Most Scots Irish came to America to escape the oppressive rule of England.
The Ulster plantation that had lured them from their Scottish homeland proved unsuccessful for most. Very few owned the land they lived on. Instead they paid rent (mostly to English land-owners) and after 100 years of successfully cultivating the land, their leases came up and the landlords raised the rents to the point that they could not afford them. Furthermore, England, under the rule of Queen Anne, was trying to establish the Anglican Church as the “official” church throughout all the British Isles and passed the Test Acts. These Acts declared that only those taking communion in the Anglican church were eligible for public office and there were severe penalties against recusants (those who refused to attend Anglican services). Ulster Scots were primarily Presbyterian and any Presbyterians holding military or civil office were immediately ousted and, by these laws, anyone who had been married by a Presbyterian minister was declared “living in fornication”.
It’s no wonder that Ulster Scots, or Scots Irish, were eager to leave for America where land was plentiful and they had religious freedom. As much as 1/3 of the Protestant population of Ireland left for the colonies between 1731 and 1768. Most of them settled in the Pennsylvania area amidst the Quakers, but as more and more immigrants came and land became less available they started making their way South along the “Great Wagon Road” to the uninhabited land of the Carolinas, or the Backcountry. This migration started en masse in 1750 and headed straight through Virginia, so no doubt William Henry and wife, Isabella, were influenced by those on their way and decided to join the journey.
Sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
The trip would take about 3 months by wagon. The road was not yet well-developed and at one point on a similar trip made by Quaker Morgan Bryant in 1748, he had to remove the wheels from his wagon and carry it up a hill in pieces. It must have been a difficult trip for William, with Isabella and new baby Mary, but Scots were a hardy bunch, used to dealing with hardship and adversity. They were strong-willed, resilient. In The Great Wagon Road by T. H. Breen, Bill McGee states, “The Germans rode into North Carolina, but the Scotch-Irish walked in, carried their belongings on their backs and squatted wherever they could find a nice piece of land.”
By April 5, 1753 William and family had “squatted” on 488 acres on the “north fork of Rocky Creek being the waters of the west side of the Catawba” and a year later claimed another 600 acres at the “south side of the Catawba River on a small creek that runs into the Tuckasegee Ford beginning at a Red Oak”. Shortly thereafter, their friend and neighbor from Augusta, Andrew McNabb, moved down to join them and purchased from them 300 of the 600 acres on the south side for £10. By this time they had two more children, Alexander and William B, and it appears from the Witness of the sale to McNabb, that James McCord had followed them down to North Carolina as well.
The green mark above “The Catawbaw River” is where William Henry’s first settlement was.
Within 10 years and now with a total of 7 children (added to the family were Malcom, John, Josiah, and Isabella), the Henrys moved further south near Mecklenburg and just below King’s Mountain (more to come on that later). They acquired almost 1300 acres between Crowder’s Creek, Allison’s Creek, and Fishing Creek. They were still in North Carolina but eventually the boundary would change and the property would be in South Carolina. This land became known as Henry’s Knob and stayed in the family for over a hundred years. Henry’s Knob kept its name so if you ever make it to South Carolina, pay a visit to the old family home.
The green area covers the area between Crowders Creek, Allison’s Creek, and Fishing Creek.
By 1774 Willam and Isabella’s family was complete with a total of 10 children and 1 that had died in childbirth or shortly thereafter. God bless Isabella!
William and Isabella Henry’s children:
Mary Henry Smith (1749 – 1819)
Alexander Henry (1751 – 1829)
William B. Henry (1753 – 1807)
Malcolm Henry (1755 – 1840)
John B. Henry (1758 – 1833)
Josiah Henry (1760 – 1850)
Isabella Henry Walker (1762 – 1818)
Jane Henry Byers (1767 – 1838)
Francis D. Henry (1768 – 1867)
James Henry (1774 – 1839)
Thomas C Henry (died in infancy)
The Conestoga Wagon
The Conestoga Wagon was a popular wagon used by those heading south along the Great Wagon Road. It was built with its floor curved upward to prevent contents from tipping and shifting. Including its tongue, the average Conestoga wagon was 18 feet long, 11 feet high, and 4 feet in width and could carry up to 6 tons. It was pulled by 4-6 horses specifically bred to pull this type of heavy cargo and they could cover about 15 miles per day.
