At the end of the 17th century, the area in Northern Ireland known as Ulster saw an influx of immigrants, mostly from Scotland. Many fought in the Williamite War on the side of King William III of Orange, affectionately nicknamed “King Billy.” Beginning in 1710, hundreds of thousands of these folk participated in a second migration to the American Colonies through Pennsylvania and into Appalachia, where they eventually became known as the Scotch- or Scots-Irish. Supporters of “King Billy” were often called “Billy Boys,” and “Billy Boys of the Hills,” which may even be one of the original derivations for the term “Hill Billy!" Billy Boy tells the story of one of these early archetypical immigrants – a veteran of King William’s wars, weary of the world and looking for a new home.
