Capt William "Billy" Bush

Notes:

History of Capt. Billy Bush, The Bush Settlement Group and the Providence Baptist Church
Tradition says that when the ship Neptune touched the shores of America in 1618, one John Bush was among those who came over at his own charge, and he settled in Virginia. Another John Bush, the testator of a will probated in Orange Co, Virginia on Feb 1746, is believed to have been the Grandson of the "Neptune" John. In this will John mentions among his children, a son, Phillip, who became the father of Phillip Jr, John, William ( Capt. Billy), Ambrose, Francis and their sister Mary Richards, and these came to Kentucky along with many others under the leadership of Capt. Billy and were the founders of the Bush Colony.

It is said that Billy, as a young man, met Daniel Boone as he was passing through VA to his new home in NC. The Following inscription is to be found on the tombstone of Captain William Bush, in the old Bush burying ground about one mile north of Boonesborough, " He was the friend and companion of Daniel Boone and others in the settlement of Kentucky." We know that Billy was one of the men that assisted Boone in blazing the trail to Boonesborough in 1775, and was one of the party that went in pursuit of the two Callaway sisters and Boone's daughter when they had been captured by the Indians in 1776. Billy was so well pleased with the new country that he returned to his old home in VA for the purpose of organizing a colony, and from the glowing description which he gave, a colony was soon organized, consisting of about forty families from among his kinsmen, neighbors and friends in Orange and Culpeper counties, most of them being Baptists. So in the early part of 1780 preparations were begun for the exodus in the fall to land of "Kaintuckee." No doubt Capt. Billy, after portraying the beauty of the country, the fertility of it's land, with its numerous water courses filled with fish, it's hugh forests alive with wild game and the opportunites for a prosperous future, honest man that he was, also told them of the trials and hardships that whey would have to endure. Yet with faith in their God and trust in Capt. Billy, within a few months everything was in readiness for the exodus which had been prepared with willing hands.

Some months before the colony started, Capt. Billy had returned to Boonesborough to select and locate farms for the different families. Using good judgement, he located them on the north side of the Kentucky river, in what is now Clark County. When Capt. Billy returned to Kentucky he found that the trouble with the Indians was much more dangerous than when he had left for Virginia, they having allied themselves with the British, the Revolutionary War not yet having been concluded. In fact, the outlook for the Colonies had never been darker than in 1780, the year prior to the surrender of Cornwallis. As Capt. Billy did not think it wise for the colony to enter Kentucky at this time, he sent a runner with a message advising them not to proceed any further. The Colony had reached the Holston, in Dec, 1780, when they received this message. Here they remained for three years, during which time they raised three crops of corn. They also organized a Baptist church and held regular services. This place was known by the names of Wolf Hills, Black's Fort, Holston and at the present day as Abingdon. It is a narrow strip of land surrounded on all sides by mountains. It is located eight miles north of the Tennessee state line, in Washington County, Virginia. Tradition says that the name of Wolf Hills was given by Daniel Boone, on account of the large number of wolves int the hills. On one occasion Boonesborough was relieved during an attack by Indians by 40 riflemen from Holston. When civilization started westward, the colony of Virginia erected in the hills a fort, called Black's Fort, and it was to this fort that the backwoodsmen, as well as the immigrants, while stopping at Holston, looked for aid in time of danger.

Elder John Taylor, who arrived at Bear Creek, near Louisville, Kentucky, in 1782 wrote " It was during the halt at Holston that the glorious news came of the British surrender at Yorktown, on 19 Oct, 1781, and this patriotic colony made the Wolf Hills (Holston) ring with the firing of rifles, loud rejoicing and praises to God. "

One evening in the latter part of Aug, 1783, as the shades of night were falling, a cloud of dust was seen in the west and soon the sound of horse's hoofs was heard, and as he neard the fort the rider increased his speed, striking terror to the hearts of the colonist, as they thought it must be a runner bearing a warning of approaching danger, but the watchman at Black's Fort cried out, "Behold! Me thinkesth the runner rideth like a bearer of good tidings", and on came the steed and rider into the settlement, waving his hat and shouting aloud, " On, on to Boonesborough, are the orders of Capt. Billy Bush." Upon recieving this news, Wolf Hills was made to rebound with the sounds of rejoicing, such as had not been heard since the surrender of Cornwallis. So the day arrived for which these hardy tillers of the soil has anxiously waited, until the conditions should be favorable. On the first day of Sept., 1783, the colony bade a farewell forever to Holston and started westward. In this caravan were five married daughters and three sons of Thomas Burrus, a rich planter of Virginia, the sons and the husbands of four of the daughters all being brothers-in-laws of Capt. Billy, he having married Frances Tandy Burrus.

John Vivion received a Kentucky Land Grant 2 Dec 1783 for Four Mile Creek, Fayette ( later became Clark, Ky in 1792).

