My Virginia

                                                                                                            Above: Crystal City, Virginia                                                     THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA  The dichotomy between the ...

Richmond, Virginia: A Northern City? I'm not exactly sure how, but recently, I stumbled upon this blog by one lady from Georgia, who says Richmond is NOT the South .  Make no mistakes about it,  to her , we might as well be Trenton, NJ. Now, I don't like to call out other people usually , but I couldn't help but notice several errors in her explanations. It's not like I can let it go, I can't. I'm a Southerner, damn it. My family has been in Richmond,  Virginia for centuries, and it stretches all across Dixie as well. My ancestors fought in both the American Revolution, and in the Confederate Army during the War for Southern Independence. When you say Richmond, Virginia,  is not the South, it's like saying ice cream isn't naturally cold.  It just doesn't sound right. I believe this is actually a very old article, and I do apologize.  But I want to address it, because it bugs me when  people make statements that aren't the truth. I am...

The Christmas Season has officially begun, at least in the sense of commerce.  Mechanicsville, Virginia  had their annual Christmas parade and a number of the Virginia flaggers were there. Living in the liberal cess pool of Richmond, it's kind of refreshing that there are places very close to home that still have that old Virginian spirit.  Although  it was a rainy day, there were many people in attendance.  The spirit of the South lives on through these brave people who fight to preserve our noble history, and let not the names of our ancestors be tarnished by the onslaught of political correctness. Some other traditions in the area, are to lay wreaths upon the graves of the glorious dead. Harking back to a day when people made their own Christmas presents, it is also a demonstration of the Victorian era gone by. Think of a Confederate soldier far from his family,yearning for a warm meal and to be with his darling wife and children. Many of these soldiers mar...

By an overwhelming margin,  Richmond's city council struck down a measure that would request removal of the Confederate statues upon our famed Monument Ave. We Richmonders can heave a sign of relief- at least for now! There is no telling how relentless the history -erasing agenda from vigilante leftists will be. For  awhile now, it's over! We can walk in the sun once more. In an ironic twist to the anti-statue movement, Monument Ave has never been a more popular tourist destination. Many people lately are flocking to the streets from all over the world, to see the statues in all their glorious splendor. This is an ongoing war . The battle that we have won recently to save our Southern heritage is only that. Just a battle. These people are probably going to use legal limits and loopholes in the most undesirable ways possible. We must be not get complacent. I am so proud of the Virginia Flaggers for all they do. Without them, I'm not sure where would be. May God ble...

This is a picture of my third Great-Grandather, Dr. John Gifford Skelton.  He was born in 1815 at Paxton Plantation, in Powhatan , County, Virginia.He was a farmer in Powhatan County,  and was a country doctor, making rounds around the county . During The War-Between-The-States, he administered aid to both wounded Union and Confederate soldiers. He later retired to Richmond, where he helped in the establishment of the Medical College of Virginia (MCV). He was a member of Monumental Church in Richmond. He died at age 74 of apoplexy, and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery.

Above: Wise, Virginia. One of the most "Trump friendly" towns in America.  Virginia is something of a political paradox. It is a purple to blue state (depending on your perspective), but with some of the most Trump friendly towns in the United States. Wise, Virginia, went nearly 80% for Donald Trump , and towns such as Grundy and others in Southwest Virginia, have about the same demographics.  In fact, several counties in Virginia are as red as can be- with more than 70% of the votes counted for Trump in the 2016 elections. Virginia Beach - home of Pat Robertson and The 700 Club is the 3rd most conservative city in the nation, while just 200 some odd miles to the north, Washington, D.C. is the second most liberal city in the United States. As we know, Washington  sits directly across the Potomac river, enabling the vast expansion of suburbs into the northern part of Virginia.  Making matters more confusing, the majority of counties in Virginia are red, while ...

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...

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...

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...

