Jessamine County KyArchives Biographies.....Netherland, Benjamin 1755 - 1838 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 4, 2007, 9:29 pm Author: Bennett H. Young Benjamin Netherland. One of the most unique and extraordinary characters in the history of Jessamine county in its early days was Maj. Benjamin Netherland. He was born in Powhattan county, Virginia, in 1755. He went to Cuba as the agent of his father, to dispose of his tobacco crop. There learning that Sir Peter Parker was to make an attack on Charleston, he left his cargo and ran the blockade into Charleston and helped to defend Fort Moultrie against British assault. He accompanied La Fayette on his journey from Charleston in 1777 as far as Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, when the distinguished Frenchman was on his way to Philadelphia, to tender his services to Washington in behalf of American liberty. He remained at Charlotte, North Carolina until 1781, took part in the battle of Guilford Courthouse, and shortly after this he drifted into Kentucky. In May, 1782, he was at Estill station, and was with the Kentucky troops in the Estill defeat. He took part in nearly all the Indian' battles from 1781 to 1784. He went with George Rogers Clark on his expedition in 1782 to punish the Indians for the wrongs of Blue Licks. He was with General Harmar in his defeat, and with General Wayne in his victory at Fallen Timbers in 1794 and was instrumental in punishing the men who had perpetrated the slaughter at Blue Licks. After seven years' absence in Kentucky, he returned to North Carolina in 1788 and married his boyish sweetheart, Miss Theodosia Bramlette, who was a daughter of the distinguished Revolutionary fighter Col. Bramlette. He had lived in Fayette and Madison counties prior to his coming to Jessamine. After his marriage he settled on a farm five miles east of Nicholasville, and in 1793 he removed to where Nicholasville now stands, and built a hotel and called it Mingo Tavern— this house he kept until his death in 1838. The house was torn down in 1864. The author has often seen it when a bo,. and the picture of it in this history is from a drawing made in 1820. He was chairman of the Board of Trustees of Nicholasville, and was prominent in its early history, and his children were the first white people born within its limits. He was the real hero of the battle of Blue Licks. Robert Wickliffe, of Lexington, whose second wife was the only daughter of Col. Todd, who was in command at the battle at Blue Licks, in a political speech in 1848 in Nicholasville said that the majority of men who escaped at Blue Licks owed their preservation to Benjamin Netherland and that Netherland was a fearless man, fruitful in resources and of magnificent courage. Col Robert Patterson, writing to Netherland in 1836, says, "I can not forget the part you acted in the battle of Blue Licks." At the time of this battle Netherland was only twenty-seven years old, and he went from Lexington as a member of Capt. Robert Patterson's company. In the disastrous conflict he remained mounted, and gained the ford over Licking in safety and crossed the stream unhurt. As he reached the west bank he looked back over his shoulder; and his soul was stirred with deepest emotion, and his heart filled with grandest courage as he saw his comrades struggling, swimming and plunging in the river, or rushing down the bank pursued by the savage enemy with unsheathed knives and uplifted tomahawks. He was a man of towering form, six feet two inches in height. He dismounted from his horse, and throwing the rein over his arm, in stentorian tone ordered his fleeing comrades to halt and fire upon the Indians and save those who were still in the stream. His bravery and his splendid presence restored the spirits of his fear-stricken comrades. More than a dozen men instantly obeyed his call, and facing about with Netherland and standing in line they opened a fatal and deadly fire upon the foremost of the pursuing savages. The counter attack was so sudden and unexpected that it checked the fierce pursuit of the Indians and they instantly fell back from the opposite bank. Netherland and his men maintained their position and drove the Indians to cover, while the wearied and almost despairing footmen were enabled to ford and swim the river in safety. Only a few minutes were necessary for those who could reach the stream or who were in it to pass over. The footmen as they left the bank quickly fled from the buffalo trace and disappeared in the thickets and started by circuitous routes to reach some friendly station. So soon as these distressed and exhausted or wounded footmen were enabled to secrete themselves in the dense forests, large numbers of the Indians were seen crossing both above and below, and Netherland and his comrades mounting their horses galloped along the well-worn trace, and reached Bryan Station that evening, without further loss. Major Netherland always retained his old-time dress. He wore a cut-a-way coat, short breeches with knee buckles, and low shoes with silk lacers and silver buckles. His pants were always fastened with red bands, and his long queue was tied with a red ribbon. From his entrance into Nicholasville early in 1791 for forty years he was prominent as a leader in all its affairs. He was postmaster for about twenty-three years and always dispensed the village hospitality with a lavish hand. Every man who had fought in the Revolutionary war or in the Indian wars either in Kentucky or in the Northwest, was his friend, and none ever went from his door hungry or uncared