage home page:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/recreation/heritage/nationalroad.htm
"National Road Heritage Park:"
First federally funded road & "Gateway to American's West," the National Road opened up the center of continent to new settlers and established a trade route between western territory & eastern towns & settlements. At selected sites along US 40, such as Mt. WashingtonTavern at Fort Necessity Nat'l Battlefied, tourists can stop and learn more about this early road which served at first Native Americans, then as a military trail for British-American troops guarding the newly won British frontier.