My grandfather was born William James Gilman, III, on January 20th, 1914 in Richmond, Virginia- to William James Gilman Jr, and Blanche Taylor (King) Gilman.  He had a younger sister named Alice. They called him "Billy" for short. Its interesting that there is a Country singer with the same name today . My grandfather was a very independent sort. He wanted to be an actor, or a writer, or a politician, or all three! As he went through college (Richmond Polytechnic Institute- now commonly known as "VCU"), he discovered writing is what he wanted to do. He never quite finished school there.  He once said to a close friend: "Why waste time on some four green acres? That is all college is to me". Despite his talent for writing, he also had a penchant for gambling. It  all started when he was a young teenager, and a man told him to bet on a horse race . The horse he bet on won. That started his gambling problem. When he was a young man of twenty-three, ...

Above: Army of Northern Virginia Battle flag. While our Confederate shrines, monuments, and flags are still under tremendous attack- mostly by left wing progressives in this country, a strong sentiment of Southern pride is filling Dixie like never before. I believe in a way God is restoring a healing power to the South, and a healing that needed to take place long after 150 years have passed since her defeat. Many Southerners who had anger and bitterness left after the war was over, felt that they were wrongly represented in historical texts- mostly written by Northern victors. Truthfully,  under the false guise of "abolition", the South was invaded by force and destroyed. This is much like what Adolf Hitler and his regime did to Central Europe. Yet in retelling of events, it would have some believe that the South waged a war against the North. This is rubbish. We have but a few Southern points of view in television and film- most notably "Gone With The Wind"...

Here is a write up about my grandfather's paternal side of the family. His name was William James Gilman, III. Many of the Gilmans settled in Hanover County, Virginia. Also connected to this branch of the family, are the Wingfields. From Virginia Biography: Patriarch For a great many years the name of Gilman has been a well known one in Richmond in connection with the building industry, and it is one that  dates in Virginia from ante-revolutionary  days. The ancestor, John Gilman, came  from England to Virginia with the Queen's  Rangers, and as they were a body of men selected for their physical perfection and excellence of character, he must have been possessed of these qualities. His son, John Gilman, was born in Hanover county, Virginia. He served six years in the revolutionary army, enlisting at the age of twenty-one years, was with Washington at Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis ; later he again served his country in the war of 1812. ...

My great grandfather on my mother's maternal side, John Gifford Skelton was born  on December 12th, 1882 in Richmond, Virginia, in the mist of  a very deep snow storm that year. He was an inventor of sorts, a bit eccentric , and quite the ladies man .  All the women of Richmond adored him, including his many sisters, with whom he was very close. He was heart broken when his youngest sister died, and he never quite got over it. But he had a strong will and driven spirit- something that is definitely a Skelton trait. Born to an old Virginian family on his Daddy's side, he was the grandson of Dr. John Gifford Skelton from Powhatan County. His mother Lucy C. (nee' Landrum) was a beauty from Little Rock, Arkansas, who had family roots  in the Deep South.  John was educated at private schools in Virginia and attended prestigious  Brown University.  As a young man, he had a summer job working  on the railroad in the Catskills of New York, which he...

 Picture d above: The George Rowe House. Fredericksburg, VA Last weekend I had the opportunity to go up to Fredericksburg for a family reunion. It was a spectacular event, in which the organizers put a lot of soul and hard work. The Patriarch of the family was George Rowe and his wife Lucy Leitch Rowe , whom were prominent figures in the history of Fredericksburg, especially during the War Between The States.  George Rowe would be my great great great great grandfather . This is in the branch of my grandfather's mother's side of the family. George and Lucy Rowe were actually first cousins, who had long standing connections to the Northern Neck area of Virginia.  The event was held at their ancestral home, and included guest speakers which talked about the history of the Rowe family in Fredericksburg and nearby environs, as well as their connections and lineage to the Patawomeck Indian tribe. People came from all over the country, including character actor Hansford R...

The Virginia flaggers have been on the streets in front of the VMFA (The Virginia Museum of Fine Ahem... ) for over 5 years now.  Initially, their  goal was to restore some battle flags that were removed from the premises of the Confederate Memorial Chapel. In the process, they have also been able to save and restore history to honor our brave Confederate ancestors. It all started with the removal of the Confederate Battle flags from the Confederate Memorial Chapel.  Built in 1887, the the chapel was used  to honor Confederate veterans and  sits within the confines of the museum's property. Not long ago, a hasty decision  was made to remove the flags from plain view. Instead , they placed a very ugly and unsightly flag pole on  the property, (containing the American and Virginia flag) ,  obfuscating  the historical accuracy of the chapel and its grounds. Not only was this move a slap in the face to our heritage, it was also illegal! ...

