9/2/2023 0 Comments New port map colonies![]() ![]() By the time of the American Revolutionary War, using the term, King’s Highway, was not very popular. The complete highway services by stagecoach were not provided until the 1760s. Extended service was not provided until the 1740s to Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Stagecoaches were using the northern sections of the road providing services from Boston to New York as early as 1735. They would bypass the highway altogether and reach the markets, the ports and the cities without paying toll fees. The colonists were creating additional routes near their settlements away from the coastal region. Also, the extension of the road was finally constructed to Savannah, Georgia, but the conditions only worsened through the years. By January of 1730, a new petition was created to construct the highway from Philadelphia to the new settlement of Lancaster. This action allowed the road to be nearly 50ft wide in a few places. If the county lacked the means for construction, the General Assembly would initiate the construction and upon completion, tolls and fees were charged for the use of the bridge.ĭuring the year of 1700, Pennsylvania passed a law stating that all brush and trees were to be removed from the King’s Highway throughout the colony. If a bridge was needed to cross a river or stream, the county was required to build it out of their own man power and resources. While the legislation greatly differed among the other colonies, the concept was basically the same, improved roads in exchange for manual labor. This action was carried on for over 250 years in Virginia. If individuals refused to work on the road, taxes were applied and ordered to be paid by the General Assembly. All males over the age of 16 were required to work a set amount of days during each year without pay. the responsibilities were moved to the county courts and the court would designate an individual to oversee the road work. This placed church parishes to be in charge of road construction and maintenance. The first highway legislation was passed in Virginia during the year of 1632. Milestone marker located on Route 1A in Massachusetts ![]() Few bridges existed along the route which required a toll fee and the ferries that were in existence were few and rare during the late 1600s and early 1700s. Reports of areas deemed as impassable for days and weeks at a time. Journals document large stumps in the road and huge ruts as deep as 2 feet in many places. Even the post riders were having difficulties while transporting letters and other correspondences. In fact, documents prove that the King’s Highway was often referred to as a road in “poor condition”. Some of these lesser known roads were in much better shape versus the King’s Highway. In fact, contractor’s in various locations would take on the task of upkeeping a particular road in their region and maintain it. The King’s Highway was not the only established road during this time period. Charles II of England ordered the road construction and between the years of 16, the road grew and eventually covered over 1300 miles from Boston to Charleston, South Carolina. Later the road would join Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and traveled south to early settlements along the eastern seaboard. By 1673, the trail transformed into the first post road and served mail connections between Boston, Massachusetts and New York. However, the beginning of America’s oldest highway was once an Indian trail known as the Pequot Trail. Majority of these were once Indian trails that were widened to accommodate stagecoaches and wagons years later. The post map of 1729 by Herman Moll clearly shows the route of these roads during that time period. Another reason was brought about due to trading within the colonies, transporting goods, supplies and travelers from one settlement to another. Individual “post roads” were soon constructed within the perimeters of small communities. One, of course, was due to the delivery of mail correspondence from one area to another. The need for a major route between the colonies was placed on demand due to various reasons. Note: Charleston, South Carolina was known as Charlestown until after the American Revolutionary War. Major cities located throughout the colonies were Boston, Concord, Providence, New Haven, Dover, Albany, New York City, Wilmington, Trenton, Philadelphia, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Baltimore, Brunswick, Charlestown and Savannah. This was mainly due to the tobacco industry. ![]() Trade had grown significantly during the late 1600s to the onset of the 18th century. With the growth of the colonies and the new settlements springing up all along the coastline, ships were docking at the major ports almost daily. ![]()
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