Daniel Trabue

Notes:

Daniel Trabue was an early founder of Columbia and constructed the above house in 1823 (it has since been expanded). He served as a trustee for the town, the county sheriff, and justice of the peace. He operated a grist mill and a retail store. To be sure, the story of Columbia is not complete without reference to Trabue. But greater still, the story of Kentucky is incomplete without Trabue.

He was a fourth-generation North American Huguenot born in 1760 in Virginia's Piedmont region. Trabue was a teenager when he encountered Indians along the Wilderness Road, was present at Daniel Boone's court-martial following a loss to the Indians at Boonesborough. After serving three years in Kentucky, Trabue returned to Virginia to try his lot at business. It was during this time that he experienced, as a non-soldier, the events leading up to the colonist's victory at Yorktown. By 1785, he yearned to return his young family to Kentucky and they settled in Fayette County.

In 1788, Trabue signed a petition to divide Fayette County, arguing that he was too far from the county seat of Lexington to be able to readily conduct business, caused an overburdened judicial docket and did not provide adequate representation in the Virginia legislature. The Virginia General Assembly agreed and Woodford County was born. In 1796, Trabue sold his Woodford County home and took his family from the Kentucky River basin to that of the Green River some 45-miles to the southwest in Green County.

In December 1801, the General Assembly created Adair County. Trabue's home was one-quarter mile within Adair County and thus his "fortunes were to be tied to those of Adair County." [cite] It was from here that he went on as an intregal part of the development and growth of Columbia.
At the age of 67, he wrote a narrative of his life. This narrative later became the origin of "Westward into Kentucky: The Narrative of Daniel Trabue." Although narratives are often fraught with historical inaccuracy, his accounts still make history all the richer. As was said in the introduction of Westward (the source of much of the above history):

Daniel Trabue had indeed been a pioneer in the land beyond the mountains. As a settler there, he had helped to wrest Kentucky from nature and from the Indian's tenuous hold and to plant the white man's culture in Trans-Appalachia. He had done all of this, and of equal importance he had left a rich and meaningful narrative about much of what he observed and did.

Colonel Daniel Trabue's Journal

Making Salt at Bullitt's Lick

In 1916, Lillie DuPuy VanCulin Harper edited a volume titled, Colonial Men and Times which contained the journal of Col. Daniel Trabue which may also be found in the Draper Papers. The following except is taken from Daniel Trabue's journal, as transcribed from earlier sources. In it Trabue describes a trip to Bullitt's Lick to obtain salt in the winter of 1779-1780.

"My brother James informed me we had very much writing to do, and I went to it. My Brother had to go to the other Garrisons to make settlements with his Deputies.

"We soon got our books and accounts in good order. People had moved to this country this Fall more than ever. The Commissioners that were appointed by the Virginia Legislature to grant pre-emptions also had come out. There were so many people the conclusion was to discontinue keeping up the soldiery at the Forts. So they were all discharged about the last of this year 1779. The public stores and Magazines were locked up Jan. 7, 1780.

"James Trabue went to Virginia again to draw money to pay for the provisions which we had purchased previous to his departure. He said if I could, there ought to be meat procured this winter for next Spring.

"The conclusion was that we must try to get some salt and kill wild meat. We understood that a company of men was to start on a certain day from Harrodsborough to go to Bullittslick to boil & make salt. The conclusion was that I should go, and Foster would send a negro man with me and we would take pots & kettles with us. Mr. Smith also sent a young man, and we made up a little company, to wit, Jeffry Davis, William Maxey, the negro man, & 2 or 3 others. We had good guns and ammunition. When we got to Harrodsburg there was no one going from there.

"We set out, and went some distance, stopped to eat, and let the horses eat some grapes. We ate all the provisions we had. The young men said they were afraid to go on with me; as they were afraid of Indians, also that there was no road or path; that I would not find the way, and that as we had nothing to eat we might starve to death -- I told them they ought to have brought provisions with them, and as to the Indians we had to run that risk; as to finding the way I was not uneasy about that as I knew about steering in the woods. I could find the way as I had been there before. At any rate whether they went or not, I would go on with the negro Jo.

