Errol & Valerie.... Thank you so much for that perfect answer. I think you are absolutely correct in your summation of the migration pattern. I kept thinking land or something big drew them to Ohio but they never bought any land. Following the land purchasers makes perfect sense especially since they were leaving depression type times in N.Y. Thank you very much for your response. Pat << Actually the reason was land. While your ancestors may not have purchased land when they arrived in Huron Co., they needed support from those that did. My research centers around Washington, Essex, Erie, and Clinton Co., NY and Rutland Co., VT. But I understand that the conditions in most areas of New York were the same. The land in New York was quite shallow, especially the land in Upstate New York. By the 1830's the land in Washington Co would not grow grain without "manuring". The Erie Canal opened the interior of the country. Grain and Wool could be grown in Ohio, IL, WI and other places and shipped to the east coast cheaper than it could be grown there. In addition there were new breeds of sheep that came from England that produced finer wool. The demand for course wool fell and the farmers that produced it could not sell it. The new breeds were expensive and not available in the New York interior. With the invention of the Cotton Gin, Cotton began to over take the wool industry. Even the way wool was spun changed from hand spinning and weaving to mechanized spinning and weaving. In the 1820's farmer could buy a couple of spinning wheels and hire the local women and children to make cloth for him. By the 1850's, he had to set up a factory. With all the other changes this was impossible. Then there were the Irish. Living in Ireland was tough. So when the immigrants came to the US, they would work for less pay then the locals would. Because they did not make much, they didn't spend much on things other than food. The Poor House rolls reflect the increase in Irish population. So not only did they work for less, but when they could not support them selves, they lived off of the locals. I am not sure that the economists consider it a depression, life in New York State was depressed. Farmers left for the Midwest in large numbers. Some with free land from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Some to Cheap land ($1 an acre during the time when farm land in Washington Co., NY was selling for $10 an acre). When the farmers left, there was no one for the shop keepers to sell to, so they followed the farmers. When the farmers and the shop keepers left, support people like accountants, lawyers, doctors, even government employees had to. As the population grew in the Midwest, the need for transportation grew. Canals, Railroads, and highways were developed. Canal Contractors and Maintenance people came from Northern New York. Railroad and Highway builders came from all over NY, PA, and VT. Once the Canals were dug, boat builders were needed. After the railroads were built, Engineers, Rail Yard People, Conductors, and other support people were needed. As the Highways were completed more wagon builders were needed. These folks ate, they sat in chairs, and walked in shoes. So you see, even if your folks did not buy land when they got to Huron Co, land was the reason they came. Errol and Valerie Cross Home Page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ecross/Index.htm >>