I think the point missed in this conversation concerning Route 50 (aka the
Northwestern Turnpike) vs. Route 40 (aka the National Road or Braddock's
Road) is the condition of the roads in 1802.

Both were poor, but the condition of the Northwestern Turnpike was the
worst. It is not until 1827 that subscriptions are taken to build a turnpike
through the major towns along the route. As late as 1842 no wagons were
allowed on the route from November to May or at times when rain made the
road soft. Wagons were not allowed more than three tons at one time. By 1802
the road was a little more than a decade old and probably no more than a
trail in some places. At that time Braddock's Road was nearly fifty years
old and well used. Besides the Northwestern Turnpike was a toll road.

So the choice of the northern route was probably less risky.

Source of this information is Carrie Eldridge, An Atlas of Applacian Trails
to the Ohio River, self published, 1998 available at all the best
genealogical bookstores.

C.

Craig R. Scott, CGRS
CEO & President
Heritage Books, Inc.
Willow Bend Books (a division of Heritage Books, Inc.)
65 East Main Street
Westminster, MD 21157-5062
800 876-6103

Visit our websites at www.HeritageBooks.com and www.WillowBendBooks.com

























----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Drake" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 3:30 PM
Subject: Drovers and waggoners


> Ms. Mitzie:  That route, of course, was/is through the beautiful
> Shenandoah Valley and was known as the "Great Wagon Road" (also known
> as the
> "Philadelphia Wagon Road" and the "Valley Pike", now U.S. I-81). It
> was a principale route from
> PA, eastern NY, and MD south to the Carolinas, especially to the area
> of Salisbury.
>
> A drover is/was  anyone who "drove" animals from one place to another
> for pay,
> the animals usually being cattle and hogs sent to sale, railhead, or
> to market.  It is said that by 1825 there may have been as many as
> 10,000 wagons and teams and herds of animals on the Wagon Road on any
> given day.  Similarly U.S. Rt. 58 across Southern VA from Virginia
> Beach area to Johnson City, TN and west to Kentucky (now I-64) was
> used, though that was a more difficult route, hence saw less traffic
> and fewer pioneer emigrants.  By 1795  present I-40 (old U.S. 70 from
> Norfolk and that area,  west to Asheville, Nashville, Memphis and on
> West) served equally.
>
> As said, the "National Road" from the MD coast to Zanesville and
> Columbus, OH and on to St. Louis (now I-70) was
> similarly used, it and the Wagon Road having been in constant use for
> the migration of hundreds of thousands of our ancestors who moved
> west to settle the NW Territory, SW Territory, and the pioneer West.
>
> A drover had a different task from that of a waggoner, though both
> usually worked at both callings, the latter driving a wagon and team
> for pay (in 1845 about $1.00 per day).  The drovers walked much of the
> way - the more tiring task - yet were paid about the same.
>
> You may
> find it incredible to learn that many was the flock of turkeys and
> geese that were driven up the Valley to market in the big cities, or
> from central Ohio across old U.S. 40 to the railhead at Pittsburgh. v
> How in the world one drove turkeys or geese a hundred miles plus, I
> can not imagine.  One writer noted that when any single turkey decided
> to sleep, it and all of its buddies did so at the same time and at
> once, no matter WHERE they were or at what time of day.  Interesting
> subjects, indeed.  Paul
>
>
>
> Subject: drovers and wagons
>
>
> In 1802 I have an ancestor in Frederick Co, VA who borrowed
> money using the following items as collateral: " a wagon and
> team consisting of four horses with geers consisting of five
> pair and a fifth chair (or pair), Bearskins, also, a
> jackscrew and tent (or ten) bags" for four hundred and fifty
> dollars."
>
> A researcher on another list says this means he was a drover
> and probably "drove" up the valley and into PA and then west
> to Ohio.  (It seems to me if this pioneer who lived west of
> Winchester...is driving anything... would have taken the
> route that is now Rt. 50 over to Ohio.  It is a lot shorter.)
>
> My feelings are...drover or not, in this time frame he
> probably would have used his team and wagon to take valley
> products to points east through MD...the points being
> Alexandria or perhaps Baltimore.
>
> In the 1850 census his grandson's occupation is listed as
> an "waggoner".
>
> Can anyone give us some background on drovers and waggoners
> in the early to mid 1800s in the Shenandoah Valley?
> Thanks,
> Mitzie
>
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