Major Thomas Leonard, a Veteran of King Philip's War (1675 - 1676), passed away on this day 300 years ago. November 24, 1713 to November 24, 2013 ... a full three centuries since Thomas Leonard passed on. He is certainly a little-known Military Veteran from an extremely overlooked Conflict. In honor of this day, I went into the archive and dug out a court document from the year 1698. Thomas signed it twice. The court case involved a guy named Jabez Pratt. His crime? A little bit of fornication prior to marriage. A very hard to find item from Colonial Massachusetts in the era referred to as the "Pilgrim Century". American documents from the 1600s are exceedingly difficult to locate.
The url of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaG_L4sHVGk
I transcribed it exactly as it was written:
Bristoll Memorandon that on the ffirst day of September 1698 in the tenth year of his majesties reign Jabez Prat of Taunton in said County came before me Thomas Leonard Esquire one of his Majesties Justices for said County and acknowledges himselfe Indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King his heirs & Successor the ffull sum of ten pounds Lawfull money to be levyed on his Estate, Goods & chattels if default herein be made. The condition of this Recognizance is such that if the above bounden Jabez Prat do make his personal appearance at the next Session of the peace to hold at Bristoll on the second Tuesday in October next to then and there Answer before his Majesties Justices for himselfe and his wives committing ffornication before marriage, and abide and per= forme the sentence of the Court then this present Recognizance to be voyd and of no force, or else to remain in its ffull fforce strength and virtue. The said Jabez Prat was bound as above said Coram me Thomas Leonard Justice
Jabez Pratt above named confessed matter of fact Two Notes: 1.) Coram is Latin for "Before" or "In The Presence Of". 2.) The final sentence was written in another hand.
It is July 27, 2013 and today is the 60th Anniversary of the Armistice that ended the Korean War. In honor of the day, I visited several Monuments/Memorials dedicated to the Veterans of the Korean Conflict. The cities that were on my Korean War Memorial Tour were Oaklyn, Audubon, Haddon Heights, Haddon Township and Collingswood. I had a huge surprise in Haddon Township when an actual Combat Veteran of the War showed up!
While I was filming at the fourth Memorial, a car pulled up and out stepped the Veteran! He saw me by the Memorial and stopped his car so he could talk to me! As you will see, he walked into the view of the camcorder and started talking about his time in the War! Totally unscripted, unplanned and impromptu! I was and still am blown away! Very, very, very incredible!
I was initially a bit bewildered because the man who pulled up in the car was wearing a Korea Veteran hat and a Korea Veteran shirt and he appeared to look under 80 and under 70. In my mind I thought he looked way too young to be a Veteran of the Korean War. As it turns out, he is 84 years of age! Here is my documentary video for the 60th Anniversary:
Here is the url for the above video (in case it does not embed properly): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBOn94Fi__E
Here are photographs of each town ...
Oaklyn:
Audubon:
Haddon Heights:
Haddon Township:
Here I am with Leo Tocco ... one of very few remaining Korean War Combat Veterans in the area:
Collingswood:
I felt it was very important to observe this day and to remember the sacrifices and struggles of those involved in the Korean War ... the Service Personnel who returned home and the Service Personnel who did not return home. We must keep them all in our hearts and in our thoughts.
It is July 21, 2013 and the American Civil War Sesquicentennial continues. On this day 150 years ago, Daniel McCook of the Fighting McCooks, passed away. He was wounded two days prior near Buffington Island, Ohio during Morgan's Raid involving Confederate General John Hunt Morgan. Daniel McCook had twelve children ... three daughters and nine sons. All nine sons signed up with the Union Army and three of those sons died in combat. His brother and a number of his brother's sons were involved in the conflict as well.
It is very important for me to point out that Daniel McCook was 65 years of age when he was killed in combat ... certainly way above the average age of someone involved with the conflict. He was a Major and Paymaster and he was specifically given the role of Paymaster due to his age.
This blog entry is my personal tribute to Daniel McCook ... a man who gave his life for a cause that he believed in.
In this video, I am holding a Court Of Common Pleas document that dates to the year 1840 and was signed by Daniel McCook: Here is the url for the above video in case it does not embed properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9fb2RP2So
Thank you Daniel McCook and thank you to all of you out there who are watching and reading.
On
this day 150 years ago, Camp William Penn was inaugurated and the
first Members of the United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.), the Black
Soldiers of the Union, arrived. In honor of the day and in honor of the
overall Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, I travelled to
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, the location of Camp William Penn, to
commemorate this occasion. That iron gate you see is all that remains of
the Camp. That gate is a century and a half old!
Unfortunately I could not record any video footage due to the
heavy rain. I look to return to this site very, very soon.
In this video, I showcase a copy of a Baltimore Patriot Newspaper from June 11, 1813 ... exactly 200 years ago today. It contains War Of 1812 News specifically the Battle Of Fort George. This is very special and very apropos for the War Of 1812 Bicentennial. You will note references to Colonel Winfield Scott, Major Benjamin Forsyth, Major General Morgan Lewis and Major General Henry Dearborn. Advertisements fill the front page including one advertisement about a stray cow and a "coloured" man!
Here is the url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWuX-HAMcfw Photographs ...
There you have it ... a newspaper with first-hand accounts of the War Of 1812 from the very day it was printed and published ... literally two centuries ago!
My Friends: I have a very special tribute for you this evening. On this day, 20 years ago, Jimmy Weston, lead vocalist of The Danleers, passed away. His voice can be heard on the big hit "One Summer Night", no doubt one of the quintessential songs that epitomized the Doo Wop Era.
June 10, 2013 ... two decades since the passing of Jimmy Weston. Gone. Certainly not forgotten.
I never got to see The Danleers in concert and, to me, that is very unfortunate. Very sad.
The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li6vGLZ9SIs
Here I am with an original pressing of the single for "One Summer Night" (released in 1958):
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