Genealogy Newsletter- November 15, 2025

16 Nov Genealogy Newsletter- November 15, 2025

GENEALOGY- A PLAY SURFACES AND IS PRODUCED 100 YEARS LATER

I wrote in February 2025 Hurston about Zola Neale Hurston and the work we did gathering all their family information for their foundation meeting. I was excited to read an article about one of her “lost for 100 years” plays being produced.

Nearly a century after its completion, a play by Hurston is being staged in full for the first time. Spunk, written in 1935 by the acclaimed author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, was never performed during Hurston’s life. Instead, it remained in the Library of Congress until it was rediscovered decades later. In 2001, Catherine Sheehy, a Yale dramaturgy scholar, heard an NPR report about Hurston’s plays and requested a copy of Spunk, sparking today’s production at the Yale Repertory Theater.

Spunk tells the love story between Spunk Banks, a confident young man, and Evalina, a married woman. Set in the rural South during segregation, the show is rich with Black folk traditions and music. Nehemiah Luckett, the production’s music supervisor, describes the main narrative as a love that persists despite societal obstacles, a universal story.

After the short story version of Spunk was published in Opportunity, Hurston spent a decade conducting ethnographic fieldwork in the South and Caribbean, guided by anthropologist Franz Boas. These experiences led her to reshape Spunk into a play. Tamilla Woodard, the director, notes Hurston’s exploration of agency and liberty, resisting societal expectations.

Woodard was a Yale acting student when Sheehy first requested Spunk. Sheehy shared the play widely, helping it reach various directors and choreographers. Spunk was one of ten Hurston plays rediscovered, distinct from George C. Wolfe’s 1989 adaptation of other Hurston stories.

The Library of Congress held these scripts for authors who couldn’t copyright them due to a lack of production. Only one of Hurston’s plays, Fast and Furious, made it to Broadway during her lifetime. Despite Hurston’s posthumous acclaim, staging Spunk was not guaranteed. In 2021, Roundabout Theater Company hosted a virtual reading, but the script is heavily annotated with stage plans and notes, presenting challenges for production.

Hurston’s ability to blend humor, melodrama, music, and movement, while addressing the complexities of Black life under Jim Crow, sets her apart. Her work exists outside traditional definitions of Black drama, and while critics and audiences may not have been ready for her at the time, her voice is now more essential than ever.

---

GENEALOGY- MISSING FROM THE MAP AND POTTERY

At the Johnston Genealogy Library in Edgefield County, SC, I recently discovered that maps, such as the 1825 (surveyed in 1817) map (top) 1825 map and the 1871 map (bottom) 1871 map
Edgefield County, which shows the location of families in relation to other geographical features, does not include all families. To be listed on the 1871 map, you had to pay $5. That was a substantial amount of money in 1871, and I assume a lesser but significant amount was charged in 1825, as surveyors, mapmakers, and printers had to make money.

My wife’s Franklin family was likely near the Hatcher family, as biologically we know that Richard Franklin was a child of Thomas Hatcher. We don’t know whether that was through a non-parental event (illegitimate), adoption, or being apprenticed and assuming the Franklin family name. So, you can see, on the top 1825 map near the bottom or south of Edgefield, Hatcher’s Pond, and above on the road to Edgefield, the residence of Benjamin Hatcher.

On the 1871 map, which has an orientation where east rather than north is at the top, Edgefield is in the top left, and going to the right, you see a pond, which would be Hatcher’s Pond, and to the right of that, a Franklin family. So, in 1825, a Hatcher was willing to spend the money, and in 1871, a Franklin was willing. Of course, by then our branch of the Franklins had long moved out of Edgefield.

So, if your family was not well-off or just frugal, don’t assume that if they’re missing from the map, they were not there.

