Illinois: Daughters of American Revolution preserve history, foster patriotism

From the Daily Herald: Daughters of American Revolution preserve history, foster patriotism
Women were not allowed to engage in politics or enlist in the military at the time of the American Revolution, but that didn’t stop them — then or now — from being an integral part of history.

During the fight for freedom, women raised money for the cause, boycotted British goods, made warm shirts for the troops, nursed the wounded, delivered messages across battle lines and provided food and shelter to soldiers at Valley Forge.

Today, service continues to be a cornerstone of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. DAR is based on preserving American history, promoting education and supporting patriotic endeavors. The organization was incorporated by an Act of Congress in 1896, and today has 3,000 active chapters in the United States and internationally. The DAR preserves local landmarks and historic structures across the country.

The National DAR Headquarters in Washington, D. C., houses one of the nation’s premier genealogical libraries, a collection of American decorative arts including quilts, and an early American collection of manuscripts. Its Constitution Hall is a location for many large events.

Illinois has 110 active chapters with many resources and volunteer projects. According to the Illinois DAR site, ildar.org, members donated more than $1 million to the Statue of Liberty restoration and the World War II Memorial. The group also conducts genealogy workshops throughout the state and houses its extensive genealogy library at the Brehm Memorial Library in Mt. Vernon.

The Perrin-Wheaton Chapter of DAR is one of six in the DuPage area. Others are in Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, Elmhurst and Hinsdale. Members may select the chapter that is their best fit and may consider meeting times and activities.

Membership into the nonprofit and nonpolitical volunteer organization is restricted to women who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.

If that sounds incredible, consider that there are 105 members in the Wheaton chapter. Going back 235 years in research is possible.

“It is amazing to me, too,” said longtime Lisle resident Linda Wingstrom. “I started the way experts tell you to, with myself, and worked backward to find my ancestors.”

Wingstrom said that many people know their first few generations consisting of their parents, grandparents and maybe even great-grandparents.

From there, Wingstrom encourages persistent digging through any and all records you find such as census, church records, wills, deeds, cemetery details and tax records. The first U. S. census was in 1790. From 1800 to 1840, the census included only the name of the head of the household. Starting in 1850, reports started enumerating everyone in a household by name.

“If you find ancestors who were in this country at the time of the revolution,” Wingstrom said, “then you will be successful.”

The knowledgeable genealogist found more than 20 of her own relatives from that era. She suggests those who may think their ancestors were all immigrants should consider that each generation you go back doubles the possibilities.

“If a generation averages 30 years, and say you were born in 1950, you would probably have 128 ancestors born by about 1740,” Wingstrom said. “If any of them were born here, then you probably have someone who was in the revolution.”

The national DAR society reserves the right to determine proof of lineage with its staff of professional genealogists. It also accepts inclusion of a few other services between 1775 and 1783, such as, civil service, signers of Declaration of Independence, medical personnel rendering aid to the wounded and other considerations under its guidelines.

Palatine member Susan Heitsch’s ancestor was one of three young sisters who lived in Rockingham County, Virginia. The girls sheared sheep, made yarn and wove cloth for soldier clothing as well as cooked, baked bread and carried food to soldiers.

Wingstrom’s ancestors came from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut. One served with George Washington at Valley Forge and another as a guard of the Kingston guardship in Boston.

The Perrin-Wheaton chapter has a full calendar of events. Every year, it celebrates Constitution Week from Sept. 17-23 with displays in local libraries promoting the Constitution. Citizenship Day was established by Congress as Sept. 17.

The Wheaton DAR chapter offers scholarships, hosts a spring luncheon and Christmas tea, and contributes to many veteran activities. The group regularly helps the Wheaton Public Library’s genealogical services to patrons. The group’s other patriotic outreach includes publishing a manual on citizenship, participating in naturalization ceremonies and supplying flags to schools.

Each year, DAR has a Christopher Columbus Essay contest open to students in grades nine to 12, and an American History Essay Contest for elementary and middle school students. Winning essays proceed to a state level and then to a national level. For details on all contests and scholarships, interested students should go to DAR.org or the Illinois DAR at ildar.org.

The next meeting of the Perrin-Wheaton DAR Chapter will be Monday, Sept. 26 at which historian James Rowan will speak on the French and Indian War.

If you think you might qualify to join DAR, the local contact is llwings@attglobal.net. The Daughters of the American Revolution is an organization that recognizes the importance of women in active and responsible citizenship.

Around the Towns: Museum reveals role of region in Revolution

From NJ.com: Around the Towns: Museum reveals role of region in Revolution
CLINTON — A new exhibit on Hunterdon County residents during the American Revolutionary War will open Saturday at the Red Mill Museum Village.

Titled “A Community Divided,” the show explores deep divisions that existed among county residents during the period. The political positioning of patriots, loyalists and pacifists gain voices through the use of documents from the period written by local residents. The exhibit also features objects, paintings, drawings, maps and legal documents from the time.

The show will run through Sept. 28 at the museum located at 56 Main St. in Clinton. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, including admission costs, go to theredmill.org or call (908) 735-4101.

MASS: A Revolutionary Neighborhood in Salem

From Patch.com: A Revolutionary Neighborhood in Salem
An area of Salem that has always interested me is the small enclave of buildings and stores at the North Bridge entrance to North Salem.

Thinking about it, I can recall being stuck in traffic and reading the small monument plaque explaining Leslie's Retreat that stood for many years just off the overpass of the North River. Reading the plaque I'd try to envision what the area looked like on that Feb. day in 1775. You can refresh your memory about Leslie's Retreat by reading my Patch column from Feb. 28, 2011.

This area of Salem was referred to as the "North Fields" by the early settlers. From the banks of the much wider North River they could glimpse the Native American settlement along the opposite bank in the area that would become Mason Street. During the early days of Naumkeag and Salem, the area was accessible by dugout or ferry. The North Fields was privately owned farm area and considered separate from the main settlement growing along the opposite shore.

At that time the main road from Boston Street to the Salem Ferry to Beverly was an eight foot path along the North River. The first bridge over the river was built in 1640 at the hollow at Boston Street. That bridge was replaced in 1646 by a causeway. This main road was the access to the other settlements in the colony.

