History of the Kentucky Colonel

Colonels hold a very significant role in the history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. From 1776 when the governor of the Colony of Virginia issued the first county commission to John Bowman for Kentucky County on December 21, within 4 years the county was subdivided into 4 surveyed counties. Col. Bowman served under Governor Patrick Henry Jr. and General George Rogers Clark who was charged with the entire Western Territory during the American Revolution. Until Kentucky county became a state in 1792 there was no official higher than a colonel, by this date Kentucky County had been subdivided into nine Virginia counties and the region was referred to as Kentucky. Colonels were busy men responsible for the establishment of government, subdividing counties, designating authority to establish towns, issuing land deeds, setting up companies, founding schools, organizing militias, and assigning colonelcy to others to do the same under a strict code of honor under the Colony of Virginia common law.

In early years prior to becoming a state people began learning about "Kentucke" in the 13 original colonies based on stories they heard starting in 1769 from Daniel Boone who travelled back and forth to the territory from his home in North Carolina. Upon hearing the stories of Daniel Boone in 1774, Judge Richard Henderson sought a colonelship in North Carolina to form the Louisa Company which led to the establishment of the Great Grant Deed with the purchase of land rights from the Cherokee, America's 14th colony, and commissioning Daniel Boone a colonel to blaze the Wilderness Road to open what was then called Transylvania to settlement. On May 23, 1775, Col. Henderson held the Transylvania Convention with colonels and delegates from 4 settlements to meet in Boonesborough creating America's 14th Colony and established the Kentucky Magna Charta. First that, Election of delegates should be annual. Second, Perfect freedom of opinion in matters of religion. Third, That judges should be appointed by the proprietors, but answerable for malconduct to the people; and that the convention have the sole power of raising and appropriating all moneys and electing their treasurer. This epitome of substantial freedom and manly, rational government, was solemnly executed under the hands and seals of the three proprietors acting for the company, and Col. Thomas Slaughter acting for the colonists.

The purchase of Col. Henderson from the Cherokees was afterward annulled by act of the Virginia legislature in 1777, as being contrary to the chartered rights of the Transylvania Company. But, as some compensation for the services rendered in opening the wilderness, and preparing the way for civilization, the legislature granted to the proprietors a tract of land twelve miles square, on the Ohio, below the mouth of Green River." (Today's Henderson County)

A New Land of Wonder

John Filson, Colonial American author wrote a book and was in correspondence frequently with George Washington to whom he submitted his work, The Discovery, Settlement, and the present State of Kentucke; and An Essay towards the Topography and Natural History of that important Country in 1784, which was published by James Adams in Philadelphia and Wilmington. The book was very popular and accounts from the book were make into news and folklore featuring the Adventures of Colonel Daniel Boon. The book was endorsed by Col. Daniel Boone, Col. Levi Todd, and Col. James Harrod on whose collective accounts the work is based.

The first Governor of the Commonwealth was Col. Isaac Shelby formerly of North Carolina that returned to Kentucky after the American Revolution in 1783 to settle down near Boonesborough on land he acquired as a surveyor working with the Transylvania Company years earlier. In 1784 he became active in local community service, talked about separation of the Kentucky District from Virginia and in 1792 was selected by the other colonels and secessionists as the first Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Colonel Shelby was elected unanimously to that post by the electors on May 17, 1791. He took office on June 4, 1792, the day the state was admitted to the Union. Though not actively partisan, he identified with the Democratic-Republicans. Much of his term was devoted to establishing basic laws, military divisions and a tax structure. Under the new constitution, the voters chose electors who then elected the governor and members of the Kentucky Senate.

In 1799 colonels began to lose their power under common law when the Second Constitution was adopted giving new powers to the governor. In addition to appointing judges, the governor was given the power to appoint a number of local offices including sheriffs, coroners, and justices of the peace.

For the many years that followed, colonels continued in their roles as county authorities they were involved in organizing voting places, establishing courts, serving in public office and remained the most prominent major landowners in the state. Now that Kentucky had a Legislature, Capitol, and a Governor (nearly all of whom were originally colonels) upon a new codified laws developing in the third Kentucky Constitution in 1850 the elected position of County Judge was created to replace the position of Justice of the Peace. The county judge presided over certain county courts, most notably the court of claims, the forerunner of the fiscal court.

Many like to connect the title to an event which occurred in 1813 where the Kentucky Legislature designating the U.S. Army Colonel Richard Mentor Johnson, a state legislator with the title of "Kentucky Colonel" to form the "Kentucky Mounted Militia" in support the War of 1812 to defend the area against Tecumseh. Others claim the first honorarily appointed position by the Governor of Kentucky in 1813 or 1815 to Charles S. Todd as his civilian "Aide-de-Camp" with the rank of "Colonel" is when the tradition started, however there is no evidence that Charles Todd was ever commissioned by Gov. Shelby, as it appears Charles Todd became a colonel when he was made an inspector general for the US Army in the Michigan Territory. Nonetheless, we believe both accounts are exaggerating because Kentucky was founded and established by colonels much like the United States, colonels during these years were most essentially the highest designated colonial officers and key figures during the times of the colonists. Texas and other Western States were founded by colonels like Kentucky, but it was in Kentucky where the Colony of Virginia tradition became so prominent.

Most of Kentucky's counties were named after famous colonels from the American Revolution and its first residents, a great many of its original settlers and pioneers shared the title during the course of their lives.

It could be said that since Kentucky was founded, chartered and organized by its colonels who dutifully served the people directly. Colonels eventually eliminated themselves from their official capacities once their jobs were accomplished. History tells us since they started the official role of those honorarily recognized as colonels became less and less significant until 1920 when there were no longer any official duties for these honorary officers.