Hello,

On July 19th, Dr. A. Midori Albert, Associate Professor of Anthropology Department at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and two of her associates, John and Rebecca assisted me during my stabilization of the Petteway Family Cemetery (ca.1885). I had discovered what was thought to be a shallow grave with various bones lying out in the open.

We spent the day touring the Petteway family cemetery and the family's Patriarch, Dalton Odell Petteway who is the grandson of former slave George Washington Petteway, was on hand to tell some oral history of his family and the cemetery.

After leaving the Petteway cemetery our group went to what is believed to be the largest all African American "Community" cemetery within Onslow County, North Carolina. Although there were no bones to identify within this grave yard, I gave the Anthropologists a guided tour of the cemetery and discussed the site as I first saw it in December 2006,comparing to what it looks like at this time.


Later, before Dr. Albert and her associates left, we stopped at Arnold's Resturaunt in Richlands, N.C., had lunch and talked about the two tours and future projects of working together.

By the way, the exposed bones within the shallow grave that I located were eventually declared non-human but, Odell Petteway recalls, through family oral history handed down to him, that he was told by his father slaves may have been buried within the same area of the sunken grave.

The adventure to stabilize the Petteway family cemetery and the Brick Mill cemetery continues to bring new information about the people who once lived in the surrounding communities.

Updates will follow...

Jack

Posted on Sunday 20 of July, 2008 [14:22:00 UTC]

Hi

I have been extremely busy over the past eighteen months dealing with my book signings and lectures. I have attended over twelve book signing events and have conducted not less than eight lectures in regards to my previous research and my current long-term project.

I am now conducting research and preserving 19th and early 20th century all African American Cemeteries. The majority of them have been found in dense overgrowth and nearly forgotten by citizens of the local communities surrounding these Hallow Grounds.

I am hopeful, in the near future, to produce a modest pubication that describes the steps that I have used in preserving, documenting, and stabelizing these cemeteries. Two have been recognized, through my recent fieldwork within Onslow County, North Carolina, as the largest all African American "Community" cemetery while the second one as the largest "family" cemetery.

The research, documentation, and most of all, the physical labor is hard but, well worth the struggle. I also bear the full cost of this project, since I am not a "Not-For-Profit" organization. I can not solicite monies from people but, I am able to accept "financial gifts."

I have identified over sixty African American veterans from the Spanish-American War (ca.1897) to the Vietnam conflit. Many of these veterans have never been properly recognized for their sacrifices during a time when they fought for America's freedome when, they themselved, had little.

I also confirm and identify those who were born into slavery. To date, I have not located an actual slave grave, just individuals who were slaves but, died after the War Between the States. The roster of these individuals who suffered and sacraficed nearly all of their lifes stands at nearly 100, with the list growning each time I confirm a birthdate of an individual who I rediscover.

Until next time,

Jack Robinson
GySgt., U.S. Marine Corps, Retired
Researcher of local History (southeastern North Carolina)

My email is: jackrobinson@hotmail.com

Posted on Monday 23 of June, 2008 [16:57:06 UTC]

2007 has been a very rewarding year for me not only because of my books for sale here at Lulu being selling briskly but, also because of newly rediscovered, nearly forgotten, histories that I have researched and relocated to promote to a newer generation.

Southeastern North Carolina is rich in history and its African American histories, particularly late 19th and early 20th century's events, are nearly gone out of our local, regional and national history books.

The first African American Spanish-American War veteran, ever known to exist within Onslow County, North Carolina, was relocated and I made an official public announcement--first time ever--to an audience that was baffled that it took over one hundred and five years to recognize this "forgotten" veteran for his service to his community, state of North Carolina, and to his Nation.

The Pepsi Cola Giants, a segregated baseball team that played ball for nearly forty-five years is not listed in any baseball text books. They existed and played against the best within the segregated teams of their time...and beat them. They hailed from Richlands, Onslow County, North Carolina but, their achivements and spirit have nearly passed on--when each remaining team member's time comes to go to Heaven.

Check out my books, Internet sites, and review my research. Maybe a pieced of my research can inspire you to look into your community's past--to make your own forgotten histories to be rediscovered.




The adventure continues...