For over a hundred years this arrangement worked and resulted in little development in the North Fields area. In 1744 the first North bridge was built giving access to the area as well as another more direct road to Danvers.

The length of this causeway and bridge was 860 feet, eighteen feet wide with an eighteen foot draw in the middle. It was referred to as the "Great Bridge" because of its intricate construction. This was owned by the North Field proprietors but had to be free for residents and kept in good repair or it would be forfeited to the town. In 1755 it was forfeited to the town and a new company was allowed to maintain it which it did until 1789 when it was again forfeited by mutual consent.

At the time of Leslie's Retreat there were few houses in the vicinity of the bridge. Robert Foster's house and adjacent blacksmith shop was on the corner of Franklin and North Streets. Foster was the recipient of the canons the British troops wanted to seize in the confrontation. He was to mount carriages on the cannons in his shop where the Hess Gas Station is today. Nearby were a few other houses. Many of these residents were members of the Foster family.

In 1789 the town rebuilt the North Bridge enlarging and improving the road, making the area more desirable for development. The area rapidly became a mixture of homes and businesses that lined the narrow tree canopied road to Danvers. The road was eventually widened after the Civil War with most trees removed.

In the early 19th century several businesses lined the street mostly on the Mason Street side where there were carpenters, shoemakers, painters and a grocery. At the corner of Mason street, Joseph Dixon the noted inventor had his home and foundry business for some 20 years before moving to New York and making his fortune. In the 1850's Salem and South Danvers Oil Company was on this end of Mason Street.

The few buildings from the 18th century that have survived to this day are at # 98 built around 1750 and #100 which was built around 1800. These two buildings are among the oldest in North Salem.

Number 98 was built shortly after the first North Street bridge was opened. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries this was a multi-family residence for workers in the area. According to the early city census records, this area in the early 1800's was an area with carpentry shops, blacksmiths, tanners, groceries, painters and masons as well as workers for the wood wharf and the Salem Laboratory. The Salem Laboratory located on Laboratory Street (now Foster Street) was incorporated in 1819 and for many years produced chemicals for the various businesses in Salem. It closed down in 1884.

98 North Street remained a residential structure until 1973 when part of the first floor was converted into a store front, housing the Americana Corporation Book Publishers. In 1975 this space was converted into Kiddie Koop Day Care Center. The day care and kindergarten remained here until the late 1990's when it moved around the corner to 11 Foster Street. In the last years of the 20th century DJD Calling Center was here. In 2001 Niko's Cakes took over the property and has remained here providing pastries and special occasion cakes for patrons. The business is currently for sale, according to a sign in the window.

Number 100, the next oldest house in this area was built around 1800 and has been a residence throughout the centuries.

The house at #96 while built around 1890, is notable as a restaurant site since 1950 when John & Ray's Restaurant opened on the lower floor. In 1982 the restaurant was renamed, 96 North Street, and operated as such for about a year. In 1983 the restaurant became Leslie's Retreat after the historical incident just feet away from here. The owners acknowledging the historical nature of the neighborhood have decorated this tavern/ restaurant with an historical motif that calls to mind the American Revolution. Utilizing paintings, prints and photographs they highlight both this action as well as the American Revolution. The overall impression is of a Revolutionary era tavern.

The vintage photograph that shows the commemorative arch highlights how through the years Salem has held commemorations of Leslie's Retreat. The first such memorial took place on July 4th 1862 where the lessons and resolve of the Revolution were utilized to highlight those attitudes needed for the Civil War. The vintage photograph is from the July 4, 1876 centennial celebration. There was also a bicentennial celebration in 1975.

History fair was unfair, teen says

From the Tampa Bay Times: History fair was unfair, teen says
Jack Irvine researched, wrote and practiced for seven months.

For hours a day, six days a week he worked on crafting props for his history project on the American Revolution.

The 13-year-old had his sights set on competing in the Pinellas County History Fair and possibly heading to state.

At first, prospects looked good.

He won his school-level competition at Safety Harbor Middle. Then, at the March 10 county competition he got to the final round.

But when he got to the assigned room at University of South Florida St. Petersburg, things didn't go as he'd planned.

A judge, he says, reprimanded his parents for helping him carry some of the props down steep steps. He felt rushed and unsettled, but he tried to get through his presentation.

"I was just really stressed and it felt like a thousand degrees up there," he said.

But he finished.

He placed last among four finalists in his category. It was what it was.

"This is not about winning or losing," he said.

But then he learned something that made him feel cheated: the judge who he had reprimanded him was the wife of the history fair organizer, Alan Kay, a well-respected teacher at East Lake High. He learned that the Kays have a daughter at Dunedin Highlands Middle School, where the first-place winner in his category attended school.

And then he heard that the judge, Heidi Kay, is friends with the student she helped judge the winner.

That's when Jack's parents decided to appeal.

They met with Linda Whitley, the supervisor of social studies for Pinellas County schools, who referred the matter to the KC Smith, the Florida History Fair coordinator for the Museum of Florida History.

"In my opinion, she should not have been judging this category in the first place because of an inherent conflict of interest," Smith wrote Whitley in an email on Monday. "One of the entries being judged was from the middle school that Mrs. Kay's daughter attends. She should not have been allowed to judge any junior division category because the potential for bias, or even the perception of bias, was simply too great." [What bias???? If her daughter was in the competition, then they might have a case. As it is, seems like a sore loser looking to make trouble and playing the victim card! ed]

Despite that, Smith wrote, the outcome will stand. She determined after speaking to all three judges that their decision "ultimately was based on each judge's belief that some entries were stronger than others."

Kay, a former teacher of the year, declined to talk about the incident with the Tampa Bay Times. But, in an email to Jack's mother, Kay dismissed the notion that there was any conflict of interest there, calling his wife's "commitment to fairness above reproach."

In addition, Kay noted that the winner's family are generally well-known because they are long-time supporters of the annual history fair competition. He did not respond to an email request to speak to his wife.

At first, a disheartened Jack wanted to ask organizers allow all four contestants the chance to perform again before another panel of judges. A do-over. But after thinking about it more, he said, he wasn't sure he had it in him to perform again.

