Shackelford Beach
Serene Shackelford
Monday, November 28, 2011
Slave Owner In New Bern
As part of my research in New Bern I have found out a great deal but want to find out more about slaves, freed men and slave owners in New Bern and some parts of the South. One former slave owner who was once a slave really interests me. His name was John Carruthers Stanly and he was the richest man in Craven County in 1824. He owned 3 plantations, a number of homes and over 160 slaves and how did he do it? He began in 1795 when he was freed by his owners, Lydia Carruthers Stewart and her husband, Alexander Stewart. J. C. had been given to Lydia as a wedding gift. She set him free when he proved that he was so competent. He had been given the freedom to work in the town and save his own money.
Some people believe he was wrong as a former slave to buy slaves. However some of the slaves he bought were his own family, his wife and children and his brother-in-law. John started a career as a barber immediately upon receiving his freedom and became wealthy with his great skill. He began to buy property and was asked by many citizens to help with their wills, businesses and freeing of their slaves. His slaves Brister and Boston were trained to take over the barber shop and then freed by him. He did free others but only when they were capable of sustaining themselves. So the number of actual slaves he owned may be exaggerated as the ones who had been freed may be counted actually as slaves. From encyclopedia.jrank.org, I obtained much of this information and from other various sources.
Evidence seems to suggest he was a Christian. For example his daughter Catherine became an evangelist and his granddaughter from his son John became a missionary. His wife and former owner Lydia Stewart were two of the founders of the First Presbyterian Church in New Bern. John and his family were members and owned a pew in the church and was sighted escorting Mrs. Stewart to church every Sunday after her husband died. Most of the community respected him and his family.
Each person can decide if this freedman was wrong or not. I am trying to write a historical fiction book about him entitled, Slave to Slave Owner. I am in chapter 7 of 12 chapters. To learn more please consider reading it. His home and its dependency are still in New Bern near the First Presbyterian Church.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Black Slaveowners are good or not?
David L. Lightner and Alexander M. Ragan wrote a journal article entitled WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN SLAVEHOLDERS BENEVOLENT OR EXPLOITATIVE? in 2005 for the Journal of Southern History. We can’t really say, but there are some reasons for both sides. Some believe anyone who owned slaves could not be a true Christian and was evil. Since I believe slavery was wrong, I can see their point.
However, I have researched one freedman’s life and this he is a Christian, a benevolent Christian. He was blessed to have Christian owners who helped him by teaching him to read, write, do math & read the Bible. John Carruthers Stanly was freed at the age of 24 and became the richest man in Craven County in 1824. His wife Kitty and his former owner, Lydia Carruthers Stewart were two of 13 founders of the First Presbyterian Church of New Bern. His home is near the church on the corner of New and Hancock. He bought and freed many slaves. The town of New Bern had 10% of all the Blacks as Freedmen. Twenty-five per cent (25%) of the Blacks in Charleston, SC,in 1824 were free also.
I am writing a story entitled "Slave to Slaveowner" for my Nancy C. Sanders Novel in a month. Since it is historical fiction, there is an element of fiction that is a mystery and pure fiction. For more info please check back.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Morbid Meeting with a Witch
Morbid Meeting a Witch
Deut. 18:9-12
By Jan Parys
I didn't want to be there in that dark, old, musty house in 1973 in Virginia with gorgeous Ellen clutching my arm like a mad woman.
"I need you in my coven. You'll be powerful because you can read the crystal ball. I can't read the ball. I stole it from my ex-husband. We had a power struggle in the Church of Satan and I lost. But I stole the ball when I left," she said like spears piercing me with her green eyes flaring and her wine breath spewing all over me.
"Give me your phone number," she demanded. "I'll make you second in command. You'll be powerful."
I said a quick prayer to God Whom I did not believe in then but hoped existed, and told her a wrong number. She quickly wrote it down and freed my arm. I rubbed it as I rushed to my car and shook myself hoping to get rid of that last morbid scene in my life.
