Cary, J: Legacy of Thomas Carey

This book tells the story of Thomas Carey, who went from Somerset to Somerset. That journey from Somerset, England, to Somerset County, Maryland, in the mid-1600s would set into motion events that would determine the fate of several future generations. Based on painstaking research, this account chronicles the progress of each generation and highlights the nomadic nature of the family. It leads readers through his descendants' early life in Maryland, down through Virginia, and into Orange County, North Carolina. The next stop appears to be area around New Bern, North Carolina. The 1830s brought about dense living conditions in North Carolina. The family partnered with other settlers and moved west via wagon train, crossing the Great Smokey Mountains and traveling a primitive route that subsequently became U.S. Highway 70. Along the way, some settled in hamlets and scarcely populated communities in East and Middle Tennessee. Most continued to press onward, seeking inexpensive farmland, abundant fresh water, and the opportunity to live the American Dream.