Jack Robinson
GySgt., U.S.Marine Corps, Retired
Researcher of local History

http://www.jackrobinsonbooks.com


http://home.gibralter.net/~jackrobinson/ (Cemetery Preservation Project)

Posted on Monday 13 of August, 2007 [21:53:17 UTC]

The first official African American Spanish-American War veteran to have lived in Onslow County, southeastern North Carolina, has been relocated, after his grave site had been "misplaced" for not less then fifty years.

James M. Blackwell, lived near Swansboro, North Carolina. He joined, like many African Americans to fight for their nation, against a common enemy. What we do not know is why he joined the 3rd N.C. Infantry during a time when African Americans were split as to where their National loyalties were tied. Many African Americans who did volunteer felt the nation deprived them of their rights while others believed by serving, even in the lowest of positions with the American Armed Forces, that they could "prove themselves" to the people of the nation that civil rights were warranted.


To read more go to Jack's Weblog at:

http://library-thing-thing.blogspot.com/



The adventure continues....

Posted on Sunday 22 of April, 2007 [14:46:00 UTC]

Hello:

My first book, Captain Otway Burns And His Ship Snap Dragon, has seen a continuous growth in sales over the past six months. Not less than three more confirmed direct descendents have been identified through book signing events. Lectures and newspaper articles have also been a highlight in promoting the adventurous life of Captain Burns.

Currently, I am now conducting historical research on the earliest years of three southeastern North Carolina towns: Richlands, Swansboro, and Topsail Island (numerous small villages). So far I have located official documents that state that their histories, in part, date back to c.1720. I am looking for photographs and documents pre-1900s. If you have some let me know, I can copy them for my research.

My first attempt doing a short story, based in part on local southeastern history, is currently being reviewed by an editor. The first of three parts, the book will cover the life of a southeastern slave freed during the War Between the States (American Civil War), joins the Union Army fighting against southern views, and then returns to southeastern North Carolina after the war.

Simbar (not his real name) lived to be over one hundred years old and in his life he experienced an array of social changes within the United States.

Be on the lookout for the first part of this short story coming out in late January 2007.



To learn more about my books or historical research achievements visit my other primary internet sites at

http://www.lulu.com/jackrobinson(publisher site)

or,

http://library-thing-thing.blogspot.com (Web log site).

or,

http://www.jackrobinsonbooks.com (personal Web site)

Visit the Internet site below to read my Ezine articles dealing with historical preservations:

http://www.topsail-island.info/columnist/authorbios.php?xauthor=23&fname=Jack&lname=Robinson


...........................

Posted on Sunday 03 of December, 2006 [16:11:14 UTC]

I have started a new research project dealing with little known histories that relate to Swansboro and Topsail Island, North Carolina. I believe there is a great deal of historical material that needs to be reintroduced to the local citizens and tourist who visit these two unique and historically important communities.

A researcher can not develop a project for every piece of forgotten history that is found, misplaced or forgotten for decades, that sounds interesting or intriguing. Promoting these types of histories, hopefully, will allow the reader or listener to seek more information on the rediscovered material.

I came across such an extended historical topic while conducting a preliminary research project on the early years of Swansboro, North Carolina. A personal letter written by an American prisoner of war during the War of 1812 caught my attention.

What intrigued me most was that this individual was not a military person fighting for his country but rather, only a passenger on a vessel from France to the United States.

The following is an excerpt James Doolittle's account of his capture:

"On the 12th March 1813 I sailed from L'Orient, passenger on board the Brig Ducornau, of and for New York, Henry Davis Master. On the 14th we were captured after a chase of eight hours, by his Britannic Majesty's Sloop of War Pheasant, John Palmer, Esquire Commander and carried to Plymouth. Captain Palmer & his officers treated us all with the greatest possible politeness, attention & humanity. We arrived to Plymouth on the 16th, but did not disembark until the 20th. When we landed, Captain Palmer consented that Captain Davis, his mate and myself should remain in the town a few more days until Captain Davis should go through the necessary formalities of making protest &c. before we delivered ourselves up at Mill prison. This is an indulgence which rests with the Commanders of ships of war on their own responsibilities and is generally, thou not always granted to masters, mates, supercargoes & passengers.

On the 27th we delivered ourselves up to Captain Pellowe at Mill prison as a preliminary to being paroled. Here it may be well to observe that not a person can be paroled, or permitted to proceed to Ashburton without passing one or more nights in Mill prison, & when they depart are compelled to take a place in the stage at their own expense."

