That was one really helpful answer and the writer is much appreciated by this kid who would probably not have made the best frontiers woman. I guess we always adjust to whatever we have to learn, but this sounds like a great deal of time, money, sweat and tears before they could comfortably travel. I am wanting to writing about some of my Grandmothers who were truly gutsy women, and this makes the one who traveled w/ her only son in front of her on horseback, alone, from MD to OH in about 1817 according to the son's age when it was mentioned in a history book many years later. I don't know how many places there were along the way for a lone woman to stop or how often she might have had to protect herself, but to start out to see her children whom she had already sent to OH w/ an older sister while she stayed home to nurse her sick husband, had to take nerve. When I read this item, I was even more convinced that she was a lady of resolve. If she wanted to do something, it got done. I am happy to report that she lived to a ripe old age in the home of a granddaughter where I found her in a Census. It must be in the genes because the whole line of women appear to have been ones who figured out a way for something to be done, no matter what the obstacles. Thanks again for the background. Marjory PETTY Austen ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.