Jenny Wiley

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Jenny Wiley (born Jean "Jenny" Sellards in 1760 in Pennsylvania - 1831) was a legendary pioneer woman who was taken captive by native Americans in 1789. Wiley endured the slaying of her brother and children and escaped after 11 months of captivity. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Prestonsburg, Kentucky is named in her honor.

Contents 1 Early Life 2 Capture 3 Escape 4 State Park 5 Jenny's horse race 6 References

[edit] Early Life

Jenny Wiley was born to Hezekiah Sellards and Jean Brevard (Jean Brevard is in dispute as some believe that Hezekiah may have married a Cherokee). Her family moved to Walkers Creek, in what is now Bland County, Virginia. It was here in 1778 that Jenny met and married Thomas Wiley, an Irish immigrant.

Soon after, they built a log cabin and had their first four children.

[edit] Capture

On October 1, 1789, sometime in the late afternoon, ^[1]Thomas had left before daylight that morning he had set out for a trading post with a horse heavy laden with ginseng to barter for domestic necessaries. A group of native Americans numbering eleven composed of: two Cherokees, Three Shawnees, Three Wyandots, Three Delawares stormed the cabin. They brutally murdered her younger brother of about fifteen years of age and her children, with the exception of the youngest child of about fifteen months. Jenny, who was expecting their fifth child, and the surviving child were then taken captive. Shortly after capture Jenny watched as they murdered her youngest child. She gave birth shortly thereafter, but that child was also murdered.^[2]

[edit] Escape

Jenny was held captive by native Americans for several months in what is presently Little Mud Lick Creek, Johnson County, Kentucky. She managed to escape to Harmon's Blockhouse in what was then Floyd County (now Johnson County). With the help of the settlers at Harmans Blockhouse, Jenny made her way back to Walkers Creek, where she began a new family with her husband, Thomas. In approximately 1800, the Wiley family crossed the Big Sandy River, and settled in what is currently Johnson County, KY. Jenny and her husband Thomas started a new family and had five children consisting of the following:

Jane Wiley, married Richard Williamson, son of Revolutionary War patriot at the Battle of Point Pleasant ^[3] also settled on Twelve Pole Creek; Sarah "Sally" Wiley, married twice (1) Christian Yost; (2) Samuel Murray and resided in Wayne County; Hezekiah Wiley, married Christine Nelson and settled on Twelve Pole Creek, Wanye County (W)VA; Adam Brevard Wiley married Sarah Stapleton and William Wiley, married Neely Dillon, both left families in Johnson County Kentucky. Jenny Wiley left her mark on the history of the American frontier; for her courageous tale of survival and hardship. Thomas and Jenny Wiley are the well-spring that contributed to thousands of generations in American history. Jenny Wiley lived in Johnson County with her family until her death in 1831.^[1][4]

^[5]

[edit] State Park

A state resort park was erected in her honor between Prestonsburg and Paintsville, Kentucky. The park is centered around 1100 acre Dewey Lake, and features the Jenny Wiley Theatre.^[6]

[edit] Jenny's horse race

Jenny is also honored by a Thoroughbred horse race named in her honor and run each year at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. An event for fillies and mares, the race is called the Jenny Wiley Stakes and attracts some of the best female horses in American horse racing.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} connelley, William Elsey (1910). Eastern Kentucky Papers;: The Founding of Harman's Station with an account of the Indian Capture of Mrs. Jennie Wiley. The Torch Press. 
2. ^ Hall, C. Mitchell (1972). Jenny Wiley Country;: A History of the Big Sandy Valley in Kentucky's Eastern Highlands and Genealogy of the Region's People. Kingsport Press. ISBN B0006C4H9M. 
3. ^ Lewis, Virgil A. (1909). History Of The Battle Of Point Pleasant, page 118. The Tribune Printing Company. 
4. ^ Scalf, Henry Preston (1964). Jenny Wiley: A Saga of Tragedy and Courage in the Land of Western Waters. Prestonburg Publishing Company. ISBN B0007ET6JA. 
5. ^ Connelley, William Esley (1910). The Founding Of Harman's Station. Torch Press Publishing Company. 
6. ^ "Jenny Wiley State Resort Park" Kentucky Department of Parks, October 19, 2005, retrieved August 27, 2006