Hello Ruth and others, been busy on an ambulance, and finally got on the computer to find this explosion of 1718 stuff. Ruth and I have met and talked about this migration so I'll address some specific points in the emails. If you care less about 1718 just skip my "Subject line" that will have 1718. In order to confirm info in history books we have to find the original source. Much of history in this group is based on what someone else has already published. SOooo. In 1910 Charles K Bolton wrote about the 1718 migration. He mentions that the "Merrymeeting Bay" settlers are the ones who moved to new Hampshire and PA after the unexpected/ untimely harsh winter. A few names he lists shows up in the first Londonderry, NH records ie Rankin, Caldwell, Steele etc. He provides no source. He does mention Egle's histories of PA in his notes in other chapters. In 1902 Charles A. Hanna writes the excerpts quoted almost exactly complete by Elemer R Collier in his Weir book. Hanna provides no source. Hanna claims ALLEN TOWNSHIP of Northampton, Pa is established by families of the 1718 Londonderry, NH settlers. In 1831, 1849 and again in 1865 William Willis writes three books about early Maine (primarily around Portland, ME) history. 1831 and 1865 are the same "History of Portland etc." but much larger on the 2nd edition. 1849 is the book on Rev. Thomas Smith's Journal (1st minister in Portland region- NOT S-I Presbyterian). In all three books, Willis provides the reference for his claim which was repeated and has been repeated for ages without a source. Willis states (vol 2 1865) from the Massachusetts Records "Robert Temple [CB-planter of Maine settlements 1718-1725] in a letter dated Charlestown [Cb-Mass.] April 17, 1753 in reply of the Pejepscot Pro. to the remarks of the Pro. of Brunswick, states and his family came to Mass in Sept 1717. He looked for land in CT then ME and preferred the Maine region. He contracted with two ships that year [1717] and three more the next [1718 not 1719 as Bolton states] to bring families from Ireland. Several hundred [emigrants] landed at Kennebec. Some are still there to this day, but the greatest part removed to Pennsylvania, and a considerable number to Londonderry for fear of Indians." In the 1849 book Willis adds a footnote stating" The McKean and Armstrong families of Pennsylvania were of this immigration". OK- So that solves the mystery source (unless you find a later one, and an actual emigrant). Temple was an eyewitness and largely responsible for these folks coming to America. Other then the actual emigrant, who could be a better source? We have suitable proof that some of the 1718 emigrants landed in Maine and left for PA. HOWEVER, focus on the words and you see the cause "fear of Indians". All the historians agree and an eye-witness (their minister- The Rev. James Woodside (Garvagh, Bann Valley near Aghadowey, County Londonderry) state the Indian troubles occurred on July 1722. This creates two questions: Did ANY 1718 emigrants land in Philadelphia late 1718 or early 1719?? Who and how and what happened from 1722 to 1728 to get S-I from Maine to Northampton County, PA? More on that later. Gotta print this so I don't forget next time :) In a message dated 3/28/2010 9:53:05 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Below is an excerpt about the 1718 arrival of "the 5 ships" to give the context. The bit of the excerpt that catches my attention is the last sentence beginning "The majority of the Scotts-Irish could not wait any longer...." Here's the paragraph: Elmer Roy Collier begins his book, Weir, Wear, and Ware, by saying, "The... families petitioned in 1718 to the Governor of New England to come to America...they arrived in Boston Harbor in 4 August 1718 but were forbidden to land by the intolerant Puritans. ...Sixteen families sailed to Casco Bay to claim a tract of land there but were frozen in the Bay by early winter weather…When the ice broke in the Spring they journeyed to Haverhill, Mass., where they heard of a fine tract of land about 15 miles northeast called Nutfield…James Gregg and Robert Weir sent a request to the Governor and Court, assembled at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for a township ten miles square. The majority of the Scotts-Irish could not wait any longer and traveled overland to the Scotts-Irish settlement at the Forks of the Delaware (Northampton County, Pennsylvania)." Is anyone familiar with this 1719 movement of families from New Hampshire to PA, after the terrible winter in Casco Bay, ME? Who were they, why there in particular, how did they get there? I am familiar with the families who stayed and settled in Nutfield/Londonderry, NH and environs. The idea makes sense that others, perhaps within the same families, couldn't wait for the decision of Governor and Court, not wanting to endure another tough winter as yet unsettled, and moved on to PA, thus losing contact with siblings, cousins etc. in NH. But I am out of my depth on PA! So any insights or help would be much appreciated. Ruth ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message