The First Appalachians

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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!

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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 🤗❤️