The First Appalachians

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Support the preservation of Appalachian History by Subscribing to this channel. Like, Comment, and Share! SPONSOR this channel- by clicking the JOIN button OFFICIAL MERCH- www.theappalachianstoryteller.com FACEBOOK- facebook.com/theappalachianstoryteller

[@desirreemarlenaclonch7593]

LoL I already did those 😜🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😜 I will pass it on but not much control for somethings can not be done through the cell phone yah see

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@desirreemarlenaclonch7593 Thank you my friend

[@hetrodoxly1203]

The 1790 - 1810 census states the majority of settlers to the Appalachians were English, followed by Scottish, some households state English and Scottish, 10 Welsh households, 8 German household, 1 French, No Irish, the term Scots/Irish is a bad term for the English and Scottish planters that went via Northern Ireland, most went from Northern England and lowland Scotland, a sizeable group went from Suffolk/Norfolk and the west country, that's where the accent comes from, English man Daniel Boone cut his way through the wilderness, English man Walker built the first log cabin, there's nothing more English than clogging.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@hetrodoxly1203 thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@marywegrzyn506]

Thank you for creating this wonderful Video. I love seeing real History in story form complete with real photographs!!!

[@raquellucas2202]

I am so proud of our history. I’m from very southwestern WV. We “ hillbillies “ usually get a bad rap. We come from strong, smart and self resilient ancestors. We were so isolated for so long that we had to be strong and self sufficient. Independent! Especially after the civil war, no schools for generations. Still we stand proud, we made it. Love this and thank you!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Indeed- the people of Appalachia are a strong proud people

[@Nimrodbodeinejr]

I’m from Logan county myself

[@okgroomer1966]

I miss W Virginia. Moved to CT at 13 and have always wanted to go back. A damn shame what drugs have done to that special place.

[@joshbradley6841]

Lucas? From SW WV? Yup, we are related👍

[@woodsboy444]

Im from Northern Ireland, the home of the ulster scots. Very interesting to see how many of my people went to live in such a rugged place. Hard people living in a hard land. The ulster scots here today still have the same values, god fearing, family driven and conservative views.

[@FlashyVic]

Hello from an Ulster Scot (what you call Scotch/Irish) whose ancestors stayed in Northern Ireland and who stumbled on this video by accident. Just a little example of shared roots separated by centuries and thousands of miles. My wife's maiden name is an uncommon old Scots surname and when her brother did a genealogy search he found out there are only 2 areas on the planet where the surname is found in any numbers. Here in the northern part of County Down and in Eastern Tennessee but not in Scotland. Seems that the entire original family migrated to Ulster from Scotland in the early 1600s and then half of them made the further leap across the pond a century or so later.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

I am always amazed at how far these videos travel and the stories that folks like yourself share. Thanks so much for your story, I enjoyed reading it very much

[@elioraimmanuel]

Wow!

[@patriciameany1238]

What's the name?

[@WhispersFromTheDark]

Hello, from Texas. I had forefathers that came over from the Isle of Man who landed in North Carolina, and Tennessee. What is the name of your family?

[@FlashyVic]

@@WhispersFromTheDark Thanks for the reply but I'd rather not say the name openly online. By the way I can see the Isle of Man from the top of the hill my home is on most days it's not raining. Though it usually is.😁

[@karenashton5053]

My great grandma was scot Irish from Tennessee and came to Texas after the Civil War on a covered wagon. Her married name was Steele and the women were strong and proud. I have her cast iron boiling pot and I proudly can hunt, fish, and can fruits. I’m damn proud to continue the strong tradition.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Well said

[@jacquelynjohnson9486]

I'm glad you have the pot from grandma

[@delagum1]

My granny got married around 1900 and they walked down to the 5&10 store and bought a pot. On the bottom of the pot has the price and date. Before she died she gave me that pot and I still have it. One of my prized possessions. God rest her soul. 😢. Peace and Love

[@JayplayzLS]

That sounds so cool ❣️💯 I'd love to have something that special from my ancestors.

[@mawi1172]

That's funny. A covered wagon? After the Civil War? Some one blew smoke up your butt! 😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@Nannada1212]

"Good men, who were patient, calm, and reserved... Were also men who were courageous, prompt, and thorough." That's such a good line, man!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you for that!

[@TheChadPad]

Yes, we have men who are fickle, impulsive, and selfish today, not with an ounce of integrity in them, and do not know when to stand for something righteous

[@Nannada1212]

@@TheChadPad what men are you talking about? All the veterans I've met are calm, patient, mature, and don't wanna go back. Some do, but they love killing. That's a thing. Most people don't have that.

[@TheChadPad]

@@Nannada1212 Some young people of my generation. I am 28

[@Nannada1212]

@@TheChadPad I'm 31. I knew we were from the same time.

[@alisonmary1443]

I am sitting in my Scottish home watching this and had no idea of this history. Thank you, that was so good.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks 🙏

[@frasermurray850]

Likewise, watching from Scotland. Great channel and info. Keep it up 👍

[@dennistrull1475]

The Highland games are at Grandfather MTN. Was annual until Covid.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@Opal Allen ❤

[@kenihow]

This is just a glorified story. Do your research and you will get an in-depth story of the horrible and disgusting things that happened.

