"A detailed look at the people associated with Jamestown from its founding in 1607 to 1800. Based on government records and private archives, it provides historical biographies of several distinct groups of people: Jamestown Island landowners, public officials, Native-American leaders, and African Americans associated with Jamestown. It also covers more than a thousand people who did not own land on Jamestown Island but whose activities brought them to Virginia's capital city."--p.[4] of cover.

"From the earliest records relating to Virginia, we learn the basics about many of these original colonists: their origins, the names of the ships they sailed on, the names of the "hundreds" and "plantations" they inhabited, the names of their spouses and children, their occupations and their position in the colony, their relationships with fellow colonists and Indian neighbors, their living conditions as far as can be ascertained from documentary sources, their ownership of land, the dates and circumstances of their death, and a host of fascinating, sometimes incidental details about their personal lives, all gathered together in the handy format of a biographical dictionary" -- publisher website (January 2008).

In 1984, the landscape historian Mac Griswold was rowing along a Long Island creek when she came upon a stately yellow house and a garden guarded by looming boxwoods. She instantly knew that boxwoods that large--twelve feet tall, fifteen feet wide--had to be hundreds of years old. So, as it happened, was the house: Sylvester Manor had been held in the same family for eleven generations. Formerly encompassing all of Shelter Island, a pearl of 8,000 acres caught between the North and South Forks of Long Island, the manor had dwindled to 243 acres. Still, its hidden vault proved to be full of revelations and treasures, including the 1666 charter for the land, and correspondence from Thomas Jefferson. Most notable was the short and steep flight of steps the family had called the "slave staircase," which would provide clues to the extensive but little-known story of Northern slavery. Alongside a team of archaeologists, Griswold began a dig that would uncover a landscape bursting with stories. Based on years of archival and field research, as well as voyages to Africa, the West Indies, and Europe, "The Manor" is at once an investigation into forgotten lives and a sweeping drama that captures our history in all its richness and suffering.

"A list of all the individuals who can be documented as having lived on [Jamestown] Island between 1607 and 1699, either as land owners or as members of the House of Burgesses or as other officials is presented here"--Pref.

This volume is the first to offer an in-depth look at historical archaeology, public history, and reconstruction in Williamsburg through a comprehensive range of sites, topics, and analyses. Uniquely combining a historical landscape and a large town museum complex, Colonial Williamsburg has deeply influenced the discipline for 100 years through one of the nation’s longest continuously running archaeological conservation programs. Historical Archaeology in the Twenty-First Century illuminates the town’s history as an early capital of the Virginia Colony and home to the College of William & Mary. In the 1700s, Williamsburg was a center of political, cultural, and commercial life where people of African, European, and Native American descent interacted regularly. The case studies in this volume cover topics including animal husbandry, the oyster industry, architectural reconstruction, window leads, and an apothecary’s display skeleton. Contributors draw attention to the interactions between enslaved and free communities as well as African American burial practices. Using exemplary approaches and methodologies, this volume addresses key concerns in the field such as amplifying voices of the African diaspora, the development of ethically sound inclusive archaeologies, the value of environmental analyses, and the advantages of virtual models. The research highlighted here provides state-of-the-art examples of how historical archaeology can be used to inform, engage, and educate. Contributors: Dessa E. Lightfoot | Mark Kostro | Joanne Bowen | Patricia M. Samford | Irvy R Quitmyer | Peter Inker | Jason Boroughs | Ellen Chapman | Ywone D. Edwards-Ingram | Stephen C. Atkins | Martha McCartney | Kelly Ladd-Kostro | Andrew C. Edwards | Meredith Poole

You WILL leave a spiritual legacy. The faith, convictions, and sacrifices of those who lived before us help shape our lives today. What will your faith story build for your family? Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith tells stories of the past that will impact our faith today. These 52 heart-felt inspirations reveal the seeds of our faith—seeds that sprouted and took root, growing through the centuries to touch our lives today. Heirloom weaves these stories of faith and family history with Scripture, beautiful artwork, and ancestry research tips and techniques. Through these stories of persevering faith, you’ll discover the potential your story has to impact future generations. Heirloom features 52 inspiring stories of faith from family research, history, and the Bible. It includes genealogy research tips to help you explore your own family tree. And, it also shares biblical and practical tips to inspire you to live out your faith in ways that will impact your family tomorrow. Heirloom encourages you to trace your heritage and document the stories of your ancestors.

In 1619, a group of thirty-two African men, women and children arrived on the shores of Virginia. They had been kidnapped in the royal city of Kabasa, Angola, and forced aboard the Spanish slave ship San Juan Bautista. The ship was attacked by privateers, and the captives were taken by the English to their New World colony. This group has been shrouded in controversy ever since. Historian Ric Murphy documents a fascinating story of colonialism, treason, piracy, kidnapping, enslavement and British law.

In Families: Where We Each Begin,,/i> Randal Teague chronicles his journey from relatively humble beginnings to his launchpad for a career in law, higher education, and politics. By subjecting family lore and legend to the harsh scrutiny of research, he discovers a somewhat different self through facts and circumstances shared with him by his extended family and friends. This memoir provides more than just information. It describes in a convincing way how to pass knowledge of what came before us to those whom we know and those whom we will never know. With this collaborative approach, Teague expanded his knowledge of himself. Some family lore was true, but some was not. Lost facts were recovered. Memories grew in number and depth and lit the corners of his mind. Loved ones long passed returned to his daily thoughts and evening dreams. And he came to understand, as a famous author observed, that you can love completely without complete understanding .

FREEDOM ROAD is an historic account of Americas oldest recorded African American family, and their participation and rich contributions to American history over a four hundred year period. FREEDOM ROAD is a compilation of well-documented individual stories that begins in Africa in 1483, and from there, spans over fifteen generations and three continents, and definitively changes our understanding of American history, showcasing the significant role that one African American family has played from colonial American history to present day. This book is an exciting and compelling American saga that captivates readers with the story of the enslavement of John Gowen, one of the first Africans brought to America, and the first to be set free; the story of Thomas and Rebecca Cornell, forced to leave England because of their religious beliefs, and how they became known as the family of Presidents; and the story of the daring escape of Othello and Thomas Fraction from their cruel, vindictive slave master, himself the brother of a Confederacy Senator and the son of a Virginia governor. FREEDOM ROAD is enthralling, resounding, and evocative; it challenges the reader to have a better understanding of American history, and inspires them to learn about their own family history.