Mr. Doolittle's letter goes on to discuss various aspects of his captivity. He writes in great detail of prisoner treatment, manipulation of policy, and his obvious discontent of being labeled a "Prisoner of War" when in fact he was only a civilian passenger on a vessel.
_

Captain Otway Burns, a War of 1812 Privateer who hailed from Swansboro and New Bern, North Carolina faced similar faintness from the general public. The book I wrote on his life, Captain Otway Burns And His Ship Snap Dragon, explores this nearly forgotten man's exciting and adventurous life.

(to read more about this project)

Posted on Friday 06 of October, 2006 [16:21:27 UTC]

I wanted to let everyone know that after I previously initiated requests in July and August, Beaufort (NC)Mayor Ann Carter and commissioners on September 11th declared a Proclamation for a "Captain Otway Burns Day." The date will be October 25th, 2006. This is his date of death.

I also submitted material to Michael Easley, Governor of North Carolina, in regards to Captain Burns’ state and National contributions during the early 19th century. After reviewing the provided data Governor Easley wrote a letter to the direct descendents of Captain Burns that substantiated the significant accomplishments and challenges Captain Burns experienced within his lifetime.

To read more about these significant awards visit one of the following sites:

personal internet site

personal web log

Buy direct from Amazon.com

Posted on Sunday 17 of September, 2006 [15:37:37 UTC]

Listed below are two podcasts that I have done...with the exception of my poor talking skills, the podcasts should prove to be interesting.

The first podcast deals with a lecture that I did on August 14, 2006 when I spoke to a southeastern North Carolina Civil War (War Between the States) reenactment group. This specific excerpt of the lecture discusses the challenges of preserving a family's history.

The second podcast is an except from my first book, Captain Otway Burns And His Ship Snap Dragon. I am not a great talker and this podcasting is new to me but, I believe by working together we can get beyond my talking and into the meaning of the text. It is great reading...

Any comments will be appreciated. Contact me at http://jackrobinsonbooks.com or at http://library-thing-thing.blogspot.com/

Thanks
Jack Robinson
Gysgt., US Marine Corps, Retired


powered by ODEO {Preserving family's history!}





powered by ODEO{Excerpt of Captain Otway Burns book}

Posted on Wednesday 23 of August, 2006 [15:02:20 UTC]

The local newspaper for Swansboro, North Carolina has published a wonderful article on Jack Robinson's fast selling book, Captain Otway Burns and His Ship Snap Dragon.



The staff at Tideland News, an print and on-line newspaper service, is dedicated to promote historical events and news related issues within their articles.

Captain Burns was born and raised in Swansboro during the late 18th Century. During the War of 1812, he was a honored and hunted Privateer (not Pirate) fighting against the British and for the freedoms of American values. Later in life he was a demanding shipbuilder, intiminating businessman, and contriversial state legislator.

To read the article on Jack's book visit
Tideland News.

To learn more about Jack Robinson and his books or historical research achievements visit his primary internet sites at:

http://www.jackrobinsonbooks.com (Personal Internet site)

or,
http://library-thing-thing.blogspot.com (Web log site)

or,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1411676939 (Amazon book sales)


...........................

Posted on Sunday 13 of August, 2006 [11:29:13 UTC]

I have just been informed that the Mayor of Beaufort, North Carolina will issue a county wide proclamation on the behalf of direct descendents of Captain Otway Burns, the topic of my non-fiction book, Captain Otway Burns And His Ship Snap Dragon. His contributions to the city of Beaufort, state of North Carolina, and the Nation itself are noteworthy for such a recognition.

Thank you for taking time to review this announcement. I first contacted the Mayor's office staff about two months ago and requested that they review Captain Burns' service to his town, state, and country to see if a proclamation was warranted.

Drop a line to me if you feel you have a connection to Captain Burns or to the War of 1812.






With Respect,

Jack Robinson
Gysgt., US Marine Corps, Retired

http://www.jackrobinsonbooks.com(Personal Internet site)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1411676939 (Amazon Books)

http://library-thing-thing.blogspot.com/(Personal web log)

Posted on Friday 05 of May, 2006 [21:34:31 UTC]