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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.
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