In the Current of the Revolution 13 



them being killed by the savages, 19 the settlers in 

 1776 were able to wander about and explore the 

 country thoroughly, 20 making little clearings as the 

 basis of "cabin claims," and now and then gathering 

 into stations which were for the most part broken 

 up by the Indians and abandoned. 21 What was 

 much more important, the permanent settlers in the 

 well-established stations proceeded to organize a 

 civil government. 



They by this time felt little but contempt for the 

 Henderson or Transylvania government. Having 

 sent a petition against it to the provincial authorities, 

 they were confident that what faint shadow of power 

 it still retained would soon vanish; so they turned 

 their attention to securing a representation in the 

 Virginia convention. All Kentucky was still con- 

 sidered as a part of Fincastle County, and the in- 

 habitants were therefore unrepresented at the capi- 

 tal. They determined to remedy this; and after 

 due proclamation, gathered together at Harrods- 



19 Morehead, App. Floyd's letter. 



20 They retained few Indian names; Kentucky in this re- 

 spect differing from most other sections of the Union. The 

 names were either taken from the explorers, as Floyd's Fork ; 

 or from some natural peculiarity, as the Licking, so called 

 from the number of game licks along its borders ; or else they 

 commemorated some incident. On Dreaming Creek Boone 

 fell asleep and dreamed he was stung by yellow-jackets. The 

 Eikhorn was so named because a hunter, having slain a mon* 

 strous bull elk, stuck up its horns on a pole at the mouth. At 

 Bloody Run several men were slain. Eagle Branch was so 

 called because of the many bald eagles round it. See McAfee 

 MSS. 



21 Marshall, 45. 



