Colonial Roads and Skaggs Family Migration

Knowledge of colonial roads can help with understanding Skaggs family migrations prior to 1800.  Below is a map of the system of roads in colonial America.  

If you are interested in how Maryland Skaggs might have ended up in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina just check out the analysis below the fold.

The Long Hunters

James and Rachel Skaggs, parents of the famous Long Hunter Skaggs, most likely migrated from the Virginia Northern Neck (Fredericksburg) to the New River Valley prior to 1746.  The would have likely hooked up with the Great Valley Road (green line) at either Winchester or Staunton and traveled south to the New River Valley just beyond Roanoke.

Charles and John (Gourdhead) Skaggs were listed in the Pittsylvania County, Virginia tax list of 1767.  Pittsylvania was newly formed from Halifax County.  They could easily travel to the New River Valley by picking up the southern branch of the Great Valley Road (dashed green line) at Martinsville.

Archibald Skaggs, son of Charles the Long Hunter, attested in his military pension application that he was born in South Carolina in 1759.  As a child, Archibald likely traveled the Upper Road (brown line) from Greenville, South Carolina to Salisbury, North Carolina, then the southern branch of the Great Valley Road (dashed green line) to Roanoke and the New River Valley.

Aaron Skaggs

In 1755 Aaron Skaggs was in the Orange County, North Carolina tax list.  Aaron likely descended from the Prince George's County, Maryland Skaggs family and was likely the father of Aaron Skaggs Jr. of Virginia and later Kentucky.  He likely traveled down the King's Highway (blue line) from Georgetown, Maryland to Fredericksburg, Virginia then the Upper Road (brown line) to Hillsborough, North Carolina in Orange County.

"Hunting" Henry Skaggs, son of Aaron, attested in his military pension application that he was born in South Carolina in 1759 and knew his cousin Archibald Skaggs all his life.  Henry's father Aaron likely traveled from Hillsborough, North Carolina to Greenville, South Carolina using the Upper Road (brown line).

James C. Skaggs

James C. Skaggs and his father, Charles, from the Safeway Skaggs family migrated from South Carolina to Tennessee according to his Revolutionary War pension deposition:  “...he never left his post during all his service unless when in the immediate neighborhood of his father's, when he made a visit of a few days and immediately returned.” This indicates that James C.’s father, Charles, lived nearby in the 96 District (Laurens), South Carolina during the War. Also, “at the termination of the war he moved to Spartanburg District, South Carolina [where it is believed he married his wife Elizabeth], "...then moved to Jefferson County Tennessee c1795, where he lived for one year...then moved to Knox County, Tennessee.” James C and his father likely migrated up the Catawba Trail (blue line below) from South Carolina to the Great Valley Road over to Jefferson and Knox Counties in Tennessee.

Catawba Trail

If you ever wondered why a Skaggs ancestor moved to a specific place on the map these roads show that that place was likely accessible by road.  The Skaggs were not the only ones migrating from point A to point B, other pioneers were too.  These roads made those settlements accessible to pioneers.