05/29/2026
May 29, 1777 - F***y Henderson was born at Fort Boonesborough, the first non-Native American child born to parents who were married in Kentucky. Her parents were Samuel Henderson and Elizabeth Calloway who were the first couple married in settled Kentucky on August 7, 1776 by Squire Boone, Jr, younger brother of Daniel.
Some background: Ten days after the Continental Congress officially declared Independence from Great Britain, the first settlers in Kentucky were also making history. On Sunday afternoon, July 14, 1776, Elizabeth and F***y Calloway, daughters of Col. Richard Calloway, and Jemima Boone, daughter of Daniel Boone, were captured by Shawnee while in their canoe on the Kentucky River a short distance from Ft. Boonesborough. Daniel Boone, Samuel Henderson, John Holder, Flanders Calloway and four other pioneers formed a search party to rescue the girls who ranged in age from 14 to 16. Their search was aided by Elizabeth who broke twigs off of bushes and tore small pieces of fabric from her dress which she dropped along the way, and impressed the print of her shoes where the ground would allow it. Ultimately the girls were rescued when the rescuers surprised the Native Americans early one morning.
Days later, Elizabeth married Samuel Henderson on August 7; they named their daughter F***y. F***y Calloway, sister of Elizabeth Calloway Henderson, married John Holder and Jemima Boone married Flanders Calloway.
Imagery of the girls’ kidnapping has been the subject of murals, paintings, including the image here attributed to Karl Bodmer. James Fenimore Cooper used the tale in his classic, The Last of the Mohicans.
