Burke’s Garden “Known for its fertility and great natural beauty, the bowl-shaped Burke’s Garden is the highest valley in Virginia. James Burke discovered it during the 1740s while hunting and settled here about 1754. After four years Burke and his family moved to North Carolina, where he died in 1783. The threat of Indian attack […]
And the iGene Award Goes To
Welcome to the 2009 iGene Awards, spotlighting Tonia’s Roots. We’ll be celebrating the best posts of 2009 and presenting awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Documentary, and Best Biography. The nominees for Best Picture are. . . F. M. Kendrick Mariah (Langston) Roberts Mary Elizabeth (McEntire) Hemphill And the winner is. . . Mariah […]
Captured by Indians
In April 1791, Andrew Davidson traveled to Smithfield (Draper’s Meadows) on business, leaving his pregnant wife, Rebecca (Burke), their three small children (two girls and a boy) and two bound children, orphans, at home. A few days after Mr. Davidson’s departure, Rebecca was gathering sugar water from sugar maple trees close to the house, when […]