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Introduction

Road Trip

Internet Resources

Image Gallery

Introduction

     The route of the King’s Highway trekked some 1,300 miles north and south between Boston, Massachusetts and Charleston, South Carolina.    Although the journey was difficult it was possible to travel this road by wagon.  In most cases, the wagons could average about 20-25 miles per day.  A traveler making the entire journey would have taken at least two months. 

     The northern portion of the route is called the Boston Post Road. This road was actually a system of post roads from New York City to Boston which contained some of the first major highways in the United States.  American colonists first used this trail in 1673 to deliver the mail by utilizing “post riders”.  In later colonial times the trail was developed to accommodate wagons and stagecoaches. Large sections of the various routes are still given the name Boston Post Road; much of it is now U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 5, and U.S. Route 20.

     From New York City the road traveled across New Jersey to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  This portion was originally an ancient Native-American pathway that was cleared by Peter Stuyvesant, leader of the Dutch colony at New Amsterdam (New York City), when he decided to oust the colonists along the Delaware River at New Sweden in 1651.

     From Philadelphia the road then proceeded on to Baltimore, and Annapolis in the Province of Maryland.    South of Annapolis the King's Highway was often called the Great Coast Road.  At Bladensburg, Maryland a ferry transported vehicles across the Potomac River to Alexandria, Virginia,  then a seaport nearly as busy as Philadelphia or New York in 1750. 

        South from Alexandria the King's Highway was for a distance called the Potomac Trail where it ran through Williamsburg and on to Norfolk, Virginia.  From Norfolk the King's Highway was locally called the Virginia Path. Here it skirted the Dismal Swamp for thirty miles, an unpleasant two-day-trip along pools of standing water.

         The first town in encountered in North Carolina was Edenton which lay on a low ridge of fertile land beside the Albemarle Sound.  Next came New Bern, seat of the Colonial Assembly.  Then the town of Wilmington North Carolina's most important town was because of its deep-water harbor.  Once across the Cape Fear River, the highway branched, one segment heading due south into the Green Swamp and one looping westward around it.     

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

        In South Carolina the route followed along the beaches, for 40 miles, before traveling through Georgetown. Nearing Charleston, the King's Highway met the Fort MooreTrail coming in from Augusta, Georgia then a major trading post. Charleston was the southern terminus of the King's Highway prior to the Revolutionary War.  At this time Charleston was a larger commercial center than even Boston.  By the 1730’s the route was extended on to the town of Savannah, Georgia which was linked by water with warehouses at Augusta, 140 miles up the Savannah River.

Road Trip

If you have traced your 18^th or 19^th century ancestors to any of the counties listed below it is quite possible that they traveled to that location along this migration route.  Therefore you may find additional relevant information about your ancestral lineages by taking the following road trip through these localities.

COUNTY (Road Trip Segment)

COUNTY (Road Trip Segment)

COUNTY (Road Trip Segment)

Anne Arundel Co., MD (6)

Baltimore City, MD (6)

Baltimore Co., MD (6)

Beaufort Co., NC (10,11)

Bergen Co., NJ (3)

Berkeley Co., SC (14)

Bertie Co., NC (10)

Bristol Co., MA (1)

Bronx Co., NY (3)

Brunswick Co., NC (12,13)

Bucks Co., PA (4)

Camden Co., NC (9)

Cecil Co., MD (5)

Charleston Co., SC (14)

Chester Co., PA (5)

Chowan Co., NC (10)

Craven Co., NC (11)

Delaware Co., PA (5)

Essex Co., NJ (4)

Fairfax Co., VA (6,7)

Fairfield co., CT (3)

Georgetown Co., SC (13,14)

Gloucester Co., VA (8,9)

Harford Co., MD (5,6)

Horry Co., SC (13)

Hudson Co., NJ (3,4)

Isle of Wight Co., VA (9)

Jones Co., NC (11)

Kent Co., RI (1)

King George Co., VA (7)

Lancaster Co., VA (8)

Manhattan Co., NY (3)

Martin Co., NC (10)

Mathews Co., VA (8)

Mercer Co., NJ (4)

Middlesex Co., CT (2)

Middlesex Co., NJ (4)

Middlesex Co., VA (8)

New Hanover Co., NC (12)

New Haven Co., CT (2,3)

New London Co., CT (2)

Newport News, VA (9)

Norfolk Co., MA (1)

Onslow Co., NC (11,12)

Pasquotank Co., NC (9,10)

Pender Co., NC (12)

Perquimans Co., NC (10)

Philadelphia Co., PA (4,5)

Portsmouth, VA (9)

Prince Georges Co., MD (6)

Prince William Co., VA (7)

Providence Co., RI (1)

Richmond Co., VA (8)

Stafford Co., VA (7)

Suffolk Co., MA (1)

Suffolk, VA (9)

Union Co., NJ (4)

Washington Co., CT (1,2)

West Chester Co., NY (3)

Westmoreland Co., VA (7,8)

Genealogy Road Trip

This “Genealogy Road Trip” is divided into segments that require between 1 and 2 hours of driving time.  The entire 1,111 mile journey should take approximately 25 hours to drive at 45 miles per hour.  Within each segment you will find links to resources* that will assist you in planning a successful and enjoyable experience.  The following maps are designed to show a close-up view of the counties and communities along this migration route.  Relevant county seats are designated with a, beginning and end points of each segment are noted with a  and historical sites with a .

