When I speak with people about Bishop James Madison of Virginia, often the initial response is one of confusion. “I didn’t know that James Madison was a bishop,” some have replied, confusing the clergyman with his cousin of the same name, the third president of the United States. But Bishop Madison is a significant historical figure in his own right as the first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia…
Joseph Bridger Hodsden was born on March 29, 1776 and died on November 19, 1815. He married Mary Wilson Pasteur on November 23, 1799 and in fifteen brief years managed several farms, fought in the War of 1812 and fathered nine children. His last child, Julia Ann Hodsden, was sadly born after her father had passed away…
A recent Virginia Pilot headline declared “Mystery Solved,” referring to the long unanswered questions about the English attempt at Colonization of the New World in 1587 on what is now the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This so-called “Lost Colony” has been the subject of many archaeological digs, theories, conjecture, a quaint play, and even a horror movie. What happened to those 114 people who sought to compete with Spain, England’s chief rival, in reaping the benefits and resources of the New World?…
While not often talked about, cemetery preservation is important and worthy of attention – attention that many cemeteries around the country are not receiving…
The 16th and 17th centuries saw horrific conflicts spawned by the religious disputes known as the Reformation. By the 18th century, these conflicts switched to disputes of a more economic and political nature. Most of us don’t think of the American Revolution as a religious conflict and yet religion was a major bone of contention throughout the engagement…
Today we usually only think of witches at Halloween… ugly wicked hags who wear pointy black hats and fly around on brooms. It is interesting, however, to look at the historical truth — which doesn’t begin in Salem, Massachusetts. Did you know that we had supposed witches and devils here in Virginia long before they appeared up in Massachusetts?…
Please assist us with our research by sharing your stories, photos, portraits, etc. regarding your beloved veteran(s). We want to know who these veterans were as people, far beyond the basic information included on their memorial monuments. We want to save the memory of who they were for future generations. We want to recognize their sacrifices, their bravery, and their unique personalities…
Curtis Ray Patton was born June 27, 1941 to Mr. and Mrs. Willie M. Patton. He was drafted into the U.S. Army via Selective Service and began his tour on March 20, 1967, serving with the 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, B Company…
After finishing high school in 1917, John enlisted in the Virginia National Guard as a band corporal and was immediately transferred to the Army 111th Field Artillery band. They were stationed at Camp McClellan, AL 4 Sept. 1917 to 20 June 1918, during which time he was promoted to Sergeant…
Mr. Barlow served as operations officer of the 71st AAA Group in Europe during World War II. He left active service in 1946, then joined the Army Reserves and retired as a colonel in 1971. He was selected as an aide de camp on the military staff of Govs. Mills Godwin, John Dalton and Charles Robb…
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