The invitation to attend a paranormal lecture had fascinated me so I accepted another college student's invitation. One of my professors had said she believed that one day books would be obsolete since we'd all communicate by ESP in the future. "Our minds are barely used," she said. Looking around the room I had to agree.
This lecture was rather mundane and the answers to the questions were so vague that the evening seemed to be a waste. The lovely, ebony haired hostess, Ellen, approached and asked, "How would you like a home tour?"
Ellen seemed to enjoy the dark and only turned a lamp on in each room as we entered. She had a stack of boxes in her kitchen and office explaining, "I've only lived here a few months and with my job and kids have little time to unpack."
In her bedroom she lit an incense stick upon entering the black and dark red retreat with a black velvet bedspread and canopy and a pedestal covered with black velvet material.
"Look at this!" she said as she revealed the crystal ball underneath.
I inspected the ball carefully and gazing into it saw a dance scene. The scene was in the woods around a campfire. Startled I asked, "How did you do that?"
"Do what?" Ellen asked.
After I told her, she became completely fixated on me. When I heard "Church of Satan," that phrase caused a churning in my stomach.
After giving her my phony number I said, "I have to get home to my husband and baby. We have work tomorrow in Maryland."
She repeated the number and walked me to the door continuing with "We will be so powerful. We will rule the DC area."
Now that I am saved I know why Ellen scared me and I hate Halloween because it is the witches' official holiday and I now know witches are an abomination to the Lord as He tells us in Deuteronomy18:9-12. v.10 “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his or her son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, encourages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.”
Deut. 18:9-12
By Jan Parys
I didn't want to be there in that dark, old, musty house in 1973 in Virginia with gorgeous Ellen clutching my arm like a mad woman.
"I need you in my coven. You'll be powerful because you can read the crystal ball. I can't read the ball. I stole it from my ex-husband. We had a power struggle in the Church of Satan and I lost. But I stole the ball when I left," she said like spears piercing me with her green eyes flaring and her wine breath spewing all over me.
"Give me your phone number," she demanded. "I'll make you second in command. You'll be powerful."
I said a quick prayer to God Whom I did not believe in then but hoped existed, and told her a wrong number. She quickly wrote it down and freed my arm. I rubbed it as I rushed to my car and shook myself hoping to get rid of that last morbid scene in my life.
The invitation to attend a paranormal lecture had fascinated me so I accepted another college student's invitation. One of my professors had said she believed that one day books would be obsolete since we'd all communicate by ESP in the future. "Our minds are barely used," she said. Looking around the room I had to agree.
This lecture was rather mundane and the answers to the questions were so vague that the evening seemed to be a waste. The lovely, ebony haired hostess, Ellen, approached and asked, "How would you like a home tour?"
Ellen seemed to enjoy the dark and only turned a lamp on in each room as we entered. She had a stack of boxes in her kitchen and office explaining, "I've only lived here a few months and with my job and kids have little time to unpack."
In her bedroom she lit an incense stick upon entering the black and dark red retreat with a black velvet bedspread and canopy and a pedestal covered with black velvet material.
"Look at this!" she said as she revealed the crystal ball underneath.
I inspected the ball carefully and gazing into it saw a dance scene. The scene was in the woods around a campfire. Startled I asked, "How did you do that?"
"Do what?" Ellen asked.
After I told her, she became completely fixated on me. When I heard "Church of Satan," that phrase caused a churning in my stomach.
After giving her my phony number I said, "I have to get home to my husband and baby. We have work tomorrow in Maryland."
She repeated the number and walked me to the door continuing with "We will be so powerful. We will rule the DC area."
Now that I am saved I know why Ellen scared me and I hate Halloween because it is the witches' official holiday and I now know witches are an abomination to the Lord as He tells us in Deuteronomy18:9-12. v.10 “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his or her son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, encourages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.”
