The Filson Historical Society, founded in 1884, is a privately-supported historical society dedicated to preserving the history of Kentucky and the Ohio Valley Region.
Filson Friday - The Terrible Harpes!: Crime and Murder on the Kentucky Frontier
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Fri, Jul 29, 2016 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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The Library at Oxmoor Farm
720 Oxmoor Avenue, Louisville, KY
Description
In the aftermath of the Revolution and the long and bloody Indian wars, the Kentucky frontier remained a dangerous land. Throughout 1799 two brothers, Wiley and Micajah Harpe, terrorized the entire state from the Wilderness Trail to the far reaches of the Green River country. Posing as Methodist circuit riders or weary pilgrims bound for the West, these Tory outcasts left a trail of bodies and burned cabins in their wake. Their bloody deeds and violent end are as chilling today as the notorious crimes of modern day serial killers.
James Prichard is a Manuscript Cataloger at The Filson Historical Society. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Wright State University. He is the author of Embattled Capital: Frankfort, Kentucky in the Civil War.
Venue Details
The Library at Oxmoor Farm
720 Oxmoor Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky, 40222, United States