for. He was passionately fond of horse-racing, arid owned some of the great race-horses of Kentucky in the early part of the century. He was a fair and just man in his dealings with his fellow-men. He was not averse to a "good time," as people call it, and was always, even toward the end of his life, considered "one of the boys." He opened a race track on the Willoughby place near Sulphur Well, and maintained it for many years. In 1802 there was a quarter race oh the track, and in the hearing of the crowd, Major Netherland announced that on a certain day (naming it) there would be another race for a purse of $50, one mile heats, which was "free for anything with four legs and hair on." At that time there was working on a farm a young man named Michael Arnspiger who had broken a bull to the saddle, which he rode to mill. He immediately put the bull in training and for several days gave him turns around the race track. He used spurs on the bull and when these were dug into his sides, he was accustomed to bellow. On the day of the race Arnspiger appeared on the ground with his bull. He had placed a dried hide of an ox on the bull's rump, and he carried a tin horn in his hands. He demanded of the judges the right to enter his animal, to which the owners of the horses vehemently objected, but Arnspiger answered by appealing to Major Netherland if he had not said that the race was free to "anything with four legs and hair on." Maj. Netherland admitted that he had, and explained that the bull had a right to enter. When the drum was tapped, Arnspiger blew his horn, planted his spurs in the sides of the bull, which bounded off with a dreadful bellow, with the ox-hide flapping on his sides and presenting a spectacle, combined with the noise, that had never been seen on the race track before. The horses immediately flew the track, and Arnspiger galloped home a winner. The losers contended that they were swindled out of thir money; that Arnspiger should not have been allowed to blow the tin horn, or use the ox-hide, and that but for this he could not have won the race. Thereupon Arnspiger offered to take the ox-hide off and leave his tin horn at the stand and run them from end to end. Mr. Willoughby and Mr. Netherland were judges at the next start. Arnspiger again planted his spurs into the sides of the bull with redoubled fury. The loud bellow that followed drove the horses from the track despite the exertions of the riders, and Arnspiger pulled in the second $50 purse. With the money thus obtained he purchased a black-smithing outfit, working for many years at his trade near Wilmore, and died there in the sixties, in the 85th year of his age. Major Netherland had a great fondness for race horses and not only ran his own horses but went to see everbody else's horses who ran in the neighborhood. The race track in those early days was on the Willoughby farm in the new field now owned by Col. N. D. Miles. Major Netherland owned a very fast horse for those days, which he called by the name of Fearnought. He had secured this horse in Virginia and brought him across the mountains. The horse had been trained in Virginia and made his first race at Fredericksburg, in 1805, beating General Tracy's horse, Indian, in three heats. In those times four mile races were run. The time given by Major Netherland was as follows: First, 8 minutes, 29 seconds. Second, 8 minutes, 45 seconds. Third, 8 minutes, 50 seconds. Then people believed in bottom and horses had to run long distances. This time was not up to that made by the great race horse, Lexington, at New Orleans, where he beat the world's record in 7 minutes, 193-4 seconds, but it was good running. Fearnought was the special pride of Major Netherlands He ran against a horse called Bald Eagle, who was owned by Daniel Bradford, a son of John Bradford, the founder of the Kentucky Gazette, and who was for long time editor of that paper. The Alexander Willoughby referred to was a Revolutionary soldier. He came early to Kentucky and settled in Jessamine county on the Sulphur Well road. He was the father of Mrs. Catherine Shelby and died in 1837, in his eighty-fifth year. General Samuel Hopkins was a Revolutionary soldier, a native of Albemarle county, Va. He was a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary army, and none performed more active service or enjoyed in a greater degree the confidence of Washington. He came to Kentucky in 1797 and settled on Green river, in Green county. He was a member of Congress in 1813 and '15 and was engaged in the Indian wars in the west. He and Major Netherlarid were great friends and General Hopkins himself had a weakness for a good horse. The following letter describing the race, is both interesting and unique: Jessamine County, Ky., June 5, 1806. Gen. Sam'l Hopkins, Dear Friend: I take my seat to inform you that Fearnought is again winner of a purse of $100. In all the races which have previously been run on this track, it has been a matter of much inconvenience to the judges to make a fair decision without a fuss, which often creates unnecessary excitement throughout the day. But it did not in any manner affect the nerve of Mr. Willoughby, who was one of the judges who started the horses. He seemed to have a proper and just idea of the necessity of an even start, and nothing else but an even start would suit him, and that he gave. I wish all the other judges were as honest as he is. At the tap of the drum Fearnought and Bald Eagle darted like thunderbolts, each determined to win or die. Around the track they sped like hell cats, not a shade between them. Up