Upper Road: Difference between revisions
m (Text replacement - " " to " ") |
(traders') |
||
| (26 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Migration Internal|Migration]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[US Migration Trails and Roads|Trails and Roads]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Upper_Road|Upper Road]]'' | |||
The '''Upper Road''' or "Piedmont Road" splits off from the [[King's Highway]] at Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was roughly parallel to, but farther inland than the coastal [[King's Highway]] and more inland [[Fall Line Road]] until it rejoined that later road at Macon, Georgia. The Upper Road was especially popular among the Scots-Irish (or Ulster Irish) colonists who settled the backcountry mountains. In Virginia there is no modern equivalent road because reservoirs now cover the old trail. Interstate 85 is roughly the same as the Upper Road in the Carolinas.<ref name="BWhit">Beverly Whitaker, "The Upper Road" (1995) in ''Genealogy Tutor'' at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gentutor/upper.pdf (accessed 24 January 2011).</ref> The length of the Upper Road from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Macon, Georgia was approximately 585 miles (940 km).<br> | The '''Upper Road''' or "Piedmont Road" splits off from the [[King's Highway]] at Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was roughly parallel to, but farther inland than the coastal [[King's Highway]] and more inland [[Fall Line Road]] until it rejoined that later road at Macon, Georgia. The Upper Road was especially popular among the Scots-Irish (or Ulster Irish) colonists who settled the backcountry mountains. In Virginia there is no modern equivalent road because reservoirs now cover the old trail. Interstate 85 is roughly the same as the Upper Road in the Carolinas.<ref name="BWhit">Beverly Whitaker, "The Upper Road" (1995) in ''Genealogy Tutor'' at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gentutor/upper.pdf (accessed 24 January 2011).</ref> The length of the Upper Road from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Macon, Georgia was approximately 585 miles (940 km).<br> | ||
| Line 13: | Line 7: | ||
=== Historical Background === | === Historical Background === | ||
By the 1740s another road beside the Fall Line Road into the interior of Virginia and the Carolinas was needed. By 1748 the original trails were improved enough to be considered wagon roads. This set of trails came to be called the '''Upper Road''' or Piedmont Road and provided major access to interior farm lands. During the Revolutionary War these roads were important to both sides moving troops in the campaigns of the southern states.<ref name="DollarM">William Dollarhide, ''Map Guide to American Migration Routes 1735-1815'' (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1997), 6, 7, 33, and 36. ({{ | By the 1740s another road beside the Fall Line Road into the interior of Virginia and the Carolinas was needed. By 1748 the original trails were improved enough to be considered wagon roads. This set of trails came to be called the '''Upper Road''' or Piedmont Road and provided major access to interior farm lands. During the Revolutionary War these roads were important to both sides moving troops in the campaigns of the southern states.<ref name="DollarM">William Dollarhide, ''Map Guide to American Migration Routes 1735-1815'' (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1997), 6, 7, 33, and 36. ({{FHL|660781|item|disp=FHL Book 973 E3d}}). [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38096564 WorldCat entry].</ref> | ||
Both the '''Upper Road''', and the [[Fall Line Road]] ended at Macon, Georgia. In 1806 the federal government signed a treaty with the Creek Indians authorizing a "horse path" (mail route) through Indian land from Macon to New Orleans, Louisiana. The Creek Indians were postmasters along this extension to the west.<ref name="DollarM" /> | Both the '''Upper Road''', and the [[Fall Line Road]] ended at Macon, Georgia. In 1806 the federal government signed a treaty with the Creek Indians authorizing a "horse path" (mail route) through Indian land from Macon to New Orleans, Louisiana. The Creek Indians were postmasters along this extension to the west.<ref name="DollarM" /> | ||
| Line 34: | Line 28: | ||
'''Upper Road Counties'''<ref name="BWhit" /> | '''Upper Road Counties'''<ref name="BWhit" /> | ||
*'''''Virginia: ''''' [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]], [[Spotsylvania County, Virginia|Spotsylvania]], [[Louisa County, Virginia|Louisa]], [[Goochland County, Virginia|Goochland]], [[Powhatan County, Virginia|Powhatan]], [[Amelia County, Virginia|Amelia]], [[Nottoway County, Virginia|Nottoway]], [[Lunenburg County, Virginia|Lunenburg]], and [[Mecklenburg County, Virginia|Mecklenburg]]. | *'''''Virginia: ''''' [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]], [[Spotsylvania County, Virginia|Spotsylvania]], [[Louisa County, Virginia|Louisa]], [[Goochland County, Virginia|Goochland]], [[Powhatan County, Virginia|Powhatan]], [[Amelia County, Virginia|Amelia]], [[Nottoway County, Virginia|Nottoway]], [[Lunenburg County, Virginia|Lunenburg]], and [[Mecklenburg County, Virginia|Mecklenburg]]. | ||
