Brock, I have some ancestors who left Westmoreland Co but they went to Muskinghum Co Ohio..after the turn of the century. Anyone who left that section of PA where the Indian massacres were happening and went to KY before the turn of the century was going from the frying pan into the fire. So many didn't make it down the Ohio River! A wonderful book for anyone with interst in the very early period of KY or OH history is Allen Eckert's "The Frontiersman." The story of frontiersman Simon Kenton, it's packed with footnotes that are as interesting to read as the book. In this book we pick up a feel for the desire for land and the driving need to venture forth for better land and opportunities. The slave issue sounds reasonable to me, but would be specific to maybe only PA. I think historians would list many issues that caused migration. The Kentuckians who moved through the southern route from NC and western VA may have shared these reasons and have had some of their own. Sharon At 03:43 PM 12/16/1999 EST, you wrote: >George and Sharon > >There is no doubt that many who came to Ky came from Westmoreland Co, Pa. I >have been looking at why? > >If you want some very interesting history look at the history of The Ohio Co >which sold or pushed people to Westmoreland Co after 1750. This was before >it became PA. When most went to Westmoreland it was touted as a county of >VA. They mostly settled at Redstone Fort or Town which is now in Fayette Co >PA. The library in Fayette has a great genealogy dept and covers this >migration with excellent references. > >There are two reasons (my conclusions only) that they (including my >ancestors) left. The first was the terrible indian wars initiated by the >English and the second was that most had slaves especially those that came >from NC and VA. PA just after it got legal title to Westmoreland Co area >(It was called many other names prior) declared PA a slave free state. My >ancestors Robertsons divided on the slave question with some in the same >family moving north to Michigan and some moving to NC and SC. My wifes family >the Claytons apparently also came to Ky the same way but they seem to have >been non slave owners. All this may never be proved. > >Brock > > >