Fort William (Jefferson County, near St. Matthews and Lyndon, Kentucky)
Jefferson County, near St. Matthews and Lyndon · Kentucky · Indian Wars
History & Significance
Fort William was a pioneer fort in Kentucky established in 1785 by Colonel William Christian and Anne Christian. Anne was the sister of Patrick Henry, and had married William in the mid-1760s after working in Henry's law office.
Christian was a Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia who received three thousand acres for his service, having earlier served as a captain in the French and Indian War before turning twenty. Christian directed the defense of what is now Louisville from attacks by the Indians.
Although the historical marker sits near the Eight Mile House—an early stone structure and tavern—the fort was actually located southwest of it, on property that may have been part of or adjacent to A'Sturgus Station, built in 1779 on Beargrass Creek. On April 9, 1786, Christian was killed while leading a defensive action against Native Americans who crossed the Ohio River at Six Mile Island to steal horses, with four men killed in total including Christian and two Native Americans.
He was buried at Oxmoor, off Beargrass Creek in Jefferson County. Following his death, Anne began referring to the site as Fort William. Anne later moved to Mercer County.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Pioneer-era defensive settlement ruins from 1779 Indian Wars period
- Historical marker near Eight Mile House documents fort's significance
- Connection to Patrick Henry's family through widow Anne Christian
- Location in Jefferson County suburban Louisville area
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_William_(Kentucky)
- https://history.ky.gov/markers/fort-william
- https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/1011
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=161983