"We went on our journey, and at a little before sun-set we stopped and took up camp, I told the negro boy to hopple out the horses and all the men to go as quick as they could out hunting, and try their best to kill something. We were encamped on Chaplins Fork. When I returned I had killed a large fat Raccoon; the men had killed nothing; the negro had a large fire; the Raccoon was soon prepared for cooking. The men began again with their woeful tale saying, "we are in a wilderness without any path, we have nothing to eat but a koon for 6 or 7 men without bread or salt; we are liable every moment to be massacred by the Indians. If we can only be spared until morning, we will return to Logan's Fort." One of them said "I will return to old Virginia as quick as I can, & those who like Kentucky may enjoy it, but I will not stay in such a country."

"This was a very pretty night, and the moon was bright; after we got pretty well settled, I said "we have 2 good dogs, I know mine are exceptions for game, let us go out hunting." The men refused and I told the negro Joe to take his axe, and I took my gun, and off we went. In going about 200 yards, just where some of the men had been hunting, I saw 5 turkeys in one sycamore tree, over the creek, I moved to a place where I got the Turkeys between me and the moon. I killed all 5 of the largest fattest turkeys I had ever seen. When I got to shooting I made sure the men would come to us, but they stayed where they were at the camp, looking at their koon roasting.

"We took our turkeys to the camp and I said "now pick and clean them and eat some of the best food in the government." I soon had one roasting, the koon was ready for eating; they asked me to come up and eat some of it. I refused saying "I would choose turkey." The turkeys were all cleaned and some of them cooked for the night and the next morning we ate heartily. The next day we went on our journey, and no one turned back. I went on before. I killed that day a fine Deer, and one or two turkeys. We put the meat on the pack horses. One of the men we had with us was a young Irishman; who was constantly disputing with the other young men that were from Virginia, about words and customs.

"Some time that morning I shot a Buffalo; he fell down and we all went up to him. Some of the men had never seen one before. I soon discovered I had shot this buffalo too high, and I told some of the boys to shoot him again; the young Irishman said he would kill him and aimed at him with his tomahawk, and struck him in the forehead. I told him it would not Do, he could not hurt him, the wool, and mud, and skull were all so thick, it would not do; but he kept up his licks, the buffalo jumped up, the man ran, the buffalo after him. It was an open woods, no bushes, and the way the young Irishman ran was rather quick, and with every jump he cryed out.

"The buffalo was close to his heels, the man jumped behind a birch tree, the buffalo fell Down with his head against the tree. The boys laughed. One of them went up and shot the buffalo again, and killed him. * * * When I saw that the Irishman would go back I advised him to take a load of the buffalo meat, as it was very fat, & and he was welcome to it, to which he agreed. We took a little of it, and bid him a Due. We went on our journey, and before we got to Bullitts Lick I killed a Buffalo cow; as fat a cow as I ever saw in my life, wild or tame.

"We took a goodly part of it with us, and arrived at the lick we found some people there making salt. They were from the Falls of Ohio, a Mr. McPhelps, an acquaintance of mine, was there; he had a furnace of small pots and kettles. He wanted to go home, and hired his small establishment to us for 2 weeks, for which we were to pay him in salt. We fixed up our pots and kettles in addition to McPhelps' and went on very well making salt. The water we had was standing in the lick; there was a hole or well only about two feet Deep that had been dug out. I was there previous to my digging, and the water stood then in a puddle so that the buffaloes would go there and Drink it.

"We saw Buffaloes in sight of our works. We killed them when we needed them. We had been there three days when some men came from Harrodsburgh. They had started 3 days before us; they had been lost. We had cold weather. These men also began making salt, and we were very glad of more company; the fact was, I was very Dubious of Indians. In about 2 weeks or a little more we had got to each had about 2 bushels of Salt, and I bought a little more from Mr. McPhelps.

