[Slogging along with the Moravian brothers en route to North Carolina in 1753.]
Nov. 7. We started at daybreak, in a swamp, with creeks, and mountains. The road was very slippery so that the horses could not step firmly. Our wagon was damaged when the bank of a creek was so steep that the rear of the wagon struck the bank. After dinner [the noon time meal], we faced a long hill and a steep mountain. From the top we could see Pilot Mountain in North Carolina which pleased us very much as we wanted to be on our land in North Carolina. We sent brothers ahead to inquire about the way. We came to a mountain which we wanted to cross tonight but it was too steep so we camped at the foot. Several brethren took our horses to a pasture and stayed the night with them.
Nov. 8. Started early and carried half of our baggage to the top. Then we brought up the wagon but it was very difficult to do so because the way was so steep. We loaded again and continued but we had to repeat this later in the day. This last mountain was the steepest that we had crossed. We went down by locking the wheels and tying a tree to the wagon. The people tell us these mountains are very dangerous and that we would barely be able to cross them. Morgan Bryand, who had first gone this way, had taken the wheels off his wagon and carried it piecemeal to the top. It had taken him three months to go from the Shenandoah to the Yadkin River. The road was very poor and we were stalled several times. We made only seven miles today. In the evening it rained and we had to lie down wet.
Nov. 9. The rains were heavy and we could not cross the river. People who lived in the neighborhood came to see us. They were interested in our long wagon and in seeing so many unmarried men traveling together. They asked if we could baptize their children. The rain was so heavy that we could not dry off.
Nov. 10. We passed our time with drying blankets, mending clothes and darning stockings. We bought several bushels of corn and some meat from our neighbors who liked our prolonged stay as it netted them some money.
Nov. 11. The river had fallen two feet. A man showed us the ford and we made it safely across. In a swamp we were stuck in a mud hole. In a while, we met a man from North Carolina who lives not far from our land. He said that everyone knew we would soon come. He was very pleased that we had two ministers as they had none. It also pleased them that we had a physician with us. We traveled eight miles today which was good progress. We enjoyed some beautiful and warm weather. We cooked Virginia potatoes which tasted very good.
Nov. 12. We rose very early and at three o'clock had stewed pumpkin. The Horse Pasture Creek had very steep banks and we had to use our picks and shovels. Our progress was slowed by the banks of the creeks which are very steep.
Nov. 13. Today we started at three o'clock in the morning. At daybreak we came to the boundary of Virginia and North Carolina. We wanted to reach the Dan River but we had to stop short. At twelve o'clock at night we started again to reach the Dan. A brother went ahead with a pine torch to show the way. At two o'clock we came to the Dan. We had covered twenty-five miles since breakfast and we were very tired so we camped.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.