Common surnames, be honest with yourself. Aren’t these the most fascinating trails to explore? Take, for instance, John Smith. If I had to pick the most popular name for the past 400 […]
Military Bounty Lands: Smith & Johnson Surnames 1607-1775
American Revenue Act 1764
Just as the colonies were coming out of the French and Indian War, illegal trade tactics thrived on the open market. By 1764, the smuggling grew significantly, and George Greenville, the new […]
Christmas In the Frontier
The traditional Christmas celebrations of today are unlike the ones from the colonial period. Today we have millions of presents mixed with countless parties and parades. The shopping season begins in the […]
Seeking Freedom In The Wilderness
For some, it wasn’t enough to migrate to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia during the 1740 decade. Although the region beckoned with frontier wilderness, the ever-presence of higher authority meant stipulations and […]
The Colonial Cabinet Makers
Defining a master cabinet maker in the 1700s involves numerous different tasks and craftsmanship. Their talents speak through the vast extent of contrasting designs to the elaborate polished final product. Years of […]
Census Records And Their Friends
One of the first documents that family historians research is the federal census records. From 1790, these historic archives offer a personal view of our past. The US Government instructed a census […]
Culper Spy Ring: Clues Identifying Agent#355
Researching the Culper Spy Ring during the past few months has been extraordinary. The experience has allowed new facts to emerge that seem to shed light on the identity of Agent #355. […]
Coffee & Spies-Culper Spy Ring
The colonial period represents society in order by classes with titles such as gentleman versus lower class labels such as servant or tenant. A man of higher class would have owned a […]
Piedmont Trails 