Billy Kennedy - Our Most Priceless Heritage: The Lasting Legacy of the Scots-Irish in America

Table of Contents

OUR MOST PRICELESS HERITAGE
THE LASTING LEGACY OF THE SCOTS-IRISH IN AMERICA
2005 BILLY KENNEDY

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without prior permission of the publisher.

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Printed in the United States of America

British spellings used throughout book

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Cover design & page layout by

Andrew Ramos of A&E Media

ISBN 1 932307 03 6

Published by the Ambassador Group

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GREENVILLE, SC 29609 USA

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The colophon is a trademark of Ambassador International

Cover Pictures courtesy of David Wright. Main cover picture title: Crossroads to Destiny 10.
Pictured from right to left: Andrew Jackson, Sam Houston, and Davey Crockett.

There are few artists in the United States who have left such an important mark on the art of the American frontier as David Wright of Gallatin, Tennessee. Known for his exhaustive execution for authentic detail and historical accuracy, Wright has also expanded his role to that of Art Director for epic size productions in historic documentaries and films.

Wrights works can be seen at www.davidwrightart.com

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO
MY WIFE SALLY, DAUGHTER JULIE AND MY PARENTS

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. THEREFORE WILL NOT WE FEAR, THOUGH THE EARTH BE REMOVED AND THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS BE CARRIED INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA. THOUGH THE WATERS THEREOF ROAR AND BE TROUBLED, THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS

SHAKE WITH THE SWELLING THEREOF.

PSALM 46, VERSES 1-3

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This is the ninth book written by Billy Kennedy in his highly popular series of Scots-Irish Chronicles which details 18th century American frontier settlements. The books have been eagerly read by many people in both the United Kingdom and the United States, recording as they have the incredible story of a proud, dogged and determined people whose contribution to the establishment and development of the American nation has been outstanding.

Billy Kennedy, who lives in Co Armagh, has been a leading journalist in Northern Ireland for the past 35 years. He is a senior journalist with the Belfast News Letter , the primary morning newspaper in Northern Ireland and the oldest existing English-written newspaper in the world, having been founded in 1737. On his regular visits to the United States, Billy has lectured on the subject of the Scots-Irish diaspora at universities, colleges, historical and genealogical societies and public authorities in cities and towns of the southeastern states. His other main interests are soccer and American country music. He is married and has one daughter.

BILLY KENNEDY CAN BE CONTACTED AT 49, KNOCKVIEW DRIVE, TANDRAGEE, CRAIGAVON, NORTHERN IRELAND BT62 2BH. E-MAIL ADDRESS: BILLYKENNEDY@FSMAIL.NET

FOREWORD FROM AMERICA

When Billy Kennedy, in 1995, penned his first book on the Scots-Irish in America, Im quite certain he had no notion that it would lead to a series of nine volumes on the subject. It may be reasonably assumed that this first volume was the result of his intense love and respect for his Scots-Irish people and incalculable contributions that they had made to the fabric and character of our country.

His skills as a researcher, his extensive experience as a writer, and his inexhaustible propensity for hard work would lead him to put together this first volume about the largely unheralded contributions which this relatively small group of stalwart people made to the character and resolve of a country that, in just a few short years, has attained a position of unparalleled stature and influence among nations of the globe.

But what about the subsequent eight books on various aspects of the same subject? Certainly the wide acceptance of the warmly embraced The Scots-Irish in the Hills of Tennessee was at the fore in sparking the second book The Scots-Irish in the Shenandoah Valley, and the third, The Scots-Irish in the Carolinas , and so on, through the publication of this, Our Most Priceless Heritage , the ninth book in this very popular series, of The Scots-Irish Chronicles.

The core reason for the acceptance of Billys books may well be the subject itselfthe consideration of the Scots-Irish as a people, as a group, as a national genre. Weve recognised certain Scots-Irish giants of American history as individuals, the 17 Presidents, and the great military leaders, writers, inventors, etc.

However, we are not aware that these great personalities were the offspring of a distinct groupthe Scots-Irish. As a group the Scots-Irish have remained largely invisible; thats the theme Billy stresses in this, as in all of his books. This emphasis is largely responsible for the interest in his works.

Billys books have titillated countless other local and regional historians to initiate and pursue further research and writings on the phenomenal influence the Scots-Irish have had in America. Much of the publicity and exposure of these books is attributable to Billys darting hither and yon throughout several states, speaking to innumerable historical and civic groups, making contacts with newspapers and periodicals, appearing on television and radio programs, and proclaiming the attributes and influence of these fascinating people.

Ive had the honor of writing the foreword for all of Billys nine books and, each time, I have fully anticipated that each would be the last. So, while Im assuming that this book is indeed the last in this ongoing series, I dare not make such a prognostication.

I hope that this human dynamothis inexhaustible, energetic, wiry and exuberant fellowcontinues to inspire and inform us for years with his writings.

JOHN RICE IRWIN , FOUNDER/PRESIDENT, MUSEUM OF APPALACHIA, NORRIS, TENNESSEE.

DR. JOHN RICE IRWIN IS FOUNDER, DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE MUSEUM OF APPALACHIA AT NORRIS, TENNESSEE, 15 MILES FROM THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE. THE EXTENSIVE EAST TENNESSEE FARM VILLAGE HAS GAINED NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS CONCENTRATION ON THE RICH CULTURE AND FOLKLORE OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN
REGION. DR. IRWIN HAS BEEN A TEACHER, FARMER, BUSINESSMAN, HISTORIAN, AUTHOR AND HIS WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS ALSO EXTENDS TO THE MUSIC OF HIS SOUTHEASTERN HOME REGION. HIS FAMILY IS OF SCOTS-IRISH AND WELSH EXTRACTION.