An explanation of the differences between the Scots and the Scots-Irish immigrants might be helpful to this list as they both were present in Mecklenburg Co. in the 18th century. The Scots came from Scotland directly to America. They were normally from the highlands of Scotland and they had strong allegiance to the Crown. During the Revolutionary War, they tended to be Loyalists. The Scots-Irish were originally from the lowlands (Southern part) of Scotland. They lived in sparce conditions and long endured border skirmishes. In 1603, King James began the Plantation of Ulster in Northern Ireland. He intended to send people from the Scottish lowlands to northern Ireland to settle there and help to control the Irish who were troublesome and Catholic. The Scots were protestant. The plantation was successful for 100 years but from about 1725 to the late 1700's' things deteriorated in Ireland so that these Scots-Irish or Ulstermen again left for new shores, this time in America. Some 250,000 came during this great wave of immigration from Ireland and most arrived in ports near Philadelphia. They came into Pennsylvania and later moved on. Some moved west and stayed int he NOrthern US. The Mecklenburg group came down the great Wagon Road through Virginia and into NC. I am Scots-Irish throught my Harris ancestors from Charlotte. My husband is Scots-Irish through his McNeal ancestors who stayed in western Pennsylvania and then went on into Ohio. The Scots-Irish were fiercely independent and were among the strongest fighters for independence from England. They supported a strong Protestant church and valued education. They were not afraid of new territories and were in the lead as settlers pushed West into new territories as America expanded. James G. Leyburn has written a wonderful book: The Scotch-Irish, a Social History. Anyone who is researching ancestors with these connections will enjoy this book immensly and will learn a wealth of good information about his ancestors. Constance