Francis Bush received a Kentucky Land Grant on 1 Sep 1783 for Howard's Creek, Fayette (later became Clark, Ky in 1792)

According to this Capt. Billy Bush went ahead and got land for them ahead of time.

When the Bush colony arrived at Craig's Station, sometime in the spring of 1784, they found empty cabins awaiting them, for Elder Lewis Craig and his colony of Baptists had moved to South Elkhorn, near Lexington, Kentucky. On Apr 3, 1784, we find the first preserved record of the Travelling Church holding services in the cabin of their pastor, Elder Elkin, when Phillip Bush was elected clerk and Joseph and Mildred Embree were received into the church by letter.

After a brief stay at Craig's Station, the colony passed to the north side of the river at Boonesborough and entered upon the farms selected for them by their kinsman and friend Capt. Billy, which he gave them or sold very cheaply, in order to have his relatives and friends around him.

According to the church record, 27 Nov, 1784 (not 1785), the first meeting was held at the cabin of Capt. Billy. The map of the farms previous to 1800 shows how the Bush colony settled around their church as a nucleus. First a log meeting house was erected soon after the colony arrived in the new country, on the Lower Howard's Creek, and sometime before 1793, on the same lot, the Old Stone Meeting House was erected, and this building is still in a good state of preservation at the present time (1976). In 1870 , a new frame house was erected and is the present church. The settlement around the church was known as the Bush Settlement. Besides his four brothers, Capt. Billy had nine brothers-in-laws, namely Robert Richard, who had married his sister , Mary, Elder James Quisenberry, Elder Andrew Tribble, Joseph Embree, Brockman, Will T. Burrus, Roger Burrus and Thomas Burrus Jr.. Soon after the Bush colony arrived at Boonesborough, other immigrants from Virginia also began to arrive, among whom were Nathaniel Haggard and his four married sons, who were all Baptists. Nathaniel Haggard, Sr. located between the church and Winchester and erected a one room house of cherry logs, which room is still in a good state, but has been added to. His son, John settled about eight miles east of the Bush Settlement, which community was known as the Haggard Settlement.

The five Bush brothers and thier sister, Mary were not "squatters" but were home builders, community builders and church builders. They settled on adjoing farms, where thy livied and died, and are all buried on their respective farms.

The question as to whether or not the Providence Church was constituted before moving to Holston in 1780 has been thoroughly discussed. After a very careful investigation, there appears to be many reasons for believing that the church organized on Holston never came out of Upper Spotsylvania Church as a travelling church, and doubtful any of the members were ever connected the the Upper Spotsylvania Church. After arriving in Kentucky wth the Upper Spotsylvania congregation, Elder Lewis Craig is credited with having said that he passed a Baptist colony on the Holston, from his section of Virginia. Since he had been pastor for 10 years, he would have, in all probability, have made a diffferent statement in regard to this colony. There is also a list in the Public Library of Lexington, Kentucky of nearly one hundred names of the first members of the South Elkhorn Church, of Fayette County, with a note following which states that practically every name on this list was that of a former member of Gilbert's Creek Church, the travelling church of Elder Lewis Craig. This being true, they were therefore members of of Upper Spotsylvania Church, in Virginia. None of our families were listed. This would strongly indicate that the members of Providence Church came from a different section of Virginia. This is the oldest church in Kentucky. After further research, and assistance of Brother Garnett Ryland and the office of the Baptist Historical Society of Richmond, Virginia and of the Colgate University of New York, it is the opinion that these members were from Orange and Culpeper counties, Blue Run Church being one of these, and it did not start as an organized church, but rather from Baptist families as their record states in Jan, 1781, they with other Baptists formed themselves into an organization in order to carry on church discipline.

The following is from church records.

Dec, 1780, Moved to the Holston, Brother Robert Elkin, minister and John Vivion, Elder

Jan, 1781, they, with other Baptists formed themselves into a body in order to carry on church discipline

28 Sep 1781, Providence Baptist was constituted by Lewis Craig, and John Vivion with the members to wit: William Bush, Sr, Franky Bush, William Bush, Dr, Ambrose Bush, Lucy Bush, Phillip Bush, John Bush, Sarah Bush, Mary Richards, Vinah Jones , Phillip Johnson, Ama Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Mary Johnson, Franky Johnson, Ruth Wall, Thomas Harris, John Harris, Mary Harris, Sarah Johns, Charles Sinclair (St. Clair),Sarah Sinclair, Susannah Turner, Milly Crostwaite, Mary Clark, Mary Cole, Marthy Thomas, Susannah Humphries, Hannah Dungins (Duncan), Hannah Dawson, Leonard Dozier, Rebecca Dozier, Sarah Dozier, Susannah Dozier, William Fletcher, Daniel Ramey, Elizabeth Baker, John Vivion, Jr, Sebbis Maue (Maux), Hannah Maue, Thomas Sutherlin. This is an abridgement of the business on the Holston.

