I too have been searching for some hard evidence of the migration from Casco Bay to Northampton Co., PA. I haven't read Collier's book, but I've seen a quote attributed to William Egle, former PA State Historian and prolific writer of PA history. I don't have the exact quote on hand but it was something in his attempt to explain the so-called "irish Settlement" which began at Mt. Bethel, PA not far from Easton, PA, and spread west to the Lehigh River around Allentown, PA. In his statement he mentions the difficult winter at Casco Bay and the migration to eastern PA. There is also an anecdote that the group got lost on the way, and thought they were settling in NY, so they named their settlement the "Hunter Settlement" supposedly in honor of the Governor of NY at the time. A contingent from the Hunter Settlement moved on to E. TN and settled around Greenville, Greene Co., TN ca. 1791, where they founded the Mt. Bethel Presbyterian church, named in remembrance of their former home in PA. If you want more specific information, let me know, and I'll dig out what I have. Dan Wilson From: "Ruth McLaughlin" <[email protected]> >> Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 9:52 PM >> To: <[email protected]> >> Subject: [S-I] a question about a possible Scotch-Irish migration from NH >> toPA in 1719 >> > >>> 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