He just wanted "to make sure this doesn't happen again," he said.

So Jack went to school on Tuesday and collected 70 signatures from his classmates. Then, he went to the Pinellas School Board meeting Tuesday night, told them his story and what he learned.

"My geography teachers, Mrs. Candes Clifford, has taught us that it's not just our job to learn about injustices," Jack said. "It's our responsibility to speak up and change things to make them right for others."

Eliminate the National History Day projects from the school curriculum, he told the board. Make it an extracurricular activity. "If Mr. Kay can't guarantee that judging will be fair, we don't want to compete."

And investigate the county competition, he continued: "Make clear changes to the program so that this never happens again to another kid like me."

Board members didn't respond other than to thank Jack for speaking to them. Superintendent John Stewart said it was the first he'd heard about the incident.

Deputy superintendent Jim Madden, who was seated next to Stewart, said the incident was "unfortunate" given all the great stories that come out of the history competition each year.

"The hope is that everyone learns from this," Madden said.

America's Oldest National Political Holiday

From Huffington Post: America's Oldest National Political Holiday

Two hundred and forty-five years ago this week, celebrations of a political nature were held throughout the American colonies. The occasion, in 1767, was the first anniversary of the repeal of the hated Stamp Act. While not unique as a reason for celebration or as a piece of enduring American politics, it was likely this was the first time Americans celebrated such a thing together -- as Americans, in other words, celebrating a purely American victory.

The Stamp Act itself wasn't even all that unique, as Americans had to cope with a number of attempts by the British Parliament to tax the colonies to retire their war debt from the French and Indian Wars. The Stamp Act wasn't even the first of these attempts -- the Molasses Act (or Sugar Act) passed in 1764, a year before the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act, however, was a new tax (a molasses tax had been around for over thirty years), which taxed pretty much everything printed on paper, including newspapers, pamphlets, university diplomas, deeds, passports, and every other printed matter you can imagine, including even "every pack of playing cards, and all dice."

Historians today mark the Stamp Act as the spark which lit the fire of the American Revolution. But if the British Parliament had just ended their attempts at levying taxes on their colonies with the Stamp Act's repeal on March 18, 1766, the Revolution might never have gotten off the ground -- and we might today still celebrate the Stamp Act repeal while at the same time honoring the Queen of England's Diamond Jubilee as loyal subjects of the Commonwealth. However, Parliament continued to pass harsher and harsher laws to deal with the upstart colonies, and Act after Act (Townshend, Intolerable, Tea... ) mostly served to enrage Americans even further.

The heart of the growing rebellion was, without doubt, Boston. The patriots in Boston were continually pushing the envelope of how far the rest of the American colonies were prepared to go. And one of the best ways to do so -- in an age where a weekly newspaper was pretty much it when it came to mass communications -- was to stage an event or party, to allow the populace to hear fiery speeches and consume lots of alcohol to put everyone in the proper revolutionary mood.

Boston held anniversary parties for the founding date of the Sons of Liberty, for instance, but this didn't spread much beyond New England. The Stamp Act repeal, however, was celebrated much further afield. The first anniversary was celebrated in New York City with "Joy and Festivity" (as reported by the Pennsylvania Chronicle), "and a Number of Fireworks were exhibited, to the general Satisfaction of all the Inhabitants."

[Note: All quotes are from original sources, but regrettably I can provide no links to online versions. Also, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling are all from the originals, with the sole exception that I updated all the odd "s" characters ("f") to make the quotes readable to a modern audience.]

By the second anniversary, the celebration got bigger. One has to wonder at the many protestations about how well-behaved the participants were, especially when one considers the number of toasts offered up (printing all the toasts at gatherings was a common thing for newspapers to do, back then). From the Boston Gazette of March 21, 1768:

Friday the 18th Instant being the Anniversary of the Repeal of the Stamp-Act, the same was celebrated with the greatest Demonstrations of Joy and Satisfaction, by People of all Ranks. Flaggs were hoisted, and Cannon fired in most of the capital Streets in the Town. The Houses of a Number of Gentlemen most remarkable for their Attention to the Welfare of the Community, were decorated with Streamers, and crouded with the noble Friends of Liberty, who testified their Satisfaction on this Occasion, by a temperate, but joyous Indulgence -- a select Company of truly respectable Gentlemen, upwards of Fifty in Number, assembled at the British Coffee-House, and devoted the happy Day to Mirth and Festivity, where a liberal Entertainment was provided. The whole Conduct of the Day was a compleat Exhibition of decent and rational Joy; and the Evening concluded without Riot or RUMPUS.

There follows a list of 18 toasts, including this footnote to a toast to St. Patrick: "The preceding Day being St. Patrick's, and a Number of Irish Gentlemen present, this Toast was cheerfully drank."

New York City saw a number of different celebrations, including this one reported by the New York Journal on March 24, 1768 (these were weekly papers, hence the lag in dates):

On Friday last the 18th Instant, being the Anniversary of the Repeal of the Stamp-Act, a numerous Company of the principal Merchants and other respectable Inhabitants of this City, Friends to Constitutional Liberty and Trade, assembled at Mr. Jones's and Mr. Bardin's Taverns, which are nearly adjoining, where Union Flags were displayed and elegant Entertainments provided. When the Company had Dined, by common Consent the Remains of the Entertainment were sent to the poor Prisoners in the Gaol, with a suitable Quantity of Liquor, and some of the Company voluntarily attended, to see it properly distributed. After Dinner the following loyal and patriotic Healths were drank...

A list of 21 toasts follows, including "Prosperity to Ireland" (but not actually to St. Pat). Again, this ends with a certain flavor of "doth protest too much" statements:

A Band of Musick was provided, and in the Evening some curious Fireworks played off for the Entertainment of the Company. Every Thing was conducted with proper Decorum, Ease, and good Humor, and the Evening was spent in Harmony, Cheerfulness, and a pleasing Flow of social Affections.