SEGMENT 1

From: Boston, MA

To: Charlestown, CT

SEGMENT 2

From:  Charlestown, CT

To: New Haven, CT

SEGMENT 3

From: New Haven, CT

To: Jersey City, NJ

SEGMENT 4

From: Jersey City, NJ

To: Philadelphia, PA

SEGMENT 5

From: Philadelphia, PA

To: Bynum, MD

SEGMENT 6

From: Bynum, MD

To: Alexandria, VA

SEGMENT 7

From: Alexandria, VA

To: Baynesville, VA

SEGMENT 8

From: Baynesville, VA

To: Wicomico, VA

SEGMENT 9

From: Wicomico, VA

To: Elizabeth City, NC

SEGMENT 10

From: Elizabeth City, NC

To: Washington, NC

SEGMENT 11

From: Washington, NC

To: Dixon, NC

SEGMENT 12

From: Dixon, NC

To: Shallotte, NC

SEGMENT 13

From: Shallotte, NC

To: Georgetown, SC

SEGMENT 14

From: Georgetown, SC

To: Charleston, SC

Segment 1

From: Boston, MA

To: Charlestown, CT

Driving Distance = 81 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.75 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 2

From:  Charlestown, CT

To: New Haven, CT

Driving Distance = 81 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.75 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 3

From: New Haven, CT

To: Jersey City, NJ

Driving Distance = 81 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.75 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 4

From: Jersey City, NJ

To: Philadelphia, PA

Driving Distance = 81 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.75 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 5

From: Philadelphia, PA

To: Bynum, MD

Driving Distance = 80 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.75 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 6

From: Bynum, MD

To: Alexandria, VA

Driving Distance = 85 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.75 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 7

From: Alexandria, VA

To: Baynesville, VA

Driving Distance = 84 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.75 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 8

From: Baynesville, VA

To: Wicomico, VA

Driving Distance = 87 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 2.00 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 9

From: Wicomico, VA

To: Elizabeth City, NC

Driving Distance = 88 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 2.00 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 10

From: Elizabeth City, NC

To: Washington, NC

Driving Distance = 85 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.75 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 11

From: Washington, NC

To: Dixon, NC

Driving Distance = 73 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.50 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 12

From: Dixon, NC

To: Shallotte, NC

Driving Distance = 72 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.50 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 13

From: Shallotte, NC

To: Georgetown, SC

Driving Distance = 73 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.50 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Segment 14

From: Georgetown, SC

To: Charleston, SC

Driving Distance = 60 miles;   Driving Time = approximately 1.25 hours

Click on the map to view a full-sized image

Use the following LINKS to find information about the counties and localities found along this segment of the Route.

General Profile

Genealogy & History Resources

Historical Sites

Internet Resources

The Google search engine

 button  and following web

sites    may     provide    you

with additional information

to assist with your research

about   this   topic. 

·         American Migration Patterns

·         Migration Routes, Roads & Trails

·         Brethren Life: Migrations

·         Trails West

·         Historical U.S. roads and trails - Wikipedia

·         U.S. Historical Maps - Perry-Castañeda Collection

·         Early American Roads and Trails

·         Frontier Trails: A Brief History

·         MIGRATIONS.org

·         ROOTS / MIGRATIONS

·         American Migration Fact Sheets

·         Map guide to American migration routes,1735-1815

·         Migration Book Store

·         Early Migration Routes

·         The Overland Trail Links--Ancient Indian Trails

·         American Westward Expansion

·         Migration Message Boards – Ancestry.com

·         The African-American Migration Experience 

·         Migration Trails – map of many U.S. trails

·         Migration Information & Maps By Ethnic Group

·         Tales along the King's Highway of South Carolina

·         Boston Post Road - Wikipedia

·         Early American Roads and Trails

·         King's Highway – Family Search Wiki

·         The King’s Highway – Royal Colony of SC

·         Gathering Leaves - King's Highway Tour (18th C.)

·         Fairfax Co., VA – Historical Markers

·         King's Highway (Charleston to Boston) - Wikipedia

·         The Kings’s Highway – Beverly Whitaker, Genealogy Tutor

·         The King's Highway - US 17 Coastal Highway

·         Road Trip Ideas – Charleston, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC

·         The King's Highway ~ The Potomac Path Marker

·         Kings Ferry – Historical Marker

Download a free 2-page Fact Sheet

about American migration routes

The following Link will take you to our library of genealogy reference books.   Here you will find books about historic American roads, trails, and paths.  In addition, there are texts that pertain to ethnic and religion groups, history, geography as well as other books that will assist you with your research.

This Link will take you to our

collection of reference books.  

Image Gallery

During our research we have collected images and photographs that are of general interest to a variety of historic American roads, trails and migration.  Some of them are presented on this website because we believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of this topic as well as our ancestors past lives.

The old road at Occaquan River in Fairfax, VA (Co. Rd. 823)

Use this LINK to see the “Image

 Gallery” that pertain to this topic.

Use the power of Google™ to find more interesting images about this topic. This button will link you to the Google Images Search   page.   Enter   the   topic   you   are

searching in the box and click “Search Images”. At the “Images” display page you will see the image, as well as the website of which it is associated.

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-- This webpage was last updated on --

01 January 2013