King's Highway: Difference between revisions

The '''King's Highway''' was also called in various parts the "Kennebunk Road," "Boston Post Road," "New York-Philadelphia Post Road," "Pequot Path," "Delaware Indian Path (New Jersey)," "Great Coastal Road," "Potomoc Trail," or "Charleston-Savannah Trail." It evolved from a network of Indian paths into postal trails, and then into an important Colonial American wagon and stagecoach route for settlers along the Atlantic coast. In 1664 British King Charles II requested a road from Boston to New York City, newly conquered from the Dutch. However, the sea route was relatively easier and safer. So as late as 1704 even finding the lightly traveled postal road was difficult. The highway in South Carolina was built from 1732 to 1735.<ref>"South Carolina Counties and Parishes - 1740" in ''The Royal Colony of South Carolina'' at http://www.carolana.com/SC/Royal_Colony/sc_royal_colony_counties_parishes_1740.html (accessed 22 April 2011).</ref> By 1750, weather permitting, wagons and regularly scheduled stagecoaches traversed a continuous road from Boston, Massachusetts, to Charleston, South Carolina, a trip of about 1,300 miles (2,100 km).<ref name="DollarM">William Dollarhide, ''Map Guide to American Migration Routes 1735-1815'' (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1997), 2-4, and 7. ({{FHL|660781|item}} Book 973 E3d). [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38096564 WorldCat entry].</ref> As roads developed in America settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the roads provided access to markets. They could sell their products at distant markets, and buy products made far away. If an ancestor settled near a road, you may be able to trace back to a place of origin on a connecting highway.