“Thousands of Southerners moved west for opportunity…..”
Over the past years, Roots and Recall has received numerous queries dealing with families having moved from the Carolinas. It seems destinations in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas have drawn the most attention. Recently a descendant of the Gettys family contacted R&R asking for information on the Coates Tavern area of York Co., S.C. It seems that a number of wagon trains left Coates Tavern, Neely’s Creek and Rock Hill, all located in antebellum York County, S.C. What is most compelling is the number of individuals truly wanting to link their familys’ move from these areas, one step at a time across the country. This type of information is of paramount interest to Roots and Recall, telling the story of those who traveled west and what they took along. Not only did they physically move but with each individual moving west, they too transported cultural values related to architecture, food, and so much more. It is all to laughable to hear food commentators discussing Texas BBQ or Memphis foods, as though they are somehow regional. Do these “experts” not understand these foods and cultural traits primarily came with those who moved on antebellum wagon trains from the Carolinas. The only difference in cooking their BBQ is the use of alternative woods, not much else. Unfortunately, one national BBQ commentator, even wrongly stated mustard based sauces were from the German area of NC. He needs to learn about the Dutch Fork and German settlements in S.C. Is there even an area in NC where mustard is used as the basis for BBQ sauce?
Two of the individuals conducting research are planning trips to the area in September. One researcher is coming for the third time from Oklahoma, looking for their ancestral home in Ebenezer. The other is looking for additional documentation and genealogy on several related families who left Coates Tavern but were originally from the Waxhaw area. We look forward to hosting each and helping them discover their roots and recall their family stories here in the Carolinas.
Did your family move west before the Civil War or shortly thereafter? If so, R&R would really like to know their story. Or did they move from the Carolinas to Gainsville, Florida, a very popular destination for individuals moving out of the Camden – Kershaw area. One of R&R’s earliest users pointed out that her home in Gainsville, was extremely similar to ones from the area, specifically that of the Ingram – Montgomery House built in eastern Chester Co., S.C. This house was dismantled and reconstructed as Historic Brattonsville’s Visitor’s Center. And don’t forget besides architecture, foods, religion and others, perhaps the most distinct item transported was our Southern accent. While visiting Roseborough, Oregan in ca. 1998, my wife and I were astonished when our waitress asked immediately if we were visiting from Arkansas or perhaps the Charlotte, N.C. region? She promptly explained that a vast majority of the local residents had taken the Oregan Trail from Texas to populate Roseborough but were originally from the area around Charlotte.
Again, what western route did your family take moving West and from where did they embark – R&R wants to hear from you!
A R&R NOTE: R&R was honored recently to be asked to speak at the McGill Family reunion. Unfortunately, this was an invitation we were unable to accept due to the motto “Family Comes First”. But we are pleased to say, that we have accepted meetings with several other historical societies, and organizations to help expand the procurement of historic data and its discrimination on behalf of these archival and museum institutions. Can R&R do anything to help with getting your museum’s collections out to the public? It remains a major part of Roots and Recall’s ongoing mission!
From the Porch – Blog @ RootsandRecall.com – 8.3.17