SHENANDOAH VALLEY MOUNTAIN GAPS Abt. 1720 settlers migrated westerly from Phila. PA crossing the Potomac River and by 1772 VA had passed a law permitting settlements; these VA land grants were "rent free" for 10 years. So you can see that the interest's became even more tempting for our ancestors to push west from NJ NY MA MD and PA into VA. Orange Co., VA came into existance in 1734 and it was the first county that crossed over the Blue Ridge Mountains. From Orange County came August 1745 taking the entire western region now claimed by VA. Settlers from PA and the above northern areas pushed west claiming VA lands - it was free! They lingered in east VA (prob. Winchester) for abt 5 years til the land was used up (crops need to be interchange and even I know that and I'm a city girl) or they'd hear tales from the likes of Daniel BOONE that if they continued west towards OHIO the land was even more fertile. (Think of it like - you decide to rent out your home for 650.00 monthly but you're renters hear they can get a bigger and better rental property on a better side of town near better jobs for 400.00 a month) they move out and don't tell you... ok, well I told you they were my words. Remembers those 25 or so families that were inter-married; they owned/controlled VA land east of the Blue Ridge. They gave the land out to whom they chose. The underprivileged indentured slave ancestors, actually about 70 percent had not choose but to go west young man, go west. So, they made their way up major rivers like the Potomac, Rappahannock and james as these trails got them nearer to the Blue Ridge - they desperately wanted to seek the better lands towards the west - Ohio. But, thoughthe Blue Ridge was fairly approachable at the top northern areas, and was easily crossed w/wagons and their huge wooden chests as they migrated from WINCHESTER into these mountaions they realized that the "ridges" were becoming larger and larger with no where to cross. No GAPS. Blue Ridge GAPS slowly bend into smaller sections in the Great Valley. The frist major gap was used by the Indians; this route was known as the Nemacolin Trail meaning Ashby's Gap (named by whitemen - go figure). This GAP connected the WINCHESTER region with the northeast sections of VA, and the Fredericksburg, MD area that I spoke of earlier. Once they found a GAP, immediately the pioneers would make the roads more opened and accessible - they wanted to get across the Blue Ridge. Know how they feel. By the time Richmond, VA became a popular city, all roads lead there. Any city that had a good western connection faired well in those days. One road which lead from Richard to Charlottseville and on to Staunton was US 250 which passed right thru Rockfish Gap in Albermarle County. I-64 followed this route. Richmond to Lexington and then straight to the OHIO River turned into the James River and Kanawah Turnpike (US60) and this too crossed over the Blue Ridge through irish Gap and straight into Amherst County. All roads into the Great Valley joined or crossed the old valley road, later to be known as Route 11 and I-81. Many settlers followed the Great Wagon Road leaving Roanoke and finally crossing the mountain eastward through Maggotty gap on US 220 til the arrived in NC. And here's where they're zig zagging occurred. GAPS Loudoun Jefferson County: Keys - VA 9; Gregory; Wilson Loudoun Clark: Snickers - VA 7; Ashby US 50 Fauquier-Warren: Manassas I-66 Rappahannock: Chester US 522; Jenkins; Gravel Springs; Beahms; Page: Thornton US 211 Madison: Fishers Greene - Rockingham: Swift Run US 33; Powell; Simmons Albermale-Rocking: Browns Albermale-Augusta: Jarmon; Turk; Beagle Nelson-Augusta: Rockfish US 250 I-64; Humpback; Laurel Springs; Reeds; Tye River VA 56 Amherst-Rockbridge: Irish; Indian US 60; white's; Saltlog VA 130; robertson's US 501; Pettit Bedford-Botetourt: Peaks of Otter; Bufford Redford-Roanoke: Roanoke US 460 Franklin-Roanoke: Maggotty US 220 Franklin-Floyd: Pauper; Adney; Daniel River; Cannaday; Dog Spur; Jones Spur Patrick-Floyd: Perry; Mowbray VA8; Woods; Tuggle Patrick-Carroll: Willis; Volunteer; Orchard; Wards US 58; Elk Spur Shew..You can source these maps at your local library Map of the St of VA by Herman BOYES 1825-1859 and VA Atlas & Gazetteer by Delorme Mapping 1996 At the southern most end of the VA Great valley the land became more broken and the vallen more indistinct; it was further from the French and the older pioneers choose to stay near bigger already formed settlements while the younger pushed forward, they were younger and ready for the challenges. The 3 best routes for these younger pioneers was the Kanawah River, the Big Sandy River and the old warpaths that lead throu the Cumberland Gap even though they still had to avoid Indians at all cost - scalping did occur. A good place to start your research (my suggestion) would be at Pittsburg, a fork of OHIO ca 1769 when the very first western land office was opened. The very first day they opened they rec'd over 2,790 land purchases with over est. of 5,000 families arriving and settling in the Youghiogheny, Monongahelia, Redstone adn Cheat River areas. By 1770 they made their way into Greenbrier Valley settling near the New River (central VA). 1768 is when the Watagus settlemtn in NC at that time began on the Holstein River; they were mostly from the older settlement of Yakin established in 1747. So, this might explain why we are constanly asking... where did so and so children end up migrating too? Why was Jacob MOYER seen in PA and 5 years later another shows up suddenly in GA or NC and who was he and where did he come from? Why, it was probably the same Jacob who stayed in NC or GA for a few years and couldn't take all of the great dreamy rumors of OHIO. So, there's a thought for all of you to ponder on... Now I await for thee dreaded "Chrystie you are wrong emails ;) Chrystie MYERS BROOKOVER, COWGER, KRABAL, MOYERS, MYRES, SWECKER --------------------------- # --------------------------- Rootsweb List Administrator - [email protected] Homestead for MYERS GENEALOGY.COM at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chrystiem/myersfam.html