797Vol 23 Series C Item 43 June 18, 1854
Dear Sir
I will now comply with your reuest with a degree of delight in anticipation of your arduous undertaing if so be that I could confer any favour on the same and 1st as to the first & second requests I cannot say to you anything satisfactory more than I have heard spaken by the connection as to the 3rd request Relative to Rachael I have no ecord and may be mistaken in the date she was born and may be mistaken in all the dates having had no record as to the 4th interogary I can correctly state from the mouth of my Mother. John Stuarts remains were found on the south east side of Bif Rockcastle in a large hollow tree. His saddle & bridle also were lying by him shot pouch & powder horn that was the way theyt identyfed him. His left arm being broken. All his bones being there. He was supposed to have been shot through the body by means of his arm being broken before his remains were found the suposition was that he had been drowned.
The name of the person who found the remains, I have forgotten though he was a Elerly person. As to the 5th request according to thecaccount of my mother, my uncle Edward Boone salt being very scarce in Kintucky at the time none have been brought into the country. Uncle D & Edward Boones having found a lick, I think it was called Blue lick. Those 2 men having gone to see whether there were any chance for salt to be made, were on their return to the fort came to a place which were an abundance of walnuts & Edward says "Let us stop & crack some of those walnuts. Uncle D says not so Neddy for this is a very likely place for Indians & I have an uncommon dread on _______ my mind at this time. The reply of uncle E was to Uncle D. Puh Daniel I don't believe there is an Indian in one hundred miles of this place Edward laid down his gun & commenced cracking & uncle D stood by with his gun in his hand. Immediately the Indians fired. Uncle E. fell dead. Uncle D was missed haveing seen that his brother was certainly dead, he broke with all might and movin to save his own life. The Indians firing at him & missing how many I know not he bining (on of the )* swifest ( men on Earth)* he would have ran the Indians with great ease had it not been for a dog the Indians had which would catch him by the heel every now & then. He not having yet discharge his gun jumped behind a tree and shot the dog. Then made his escape to the fort a distance I think of 7 miles. The Indians in close pursuit after. As to 6th request, I can say to you the Boone family did stop in the Virginia Vally after they left Tennissee since the time as I remembered of their stay before they went to Yadkin. As to the 7th request, I know not where my uncle Daniel was born. 8th request, the date of my mothers birth was the 2nd day of August 1747. To the best of my recollection as to the trip after the Indians you speak of I have no recollection as to the trip you speak of to my mother, Virginia & jer age when wed to Stuart I have no present recollection not who went though a smart crowd. My age 76 year, I was born February 23rd, A. D. 1778. You request me to state to you whether I kept house or lived with some of my children. Sir, I say to you, I keep house & land and have (though I say not by way boasting) plenty of everything & am able to work and work daily & enjoy good health. You have made the request in your letter of me to state in particular my circumstances as such you shall have a sketch of the same. I was married to a respectable Lady February 20, 1806 by the name of Polly Gist. We had eleven children, 5 girls we raised 6 boys & 4 girls. Our youngest daughter died. They are all living & married as faf as I know. My eldest son lives in Illinois. 2 sons & 1 daughter liveing in Texas. 1 son in the western dist Tenn. 1 daughter liveing near me. My died Oct 10, 1839. I was left with one son & 3 daughters. In 3 1/2 years they were all married, I was left without a housekeeper 1 1/2 years I discovered one of 2 things I had to do. Either breakup housekeeping or marry. I was pestered much in mind for I though I was too old to marry & too young to breakup housekeeping. But by a transient (?) view you may guess which I done. I married a Lady by the name of Sarah Howard August 25 A. D. 1844. You state you are in the way to heaven and in the Baptist order. I enjoy the comfort of religion but differ in sentiment or name I belong to the Scrotian Baptist. I believe in the christian Baptist doctrine. I am sir truely gratful for your Especial notice toward me. I hope you good success in your work on the life of my uncle Daniel Boone. I would be glad for my name to have a place in your bookk. I have done by subscribing myself. Yours truly Joshua Pennington SR to Mr. L. E. Draper
*these words were stricken through and the work "very" inserted above "one of the" on the original letter.