Something else I learned from the 1825 map, you can see the words “above this line, just below Edgefield. That was part of a longer description on the map, which stated that above the line, the forests consisted of Hickory and Oak, and below the line, it was Pine. I found out that it was map-worthy because an important early contributor to Edgefield’s economy was its pottery business, which required both types of wood for different stages of firing pottery. In addition to the kinds of wood in the forests, Edgefield was the perfect place to produce alkaline stoneware because it had high-quality clay, similar to the clay found in China, where Alkaline-Glaze was traditionally used on stoneware. Edgefield also had kilns constructed in areas that utilized the kaolin clay found in the region. Along with kaolin, the pottery was made using sand, pine, and feldspars.

You can see on the 1825 map, “Landrum’s Pottery just above Hatcher’s Pond, and on the 1871 map, just below Edgefield, ‘Miles and Pottery’, so for over 50 years, the pottery works were map-worthy. Here are more information and pictures of Edgefield pottery: Edgefield Pottery

The pottery in the picture below was tagged as Benjamin Franklin Landrum (above), and was likely created by Landrum’s enslaved people, the most notable being David Drake David Drake

---

GENEALOGY- A COUPLE OF SWEDES WHO SERVED IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Hans Axel von Fersen (1755–1810), pictured to the left, was a Swedish count, military officer, and diplomat, renowned for his close association with Queen Marie Antoinette of France and his involvement in the French Revolution. Born into a prominent Swedish noble family, von Fersen was raised in an environment influenced by French culture and courtly traditions. He received a thorough military education, traveled extensively in Europe, and served as an aide-de-camp in the French Army during the American Revolutionary War.

During the war, France declared hostilities against Great Britain in 1778, sending troops to America in 1780. Von Fersen became aide-de-camp to General Rochambeau, sailing from Brest in May 1780. The French landed at Newport, Rhode Island, and later von Fersen accompanied Rochambeau to meet General George Washington in Hartford, Connecticut. Von Fersen described Washington as heroic, reserved, and dignified.

After months of inactivity, Rochambeau’s forces joined Washington’s army in 1781. Von Fersen played a role in communications between French commanders. He witnessed the decisive surrender of British forces at Yorktown in October 1781, which hastened the end of the American Revolutionary War. He spent the winter in Williamsburg and speculated about future divisions in Virginia due to their aristocratic tendencies. Von Fersen returned to France in 1783 after peace was declared.

Von Fersen is most remembered for his close, often debated relationship with Marie Antoinette, which some historians believe was romantic. He became a trusted confidant of the French royal family and helped organize their failed escape from Paris in 1791. After the French Revolution and the execution of the royal family, von Fersen continued diplomatic efforts for the Swedish kings, aiming to restore the French monarchy. He held high-ranking positions in Sweden, including Marshal of the Realm and Chancellor of Uppsala University. His life ended violently in 1810 when he was killed by a mob in Stockholm amid false accusations, later cleared by investigations.

Curt Bogislaus Ludvig Kristoffer von Stedingk (1746 – 1837), pictured below, was a count of the von Stedingk family, and a successful Swedish army officer and diplomat who played a prominent role in Swedish foreign policy for several decades.

In 1763, after von Stedingk completed his studies at Uppsala University, he began his military career and rose quickly through the ranks in the Royal Suédois regiment in France, which was owned by his friend Count Axel von Fersen Sr. Both von Stedingk and Axel von Fersen were close friends of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and spent much time in Versailles.

During the American Revolutionary War, when France sent troops under the command of the Marquis de La Fayette in support of the American colonies, von Stedingk went overseas to America in 1779.

At the siege of Savannah in October 1779, he commanded the left column of the attacking force. He planted the American flag on the last line of British trenches but was wounded by crossfire from the defenders and forced to retreat, with 20 men, all injured like he was. For this, he was decorated by the French and received a lifetime pension.

He was also recognized as a hero for his acts during the naval Battle of Grenada, fought against Vice Admiral John Byron on 6 July 1779. For his feats in battle, von Stedingk was inducted into the Society of the Cincinnati Society by George Washington in 1783.

---

GENEALOGY- LEASING FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Frederick Douglass was 28 years old and had just published his first book: ”Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.” Because the book was an instant bestseller in the U.S., and because the press identified the public places where Douglass spoke, Douglass was at grave risk of immediate arrest as a fugitive slave. He fled to Britain after his owner, Thomas Auld of Maryland, had announced that he intended to capture Douglass and return him to forced slavery.

