James,

You made mention of runaway white indentured's fleeing into the mountains of Western MD early on in the plantation system. Often over the years I have heard much to do about those living in the hills being antithetical to Roman authority (and just about everything else) in matters of religion. Like everything else in regards to our pallid unsung ancestors we are often left with questions about fairly basic details of life...I am curious if you know anything of those eking out a life in Western MD (or anywhere else) in so much as religion was concerned.

If you go to Western MD and parts of western PA there is a whole bunch of evidence of Catholic life/culture brought on by the waves of immigration (German and Irish) that hit the US from the 19th century onward....My father and grandfather both told me stories as a boy relating to the fact that the area around Cumberland, MD was a haven for Catholics after the Protestants wrested control of the Colony in its later years.

Figured you would know...

Nero, Your Allied Heathen

Good luck on tracking down Liver Eater Johnson. Stay safe out there. Have fun