[@phyllispitts6656]

I have a high respect for the folks of Appalachian. I enjoy hearing their stories.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Yes ma'am, so do I. There are plenty of their stories on this channel. I hope you enjoy my friend

[@renaestevenson1361]

Yes, me too. Amazingly strong people that is for sure.

[@kenihow]

People believe anything they hear on the internet

[@c.b.-11]

​@@TheAppalachianStorytellerborn and raised here in the Smokies except for my Army Time and our culture is under attack from these Florida Alabama etc rich ppl bought up our land where we locals can't afford it. Change our laws etc.

[@donnaaddington193]

​@Keni How being from the appalachian mountains 99.9% of these are very real and true.

[@morganlivington3446]

I watch another channel called celebrating Appalachia,It’s Tipper Pressley and she’s doing the same,she is educating the world about the culture of Appalachia and her family is participating in this journey with her!Amazing people doing amazing work! I want to Ty also!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

yup, her and her daughters (Presley girls) are doing a great job!

[@ColemanGaskill]

I not sure you will read this old story teller of the mountain, so I will start by saying God love you brother, these mountains you talk about is so apart of me I can still smell it’s sweet fragrance when I was running thru them as a kid. Thank you my friend., sure miss them and my people.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you for your poetic comment, that means a lot to me.

[@bubbarub1839]

Yes Sir… Me too!!!

[@jmc317]

Great story, thank you! I'm so proud of my Scots-Irish heritage!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you!

[@tracicomstock6525]

I love this video. I am Scottish on daddy's side and Presbyterian. On moma's side Cherokee and Southern Baptist and SDA. Since my dog Spooner died 3 months ago today I have been smitten with intense grief. Spoon was the best friend I ever had! Well, your videos are helping me to find myself again. Thank you!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you Traci

[@ponyboy2323]

ur dog died dude

[@riffle8883]

Get another dog soon as possible they are your best friend. Thay will not use you like people do. Am I right.

[@sandym8787]

@@riffle8883 Right , treat them right and you get forever love .... and they are out there waiting for a life with a decent person ..

[@suznrob1]

We are very similar mutts. Scots-Irish/Cherokee with a splash of Mennonite here

[@samuelschick8813]

TAS, You talking about the woman having a baby while picking berries. My great mammaw was out in the fields helping great pappaw plow the fields when she went into labor. She went back to the cabin, delivered the baby on her own, cleaned it, fed it, wrapped it in blankets and set it on the front porch and went right back into the field. She would listen for the baby to cry then tend to it. One tough woman. That baby was born in 1909 and he passed in 1966. Great mammaw buried one son and two husbands. When asked why she never remarried she would always say in her Kentucky draw " Well they just kept dyin on me and after 2 did not see a reason to go for number 3."

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

That’s a heck of a story!

[@incognitonegress]

Mind ovr matter 💪🏽 🙏🏽

[@samuelschick8813]

@@incognitonegress, You go pick a fight with her. I know who my money is on. LOL

[@deborahvretis3195]

I am happy to be of Scotch-Irish stock. Thank you for this beautiful video.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Of course my friend

[@sambarnard9628]

I love this channel. The story of the chestnut tree, which is one I've heard before, is one of the saddest stories around. If people don't learn from history's mistakes, our planet will one day soon not be fit for an old country boy like myself. Keep up the awesome story, sir.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Indeed, I have to admit, It broke my heart to tell the story of the Chestnut, one of the greatest tragedies in the history of Earth.

[@davids6533]

I'm only 60 years old, and already I hardly recognize where I grew up. It saddens me down to my bones.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@davids6533 the world is changing so fast, at warp speed

[@slidenapps]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller has no one tried to replant the chestnut trees now

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@slidenapps well, scientists are currently crossbreeding the asian chestnut (which has resistance to the fungus) with American Chestnut (which produces superior wood) to create a species that would essentially be about 95% American Chestnut. Hopefully, they succeed.

[@bradlane3662]

My grandmother, my Dad's mom had 16. She was born in 1893 here in southern WV. She married at 14 and had her first at 15. In 1908. She had 14 straight boys! Then finally a daughter in 1930. Then my Dad, the last, in 1933. She had one set of twins. 15 pregnancies over a 25 year span. That's over 11 years of her life pregnant! They farmed and made liquor for a living. Some of the boys stole a few of her chickens to boil over a campfire while they drank one night. She offered them a choice of jail or a beating at her hands! She was in her 50s by then. They all opted for a beating, even though some of them were crying! (grown men!) She died at 78 when I was 13. What a woman! They literally don't make people, not just women, like this anymore. And that's why our country is collapsing. A generation of "IT'S ALL ABOUT ME!" self entitled wimps!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

That’s a hell of a woman- I enjoyed reading that!

[@SJ-ni6iy]

I’m from southern West Virginia.❤️

[@bradlane3662]

@@SJ-ni6iy We are in McDowell County but only about a mile from the Wyoming County line just off of Rt 16. Browns Creek. My family has been here at least 170 years according to what I've learned on Ancestry. But I think much longer. My fourth great grandfather received a land grant in 1858 from the governor of Va for 200 acres that crosses from the head of this creek into the head of Pinnacle Creek in Wyoming County. The hand written document mentions certain trees as boundary markers! Chestnut oaks, Sycamores, etc.

