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Archiver > CATAWBA-WEST > 1997-08 > 0872442629


From: SHERRILL U WILLIAMS< >
Subject: Lincoln Co. area
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 1997 12:10:29, -0500


Donna, Gene (she) Rooks gave you a good description of the West of
Catawba area. I was born in Gaston County, between Lucia and
Mountain Island - two great metropolitan areas! If you will go to
the US GebWeb project: NC GenWeb (Lincoln & Gaston Counties pages)
you will find histories of the region covered by this mail list.
At the beginning of the settlement period, this area was the
wilderness frontier - the first settlement beginning about 1749. As
Gene said, the earliest settlers came from Pennsylvania which had
become overrun by several immigrations from Europe of people fleeing
from primarily religious problems. The German migration (mostly
Palatinate) from the continent and also via England) of people
fleeing religious oppression, and the Ulster-Scot migration (Scots-
Irish) fleeing from civil and religious oppression in Northern
Ireland, overran Pennsylvania. Land there became very expensive or
unavailable. This population mix in the Lincoln Co area gave rise to
many early Lutheran and Presbyterian churches throughout the old
Lincoln Co. section.
There was agriculture, mainly, and in later years cotton was
grown in quantity along the Catawba River and creek bottoms.....cash
crops. But, very early, mining and iron production was a large
enterprise. Certain areas of the region were never agricultural
(except for subsistence) because of the mineral deposits running
through the area, and the forests necessary for maintaining the iron
industry. And it was here that the textile industry in the south had
its beginnings.
Settlement of the region had just got going when the French &
Indian war began. Soon the trouble with Indians overflowed to the old
Tryon Co area. Many families who had acquired land and settled on it
fled the area and returned back up into the Valley of Virginia,
Maryland and Pennsylvania. Many went back to the coastal areas of
Baltimore and Philadeplphia where there were no Indian problems. Many
returned to their NC land after the Indian problem was settled. Some
chose never to return, but some of their children did. It can be
frustrating to try to follow your ancestors during this time period,
but understanding what was happening is helpful.
There were many families in this area who maintained their
loyalty to the English crown during the Revolutionary War era. Many
actually joined the British army, or otherwise contributed to the
English cause. A lot of people will find a loyalist (Tory) ancestor
on their tree, or at least a Tory "cousin."
During the early 1800's there was a large out-migration from
Lincoln Co. to Cape Girardeau Co, MO. The migration to Cape G.
dribbled on for many years. If you loose track of part of your family,
look for them there.
Old Tryon/Lincoln county is a very interesting place. All of my
father's people lived in present Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba counties
for many, many generations.
Do tell us your family names. You are bound to find help here
with them.
Sherrill U. Williams (she)

Descending from: Sherrill, Abernathy, Harwell, Lineberger, Litton,
Fisher, Jones [Catawba Co area] and Underwood, Clubb, Forsyth, Black
(Beatties Ford), Phillips, Lambeth (Lamberth/Lambert), McDowell
[Lincoln /Gaston Co area].

Distribution:
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