*'''''North Carolina: ''''' [[Granville County, North Carolina|Granville]], [[Orange County, North Carolina|Orange]], [[Alamance County, North Carolina|Alamance]], [[Randolph County, North Carolina|Randolph]], [[Davidson County, North Carolina|Davidson]], [[Rowan County, North Carolina|Rowan]], [[Cabarrus County, North Carolina|Cabarrus]], [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg]], [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston]]. | *'''''North Carolina: ''''' [[Granville County, North Carolina|Granville]], [[Orange County, North Carolina|Orange]], [[Alamance County, North Carolina|Alamance]], [[Randolph County, North Carolina|Randolph]], [[Davidson County, North Carolina|Davidson]], [[Rowan County, North Carolina|Rowan]], [[Cabarrus County, North Carolina|Cabarrus]], [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg]], [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston]]. | ||
*'''''South Carolina: ''''' [[York County, South Carolina|York]], [[Cherokee County, South Carolina|Cherokee]], [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina|Spartanburg]], [[Greenville County, South Carolina|Greenville]], [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens]], [[Oconee County, South Carolina|Oconee]]. | *'''''South Carolina: ''''' [[York County, South Carolina|York]], [[Cherokee County, South Carolina|Cherokee]], [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina|Spartanburg]], [[Greenville County, South Carolina|Greenville]], [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens]], [[Oconee County, South Carolina|Oconee]]. | ||
*'''''Georgia: ''''' [[Stephens County, Georgia | *'''''Georgia: ''''' [[Stephens County, Georgia|Stephens]], [[Franklin County, Georgia|Franklin]], [[Madison County, Georgia|Madison]], [[Clarke County, Georgia|Clarke]], [[Oconee County, Georgia|Oconee]], [[Morgan County, Georgia|Morgan]], [[Putnam County, Georgia|Putnam]], [[Jones County, Georgia|Jones]], [[Bibb County, Georgia|Bibb]]. | ||
<div style="width: | <div style="width: 147%; float: left"> | ||
'''Overlapping routes.''' From about the Virginia-North Carolina border to Charlotte, the '''Upper Road''' and the [[Occaneechi Path]] followed the same route. From Salisbury to Charlotte, North Carolina the southern fork of the [[Great Valley Road]] was also the same as the Upper Road. And from Charlotte, North Carolina to Tugaloo, Georgia, the Upper Road followed the [[Lower Cherokee Traders' Path]]. For a map showing these overlapping trails see [[South Carolina Emigration and Immigration#Settlement_Patterns|South Carolina Emigration and Immigration]]. | '''Overlapping routes.''' From about the Virginia-North Carolina border to Charlotte, the '''Upper Road''' and the [[Occaneechi Path]] followed the same route. From Salisbury to Charlotte, North Carolina the southern fork of the [[Great Valley Road]] was also the same as the Upper Road. And from Charlotte, North Carolina to Tugaloo, Georgia, the Upper Road followed the [[Lower Cherokee Traders' Path]]. For a map showing these overlapping trails see [[South Carolina Emigration and Immigration#Settlement_Patterns|South Carolina Emigration and Immigration]]. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
=== Settlers and Records === | === Settlers and Records === | ||
| Line 73: | Line 41: | ||
Most settlers would have moved from the northeast to the southwest along the Upper Road. People from Pennsylvania (especially around the major port city of Philadelphia), southern New Jersey, eastern Maryland, and northern Virginia would be the most likely starting places for early Upper Road travelers. They would have settled in places like Amelia Court House in southern Virginia. Eventually travelers also reached Hillsborough, Salisbury, and Charlotte, in North Carolina, or Greenville in South Carolina. The Georgia portion of the Upper Road from the important Indian settlement of Tugaloo to Athens, and Macon was opened to most white settlers after a series of treaties and Georgia land lotteries from 1790 to 1826.<ref>Dollarhide, 33-36.</ref> | Most settlers would have moved from the northeast to the southwest along the Upper Road. People from Pennsylvania (especially around the major port city of Philadelphia), southern New Jersey, eastern Maryland, and northern Virginia would be the most likely starting places for early Upper Road travelers. They would have settled in places like Amelia Court House in southern Virginia. Eventually travelers also reached Hillsborough, Salisbury, and Charlotte, in North Carolina, or Greenville in South Carolina. The Georgia portion of the Upper Road from the important Indian settlement of Tugaloo to Athens, and Macon was opened to most white settlers after a series of treaties and Georgia land lotteries from 1790 to 1826.<ref>Dollarhide, 33-36.</ref> | ||
