From Scotland to Ulster to North America
This interactive map traces the migration journey of the McCreary families from their Scottish origins through Ulster plantation to settlement in North America.
Phase 1 (1610s): Scottish Lowlanders, including McCreary families, crossed the narrow North Channel (only 13 miles) to settle in Ulster as part of the Plantation of Ulster.
Phase 2 (1717-1775): Economic hardship and religious discrimination drove Ulster Scots to emigrate to colonial America, primarily arriving in Philadelphia and settling the frontier regions.
Settlement Areas: Pennsylvania's Cumberland Valley, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and the Carolinas became major McCreary settlement areas.