"So we were ready for our return and there were three or four men from the Falls of Ohio came to us and were going to the upper Forts, and wished to go with us as company. They waited until we were ready. We went on that night, and just before we camped one of these strangers, his name was Mr. Sullivan, killed a capital Buffalo, and as we had plenty of salt we lived well. That night we had a Fall of Deep Snow, and the next morning was very cold, so we had a good fire and did not start early. One of these Gentlemen, a stranger, observed "this morning would be very suitable to sit in a good Tavern, and have a drink of good rum, and hot tea or coffey for Breakfast." Mr. Sullivan observed that he thought a pan of fried hominy would suit him best. It was taken as an insult, blows ensued and they had a smart scuffle in the snow. We parted them and our Tuckeyho boys laughed heartily at it. We reached home safe with our salt."

John married Olymphia Dupuy in 1744 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA. Olymphia (daughter of John James Dupuy and Susanne Lavillan) was born on 12 Nov 1729 in Manakin, Goochland, Virginia, USA; died in 1822 in Versailles, Woodford, Kentucky, USA; was buried in Versailles, Woodford, Kentucky, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Antoine married Magdalene Verrueil. Magdalene was born on 28 Jan 1685 in Hague, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands; died in 1731 in , Henrico, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Susanne Lavillan in 1728 in , Cumberland, Virginia, USA. Susanne was born in 1710 in King William Parish, Goochland, Virginia, USA; died in 1775 in , Cumberland, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1700, Manakin, Goochland, Virginia, USA

Notes:

Naturalization of the French Huguenots - 1705
LAWS OF VIRGINIA APRIL 18 TO MAY 12, 1705

An Act for Naturalization of Claude Phillipe de Richebourg, Francis Ribot, Peter Fanure, John Joanny, James Champagne, and others.

Whereas Claude Phillipe de Richebourg, Francis Ribot, Peter Faure, John Joanny, James Champagne, and others, Born in France and Other Foreign Countrys, have made humble Suit to this General Assembly for Naturalization, and they having in Order thereto received the Oaths by Law Enjoyned,

Be it therefore Enacted by the Governor, Council, and Burgesses of this present General Assembly and the Authority thereof, And it is hereby enacted, That

Jacob Amonet
Andrew Aubry

James Belivet
Francis Bering
David Bernard
Daniel Blovet
Peter Bocard
John Peter Bondurand
John Bossard
Henry Bradonneau,
Moses Brok
James Brousse

Henry Cabany
Joseph Callot
John Calvert
John Cambel
Michel Cantepie
Jacob Capon
Paul Castige
Gedeon Chambon
James Champagne
Stephen Chastain
Peter Chataigmer
Peter Chatain
Joseph Chermeson
Francis Clapier
Philipe Claud
Andreas Cocke

John Francis Decoppet
Lewis de Fertre
Jean Delaune
Jacob Delony
John Delony
John Dep
Claude Phillipe de Richebourg
Theodore de Rosseaux
Paul de Vesaz
Daniel Duchemin
John Oger du Clos
Peter du Foy
Jeremiah du Mass
John du Pre
Thomas du Pre
Barthelemy Dupuy

John Farey
Daniel Fauire
Peter Fauire
Peter Fellon
Isaac Figuier
Jacob Flournois
Peter Fonjall
John Fonvielle
Francois Flournoy
Jaques Flournoy
John Forquerand

Isaac Gaudovin
Anthony Gevandon
John Gori
Peter Gori
John Guerant
John Guil
Joseph Guil
Stephen Guil

Simon Hungaute
Samuel Hungazel

John Imbert

John Joanny

Gaspard Korner
John Korneu

Jaimes Lacaze
Isaac Lafite
James Lagrand
Daniel Langlade
Isaac Le Febure
Rene Massomeau La Forie
Charles Lapierre
John Le Villam
Moses Livreau
John Lorange
Stephen Lovis
John Lucadon

Peter Macant
John Mallard
Peter Mallard
Stephen Mallet
John Mariott
John Martin
Peter Massaw
Anthony Matton
Gabriel Maupin
John Mazeres
Daniel Mebins
David Menetries
David Merveil
Abraham Michaux
Michel Michel
Abraham Minot
Francis Miromon
Timothy Morell
Peter Morissatt
Abraham Moulin
Joseph Mouluner

