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50 a prominent part in the wars of the Covenant, forsook their homes and fled to the Highlands. The Breckinridges found a safe retreat in Breadalbane, and though they only remained there a short time, with grateful hearts they remembered those who had befriended them in adversity, and the name of their highland refuge, commemorated for generations in the names of new seats beyond the sea, still sounds like an echo of home to a Breckinridge's ear. When quiet had once more succeeded to adversity, the hunted refugees crossed over into North Ireland, and, under the rule of William and Anne, regained their former prosperity to a very great degree. It was probably owing to the enforced wanderings of these years, which had bred a spirit of unrest, that in 1728 a new emigration began. There is no complete record of those of this family who came to America. A family tradition is to the effect that three brothers came over together with their families, but although this cannot now be certainly ascertained, it is probable that a number of the family came together. Of these was Alexander Breckinridge, and with him came his wife and a numerous family. He followed the track his countrymen were marking broadly out, westward through Pennsylvania, filling the great central valley, thence trending southward into Virginia, and spreading out in the frontier settlements. He made a brief stay in central Pennsylvania, and then removed to Augusta County, Virginia, and settled upon a tract of land, upon a part of which now stands the town of