Published: February 12, 2008 08:47 am      

The Boone family

Everyone knows about Daniel Boone. What follows is a series of sketches about some other members of the Boone Family.

Rebecca Bryan married Daniel Boone on Aug. 14, 1756. She was just 17, having been born June 9, 1739, in Virginia. The Bryans moved around 1750 to North Carolina, where they became neighbors of the Boones. After the marriage, Rebecca and Daniel stayed 10 years in the same place in North Carolina (Sugar Tree Creek). Rebecca had 10 children — James, Isreal, Savannah, Jemima, Levina, Rebecca, Daniel, Jesse, William and Nathan.

The Boones moved to Kentucky in 1773, but after Indians killed James, they went back to North Carolina. They returned in 1776, settling at Fort Boonesborough, in what is now Madison County. In 1778, while Daniel was prisoner of the Indians, Rebecca and family moved back to North Carolina. After his escape, Daniel went to North Carolina and brought his family back once again to Kentucky.

The Boones lived for a while at Limestone (now Maysville) and in 1799, they moved on to Missouri. Rebecca died March 18, 1813, and was buried in Defiance, Mo. In 1845, the remains of Daniel and Rebecca were moved to Kentucky and their graves may be found in the Frankfort cemetery.

Squire Boone was born in Exeter Township, Penn., on Oct. 5, 1744. He was a younger brother of Daniel. The Boones moved to Virginia and then on to North Carolina. He learned gunsmithing from a cousin and learned woodcraft from his older brother, Daniel. In 1775, he helped develop the Wilderness Road and helped build the fort at Boonesborough.

He was a Baptist preacher and performed the first marriage ceremony in Kentucky. He also served in the Virginia legislature. Squire Boone left Kentucky and lived in Vicksburg, Miss., New Orleans, Florida and Missouri. He married Jane Van Cleve in 1765. Their children were Jonathan, Moses, Isaiah, Sarah and Enoch. He must have preferred the Old Testament. In 1806, he moved to Indiana where he died in 1815. He is buried in a cave.

Of special interest to Madison Countians is the “Squire Boone Rock.” It was originally located in southern Madison County, in between Basin Knob and Morton’s Knob. Carved on the rock is “1770 Squire Boone.” It was an 18th century version of a note left on your refrigerator. It let Daniel know that his brother Squire was back in the area after a year in North Carolina. In 1770, they were most likely the only people of European background in the wilderness.

In 1901, the rock was moved to the grounds of the Madison County Courthouse in Richmond, where it has sat for many years. As weather was observed to be eroding the surface of the rock, it was moved to a prominent location inside the courthouse. Take the family to see it; it is a compelling artifact of Madison’s heritage.