Editor, The Smithfield Times: 

Here are some more local history heroes and heroines to add to those John Edwards so eloquently lauded recently (“Tip of the cap to those who’ve chronicled IW history”). 

Thomas Finderson’s 2008 manuscript, “Isle of Wight County, Virginia, and the War of the Revolution in 1781,” is an extensive recounting of local events in that crucial year. His work is being readied for publication by Jennifer England, our county director of historic resources. He has also extensively chronicled the borders of our original land grant patents. 

And Robert Friar, re-enactor and researcher, used Finderson’s work to author “The Militia are Coming in from all Quarters,” which expands the locally centered story of the American Revolution. It is published by and available at the Isle of Wight County Museum. And also Judy Bander, whose “No Borrowed Glory” is based on her research into our county’s “Revolutionary” period 

Brenda Joyner, APVA project chair, respectfully edited Doris Gwaltney’s 100-year update for the 2007 Jamestown Quadricentennial republication of Col. E.M. Morrison’s “1608-1907 Isle of Wight County,” originally written for the Jamestown Tercentennial (300-year) celebration. And “Genealogy Lady” Valerie Schmidt-Wilson for more than a decade now continues to voluntarily transcribe and curate our voluminous court records for public research.

David Sawyer pulled together the extensive research enabling the 2014 IW Museum publication of “The Battle of Smithfield” by the county’s Sesquicentennial Committee. This booklet, edited by England, is also available as a museum publication.

Jane March of Zuni published a three-volume booklet set telling the history of “Zoo-Nye” station along the historic railway line linking the Town Windsor with the rest of the nation. And James O’Briant’s historical research facilitated Windsor’s wonderful 2002 Centennial Celebration. 

John Ericson of Historic St. Lukes has researched and presented the detailed religious and societal history of early Isle of Wight County. Discovering original documents, he has uncovered many heretofore unknown details and facts that confirm our county as one of the most significant of the eight original shires established by the Crown of England after 1607. And Rachel Popp, IW Museum curator, is the researcher behind the recent VA250th publication work.

 

Albert P. Burckard Jr.

Carrollton