You might also want to read the online diary of George Washington's entitled 
"A Western Journey 1784". His goal was "to obtain information of the nearest 
and best communication between the Eastern & Western Waters; & to facilitate 
as much as in me lay the Inland Navigation of the Potomack".
See 
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(wd048)):


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CLAUDE RICHARDS" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2012 12:48 PM
Subject: [VA-ROOTS] Navigability question -- Thank you.


Thanks to all who responded to my question about navigability of the 
Potomac.  I have already ordered a copy of "George Washington's America..." 
and will surely give special emphasis to the maps listed in the Smithsonian 
article.  Be assured that I will check out all the suggestions that you all 
gave me.

I have no family tradition about a boat trip up the Potomac.  My Richards 
family shows up in (probably) Fairfax Co. in 1740.  The other great question 
plaguing us is "Where did they come from?"

Several children are reputed to have been born in VA.  One actually stated 
during life that he was born in Fairfax Co. The last child born to this 
family was in 1784.  In 1792 the mother and sons appear on the tax lists in 
Mason Co., KY.

I had corresponded with Paul Drake about the likely route west.  He 
responded that the Gt. Valley Road, Cumberland Gap and then north to 
Maysville (Limestone) would be most likely.  This last spring I drove that 
route, learning that Cumberland Gap during that period was a trail for pack 
mules -- wagons didn't pass through there until after my people would have. 
That started me wondering about Braddock's Road and river passage on the 
Potomac, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers.

Obviously this is a question that may never be resolved.  Mine was a family 
of little consequence and virtually no records.  I had hoped that knowing 
the most likely route might put me in touch with people or counties whose 
records might give me a clue.  Still hoping.

Passing through Ft. Boonesborough gave me a whole new picture of my family. 
I had never imagined them in buckskins before.  This brings me to another 
question:  Does anyone have suggestions where I can get information about 
the transition from "city" living in VA to life on the frontier.  Where did 
they learn how to prepare; what supplies to take; how to make the journey?

Thank you all again.  This is an awesome list where a great deal of 
knowledge and experience are collected.  You are all wonderful.

Claude Richards

"Government is not reason. It is not eloquence. Government is force; like 
fire it is a dangerous servant -- and a fearful master.”

—George Washington


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