Years ago, I remember getting annoyed as a teenager when some dolt on "The Weather Channel" would refer to Virginia as part of the Mid-Atlantic region. Boy, was  I in for a surprise. Forget Mid Atlantic. Now we're considered the part of that frozen tundra called  "The Northeast".  Has the North moved South? Yes and No. But I think I don't really mind being called Mid Atlantic now. In fact I would long for it. Please call us Mid Atlantic or South Atlantic, East Coast,  or a border state. Anything but the Northeast!  If North Carolina is often referred to as "The Mind of the South", then Virginia is just above it. We are north of North Carolina,  and just below the Mason Dixon line. And we straddle the fence on what was once known as the "Upper South". But I don't think we are the Northeast. That is something I don't understand. How is Virginia the Northeast? Not by culture, certainly not by history, and no , not even geographically...

Doing family research is a lot of fun. Ancestry can turn up so many hidden gems and interesting stories throughout the years. These two historic  houses belonged to my ancestors on my  maternal Great Grandfather's side of the family.  His name was John Gifford Skelton III.   These two homes are located relatively in the same region, although in different counties. Both west of Richmond. Most of the people on this branch of the family settled just west of Richmond, Virginia, and came to Richmond just after the War Between the States. This first dwelling shown here is Paxton . I have covered Paxton before, but these earlier photos  show how  the farmhouse looked before it was painted white. Paxton was built by my great great great great Grandfather Ennion Skelton- a New Jersey born physician who migrated South to Virginia in 1800,  to join his friends  and relatives. He wanted a  large farmhouse in Powhatan County, and he began work on Paxton...

Today, January 19th, would mark the 207th birthday for Robert E. Lee. A terrific military leader, patriot, and scholar.  He was born at Stratford Hall in Westermoreland County, Virginia, on January 19th, 1807. Continuing in the military tradition of his father, Lee entered West Point in 1825 and graduated second in his class in 1829. He was an outstanding student and one of the top ranks of his class. When it came for the arguments for Southern Independence, Lee was not in favor of succession immediately, but he decided he could not take arms against his people and his homeland of Virginia. On April 18, 1861 Lee was offered field command of the United States Army. On the following day, he received word that Virginia had seceded from the Union; he submitted his letter of resignation from the United States Army on April 20. Three days later, Lee accepted the position of commander of Virginia forces. His decision to defend Virginia was legendary, and since then, Lee  h...

Virginia is located at the very northern tip of the South- or the Southern end of the Mid-Atlantic region, whichever way you look at it. We Virginians are Northern-Southerners. Because of this, Virginia is in a unique position. Her cultural identity was firmly rooted in the Old South, but  with the advent of the jet plane, Virginia is at New York's doorstep! Northern Virginia, close to Washington D.C., is a melting pot of people from all nations and all backgrounds. Spreading out as far as Winchester to the west, and stemming from Fairfax and Loudoun County to the East, and as far south as Fredericksburg. This area with its transient feel, represents a culture far removed from Old Virginia, despite having its old roots left in the plantation homes and historic markers and schools named after Confederate Generals. This is also the most liberal area of Virginia, and pushed Virginia into a "blue state" during both the 2008 and 2012 elections, although by a narrow margin. ...

Does a "Sweet Tea" line in Virginia really exist? I'm afraid so. It didn't used to be this way, but when you get north of Richmond, its harder and harder to find places that will serve you sweet tea- or even give you a choice. In Northern Virginia and close to the District, you may get blank stares when asking for that sweet goodness- even if you're a native like myself who was raised on it. 50 years ago you could get sweet tea state wide. From Leesburg to Danville from Winchester to Virginia Beach- it was the drink of choice among Southerners, and Virginia was no exception. However, because of a major recent influx of Northerners and Midwesterners, Sweet Tea is almost extinct in many places of the Commonwealth. Even in Richmond- you will be offered "sweet" or "unsweet tea" but only if asked. The problem lies in a gradual homogenization of Virgina into a more Mid-Atlantic state, rather than a Southern one. A litmus test as to whether you...