Levi Todd established the first and only fort in Jessamine County, Kentucky in 1779, one year before Lexington was built. The line of travel between Harrodsburg and the Fayette County stations passed through the northern and western parts of the county. It was on this trace, near Keene, that Todd’s Station was built.

But the isolation of the forts and constant and destructive marauding Indians possessing arms provided by English Tories, terrified the settlers east of the Kentucky River. Their homes were located nearest to the homes of the Indians. Also, the Indians in the northwest were the most dreadful of all the savages in Kentucky. Thus, during the 1780s, the outposts were managed with great difficulty. Todd felt compelled to abandon his Jessamine holdings and go to Lexington. Yet, by 1790, Jessamine County had 18,410 inhabitants according to the census. Use the link below to learn if your names are listed.

Source: A History of Jessamine County, Kentucky, From its Earliest Settlement to 1898 by Bennett H. Young. (1890).

https://kentuckypioneers.com/country/jessamine/

https://kentuckypioneers.com/become-a-member/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *