Family tree < Home Frances Jane Grenleaf * Go to her spot on my family tree Burial: Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky Education: First schoolteacher of Kentucky Religion: Catholic Frances Jane Greenleaf Coomes manufactured the first salt in Kentucky. She did so at Drilling's Lick, the first stop of the pioneer group moving deeper into Kentucky. The group reached Fort Harrod on September 8, 1775. Frances Jane was the first schoolteacher in Kentucky. Her little schoolhouse was built of customary round logs with no chinking between them. It had a dirt floor; a slab door hung on deer thongs, and only one window. {The following statement is of particular interest: "with low pay, often in tobacco - which was legal tender- bear bacon, buffalo steak or jerked venison, these pioneers eked out a precarious existence.} There was a long fireplace on one wall, a dunce stool in the corner, and a chastizing rod nearby. The alphabet was inscribed on paddle shaped pine shingles (which also came in handy when a child needed punishment). Dillard's Speller and the New Testament were the only textbooks. It was a blab school, where all studied aloud. The Coomes school was kept open, despite the hardships and irregularities of pioneer life, for three to four months each year. (On the site of the original schoolhouse sets a replica with a plaque honoring Mrs. William Coomes, first schoolteacher of Kentucky) Frances Jane and her family remained in the fort for nine years, during which time, William Coomes took an honorable part in the defense of the station through the siege of 1776-1777. He cleared land and helped with the provisioning of the fort. One of the Comma's sons was in the famous battle of Blue Licks. William Coomes was registered in the records as the owner of one thousand acres of land. Part of this acreage is the present site of Wickland, Kentucky - home to three governors. In 1784 the family moved to Nelson County, Kentucky, and Francis and William Coomes are buried in Bardstown, Kentucky. * Information used with permission of Ann Whalen, Alexandria, TN Family tree | Index of names | Resources | Contact ©Copyright 2004 Hey Banner Banner