Suffering from poor harvests in 1789 and 1802 and dreaming of land ownership, the initial settlement of five Welsh families soon attracted other agricultural migrants, settling Steuben, Utica and Remsen townships. The first Welsh settlers arrived in the 1790s. Numerous Welsh immigrants settled in the town of Freedom and surrounding townships in Cattaraugus County in southwestern New York during the 19th century.
The text describes the historical migration of Welsh families to New York State, driven by agricultural challenges and a desire for land ownership. The initial settlement attracted other migrants, leading to the development of specific townships.