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Defend our Faith
Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.
II Chron. 20:17
This is a verse I must remember and follow as I am concerned about writing devotions and sharing with homeschoolers about how to defend our faith. I know most of them truly believe but it is a matter of fighting the lies of the liberals and the powers of darkness. Now we need to pray for His help and show the lies as lies. A lie repeated often enough will be believed. One of the biggest lies is evolution.
We can promote the truth that evolution is a theory and that there is no link. The missing link doesn't exist and it will no link between man and ape because it doesn't exist.
None of the so-called missing links like Peking Man and Neanderthal Man.
Neanderthal Man is " the name comes from the Neander Valley near Dusseldorf, Germany. It was here in 1856 that the first skeleton of Neathderthal Man was discovered. Since then there have been many Neanderthal graves found in Europe and the Middle East... During the late nineteenth century, with Darwin's theory shaking the scientific world, these early 'ape-men' were 'proof' that human evolution was a fact" Unlocking the Mysteries Of Creation Vol. 1, pp. 121,122-- Dennis R. Peterson, B.S. M.A.
II Chron. 20:17
This is a verse I must remember and follow as I am concerned about writing devotions and sharing with homeschoolers about how to defend our faith. I know most of them truly believe but it is a matter of fighting the lies of the liberals and the powers of darkness. Now we need to pray for His help and show the lies as lies. A lie repeated often enough will be believed. One of the biggest lies is evolution.
We can promote the truth that evolution is a theory and that there is no link. The missing link doesn't exist and it will no link between man and ape because it doesn't exist.
None of the so-called missing links like Peking Man and Neanderthal Man.
Neanderthal Man is " the name comes from the Neander Valley near Dusseldorf, Germany. It was here in 1856 that the first skeleton of Neathderthal Man was discovered. Since then there have been many Neanderthal graves found in Europe and the Middle East... During the late nineteenth century, with Darwin's theory shaking the scientific world, these early 'ape-men' were 'proof' that human evolution was a fact" Unlocking the Mysteries Of Creation Vol. 1, pp. 121,122-- Dennis R. Peterson, B.S. M.A.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Hurricane Irene
It has been a month since I wrote and Irene is still a challenge here. Pamlico County is really suffering still with people who are homeless and others who have shelter but a mobile home compared to a traditional home on a slab or on a crawl space.
Our neighborhood really pulled together to help one another. Our neighbors on our right had 3 trees go through their roof. On our left our neighbors had one tree fo through their roof but with God's mercy we had no structural damage to our home. Five trees fell near our home but didn't hit it.
Our neighbors got together to help put up tarp and fasten it down and hold it down. Scott across the street had no damage to his house or property, but he helped the neighbors on both sides. He had 10-12 trees taken down in his backyard a month or so before so he had no damage. He often helps our neighbors and me.
On the Sunday after Irene a tree company had offered to take down and out Matt's one tree for $1500. Since he knew it was excessive, he passed on their offer. The next day a Charlotte firm took it down for $350 and our other neighbor's 3 trees for $960 so we asked for their help. They cut down a couple of trees for us and dragged the small ones away that day.
The following day Micah Woodall picked up the brush with a friend. We had to have another treeman from take down two of our trees and an exposed large broken one. The small debris is still waiting but we paid extra to have the large ones taken away. The removal cost $300. So this hurricane has been costly to everyone but the tree services who are cashing in.
Praise God Maria and no other hurricane has hit us though.
Our neighborhood really pulled together to help one another. Our neighbors on our right had 3 trees go through their roof. On our left our neighbors had one tree fo through their roof but with God's mercy we had no structural damage to our home. Five trees fell near our home but didn't hit it.
Our neighbors got together to help put up tarp and fasten it down and hold it down. Scott across the street had no damage to his house or property, but he helped the neighbors on both sides. He had 10-12 trees taken down in his backyard a month or so before so he had no damage. He often helps our neighbors and me.
