Between Two Sons—Daniel Boone during the American Revolution

    Daniel Boone was a revolutionary who helped create America.

When he marked his famous route, the Boone Trace, into the Kentucky wilderness in spring 1775, he began America’s First Westward Movement, which continued throughout the American Revolution. Boone was in the thick of the action on the western front as the British military leaders collaborated with their native allies to thwart the opening of Kentucky to eager, land-hungry settlers. He traveled back east of the mountain barrier several times on private business and in public service, and crossed the Ohio River as well, engaging in episodes and escapades too few of us know about. His family grew and shrank during the period—births, marriages, deaths—turning points in his life and in the lives of kin and friends.
 
The exciting tale of Boone’s life during those tumultuous years from 1773-1783 is the story shared in the talk. Award-winning history writer and speaker Randell Jones will share this story in 50 minutes of fast-paced storytelling illustrated with images he has captured at historical reenactments during the last 20 years. His award-winning book, In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone (2005), was released as an enhanced second edition in fall 2024, now containing a 180-page narrative of the life of Daniel Boone illustrated with 330 photographs of historical reenactors; it also has a 60-page appendix taking readers to 100 sites they can visit today across Boone’s America which sprawls over what is now 11 states from Pennsylvania to Missouri and from Michigan to Florida, yes, Florida.

As part of celebrating America’s 250^th anniversary, author Randell Jones is donating $10 of the proceeds of each copy of In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone sold at his talks to the nonprofit organizations hosting his presentations. When you purchase this book by November 15, $10 goes to the Heritage Seekers Genealogy Club of Arkansas to support the services it offers its members. Think of this as “a donation from Daniel Boone” in honor of our collective American history reaching back at least 250 years. (“Donations from Daniel Boone” to other hosting nonprofit organizations this year currently exceed $3,500.)

Randell Jones has written several books about the pioneer and Revolutionary War eras in the South, especially North Carolina history. For a dozen years, he served as an invited member of the Road Scholars Speakers Bureau of the NC Humanities Council, speaking to audiences around the state. He has received two awards from the Kentucky Historical Society and from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution; he received its national History Award Medal for his body of work. His primary books of interest are Before They Were Heroes at King’s Mountain (2011) and In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone (2005/2024). Among his other books are Trailing Daniel Boone and A Guide to the Overmountain Victory National Historical Trail.

Randell was born in North Little Rock “after the war” and grew up in Memphis. His family research in Logan and St. Francis counties sparked his interest in history. After uncovering his immigrant Jones ancestor along the James River in Virginia in 1665, he enrolled his father in the First Families of Tennessee, recording a family lineage that nobody else had bothered to document. The discovery of a Moses Jones in his mother’s McBride line was no cause for alarm, but you gotta love the name.

For the last seven years, Randell has been the publisher and editor of the Personal Story Publishing Project, which has published 13 volumes of 800-word stories by aspiring and accomplished writers on announced themes. Almost all of those have appeared on his 6-minute Stories podcast, archiving over 500 personal stories. Listen for free on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Also available directly at RandellJones.com/6minutestories.

For more on America 250 & the NEW! Kings Mountain Trilogy- check out www.BecomingAmerica250.com for a wealth of resources! 

A Zoom link will be sent to members and mailing list subscribers the morning of the meeting.

The presenters retain the copyright to their presentations, including all images and other intellectual property. Copying, recording, taking screenshots, transcribing, AI note-taking, or redistributing any portion of these presentations in any form is strictly prohibited under penalty of law. The official recording of presentations will be available for a limited time in the members-only section of the Heritage Seekers website. Thank you for understanding and cooperating.