[@SJ-ni6iy]

@@bradlane3662 I’m from Raleigh County but it’s near the Boone County line. I’m from where the Upper Big Branch Mining disaster happened, that’s my community. My family has traced relatives, that have been here before the Civil War.

[@bradlane3662]

@@SJ-ni6iy I know your home area very well. For the last 34 years of my working life I drove a delivery truck all over southern WV and southwest VA. Including Boone and Raleigh Counties. Our warehouse was actually in Beckley for the last 15 years of that time. I delivered to accounts in Madison and Danville.

[@esotericsolitaire]

German settlers from PA who migrated by way of the Shenandoah Valley into VA were also integral to the culture. I'm of strong German-Irish descent from SW VA. It's a unique culture and sadly, a dying one. I'm so glad to have been part of it. Those people were amazing.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

💜

[@reneegiven910]

My great grandfather once owned land I the Shenandoah valley,then to Pocahontas Co.,riders gap,then cross lanes,wv,family graves in VA. And wv.some of the first there besides the indians.i an proud that I inherited these bloodlines.

[@kilo21swp]

Yup, from the Rhineland to NewJersey then Pennsylvania, Virginia through the Cumberland Gap.

[@mrs.darcyscottage1752]

I'm Irish-German too. I agree ❤

[@EpochUnlocked]

There were a few. Not many. I live in the ridgeline parts and only 2% of my ancestry is German. 96% came by way of Britain.

[@SouthernConstitutionalist22]

My folks are german american immigrants who somewhere married into the Cherokee Tribe then they moved up to Michigan during The Hillbilly Highway

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

awesome!

[@drtom5936]

Love your stories of Appalachia. Keep up the wonderful history lessons.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend :)

[@Big88Country]

I am proud to be a descendant of these strong, God fearing Scott-Irish people! Thank you Lord for the blessing!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

strong bloodlines my friend

[@Big88Country]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller AMEN Brother!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@Big88Country amen

[@spaghetti_legs]

I'm from Ulster Northern Ireland Carrickfergus

[@ruthbeamish8849]

​@@spaghetti_legs . I also hail from Norn Iron in Co, Down

[@KathysTube]

I'm so proud to be from Appalachia! This was a beautiful story of our history... My uncle in S.E. Kentucky had a big farm and every summer he would have a "tent revival" where folks would travel and camp for a week in the campground he set up with nice outhouses and running water...we even set up a concession stand with Pepsi and some candy bars and chips....He even had electricity run for lights. Preachers would come from other places to preach a night or two and then someone else would come in to preach...not Baptist, they were from the Christian Church..... this was in the early '60s... great memories! Would you have any stories about these revivals? Thanks JD, for keeping our great heritage alive 🤗❤️

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

I actually do remember and have things to share about these revivals. I almost covered it in this video since it was closely related. Im sure ill post something soon :)

[@KathysTube]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I look forward to it! Thanks 🤗

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@KathysTube yes ma'am, stay tuned

[@blumobean]

Please explain what a Christian Church is as opposed to a Baptist. I am confused by that statement.

[@KathysTube]

@@blumobean Since I've only visited Baptist churches, I can't really explain the difference... from what I know, not that much...I think there are more "rules" in Baptist but..? I'm sure you could find out from doing a search online...btw, there are differences within the Baptist churches too 🤗❤️

[@user-s6_3-]

If kids today had to live like this, then they would have respect, and appreciate what they have today

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

well said my friend

[@samanthab3292]

Some generation before stopped teaching the traditions and that's why the kids don't know them today.

[@jeanlinton134]

I'm of Scots decent on both my mum an dad's side of family tree! So I'm ever so grateful to have found this! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Wonderful!

[@rhonda.gross57]

I felt like crying when you spoke of the chestnut tree's destruction.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

It’s one of great tragedy’s in the history of planter earth

[@eunicestone838]

A guy on Vermont KZbinr Gold Shaw Farms attempting to grow chestnuts.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@eunicestone838 there are lots of folks trying to alter their genetic makeup to become resistant to the asian fungus. Even if successful, it will take 10,000 years for them to dominate the Appalachian Mountain tops like they once did.

[@hannahbotanica3311]

An Eastern Tennessee/Western Carolina mountain girl here. I've been enjoying your videos, love the storytelling & pics! I know one thing for certain, these old mountains become a part of your soul. I had to move away to the Midwest for a few years when my mom remarried, but everytime I came back home I just felt whole again, down to my bones. As soon as I was old enough to be on my own, I headed back down to be cradled by these mountains. I can never stray for too long.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Well said my friend. I feel the same

[@terrylyons3577]

My grandpa told me how devastating it was when all the chestnut trees died. He said there was such bountiful food for people and animals that came from the trees. He said they were as thick as the hickory trees in the Appalachian hills. The ground would be covered in chestnuts like you can find hickory nuts and acorns now. He said that was one of the biggest losses in his entire life. It changed life forever in the mountains.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you for that beautiful testimony of your grandfather

[@cac2821]

How did the trees die?

