Esther Whitley (1755–1833) was an American pioneer who was the third woman of European descent to cross the Cumberland Mountains. [1] Traveling with her husband, William Whitley, she came to Kentucky on Wilderness Road. [1] They built the first brick house in Kentucky which is maintained at the William Whitley House State Historic Site in Crab Orchard, Kentucky. [1]
Early life
Esther Gill Fullen was born in Augusta County, Virginia. [2] Fullen married William Whitley in Virginia, and together they had eight daughters and three sons. [3]
In November 1775, she began the trip west along Wilderness Road with her husband and their family. [1] [3]
Sportman Hill
The Whitleys built an estate called Sportman Hill which contained the first brick house in Kentucky. [1] Sportman Hill had an oval race track for horse racing that ran in a counterclockwise direction, differing for the direction of British horse racing. [3]
Death
Esther died at the home of her daughter, Ann Harper, in Woodford County, Kentucky, on November 20, 1833. [4]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Looking Back: Historic Whitley House offers visitors a look at pioneer life". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
- ^ "Kentucky Commission on Women Kentucky Women Remembered". women.ky.gov. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
- ^ a b c "WHITLEY, WILLIAM". www.kyenc.org. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
- ^ Draper MS. 9 CC 5, 12-13, State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Family Bible of William Whitley, Jr. Filson Club, Louisville, KY.