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North Carolina Mountain Folk |
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In the early part, of the 17th century, European settlers were making their homes at the base of the Smoky Mountains. They came from Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Denmark, and Germany. Most found their way from Richmond, New York, and Boston via the Great Wagon Road. While a small portion came from Savannah and Charleston. Even today, there are descendants that still carry on the folkways of their ancestors. In some communities, the language, of their ancestors still can be heard. When you are in the hills of Franklin, NC listen for the "Scottish" bough and when "Down East", in the small town of Sea Level, NC you will hear the "King's English" mixed in with today's dialect. The Europeans quickly spread over the fertile river land and pushed into the rocky slopes and massive forests of the highlands. Here the soil was poor and rocky, and living became a struggle against the wilderness. The settlers hunted, fished, gathered berries, nuts, honey and made syrup. They had a few farm animals, grew corn, apples, berries; flax and cotton were spun into clothing; eggs, chickens, ducks and geese were traded at the country store for coffee, salt, nails, oil and other necessities. The hardy culture of the "soon to be" mountain people developed. Generation after generation lived a simple life based on hard work, family ties and strict fundamentalist religion. The folk arts flourished. Woodworking, leather craft, quilt making, the music of fiddle and harmonica and mouth harp endure. Life was hard. There were no extras and little cash. I have come to realize, in the grand scheme of things, God made the people of the Smoky Mountains very special. Not just because I am from there, but it's about a way of life that will follow you until the day you die. I am going to let you read stories and tales about my family history. You can see how there are numerous family names related to the Powers family. See how we evolved and how we became scattered across the U.S. It seems to me, all the families from the North Carolina Mountains have some sort of "connection". I invite you to come on in and explore; see what my connections are and, if you find yourself "connected", drop me a line and I'll add you to the family. Remember, if you were born in North Carolina, you are, and always will be, North Carolina Mountain Folk.
Buncombe County was a very large, vast area in the late 1700's and the early 1800's, I have included the following counties in my search. Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, Transylvania, Yancey, McDowell, Polk, Macon, Clay, Cherokee, Graham and Swain. |