Bryan Station
and
Scott Countians

Collins History of Kentucky states that Bryan, or Bryant, Station "was
about five miles northeast of Lexington, on the southern bank of the
north fork of Elkhorn; settled by the Bryans in 1779, but a cabin had
been built by Joseph Bryan, a son-in-law of Col. Daniel Boone, in 1776."
The history of Bryan Station included a number of Indian attacks.
In one such attack the women listed below prevented the fiery
destruction of the station in 1782 by carrying buckets of water from the
spring to the station.

Women's names on a memorial wall at Brian Station Spring are:
Jemima Suggett Johnson
Sally Johnson
Betsy Johnson
Sara Page Craig
Betsy Craig
Sally Craig
Nancy Craig
Polly Craig
Lucy Hawkins Craig
Polly Craig
Frankey Craig
Polly Hawkins Craig
Sally Craig (should be Sally Craig Singleton)
Elizabeth Johnson Craig
Polly Craig
Nancy Craig
Jane Craig Saunders
Polly Saunders
Betsy Saunders
Lydia Saunders
Elizabeth Craig Cave
Hannah Cave
Polly Cave
Fanny Saunders Lea
Sara Clement Hammond
Mary Herndon Ficklin
Philadelphia Ficklin
Mildred Davis Suggett
Harriet Morgan Nelson
Sara Boone Brooks.
Betsy Johnson was the daughter of Col. Robert and Jemima Suggett Johnson.
Polly and Frankey Craig were the daughters of Mrs. Sara Page Craig
Sally Craig Singleton was the daughter of Mrs. Polly Hawkins Craig,
wife of Toliver Craig, Sr.
Polly and Nancy Craig were the daughters of Toliver Craig, Jr. and
his wife, Elizabeth Johnson Craig.
Polly, Betsy and Lydia Saunders were the daughters of John Saunders
and his wife, Jane Craig Saunders.
Hannah and Polly Cave were the daughters of Richard Cave and his wife,
Elizabeth Craig Cave.
Fanny Sanders Lea was the wife of Wainright Lea.
Sara Clement Hammond was the wife of John Hammond.
Harriet Morgan Nelson was the wife of Edward Nelson.
Philadelphia Ficklin was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Herndon Ficklin.
Mildred Davis Suggett was the wife of John Suggett.

Men at the Station:

John Craig Nathaniel Craig Dudley Mitchell
John H. Craig Toliver Craig Thomas Herndon
Elijah Craig Elijah Craig Samuel Herndon
Benjamin Craig Whitfield Craig Edward Herndon
Lewis Craig Nathaniel Saunders Zachariah Herndon
Edward Nelson John Saunders Robert Adkinson
Aaron Reynolds Richard Cave James Graham
Thomas Bell Reuben Cave Daniel Wilcoxen
Jacob Stucker Thomas Ficklin Martin Hammond
Nicholas Tomlinson Joseph Ficklin Ezekiel Field
Philip Craig John Suggett William Field
Frank Craig William Suggett Elison Williams
Jeremiah Craig Wainright Lea John Saunders
Elijah Craig John Hammond Jesse Yocum
Hawkins Craig John Ficklin William Ledgerwood
Toliver Craig, Sr. Name added in 1933 James Ledgerwood
Toliver Craig, Jr. William Tomlinson James Mitchum
John Craig Richard Mitchell John Mitchum
William Craig David Mitchell James McBride

