I have been giving some thought to several of the questions posted lately about travel between PA & NC. I would like to first say I am not expert but I do drive 50,000+ miles every year and most are between upper MD. and lower SC. When the pioneers entered the new world at Philadelphia, their first moves were almost straight west toward Lancaster. On further west from there maybe 50 miles or less is the Appalachian trail. That means the crest of the Blue Ridge. I do know that when Lee's Army invaded the North & Gettysburg, they came north from Virginia to about Chambersburg area and crossed the Blue Ridge through a gap. I don't know the name of the gap. It is probably the same gap the pioneers passed moving from Lancaster westward. I think our pioneers took a more southwestward turn. More toward Frederick, MD. A slight turn southward moves you toward Hagerstown toward Front Royal. The terrain between Frederick & Hagerstown is only gentle rolling hills. As they approached Harpers Ferry, Winchester area, you see two mountain ranges. Moving southwest, the Mtn. range on the left is the very northern end of the Shenandoah Mtn. range. On the right is the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mtns. If you have ever traveled I-81 in northern VA., two things are very evident, mtns. on both sides. Somewhere within 50 or so miles of this point these early travelers began walking on a trail that was as old as the hills. This very trail was cut not by white man, not by slaves but by the Indians travelling from the Lake Erie area to the Indian settlements in the south. This trail could have been a 1000 years old. The trail from this point on the northern end of the Shenandoah valley to Roanoke was fairly going. Gentle rolling hills and NO large streams. On the east side of the Shenandoah mtns are at least a 1/2 dozen large rivers. If you look at the map of lower VA. the trip to Roanoke and then to NC is not out of the way. Old Salem & Greensboro, NC are straight south of Roanoke. There is a road sign on Hwy. 220 on the VA. line north of Greensboro that identifies that area as the Maggotty Gap & the old NC wagon road passed through there and on to Old Salem and on to Jersey Church area in Davidson Co. and on to Trading Ford and home. "Rowan County." At some point in time, Rowan County soil wore out. Many picked up again went back through the Maggotty Gap & others, crossed the Blue Ridge again turned southwest again for a couple a days and guess what, now they were in eastern TN. and Washington Co.TN. One thing to consider and think about a while. There is a Jonesborough, TN. (the oldest town in the state) close to Washington Co. Many settlers left there and moved to Union Co.IL (guess what "Jonesboro, IL") Guess what, just a 100 miles southwest from Jonesboro, IL is Jonesboro, AR. I wonder if our folks from right here in Old Rowan County had anything to do with the nameing of those cities?? Hope I did not bore anyone Dan Patterson Spencer, NC Rowan County Information Website www.RowanCounty.com Large Format Family Tree Printing www.dantana.com/Printing/ My family www.dantana.com/RowanRoots . Also, on our website, we have many links to most all historic sites in Historic Rowan County, NC. http://www.lib.co.rowan.nc.us/ (Library) We have one of the best history rooms in the state. (Some say the Best) Check out the Historic section on http://www.RowanCounty.com. We have a few arial photos of the Trading Ford area and Jersey Church. If you have folks that moved west out of PA. they probably sat a spell in Rowan County. Be sure to check out the website: Salisbury-Rowan Visitor Center. http://www.visitsalisburync.com/