The Fair Play Settlers of the West Branch Valley, 1769-1784: A Study of Frontier Ethnography

"The Fair Play Settlers of the West Branch Valley, 1769-1784" by George D. Wolf is a historical account written in the late 20th century. The book thoroughly examines the lives of the Fair Play settlers, highlighting their political and societal structures during a pivotal time in American frontier history. It aims to explore how this unique community contributed to the development of democratic ideals on the frontier. The opening of the study introduces the Fair Play settlers' geographic context between 1769 and 1784, illustrating how about 100 to 150 families established a political organization known as the Fair Play system in response to their status as squatters beyond colonial jurisdiction. It references the significance of democracy rising from their extra-legal governance, and the chapter outlines the foundational experience of these settlers, who were largely Scotch-Irish, during their transition from wilderness to community. The author emphasizes that this study is intended not as a complete representation of frontier life but instead as a specific case to understand broader democratic development in early American history.