When did the Wests move, well... WEST ? (in North Carolina.)

Question

Most of the family, surname West, that I follow come from Central North Carolina in Harnett, Cumberland, Sampson, and Lee Counties and I have been able to follow migrations into Georgia, Florida, and a few other small pockets.

Through my research I find very large concentration of West surnames in Western North Carolina around Asheville in Buncombe county.  But so far I have not been able to find a link between "my" Wests and the Western NC Wests.  Confused yet?

It's occurred to me that the link, if there is one, might exist much father back... maybe to Britain.  I can't shake the suspician, however, that it's much nearer to home than that.  I'm hoping to find out that one of "my" Wests moved up into the mountains and started the family spreading there.  Anyone have any evidence to prove this?  Any Buncombe County / Asheville WEST researchers out there?

- Mike

Comments

See West Family DNA PROJECT. Most of the NV Wests came from Virginia, where there were 3 West governors.
Lord de La Warr wad a West who came from Wherwell, Hampshire, England.

Answer 1

A month later... (i was browsing unanswered questions...)

If you really want to research links, one way to do it is to look at probate records and land deeds of Wests in both locations.

Probate records might say something like "I bequeath the 100 acres deeded to me by my father George West of Harnett County..."

Land deeds might reveal evidence of western Wests selling eastern land before moving west.

I'd start there before trackign the western Wests back in time.

Comments

Thank you for the suggestions, Jillaine - That's a good idea!