Notes on Emigration from Old Frederick County
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Notes on Emigration from Old Frederick County
| wkerns (View posts) | Posted: 26 Nov 2001 5:24AM GMT |
Classification: Immigration
Emigration From Old Frederick County:
In 1747-1750, resistance against the Fairfax takeover of the Northern Neck caused an out-migration from Old Frederick County. Many of the first settlers of the 1730s and 1740s moved to a new frontier in Yadkin Valley in western North Carolina, led by Morgan Bryan (1671-1763). A few returned to their former residences in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. The remainder stayed in Old Frederick County, even though they lost some of their lands, or had to pay twice--first to the Governor of Virginia and second to Lord Fairfax. Also, there were heavy casualties of a natural disaster that occurred in 1747-1748--possibly an unusually heavy rainfall and flooding that left behind disease. Look at the number of wills that were written and probated in Old Frederick County during those two years. Or could they have died from the mercury being administered by a local physician, Dr. Hart, to counter the disease. His medical journal outlining the treatment for each early-settler patient is in the Handley Archives. Dr. Hart died with his patients.
In 1754-1763, the French and Indian War caused a disaster in Old Hampshire County. Many residents were killed by Indians who attacked from the west. This caused another migration to the Carolinas, especially the Quakers.
Generally, wars were the stimuli for migrating. They caused travel and exposure to new lands. Sometimes soldiers met women--married them and changed their residences. That’s what happened to William Hook (1759-1837). He guarded prisoners-of-war at the Winchester Barracks during the Revolutionary War; met and married a daughter of Robert McKee and settled in Hampshire County. Also, rewards or bounties were given to veterans to relocate on undeveloped western, lands. Many soldiers who enlisted in Hampshire County never returned after the War. But many German settlers (veterans) from New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Maryland resettled in the counties of Old Frederick, e.g. Shanholtzer, Malick, Buzzard, Smith, Keiter.
The War of 1812 caused a major change in the demography of this region. A migration to Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana had begun by 1800, and was fueled by Ohio becoming a State in 1803. Virginians played the major role in the settlement of Ohio, including many from Old Hampshire and Hardy Counties. Also, bounties were given to War of 1812 veterans who lived long enough--during the 1840s and 1850s, in eastern Kansas and Iowa. Most veterans sold their bounties or gave them to their sons, rather thanrelocate in old age.
The same principles applied to all wars: Civil, Spanish American, World
Wars I and II, Korean, etc.
In 1747-1750, resistance against the Fairfax takeover of the Northern Neck caused an out-migration from Old Frederick County. Many of the first settlers of the 1730s and 1740s moved to a new frontier in Yadkin Valley in western North Carolina, led by Morgan Bryan (1671-1763). A few returned to their former residences in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. The remainder stayed in Old Frederick County, even though they lost some of their lands, or had to pay twice--first to the Governor of Virginia and second to Lord Fairfax. Also, there were heavy casualties of a natural disaster that occurred in 1747-1748--possibly an unusually heavy rainfall and flooding that left behind disease. Look at the number of wills that were written and probated in Old Frederick County during those two years. Or could they have died from the mercury being administered by a local physician, Dr. Hart, to counter the disease. His medical journal outlining the treatment for each early-settler patient is in the Handley Archives. Dr. Hart died with his patients.
In 1754-1763, the French and Indian War caused a disaster in Old Hampshire County. Many residents were killed by Indians who attacked from the west. This caused another migration to the Carolinas, especially the Quakers.
Generally, wars were the stimuli for migrating. They caused travel and exposure to new lands. Sometimes soldiers met women--married them and changed their residences. That’s what happened to William Hook (1759-1837). He guarded prisoners-of-war at the Winchester Barracks during the Revolutionary War; met and married a daughter of Robert McKee and settled in Hampshire County. Also, rewards or bounties were given to veterans to relocate on undeveloped western, lands. Many soldiers who enlisted in Hampshire County never returned after the War. But many German settlers (veterans) from New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Maryland resettled in the counties of Old Frederick, e.g. Shanholtzer, Malick, Buzzard, Smith, Keiter.
The War of 1812 caused a major change in the demography of this region. A migration to Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana had begun by 1800, and was fueled by Ohio becoming a State in 1803. Virginians played the major role in the settlement of Ohio, including many from Old Hampshire and Hardy Counties. Also, bounties were given to War of 1812 veterans who lived long enough--during the 1840s and 1850s, in eastern Kansas and Iowa. Most veterans sold their bounties or gave them to their sons, rather thanrelocate in old age.
The same principles applied to all wars: Civil, Spanish American, World
Wars I and II, Korean, etc.