https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:29:45 +0000 MyBB https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5159.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:06:15 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5159.html
I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Elizabeth "Elsabet" Kaplan. I am both Dr. Mudd's great-great-granddaughter and first cousin, six times removed, of President Lincoln's Aunt Mary (Mudd) Lincoln; she was Mordecai Lincoln's wife.

I joined the Symposium a couple days ago. When I did so, I wrote to Roger and told him who I am because I wanted to be certain he admitted me. I'm not just some weirdo, although my husband Brian might beg to differ.

This morning, I received Roger's request, asking me to post what I'd written to him. Here is the substantive portion of my email:

"I registered with the Symposium a moment ago. You won't have heard of me before, most likely. Stella (Mudd) Thelen is my mother. Tom Mudd is obviously my uncle. Richard Mudd was my grandfather, and I primarily grew up at his home. So obviously Sam Mudd was my great-great-grandfather. I am writing a book about what it has been like being part of this family.

When I was about 12, I learned Dr. Mudd had slaves. I didn't really want to know much more than that. But I loved my grandpa, so I sometimes went to his speeches. I was living in Virginia and working in DC when the DC appellate court heard the case on the ABCMR review. So I went with my family to the hearing. My experience of that situation was a bit different; I was in the Pentagon Metro station trying to go to work when the plane hit the building on 9/11. I well-understood the government's need to end terrorism in DC as promptly as possible. I was torn, as you can imagine.

Last September, 2025, I was nearly done writing a memoir about overcoming amnesia from a traumatic assault in 1987. I decided to investigate my great-great-grandfather's situation, certain of his guilt. I'd passed the Ohio bar and worked for a short time as a criminal defense attorney. I'd also worked for a US inventor who supplies engineering services to NASA and the USAF; I took charge of helping them stop an international criminal conspiracy and was successful. So I bring something new to the table.

I am currently conducting my own investigation into my ancestor's story, unbiased as much as possible because I truly do want to know what happened. I want to understand my family's penchant for hiding secrets because I believe that led, in part, to my amnesia."

---

That was my email. I was sure of Dr. Mudd's guilt when I started reading about him in an investigative fashion last September. I thought it might take me about a day or so to learn all I needed to know. I started out by reading "Blood on the Moon" because I figured that was a good intro to the other side of the story. But it left me with more questions than answers. I'm now well into my third read-through of the trial transcripts and numerous writings. I hope to be done with that this month. I'll probably be done with this umpteenth draft around June. So I'll have a somewhat completed manuscript sometime this fall. Hopefully!

I'm scheduled to speak at the Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table in May of 2027.

I look forward to meeting each of you. Please feel free to introduce yourself. If you have a story to share about my family, I'd love to hear it. Also, if you want to tell me your opinion, I'm open to that too. I'm expecting some people to hate me, some people to be proud of me, and most people to be in the middle.]]>
I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Elizabeth "Elsabet" Kaplan. I am both Dr. Mudd's great-great-granddaughter and first cousin, six times removed, of President Lincoln's Aunt Mary (Mudd) Lincoln; she was Mordecai Lincoln's wife.

I joined the Symposium a couple days ago. When I did so, I wrote to Roger and told him who I am because I wanted to be certain he admitted me. I'm not just some weirdo, although my husband Brian might beg to differ.

This morning, I received Roger's request, asking me to post what I'd written to him. Here is the substantive portion of my email:

"I registered with the Symposium a moment ago. You won't have heard of me before, most likely. Stella (Mudd) Thelen is my mother. Tom Mudd is obviously my uncle. Richard Mudd was my grandfather, and I primarily grew up at his home. So obviously Sam Mudd was my great-great-grandfather. I am writing a book about what it has been like being part of this family.

When I was about 12, I learned Dr. Mudd had slaves. I didn't really want to know much more than that. But I loved my grandpa, so I sometimes went to his speeches. I was living in Virginia and working in DC when the DC appellate court heard the case on the ABCMR review. So I went with my family to the hearing. My experience of that situation was a bit different; I was in the Pentagon Metro station trying to go to work when the plane hit the building on 9/11. I well-understood the government's need to end terrorism in DC as promptly as possible. I was torn, as you can imagine.

