It is hard to find illustrations from Kentucky's harsh winter, but this is a photo of a snowy cabin at Valley Forge from History.com
Severe snow and cold from November 1779 until the
middle of March 1780 had harsh effects on the settlers. Deer coats grew thick,
the buffalo turned weak very early, and geese flew over cabins and forts in
long Vs. The Ohio River froze over and
the Kentucky River had ice two feet thick on it. Cattle died and wolves,
beavers, and otters froze to death in the woods; streams froze and fish died.
Cane offered protection and winter fodder for buffalos, but when the canebrakes
sleeted over, buffalo couldn’t eat the tall grass and they starved. Turkeys
froze to death roosting in trees with their nose slits frozen over. “The hogs
were frozen to death, the deer, not able to get water or food, were found dead
in great numbers.”
Maple
trees cracked as their sap froze until they burst open. Water was so scarce
that a single Johnny cake would be divided into a dozen portions and
distributed out to make two meals. This finally failed and the settlers
survived on emaciated wild game; some people ate cows and horses that perished
in the lots. Many settlers roasted buffalo skins to eat and others died for
want of provisions and lack of solid food.
Nearly
everyone was sick and many settlers developed frostbite and some died from the
cold. Harrod, normally a very healthy man, developed rheumatism caused by
wearing porous deerskin moccasins and leggings. Colonel Fleming noted the
number of illnesses, especially fever and dysentery, in Harrodsburg was because
the spring below the fort was washing down putrefied flesh, dead dogs, horse,
cow and hog excrements into it, along with the ashes and sweepings of filthy
cabins He noted they steeped skins and washed “every sort of dirty rags and
clothes in the spring,” poisoning the water and making it “the most filthy,
nauseous potation imaginable.”
Margaret was named for Ann’s mother, Margaret Coburn. Because of her
interest in education, Ann opened the Harrod Latin School in 1786 at their
home. A Latin teacher, Mr.
Worley, was imported to the station for the education of Harrod’s stepson James
as well as other students who came from the surrounding fortifications to dwell
with Harrod. Another
of the students was John Fauntleroy, then eight years of age, who would later
marry Margaret and become Harrod’s son-in-law. In November 1787, young James
McDonald wandered off into the woods where he was taken by Native Americans and
burned at the stake. Harrod’s grievous mourning was inconsolable at
the tragic loss of his adored stepson, and unable to bear the sight and sounds
of the dead boy’s classmates, he closed the Latin School. The widow Fauntleroy sent her son to Lexington
to finish his schooling. He would return later and marry Margaret Harrod.
Of all the twelve Harrod children, James Harrod
appears to be the one most devoted to family. His wife Ann and daughter
Margaret (seven years old when James disappeared) waited a year before giving
up hope. Harrod’s will was made on November 28, 1791, before the fateful trip.
It was probated December 1793. Harrod willed his entire estate to Ann and
Margaret. An inventory showed personal items valued at more than 400 pounds.
