The Great Migration Begins

As early as 1636, families were leaving Ulster for America. That first group never reached the American shore. They were forced to turn back when they encountered violent storms in the middle of the Atlantic. A group left Laggan in 1684 and were successfully accomplished their voyage. Throughout the years, various individual families had also made the trip.

The first major wave of emigration from Ulster to America began in 1717. Over the next year more than 5,000 Ulster Scots reached the Pennsylvania shore. Those that arrived safely sent back glowing reports to the people back in Ireland, fueling another wave during the years 1725 through 1729. It was estimated that over 6,000 left Ulster in 1728 alone. It was probably during this period that our ancestor, William McKnight, Sr. made his way to Pennsylvania. Born in Ireland about 1710, William was in America when he wed Jane Morton in Chester, Pennsylvania in 1735.  In 1740 a major famine devastated Ireland, bringing about a third wave of emigration. Droughts continued to plague Ulster over the next several years. This, and an effort by the governor of North Carolina (who had left Ulster himself) to attract settlers, brought about another large mass of emigration in 1754-1755.  The last major departure was during the years 1771 through 1775. It is estimated that some 25,000 people arrived in America from the Ulster shores during this period. Overall, approximately 200,000 people, primarily of Scottish descent and the Presbyterian faith, sailed for America between 1717 and 1775.

The reasons for migration to America are varied. Many left for religious reasons, but most left due to the extreme economic hardships. Ulster primarily thrived on its wool and linen industry. The immigration of Huguenots in the 1680's had introduced new methods for producing linen from flax, and had strengthened an already strong wool industry. This prosperity was seen as a threat by the English who petitioned the King to protect their interests at home. Encouraged by the King, the Parliament passed the Woolens Act in 1699. The act prohibited the sale of Irish wool and cloth to anywhere except Britain and Wales. This resulted in a period of severe economic depression.

Pennsylvania

The original destination of the Ulster Scots was the colony of Pennsylvania. The choices were limited to say the least. The southern states were not attractive due to the slave labor and plantation system. Maryland was a Roman Catholic colony, and therefore, off limits to those fleeing a Catholic country. New York was not open to religious diversity. That left only New England or Pennsylvania; and since the earliest immigrants were made to feel unwelcome at Boston, they chose Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania welcomed the Ulster Scots with open arms.

Early settlements were made mainly in southeastern counties near the ports of Philadelphia, Chester and New Castle. These areas were settled at that time by the Quakers and Germans, who had migrated in the very early 1700's. Because many of the Ulster Scots were very poor, they could enter the country only by entering into indentured servitude. These indentures were primarily purchased by the wealthy Quakers. As soon as the indenture expired, these people moved to what was then the wilderness.

From 1717 through the 1750's, the frontier was in present day Berks, Lebanon, Lancaster, York and Adams counties. The Ulster Scots were not the only frontier homesteaders. They were joined by a large number of German families. The two groups lived together peacefully, primarily due to their distance from the English settlements.

North Carolina

As already noted, during the mid 1750's; Governor Dobbs of North Carolina sent out an invitation for his fellow Ulster Scots to settle in that colony. Pennsylvania was becoming terribly overcrowded and the sparseness of the population was a major selling point to the Ulster Scots. It also enticed a large number of their German neighbors, who joined them in North Carolina. The country attractive to both groups as it provided the limestone based farms the Germans wanted and the mountain regions provided the isolation craved by the Ulster Scots. William and Jane's son, William, Jr. was born in Statesville, North Carolina in 1752, so our McKnights must have been among the first to answer Governor Dobbs' call.