Collin McKinney's Childhood

Collin McKinney was born on April 17, 1776.  He had 9 brothers and sisters!  He was the second oldest.  Collin did not have a formal education. He helped his mother to provide and care for his large family, as his father was fighting in the Revolutionary War.  Although he was born in New Jersey, which is on the eastern coast of the United States, his family slowly started moving west.  When he was a teenager they moved to Kentucky.  His family lived in an outpost on the Wilderness Trail called McKinney Station.  During his time in this fort (another name for outpost) Collin helped to protect his family from attacks from Native Tribes and he gained skills as a fighter for his people.