Last September, 2025, I was nearly done writing a memoir about overcoming amnesia from a traumatic assault in 1987. I decided to investigate my great-great-grandfather's situation, certain of his guilt. I'd passed the Ohio bar and worked for a short time as a criminal defense attorney. I'd also worked for a US inventor who supplies engineering services to NASA and the USAF; I took charge of helping them stop an international criminal conspiracy and was successful. So I bring something new to the table.

I am currently conducting my own investigation into my ancestor's story, unbiased as much as possible because I truly do want to know what happened. I want to understand my family's penchant for hiding secrets because I believe that led, in part, to my amnesia."

---

That was my email. I was sure of Dr. Mudd's guilt when I started reading about him in an investigative fashion last September. I thought it might take me about a day or so to learn all I needed to know. I started out by reading "Blood on the Moon" because I figured that was a good intro to the other side of the story. But it left me with more questions than answers. I'm now well into my third read-through of the trial transcripts and numerous writings. I hope to be done with that this month. I'll probably be done with this umpteenth draft around June. So I'll have a somewhat completed manuscript sometime this fall. Hopefully!

I'm scheduled to speak at the Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table in May of 2027.

I look forward to meeting each of you. Please feel free to introduce yourself. If you have a story to share about my family, I'd love to hear it. Also, if you want to tell me your opinion, I'm open to that too. I'm expecting some people to hate me, some people to be proud of me, and most people to be in the middle.]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5158.html Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:35:14 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5158.html PBS News Hour
Judy Woodruff: “Over the years, many presidents have been depicted as kings, including Abraham Lincoln, who during the Civil War suspended habeas corpus, a person's right to challenge their own detention.”

News and Announcements -- The chief justice takes a swipe at JD Vance (1-2-2025)

President Abraham Lincoln defied the Supreme Court, and most importantly the Chief Justice:

Team of Rivals, page 354-55:

Receiving word that the mobs intended to destroy the train tracks between Annapolis and Philadelphia in order to prevent the long-awaited troops from reaching the beleaguered capital, Lincoln made the controversial decision. If resistance along the military line between Washington and Philadelphia made it "necessary to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus for the public safety," Lincoln authorized General Scott to do so. In Lincoln's words, General Scott could "arrest, and detain, without resort to the ordinary processes and forms of law, such individuals as he might deem dangerous to public safety." Seward later claimed that he had urged a wavering Lincoln to take this step, convincing him that "perdition was the the sure penalty of further hesitation."

Lincoln had not issued a sweeping order but a directive confined to this single route. Still, by rescinding the basic constitutional protection against arbitrary arrest, he aroused the wrath of Chief Justice Taney, who . . . blasted Lincoln and maintained that only Congress could suspend the writ.

Lincoln later defended his decision in his first message to Congress. As chief executive, he was responsible for ensuring "that the laws be faithfully executed." An insurrection "in nearly one-third of the States" had subverted the "whole of the laws . . . are all the laws, but one, to go unexecuted, and the government itself go to pieces, lest that one be violated?"

"So very difficult a matter is it to trace and find out the truth of anything by history." -- Plutarch]]> PBS News Hour
Judy Woodruff: “Over the years, many presidents have been depicted as kings, including Abraham Lincoln, who during the Civil War suspended habeas corpus, a person's right to challenge their own detention.”

News and Announcements -- The chief justice takes a swipe at JD Vance (1-2-2025)

President Abraham Lincoln defied the Supreme Court, and most importantly the Chief Justice:

Team of Rivals, page 354-55:

Receiving word that the mobs intended to destroy the train tracks between Annapolis and Philadelphia in order to prevent the long-awaited troops from reaching the beleaguered capital, Lincoln made the controversial decision. If resistance along the military line between Washington and Philadelphia made it "necessary to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus for the public safety," Lincoln authorized General Scott to do so. In Lincoln's words, General Scott could "arrest, and detain, without resort to the ordinary processes and forms of law, such individuals as he might deem dangerous to public safety." Seward later claimed that he had urged a wavering Lincoln to take this step, convincing him that "perdition was the the sure penalty of further hesitation."

Lincoln had not issued a sweeping order but a directive confined to this single route. Still, by rescinding the basic constitutional protection against arbitrary arrest, he aroused the wrath of Chief Justice Taney, who . . . blasted Lincoln and maintained that only Congress could suspend the writ.

