On October 7, John and daughter Michelle attended the Kings Mountain Commemoration. One of his ancestors fought in this battle that was a major defeat for the British. John led the closing prayer for this event, and he read one of President George Washington’s prayers for our country. Captain John Ingle, my John’s fifth great grandfather, led 82 men up that mountain in 1780 to defeat Patrick Ferguson and his men. What a victory that was for the Patriots!
While he was at Kings Mountain, I told a few stories about the Charles Moore family who was one of the first families in Spartanburg County. They built Walnut Grove Plantation and were staunch Patriots during the Revolutionary War. Besides meeting new readers, I was able to visit with a special young lady and her daughter. As always, it was a fun day at Festifall.
The following Saturday, we traveled to the Laurens County Museum for the South Carolina Genealogy Society state meeting. They asked four South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution storytellers to share one of our Revolutionary War heroines. I told one of the stories about Jane Black Thomas of Spartanburg County. Jane, three of her daughters, her twelve-year-old son, and her son-in-law defended her home against 150 British militia. And they sent the enemy packing!
October is also a birthday month for my book on Elizabeth Jackson, the mother of President Andrew Jackson, who was the only President born inn South Carolina. It was ten years ago this month that “Brave Elizabeth” had her debut at the Little River Coffee Bar in Spartanburg. Along with their choice of coffee,
the guests enjoyed Moravian sugar cakes from Winston Salem. Since I wrote about this Moravian settlement in this book, it seemed the very best dessert to go with coffee on a crisp October day. Elizabeth, unknown to many, raised her three sons alone during the Revolutionary War and taught them the importance of God, family, and country.
This year, the SC USD 1812 presented this book with the USD1812 – Spirit of 1812 Award, for preserving the history of the people of the War of 1812. (Thank you, Merianna Harrelson, publisher of “Brave Elizabeth,” for being there to help celebrate Elizabeth’s story.)
For seventeen years, John and I have enjoyed every moment of our learning about our families and the South Carolina Revolutionary War families. We are amazed and delighted that we continue to make new memories. Thank you, for being part of our memories on this journey!
“So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.” Helen Keller
Sheila Ingle 