How Did My Pennsylvania Ancestor Get There?: Migration Trails West

Considering the trails and reasons why your ancestor left Pennsylvania will give you some clues as to where you might search for his origins there. This lecture helps the attendee give much thought to the five W’s and H of migration: • WHO and WHAT: How can you find your ancestors’ migration path? • WHEN and WHERE: migration routes leading out of Pennsylvania to points west using waterways and overland pathways and when they were used • WHY: Push and Pull Reasons for migrating: ethnic, religious, political, land, jobs, families, etc. Military service often led to settlement in areas where the soldier served, or where he settled due to bounty land grants. • HOW: trails, roads, railroads, rivers and canals Several case studies illustrate how awareness of migration paths can solve genealogical problems even from a several states away.