Mathieu Oger
Joseph Oliver
Lewis Orange

John Panetier
Isaac Parentos
John Parmentier
Jean Pasteur
Peter Peru
Joshua Petit
John James Phaisant
James Pinson
Francis Pommier
Peter Prevot

Anthony Rapine
Daniel Rebant
Abraham Remy
John Guy Rey
James Ribbeau
Francis Ribot
John Robert
John Roger,
John Rosset
James Roux
Timothy Rowx

Peter Sabbatier
Stephen Sarazen,
Francis Sassin
John Say
John Serjanton
Augustin Simon
Abraham Soblet
James Soblet
Peter Soblet
Gasper Sobrih
John Sollaegre
John Soville

Jean Thilbeaurt
John Thomas
Stephen Tourneir
Anthony Trabueq,

John Valton
Adam Vignes
Peter Vitte
John Voyer

Charles Waldenborg,

And every of them be, and are by vertue [sic] hereof, Capable of Free Traffick and tradeing, of Takeing up and Purchasing, Conveying, Devising, and Inheriting of Lands and Tenements, And from hemceforth be Declared, Deemed, and holden, And in all Construction of Law Stated, Vested, and Indulged with all Priviledges, Liberties, and Immunityes Whatsoever, relating to this Colony thatany Naturall Born Englishman is Capable of,

Provided always that this Act nor anything herein Contained shall be Construed to enable any of the persons aforenamed to hold, Execute, or Enjoy any Place, Office, Calling, or Employment prohibited by an Act of Parliament, made in the 7th and 8th Years of the Reign of his late Majesty, King William the third, Entituled An Act for preventing frauds and regulateing Abuses in the Plantation Trade, or by any other Statute of England.
______________________________

The Laws Of Virginia. Being A Supplement To Hening's The Statutes At Large 1700-1750, pages 39-41.


SOURCES

DuPuy Family Papers, Genealogical Guide 1963 Manuscript Collection, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA

The Huguenot Bartholomew Dupuy and His Descendants by Rev. B. H. Dupuy, Page 178 Copyright 1908 by Rev. B. H. Dupuy

Dupuy Family papers which were donated to the Virginia Historical Society include a genealogical guide, compiled in 1963. It states that Bartholomew and his wife, Suzanne, fled from France in 1685 as Huguenot refugees, finally migrating to Virginia in 1700.

Bartholomew Dupuy descended from Alleman, the oldest son of the Crusader, Hugo Dupuy. He was probably born in the Provence of Languedoc. By virtue of his descent, he had an heired title of "Count".

When Bartholomew was eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the French army as a common soldier. He served for fourteen years, during which he fought fourteen pitched battles as well as skirmishes and duels. He also won the admiration and confidence of King Luis XIV; so, he was promoted to Lieutenant, and transferred to the King's household guards. While in the King's service, he was provided with a written pass containing the signature of the King, which prohibited any one from molesting his progress.

He married Susanna Lavillon in 1685, a young Countess of noble standing, and of the Huguenot faith. A detailed account of the experiences which he and his wife endured during the short time they remained in France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and of their escape in December of 1685 is given in "The Story of the Huguenot's Sword" which was published in "Harper's New Monthly Magazine" of April 1857. The author of this story was John Esten Cooke.

The sword, a possession of Bartholomew since the time of his service, was what was known as a short sword with a triangular blade, not exceeding three feet in length. He wore it at the waist; and was wearing it on the evening upon which Captain Jarnilloc, backed by soldiers, came to his home at his chateau at Velours in Saintogne. But, Dupuy was also armed with a piece of parchment which stated that any annoyance of Dupuy would be at the peril of any officer who commanded it as this was the Royal Will of the King, which would be in effect until the first of December 1685; and, this directive was signed "Louis". The Dragoon had hoped to arrest Dupuy on a charge of heresy for his Huguenot beliefs. Others throughout the country were not only being persecuted, but beaten, robbed, tortured, and killed if they did not profess the Catholic faith on the spot. He now backed down; but not without searching the premises for any other heretics that might be hiding on Dupuy's property. Dupuy's friend, Msr. Fontaine, escaped discovery in the secret room where Bartholomew had hidden him just upon the Dragoon's arrival. Captain Jarnilloc and his company left, defeated for the moment.