"Now having arrived in Kentucky and settled on the south side of the Kentucky River, near Craggs Station, but through the badness of the weather and scattered situation nothing of importance was done till Apr the 3rd, 1784. Then having met at Bro. Elkins, appointed Bro. Phillip Bush , Clerk, also received by letter Joseph and Milly Embry and appointed church meeting on the fourth Saturday in each month."

27 Nov, 1784, "Through a turn of God's providence the church chiefly moving to the North side of the river and for the health and prosperity of Zion, we have appointed a church meeting at Bro. William Bush's, the former clerk not yet having moved to the north side, the church appointed Daniel Ramey as Clerk, also received John Johnson by letter.

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3 Apr 1802, Upper Howard's Creek Baptist Church (long since dissolved), Upper Howard's Creek (now Ruckerville) Clark County, the church was constituted by Elders Robert Elkin and Edward Kindred with 29 members, as follows, James Elkin, John Vivion (IV), Smith Vivion, Milton Vivion, Thomas Vivion, Flavel Vivion, Isaiah Vivion (s/o John V & Mary Durett), Thacker Vivion, Henry Vivion, Mary Vivion (wife of John V), Sibby (Jones) Vivion, Elizabeth (Jones) Vivion, James Muer, Bartlett Wills, William McDole, Nancy (Bush) Vivion, Martha Elkin, Mary (Vinah)Jones, May Trowfridge, Elizabeth Kelly, Martha Newton, Sarah Oliver, Mary Penland Catherine White, Dolly Conkrite ( Arckje Conkwright), James Wells and 3 black persons, Vivion's Illick and Rachiel and Doncan's Grace. James Muer and Smith Vivion were elected elders and Richard Oliver ( the son-in-law of Dolly Conkwright) was chosen deacon in Oct 1802.

Feb 1805, William Haggard Sr was chosen deacon.

Jul, 1805, "Jesse Wilcoxen and Thomas Vivion came forward and made acknowledgement to the church that they had paid money to see a Lyon, and the church took it up and professed a distress with the 2 brethren for their conduct and laid it before the moderator to admonish them, as he thought right, which he done." They were retained in fellowship. On Jan, 1807 Milton Vivion was elected Clerk.

Source "Fox Cousins by the Dozens" pg 334-341

Providence Baptist Church & Upper Howard's Creek Baptist Church Records from the Boone's Creek Baptist Association Records

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Capt. Billy Bush lived and died at the place where he first settled, which was about one mile south of the present Providence Church meeting house, on the turnpike, and he is buried about on-half milde from where his home stood and where the first meeting of the church was held after they crossed to the north side of the river.

Source "Fox Cousins by the Dozens" pg 334-340. (written by my Aunts, Nellie Fox Adams and Bertha Fox Walton)

The following settlers lived near Capt. William Bush and settled on lower Howards Creek, Clark County:

Fielding Bush
Ambrose Bush
Philip Bush
Francis Bush
Henry Cain
Robert Clark
Ambrose Christy
Joel Embry
Elder Robert Elkin
Smallwood Eckton
Richard French
George Gordon
Nicholas George
John George
Lewis Grigsby
John Halyard
Nathaniel Haggard
James Hodgkin
James Haggard
David Hampton
Richard Jones
Allen Neal
Elder James Quisenberry
Joel Quisenberry
John Quisenberry
Roger Quisenberry
Tandy Quisenberry,
Nathaniel Ragland,
John Ried,
Robert Richard,
James Ragland, Sr.,
James Ragland, Jr.
Joseph Stevens
WM. TATE
Wm. Wills
The foregoing taken from a chart made from surveys in court records of Clark County by S.J. Conkwright and S.H. Rutledge

CLARK COUNTY KENTUCKY, DEED BOOK 17, PAGE 253

23 March 1821
Know all men by these presents that I Ambrose Christy, Thomas Vivion (Sr)and Daniel Crear of the County of Clark, State of Kentucky, have this date sold, and by virtue of these presents doth sell and convey f, and in consideration of the sum of $500.00, in hand paid by Fielding Bush, of the County and State aforesaid, we do now sell and convey unto him all rights, title and interest in the Estate, both Real and Personal, which we are entitled to in the Dower of Rachel Bush, widow of Francis Bush, deceased, which we are entitled to by each of our wives; Polly Christy, Nancy Vivion and Elizabeth Crear, Late Polly Bush, Nancy Bush and Elizabeth Bush, of said Dower and no other interest in said Estate, set our hands and seals this 23rd. of March 1821.

This Thomas Vivion (above) was born in 1776 (& wife Nancy Bush). He was the father of William Bush Vivion and Thomas Jefferson Vivion, who married sisters, daughters of Ambrose Christy. And the son-in-law of Francis Bush. Ambrose was also the son-in-law of Francis Bush. Fielding Bush was the son of Francis. Rachel was Francis's second wife. (Cheri Fox Smith, 2011)

added by Cheri Fox Smith, 2011
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/94143/person/-1853236825/media/2?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7cpgNum