What's Significant about Daniel Hankins? He's my earliest known Hankins progenitor, and my 5th Great Grandpa -- That's significant to me, and sufficient reason alone for my web site. He was born in America (not U.S.A) at the beginning of the 18th century. He was a pioneer in his own right, and was one of the very first settlers in now Western Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Eastern Henry and Franklin Counties, Virginia. He was a participant in our Revolutionary War and acknowledged for both Patriotic and Civil Service. He was one of the first county Justices of the Peace in our new nation.   What's the Purpose of My Web Site? Although not totally unique, Southside Virginia is one of a very few places in early America where our forefathers first ventured that was away from the Eastern shore. In my estimate, it is one of the early cradles of the birth of our Nation that was truly free from European influence, and thus deserving of a special place in our Nation's early history. The Eastern shore, though still difficult, was mostly safe, and many still hung onto the ways and beliefs and prejudices of the old life in Europe. Our early ancestors on the Eastern shore were still escaping, and as the West slowly and reluctantly opened, they embarked with enthusiasm into places where they would be truly free and become the roots of our new nation. There were swamps, and rivers, and Indians, and mountains, and great forests to hinder progress. For example, the Dismal Swamp in Virginia and North Carolina was a great barrier from moving directly down the Eastern shore, and the two --yes, two-- passes over the Appalachian Mountains weren't useable as yet. However, a few areas were poised to enable our nation's Westward growth. In Virginia, the famous Cumberland Gap in the North, and the less famous, but equally important New River Gap in the South, were the only doorways to the West. While in the North, the Ohio River Valley served as the Northern passage, but it too was dangerous, and wild. And the open way to the South into the Carolinas was through Eden & Rockingham County. This is the southern border of Southside Virginia and was a major route to settling the deep South. Southside Virginia was a natural draw for settlers who were either settling for good, or waiting to move on. It had much rich land, low rolling hills, rivers and streams, good forests, much game, and most importantly, it could be reached easily, without perilous journey, from the East. A great many of the early Southside Virginia settlers liked it, and stayed for good. One aspect of my web site is dedicated to the surnames of these early settlers, the marrow of our Nation. As long as there was a new West somewhere, restless minds always exist. Perhaps they were just restless because that was their nature, or perhaps they felt they'd missed out on the early land grants, or perhaps they were the bits and pieces of new generations who desired to break away from the confines of the secure family and make their own way, elsewhere. Regardless, to satisfy their hunger, they had to travel over difficult terrain, in a mostly unfriendly environment. Often, members of 3-5 family surnames who lived close together in Southside Virginia, intermarried and traveled together. It was convenient, and most neighbors stayed close-knit because travel wasn't easy, and there was safety in numbers. Each generation had its portion who desired to travel and make their way elsewhere, and Southside Virginia was one of our Nation's cradles that produced these new generations of free thinking American's. The other aspect of my web site is dedicated to the lineages of our extra-adventurous ancestors who also have their early roots in Southside Virginia.