Jenny Wiley
Encyclopedia
Jenny Wiley was a legendary pioneer
woman who was taken captive by native Americans
in 1789. Wiley endured the slaying of her brother and children and escaped after 11 months of captivity. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park
in Prestonsburg, Kentucky
is named in her honor.
, Virginia
. It was here in 1778 that Jenny met and married Thomas Wiley, an Irish immigrant.
Soon after, they built a log cabin
and had their first four children.
A group of eleven Native Americans, composed of two Cherokees, three Shawnees, three Wyandots, and three Delawares stormed the cabin. Jenny and her brother heard the Native Americans coming and tried to barricade the door, and also attempted to fight them off. They killed her younger brother of about fifteen years of age and her children, with the exception of her youngest child of about fifteen months. Jenny, who was expecting her fifth child, and the surviving child were then taken captive. There was some dispute amongst her captors about whether or not to kill her and her baby as they were slowing the party down, but they kept her and her baby alive until the baby became ill. At that point the captors killed the child while Jenny slept. She gave birth shortly thereafter, but that child was also murdered.
Jenny was held captive by Native Americans for several months in what is presently Little Mud Lick Creek, Johnson County, Kentucky
. She managed to escape to Harman's Blockhouse in what was then Floyd County (now Johnson County). With the help of the settlers at Harman's Blockhouse, Jenny made her way back to Walker's Creek, where she began a new family with her husband, Thomas. In approximately 1800, the Wiley family crossed the Big Sandy River, and settled in what is currently Johnson County, Kentucky. Jenny and her husband Thomas started a new family and had five children consisting of the following:
Jenny Wiley lived in Johnson County with her family until her death in 1831. She was buried near the farm in River
where she spent her final years.
was established in her honor between Prestonsburg
and Paintsville, Kentucky
. The park is centered around 1100 acres (4.5 km²) Dewey Lake
, and features the Jenny Wiley Theatre
.
horse race named in her honor and run each year at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky
. An event for fillies
and mares
, the race is called the Jenny Wiley Stakes
and attracts some of the best female horses in American
horse racing.
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
woman who was taken captive by native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
in 1789. Wiley endured the slaying of her brother and children and escaped after 11 months of captivity. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, originally known as Dewey Lake State Park, located at Prestonsburg, Kentucky, is a mountain resort park located on the shores of Dewey Lake. It is named for Virginia "Jenny" Wiley, a pioneer woman and Indian captive...
in Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Prestonsburg is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Kentucky, United States. It lies in the eastern part of the state, along the banks of the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. It was founded in 1797 by Col. John Preston—for whom it was named—along with Solomon Stratton, Matthias...
is named in her honor.
Early life
Jenny Wiley was born to Hezekiah Sellards and Jean Brevard (Jean Brevard is in dispute as some believe that Hezekiah may have married a Cherokee). Her family moved to Walkers Creek, in what is now Bland CountyBland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,871 people, 2,568 households, and 1,908 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile . There were 3,161 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It was here in 1778 that Jenny met and married Thomas Wiley, an Irish immigrant.
Soon after, they built a log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
and had their first four children.
Capture
On October 1, 1789, Thomas set out for a trading post with a horse heavy laden with ginseng to barter for domestic necessaries. That afternoon, Jenny's brother-in-law, John Borders, heard owl-call signals in the woods that made him suspect Native Americans were in the area and planning an attack. He warned his sister-in-law to pack up her children and leave the cabin, but Jenny wanted to finish some household chores before leaving.A group of eleven Native Americans, composed of two Cherokees, three Shawnees, three Wyandots, and three Delawares stormed the cabin. Jenny and her brother heard the Native Americans coming and tried to barricade the door, and also attempted to fight them off. They killed her younger brother of about fifteen years of age and her children, with the exception of her youngest child of about fifteen months. Jenny, who was expecting her fifth child, and the surviving child were then taken captive. There was some dispute amongst her captors about whether or not to kill her and her baby as they were slowing the party down, but they kept her and her baby alive until the baby became ill. At that point the captors killed the child while Jenny slept. She gave birth shortly thereafter, but that child was also murdered.
Escape
Johnson County, Kentucky
Johnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1843. As of 2000, the population was 23,445. Its county seat is Paintsville...
. She managed to escape to Harman's Blockhouse in what was then Floyd County (now Johnson County). With the help of the settlers at Harman's Blockhouse, Jenny made her way back to Walker's Creek, where she began a new family with her husband, Thomas. In approximately 1800, the Wiley family crossed the Big Sandy River, and settled in what is currently Johnson County, Kentucky. Jenny and her husband Thomas started a new family and had five children consisting of the following:
- Jane Wiley, married Richard Williamson, son of American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
patriot at the Battle of Point PleasantBattle of Point PleasantThe Battle of Point Pleasant, known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts, was the only major battle of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and American Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes...
also settled on Twelve Pole Creek; - Sarah "Sally" Wiley, married twice (1) Christian Yost; (2) Samuel Murray and resided in Wayne County;
- Hezekiah Wiley, married Christine Nelson and settled on Twelve Pole Creek, Wanye County (W)Virginia;
- Willaim Stapleton and Sarah Wiley married and
- Adam Brevard Wiley married Neely Dillon, both left families in Johnson County Kentucky.
Jenny Wiley lived in Johnson County with her family until her death in 1831. She was buried near the farm in River
River, Kentucky
River is an unincorporated community located in Johnson County, Kentucky, United States. The post office was first established on September 6, 1890 and its current ZIP code is 41254 and its telephone area code is 606...
where she spent her final years.
State Park
Jenny Wiley State Resort ParkJenny Wiley State Resort Park
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, originally known as Dewey Lake State Park, located at Prestonsburg, Kentucky, is a mountain resort park located on the shores of Dewey Lake. It is named for Virginia "Jenny" Wiley, a pioneer woman and Indian captive...
was established in her honor between Prestonsburg
Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Prestonsburg is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Kentucky, United States. It lies in the eastern part of the state, along the banks of the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. It was founded in 1797 by Col. John Preston—for whom it was named—along with Solomon Stratton, Matthias...
and Paintsville, Kentucky
Paintsville, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,132 people, 1,681 households, and 1,079 families residing in the city. The population density was 786.1 people per square mile . There were 1,901 housing units at an average density of 361.7 per square mile...
. The park is centered around 1100 acres (4.5 km²) Dewey Lake
Dewey Lake
Dewey Lake, located near Prestonsburg, Kentucky in Floyd County, is part of the integrated flood reduction system operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for the entire Ohio River Basin...
, and features the Jenny Wiley Theatre
Jenny Wiley Theatre
Jenny Wiley Theatre is a non-profit organization that puts on productions of classic Broadway musicals, comedies, historical dramas and holiday productions at both the Jenny Wiley Amphitheatre, located within the Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, and surrounding venues. The theater's first musical was...
.
Jenny's horse race
Jenny is also honored by a ThoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse race named in her honor and run each year at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. An event for fillies
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
and mares
Mareš
Mareš is a Czech surname and may refer to:* František Mareš, Czechoslovak professor of physiology and philosophy, and nationalist politician* Jakub Mareš, Czech football player* Jaroslav Mareš, Czech biologist, traveller and writer....
, the race is called the Jenny Wiley Stakes
Jenny Wiley Stakes
The Jenny Wiley Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the second week of April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky...
and attracts some of the best female horses in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
horse racing.