That made me wonder who else owned Douglass, as in 2020 I’d published an article indicating that William Freeland, a client’s 4th Great Uncle, had owned him. Here is what I learned:

AI tell us that Frederick Douglass had several owners throughout his life as a slave, including his initial master, Aaron Anthony. After Anthony’s death, he was passed to his daughter Lucretia Anthony Auld, and then to her husband, Thomas Auld. He was also temporarily leased to Edward Covey (pictured), a farmer known for his brutality. Later, he was owned by Hugh Auld in Baltimore.

However, further digging shows that after Covey, Thomas Auld leased Douglass to William Freeland.

After a year on Mr. Freeland’s plantation, Douglass grew extremely close to a few of his fellow slaves and was hesitant to tell them about how he wanted to escape. After they agreed to go along with him, they hatched a plan to escape on a canoe during the Easter holidays, paddling all the way up to Chesapeake Bay, then following the north star till they’re past Maryland. To protect themselves when on the bay, Douglass wrote several slips so they wouldn’t get caught. However, on the day of their escape, four white men came up to the gate and arrested Douglass and his companions for attempted escape. Not long after, Mr. Freeland and Mr. Hamilton came to pick up the slaves, apart from Douglass.

Here’s a reprint of the 2020 article:

An excerpt from the Notes on characters from “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” Mr. William Freeland: After Frederick’s servitude to Mr. Covey, Douglass goes to work for Mr. Freeland, a fair and respectable slaveholder. Douglass considers Mr. Freeland the best master he had before becoming his own master. Unlike many slaveholders, Mr. Freeland has no religious pretensions. While working for Mr. Freeland, Douglass tries an unsuccessful ESCAPE with two of Mr. Freeland’s SLAVES. Mr. Freeland’s mother blames Douglass for CORRUPTING THE MINDS OF HER SLAVES.”

An excerpt from the actual narrative: “During the scuffle, I managed, I know not how, to get my pass out, and, without being discovered, put it into the fire. We were all now tied; and just as we were to leave for Easton jail, Betsy Freeland (our client’s direct ancestor), mother of William Freeland , came to the door with her hands full of biscuits, and divided them between Henry and John.

She then delivered herself of a speech, to the following effect:–addressing herself to me, she said, “_YOU YELLOW DEVIL! IT was you that put it into the heads of Henry and John to RUN AWAY. But for you, you LONG-LEGGED MULATTO DEVIL! Henry nor John would never have thought of such a thing.” I made no reply, and I was immediately hurried off towards St. Michael’s.”

Another excerpt from the actual narrative: “On the first of January, 1834, I left Mr. Covey, and went to live with Mr. William Freeland, who lived about three miles from St. Michael’s. I soon found Mr. Freeland, a very different man from Mr. Covey. Though not rich, he was what would be called an educated southern gentleman. Mr. Covey, as I have shown, was a WELL-TRAINED NEGRO-BREAKER AND SLAVE DRIVER. The former (slaveholder though he was) seemed to possess some regard for honor, some reverence for justice, and some respect for humanity. The latter seemed insensible to all such sentiments. Mr. Freeland had many of the faults peculiar to slaveholders, such as being very passionate and fretful. Still, I must do him the justice to say that he was exceedingly free from those degrading vices to which Mr. Covey was constantly addicted. The one was open and frank, and we always knew where to find him. The other was a most artful deceiver and could be understood only by such as were skillful enough to detect his cunningly devised frauds.

Another advantage I gained in my new master was that he made no pretensions to, or profession of, religion, and this, in my opinion, was truly a great advantage. I assert without hesitation that THE RELIGION OF THE SOUTH is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes,–a JUSTIFIER of the most appalling BARBARITY,–a SANCTIFIER of the most hateful frauds,–and a dark shelter under, which the DARKEST, FOULEST, GROSSEST, and most infernal deeds of slaveholders find the strongest protection. Where I to be again reduced to the chains of slavery, next to that enslavement, I should regard being the slave of a religious master the greatest calamity that could befall me. Of all slaveholders with whom I have ever met, religious slaveholders are the worst. I have ever found them the meanest and basest, the cruelest and cowardly, of all others. It was my unhappy lot not only to belong to a religious slaveholder but to live in a community of such followers.