[@terrylyons3577]

@@cac2821 there was a blight introduced to North America in the early 1900s believed to have came from Asia. It attacked the Eastern Chestnut, and would damage the trunk and the bark near the ground, causing the trees to die. Interestingly, the roots of these huge trees lived for many years, and some of the root systems are still alive today, and will put up sprouts. These trees grow to three or four inches in diameter, then die from the blight. They have found one Eastern Chestnut tree in Talladega county Alabama that is over 12 inchrs in diameter that is believed to have come from some of that old rootstock. The tree is alive, healthy, and has started bearing chestnuts. Biologists are studying trees like this one, as well as if you more Eastern chestnuts that have somehow survived. The total number of trees that have survived is less than 25 that are large enough to bear fruit.

[@terrylyons3577]

@@cac2821 I would encourage you to look up the Eastern Chestnut. You can find a lot of information online about the demise of this species. The Eastern Chestnut made up 25 to 35% of all the timber in the Appalachian mountains before 1900. Literally tons of chestnuts that were rich in protein or available for wildlife, as well as for people to eat. They were very nutritious, and at times poor mountain people would actually live off eating these chestnuts when they did not have anything else to eat.

[@cac2821]

@@terrylyons3577 thank you for explaining it to me. That’s devastating

[@ritajernigan-md4jo]

I'm so blessed to be a part of this. I enjoyed this so much that there was no place like home. Absolutely love this.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

thank you!

[@Streghamay]

My father's people were some of the first settlers to Pike Co KY, and his mothers side were also early settlers there. I always enjoy videos and stories of Appalachia people, it makes me feel closer to my origins.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you for sharing my friend

[@darcylett486]

My daughter is married to a Mccoy. He's from pike County Kentucky!

[@robertbevins5961]

Any chance they were of the Leslie/Lesley clan? That would be my dad's family, back a few generations, first permanent European settlers of the Big Sandy Valley.

[@zachsparkman5252]

I’m 30 years old and it’s crazy to me how little changed by the time I was a kid. Most of these traditions, teachings, and preaching we’re still that way so I was probably 15 years old. We didn’t get pavement down my holler till I was a teenager. It breaks my heart to see how much things have changed so fast for my community. That being said I don’t agree with preachers drinking.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Indeed, it’s slipping away from us

[@soisaidtogod4248]

Yup, the usa is more third world than they like you to think.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@soisaidtogod4248 💯

[@southernsweetgirl100]

Amen

[@sheilacape4794]

Yeah, the devil's water!

[@EastTennesseeDingos]

Proud of my Appalachian American roots! I see a picture of one of my ancestors in this video that I didn't know was public. I have that same & similar pics in old family albums, and have seen copies of it in museums/displays in Tennessee Appalachia.

[@VivaCristoRei9]

I am from Brazil ✝️🇧🇷✌️ I found this very fascinating, in a way it is kind of like the Amazon with the honest and isolated lives the people of Appalachia live

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

That’s cool, i never thought about that

[@kenihow]

It's just a glorified story. They live a horrible incestual life. Fathers and Brothers raping their daughters/sister while the mother listen in the same room.

[@VivaCristoRei9]

@@kenihow the story of the people of the Amazon is a tragic one, too. They are a people ignorant of the wonders of the civilised world and live in a dark violence, untouched by the light of Christ and civilisation.

[@TEM14411]

There were a lot of secrets too. Isolation bred some unhealthy generational traumas. May we all learn and heal.

[@agneslong2323]

@@VivaCristoRei9 As in some urban areas.

[@cadeevans4623]

Awesome video thanks for sharing love herring about the Appalachian

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks brother

[@cadeevans4623]

My pleasure buddy

[@morgainedepolloc4161]

My dad's family are from Western NC. I assumed for years we were Scotch-Irish. My grandmother was even one of the last Scots-Gaelic speakers in NC. But...as I did more family research, I found many Swiss, German, and Austrian ancestors that settled in Western NC and intermarried with my family, some Quakers --- dating back to before the Revolutionary War. As well as a branch of the family that migrated from the Charles City/Williamsburg VA, the Harrison family! What a mixture!!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

What a rich family history, thanks for sharing my friend

[@harolddenton6031]

Lots of Germans settled along with scots and Irish up in them western nc and east tennessee hillsides by the mid to late 1700's. I have plenty bloodlines from them groups of immigrants.

[@smartacus88]

It is said that in Southern Appalachia the Germans built barns, the English built churches, and the Scots Irish built whiskey stills.

[@loisbruce]

Greetings from the UK! I love your channel and your voice is so warm and resonant for these wonderful stories - thank you.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you friend!

[@bubbarub1839]

The more I discover about my Dad’s family, the Humility strikes me!!! Southeast Missouri.

[@hildakane9600]

Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful video, I love this channel ❤ much love and respect to you all from Ireland 🇮🇪 🌻 ❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend, greetings from East Tennessee

[@jonahbrown7540]

i have just discovered this channel and it is already one of my favorites. I have lived in NC my whole life and love this state!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend! Welcome home 💜

[@JanetWilkins-y3z]

Hello from australia people up in mountains back then had it hard. I love listening to the history stories. Moonshine.. way to go.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Glad to have you here my friend

[@audreytempleton4415]

I enjoyed this video very much.I have lived in west Virginia all my life and have and still do know people much like what Ive seen in this video..Times have changed..but a way of life is taught and still remains in some families and places.we can still learn from them and be better off for it ..Thanks for the video.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Indeed- thanks for watching and sharing

[@timlaxtonsr3729]

With todays crazy stuff happening..we would survive knowing all the old ways..just think we ave abit of an advantage with better equipment or supplies..

