Stephen Trigg facts for kids

Stephen Trigg (born around 1744 – died August 19, 1782) was an American pioneer and soldier from Virginia. He was killed during one of the last battles of the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Blue Licks in Kentucky. This happened about ten months after the British surrendered at Yorktown. Trigg was leading the local militia from Lincoln County at the time.

Stephen Trigg was a public servant and a leader in the local militia during the early days of the frontier counties in southwest Virginia, which included Kentucky. People said he was one of the richest men on the frontier. He was a delegate to Virginia's first revolutionary meetings. He also served on the Fincastle Committee of Safety. This group wrote the Fincastle Resolutions, an important document that came before the United States Declaration of Independence. He was also elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, which was Virginia's law-making body.

In 1779, Trigg was appointed to the Virginia Land Court Commission. His job was to help settle who owned land in Kentucky. He then moved to Kentucky himself. In 1782, a group of Shawnee Native Americans, led by British and Loyalist officers, attacked a place called Bryan Station. The attackers were driven away. Kentucky militia companies then chased after them. Stephen Trigg led half of the men, and Daniel Boone led the other half. The mounted militia quickly caught up to the raiders. However, Daniel Boone, who knew the woods well, warned that it looked like a trap. The militia ignored Boone's warning and charged across the river at Blue Licks. They found themselves in a Native American ambush. Trigg and many others, including Boone's youngest son, were killed in this terrible battle. Trigg's body was later found badly injured.

Trigg County, Kentucky, was named in honor of Stephen Trigg.

Early Life and Family Connections

Stephen Trigg was the son of William and Mary (Johns) Trigg. His family was well-known on the Virginia frontier. His father, William Trigg, served as a judge. Stephen had four brothers: William, John, Abram, and Daniel. All of them were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Two of his brothers, John and Abram, later represented Virginia in the U.S. Congress.

Stephen Trigg married Mary Christian. Her father, Israel Christian, was also a Virginia pioneer. Stephen Trigg lived his early life in southwest Virginia. He ran a tavern in Botetourt County.

Trigg and his wife had three sons and two daughters. His daughter Mary married General David Logan. Their son, Stephen Trigg Logan, later became a state lawmaker in Illinois. He also became Abraham Lincoln's law partner in Springfield, Illinois.

Stephen Trigg: A Virginia Pioneer

Location of Fincastle, Virginia, where Stephen Trigg helped build the town.

As more people moved to Virginia's western areas, new counties were formed. In 1769, Botetourt County was created. Stephen Trigg was chosen as one of its first justices of the peace. This meant he helped handle minor crimes and civil cases. He also served as a magistrate and a judge in different courts.

When the town of Fincastle, Virginia was started in 1770, Trigg played a big part in its growth. He sold land lots and helped build the town's prison and courthouse with his father-in-law, Israel Christian.

As more people arrived, the southwestern part of Botetourt County became Fincastle County in 1772. Trigg was again one of its first justices of the peace. He also worked as a deputy clerk and helped survey roads. Trigg continued his work as a merchant. He partnered with David Ross and ran a community store in New Dublin.

During this time, many people came to America as "indentured servants." This meant they worked for a period of time to pay for their trip. After their service, they would receive land and tools. In October 1774, Trigg advertised the sale of 30 such workers at his home. He served as a delegate to the House of Burgesses in 1775, representing Fincastle County. However, he left to serve as a captain in Lord Dunmore's War.

Fincastle County was later split into three new counties in 1776: Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky. Trigg was again a member of the first court for Montgomery County. He also served in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1778.

Early Kentucky Pioneer

The new Virginia counties were growing quickly, which also brought problems. In 1779–80, Trigg was appointed as one of the judges for the Virginia Land Court commission. This court was set up to solve land disputes in Kentucky County, Virginia. The court's job was to check many land claims and confirm who legally owned the land.

The four judges arrived in Kentucky in October. Their presence encouraged more people to move to Kentucky, either to confirm their land claims or to find new land. The court heard many cases, judging 1,328 claims that covered over 1 million acres of land. After these court sessions, Trigg decided to stay in Kentucky. He built his home on 1,000 acres of land at Trigg's Station. This was about four miles northwest of Harrodsburg.

When Kentucky County was split into three new counties in 1780, Trigg was made a lieutenant colonel for the militia in the new Lincoln County. He continued his public service. He was one of the first justices of the peace. He also helped plan the city of Louisville. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1780 to 1781, representing Kentucky County. During this time, he and another delegate, John Todd, helped pass a law that allowed Louisville to be officially formed.

