"This is where many of my ancestors and yours came from; Defenders of Derry during the great siege, the defining moment in Ulster Protestant [Scots in Ireland or Scotch-Irish] history. To an Ulsterman the Siege of Londonderry is what the War Between the States is to an American. Shortly after this event great waves of Derrymen left for America, first settling in Pennsylvania and then moving down the Valley of Virginia and into the Carolinas. This genealogical connection between the families of those who fought at Derry and those who settled in Augusta/Rockbridge counties Virgina and the Settlement of the Northwest Carolina Frontier (Carolina Cradle by Ramsey) eventually reaches a climax on a little mountain in North Carolina on October 7, 1780 [the Revolutionary War Battle of Kings Mountain]." Letter from Robert Cowan, Matthews, NC, to Russell Co., VA Genforum, Feb 2002

William Baskin Sr. came to America from Ireland about the fall of 1731, for his name first appears in Chester Co., PA records in 1732. He went to Paxton, PA about 1737. July 24, 1740 John Pickens appeared before the Orange Co., VA court to say that he had imported himself and William Baskin with others from Ireland to VA. by way of Philadelphia. The statement was made to obtain land from Virginia. Augusta Co. was formed from Orange Co. in 1745. The Augusta Co. records show that John Pickens had gone to what is now Augusta Co. from Paxton , PA. In Feb. 1740 he bought land in Va.