[@powerhouse428]

Thanks!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much Connie ❤️ that means so much to me, thank you so much for your support

[@addictedtoangling]

Im sitting over in scotland watching these videos proud and facinated by our history and of the journey scots and ulster scots made into the new world looking for a better life

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Greetings from East Tennessee

[@figgiefigueroa7372]

I just found this Chanel and I simply love it. Where anyone believe it or not in the Caribbean, there's an Island called Puerto Rico is a territory of the USA. The deal is that has I look and I listen to this stories it reminds me of my grandfather who lives in the country in the mountain ⛰ of Puerto Rico 🇵🇷. They call us Hillbillies, but we got to live the best life for decades. It was my Great Grandfather who came from Spain 🇪🇸 had 4 wife's and was a wealthy landowner. My grandfather was his son, and my dad was his grandsons. The similarities are unbelievable the same. They work at the sugar plantations but my great grandfather had land has far has your eyes can see. The have the coconut,tobacco, coffee, 🥭 Mango and the herds of animals of all kinds. They have their own distilleries and drink moonshine out of the sugar cane squeeze and fermentation. I mean looking at this is giving me a blast from the past. Thank you for having such an amazing Chanel and the great information you put out for us to enjoy. And yes Family has always been first.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks for sharing I enjoyed reading your story

[@phredro1731]

I had never had a conversation with anyone from south america or mexico until my sister married a first generation born american man of mexican descent. Come to learn from him that his cultural attitudes and many norms and taboos were a close match to my eastern ky upbringing. A great lesson for me.

[@tinylichau1529]

Love love these stories. I was born in Kentucky

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Gods country

[@sweetteagrits3822]

My ENTIRE family on maternal side is from here W NC, TN, GA. 1700’s traced back to. Oh the stories! My Mama is 92 I’m savoring them one by one I recorded some. I’m still young (long story I was a surprise) and hope stories these last more generations…my Grandpa helped build Chimney Rock, NC. Crazy!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

I enjoyed reading your story

[@charliehenderson38]

Live in West Virginia and there is no place like it!!!

[@MizMorgue1]

This was absolutely beautiful to listen to. I've read alot about Appalachians, their history, their culture and the land. Listening though, Listening to a really good narrator adds the emotion reading doesn't have. Thank you. This was great, JD. I look forward to following yoir channel for years to come

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much! Merry Christmas

[@ThePapawhisky]

I live in the west NC mountains and have roots in this heritage. Enjoyed the video. One quibble-there was a pictured titled “polecat”. It looked like a ferret. Here, a polecat is a skunk.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Yup, good catch

[@jasonc3522]

I got a kick out of that as well.

[@larryspoonamore7812]

Had a place at the Tellico head waters the Tellico was about 8/10 inches wide still caught some trout then the Yankees came I left

[@itsabrandnewday1072]

Pole cats and skunks are two different things. There are pole cars and there are skunks. Avoid both at all costs! 😂 One way to tell the difference is that a pole cat has one solid stripe down and that’s how it got the name pole cat.

[@Charliedanielsband77]

Indeed. There are several more inaccuracies by this uneducated person.

[@susancannon6379]

In the Western NC mountains here and I have a new favorite channel to binge!! Not only are the stories great, you are wonderful at telling them and the production quality is chef's kiss!! 🤌

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

That’s awesome! Thank you 💜

[@suzannecrum9702]

Your drone footage is so beautifully done! Love the pics of Devil Anse Hatfield and clan.Thank you for your words of "wisdom' retold!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend. The drone footage on the opening scene is Big South Fork Cumberland River near where Kentucky and Tennessee join, there is other footage from the Great Smoky Mountains, Hillsville, VA, Karns, TN, and several other areas in Appalachia

[@philipdubuque9596]

Brilliant presentation. My first love musically was "Old Time" eventually, Bluegrass, a style of music born in the Appalachian mountains. There is an unaffected directness in your presentation that reflects the simple nobility these early settlers and this storied place. Well done!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend, I give as much thought to the music as I do the story

[@annieseaside]

Fabulous! Just stumbled upon this channel. One teeny bone to pick, Scottish men knew all about fighting, no Native taught that. The Scot’s melted up into the Highlands or vanished to islands yet could reappear at Will and were fearsome alone or in force.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

thanks for sharing and welcome to the channel!

[@agneslong2323]

I have always considered Scots to be the originators of the Rebel Yell.

[@jenniferhook7106]

I would love to hear the narrator tell more stories. He has a great voice.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Be sure to check our channel out, there are over 100 stories told by him

[@Str8Bidness]

I'm here because my ancestor was one of the first Apalachans, moving west of the "Fall Line" to Allen's Creek Va. in the 1720's. Our Clan of Meeks' and Hoppers would eventually spread across the country, to Georgia, Tennessee, and Tipah Mississippi, with our branch finally landing in Texas in the 1850's.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Wow!

