For those interested in the general history of the Cumberland Gap area and the history of families in the counties surrounding the Cumberland Gap in northeast Tennessee (Claiborne, Hawkins and Hancock), southeast Kentucky (Bell and Harlan) and southwest Virginia (Lee, Scott and Russell), or any family known to be in the general geography of East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia or Southeast Kentucky before 1820.

In particular we are focused on the history of population settlement and historic events which affect families and migration patterns.

We use genealogy and the comparison of DNA results in order to find those to whom we are related in order that we may find our common heritage. Feel free to join the DNA projects at www.familytreedna.com/public/CumberlandGap-YDNA (males only) or www.familytreedna.com/public/Cumberlandgap-mtdna (male and female testing for maternal line) if your families live or lived in this area.

This forum is for the friendly discussion and exchange of information relative to the history of the area and/or the area's families. Since this is a closed list you must be approved by the moderators. Please indicate some of your surnames and areas of interest in the Cumberland Gap region in your application.