This map might explain somehow some of the cultural differences between the eastern/ coastal regions of southern states vs. the mountainous areas:
The eastern parts of these states came from the central part of England and what is now Wales. The Appalachian regions came from Northern Ireland (the Scots-Irish), Scotland and the northernmost part of England. I suspect the gene pool in the Piedmont is more similar to the Appalachian than the coastal region, but I can’t be sure about that. Of course, there has been enormous migration within the United States since these original settlers came.
I have always believed my ancestors came from Scotland but over the centuries mores and customs have changed from what they used to be. Nevertheless, I am still proud of my McIntosh heritage.
I found it fascinating, Fred, that there was a geographic pattern to where the settlers came from, and where they went. It makes sense, however. People often tend to flock together with those most familiar to them.
“Albion’s Seed” by David Hackett Fischer is the bible on this subject. It is quite interesting, even as Fischer has typical leftist views [for 1989] of an academician that filter in.
Yes, a lot of Ulster Scots populated the Piedmont, where their presence was important to the American Revolution.
It isn’t well-established, but I think a large portion of early settlers of the Appalachian mountains were badly-treated runaway indentured servants. No one (including the Cherokee) lived year round in the mountains before Ulster Scots and runaway indentured–to wit, people who had known tough living–tried it. It was said of Ulster Scots that they kept the Sabbath…and anything else they could get their hands on.
Interesting, J. Sobran. It took a very special people to tame the land so quickly, earn a living from it and deal with the conditions they faced.