[@tennesse_courier]

I really enjoyed this one especially about the primitive churches and preachers. The way justice was handled by the Appalachian folks has some interesting stories. Really enjoyed all the different churches you showed. Excellently done!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks Jim, a bit of trivia for you? Im sure you know the answer- What was the name of the first church in the section talking about the Primitive Baptist Church?

[@tennesse_courier]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller was it the Cades Cove Primitive Baptist church in Cades Cove...

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@tennesse_courier I knew you knew :)

[@MjangPoem66]

You sir, are a fine lyrical storyteller. Well done and appreciated.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you Sir!

[@sallyk7363]

Your knowledge of the area, your execution of the story itself and all the facts that you present in addition; it's just so fascinating! I just love your stories... Thank you so much. I'm from the Doe Run area of Missouri, and albeit, I am not (to my knowledge), of Appalachian decent, I do feel I have a great deal in common with these Mountain folks.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you Sally, I really appreciate your kind words

[@johnelliott4521]

My family settled in French indian territory in what is now eastern kentucky three brothers moved across cumberland gap. Visted the area, once the locals learned who I was it was like the boys never left. Heard stories from my great grand dad of his childhood. Hard times hard men.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Indeed, hard times - hard men

[@audiemccall5332]

My ancestors jumped off the ship in 1768 and settled in western Nc . We’ve been here and fought for this country with a passion and by god we still will.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Good people

[@HazelnutEr]

Yeah and this is how you destroyed local Indians who lived there much longer than you

[@soisaidtogod4248]

Proud of destroying what the natives had so as your Sky Fairy cult could stay? Another arrogant usa outlook.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@soisaidtogod4248 💜

[@audiemccall5332]

@@HazelnutEr The Cherokee people that were native to this region were wronged by the Government . However my family came here from the Ulster region of Northern Ireland where they were wronged there and forced to leave . They came here in search of freedom and a better life. When attacked by anyone or anything they would naturally fight back but didn’t come to harm or fight . They had quite enough of it and didn’t want to fight but if called to do their part they would.

[@ashleybuckland3181]

love your stories, never stop you have a gift.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you ma’am 💜

[@figgiefigueroa7372]

This Chanel is what good old American stories should be about. Not less, Not more. Exactly like it is. This is good old Americana History ! Congratulations to the Administrator and Assistants. I come from a country background and this stories take me back to Puerto Rico 🇵🇷, USA 🇺🇸 1800 and 1900s. What a a memory awakening ⏰ !! Thank you!!!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend!

[@figgiefigueroa7372]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller You are welcome 😊 Friend I'm doing a humongous computer 🖥 work for deep in the mountain community in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 Your channel brings me back all them memories from my Grandfather 👴 and grandmother 👵. You have no idea how happy I'm to find your channel because you are keeping a very important part of this nation history recorded. That is call a legacy, exactly what I'm trying to do in a deep in the mountains communty in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 USA 🇺🇸,but in a Medical 🚑 service kind of way. Thank you! Please don't stop ! Ps. Any moonshine stories?

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@figgiefigueroa7372 thats so awesome my friend

[@figgiefigueroa7372]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I'm proud to be from the rural hills of San juan Puerto Rico. And I will never change my childhood experiences in the mountains for any city life. My grandfather was the maximum artist of folklore music in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷. First latino to perform before an American President and the President was John F Kennedy. My grandmother has a letter that Jackeline Kennedy wrote to her in 1963.

[@Davidf8L]

From Fort Loudon, East Tennessee first families of Tennessee thanks you, and I ,Mr Cassidy, thank you for your time

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you sir!

[@Fortis_Bellator]

I love these old pioneer stories. Great Job, JD!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you Stephanie ❤

[@67whitestang33]

OMG just beautiful. So much history so many stories. Absolutely amazing. Love it.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you 💜

[@bigiron8831]

My grandfather told me stories of chestnut trees so tall he had to lay flat on his back to see the top of them and my cousin has had the same still for over 50 years now making some fine shine. Love your videos and stories J.D. Stay safe my friend 🙏

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Man, I would have love to have seen a 600 year old Chestnut tree with my own eyes. Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong generation.

[@Adam-nv9zo]

Amazing video. Thank you. 👏 👏 👏

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks you

[@OldMeanGeezer]

A story told this well don't even need video! I did enjoy the old pictures though....Thank You; WELL DONE

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend, The Appalachian Storyteller is on Spotify as well!

[@WOAM-zk3lb]

Hello. I’m new to this channel. Born and raised in Southern California, submitted my DNA and learned my paternal ancestors are heavily rooted in Eastern Kentucky. Learning as much as I can about a culture foreign to me. Look forward to watching your videos.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you and welcome!

[@DD-wx3ho]

Everything sane for me, too! My adopted Mother wondered how and why I learned to love bluegrass and country music so much!

