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Jefferson County · Frontier · 1779 – 1786

William Christian of Beargrass

Virginia militia colonel, Patrick Henry’s brother-in-law, and signer of the Fincastle Resolutions, Christian moved his family to Jefferson County in 1785 and directed defense of the Louisville settlements from Fort William on the Middle Fork of Beargrass (the older A’Sturgus Station of 1779).

AI illustration of Col. William Christian of Virginia, about 1785
William Christian AI illustration · Kentucky History Drive; no known likeness exists

On April 9, 1786, leading a pursuit north of the Ohio, he was killed near present-day Jeffersonville, Indiana; Christian County was later named for him.

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Published . Last revised .

Chicago

Snowden, Shannon. "William Christian of Beargrass." Kentucky History Drive. Published September 12, 2026. Last revised September 24, 2026. https://kyhistorydrive.com/stories/william-christian-of-beargrass/.

MLA

Snowden, Shannon. "William Christian of Beargrass." Kentucky History Drive, published 12 Sept. 2026, last revised 24 Sept. 2026, https://kyhistorydrive.com/stories/william-christian-of-beargrass/.

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