I was playing AC III a little bit again, and remembered there is an appearance by Daniel Boone in the game. He's the one who gives you and starts the Frontiersmen questline. Being he's in the game, I wanted to do a quick post on him.
Now, Daniel Boone has become a legend in American folklore, and is oftentimes associated with (or confused with) Davy Crockett, who fought at the Alamo, and often depicted wearing a raccoon skin hat. Now there is good reason for that, but before I explain, here is a quick overview of Daniel Boone's life.
Boone was born on November 2, 1734 as the 6th of 11 children to Squire and Sarah Boone in the Oley Valley, Pennsylvania. Growing up in Pennsylvania, Boone would often spend days outside in the wilderness, honing his skills which he would later use in Kentucky. Boone and his family stay in Pennsylvania until about 1750-1752 (some sources have different dates), when they will then move to the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina. When the time of the French and Indian War starts, Daniel will enlist with the British serving under General Braddock. While in the army, he uses his trade skills, learned from his father, to serve as a blacksmith and wagoner.
While serving on the Braddock Expedition, Boone will hear about the rich lands of Kentucky from another wagoner in the group, John Findley. Boone in 1769 will start to explore and hunt in Kentucky, after the Treaty of Stanwix, where Iroquois ceded their claims to Kentucky to the British. However, Shawnee Indians will capture Boone, taking all his hunted items and wears, and told him to never return.
Well, Daniel was never one to really back away or let others tell him what he can and cannot do. He returns to continue hunting in Kentucky in 71 and 72. In 1773, he will take his family out to Kentucky with him, along with a group of settlers. It's on this expedition that two of Boones sons will meet a gruesome death by the Indians in the region. This will be one of the first events leading to Dunmore's War.
After the war, the Indians will relinquish their claims to Kentucky. Now, Daniel played a part in the war, helping to fight, and defending certain areas, but I don't want to get too bogged down with the war itself. It will be in 1775 when Boone begins his famous trail blazing, creating the Wilderness Trail through the Cumberland Gap. With this created, he will settle a settlement, named Fort Boonesborough.
When the time of the Revolution comes about, again Daniel will help fight to protect his country, and his land in Kentucky from the British. After the war, there will be many land claims and disputes when it comes to the land Boone "owns," and will sell most of it off to pay off heavy legal fees.
In 1799 he will retire to Missouri to be with his sons, and live there for the remainder of his life. Being Missouri was under Spanish control at the time, the Spanish appointed Boone a judge and jury, but it was a verbal contract. When Jefferson makes the Louisiana Purchase in 1804, Boone will again sell his land off to pay for legal fees, as he lost the claims to that land, and petitioned Congress to restore it. By the war of 1812, he is too old to enlist and serve, but his sons will. In 1820, Boone will pass away at the age of 86.
As for him being confused with Davy Crockett, one can really thank the actor Fess Parker, and Hollywood for that. Fess Parker played Davy Crockett in two Disney movies, sporting a raccoon skin hat. A few years later Parker will play the famous Daniel Boone in a TV series through the 1960's and 70's. Again, in the TV series, he will wear a raccoon skin hat.
