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THE STORY OF JEMIMA BOONE! DAUGHTER OF DANIEL BOONE!

04/04/2021|Family Tree Nuts|, , , ,

Jemima Boone became nationally famous for her epic capture and rescue with the two Calloway sisters in 1776.

Jemima Boone was born to Daniel and Rebecca Boone on October 4, 1762, in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina, and she moved with her family to what became Boonesborough in 1775. Jemima became nationally famous in literature and paintings from the event where her and Francis and Elizabeth Calloway were captured by Native Americans. On July 14, 1776, the three girls were floating in a canoe on the Kentucky River and their canoe drifted a little bit too close to the shore. A raiding party of three Cherokee and three Shawnee snatched the canoe up and grabbed the girls. 

Historic marker at the site of the kidnapping in modern day Clark County, Kentucky.

The group immediately tried to make it to Shawnee towns north in Ohio. Daniel Boone quickly organized the rescue party, which included Richard Calloway, the Calloway girl’s father, and also included Colonel John Holder later called the “Defender of Boonesborough”, who eventually married for Frances Calloway. Also in the party was Flanders Calloway, a first cousin to the two Calloway sisters, and the eventual husband of Jemima. The girls knew that a rescue party would be coming after them, and they left signs along the path to show which way they went. They periodically tore little pieces of their dresses and prayed that they were found. 

On the third morning the girls were rescured.

On the third morning, the rescue party caught up with the group and made a quick strike on the Native Americans and rescued the girls. This heroic event was written about many times back east, and it is said to be the basis for the book and the movie, “Last of the Mohicans”. Jemima married Flanders Calloway and moved several times, including moving out to Missouri was several of her family members, including her parents Daniel and Rebecca. 

Jemima is buried next to here parents grave (large grave on left) and next to her husband Flanders Calloway who has a grave next to the flag on the right.

Jemima died August 30, 1834, and was buried on her land near modern day Marthasville, Missouri, next to her husband Flanders, her parents, and many members of the Bryan family. Unfortunately, her grave is not marked, but we know she was buried next to her husband Flanders and he has a marker in the cemetery. 

Video by Family Tree Nuts at the grave of Jemima Boone, in Marthasville, Missouri.