Dear Carolyn and fellow listers: I have only been researching my family for six months and joined this list to learn more about migrations. When I started the research, I was searching for two family lines who ended up in Ohio. I had a few pieces of information, a few names, some birth years and states, a (possible) maiden name or two. As I searched websites for the different surnames in the respective states, I began to notice patterns with names. For example, the family names from Rhode Island showed up in different areas of New York State than the family names from Connecticut to New York State. I began looking for web sites with migration patterns, but didn't find very much. So I just kept searching through states and counties, trying to identify patterns. Searching for names and connections to names that I knew for certain had settled in my Ohio location, I came upon another family that had my surname of interest through two marriages. After some time, I was connected to a cousin who has also been researching one family ... only to discover that through the traditional records, the family I had found was already well-documented, and indeed did settle in my Ohio location. At first, I felt stupid because the work had already been done and in the acceptable method; but I now realize that I was on the right track with the migrations idea....I found the same information by following the family migration. I still have not been able to document the actual family I am looking for, but I believe if I keep studying the migrations and naming patterns, I will. All I know is they started in Rhode Island, passed through New York and settled in Ohio. But I believe part of this research will be studying the Holland Land Purchases and Beekman Patents, reasons why people moved into Ohio and evolution of county and state borders. Once I identify specific locations, I believe I can locate source documents. If anyone can point me in the direction of sources of info on migrations from Rhode Island through New York to points west, preferably Ohio, I would appreciate it. In the meantime, I am really enjoying American Cross Roads. I hope this was intelligible !! and forgive me, if in my "newness", I sound naive. Richelle