Even with more settlers, white colonists in Kentucky were not safe. Historian Virginia Webb Howard wrote that during this time: "The settlers in Kentucky faced constant danger from Native American raids. They lived in forts and stations, always ready to defend their homes."

Trigg continued to serve in the militia. In 1781, he became a colonel of the Lincoln County militia. In 1782, the delegates from Kentucky to the Virginia General Assembly suggested Trigg become an assistant judge for the new Supreme Court for Kentucky. However, he died before he could take this important position.

Revolutionary War Service

As tensions grew between the American colonies and Britain, local disagreements turned into a full-scale war. Stephen Trigg served in local militias. He also represented Fincastle County at the Virginia Conventions. These were political meetings held after the British governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, closed the House of Burgesses. This happened because the delegates supported Boston, Massachusetts, after the British closed its harbor.

Trigg attended the first convention in 1774. He was elected to the second convention in 1775, but he did not attend. He did attend the third convention (July–August 1775). He was also a delegate to the Fourth Convention (December 1775 – January 1776), but again, he did not attend.

Another important part of his revolutionary work was being a member of the Fincastle County Committee of Safety. This group grew out of the Virginia Committee of Correspondence. These committees acted as temporary governments for their areas. On January 20, 1775, the people of Fincastle County met and formed their Committee of Safety. Stephen Trigg was a member. They were one of the first groups to respond to Virginia's call for such committees.

At this meeting, they wrote the Fincastle Resolutions. This document was an early step towards the United States Declaration of Independence, which was issued on July 4, 1776. Trigg was one of the people who signed these resolutions. The resolutions were sent to Virginia's members of the Continental Congress. They strongly stated the problems and rights of the American colonies. In February 1775, Trigg wrote to his brother-in-law, William Christian. He suggested they call another meeting to elect delegates for the second Virginia Convention. When William Christian left with the Fincastle militia to fight in Williamsburg, Trigg took over as chairman of the Committee of Safety. On October 7, 1775, the committee praised Trigg. They wrote that he showed "exemplary zeal" and "indefatigable industry" in serving his country.

In 1776, the Cherokees joined the war, trying to push colonists off their lands. This meant people in southwestern Virginia faced attacks from British-armed Cherokees. The Committee of Safety met at Fort Chiswell on June 11, 1776. They wrote a letter to Oconostota and Attacullaculla, chiefs of the Cherokee nation. They asked to meet and make a peace agreement. The letter also mentioned the colonists' unhappiness with Britain: "We are very sorry to tell you that our Great Father, the King of England, has treated us badly. He has taken away our rights and sent soldiers to hurt us."

Trigg was one of the signers of this letter. The fight with the Cherokees was called the Christian Campaign. Trigg was the paymaster for this campaign in 1776–1777. In 1777, he was asked to list men who swore loyalty to different militia companies. By May 1778, many people along the New River had left or were ready to leave. This was because of increased fighting with the Shawnee in the area. William Preston, a militia officer, felt unsafe. He did not want to leave his home, "Smithfield," because he needed to protect his family and the county records. Trigg was leaving for his term in the General Assembly. Preston asked him and the other delegate for a guard. At first, Preston's request was denied. But Trigg met several times with Governor Patrick Henry about Preston's situation. Trigg made three separate appeals and finally convinced the governor. When the governor agreed to send a guard of twelve men, Trigg sent Preston the good news. He also told him about the Treaty of Alliance signed with France in February.

The Last Battle and Death

This headstone at the Blue Licks Battlefield State Park marks the mass grave where Trigg and his men were buried.

In 1782, the British launched an attack on Kentucky. They were helped by Native American allies, including the Wyandot, Odawa, and Ojibwe. When Stephen Trigg heard about an attack on Bryan Station, he was in charge of the fort at Harrodsburg. He quickly gathered 135 local militiamen. He then met up with Colonel Daniel Boone and Major Levi Todd and more militia at Bryan Station.

When they reached the Blue Licks, a salt lick near the Licking River, the officers thought it might be a trap. They held a meeting to decide what to do. But the soldiers became impatient and crossed the river. The three leaders formed their men into columns. Trigg commanded the column on the right. When they met the enemy, Trigg's column was ambushed. Trigg was killed, and his men fell back after only five minutes of fighting. When troops returned to the battle site, Trigg's body was found badly injured.

Stephen Trigg was buried in a mass grave near the battle site. This area is now in Nicholas County, Kentucky. Later, Kentucky named a county, Trigg County, to honor him. There is a historical marker in Cadiz, on the courthouse lawn, along US 68. Historians Lewis and Richard Collins wrote about Trigg: "He was greatly loved and very popular; and if he had lived, would have been one of the most important men of his time."