Friday, July 30, 2010

251 Years Ago

Yesterday afternoon I walked through the family graveyards with my four grandchildren. Within just a few hundred feet we visited the graves of their great-grandparents, all the way back to their great-great-great-great-great-grandparents. We talked about seafarers, merchants, and life savers...and wives, mothers, and children.

Just this morning I realized that it was on this very date, 251 years ago, that William Howard, Sr. purchased Ocracoke Island from Richard Sanderson, Jr. Sanderson inherited "the Island of Ockrecock" in 1733 when his father died. Several weeks ago I met a direct descendant of Richard Sanderson, Jr. I could only offer my condolences!

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the 1913 wreck of the 6-masted schooner, George W. Wells. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news072110.htm.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous8:25 PM

    Philip, I have been catching up reading your blogs and am so enjoying the wonderful stories you shared about your grandchildren's visit to the island. I could almost hear the laughter and screams of delight!

    Indeed, you are a blessed man! All the incredible FUN those kids had on Ocracoke for two weeks during this summer will become priceless memories....the kind they will pass on to their grandkids one day!

    I'm envious...of all of you!

    Don't ever take such fantastic days like you've had with your grandchildren for granted. (I suspect you cherish each one.)

    After all,those memories become the tapestry of life my friend!

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