Esther Whitley facts for kids

Esther Whitley (1755–1833) was an amazing American pioneer. A pioneer is someone who is among the first to explore and settle a new area. Esther was one of the very first women from European families to cross the Cumberland Mountains. She traveled with her husband, William Whitley, on a famous path called the Wilderness Road to reach Kentucky.

Together, they built the first brick house in Kentucky. This special house is still standing today. You can visit it at the William Whitley House State Historic Site in Crab Orchard, Kentucky.

Esther's Early Life

Esther Gill Fullen was born in Augusta County, Virginia. She married William Whitley in Virginia. They had a large family with eight daughters and three sons.

In November 1775, Esther and her family started a big adventure. They began their journey west along the Wilderness Road. This was a challenging trip into new lands.

Building a Home: Sportman Hill

The Whitley family built a large home and property they called Sportman Hill. This estate was very important because it had the first brick house ever built in Kentucky.

Sportman Hill also had a unique oval race track for horse racing. What made it special was that the horses raced in a counterclockwise direction. This was different from how horse races were usually run in Britain at that time.

Her Later Years

Esther Whitley lived a long life. She passed away on November 20, 1833. She died at the home of her daughter, Ann Harper, in Woodford County, Kentucky.