Daughter of Shiloh. Ilene Shepard Smiddy

first?”

      “In a way, yes that’s true. But the government is going to pay them for it, and help provide for their needs.” David had no interest in the details of the treaty.

      “In Fredericksburg, William and I ran into a trader William knew in Kentucky. This man is going all over Virginia trying to encourage folks to move west and settle the frontier. He was loading up on supplies so he could get back before the Cumberland Gap becomes impassable this winter. He told us about his Kentucky settlement, and invited us to move there.

      Jonathan looked over at William. “What do you know about this man?”

      “His name is Ralph Morgan,” William stood, looking at each of them in turn. “He was with us at Boonesborough. He’s a trader, surveyor and land jobber, and has established his own fort called Morgan’s Station. It’s in western Kentucky on Slate Creek. I’ve been in that area. The land is good. He said he would sell us property near his station for one dollar an acre.”

      “Sounds cheap enough,” Jacob said.

      David stood, resting his hands on the table. There were many issues that concerned him. He tried to choose his words carefully. The family was not fully aware of the discontent brewing in Virginia.

      “Ever since the framework of the Constitution was laid, and our new government created, there have been problems a plenty.” David told them. “The small states and big states disagree, and the North and South don’t get along at all. Those who own slaves, and the ones who don’t are causing a ruckus. You know the first census completed this year determines how many men each state will send to the House of Representatives. That census proved Virginia has the most people of all the states. The rich landowners will rule. My guess is a lot of unrest is going to take place, before it’s all worked out. It might be smart to move west now while things are calm.”

      Jonathan sighed. Being the eldest and now responsible for the family’s welfare, he too had lots to consider. “Virginia and the other states are trying to work through the mess of debt left over from the war. Some people’s farms have been seized to pay off their debts. So far the militia is siding with the farmers. I believe times will get worse. Maybe the Kentucky frontier is our best hope Ma.”

      For many citizens of the new America, gaining property remained only a dream. At least twenty percent of the population lived at poverty level or below, seeking out a precarious existence as unskilled laborers, or farming bits of land they did not own.

      Jonathan tapped a finger on the table, apparently weighing their options. “Since Kentucky and Ohio are still territorial lands, we won’t be hurt by taxation for a while” he said. “It may be wild country, but there’s room to grow food and raise some livestock. John, Jacob, what do you have to say?”

      “If one goes, we all go,” said John. “We have to keep the family together. That’s what Pa would want.”

      “Ma, there’s nothing to keep us here,” Nancy said, siding with her brothers.

      David nodded slowly. “I guess what we are trying to say, Ma, is from the way things look, we’ll likely be forced to move anyway. Why not salvage what we can and make a fresh start?”

      David moved to stand behind Martha. Thinking back to the bitter fighting with the redcoats, he recalled how she had nourished them with her love as well as her strength. “We’ve been through one political struggle already. What say we all go to Kentucky?”

      Martha listened to her sons. Her thoughts raced back to 1756 when she and Jacob were married. They had steadily moved westward, always seeking new land, new opportunity. Not one child had been born in the same place. Their dwellings were cabins hastily constructed of logs and mud. Often a canvas-covered wagon served as their only shelter from the elements.

      Here on the Holston was the first solid home they had known. The three-room log structure had a loft and real doors and windows. She felt a permanence here. While war raged between England and the Colonies, Jacob and the younger boys put in months of hard work clearing the land. The local Indians were friendly, and the Allingtons traded them food and dry goods for furs.

      When peace was declared the family settled down to a life of farming. Jacob had been a God-fearing and peaceful man. However, in the raw upheaval of the fledging new country, there was little peace. How could Kentucky be any different? Martha’s gaze fell on her beloved son-in-law, William. For years he had talked about the beauty of Kentucky’s forest and wild grassland. She decided not to hold them back. Her sons were right about their circumstances. Jacob had barely earned them a living. She realized the family divided could not survive.

      Martha recalled the pain of leaving her own parents, when as a young bride she followed Jacob into the unknown. She was determined to keep the Allingtons together. They needed each other.

      Clarinda was too young to understand all the talk of governments, debts and treaties, but she sensed some difficult decisions were being made.

      Inwardly she burned with excitement. Kentucky called out to her senses a strange melody. Her mind created visions of wide green valleys, clear streams and thick stands of tall trees. She was sure her brothers would find them a good home there. Clarinda’s heart beat faster, thinking about their new life on the Kentucky frontier.

      Rebecca had been silent until now. Knowing her child would come soon, she turned to her husband, “William, my time is near. We can’t go before our child is born. The short journey here in the wagon was hard enough. Surely you know I want to go, but we must wait yet a while.” A hint of fear made her voice tremble as she thought about the days ahead.

      William wrapped his strong arm around Rebecca’s shoulders, comforting her. “Of course you’re right. We’ll need time to prepare the children for the trip. There’s plenty of work to do before we go.”

      The lively discussion went on late into the evening. Plans were made to leave early in 1791, so they would be in Kentucky in time to plant spring crops. The men finally went to bed, tired out after mulling over the many and varied tasks to be performed before time to leave.

      The winter of 1790 passed swiftly. Baby Benjamin was born on November 15th. That morning gray clouds hid the sun making it dark and gloomy. Snow had commenced falling during the night. Silently the flakes were mounding up on tree limbs and fence rails.

      From her post by a window Clarinda tried to see the distant mountains, but their peaks were shrouded in the white mist. The men had chosen this day to hunt deer, knowing it would be easy to track them in the new snow.

      No sooner were they out of sight than Rebecca cried out in pain. Martha, having assisted women on numerous such occasions, was an expert at midwifery. Recognizing the first signs of labor, she immediately put Nancy, Sarah and Clarinda to work boiling water. She would need both hot and cold basins to dip the newborn in. Calmly Martha searched the cupboard for the herbs, oil and ointment she would need. While making Rebecca as comfortable as possible, she cleansed the birth canal with folds of sterile cotton. Sarah held her sister’s head in her lap, stroking her hair and telling her when to breathe and when to give a hard push.

      Nancy and Clarinda helped, following Martha’s instructions. It was their first experience with the birth of a child and they were awed by the proceedings. Fortunately Benjamin was in a considerable hurry to make his appearance. The strong, healthy boy came out bawling lustily, flailing his small arms about.

      Clarinda held the newborn so that Nancy could bathe and dress him. Tenderly she wrapped baby Ben in a warm blanket and handed him over to his mother. He was already sucking on his tiny fists.

      Martha removed the afterbirth and carefully cleansed Rebecca with a hot tea made from dried amaranth flowers. She told the girls of the tea’s healing properties and how it controlled bleeding.

      Martha passed on her considerable knowledge in this way, hoping her daughters would remember when the time came for them to use her teachings. She explained to them that many new mothers died from childbirth fever, because they were not cared for in this way.

      Clarinda took notice of every detail