Richard Callaway
Encyclopedia
Richard Callaway was an early settler of Kentucky
. Born in Caroline County, Virginia
, Callaway joined Daniel Boone
in 1775 in marking the Wilderness Road
into central Kentucky, becoming one of the founders of Boonesborough, Kentucky
. He took part in organizing the short-lived colony of Transylvania
.
In 1776, two of Callaway's daughters, along with Boone's Jemima, were kidnapped outside Boonesborough by Native Americans
. Callaway led one of parties in the famous rescue of the girls
. His nephew Flanders Callaway later married Jemima Boone. In April 1777, Callaway and John Todd
were elected to the Virginia legislature as burgesses from Kentucky County, Virginia
. In June 1778, he was appointed a justice of the peace and made colonel of the county's militia.
Callaway was a defender during the 1778 siege of Boonesborough
. He disagreed with some of Boone's actions and resented the younger man's popularity with the settlers, and later brought court martial charges against Boone. Callaway was angry when the court acquitted and then promoted him.
On March 8, 1780, Colonel Richard Callaway was ambushed about a mile outside of Boonesborough by a Shawnee
war party. He was killed and scalped, and his body was mutilated.
Though spelled differently, Calloway County, Kentucky
, is named in honor of Richard Callaway.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Born in Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 28,545. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Caroline County is also home to The Meadow stables, the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and...
, Callaway joined Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
in 1775 in marking the Wilderness Road
Wilderness Road
The Wilderness Road was the principal route used by settlers for more than fifty years to reach Kentucky from the East. In 1775, Daniel Boone blazed a trail for the Transylvania Company from Fort Chiswell in Virginia through the Cumberland Gap into central Kentucky. It was later lengthened,...
into central Kentucky, becoming one of the founders of Boonesborough, Kentucky
Boonesborough, Kentucky
Boonesborough is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Kentucky, United States. It lies in the central part of the state along the Kentucky River. Boonesborough is part of the Richmond–Berea Micropolitan Statistical Area....
. He took part in organizing the short-lived colony of Transylvania
Transylvania (colony)
Transylvania, or the Transylvania Colony, was a short-lived, extra-legal colony founded in 1775 by Richard Henderson, who controlled the North Carolina based Transylvania Company, which had reached an agreement to purchase the land from the Cherokee in the "Treaty of Sycamore Shoals"...
.
In 1776, two of Callaway's daughters, along with Boone's Jemima, were kidnapped outside Boonesborough 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...
. Callaway led one of parties in the famous rescue of the girls
Capture and rescue of Jemima Boone
The capture and rescue of Jemima Boone and the Callaway girls is a famous incident in the early history of Kentucky and a celebrated event of Daniel Boone's life. James Fenimore Cooper created a fictionalized version of the episode in his classic book The Last of the Mohicans...
. His nephew Flanders Callaway later married Jemima Boone. In April 1777, Callaway and John Todd
John Todd (Virginia)
John Todd was a frontier military officer during the American Revolutionary War and the first administrator of the Illinois County of the U.S...
were elected to the Virginia legislature as burgesses from Kentucky County, Virginia
Kentucky County, Virginia
Kentucky County was formed by the Commonwealth of Virginia by dividing Fincastle County into three new counties: Kentucky, Washington, and Montgomery, effective December 31, 1776. Four years later Kentucky County was abolished on June 30, 1780, when it was divided into Fayette, Jefferson, and...
. In June 1778, he was appointed a justice of the peace and made colonel of the county's militia.
Callaway was a defender during the 1778 siege of Boonesborough
Siege of Boonesborough
The Siege of Boonesborough took place in September 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. The attack on the Kentucky settlement of Boonesborough was led by Chief Blackfish, a Shawnee leader allied to the British. Months before the battle, Blackfish had captured and adopted Daniel Boone, the...
. He disagreed with some of Boone's actions and resented the younger man's popularity with the settlers, and later brought court martial charges against Boone. Callaway was angry when the court acquitted and then promoted him.
On March 8, 1780, Colonel Richard Callaway was ambushed about a mile outside of Boonesborough by a Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
war party. He was killed and scalped, and his body was mutilated.
Though spelled differently, Calloway County, Kentucky
Calloway County, Kentucky
Calloway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1823. As of 2010, the population was 37,191. Its county seat is Murray, Kentucky. The county is named for Colonel Richard Callaway, one of the founders of Boonesborough...
, is named in honor of Richard Callaway.