Stones of Poynton Manor – Thomas Stone

When we think of the men who gathered that hot July day in 1776 to put their signature on the foundational document of the Declaration of Independence, many notable men come to mind. But each of the fifty-six men who signed were equally putting their lives on the line, whether they were notable or not….

The Stones of Poynton Manor – Governor William Stone

The Stones of Poynton Manor in Port Tobacco, Maryland, like their name are much like building stones that became part of the foundation and structure of America from its early colonization to its expansion in the west. Poynton Manor, located on the shore of the Potomac River in Maryland, is the ancestral home and birthplace…

Discovery and Loss of the Puritan Poet: Rev. Edward Taylor

Reverend Edward Taylor’s original manuscripts of unpublished poems and writings sat quietly on a shelf in the library of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The descendants of Edward Taylor were given strict instructions by Rev. Taylor himself not to publish his works.  His poems written in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s were personal…

Pilgrim Swept Overboard!

“I’ve got to go topside to fill my lungs with some fresh air,” thought agitated John Howland to himself as he began to climb the ship’s ladder up to the main deck. Water sloshed around his ankles and storm tossed waves splashed down on him from the hatch above. The Mayflower rocked back and forth…

Savagery in the Susquehanna – Frederick Stump (Part 1)

Depending on which account one reads about the life of Frederick Stump, he was considered a notorious “Indian killer” who was never brought to justice, or he was a feisty, German tavern owner and distiller of rum who successfully overcame insurmountable odds, more than once, when he found his life in shambles. The controversy surrounding…