With 21 toasts "drank," social affections weren't the only things flowing in a pleasing manner. To put it another way, I don't think they sent too large a percentage of their "Quantity of Liquor" over to the prisoners. Maybe "Cheerfulness" was the polite way of saying (in a more modern fashion) "drinking ourselves silly," it's hard to tell at this remove. By 1770, the number of toasts reported in the Journal had risen to 34, and this was a time when the truest of patriots quaffed a full 45 toasts, in honor of John Wilkes.

Prodigious quantities of liquor aside, however, the revelry on Stamp Act Repeal Day was notable for one reason: it was the first truly "national" political holiday Americans celebrated together, on a widespread scale (the word "national" must remain in quotes, for the American nation did not, in fact, exist yet).

Washington's birthday wouldn't be celebrated until after the Revolutionary War was won. Independence Day wouldn't be celebrated until after it happened in 1776. Even the Stamp Act Repeal Day celebrations did not survive for long. For a short period of time after the Stamp Act was repealed, it looked like Parliament had come to their senses and reconciliation was possible.

As the years went on, though, this seemed less and less likely -- diminishing the importance of the Stamp Act's repeal. But the real reason Stamp Act Repeal Day was quickly forgotten as a holiday to celebrate is that soon much more provocative events were happening which deserved a different sort of celebration. A few weeks before the fourth anniversary of the repeal of the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre occurred, which was used in subsequent years as a rallying date. Later, the Boston Tea Party would also be an occasion to remember. Finally, on July 4, 1776, our true national political holiday would emerge, and earlier commemorative dates would be eclipsed forever.

Stamp Act Repeal Day wasn't celebrated everywhere in the colonies. But it was celebrated in every single colony. Some towns even declared it an official holiday, and footed the bill for the celebrations.

The American colonies, ten years before the Declaration of Independence, were only very loosely aligned. People thought of themselves as a "citizen of New York" or a "Virginian" rather than as first and foremost an "American." Even after the war was won, our first attempt at self-government failed miserably because the states would not give up enough power to a federal government. But, on March 18, 1766, for the very first time America celebrated a political event together -- and they continued to do so for years afterwards. Together. As Americans -- celebrating a purely American national political holiday.

And so I close with a belated "Happy 246th Stamp Act Repeal Day!" to everyone.

NJ: Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area Announces New Leadership

From Webwire: Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area Announces New Leadership
Trenton, NJ – The Crossroads of the American Revolution Association announced today that former New Jersey state tourism director Noreen Bodman has joined the organization as executive director.

Ms. Bodman has been involved with preservation and conservation issues through her work in tourism and the Jersey Shore Partnership. Her tenure in Atlantic City included branding, marketing, partnership programs and community outreach. She has been involved in strategic planning and fundraising in the public and private sectors, including higher education and non-profits.

“Noreen’s experience with hospitality, our historic organizations, cultural resources and elected officials is critical as we implement our new management plan to promote greater awareness, enjoyment and preservation of New Jersey’s Revolutionary War legacy" said Kevin Tremble, president President of the Association. "Her track record of development and collaborative partnerships will enable us to tell the story of New Jersey’s crucial role to our nation.” In 2006 the Association which was designated by Congress to manage the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area.

Ms. Bodman’s appointment was the result of a national search launched after the retirement of Cate Litvack, who led the organization for more than six years. “Cate was instrumental in launching the National Heritage Area and developing its new management plan. I look forward to building upon that solid foundation by engaging our partners, our citizens and our visitors in celebrating and taking pride in the history that has made New Jersey a great place to live, to work, to learn and to visit” said Noreen Bodman.

New Jersey played a crucial role in the American Revolution, including key turning points in the war, the largest land artillery battle, and as a strategic base. Positioned between the new nation’s capital in Philadelphia and the British stronghold in New York, no place in New Jersey was spared the ravages of war. During six years of war, General George Washington and the Continental Army spent more days in New Jersey than in any other state. By the time victory was won, the fight for American independence touched every community in New Jersey. Residents felt the brunt of the conflict in their daily lives as well as on the battlefield. More than just a crossroads on the map, New Jersey became the crossroads in the birth of a nation.

In 2006, Congress and the President of the United States recognized New Jersey’s pivotal role in the founding of our nation by establishing the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, comprising 213 cities and towns in 14 counties. The mission of the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area is to foster the conservation, improvement and interpretation of New Jersey’s Revolutionary War natural and historic resources to enhance public understanding about how the people, places and events in New Jersey transformed the course of American history.

A management plan to guide National Heritage Area activities over the next several years was recently approved by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

“The National Park Service welcomes Noreen to the National Heritage Area team. We look forward to working with her in our continued partnership to tell the Crossroads of the American Revolution story, which is as important today as it was at the founding of our nation,” said Jill Hawk, superintendent of the Morristown and Thomas Edison National Historical Parks.

The Crossroads of the American Revolution also announces that Michael Skelly and Nicholas Ciotola have joined the board of trustees.

Mike Skelly is Executive Director of Bordentown Heritage, a non-profit organization celebrating Bordentown’s pivotal role in American arts, history, and natural heritage. He is also Chairman of Hydro Blue Power, developer of community hydroelectricity power utility projects and clean-tech ventures. Dr. Skelly is a retired attorney and has earned a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Seton Hall University Law School and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Rutgers University.

Nick Ciotola is curator of the cultural history collection, the branch of the multi-disciplinary New Jersey State Museum that addresses New Jersey’s cultural, social, military, economic, and industrial history, as well as its decorative arts traditions, from the colonial period to the present day. Mr. Ciotola has more than fifteen years of experience in the museum profession, having worked in museums including the State Museum of Pennsylvania, the National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico, and the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. He has received fellowships from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums for his work in public history and institutional exhibition awards from the American Association for State and Local History and Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations.

Visit wj.org for more information on New Jersey’s role in American history and asww.revolutionaryn the Crossroads of the American Revolution.

Underground Railroad ran south to Florida for a century

From HeraldOnline: Underground Railroad ran south to Florida for a century
CHARLESTON -- While most Americans are familiar with the Underground Railroad that helped Southern slaves escape north before the Civil War, the nation’s first clandestine path to freedom ran for more than a century in the opposite direction.

