On June 27, 1778, George Rogers Clark's army of about 200 followers landed on nearby Owen's Island, four days after starting from Corn Island at the Falls of Ohio. A small hunting party appeared soon afterward and gave valuable information about Kaskaskia. Clark recruited them and proceeded under severe hardship to defeat the British and save the Illinois country for the U.S. George Rogers Clark was also the original patentee of the land on which Paducah now stands. Virginia conveyed to him two grants totaling 73,962 acres as payment for services rendered. In 1803, the land was deeded to his brother William, of Lewis and Clark fame, in consideration of $2,100 for sundry services, and William later developed Paducah.