Edward Boone Memorial Fund

EDWARD BOONE MEMORIAL FUND

Edward Boone is buried where he was killed Oct 6, 1780, in Bourbon County, KY, as explained in the following text of KY Highway marker No. 2059:

Edward Boone (1740-80)

Death site of Edward Boone, a brother of renowned Kentucky pioneer Daniel Boone, Edward was killed by Indians here Oct. 1780 at age 40 while hunting with Daniel. Boone Creek named for Edward. Daniel and Edward wed sisters, Rebecca and Martha Bryan, whose family built and settled Bryanb Station near Lexington. Presented by The Boone Society, Inc.

This death/burial site is located on See Road, just off Cane Ridge Road in Bourbon County.

However, according to a 19th Century pioneer manuscript, the bones of Edward Boone, slain brother of Daniel Boone, were reburied in the Rockbridge Baptist churchyard “about 1827” by Elder Richard Thomas.

The Boone Society is trying to raise money to locate and excavate Boone’s second grave at Rockbridge Churchyard with the help of Nancy O’Malley, Assistant Director of the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology of the University of Kentucky. There is an old grave marked “NB” which could contain Ned Boone’s remains. Many of the inscriptions on the graveyard’s several limestone makers have long ago worn away, but one particular grave marker shows the initials "N.B." with the date "1828" clearly visible.

If Ground Penetrating Radar indicates that the “NB” grave could contain some final remains that could logically be considered Edward Boone’s, and if viable DNA material can be found, the Edward Boone Memorial Committee plans to have the tests done.

Committee member Wilson Zaring of Champaign, Illinois, has painstakingly collected many historical manuscripts about the 1780 attack on the Boone brothers in Bourbon County and about the 1827/28 reburial of Edward “Ned” Boone. Chairman of the committee is Edward Boone descendant and Boone Society board member, Ivan Lancaster. Also serving on the committee are Sherrill Thomas of Lexington, KY, also an Edward Boone descendant; Dell Boone Ariola, Society Treasurer and the one who first found the original Edward Boone grave marker on See Road in Bourbon County; and Rochelle Cochran, Society President and Edward Boone descendant.

If you are an Edward Boone descendant, or have an interest in helping the Society discover the location of Ned Boone’s reburial, a donation would be much appreciated. You may use your PayPal Account to make a contribution, or send a check payable to Treasurer, Boone Society to 12384 Aries Loop South, Willis, TX 77318-5225.