On the Sunday after Irene a tree company had offered to take down and out Matt's one tree for $1500. Since he knew it was excessive, he passed on their offer. The next day a Charlotte firm took it down for $350 and our other neighbor's 3 trees for $960 so we asked for their help. They cut down a couple of trees for us and dragged the small ones away that day.
The following day Micah Woodall picked up the brush with a friend. We had to have another treeman from take down two of our trees and an exposed large broken one. The small debris is still waiting but we paid extra to have the large ones taken away. The removal cost $300. So this hurricane has been costly to everyone but the tree services who are cashing in.
Praise God Maria and no other hurricane has hit us though.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Christ Episcopal Church
"For two centuries of service progress and inspiration, Christ Episcopal Church has held an important place, literally and figuratively, in the heart of New Bern, second oldest town in North Carolina.
"Its spire, pointing skyward, higher than anything else in the city, is rimmed with a large crown, symbolic of everlasting life, not only for the Church triumphant but also for those stalwart Christians who try to further the Kingdom of God on earth.
"The Twenty-six rectors, the assistant ministers and many members have exercised a vital influence on the history of the region. To a great extent the history of the local Church is a history of the community.
"These patriots of the Cross have bequeathed a priceless heritage for the Church and Church members of today and tomorrow - a tower of strength during the past, a beacon of light in the present, and a guiding star for the future."
"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the Crown of Life."-Revelations 2:10.
The first church on these grounds was completed in 1750. The site of this church has been preserved by the construction of a brick wall over the original foundations and now serves as an open-air chapel. Early morning services are held here in summer, weather permitting. Named pavers in the floor of the chapel mark burial plots for the cremated remains of parishioners.
Cedar Grove Cemetery was opened by Christ Church Parish in 1800 to provide burial plots for yellow fever victims, and some tombstones in the churchyard were moved to these new grounds on Queen Street. Cedar Grove Cemetery was later deeded to the City of New Bern.
The present sanctuary, usually called the third church, was consecrated in 1875 and is entered on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is actually a combination of two buildings. The earlier one, consecrated in 1824, burned in 1871. However the fine Flemish-bond brick walls with their pointed-arch window openings remained and were used in the reconstruction. Aside from greatly embellishing the subdued gothic detailing of the 1824 structure, the buildings are almost identical.
The Gothic Revival bell tower and spire of the present church, which soars 150 feet above the city, has dominated the skyline of the city of New Bern for more than 125 years. The spire, embellished with a golden crown, was a prominent landmark on the charts of mariners in the nineteenth century. The Bell Tower contains a relatively new carillon (1996) that rings out over downtown New Bern twice a day.
Their silver communion service, Bible, and Book of Common Prayer, presented to the parish by King George II in 1752, are displayed in a wall case behind the font.
The 1752 communion service, in regular use today, is composed of a chalice, paten, two large flagons, and a large basin. Each piece bears the Royal Arms of Great Britain, which includes the initials of the King and hallmarks for the maker (MF - Mordecai Fox), the date (the letter R superimposed on a shield), the town mark of London (a crowned leopard's head); and an assay mark guaranteeing the purity of the silver to be 92.5% (a "lion passant gardant").
The Bible, printed in Oxford in 1717, also is inscribed with the Royal Coat of Arms. It is one of a number of Bibles known as The Vinegar Bible. In these bibles, the heading for the 20th chapter of Luke, which should read "Parable of the Vineyard," instead reads "Parable of the Vinegar".
The Prayer Book, again inscribed with the Royal Coat of Arms, was printed in Cambridge in 1752 and is used periodically for historic services held in the church.
The churchyard, shaded by a variety of venerable trees, stretches to either side of the main sanctuary (with the Parish Hall to the right and the education wing to the left). In the eighteenth century it served as a burial ground. In the aftermath of several yellow fever epidemics, the churchyard had filled with graves and was closed by 1799.