Bartholomew had been planning his family's escape during the few short months since the Revocation had taken place. He now sent his friend, Fontaine, ahead with his betrothed, Anne Boursiquot, her sister, Elizabeth Boursiquot, and his little niece, Jeannette Forestier. He gave him instructions where to travel, finally ending up at the brig Portsmouth, which would carry him and his little troupe to England, where he was to await Dupuy and his family's arrival. Not thirty minutes after Fontaine's departure, Captain Jarnilloc returned, determined to smoke out the heretics that he felt sure were there. Dupuy informed him that they had left; and, he was immediately off in pursuit. However, Dupuy followed him, eventually catching up and challenging him with his short sword, soundly wounding him, but not mortally......just enough to interrupt the pursuit of Fontaine and his company.

Fontaine's subsequent adventure was frightful as he and his charges were left an extra day waiting for the boat Captain to leave. It became too dangerous and the Captain told him that he could not help him. Fontaine was forced to leave and travel along the coast, hoping to reconnect with the Portsmouth. However, unremitting patrols looking for escaping Huguenots continued to range about making it impossible to hail the ship from the shore. Another whole day passed in this manner before, only by the Grace of God, they were able to board the ship, whereupon Fontaine fell upon his knees thanking the Lord above.

Meanwhile, Dupuy was to meet with the local Catholic Cure to listen to his appeal for him to abjure and become a Catholic. Their arguments went on for hours with the Cure finally agreeing to withhold informing upon Dupuy until the day after the King's amnesty would expire. The following morning, Dupuy sold his estate to Seigneur Agoust for one third of it's value in gold. He then bought a Page's costume for his wife and returned home whereupon they readied themselves to flee, he clad in his uniform as king's guardsman, with his trusty sword thrust into his belt. Upon their heels came the Dragoons as Agoust had betrayed them to Captain Jarnilloc.

Jarnilloc raced after them and finally intercepted their trail. He then fired his pistol at them. The ball missed Dupuy; but, struck his wife in the chest. At this, Dupuy shot Jarnilloc straight through the heart. He grabbed his wife's horse's bridle and galloped away. He was shocked to see Susanna all of a sudden sit up erect, finding that she had not been wounded as the ball had been stopped by her book of psalms which she carried in her bosom.

Further adventures were helped along by the letter from the King, as most people met could not read; but could only recognize the Royal Seal. They continued on into Germany and relative safety. Next, they traveled to England, where they stayed until 1700, finally coming to America and settling in Virginia. The sword came to America, too, where it was passed down, and was long treasured as an heirloom by his descendants from his grandson, John Bartholomew. It was worn in the Revolutionary War by Capt. James Dupuy of Nottoway County, Virginia; and, he, in turn left it to his grandson, Dr. John James Dupuy, son of Dr. William Jones Dupuy. It was lost in a raid by Federal troops during the Civil War by this last owner. It had been left at his mother-in-law's house, which was pillaged and burnt to the ground. Whether the sword was burned in the house or carried off by Federal troops is unknown.

LAND HOLDINGS:

208 acres on the south side of Lower Manakin Creek, King William Parish, Henrico County, Virginia as evidenced by the 1722 Vestry Book

Bartholemew married Countess Susanne La Villen in 1685 in , , , France. Countess (daughter of Charles LeVillaine and Rachel DeLaunay) was born in 1658 in Gabrielles, France; died in 1737 in Manakin, Goochland, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jean married Anne De Saint Heyer, Dupuy in 1652 in Gabrielles, France. Anne was born in 1632 in , , , France; died in 1704 in , , Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Charles married Rachel DeLaunay. Rachel was born in 1641 in , , Netherlands. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]