Person:James Nourse (2)

He was in Danville, Lincoln county in August 1784 living with his brother Robert on Goose Creek about eight miles from rhe Louisville Falls on the Ohio River. He was admitted to a political club in Danville KY in Feb. 1789. Filsons Club papers, Collins History of Kentucky. The muster roll of Capt. James Brown's company of mounted Kentucky volunteers, in the service of the U.S. against the Wiaw Indians, commanded by Brig. Gen. Charles Sscott 'mustered in at the Rapids of the Ohio June 15, 1791 is still preserved. On this roll the name of James Nourse appears as one of seventy-one privates present. He was admitted a member of the Greensburg, KY bar at the August court 1794. He was spoken of by those who knew him, as a good lawyer, an excellent surveyor, and as highly esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances. Taken from diary of trip made by James Jr. of a trip to Kentucky. "Monday Dec. 27, 1779. Arrived with wagon and team at Col. Shelby's. The fore wheel broke the 29th; set to making pack-saddles, getting bells, etc. and Wednesday set off with our pack-horses; got to Major B's where we had our horses shod. Thursday proceeded over a very ugly hill; two or three of our packs troubled us. Sunday a cold snowy day; arrived at the blockhouse about 12:o'clock; It is nothing but a comman log house with the upper part built wider than the under; not one wagon had been this far for these three long years past, which much surprised us; nothing to be had here, so proceeded over the north fork of Holstein to the last cabin in the settlement, and for the first time turned our horses to cane....Monday cloudy and snowy about ankle deep....Tuesday morning our horses looked as well as when I paid ten dollars for fodder. Yesterday Alexander Reid killed two turkeys, and this morning Charlie, to his satisfaction, brought down to the ground a large cock. Sunday, Jan. 9, 1780 this day we were so unfortunate as to break our Dutch oven and loose the lid in the snow. Monday morning I went back to look for the lid of the Dutch oven but could not find it. Wednesday, a bitter cold day; endeavored to keep ourselves warm by a good day's march; reached by night a good cabin one mile from Trading creek across Powell's river. This retreat very acceptable, for my brother Charles, Mr. Eston and Antony, when they came to the fire, found they had got their toes frost-bitten, which obliged us to remain at this cabin the four following days. Tuesday Brother Charlie killed a deer. Wednesday, Jan. 19 Could get no further than the foot of Cumberland mountain. (here we parted with our company). Being out of fresh meat, Brother Charles and I agreed to go and try to kill some buffalo. Tuesday a cold and cloudy day....Saturday got to Boonesburg....bought two bushels of corn, gave as high as sixty dollars a bushel--went 10 miles to Stroud's station. Found by making inquiries at Boones and here, that the lands my papa located on Licking are in all probability taken up by pre-emptions and settlements. Sunday, Feb. 13, 1780. Enjoyed myself with reading--got acquainted with some of the people in the fort. Took a view of the fort and the lands about; think it very heavy clearing, and a vast quantity of cane to ambush the enemy. The water, moreover, is very indifferent, and in all likelyhood will be dried up in the summer. Neither do I think the garrison strong enough for a frontier station. For these reasons Brother Charles and self agreed to move to some other. Monday, Mr. Stroud, with Charles and Bob, went a-hunting. Myself intended to go to Harrodsburg to see the commisioners, and to endeaver to get pre-emtion for my father for his journey here in 1775....Bros. Charles and Robert killed two bulls....Set off with Capt. Swearingen for Harrodsburg, by way of Lexington and Bryan's stations.....As we came upon Elkhorn waters, got upon lands which seemed to me to be of the very best quality. I thought I had got into a garden spot, but found the lands nearly the same all the way to Bryan's....Found the station so full of inhabitants there was no chance of my getting in." (The diary ends abruptly here.)

1.   Maria Catharine Nourse Lyle, James Nourse and his Descendants (Transylvania Printing Co. 1897)
   pages 20-43.