McCulloch's Path
Encyclopedia
McCulloch's Path was an early colonial route through Western Maryland
. This path, which owed its origin to American Bison
, affords an interesting illustration of the fact that the pioneers of the West were greatly indebted to the buffalo for their first passageways; what adds to the interest is the fact that this was as true in the Alleghenies as in Kentucky
and all the Midwestern United States
; the range of the buffalo did not extend to the Atlantic seaboard
, but references made by George Washington in his diary of September, 1784 suggest that it extended at least to Western Maryland
.
containing the whole Province of Maryland
with Part of Pennsylvania
, New Jersey
and North Carolina
drawn by Joshua Fry
and Peter Jefferson
in 1751 and printed in 1755
Western Maryland
Western Maryland is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that consists of Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. The region is bounded by the Mason-Dixon line to the north, Preston County, West Virginia to the west, and the Potomac River to the south. There is dispute over the...
. This path, which owed its origin to American Bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
, affords an interesting illustration of the fact that the pioneers of the West were greatly indebted to the buffalo for their first passageways; what adds to the interest is the fact that this was as true in the Alleghenies as in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and all the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
; the range of the buffalo did not extend to the Atlantic seaboard
Atlantic Seaboard
The Atlantic seaboard watershed is a watershed of North America along both*the Atlantic Canada coast south of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence Watershed &*the East Coast of the United States north of the watershed of the Okeechobee Waterway....
, but references made by George Washington in his diary of September, 1784 suggest that it extended at least to Western Maryland
Western Maryland
Western Maryland is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that consists of Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. The region is bounded by the Mason-Dixon line to the north, Preston County, West Virginia to the west, and the Potomac River to the south. There is dispute over the...
.
Washington's account
In September, 1784 George Washington traveled into the Ohio basin in the interest of a commercial union between the Great Lakes Great Lakes The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume... and the Potomac River Potomac River The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles... . In his diary he wrote, Archer Butler Hulbert's study of the records at the law office at Annapolis in 1905 show that there were two McCullough's paths, an Old Path and a New Path; they are remembered, though the bold pioneer whose name they bore is quite forgotten. The names McCulloch and McCullough were common in northwestern Virginia. Washington spells the name both ways and Archer Butler Hulbert knew not the name of the marker of the early routes through the Glades. The Old Path led from Ice's ferry, which in earliest days was known as McCullough's Landing, to Bruceton and from thence by way of Castle Hill on Backbone Mountain Backbone Mountain Backbone Mountain is a ridge of the Allegheny Mountains of the central Appalachian Mountain Range. It is situated in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland and forms a portion of the Eastern Continental Divide... to the North Branch North Branch North Branch may refer to:In the United States:* North Branch, Kansas* North Branch, Maryland* North Branch, Michigan* North Branch, Minnesota* North Branch, New Jersey** North Branch , a New Jersey Transit railroad stationIn Canada:... (of the Potomac) at Bloomington, Maryland Bloomington, Maryland Bloomington is an unincorporated town at the confluence of the North Branch Potomac River and Savage River in southeastern Garrett County, Maryland... . The New Road led from Dunkard's Bottom, passing near Oakland, Maryland Oakland, Maryland Oakland is a town in the west-central part of Garrett County, Maryland, United States. With a population of 1,925 according to United States Census 2010 figures, it is the most populated community in Garrett County... to Fort Pendleton, Maryland on the North Branch North Branch North Branch may refer to:In the United States:* North Branch, Kansas* North Branch, Maryland* North Branch, Michigan* North Branch, Minnesota* North Branch, New Jersey** North Branch , a New Jersey Transit railroad stationIn Canada:... . 18th century settlers from Colonial Virginia arrived in Western Maryland Western Maryland Western Maryland is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that consists of Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. The region is bounded by the Mason-Dixon line to the north, Preston County, West Virginia to the west, and the Potomac River to the south. There is dispute over the... by way of McCulloch’s Path. |
Historical Map
The landscape of western Virginia and western Maryland in 1751 is depicted in A Map of the most inhabited part of VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
containing the whole Province of Maryland
Province of Maryland
The Province of Maryland was an English and later British colony in North America that existed from 1632 until 1776, when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen Colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S...
with Part of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
drawn by Joshua Fry
Joshua Fry
Colonel Joshua Fry was a surveyor, adventurer, mapmaker, soldier, and member of the House of Burgesses, the legislature of the colony of Virginia...
and Peter Jefferson
Peter Jefferson
Peter Jefferson was the father of American President Thomas Jefferson . A surveyor and cartographer, his Fry-Jefferson Map of 1751 accurately depicted the Allegheny Mountains for the first time and showed the route of "The Great Road from the Yadkin River thro Virginia to Philadelphia distant 455...
in 1751 and printed in 1755
 |