Wednesday, May 28, 2014

WOW: Mapping Migration Routes

I've tried to get started on this concept a couple of times, but haven't carried it through to fruition.

Take a look at where each branch of your family started out in the States/Colonies and where they ended up. Try to map out the route(s) they took across county.

Some things to consider:

1) What were the major routes taken by "pioneers" at the time your family moved. Did major rivers come into play? What overland trails were available to them? Did they have to travel by sea to get from, say, the East coast to California?

2) What cities and towns were common stops for travelers?

3) What method of transportation would your people most likely have used at the time? flatboat, walking, horseback, wagon, steamboat, railroad......

4) Did they travel with allied families, neighbors, common religious groups or alone? Chances are a group of families traveled together, so look for familiar surnames as your families move across country.

5) If all else fails, simply map your family from town to town as they moved. You may not get the exact route taken, but may be able to come close. Major modern highways may have followed closely the routes taken by your ancestors.

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