"For two centuries of service progress and inspiration, Christ Episcopal Church has held an important place, literally and figuratively, in the heart of New Bern, second oldest town in North Carolina.
"Its spire, pointing skyward, higher than anything else in the city, is rimmed with a large crown, symbolic of everlasting life, not only for the Church triumphant but also for those stalwart Christians who try to further the Kingdom of God on earth.
"The Twenty-six rectors, the assistant ministers and many members have exercised a vital influence on the history of the region. To a great extent the history of the local Church is a history of the community.
"These patriots of the Cross have bequeathed a priceless heritage for the Church and Church members of today and tomorrow - a tower of strength during the past, a beacon of light in the present, and a guiding star for the future."
"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the Crown of Life."-Revelations 2:10.
The first church on these grounds was completed in 1750. The site of this church has been preserved by the construction of a brick wall over the original foundations and now serves as an open-air chapel. Early morning services are held here in summer, weather permitting. Named pavers in the floor of the chapel mark burial plots for the cremated remains of parishioners.
Cedar Grove Cemetery was opened by Christ Church Parish in 1800 to provide burial plots for yellow fever victims, and some tombstones in the churchyard were moved to these new grounds on Queen Street. Cedar Grove Cemetery was later deeded to the City of New Bern.
The present sanctuary, usually called the third church, was consecrated in 1875 and is entered on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is actually a combination of two buildings. The earlier one, consecrated in 1824, burned in 1871. However the fine Flemish-bond brick walls with their pointed-arch window openings remained and were used in the reconstruction. Aside from greatly embellishing the subdued gothic detailing of the 1824 structure, the buildings are almost identical.
The Gothic Revival bell tower and spire of the present church, which soars 150 feet above the city, has dominated the skyline of the city of New Bern for more than 125 years. The spire, embellished with a golden crown, was a prominent landmark on the charts of mariners in the nineteenth century. The Bell Tower contains a relatively new carillon (1996) that rings out over downtown New Bern twice a day.
Their silver communion service, Bible, and Book of Common Prayer, presented to the parish by King George II in 1752, are displayed in a wall case behind the font.
The 1752 communion service, in regular use today, is composed of a chalice, paten, two large flagons, and a large basin. Each piece bears the Royal Arms of Great Britain, which includes the initials of the King and hallmarks for the maker (MF - Mordecai Fox), the date (the letter R superimposed on a shield), the town mark of London (a crowned leopard's head); and an assay mark guaranteeing the purity of the silver to be 92.5% (a "lion passant gardant").
The Bible, printed in Oxford in 1717, also is inscribed with the Royal Coat of Arms. It is one of a number of Bibles known as The Vinegar Bible. In these bibles, the heading for the 20th chapter of Luke, which should read "Parable of the Vineyard," instead reads "Parable of the Vinegar".
The Prayer Book, again inscribed with the Royal Coat of Arms, was printed in Cambridge in 1752 and is used periodically for historic services held in the church.
The churchyard, shaded by a variety of venerable trees, stretches to either side of the main sanctuary (with the Parish Hall to the right and the education wing to the left). In the eighteenth century it served as a burial ground. In the aftermath of several yellow fever epidemics, the churchyard had filled with graves and was closed by 1799.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
A Day Apart from Write2Ignite
Please check out:
http://write2igniteblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-apart-wow.html
as the Write2Ignite group shares it July 30, 2011, writers' experience with Jean Matthew Hall and Donna Earnhardt, two loving and caring children's writers. Having attended two the write2ignite conferences, I must say these two are great encouragers and helping sisters in the Lord.
http://write2igniteblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-apart-wow.html
as the Write2Ignite group shares it July 30, 2011, writers' experience with Jean Matthew Hall and Donna Earnhardt, two loving and caring children's writers. Having attended two the write2ignite conferences, I must say these two are great encouragers and helping sisters in the Lord.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)