of the near approach of death, Bledsoe’s anxiety was to provide for the comfort of his family.  He had surveyed large tracts of land, and had secured grants for several thousand acres, which constituted nearly his whole property.  The law of North Carolina at that time gave all the lands to the sons, to the exclusion of the daughters.  In consequence, should the colonel die without a will, his seven young daughters would be left destitute.  In this hour of bitter trial, Mrs. Bledsoe’s thoughts were not alone of her own sufferings, and the deadly peril that hung over them, but of the provision necessary for the helpless ones dependent on her care.  She suggested to her wounded husband that a will should be immediately drawn up.  It was done; and a portion of land was assigned to each of the seven daughters, who thus in after life had reason to remember with gratitude the presence of mind and affectionate care of their mother.

Her sufferings from Indian hostility were not terminated by this overwhelming stroke.  A brief list of those who fell victims, among her family and kinsmen, may afford some idea of the trials she endured, and of the strength of character which enabled her to bear up, and to support others, under such terrible experiences.  In January, 1793, her son Anthony, then seventeen years of age, while passing near the present site of Nashville, was shot through the body, and severely wounded, by a party of Indians in ambush.  He was pursued to the gates of a neighboring fort.  Not a month afterwards, her eldest son, Thomas, was also desperately wounded by the savages, and escaped with difficulty from their hands.  Early in the following April, he was shot dead near his mother’s house, and scalped by the murderous Indians.  On the same day, Colonel Isaac Bledsoe was killed and scalped by a party of about twenty Creek Indians, who beset him in the field, and cut off his retreat to his station, near at hand.

In April, 1794, Anthony, the son of Mrs. Bledsoe, and his cousin of the same name, were shot by a party of Indians, near the house of General Smith, on Drake Creek, ten miles from Gallatin.  The lads were going to school, and were then on their way to visit Mrs. Sarah Shelby, the sister of Anthony, who lived on Station Camp Creek.

Some time afterwards, Mrs. Bledsoe herself was on the road from Bledsoe’s Lick to the above-mentioned station, where the court of Sumner county was at that time held.  Her object was to attend to some business connected with the estate of her late husband.  She was escorted on her way by the celebrated Thomas S. Spencer, and Robert Jones.  The party were waylaid and fired upon by a large body of Indians.  Jones was severely wounded, and turning, rode rapidly back for about two miles; after which, he fell dead from his horse.  The savages advanced boldly upon the others, intending to take them prisoners.