the back stretch they flew like doves escaping from a hawk. At the half mile in 40 seconds, they locked around the turn. They tried it again, a slight pull before reaching the home stretch, and with renewed vigor, Fearnought in the lead. Bald Eagle renews his extraordinary power, but Fearnought comes out with unfaltering step and the race is decided in his favor. The question of championship, you will see at once, gives Fearnought the palm. DESCRIPTION OF FEARNOUGHT. Fearnought is five years old last grass; is a dark blood bay, 16 hands high, of superior bone and muscle, with fine limbs, lofty-carriage and elastic tread; a star in his forehead, vividly lighting up a countenance expressive of great superiority; game head,. curved neck; unusual depth of chest; fine, broad shoulder; beautifully inclining back, which gives him the appearance of a horse of most wonderful strength and endurance. I expect to enter him this fall for a purse of $1,000 at Fredericksburg, and the '.city* of Baltimore and Washington. Bald Eagle is now the property of Daniel Bradford, and was trained in Maryland, and won many races there, but. I think, his career upon the turf is over. Your friend, B. NETHERLAND. In another letter, written to General Hopkins in 1802, Major Netherland recites a most interesting incident. During that year a party of Cherokee Indians from North Carolina stopped all night at the Mingo Tavern, kept by Major Netherland. In the morning one of them was very sick and unable to travel and in a few days died at the hotel. He received the kindest possible treatment from Major Netherland and his family. In describing this incident Major Netherland says: "A few days ago four Cherokee Indians from Iredell county, N. C, called at my home and remained over night. Next morning one of them was too sick to travel. All day his sufferings were severe and painful. I sent for Drs. Gale and Peter Trisler, who at once pronounced his case hopeless. After intense suffering for four days the poor Indian died. His poor, disconsolate friends were painfully grieved at the death of one of their number, who was a man of some notoriety among his people, particularly as an expert hunter, having himself killed seventy-odd deer while on the last October hunt in the Cumberland mountains. The dead body of the poor Indian was taken to the Kentucky river cliffs, eight miles south of Nicholasville, and interred in the earth after the Indian custom, but instead of filling, the vault with earth, as is used with us, these poor Indians made a small frame work of wood, like a steep roof, which they put round the mouth, and reared up a heavy pile of earth, giving it the appearance of a potatoe heap. The three Indians who buried their comrade appeared bowed with grief. One seated himself on the ground, directing his face toward sunset, and extending his voice, made a great and sore lamentation. As much as I hate these wild children from the forest, I could not refrain from shedding tears when looking on them in this honest grief at the loss of one who was regarded as a good and true man. In four or five weeks after the death of their comrade, the same party, with a brother of the Indian, who died, came back and took his body in a small wagon to North Carolina, a distance of more than 300 miles, and reinterred his remains in the land of his birth among his own people. I have been much among the Cherokees of North Carolina. I consider them among the best of our Indian friends. They have strange customs. I wish I had time to give you more correct idea of their general character as compared with the other Indian tribes of our country. "Your old crony, "B. NETHERLANDS." Major Netherland died October 10, 1838, and was buried in his garden, which is now the lot on which the county jail is built. Mr. Jos. Wallace, a remote kinsman, has, with most commendable love and liberality and true spirit of kinship, erected a headstone over the grave of Major Netherland and that of his wife, who, in 1851, was laid beside her husband. At his death Major Netheriand was accorded a magnificent military funeral. The funeral sermon was preached by Bishop Kavanaugh, who was then the Presiding Elder of the district. Gen. Leslie Combs, Maj. D. B. Price, Gen. John McCalla and Robert Wickliffe were his pall-bearers, and all the leading military companies of the county turned out to do his memory honor. Major Netherlands experience in the battle of the Blue Licks, justified him in his subsequent love of horses. He bred a great many fine race horses in his day, and in a letter written by him to Gen. John McCalla, in 1830, now in my possession, he begs him to come to Nicholasville on the following Sunday to dine with him and promises to show him "the damndest best three colts in the world." Additional Comments: Extracted from: A HISTORY OF JESSAMINE COUNTY, KENTUCKY, FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO 1898. By BENNETT H. YOUNG, PRESIDENT POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY; MEMBER FILSON CLUB; MEMBER CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1890; AUTHOR HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTIONS OF KENTUCKY, OF "BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS, ETC, ETC. S. M. DUNCAN, ASSOCIATE AUTHOR. Every brave and good life out of the past is a treasure which cannot be measured in money, and should be preserved with faithfullest care. LOUISVILLE, KY.: COURIER-JOURNAL JOB PRINTING CO., 1898. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/jessamine/bios/netherla377gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/