Ok...In the decade prior to the Revolution the #1 export out of Salisbury, NC was deer hides, over 200,000 a year...The #1 import was cloth...In addition there were 3 hatters in Salisbury in 1760...These hatters made felt hats from beavers that were trapped on this side of the Appalachians...There weren't enough people in this area to warrent 3 hatters, these were also sent to England...

This is why Squire Boone moved down here in 1750 with his family which of course included his 17 year old son Daniel...
Daniel did his trading of skins in Salisbury and Salem, NC...

I've always thought that he probably carried a North Carolina rifle into Kentucky on his first trip there in 1769...