Stories of that lesser-known “railroad” will be shared June 20 through 24 at the National Underground Railroad Conference in St. Augustine, Fla. The network of sympathizers gave refuge to those fleeing their masters, including many American Indians who helped slaves escape to what was then the Spanish territory of Florida. That lasted from shortly after the founding of Carolina Colony in 1670 to after the American Revolution.

They escaped not only to the South but to Mexico, the Caribbean and the American West.

And the “railroad” helps explain at least in part why the lasting culture of slave descendants – known as Gullah in South Carolina and Geechee in Florida and Georgia – exists along the northeastern Florida coast.

“It’s a fascinating story and most people in America are stuck – they are either stuck on 1964 and the Civil Rights Act or they are stuck on the Civil War,” said Derek Hankerson, who is a Gullah descendant and a small business owner in St. Augustine, Fla.

“We have been hankering to share these stories.”

Because there are few records, it’s unknown how many African slaves may have escaped along the railroad. But the dream of freedom in Florida did play a role in the 1739 Stono Rebellion outside Charleston, the largest slave revolt in British North America.

Slaves likely started fleeing toward Florida when South Carolina was established in 1670, said Jane Landers, a Vanderbilt University historian who has researched the subject extensively.

The first mention of escaped slaves in Spanish records was in 1687 when eight slaves, including a nursing baby, showed up in St. Augustine.

Spain refused to return them and instead gave them religious sanctuary, and that policy was formalized in 1693.

The only condition was that those seeking sanctuary convert to Catholicism.

“It was a total shift in the geopolitics of the Caribbean and after that anyone who leaves a Protestant area to request sanctuary gets it,” Landers said.

That promise of freedom played an important role in the Stono Rebellion, when a group of about 20 slaves raided a store, collecting guns and other weapons, in September 1739.

Mark Smith, a historian at the University of South Carolina, said the slave leaders were from what is now Angola in Africa. They were Catholic because their homeland was at the time a Portuguese outpost. And they are thought to have been soldiers in their native land.

They would have known about the rumor of freedom in Spanish Florida and decided to start the revolt on Sept. 9, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“They have a white flag, which is not a flag of surrender. It’s a flag of celebrating Mary, and they shout ‘Liberty.’ They are not revolting just as slaves, but as Catholic slaves,” Smith said.

At least 20 whites were killed in the rebellion. The militia later caught up with the slaves, and 34 of them were killed.

Some who escaped were found and executed later, although some apparently made it to safety in Florida because there are reports of more slaves arriving in St. Augustine in the ensuing days, Landers said.

Gullah creole is still spoken in churches in northeastern Florida, Landers said.

Hankerson, who grew up with stories of the Underground Railroad, said escaped slaves got help from American Indian tribes including the Creeks, the Cherokees and the Yemassee.

They also advanced deeper into Florida and found refuge with the Seminoles.

Except for about 20 years when the British held St. Augustine between the end of the French and Indian War and the end of the American Revolution, the Spanish policy of sanctuary remained in effect until 1790 when Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson convinced the Spanish crown to end it.

Many runaways escaped amid the chaos and violence of the revolution, and keeping that corridor open could have drained the Southern colonies of slaves, Landers said.

Unlike the Underground Railroad going north, the early network was more informal: Neither the slaves nor the indigenous tribes that helped them left written records, and there was no church structure like the Quakers organizing the effort, Landers said.

It’s unknown exactly how many stayed among the American Indians or how many died.

The British saw slaves as property and labor for their plantations and offered rewards for their return.

By contrast, Landers said, “the Spanish believe the indigenous people and Africans could be converted and as such were humans and had families and souls to save.”

Utopias, rights, freedom, and big government

From Washington Times, "Social Journalism section": Utopias, rights, freedom, and big government
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2012 —The debate over the size and role of government is about to reach a crescendo in America. The arguments are not new or unique to this country. They are the same ones that led to the American Revolution and at root every revolution. Deciding where you stand is important to our future.

The American formula is unique: big society, small government.

The formula that led to the only real free country to ever exist, hinges on checks and balances distributed among three branches of government with regularly elected representation of the people by the people. The technical form is constitutional republic. James Madison, primary author of the Constitution, explained in Federalist #51 that only this structure could preserve a free society because human nature will not change. By nature, humans are both bad and good. People that are smart enough to run government will inherently be ambitious. Ambition leads to power seeking.

Madison said, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place." It is through the constitutionally created checks and balances and relative autonomy of each branch that ambition counteracts ambition.

"It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself," Madison explained.

What is the role of government?

People cannot live in society without government. John Locke, the most quoted political theorist of the 1700s, argued this point in his Second Treatise of Government. Government is good when managed properly.

Milton Friedman, the great American economist, summarized government's role in American society as preserving the rules of the game, "enforcing contracts, preventing coercion, and keeping markets free."

In general, government in a free society exists to protect rights.

What rights should be protected and does government create rights?

The Declaration of Independence summed up rights appropriately in describing what free people believe: "...all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

People have an equal right to live, work, worship, have a family, etc. without fear of being hindered by individuals or the government (king, bureaucrat, etc). These are the rights assigned by the Declaration. They are the rights given to all humans by God, the Creator.

Government in a free society cannot create rights. There is no right to work, health care, recreation or anything else. Government cannot give equal things. It can only give equal protection to all in their pursuit of things.

Creating rights puts power in the hands of a few and steals freedom.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt asserted in a 1944 State of the Union Address that the rights guaranteed by the Constitution were inadequate to assure equality in the pursuit of happiness. He believed government should guarantee employment, elimination of unfair competition and monopolies, housing, medical care, education and money for retirement represented by social security. He called it a Second Bill of Rights. Many administrations following Roosevelt's have taken up this false belief and carried it forward, including the current one.

Why do government leaders want to create new rights?

The simple answer is that if government creates rights it must fulfill them, leading to intoxicating power for the individuals who get to determine who profits from these new rights and who does not.

On the surface it appears noble to give people the "right" to things and then to provide those things with the idea that they will become better people and thus more productive members of a utopian-like society.

Unfortunately, the utopian visionaries share a flawed belief that human nature can be changed. They believe that the change can occur through government regulation and programs. This core belief underpins the ideologies of Karl Marx, Adolph Hitler, Woodrow Wilson, FDR and Barack Obama.