=== Sources === | === Sources === | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
{{Virginia|Virginia}}{{North Carolina|North Carolina}}{{South Carolina|South Carolina}}{{Georgia|Georgia}} | {{Virginia|Virginia}}{{North Carolina|North Carolina}}{{South Carolina|South Carolina}}{{Georgia|Georgia}}</div> | ||
[[Category:Migration_Routes]] [[Category:US_Migration_Trails_and_Roads]] [[Category:Virginia | [[Category:Migration_Routes]] [[Category:US_Migration_Trails_and_Roads]] [[Category:Virginia]] [[Category:North_Carolina]] [[Category:South_Carolina]] [[Category:Georgia]] | ||
Revision as of 12:22, 1 February 2011
United States 
Migration Trails and Roads Upper Road
The Upper Road or "Piedmont Road" splits off from the King's Highway at Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was roughly parallel to, but farther inland than the coastal King's Highway and more inland Fall Line Road until it rejoined that later road at Macon, Georgia. The Upper Road was especially popular among the Scots-Irish (or Ulster Irish) colonists who settled the backcountry mountains. In Virginia there is no modern equivalent road because reservoirs now cover the old trail. Interstate 85 is roughly the same as the Upper Road in the Carolinas.[1] The length of the Upper Road from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Macon, Georgia was approximately 585 miles (940 km).
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.
Historical Background[edit | edit source]
By the 1740s another road beside the Fall Line Road into the interior of Virginia and the Carolinas was needed. By 1748 the original trails were improved enough to be considered wagon roads. This set of trails came to be called the Upper Road or Piedmont Road and provided major access to interior farm lands. During the Revolutionary War these roads were important to both sides moving troops in the campaigns of the southern states.[2]
Both the Upper Road, and the Fall Line Road ended at Macon, Georgia. In 1806 the federal government signed a treaty with the Creek Indians authorizing a "horse path" (mail route) through Indian land from Macon to New Orleans, Louisiana. The Creek Indians were postmasters along this extension to the west.[2]
Route[edit | edit source]
Important Towns on the Upper Road (northeast to southwest)
- Fredericksburg, VA
- Amelia Court House, VA
- Hillsboro, NC
- Salisbury, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- Spartanburg, SC
- Greenville, SC
- Tugaloo, GA
- Athens, GA
- Macon, GA
Upper Road Counties[1]
- Virginia: Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Louisa, Goochland, Powhatan, Amelia, Nottoway, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg.
- North Carolina: Granville, Orange, Alamance, Randolph, Davidson, Rowan, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Gaston.
- South Carolina: York, Cherokee, Spartanburg, Greenville, Pickens, Oconee.
- Georgia: Stephens, Franklin, Madison, Clarke, Oconee, Morgan, Putnam, Jones, Bibb.
Overlapping routes. From about the Virginia-North Carolina border to Charlotte, the Upper Road and the Occaneechi Path followed the same route. From Salisbury to Charlotte, North Carolina the southern fork of the Great Valley Road was also the same as the Upper Road. And from Charlotte, North Carolina to Tugaloo, Georgia, the Upper Road followed the Lower Cherokee Traders' Path. For a map showing these overlapping trails see South Carolina Emigration and Immigration.
Settlers and Records[edit | edit source]
No lists of settlers who used the Upper Road are known to exist. However, local and county histories along the road may reveal that many of the first pioneer settlers arrived from places to the northeast along the route.
Most settlers would have moved from the northeast to the southwest along the Upper Road. People from Pennsylvania (especially around the major port city of Philadelphia), southern New Jersey, eastern Maryland, and northern Virginia would be the most likely starting places for early Upper Road travelers. They would have settled in places like Amelia Court House in southern Virginia. Eventually travelers also reached Hillsborough, Salisbury, and Charlotte, in North Carolina, or Greenville in South Carolina. The Georgia portion of the Upper Road from the important Indian settlement of Tugaloo to Athens, and Macon was opened to most white settlers after a series of treaties and Georgia land lotteries from 1790 to 1826.[3]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Beverly Whitaker, "The Upper Road" (1995) in Genealogy Tutor at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gentutor/upper.pdf (accessed 24 January 2011).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 William Dollarhide, Map Guide to American Migration Routes 1735-1815 (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1997), 6, 7, 33, and 36. (FHL Book 973 E3d). WorldCat entry.
- ↑ Dollarhide, 33-36.
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||