Licking River Navigation, 1818
[This document follows the Licking River from its mouth at the Ohio River upstream into Pendleton County, Ky. The author’s references to “left” and “right” may seem backwards, because rivermen refer to a river’s banks or sides as if facing downstream.]
Licking River is 100 yds wide at its confluence with the Ohio, from there to the --- mile ripple it is commonly -------water at the mouth
------ [3?] Mile Creek commences ------------by that name----------water------------250 yd long. The main shoot at the entrance near the left hand side and bearing an oblique course for 100 yds then turn a contrary direction for the last 150 yds to the lower end-------.
Banklick Creek is two miles above the Three Mile Creek and is 30 yds wide at mouth emptying in on the left hand side. The main shoot on the right hand side, there being a rocky bar 70 yds below the mouth of the creek that reaches two thirds across the River.
The six mile Ripple is the next above and is one mile from the mouth of Banklick; main shoot on the left hand side. The water being very rapid for the distance of 50 or 60 yds.
Decoursey’s Ripple is half a mile above the 6 mile Ripple, Main shoot close to the right hand side. Decoursey’s Creek empties in on the left hand side and is 10 yds wide at its mouth. The creek empties in 40 yds above the Ripple.
The Twin Islands is 2 miles above. Shoot on the left hand side. These Islands are most commonly cover with water, but when the River is low they appear.
The dead man’s ripple is next and is 2 miles above the latter. Shoot on the right hand side.
The Made [Maids] ripple is next above and is 3 miles. Shoot on the left hand side.
Grants ripple is next and is 2 mile above the latter. Shoot on the left hand side close to the shore. The navigator will be apprised[?] of Grants Island opposite the ripple, which contains at least 6 or 7 acres, the highest part of which is at least 10 feet above the low water mark. The Island commences 40 yds above the mouth of ripple creek and covers the greatest part of the River being 200 yds long. The top of the Island is well set with willow bushes, from 4 to 6 feet high.
Steep Creek ripple is next at the distance of 4 miles. Shoot on the right hand side. From thence to Grants Mill-dam is one and a half mile. Shoot near the mid of the River their being danger.
Maddox’ ripple half a mile above. Shoot very close to the left hand side, there being a large bar extending two thirds across the River.
Harris’ ripple half a mile. Shoot on the right hand side there being a bar in the middle of the River 200 yds long.
The Dutchman or Woolery’s ripple 2 miles above. Shoot for Orlean boats on the right hand shore, though the deepest water is on the left hand side close to shore.
One mile above is Smith’s ripple. Shoot on the right hand side there being little or no danger.
Cruises Creek ripple one mile above. Shoot on the right hand side. Their is a bar two feet higher than the low water mark that commences a little above the mouth of the Creek and is 150 yds long being in the middle of the River. The creek comes in on the left hand side and is 15 yards wide at its mouth.
Philips Creek is 2 miles above and is 30 yds wide at its mouth emptying in on the right hand side. 70 yds below the mouth of the creek on the same side their is a willow bar that covers one half of the river making a ripple 70 yds below the mouth of the creek know by the name of Philips creek ripple. Shoot on the left hand side.
Roberts or McLaughlins Mill dam one mile. Shoot in the middle of the River. Plumb Creek comes in on the right hand side and is 15 yds wide at its mouth. Just below the dam & opposite to the ripple their is an Island on the left hand side 100 yds long well set with large Sycamore Bushes. Shoot through the ripple as well as the dam near the center of the River.
To Grassy Creek 1 ½ miles emptying in on the left hand side 60 yds wide at the mouth. The lower end of a bar that puts in from the right hand side extending to the middle of the River. 300 yds below that there is a small Island nearest to the right hand shore covered with Bushes from eight to ten feet high in low water. The best shoot on the left hand side, but in flood the best passage on the right hand shore on account of the River making a short bend to the right, on account of a larger Brushey bar on the left hand side containing from 10 to ----- which appears that boats are likely to be swept across immediately after turning the bend. Keep the middle of the channel to the Mill Dam.
To the Sandy Island 2 miles. This Island is on the right hand side, the shoot on the left hand side close to the shore. This Island is one of the highest bald[?] in the River and is 200 yds long and covers the greatest part of the bed of the River.
To the mouth of Willow Creek 3 mile. The creek empties in on the right hand side. At the mouth of the creek there is a bar making in on the same side of the creek just below its mouth, which covers two thirds of the bed of the River. Shoot close on the left hand shore, immediately above there makes in two small Islands nearest to the left hand shore. Shoot on each side but in all stages shoot on the right hand side close to the same.
To the rolling ripple one mile. Shoot at the upper end of the ripple nearest to the right hand shore. 100 yds lower down is the second. Shoot about the middle of the river at common water mark.
To the mouth of Flour Creek one mile. This creek empties in on the right hand side. The mouth of the creek being just about the middle of a large bar 200 yds long which makes a ripple on the left hand side. Shoot very close to the left hand shore. The River at this place makes a short bend to the left, therefore Navigators should be careful to keep close to the left hand point, lest they should be carried on the bar as has often been the case.
To the mouth of Harris’ Creek three miles. This creek empties in on the left hand side, 10 yds wide at its mouth. There makes in a bar at the mouth of the creek, which throws the main channel very close to the right hand side. The ripple commences 15 yards above the mouth of the creek and is 60 yds long. The River being nearly straight, there is no Danger at this place.