Society can and has improved by leaps and bounds. America has been the source of more inventions, abundance, and humanitarian aid in all forms than any other society. This did not happen because government created new rights and then used regulation and programs to reshape the flaws in human nature. It happened in spite of government's efforts to control behavior and the flawed nature of humans.

In places where attempts have been made to reshape humankind and provide equality without the burden of checks and balances, nasty consequences result: Communist Russia, North Korea, Eastern Europe; Nazi Germany; modern-day Greece, Spain, and other European social democracies.

Striving for a better society and helping people is a good thing. The pursuit of these goals must occur in the context of balanced principles. Earl Taylor Jr., Director of the National Center for Constitutional Studies, describes this balance using the two wings of the American eagle as an analogy. One wing is compassion and represents the philosophy that government should solve all people's problems. The other wing represents conservation of resources and the philosophy that government should do very little.

"If either of these wings fails to do its part, the eagle will soar to one direction or the other. But as long as both wings are operative and work in conjunction with each other, the American Eagle will fly straight upward," writes Taylor.

The American Eagle will fly straight again but we must have leadership in every branch of government, beginning with the president, that yearns for integrity and is willing to put their own ideology aside and fly the eagle.

WJHS Students Honored for Essay Writing

From Patch.com: WJHS Students Honored for Essay Writing
Six students from Wilmette Junior High were recognized for their outstanding essays related to the War of 1812 at the Feb. 27 District 39 Board of Education meeting.

Students have the opportunity to participate in the Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest, and each year the topic changes. This year, on the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, students were invited to submit an essay about a significant person from that war, written from the perspective of a friend or relative.

Essays were selected for the first, second, and third place in both seventh and eighth grade. The two first place essays continue on to the DAR District Essay Competition.

The winners from Wilmette Junior High, along with their essay topics are:

Seventh grade:
•First place: Anne Pinkerton writing about Andrew Jackson
•Second place: Madeline Hultquist writing about Captain Lawrence of the USS Chesapeake
•Third place: Jason Yang writing about Dolley Madison

Eighth grade:
•First place: Oona Jung-Beeman writing about Francis Scott Key
•Second place: Haley Wint writing about Captain Isaac Hull and the sea battle between Guerriere and Constitution
•Third place: Claire Nusekabel writing about Oliver Hazard Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie

Your View: Remember Revolutionary War hero Peter Francisco

From SouthCoast.com: Your View: Remember Revolutionary War hero Peter Francisco
If you come to downtown New Bedford tomorrow and happen to see the flag of Portugal flying in front of City Hall, it is because March 15 is recognized in Massachusetts as Peter Francisco Day, commemorating the Hercules of the American Revolution immortalized by the U.S. Post Office in 1975 with an 18-cent commemorative stamp: "Contributors to the Cause ... Peter Francisco, fighter extraordinary."

Peter Francisco lived in Virginia since age 5, when he was found abandoned at City Point, now Hopewell, on June 23, 1765. Left there by Moorish pirates, he was kidnapped from his parents' backyard on a Sunday of Pentecost, while playing with his sister Angela in the town of Porto Judeu, Terceira, Azores. In 1960, Dr. John Manahan of the University of Virginia visited the Azores and came across the birth record of Peter Francisco at St. Antonio's Church in Porto Judeu. He found that a boy named Pedro Francisco was born there on July 9, 1760, and that no other records of marriage or death about him could be found, although they existed for Francisco's sister and an older brother. Dr. Manahan also found that Francisco came from an affluent family, matching the description about Peter Francisco's appearance when he was found at City Point, including the letters "PF'" on the silver buckles of his shoes.

Judge Anthony Winston of Buckingham County, uncle of Patrick Henry, who said "Give me liberty or give me death," took in Francisco, and he lived at Hunting Tower, where he worked on the plantation and as a blacksmith until December 1776, when he enlisted in the 10th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army. At age 16, he stood 6½ feet and 260 pounds. His baptism of war was at Brandywine on Sept. 11, 1777, where he fought and was wounded along with the Marquis de Lafayette, and they became friends while hospitalized. Less than a month later, on Oct. 4, Francisco saw action at Germantown, and in early 1778 was hospitalized at Valley Forge, where he suffered due to the harsh winter and lack of food and equipment.

On June 28, 1778, Francisco fought at the battle of Monmouth, where he was hit by a musket ball while reconnoitering. Then came the attack on Stony Point, on July 15, 1779, under orders from George Washington, and Francisco was one of 20 commandos who volunteered for the assault under Lt. Gibbon who, under the cover of the night and under heavy fire, was first to climb the fortress walls, immediately followed by Francisco, who was seriously wounded by a bayonet, but he killed his attacker and two other Englishmen. Of the 20 commandos, 17 were wounded or killed, but this was a great victory for the Colonists, which boosted their morale, and Francisco went to Fishkill, N.Y. to recuperate. On Aug. 18, 1779, Francisco was again on active duty, and until the end of that year, when his three-year enlistment expired, he participated in several skirmishes.

On Aug. 16, 1780, after Francisco re-enlisted, he took part in the battle of Camden, S.C., which turned out to be a disaster for the Continental forces. Francisco is credited with saving the life of his commanding officer, Col. Mayo, and carrying to safety a 1,100-pound cannon after noticing that the horses that had been pulling it had been killed by the British.

Upset by the defeat at Camden, Francisco returned to Cumberland County, Va. Disturbed by the advance of the British forces, he again re-enlisted, this time in the cavalry unit of Col. William Washington, and with his horse Victory saw action on Jan. 17, 1781, at Cowpens, S.C., where the British cavalrymen under Col. Tarleton were badly defeated.

