Robert Johnson

No. 57

(From Suggett ? who had the minutes of the Big Crossing Baptist Church.) Scott Co. Ky:
Coll: in Chh: Hist. Vol. IV p. 33.

In 1779, Col. Robt. Johnson (Col. R.M. J’s father) and my father John Suggett, started out from Orange Co., Va. Came out as far as Wheeling. Were there frozen up until March 1780. They, at that time (coming out) landed at the falls, and spent a year near Louisville. They then removed up to Bryant’s Station, where I think they raised 3 crops. Afterwards removed, and settled a station at the Crossing in 1784. They had started for this country from Va. And had purchased here before they came out, of both, or either, Patrick Henry, or Madison Military claims.

from the Draper Papers, 13CC208.

Lyman C. Draper (1815-1891) collected information on America’s first frontier and its notable figures and events, such as Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clarke, and The Battle of King’s Mountain. Draper’s papers include a treasure trove of information on the frontier settlers of the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.

The original papers are held at the Wisconsin Historical Society. They include thousands of handwritten letters of correspondence comprising nearly 500 volumes of information not available anywhere else about the pioneer settlers of the trans-Allegheny West.