Life and Times of Anne Bailey [Illustrated]

by Virgil Anson Lewis

• Transcribed from the original book.
• Re-edited and formatted
• Annotations and additional content added by BPC for clarification of certain events.
• Photo and Illustrations from the original have been enhanced and enlarged.
• New Photos and Illustrations added by BPC.

Heroine of the Kanawha Valley

Born 1742 in Liverpool, England, Died 1825 in Gallia County, Ohio

A re-print of the original book first published by the author in1891.

This is the story of “Mad” Anne Bailey's life. In 1791 what is now West Virginia was largely unsettled wilderness, where a storm of savage warfare raged between the Indians, the frontiersmen and the settlers.

From the moment she heard news of her husband’s death at the Battle of Point Pleasant, a strange, wild dream seemed to possess her and she became determined to avenge his death. Clad in buckskin pants, a petticoat, brogan shoes, a man’s coat and hat, a belt about her waist which held a knife and a tomahawk, she shouldered a rifle and took up the life of a frontiersman and a messenger carrying dispatches between Fort Lee at present day
Charleston, WV, Fort Savannah at present day Lewisburg, and Fort Randolph at present day Point Pleasant, WV.

In 1791, large bodies of Indians were discovered hovering near Fort Lee, preparing for attack. The powder supply was perilously low. It was one hundred miles to Fort Savannah, the only place for re-supply. The commander asked for volunteers to go and bring back powder. No man was willing to put their lives in jeopardy, but Mad Anne Bailey, without hesitation, shouted, "I will go!"

This book is part of the Historical Collection of Badgley Publishing Company and has been transcribed from the original. The original contents have been edited and corrections have been made to original printing, spelling and grammatical errors when not in conflict with the author’s intent to portray a particular event or interaction. Annotations have been made and additional contents have been added by Badgley Publishing Company in order to clarify certain historical events or interactions and to enhance the author’s content. Fonts have been changed from the original printing to make the book easier to read. Photos and illustrations from the original have been cleaned up, enhanced and enlarged for better viewing.

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Josh Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book if you are interested in learning about Ann Bailey. She really should be more famous than she is!

[Patrick Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ann Bailey was basically the first American "tomboy". Bailey was an unusual sight -- clad in buckskin leggings, petticoat, and floppy hat, with a rifle slung over her shoulder -- the embodiment of pioneer spirit in the late 1790's when other women were wearing petticoats and hoop dresses. Her daring and dangerous solo ride that men had refused to take because of the danger is historic.

I have read of Ann's daring ride in other frontier books which is what peaked my interest in her. At forty-nine years of age she was no longer a spring chicken but the need for a rider to save the community was necessary and she mounted up and rode over the newly created Midland Trail formed yet another chapter in a legendary life.

This book was originally published in 1891 and that alone makes it interesting to me, added with the knowledge that it was factual and Ann Bailey was a larger than life frontier woman that even students of history have not heard of. The book was a short, easy, read. I only wish it had been longer however when you are trying to gather frontier information from the 1700's it is understandable that a nonfiction book be on the short side because of the lack of records or verifiable information.

[April Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1891 and that alone makes it interesting to me. I had never heard of Anne Bailey and I'm so amazed and inspired by her courage. It's a short but good read.