But the bloodiest battle of the American Revolution came at Guilford Courthouse, near Greensboro, N.C. on March 15, 1781. The British wanted to avenge their defeat at Cowpens, and won the battle, but lost the war, because the Americans fought like demons and inflicted heavy casualties upon the English. Francisco fought without parallel, cutting down 11 British soldiers with his terrible 6-foot broadsword, which, with its 5-foot blade and the heaviest of the entire army, was made under special orders from Gen. George Washington because Francisco complained the one he had was like a toothpick. Francisco was seriously wounded and left for dead on the battlefield next to four corpses, but a Quaker by the name of John Robinson found Francisco alive and took him to his home, nursing him to full recovery. Some eight weeks later, he returned to his home in Cumberland County. By then, news of Peter Francisco's feats of heroism had spread across the colonies and he was acclaimed wherever he went.

Francisco once more fought alongside his friend, the Marquis de Lafayette, at Yorktown and witnessed English Gen. Cornwallis surrender on Oct. 19, 1781. After almost two years of negotiations between France, America and England, the treaties for independence were signed on Sept. 3, 1783, in Paris, the war ended and Francisco became a civilian and went home to marry Susannah Anderson. At the age of 52, Francisco re-enlisted one more time for the War of 1812.

So, on the 231st anniversary of "the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, if you pass by Peter Francisco Square downtown, where Mill and Kempton Streets come together, near the Octopus, where you can see a huge boulder on a pedestal, please take a moment to say a prayer in memory of this great man and all those who heroically fought in the American Revolution and helped in paving the way for America as a free nation.

Silver Tea spotlights activities of DAR

From Herald Tribune: Silver Tea spotlights activities of DAR
The historic Leigh/McKennon residence off St. Armands Circle served was an appropriate venue for the Sara De Soto Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution's annual Silver Tea.

The event Feb. 26 raised money for the DAR's local historic preservation projects.

While local, state and national DAR members perused the preserved, fully renovated home owned by Nancy and David Morgan, local Children of the American Revolution, called the Chichi-Okobee Society, joined in for the multigenerational event dressed as flappers.

At the Silver Tea, Caroline Gans, 7, from Saint Stephen's Episcopal School, Christiana Petty, 16, who is home-schooled, and Grace Madden, 17, from Pine View School, gracefully walked through the corridor. Each carried a plate of culinary delicacies, greeting DAR members with affection and warmth. Christiana explained she has a patriotic ancestor, and she has been

involved in CAR since she was 6 years old, attending teas, studying history and dressing up according to the celebrated era.

Caroline also enjoys the organization and dressing up.

"This is actually my first tea with DAR and it's really exciting to meet some of the DAR members," said Grace, CAR president and youth history buff who credited her history teachers at Pine View.

Those attending the tea learned that the home was originally built in 1937 on land purchased in the 1920s. The the downstairs was the servants' quarters with the owners' living quarters upstairs. The house was one-third of its current size.

Gretta Archer, vice president general of the national society of DAR, said she had eight ancestors who fought in the American Revolution. She savored the experience of being served a beverage by Jean Catsakis, dressed as Martha Washington, for the annual event.

"Historic preservation is one of the main goals of the national society because it is preserving our history, and people need to know how people lived in certain times during the history of the United States," Archer said.

DAR launched nationally in 1890 and in Sarasota in 1924. McFate said the scholarship and preservation programs are still going strong. Catsakis, who is chairwoman of three DAR committees, has been a member for 41 years. DAR is the oldest nonprofit in Sarasota, she said, and offers 34 committees, including conservation, American history, issues relating to women, and projects and education relating to historic conservation.

"Because we have such a diverse mission, there's really something for everybody," said Mary Lou McFate, DAR's honorary regent. "We do this annual historic tea, and the proceeds from the donations go to historic preservation projects in Sarasota County.

"So, it's appropriate to do this event each year in a historic home as we celebrate our culture and heritage."

DAR member Nancy Morgan, the hostess and homeowner, said she grew up in Sarasota and can remember the house since the 1950s. It is the 11th home she and her husband have restored and lived in.

She admitted that some of the restoration was inspired by the Ringling Ca' d'Zan mansion, which is evident upon entrance to the property.

Jennifer Turner, CAR's senior society president, stepped out to the back of the home toward the end of the tea and admired the ornate architecture from the waterside.

She was moved by generations of women joining together for the day to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism, while raising money for local preservation projects. Jennifer said she was proud of the core seven members of CAR's Chichi-Okobee Society who are curious and passionate about history.

"The nice thing is that there is a lot of different levels of DAR," she said. "Really, no matter what you are interested in, someone else is also just as interested, and it's an organization where there's truly something for everyone."

Visitor from War of 1812 visits Daughters of the American Revolution for lunch

From NJ.com: Visitor from War of 1812 visits Daughters of the American Revolution for lunch

VINELAND - The Daughters of the American Revolution, Greenwich Tea Burning Chapter, welcomed a visitor from the War of 1812 to lunch, Monday afternoon at Marciano's restaurant.

Capt. James Lawrence, a Burlington County native and American maritime hero, played expertly by Jeff Macechak, Education Director for the Burlington county Historical Society, was on hand to discuss New Jersey history, naval tactics and his many experiences in battles great and small.

Macechak appeared in uniform, with an officers sabre strapped to his hip and golden epaulets gleaming. The Daughters of the American Revolution do a number of similar events, bringing in period experts to demonstrate the clothes, speech and attitudes of earlier Americans.

"We like to try and bring history alive," DAR member Valerie Baron said. "We enjoy having programs like this, that are educational about American history, and help to preserve local history."

Macechack spoke in detail about the great captain's more famous engagements, including a daring nighttime raid to burn the USS Philadelphia, an American vessel that had been captured by bloodthirsty buccaneers during the Barbary Pirate War; his great victory against the British vessel, the HMS Peacock; and his personal duel with English captain Philip Broke which culminated in a crushing defeat for Lawrence beneath the guns of Broke's HMS Shannon.

Though he may be an obscure figure today, Capt. Lawrence was very famous in the 1800s; his exploits on the high seas made him a legend in his own time. Shortly after his death he was immortalized at the hands of Washington Irving, who published a successful compedium of the great man's obituaries. "I always had a strong interest in Capt. Lawrence, even before I became involved with the Burlington Historical Society," Macechak explained. "But Burlington has a special connection to Lawrence, because that is where he was born."

For anyone interested in learning more about Capt. Lawrence, or in supporting the Burlington Historical Society, please visit the Children's History Center in Burlington City, or call (609) 386-4773.