Very near Mr. Freeland lived the Rev. Daniel Weeden, and in the same neighborhood lived the Rev. Rigby Hopkins. These were members and ministers in the Reformed Methodist Church. Mr. Weeden owned, among others, a woman slave, whose name I have forgotten. This woman’s back, for weeks, was kept raw, made so by the LASH OF THIS CRUEL, religious wretch. He used to hire hands. His maxim was, Behave well or behave ill, it is the duty of a master occasionally to WHIP A SLAVE, to remind him of his master’s authority. Such was his theory and such his practice.”

Once he heard of the attempted escape, Mr. Covey surprisingly came and picked up Douglass, sending him back to Baltimore to live with Master Auld, where he was hired to build ships at Fell’s Point, and later escaped.

---

GENEALOGY- IF YOU NEED A TRIM IN IRELAND

We visited Trim Castle (pictured below) in 2021. It is a vast castle on the south bank of the River Boyne in Trim. Over a period of 30 years, it was built by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter as the caput of the Lordship of Meath. I did not know when we visited, but later discovered that Walter and Hugh De Lacy were my 24th and 25th great-grandfathers.

Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, 4th Baron (1135 – 1186), had substantial land holdings in Herefordshire and Shropshire. Following his participation in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, he was granted, in 1172, the lands of the Kingdom of Meath by King Henry II of the Anglo-Normans, but he had to gain control of them. The Lordship of Meath was then the most extensive liberty in Ireland.

King Henry’s ostensible grant of Meath to Lacy was not accepted by Tighearnán Ó Ruairc, King of Bréifne, who ruled it at that time. Ó Ruairc refused to concede, but parleyed with Lacy on the Hill of Ward, in Meath. After negotiations stalled, a dispute ensued in which an interpreter was killed by a blow aimed at Lacy, who fled; a spear-thrust killed Ó Ruairc as he mounted his horse, and he was decapitated. His head was impaled over the gate of Dublin Castle and was later sent to Henry II. The Annals of the Four Masters say that Ó Ruairc was treacherously slain. From the account given by Gerald of Wales, it would appear that there was a plot to destroy Ó Ruairc.

Gerald of Wales also related the following legend of Féchín and Hugh de Lacy (pictured above in a drawing by Gerald of Wales):
” Chapter LII” (Of the mill which no women enter)

“There is a mill at Foure, in Meath, which St. Fechin made most miraculously with his own hands, in the side of a certain rock. No women are allowed to enter either this mill or the church of the saint, and the mill is held in as much reverence by the natives as any of the churches dedicated to the saint. It happened that when Hugh de Lacy was leading his troops through this place, an archer dragged a girl into the mill and there violated her. Sudden punishment overtook him; for being struck with infernal fire in the offending parts, it spread throughout his whole body, and he died the same night”.

As part of asserting his authority over Meath, he built many castles, including Trim. I am not sure what Trim meant back in the day, but I am sure Grandpa Hugh would find amusement in the picture (below the castle) that I took in Trim.

---

GENEALOGY- I HOPE YOUR VETERAN FAMILY MEMBERS FELT HONORED THIS WEEK!

My dad (far right) is on his way to Korea courtesy of the United States Marine Corps, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year.

---

GENEALOGY- PRESERVE YOUR FAMILY HISTORY, TODAY

Reach out to Dancestors Genealogy. Our genealogists will research, discover, and preserve your family history. No one is getting any younger, and stories disappear from memory every year, eventually fading from our ability to find them.

Preserve your legacy and the heritage of your ancestors.

Paper gets thrown in the trash; books survive!

Ready to embark on your family history journey? Don’t hesitate. Call Dan Nelson and get your project started!