Where did the residents of Duplin county prior to the 1790 census immigrate from? Aubrey Simpson

Aubrey, I think some of those early settlers who had come into southeastern Virginia drifted southwest and tarried a generation or two in the Duplin/Sampson area. I believe many of those were involved in the Naval Stores industry. They sapped the long leaf pine trees for resin to be made into turpentine, pitch, and pine tar. When the virgin forest had been depleted some sold that land to a farmer and moved on to the southwest in search of more untapped areas. Some folks also came into the area from New Bern, especially the Palatines and Swiss who came beginning around 1710 under the leadership of Christopher de Graffenried. I think a group Quakers and Presbyterians came down from PA and other areas to the north beginning around 1730. By 1790 Wilmington was also becoming an important port of immigration as well as industry. Duplin was already a melting pot by 1790. Don't you know it would be interesting to listen in on their conversation? Lura ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aubry Simpson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 2:38 PM Subject: [NCDUPLIN] Immigrants : Where did the residents of Duplin county prior to the 1790 census immigrate from? : : Aubrey Simpson