My family's migration pattern generally were straight lines. They travelled from south central Virginia (Grayson and Henry counties) in the early 1800s westward to Northwestern Tennessee (Montgomery and Robertson counties) and by the late 1830s travelled north to Southwestern Indiana (Gibson county). I agree with the forum that it is the migration patterns that are essential as none of these families travelled alone. My family travelled with Chavis, Stewart, Cole, Lyles and Goins families because those were the other free families they were related to. We should appreciate that their ability to move but "stick together" was one of the reasons they were able to survive.