Ongoing Research

At this point in time, I am limiting my present research to my Sides Ancestors and how they moved from Philadelphia to North Carolina in the mid to late 1700's. My research consists of reading several books describing the movements of German immigrants along the Philadelphia Great Wagon Road. My sources of information include many websites, the North Carolina State Archives and several books including: "The Great Wagon Road - From Philadelphia to the South" by Parke Rouse, Jr., "Carolina Cradle - Settlement of the Northwest Carolina Frontier 1747-1762" by Robert W. Ramsey and "Western North Carolina History - From 1730 - 1913" by John Preston Arthur. This research will also lead me into the American Revolution and trying to pinpoint our ancestors roles in the fight for American Independence. The book I am using for research is "The Southern Strategy - Britain's Conquest of South Carolina and Georgia, 1775 - 1780" by David K. Wilson. There has been evidence that several of the Sides ancestors were in the NC 2nd Battalion of Continental Troops. This battalion fought in battles such as the Battle of Savannah and the Battle at Monmouth, NJ. The Battle of Monmouth is particularly interesting to me as my mothers ancestor Mary Ludwig Hays became famous during this battle and became forever known as "Molly Pitcher."

Preserving our past for our future generations!