Greetings fellow researchers,   For many years I have shared my genealogical research with the folks on the COWAN, WIGTON-WALKER, and SCOTCH-IRISH rootsweb lists.    The trail leads from Sterling, in Scotland, to Londonderry-Donegal in Ulster, to    Pennsylvania, the valley of Virginia, east Tennessee and points west.    If your ancestors followed a similar path then some of these documents might be of interest.    I have searched for rare, out of print source materials as both a hobby and an obsession and have offered to make copies for people from time to time.    Because of a busy schedule I will only be able to do so once a year. I have added two new items since last time and they are described with the others below beginning with the most recent history first:   Castle's Woods:    Frontier Virginia Settlement, 1769-1799, a thesis presented to the Faculty of the Department    of History, East Tennessee State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts, by James W. Hagy, 1966, 150 pages.          This covers the families who settled in Russell and Scott counties, Virginia when it was considered the frontier.    Contains information on specific families as well as the farmers, speculators, artisans, and preachers who resided there.    Lots on the Indian battles that were a daily feature of life on the frontier.   Tthe Tinkling Spring:    Headwater of Freedom, A Study of the Church and Her People, 1732-1952, by Howard McKnight Wilson, 1954, Fisherville, Virginia, 542 pages.           The BEST source of information on the Scotch-Irish of Augusta/Rockbridge Counties in Virginia.    Includes the Baptismal Records of the Rev. Craig.    In-depth study of the early families of the Shenandoah Valley.   Rockbridge County, Virginia Notebook, Compiled from articles by Dr. George W. Diehl as published in the News-Gazette, Lexington, Virginia.    Compiled by A. Maxim Coppage, McDowell Publications, 1982, 242 pages.           "In many instances information may be found showing where families originated in Scotland or Ireland, the places lived before settling in Rockbridge County, Virginia area and relationships between the various clans or as Mr. Diehl so aptly named this phase of pioneering, "A ROCKBRIDGE SEED-BOX" This document is almost 100% pure family history and genealogy. The Rev. Samuel Houston, V.D.M., by George West Diehl, 1970, McClure Publishing Co. 125 pages      History of the early Virginia Presbyterians through the life of the Rev. Samuel Houston, kin to Sam Houston of Texas fame.   A Tribute to the Principles, Virtues, Habits and Public Usefulness of the Irish and Scotch Early Settlers of Pennsylvania, Chambersburg, Pa. Printed by M. Kiefer & Co. 1856, 171 pages.           From the preface the following:    "The writer of the Tribute contained in this work, had long desired to see from the Historical publications in Pennsylvania, a vindication of the character and principles of the Irish and Scotch early settlers of this great state and their descendants against reproach, as well as aspersion, cast upon them in some modern publications having pretensions to Historical accuracy... The Scotch-Irish in the Colonies:    1750-1790:    A Thesis Presented for the Degree of Master of Arts, by Kathryn R. Aiken, A.B., The Ohio State University, 1933, 91 pages         Chapters include:    By way of Introduction, Early Settlements, Daily Life on the Frontier, Educational and Religious Activities, Military Pursuits, Political Participation and Conclusion.    Like Hagy's Castle Woods thesis it has a wonderful bibliography, the most important part of any research document.   The Laggan and its Presbyterianism and In the Days of the Laggan Presbytery, 1905, 1908, by the Rev. Alexander Lecky, B.A., member of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Belfast, Davidson and McCormack, 54 Kings St.    211 pages           On our recent trip to Donegal we met J.B. Shannon, age 90, who assisted in the 1975 reprinting of this book.    He is the last living person who had anything to do with these books and he says they are still the BEST source for Ulster Presbyterian research.    From Lecky the following:    "The lists of names of former generations of Lagganeers, and their places of abode, that are given in the Appendixes, and which NEVER before appeared in print, whilst they may of necessity prove dull reading to those who have no acquaintance with the locality, will not, I hope, be altogether uninteresting to those who bear the same name, or live in the same places....   A History of the Siege of Londonderry and Defense of Enniskellen in 1688 and 1689, with Historical Poetry and Biographical notes, by the Rev. John Graham, M.A. Rector of Magilligan in the Diocese of Derry.    Includes the Battles of the Boyne, Athlone, and Aughrim and the siege and Capitulation of Limmerick by Lord McCaulay, Toronto, 1869           The historical poems are family genealogies about those who were at Derry and where they came from.    Along with "Fighters of Derry" these two sources contain more actual genealogical information than any others I have seen.   Fighters of Derry, Their Deeds and Descendants, being a Chronicle of Events in Ireland during the Revolutionary period, 1688-1691, by William Young, Eyre and Spottiswoode, London, 350 pages.           One of the most difficult sources to locate. (WorldCat Inter-Library lists seven known copies)    Months worth of reading and packed with great genealogy.    Contains the following biographical sketches:           1.    The leaders of the County Associations who, with their levies, took part in the preliminary operations and contributed much of the man power for the Defence.      2.     The Apprentice Boys and those responsible for shutting the gates on the 8th Dec. 1688.      3.     The actual Defenders during the 105 day siege ((over 12000 genealogical sketches)      4.     Those engaged in the relief of the city.   Three Hundred Years in Innishowen, Being More Particularly an Account of the Family of Young of Culdaff with Short Accounts of Many Other Families Connected with Them, by Amy Young, The Linenhall Press, Belfast, 1929, 311 pages           Some of the names included are Young, Hart, Harvey, Cary, Vaughan, McLaughlin, Skipton, Richardson, Knox, Ussher, Smith, Nesbitt, Chichester, Ball, Lawrence, Crofton, Boyd, Stuart and many others. The Laggan and its People, by S.M. Campbell, privately printed.              Ms. Campbell lived on the next farm over from my friend James Fleming in St. Johnston, Donegal.    A look at the history of the Laggan (Presbyterian Derry/Donegal) through the eyes of a local historian.    Draws on local lore, Abercorn papers, records from PRONI.   Well there you have it.    The best documents I have found during my ten years of research.    If you are interested in obtaining any of the above items please contact me privately for details.    I do charge to recover copying and postage costs which is permissible under rootsweb policy. Regards, Robert Cowan 525 Harrogate Rd. Matthews, North Carolina 28105