NC: Daughters of the American Revolution boksigning at Grateful Steps, March 10

The signing announced below is over, but it has a website for the author, so check it out. From Mountain XPresss: Daughters of the American Revolution boksigning at Grateful Steps, March 10
Hendersonville-based author, speaker and storyteller Sheila Ingle (http://sheilaingle.com/) writes about the Revolutionary War. On her website she says, "I have fallen in love with this period of our history, because of all the stories I have read about the men, women, and children who fought for our freedom. Since I am a South Carolinian, I have focused more on the Southern Campaign in my studies. Over and over, I have read snippets about the lives of many heroines who stood down their enemies on their porches and in their front yards."

Her books are "Courageous Kate: A Daughter of the American Revolution" and "Fearless Martha: A Daughter of the American Revolution." The first is an account of a young mother in South Carolina who rode from her backcountry home to warn Patriot soldiers of impending danger. The second is a "fictionalized and illustrated biography of this plucky female patriot for young readers." Both books are illustrated by Sheila's husband, John.

The Ingles appear at Grateful Steps (159 S. Lexington Ave.) on Saturday, March 10, 1-2:30 for a reading and book signing. They will dress in colonial costume and desmonstrate historic toys and cornhusk dolls.

VA: Danville author earns top honor

From WLS (Roanoke, VA): Danville author earns top honor
Larry G. Aaron was presented the Madison Medal for Distinguished State Service to the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution at the society’s annual meeting in Richmond.

Aaron, the state society’s historian, is in the process of scanning the state society’s early meeting minutes that eventually will be published. Aaron is a charter member of the Dan River SAR Chapter and a teacher in the Pittsylvania County Public School’s gifted program. Aaron is a Danville native who has authored popular books about local history including The Race to the Dan and the Wreck of the Old 97.

The Dan River Chapter won awards for the largest membership increase during the past year, chapter excellence and honoring individuals and businesses who fly the American flag.

The Sons of the American Revolution is the leading male lineage society that honors the ideals of the war for independence.

Revolution museum gathering its forces

From Philly.com: Revolution museum gathering its forces If only the canteen could talk.

Although the dark oak container looks inconsequential next to the original Declaration of Independence, it carries the inscription, "Carried at the Battle of the Brandywine." The date: Sept. 11 - of the year 1777.

In other words, it's a big deal.

So are thousands of other artifacts - including a fowling firearm carved from curly maple; Washington's tents at Valley Forge; a list of soldiers from Massachusetts, some barely old enough to shave - destined for display at the Museum of the American Revolution, slated to open in Old City in 2015.

The challenge now - besides raising $150 million for operations and construction and designing and erecting the 112,000-square-foot building - is presenting the brutal conflict without the benefit of photographs or film.

It falls to R. Scott Stephenson, director of collections and interpretation for the new national museum, to tell the story of what happened during the country's revolutionary period, which was only recorded on paper or stowed in survivors' memories.

"We don't have Mathew Brady," said Stephenson, referring to the man who photographed much of the Civil War, a conflict with images most anyone can conjure up. He calls this issue the "core conundrum."

"It's one of the challenges," to get people to "believe it actually happened," he said.

That's true, said Joseph J. Ellis, the Ford Foundation professor of history at Mount Holyoke College, a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner. Over two centuries after these events, an aura surrounds the Founding Fathers.

"I think there is a mystique, an electromagnetic field built around the founders," Ellis said. "No realistic pictures will suffice."

And, added Stephenson, those existing pictures are of individuals who had money. "To modernize the artwork is challenging; it's stiff and formal."

Perhaps Stephenson's biggest challenge is to attract a 21st-century public. Using input from the museum's board of historians - which now takes up "many feet of shelf space" - Stephenson and staff will develop story lines and characters, connecting the academic to the creative in a don't-remind-me-of-social-studies-class way. They are exploring using trained interpreters and costumed reenactors. And of course, multimedia is on the design table.

Assassin's Creed III Joins The Revolutionary War

From Holy Fragger: Assassin's Creed III Joins The Revolutionary War Ubisoft has revealed that Assasin's Creed III will be hitting retailers on October 30, 2012. The new title in the Assassin's Creed franchise is the biggest, and most ambitious game in the company's history. Assasin's Creed III introduces a new hero and uses the American Revolutionary War as the backdrop for the upcoming game.

With a development cycle of over three years and twice the production capacity of any previous Ubisoft game, Assassin's Creed III is set to release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows PC and is also in development for the Wii U. Assassin's Creed III is developed by Ubisoft Montreal in collaboration with six other Ubisoft studios.

Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the late 18th century, Assassin's Creed III introduces a new hero, Ratohnhaké:ton, of Native American and English heritage. Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars. Players become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylized and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date. Assassin’s Creed III spans the Revolutionary War, taking gamers from the vibrant, untamed frontier to bustling colonial towns and the intense, chaotic battlefields where George Washington’s Continental Army clashed with the imposing British Army.

“Assassin’s Creed III features the franchise’s most expansive setting so far, along with an exciting new hero and exponentially more gameplay,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “Whether you’re a longtime fan of Assassin’s Creed or if you’re new to the franchise, you’re going to be blown away by the scale and marvel of Assassin’s Creed III.”

Gamers who pre-order Assassin's Creed III at GameStop, Amazon.com or Best Buy will receive a Limited Edition collectible case featuring artwork created by award-winning comic book artist Alex Ross.

Additional Assassin's Creed III details can be found in an exclusive cover feature in Game Informer Magazine’s April issue.

Wednesday!

I know I keep promising that I'm going to get back to a daily schedule of posts, and I know that weeks have gone by and there's been nothing regular about my schedule!

And I apologize! Stuff happens, abetted, I admit, by procrastination. There was a helluva lot of scanning of material I needed to do which I never did, and now I've got to get all that material back where it came from, so I've got 2 days of probably 12 hours a day spending my time scanning, and double checking to make sure I havne't missed any pages, etc.

So I'm going to spend the next 2 days doing that, will be all caught up on Wednesday, and will resume daily posts here.

And will finally have learned my lesson about procrastination - don't do it!