From the time Henry Morton returned from his first exploring expedition beyond the mountains the immigrants, already overflowing the five-mile radius around Mortonia, were directed up the Potomac to form new settlements; and when the governor returned from England the outmost settlement was more than forty miles above Mortonia. Now they were extended still more rapidly, for Morton acquired new vessels and extended his agencies in Europe.
The object was to push beyond the mountains, and small settlements were made along the Potomac a few miles apart, located at places where the best agricultural land was found. These settlements were made as compact as possible for safety from the savages, and each contained a strong block-house and stockade, with two or three small pieces of artillery. Each settlement consisting of twenty-five or thirty families constituted a township,
