In searching a stack of old papers, I ran across the following article and hope it might help someone. There is no date on it but it is written by a member of the DAR by the name of Mrs. Olive Grant. She quotes--- "people came on a passenger ship to Maryland and direct to Virginia. They disembarked at Annapolis, Maryland. Prior to Rev. War, all births, deaths, baptisms and marriages were kept at the Parish Houses. Since then the old records have been moved and stored ar Norfork, Va. No English records can be found at the County Clerks office. Any immigrant that could pay his passage got (50) acres of land given then by England and this was known as a "Headright". and if he could pay for others he would get (50) acres for each one he brought over to this country which was known as the New World. There were many names that England used for their land warrents to their people, such as "Land Grants" and "Bounties". The Virginia ships did nost trading while the Maryland ships brought passangers. English traders lived in and around London. Passengers wanting to come to the New World would go into Scotland for ship passage, waiting weeks and months at a time. When they did leave Europe they were dubbed Scotch-Irish, while their ancestry was really English." More later, hope this helps. It was sent to me over 25 years ago. Wanda