Customer Reviews

The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania

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So, Scotch is a drink. Big deal. Genealogists have grown up with the term "Scotch-Irish" and it will probably stay that way. [Yes, it should be Scots-Irish] This book gives an excellent understanding of this group of people, why they came to America and especially why they headed for the "back country" - westward and southward to the Valley of Virginia. This book clearly explains why these people were so important to the colonization of America. [I apologize to the Native Americans, but this group was instrumental in expanding the white man's territory.]

I would advise anyone researching their Scottish Roots to buy this book. It is repetive and could have said the samething in lots less words but .... this book has helped me understand my roots connected to the Gillespie families. I now believe that they were lowlanders who migrated to Ireland. Conditions there were bad d/t landlords in outlaying territory. There was religious persecution and a famin. There was a question in my mind as to why they would come to America during the times of Indian and British unrest.

I understand why they moved in America as they did and I understand the route they took. Big help!!

PURCHASED THIS BOOK SINCE THE AUTHOR IS A DISTANT RELATIVE IN MY GENEALOGY. EXCELLENT RESOURCE TO UNDERSTAND SCOTCH-IRISH IMMIGRATION IN THE EARLY DAYS. AS WELL, GOOGLE THE AUTHOR'S HOME WHICH STILL STANDS AS A BED AND BREAKFAST FOR FURTHER BACKGROUND. EXCELLENT BOOK FOR GENEALOGY LIBRARY WHETHER SCOTCH-IRISH OR DUNAWAY DESCENDANT.

You would think that a writer would know the proper name of the group about whom he is writing....we are SCOTS, not Scotch. Ask any native of Scotland--- they will tell you that Scotch is a drink; the people are Scots.
The information in this book was very interesting and well documented, but it was tiresome to read. The author repeats himself over and over again within chapters and even within paragraphs.....restating, in different form, the same thoughts and facts.
If you can get through the duldrums of the writing technique, you will gain much valuable information.