Daniel Boone spent his first years exploring Kentucky hunting. He made several trips after the successful trip of 1769. He often brought a few hunting partners and would spend months hunting and collecting hides to take back to his Yadkin home. From all accounts, Boone was credited to have as much knowledge of the land of Kentucky as any person alive. While this was not likely true, he did spent much time learning the territory and made a name for himself. His old friend John Finley (also, commonly spelled Findley) had long disappeared from the scene and history does not report much more about this great pioneer. Boone on the other hand had become the authority. Eventually, Boone would lead settlers, to a new Fort on the Kentucky River.
But before the establishment of Ft. Boonesborough, Boone and his fellow hunters established hunting camps around the region, generally seeking out game. The most famous of these was one Boone and his party of long hunters actually named Lulbegrud. It has been said that the very first printed book brought into Kentucky was brought by one of these hunters. The book was Gulliver's Travels, written by Johnathan Swift. During the evenings around the campfire the book was read aloud as entertainment. One historical account says that Boone and companions were attacked by a band of Indians. The hunters with their superior weapons, quickly dispatched their attackers. As a joking remark one of the pioneers referenced the natives as "Lulbegruds." Apparently, the hunters named their camp and the creek Lulbegrud creek.
Now there are two obvious things about the Swift silver mine legend that seem pretty strange to me. First, according to historical records Boone saw the beautiful level Kentucky on June 7, 1769. John Swift records in his journal (included in most of the older versions of the journal) he made his last trip to the mine workings in May of 1769! This was one month apart in time! We do not know how close they where to each other, but both claimed to be west of the Allegheny' mountains, we presume. Secondly, this creek campsite takes its name from a book read by Boone and hunters written by the Irish writer Johnathon Swift! Sure is amazing this name just happens to turn up in the wilderness a man name John Swift mined silver.