[@caseyarchuleta5513]

I truly enjoy listening to the facts and stories of the Appalachians. Thank you for shining a light on the history of the people and the mountains. I'm from east Tennesse myself and hope to return someday. I miss the language, culture and fun those mountains have to offer. God, take me home!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend- I have lots of history from the East Tennessee area on this channel

[@janrandles8683]

So interesting as I have recently researched my genealogy and found that I am more Irish than Scottish. My family surname of my great-grandfather was McRandles and is a surname that was common from what I understand in Northern Ireland. At some point it was changed to just Randles. Grew up in Knoxville and moved back to this area after retiring. I hike in the Smokies frequently, both TN and NC side. One of my favorite things is walking through the many small cemeteries in the Smokies and seeing the family names of that area. Glad to have found your videos as I have been away for over 20 years and find this all fascinating.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Amazing

[@nancyyonce2906]

Beautiful stories -beautiful people . Thank you !!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you 🙏

[@megzdubv2950]

I’ve got all the old recipes I’m talkin Grandma’s Vinegar Chocolate Cake to Burnt Sugar Cake to Scripture Cake to General Washington Cake even Robert E. Lee Cake, and I ain’t gonna even get into the preserves & pickles heck this cookbook had wild grape catsup 😊 so many good old fashioned recipes our people lived off of!!!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

cherish them!

[@yvonneschlame8657]

You've created such a beautiful place here. Wonderful storytelling indeed 👏✨

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much!

[@lmoore155]

As an Irish/Scottish child from PEI and Nova Scotia, and now an American, I fount this fascinating! Thank you for this excellent presentation!!!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you!

[@victoriagriffith7832]

Another awesome story! Thank You

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend, I appreciate your support 😊

[@Music_is_Breathing]

Love this!! My family came over in the 1750's--mostly Scottish. First Presbyterian Church on Bee Tree St., Swannanoa, NC. I have ancestors buried there, at the Piney Grove Cemetery. It's a historic site now, but I have kin going back to the 1750's buried there, and I have my Grandma, Great-Granny, Grandpa, Uncle and my Dad buried there.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Awesome

[@cathleenweston3541]

Yup. Me too. Guinston PA Presbyterian church was founded by my clan McNary they too are buried there. 💖

[@clintfranklin3156]

Hello from burnsville nc smack in the middle of the blue ridge

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Awesome

[@eliotoole]

So many memories of picking up chestnuts as a young child in Eastern Kentucky

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Wow, what years was that?

[@duwaynewireman2425]

We still do here

[@Trust3]

My parents have a Beautiful chestnut tree in hilly Southern Ohio, it's always filled with chestnuts, but it's not like the huge ones described here, love the hill country and my mountains!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks for sharing my friend, I’d love some chestnuts

[@eunicestone838]

A lot of them need fertilizer. They need a pot of phosphorus and nitrogen.

[@charliedaniel718]

Ohio is trash yank state

[@arailway8809]

You do beautiful work. You have left out the Indians and later the Melungeon's that came in 50 years before James. The mountains curve around and form the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas. Some kids would see visitors and run, then peak out around the corner of the house. The girls would run and hide under the bed.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks my friend, more to come my friend

[@arailway8809]

​@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I would like to add that the people clearing trees in the Ouachitas often planted turnips as the first crop. I suspect it was a winter crop.

[@craigcobb8707]

Stunning video and still photos. Thank you.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you 🙏

[@edwardh1591]

Enjoy your documentaries. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you sir

[@dionnedunsmore9996]

This was narrated incredibly Great story

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you friend

[@dionnedunsmore9996]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller you're VERY welcome...its been many yrs since I have enjoyed a story as much as I enjoyed you telling this one. I thoroughly enjoyed listening and watching your production. Thank u!😊👊🏻

[@dont.wilson2121]

My Mom and Dad were raised in central West Virginia, Clay County. Such a rich heritage.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Great country

[@richardrogers156]

You related to Clarence Wilson.My grandfather was from Clay county.Roy Rogers last lived in Webster springs miss that trip in the holler.💪😇🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@dont.wilson2121]

@@richardrogers156 good morning, I don’t remember Clarence Wilson. My grandfather’s name was Vernon Wilson. My dad was James Reed Jordan Wilson.

[@timlaxtonsr3729]

You'll never recognize the area now..its lil bad lots of drugs and unsolved disappearances .

[@dont.wilson2121]

@@timlaxtonsr3729 I know Tim. I grew up in Huntington, not the city now that I remember. But you know what? Prayer changes things.

[@aussieausbourne1]

The American Chestnut is making a comeback either native trees are growing resistant to the fungus or the trees I've seen are hybrids but finally they are showing up in the cherokee and Nantahala forests hopefully they'll get the chance to grow to their full potential

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

fingers crossed!

[@beereal2514]

I have a chestnut tree in my yard in the NC Smoky Mountains. We gather chestnuts from it every year and leave some for the bears.

[@SashJ.McMishmosh]

Thank you, from a proud descendant of the McGuire clan. Early settlers of KY. Looking forward to be traveling through this beautiful country again.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much my friend

[@4Score747]

That’s interesting about the Chestnut trees. Good video.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend!

[@rogerironhide4220]

I love watching outstanding videos of this great channel. I enjoy learning any & everything about my culture, heritage, etc.... I have family all over Appalachia & every time I get to listen/watch/read regarding the above, I can feel it in my blood, the excitement, the pride 💯.... Keep up the outstanding good work you put out into your channel. Love it 👍🏻🍻. We truly need to go back to our ol ways, today's world, society is sick & downright demented. All this mass tech is hurting us in general & in every aspect of living as people, Humans. We are ALL bound of this great earth & we oughta go back to living as we should. I could never leave the mountains.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Appreciate the encouragement Roger, thanks so much my friend!

