I agree that these migrations are a fascinating factor. In fact, I have found more clues on my brick walls and some really valuable information by checking out other family lines that appeared to travel the same route as my ancestors. I think that early on these folks became friends, some intermarried, and in a sense they became a large extended family who knew and trusted each other. If one were going into the unknown, it would make sense to at least travel with folks you knew and knew you could rely upon. Besides, they knew if they were separated by some staying behind, they might never see brother or sister-in-law or parents-in-law, etc. again. Children would grow up without ever knowing grandparents and so forth. These people largely had the same goals and values and knew they would be more to succeed if they went in a cohesive group. As an example, I have learned that my Clermont County folks started in Sussex County, NJ with Phoebe Beadle (or Beedle, Bedle, or Bedell) who was born in 1774. Her family and others apparently went to Washington County, PA, or that general area sometime later. She married John Fletcher in Washington County, PA (I think), and then sometime around 1789 John, Phoebe, their two sons, the Covalts, some Beedles, and many other families (whose names show up in NJ and PA) left Bedford County, PA and went to Hamilton County, Ohio to settle in newly opened land in the Northwest Territory. John was accidently shot by Captain Richard Hall (or killed by Indians, depending on the source) in 1793 and Phoebe married Richard who had been a soldier in the Rev War from Washington County. In 1800 or 1801 Richard was transferred to Clermont County by St. Clair and there they settled in Stonelick Township and stayed. Many of the same family names can be traced from NJ to Clermont County. Some probably went early and others followed. Perhaps they didn't want to be so far from friends and relatives or the opportunities for new land convinced them to leave, especially once the Shawnees were under control. I hope others will share their migration stories as I think there are a lot of clues for all of us in doing so. Also, if others have had success finding information from NJ and PA, I hope they will share this as well as I am stuck. I only have Phoebe's date of birth and place because she mentioned them on a pension request after Richard died. I have no parents or siblings for her. As for John Fletcher, I have no definite date of birth or place. Susan in Milwaukee