Heroes and Sheroes of the Eno River Valley
Come join Durham Artist Sandee Washington, local historian Beverly Scarlett and Orange County Register of Deeds Mark Chilton for an art show and history presentation on free people of color in Orange County before the Civil War - Sunday Feb 20 2-4 PM at Vecino Brewing, 300 E Main Streey, Carrboro, NC 27510
Hello Mr. Chilton. My name is John Hennessy, retired historian with the National Park Service and friend of Rebecca Campbell Light. Rebecca was the longtime owner of the site of Forest Hill, and has donated the site to ensure its preservation. Years ago, she also met your kin, Taylor Scott Chilton, who shared with her the diary of Matilda, written at Forest Hill and beyond during the war. Rebecca is now in her 90s and has lost much of her vision, so she has asked me to complete work on a book begun long ago focused on the Hamilton's and Marye families (John L. Marye Sr. married Jane Hamilton in 1862--Matilda's older sister). At the heart of the book is the diary of Matilda--at least that part of it Rebecca copied back in 1990 when she met Taylor Scott Chilton at his home near Remington. In your work on the diary, you mention the the diary is still held by the family. Might it be possible to include in Rebecca's book the apparently large chunks of the diary she did not copy? Or...are the entries from November 1862 through April 1863 all there is? Given that you have not updated the diary FB page in years, it's a long shot getting a note to you this way.... I will also try reaching you through your blog. Whatever info you can provide would be appreciated. my email is Johnhennessy127@gmail.com
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