You can still buy a Conestoga Wagon today from the original Conestoga Wagon Company. They look like the original wagon on the outside but is a stylish sleeper camper on the inside.
Check out their website here:
Conestoga Wagon Company
Or if you can’t afford a wagon of your own, take a trip to Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort and stay in one of theirs:
For the Entertainment of the CURIOUS
The following article is from the Pennsylvania Gazette (Ben Franklin’s newspaper) printed 25 December, 1755. Don’t be dissuaded by the fact that it is about a scientific lecture. It’s quite a humorous read.
Franklin had conducted his own experiments with electricity just three years earlier, including the famouse Kite and Key experiment so he must have been very happy to promote this event.
Mr. KINNERSLEY proposes to exhibit, in the Christmas Holidays, in the Apparatus Room in the COLLEGE, A COURSE of EXPERIMENTS on that new Branch of Natural Philosophy called ELECTRICITY; to be accompanied with two methodical Lectures on the Nature and Properties of that wonderful Element. In each Lecture a Number of very curious and entertaining Experiments will be exhibited; by which, among other Particulars, it will be demonstrated that the Electrical Fire, (illegible) from the Earth by the Attrition of Glass or other Electrical Substances (which is also visible when a Horse is curried, or a Cat’s Back stroked, in the Dark, in dry frosty Weather, and which Ladies have sometimes been frightened with, upon feeling it sparkle on some of their Clothes) is the same with Lightning; and in Proportion to the Quantity collected, will produce the very same Effects.
It will also be shown how an Apparatus may be conducted, by which it would be in the Power of Man to collect from the Earth, and discharge in one united Stroke, more lightning than is even discharged from the Clouds at any one Time. A Method will also be proposed and explained, by which Houses, Ships, Etc. may easily be secured from being hurt by Lightning. And as some (illegible) to doubt the Lawfulness of endeavouring to guard against lightning, it will be shown, that the doing it, in the Manner (illegible) can neither be chargeable with Presumption, nor be (ill.) with any of the Principles of Natural or Revealed Religion. The Knowledge of Nature tends to enlarge the human Mind, (and teach) us more noble, more grand and exalted ideas of the Author of Nature, and if well pursued, seldom fails of producing something useful to Man; ’tis hoped these Lectures may be thought worthy of Regard and Encouragement, by some who have not yet had the Opportunity of attending them. The first Lecture to be on Monday, the 29th Instant; the Second on Tuesday; to begin precisely at Eleven o’Clock in the Forenoon; and to be repeated again, if desired, on the Thursday and Friday following.
Those who please to attend on Monday or Thursday Half an Hour before Eleven, may be entertained with some curious Experiments made with the Air Pump; and may have the Pleasure of seeing some other agreeable Curiosities. Tickets to be had at Mr. Kinnersley’s House, in Market-Street. Price Half a Dollar for each Lecture.
Tho’ dry Weather is always best for Electrical Experiments, yet at this Time of the Year they can be exhibited very well even when it rains, as the Air may be made pretty dry by Means of a good FIre in the Room.
It would be almost 125 years before Thomas Edison would start working on his light bulb. Edison did not invent the lightbulb, he simply perfected it. The earlier bulbs had flaws such as extremely short life and requiring a high electric current which made them unavailable for most consumers. He experimented with several substances, including hemp, palmetto and bamboo, to create a filament that would not burn out quickly. He filed his patent on 4 Nov, 1879 and debuted his incandescent bulb at Menlo Park on 31 Dec, 1879. Way to ring in the New Year!
Supporting Documents
