My Virginia

As most Americans get ready to prepare the biggest meal of the year next Thursday, let us not forget the true story of how it all began. The first Thanksgiving in America was in early December. It was at the late Fall Season, and it happened where? Right here in Virginia!  On December 4th, 1619, the First Thanksgiving on record occurred.  There were earlier prayers given  of thanks at Jamestown, but this was the most official giving of thanks. This was two years before the New Englanders had theirs.The history books seem to ignore this, largely perhaps because of its Judeo Christian roots. The Thanksgiving was deeply rooted in prayer, rather than in elaborate meal or celebration.  More to the story as well: many think it was Abraham Lincoln who first declared Thanksgiving as a National Holiday in 1863. But it was actually Confederate President Jefferson Davis who did so, a year earlier.  Here is a video which explains the REAL first Thanksgiving on American soil...

If you're moving to Virginia from some place else and don't know where to start, let me give the low down on our fair Commonwealth. Virginia is a medium to average sized Commonwealth  that is divided into five main regions: Northern, Central, Hampton Roads, Shenandoah Valley, and Southwest/Highlands. Some of these regions overlap each other, and some have smaller enclaves within each region  As discussed before , Northern Virginia stretches as far south as  the city of  Fredericksburg, but to most people it is the immediate Washington D.C. Metro area (a radius of about 25 miles). In this post, I will discuss Northern Virginia, and what that means... Northern Virginia: (D.C. METRO, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County,  Reston, Herndon, Prince William, Loudoun (East), and Stafford County towards Fredericksburg) The Potomac River belongs to Maryland......... When people talk about "NOVA" this is it:  Washington, D.C. Anything that is within a 15-25 ...

As they prepare to take away more statues and monuments and history, I was wondering how we can manage to cope with negativity all around us. I have a firm faith in God, and I believe truth shall prevail. If you ask me, there is something very sinister and very demonic behind this sudden  purge of the monuments and this sudden attack on American historical figures . I don't know why this is happening so quickly, but I do know there is a culture war that is still being fought in America. Moreover, I believe this is an attack on  Christian America. They do not like Christianity. They hate the thought that we are a Christian nation. When they finish removing all things Confederate, the next step is our Founding Fathers. This is very relevant to Virginia, since we are the mother of 8 presidents here. And figures such as Jefferson and Washington, and "Lighthorse"  Henry Lee, have their very footprints ingrained upon Virginia soil. All we can do as a nation now is to pray. P...

Virginian names can be difficult. There are a number of towns, cities, and counties which seem to get a sour treatment in how they are pronounced. Even roads, for example. There is the "Powhite" Parkway here in Richmond. Many out of towners would say "po white" as in 'poor white'. Of course it is really pronounced "Pow-hite". as in Powahatan. Which brings me to another issue: "Powhatan". I was watching The Weather Channel not long ago and the tv news anchor called it "Pow hat'n" county" Yikes! Let's remember, it is  named after the great Powhatan Indians. It's properly pronounced "Pow- a-tan".  And what about Botetourt County? Named after Lord Botetourt this county is pronounced "Bo-tet-tort" . Yet some people say it "Bot - it tort". As in botanical... Ouch. I laughed when someone called my home county "Looden" (Loudoun). Its pronounced Low-den" as in "ow...

This being St. Patrick's Day, reminds me of how strong the Irish heritage is on my mother's side of the family. My most recent Irish ancestry goes to the Hagan family- originally O'Hagan in Ireland. They migrated to the Richmond, Virginia area just before the large potato famine in Ireland. The Patriarch, John O'Hagan,  was born in Clancoe- Tyrone County, Ireland (Now Northern Ireland). He was landed farmer and proprietor there with a nice living for himself in that area.  His son, John C. Hagan , was my 3rd Great Grandfather. He immigrated to Richmond, Virginia where he already had friends, family, and a church. He served in the Confederate Army. Much is written about the Hagan family in Richmond in this article here: The Hagans of Ireland and Virginia. Hagan, John Campbell This branch of the Hagan family in America springs from the O'Hagans of Ireland, the "O" being generally omitted on this side of the Atlantic. The family has been noted for prominen...

I may have rekindled new interest in my love of genealogical research! A family story passed down for ages to me that we were descendants of Pocahontas was confirmed by local Fredericksburg  historian, Bill Deyo. Pocahontas is my 11th Great-Grandmother- and I am descended through her through by her first marriage and her daughter, Kaokee! This was a real neat story to hear. Most people only recount Pocahontas and her marriage to John Rolfe.  Many people are unaware that she had been previously wed to another Patawomeck Indian.  With her first husband, she had a daughter Kaokee.  Kaokee would be my 10th Great Grandmother, and she married later Captain Thomas Pettus- an early Virginia Gentleman and Cavalier. This story is confirmed through the Patawomeck Indian tribe. Having attended the Rowe family reunion last year in Fredericksburg, we learned of many connections to the Virginia Indians in that family over the years. George Rowe and Lucy Rowe- are my 4th ...

Last week, January 19th, would have marked General Robert E. Lee's 210th birthday. He was born at Stratford Hall, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. In his writings, it was very evident that Robert E. Lee was a strong Christian. Here are some of his famous quotes: "We have fought this fight as long, and as well as we know how. We have been defeated. For us as a Christian people, there is now but one course to pursue. We must accept the situation." Robert E. Lee "Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character"- Robert E. Lee "It is good that war is so horrible, or we might grow to like it"  Robert E. Lee "I think it better to do right, even if we suffer in so doing, than to incur the reproach of our consciences and posterity"- Robert E. Lee " Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one; the man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice." " I cannot trust a man to con...