[@timmyblaylock3024]

My family, the Blaylocks, followed the cotton down through Mississippi and then across to Arkansas as share croppers. I now live in the Ozark Mountain region. Even after all of the generations, the education, and modernization, our attitudes remain unchanged. Amazing.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

👍

[@audramatney1148]

Great story friend keep 👍 them coming

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you, God bless

[@JulieannMathews]

Amazing ‼️ loved chestnuts as a child growing up in my home england don't get them in south Africa! Miss them. Thank you love Julie south Africa 😁🙏💙

[@CarlosGonzales-wm8xx]

Thanks for all the old photos. The narration is poetic.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you 🙏

[@jimward204]

Thanks! Your video brought back a lot of memories of the stories my Dad used to tell me about life in the Appalachians. My Dad's family lines arrived in Eastern Kentucky in 1800, coming down the Great Wagon Road in Virginia that is now Interstate 81 before moving westward. A few may have arrived in Kentucky even earlier around 1780. They settled along the creeks and waterways in the "hollers" where the sun was rarely seen before ten in the morning peaking over the edge of the ridge. Dad was born in 1920 in a little dirt-poor community in Lawrence County, Kentucky. In 1925, the family moved by train to nearby Logan County, West Virginia, where Dad's father got work in the coal mines. Dad said he never saw indoor plumbing until he joined the US Army in World War II. His youngest brother also never saw indoor plumbing until he joined the US Air Force twenty years later.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Wow, what a story, thanks for sharing

[@billymullis9785]

Thank you for the video I love ones like this thank you so much and may God bless you

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you my friend

[@WhispersFromTheDark]

Good morning from North Texas! My ancestors came from Wales to North Carolina, In 1700 then some moved into Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and then into Texas. So some of the pioneers we're my people, I'm proud to say. Crane/Crain, Young were some of their names.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

💪 strong bloodlines

[@rhonda.gross57]

My Irish ancestry came here in 1700s, but I don't know where they were, except Oklahoma. My Irish great-great-grandfather's name was John O'May.

[@WhispersFromTheDark]

@@rhonda.gross57 I joined a geneaology page called My Heritage and although it's kinda expensive, it has quite the database to be able to find your ancestors. Matter of fact they'll find them for you and suggest them as 'Smart Matches' for you to look at and confirm or deny. You can start there by adding your parents and their parents and they'll do the rest. They even have links to marriages and immigration from other Countries as well as photos on some of them. I have well over 5,000 in my tree thus far and I work on adding names and checking their smart matches several times a week. That's how I have been able to find out so much on my line. I also have ancestors that lived and died in Oklahoma, and I don't live that far from there now.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

@@rhonda.gross57 thats an Irish name for sure, if I run across it in my research, ill let ya know

[@rhonda.gross57]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller thank you!!

[@melm4760]

Im from the Appalachians watching this. Another great video.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you!

[@hikerx9366]

So glad to be able to watch such informative information on the Appalachian history. Thanks again my friend.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you for your kind words and support!

[@kevinbruce2776]

That's crazy huge the way those Chestnut trees get so huge. When I see the pictures of giant redwoods it is amazing as well. It's sad to here the story of how they were infected and so many died off.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Indeed my friend

[@johnlockhart2674]

Twice I have been to Cade’s Cove and the Cling-man’s Dome , it is truly God’s county , I really appreciate the great Smoky Mountains!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

💯

[@tammyevans7333]

How awesome, love to hear the stories!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

🙏 hope you have a great weekend

[@renaestevenson1361]

This is my Saturday morning (cup of Joe and relaxing at kitchen table); Lots of rich Appalachian history given here - (chestnuts, corn, stills, whiskey-makin', guns, church, the poor SURVIVING and RICH with FAMILY only - love-closeness of one another and in abundance with their big families) - good stuff here. I am not from the South BUT, I find our American history / Appalachian history, here, so interesting - Appalachians were/are definitely intuitive survivalists and no doubt these Scotch/Irish Appalachian folks were VERY STRONG PEOPLE - zero doubt about that! Very good history telling here - thank you.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

I so enjoyed reading your thoughts, 100 💯 agreed

[@johnnyringo765]

I love your channel. Thanks for telling these stories. For too long people mocked the people of smokey mountains and Appalachian areas for the way they lived and talked. Those people had a hard life and were poor. Making moonshine liquor was sometimes the only way to put food on the table or buy clothes for the kids. Those people are the true spirit of American freedom.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you Johnny, like you said, im just trying to celebrate our history and hopefully educate outsiders along the way. Have a blessed day

[@johnnyringo765]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller thank you. Have a Blessed day too.

[@agneslong2323]

They made brandies and ciders, too. Great way to make use of crops that they would otherwise lose. And, spirits could then preserve even more such as peaches, pears and plums. The government's problem with stills wasn't so much the production as the tax collection. When they found a still, they destroyed it for retribution.

[@mikeoneil5770]

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” My Grandma from Kentucky used to say this all the time..

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Amen 🙏

[@meemaw100]

Sounds like what my Grandma used to say to she was from Kentucky