During the mid-nineteenth century North Carolina was the global supplier of naval stores. The "Turpentine State" lay in the long-leaf pine belt--a region of dry sandy clay subsoil that ran from North Carolina, south to Florida, and as far west as southern Alabama and Mississippi. The sap of turpentine orchards was harvested and distilled into … Continue reading Examining the Language of Slavery
slavery
What I’m Reading: Troubled Refuge
When George Parker decided to risk everything and flee the bondage of a Murfreesboro (NC) plantation for the safety of the Union Army encampment in Suffolk, Virginia he didn't know how his story would end. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was a military order, establishing George's status as "not slave." But the proclamation came no where close … Continue reading What I’m Reading: Troubled Refuge
By 2 o’clock
Deadlines are my friend. Deadlines are my friend. Deadlines are my friend. 2 o'clock. That is my latest deadline. Computer time--1:39. Twenty minutes to sift through my busy brain and find some compelling story or intriguing information that is worthy of a reader's time. I got nothing. Or maybe I am just procrastinating a bit … Continue reading By 2 o’clock
The Dodsons of Mecklenburg County: Friends of Friends Friday
In the decade after Edward and Francis Dodson unpacked their wagon (1772), the 95 acres on Little Fork of Allen's Creek, Mecklenburg County (VA) became a bustling farm. Green stalks of corn grew from hills of rich, red clay soil. Hogs snuffled through thick stands of oak, hickory, persimmon,and pine. Cattle grazed in fields that first yielded crops … Continue reading The Dodsons of Mecklenburg County: Friends of Friends Friday
Friend of Friends Friday: Slaves of the Virginia Dodsons, 1853-1865
A couple of months ago I received a query regarding my ancestors, the Dodsons of Mecklenburg County, Virginia. In particular, Angela Pearl Dodson was seeking information about the slaves that this family owned, or that relatives of this family had owned. I circle back to this topic today, with a posting from the special collection … Continue reading Friend of Friends Friday: Slaves of the Virginia Dodsons, 1853-1865
Shoots, Roots, and Leaves 