Doing family research I came across a US War Department record stating “Simmons certifies that $xxx is due John and David SurnameX, Scouts of Logan County Kentucky, being their pay for protecting the frontier of that county from July 29 to Sept. 27, 1794. For genealogical purpose I would like to know the minimum age for a scout. I would also like to understand the historical setting.
I eventually found some information. I am going to assume "of age" meant somewhere between 18 and 21.
In mid-1794, as Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne and the Legion of the United States assembled for the final campaign against the Western Indian Confederacy led by Shawnee war chief Blue Jacket, a full brigade of Kentucky militia mustered into service. From 10-14 July, Gen. Scott fielded six battalions of mounted volunteers under Majors John Caldwell, Nathan Huston, Notley Conn, William Price, William Russell, and Aquila Whitaker. Joined by several companies of mounted spies and scouts under Captains Ephraim Kibbey, George Shrim, and William Wells, the Kentuckians marched with Wayne’s Legion to the climactic battle of Fallen Timbers near Maumee, Ohio, on 20 August 1794, where Price’s battalion served as the vanguard of the advancing American forces. Following a decisive victory over Blue Jacket and his Native alliance, most of the Kentucky militia returned home and disbanded 21-26 October 1794. http://history.ky.gov/pdf/Publications/KentuckyAncestorsv46.n3.pdf page 128