William Mitchell

Upon tablets inside and outside of the memorial wall the following names are found:
Levi Todd William Grant Bernard Rogers
Richard Johnson Mary Boone Bryan Jemima Suggett Johnson
Sarah Bryan Chinn Aaron Reynolds Rebecca Grant Lamond
William Johnson Betsey Johnson Payne William Bryan
William Ellis Joseph Rogers Joseph Bryan
Elizabeth Boone Grant (on same tablet is the name "Aunt Eifine" [?])
Many of the above were not present during the Siege - August 15-17, 1782,
but were founders or otherwise prominently connected with the history
of Bryan Station.
Bryan Station Defenders Listed by Joseph Ficklin may be found in the
Draper Manuscript 13 C 74. He presumably lists only heads of families,
which are:
1. John Williams 15. Mr. Arnold Thomas Ficklin
2. Mr. Beasley Sen 16. Mather Gayle, his son 28. John Ficklin
3. Charles 17. Isaiah Gayle 29. David Herndon
4. John, his 3 sons 18. Jacob Stucker 30. Henry Herndon
5. James 19. David Stucker 31. Mr. Gatewood
6. Mr. Lay -- sick 20. Michael Stucker 32. Mr. Campbell at
Col. Johnsons
7. John Craig Sr., his son 21. David Mitchell and his son
8. John Craig Jr.
33. William Campbell
9. Jeremiah Craig 22. David Mitchell 34. John Guill
10. Philip Doak 23. John Adkins 35. Lewis Vanlendingham
11. David Williams 24. William Tomlinson 36. Mr. Bradley
12. D. Suggett, very old 25. Nicholas, his son 37. Aaron Reynolds
13. John Suggett 26. William T., another son 38. William Rogers
14. Mr. Childress
39. Thomas Bell
Joseph Ficklin stated that there were sixteen mounted men and thirty
foot soldiers (militia) went to the aid of Bryan Station on Aug. 16, 1782.

The Draper Manuscripts contain numerous references to Bryan Station,
with Document 1MM146, showing a list of defenders who were there in
"the campaign in 1786." The lists, one of which is reproduced below,
include many early settlers of Scott County. Check other militia lists that
are being transcribed and published.

"A LIST OF CAPTAIN ROBERT SAUNDERS (COMPANY)
Laban SHIPP, Lieut.
Edmond ROWE, Sargt.
Ben GUTTERY, Sargt.
Lewis VALANDINGHAM, Corpl.
Wm. ROGERS, Corpl.
John BRADFORD
Richd. W. SHIPP
John GIPSON
Wm. ROGERS, Sr.
Joseph ROGERS
Jacob STUCKER
David STUCKER
Archibald CAMPBELL
Robert JOHNSON
Julius GIIBBS
Thomas FICKLIN
Wm. FICKLIN
Mathew GALE
Joseph GALE
Joseph HARRISON
Josiah GALE
John BRANHAM
Jacob MULBERRY
John SUGGETT
Robert BRADLEY
Lewis GOODEN
Jas. MONEY
William CAVE, Sr.
William CAVE, Jr.
George CHRISTIAN
John PEARSON
Richd. SHARPE
Garrot VENIMON
William CAVE, Younger
John HALL, Sr.
John HALL, Jr.
Absts.
Colby SHIPP
Enoch BRADFORD
David FLOURNOY
James BRAY
In all 40, Rank and file 37."

More information from Draper Manuscripts submitted by Rose Brown:

In 22C 10-10/4; Daniel Boone (nephew of Col. Daniel Boone) speaks
about the Bryant's Station attack.
Page 10/4, " Capt Wm. Hayes (Col. Danl Boones son-in-law) raised a
party of about 12 men ___ Kentucky River, a dozen miles from Lexington,
probably the second day of the seige, it pressed on to Bryant's - found a
fence built across the lane partly toren down - not this cross fence, but
the lane fence, and leaped over it into the field. Hays was wounded in
the neck & came near falling from his horse, but escaped. The Indians
were posted each side of the lane, for some twenty paces; & as Hays'
party of horsemen dashed down the lane, they raised such a cloud of
dust as to greatly screen them from the enemy's aim & hence probably it
was that they were not all cut aft. CHARLES HUNTER was wounded
through the body, & died that night"

In 22C 60- 60/2 is Sarah Hunter's account of life in Boone's Station,
Battle of Blue Licks, Bryant's station, the Boones, Hays, Scholls, and
Hunters.
Page 60/2; " CHARLES HUNTER was killed [going to the relief of
Byran(t)'s Stn, aug 1782] WILLIAM HUNTER was wounded, - both
of our [Boones] Station."

In 8J-147-149, Rev. Peter B. E. Adams gives his account on Bryant's
Station, and names other who were there

Capt. Elijah Craig