Starting in the later 1600s, migration from Ireland to America began to take on a recognizable pattern. While this migration to America included Irish Catholics, Anglicans, Quakers, and Baptists from every region of Ireland, from approximately 1680 to the Revolution (1776), the overwhelming majority were Presbyterians from Ulster. They were the descendants of settlers brought in from the Scottish lowlands by James I to settle (and ideally pacify) confiscated lands in Ulster. By the end of the 17th century, they began moving to America to escape high taxes and soaring rents known as "rack rents." Between 1700 and 1820 they constituted 30% of all Europeans coming to America, and 50% between 1776 and 1820. Drawn by the promise of free land, most Scotch-Irish headed for the "western frontier." For the earliest arrivals, this meant the frontier of NH and MA. But poor farming and contentious relations with their eastern counterparts led many to move southward to western PA by the 1720s and 1730s. As the number of Scotch-Irish arrivals continued to rise in the 18th century, they settled still farther to the south, all the way to Georgia. As they did, they established places like New Ireland, MD. These tough Irishmen played a crucial role in pushing westward settlement, a process that brought them into frequent conflict with Indians. Many prominent Americans, among them President Andrew JACKSON and Davy CROCKETT, descended from Scotch-Irish settlers. Per another resource -- A total of 2,280 Irish immigrated to Savannah between 1800 and 1860. Between 1848-52 alone some 800 Irish arrived in GA. Savanannah was a major port. Workers were needed for shipping, construction, road building, ditch digging, labor on canals and railroads, and to count and load bales of cotton arriving from the interior of the state onto cargo ships. Many Irish in GA during this time period primarily came from Cos. Wexford, also Mayo, Tipperary, Kerry, Cork and Cavan. Looking for a warmer climate and less crowding after arriving first in NY, Boston & Philadelphia, they hoped for "better" conditions in the south. Some took the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road from Philadelphia to Augusta. Later generations joined them for support and help in getting established. Some came during the famine years in the mid 1840s. Some had drifted in from the north and west into the south as early as 1734. Many Irish did not speak English (spoke Gaelic) and the Hibernian Society helped to teach them. Not all came by road, some came in steerage in coastal steamers from other locations. In 1839 many Irish laborers were working in Marthasville, the original name of Atlanta.