As early as 1751 a Black "servant" accompanied Christopher Gist as he explored territory bordering the Ohio River. They found another Black man, a slave already at an Indian Town on the Scioto River.

In 1760 a slave guided Daniel Boone across the Blue Ridge Mountains and in 1773, Boone and his brother and their families, along with a number of Blacks, sought to settle Kentucky. Boone sent his son, James, along with two slaves, Charles and Adam back to a settlement to get some provisions. When they were returning they were attacked by Native Americans. Charles was killed. Adam hid among river bank driftwood and watched in horror as everyone else was killed. Adam returned to tell Boone the sad news.

In 1775 Boone led another group of settlers, including a number of Black laborers into Kentucky. On March 25 near Richmond Kentucky Boone and his party were attacked. Sam, a Black body servant was the first to be killed along with his owner. Later, the two were buried side by side.

In 1778 while at a salt lick, Boone was captured by four Shawnee scouts. Upon arriving at their camp, he met Pompey, a huge Black slave who served as interpreter for Blackfish, the Shawnee Chief. Pompey announced that Blackfish intended to kill Boone’s men at the salt lick before destroying Boonesborough. Boone surrendered himself and the men with him at the salt lick. Pompey translated the negotiations and Boone pleaded for their lives and saying that Boonesborough was strongly defended and that the Chief would do better to wait until spring and return with a larger force. Boone eventually escaped and made it to the fort to ready it for an attack.

A force of 450 warriors arrived in September with Pompey in the advance. He invited Boone to come out and speak, promising him no harm. He refused to surrender the fort and the warriors attacked. Slaves were armed in defense and one slave, London, died when he bravely went beyond the walls to battle a warrior. Pompey made several attempts to gain access to the fort to ascertain the true strength of the fort. Boone took credit for the shot that killed him.

In 1780 when the Shawnee attacked a crew of Black workers building a ferry boat on the Kentucky River, one of them ran to the fort to warn the settlers. Two of the Blacks were captured by the Shawnee.

In 1782 near Crab Orchard an aged lame slave defended a white woman and her daughter when the Shawnees attacked their cabin. The Black man struggled with a warrior who had entered the house before the woman bolted the door. While he held him, the young girl killed the invader with an ax.

James Taylor and his enslaved men.

David Leitch and his enslaved men with Daniel Goff, a free man of color.

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