Captain William Early Buford served his country with ability during the American Revolution and, on June 5, 1797, sold fifty city lots and gave the Publick Square for the town of Lancaster so that Garrard County might have a county seat, agreeing to furnish water for its court during his lifetime. The first court was held October 2, 1797. The deed was made to the following justices of the County Court of Garrard: Samuel Gill, John Harrison, Edwin Terrill, William Bryant, William Jennings, John Alcorn, John Lapsley, Samuel Renshaw, Alex Carns, Will Hays, George Elliott, John Bruce, Charley Spilman, Richard Ballinger, Joseph Bledsoe, surveyor, and Ben Letcher, trustee.