To Steer Creek one and a half miles. This creek empties in on the right hand side and is very small at its mouth. There is a large rocky bar, thickly set with Sycamore bushes. This bar covers two thirds of the bed of the River on the right hand side. The creek comes in about the middle of the bar. The ripple commences just opposite to the mouth of the creek, and is 70 yds long. Chute on the left hand shore.
To Henricks’ Mill dam two and a half miles. 100 yards above the dam there is a small bar on the right hand side. This bar extends 30 yds in the bed of the River. At this place the river is nearly straight. Shoot at the dam in the middle of the river.
One half a mile above the Dam there is a short bend which bends to the right hand side. 100 hundred yards from the point of said bend, the River bend short to the left hand with a large bushey bar on the left hand side, which commences above the point of the first bend, and extends down the River below the 2nd bend and covers 8 or 10 acres of the bed of the River. Main channel on the right hand side from the first point to the lower end of the bar on the left hand side.
To the mouth of Kincaid 1 ½ miles. This creek comes in on the right hand side and is 30 yds at its mouth. Just below the mouth of sd creek, there is a bar that extends 40 yds out in the River. Main channel on the left hand side, and just above the mouth of the creek there is a large willow bar on the same side of the creek that covers one half of the river. ½ a mile above the creek the river makes a bend to the left hand side. From this bend to the mouth of the creek, main channel on the left hand side with a large brushey bar extending nearly the same distance on the right hand side.
To the mouth of Mays Branch 3 mile. This branch comes in on the right hand side being very small, has a small bar at its mouth which covers one third of the bed of the river. Shoot on the left hand side.
½ a mile above to a small rocky Island in the middle of the River. Shoot on the right hand side very close to the same Shore.
¼ of a mile above there makes a bar on the right hand side. This bar cover one half of the River. Main channel on the left hand shore.
To the mouth of the south fork of Licking at the Town of Falmouth, a flourishing little town in the forks of the two rivers containing 75 dwelling houses, two taverns, a post office, one Grocery and five retail stores, one Tanyard. At this place the Navigator in floods should begin to hug the right hand shore one half a mile above the Town, and hug the point close till they get opposite to the mouth of the South fork, then strive hard for the lower point on the left hand side, hugging the same all the way --------- in order to keep off a bar ¾ of a mile below the mouth of the South fork.
[We'r not sure where he;s going here. He's at the south fork above, but nine paragraphs below, he's at the mouth of the North Fork. We note a lot of correction in the original at this point.]
To a small bar in the middle of the River 2 ½ miles above Falmouth. Main shoot on the right hand shore.
To the mouth of Blanket Creek one mile. This creek comes in on the left hand shore. There commences a bar 100 yds above the mouth of the creek and extends the same distance below its mouth, which bar covers 2/3 of the River in its widest place. Channel near the right hand shore.
To the Willow ripple 2 mile. I see no difficulty in Navigating this ripple provided the navigator hugs the left hand point at the upper end of sd ripple, which is a ½ a mile in length with a gliding decent. 1 ½ mile above there makes in a sharp narrow bar that covers 2/3 of the bed of the River. Main channel on the right hand side.
To Adams fish dam four mile. Main channel on the left hand shore.
To McCarty fish dam 5 miles. Channel on the left hand shore.
To a ripple in a bend above 13 miles, at this place the river bends to the left. Just above the ripple there makes in a bar on the left hand side, which covers ½ of the bed of the river, and 100 yds below on the right side there makes in another bar that covers ½ of the bed of the River making a very crooked channel.
To the mouth of Richland Creek 3 miles. This creek comes in on the left hand side and is 12 yds wide at the mouth. 100 yds below the creek there is a ripple. Main shoot on the right hand side very close to the shore.
To Gerrards fish dam 1 mile. Main channel on or near the middle of the River.
To the mouth of the North fork one mile. This creek comes in on the right hand side and in low water 50 yds wide at its mouth, though in floods it covers 120 yds. In navigating this place you will hug the point opposite to the mouth of the creek to avoid the bar below the creek.
To Pugh’s Fish dam 1 mile. Shoot in the middle of the River.
To Buoyey’s Fish dam 1 mile. Shoot on the right hand side close to the shore. Just opposite to the dam there makes in a bar which covers 2/3 of the bed of the River.
To Jacksons Mill dam 2 mile. You will hug the point above the dam, and opposite to the butments you will keep the middle of the River. 50 yds below the dam there is a small bar on the right hand side of the River. You will keep close to the side of sd Bar.
To the mouth of Beaver 3 miles. This creek comes in on the left hand side and is 40 yds wide at its mouth. At this place there is a several warehouses and is a great place of Trade and the principle place of Deposits for the produce of most of the Counties of Harrison and Bourbon.
100 yds below the mouth of this creek there is a bar on the right hand side, which extends 2/3 of the bed of the River. Shoot on the left hand side.
To the tale ripple ¼ of a mile the River makes a short ben at this place. The main channel on the right hand shore. Opposite to this ripple there is a large bar which commences 100 yds above the bend and continues 250 yds long and contains 8 or 9 acres. This bar covers 2/3rd of the bed of the River. After you pass the first shoot of the ripple and are gone downwards 200 yards you will turn to the left hand shore again just at the lower end of the bar.
To the upper of a bend to the right hand ½ a mile above the dam, there is a bar on the right side that covers one half of the
You can read the original online at the Kentucky Historical Society's site. They have two volumes, but we've not transcribed the second volume. The second volume covers a southern portion of the river we consider outside of the area NKYViews covers. We've kept most of the original spelling and abbreviations the author used, but have added some punctuation here and there to expedite its readability. We make no claims for our transcribing accuracy - we're not very good at reading this old stuff.