Lincoln later defended his decision in his first message to Congress. As chief executive, he was responsible for ensuring "that the laws be faithfully executed." An insurrection "in nearly one-third of the States" had subverted the "whole of the laws . . . are all the laws, but one, to go unexecuted, and the government itself go to pieces, lest that one be violated?"

"So very difficult a matter is it to trace and find out the truth of anything by history." -- Plutarch]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5157.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:59:58 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5157.html
The new installation had been announced during the Biden administration, with the goal of having them on view before the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this July.

After logistical delays and changes in leadership during the Trump administration, they were quietly installed last week in new marble cases a few steps away from the Declaration, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

New York Times reports today (April 1, 2026)]]>
The new installation had been announced during the Biden administration, with the goal of having them on view before the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this July.

After logistical delays and changes in leadership during the Trump administration, they were quietly installed last week in new marble cases a few steps away from the Declaration, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

New York Times reports today (April 1, 2026)]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5156.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:36:10 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5156.html
Mr. John Dillion (an Irish nationalist leader who protested the British response to the 1916 Easter Rising. ) May 11 1916 House of Commons

" ... there has been no rebellion or insurrection put down with so much blood and so much savagery as the recent insurrection in Ireland. Go back to the history of any insurrection in any modern civilised country. Take the great rebellion in America, which lasted for three years, and which had not one tithe of the excuse which these Sinn Feiners could advance. A million men lost their lives and a vast amount of property was destroyed. When the insurrection was over I do not think Abraham Lincoln executed one single man, and by that one act of clemency he did an enormous work of good for the whole of the country. "

Mr Dillon obviously made some minor errors , but his point was that Lincoln made a good decision by not executing many Confederates after winning the War.]]>
Mr. John Dillion (an Irish nationalist leader who protested the British response to the 1916 Easter Rising. ) May 11 1916 House of Commons

" ... there has been no rebellion or insurrection put down with so much blood and so much savagery as the recent insurrection in Ireland. Go back to the history of any insurrection in any modern civilised country. Take the great rebellion in America, which lasted for three years, and which had not one tithe of the excuse which these Sinn Feiners could advance. A million men lost their lives and a vast amount of property was destroyed. When the insurrection was over I do not think Abraham Lincoln executed one single man, and by that one act of clemency he did an enormous work of good for the whole of the country. "

Mr Dillon obviously made some minor errors , but his point was that Lincoln made a good decision by not executing many Confederates after winning the War.]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5155.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:40:45 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5155.html https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5154.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 17:14:56 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5154.html
I enjoyed this book as most biographies of Mary Lincoln don't spend much space on her life after Lincoln's assassination. Maybe because most of that time was a very troubling time filled with sorrow, grief and suffering. Mary lived 17 unhappy years after his death.

Her love for Mr. Lincoln is very obvious, and we see how totally lost she is with out him. Many of her decisions, events and situations, turn out badly for her because he was not there to help and protect her. In spite of this Schreiner does an excellent job telling how she dealt with the situations she finds herself. Through her letters we can see and understand why she acted the way she did and how her own family was troubled by her behavior. They didn't understand her and didn't know quite what to do with her. To a certain extent they didn't want to take the time to help her until they felt were forced to. We can see what a determined woman Mary is when she is forced to, she's no dummy, but the tragedies in her life finally overtake her.

Schreiner does a good job defending Mary and showing how Robert, overwhelmed with how to take care of her, makes some poor decisions and his actions alienate her for the rest of their lives. You will see Mary in a much more favorable light.

I recommend this book if you have the slightest interest in Mary Lincoln. You also will get a slightly different look at the Lincoln's relationship and marriage.

The print is of a good size and it is easy to read. It flows well, there are a few places where it gets a little detailed and dry. Later in the book these sections will help fill in the gaps in understanding Mary's "irrational" behavior.

The book is available on Internet Archives to borrow. It helps to read parts of it if you are not sure if you want to purchase your own copy.
https://archive.org/details/trialsofmrsl...3/mode/2up

It's an inexpensive book, and several used copies in very good condition are available for less than $10. You'll get your moneys worth. I give 4.5 stars out of 5stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Trials-Mrs-Lincol...378&sr=1-1]]>
I enjoyed this book as most biographies of Mary Lincoln don't spend much space on her life after Lincoln's assassination. Maybe because most of that time was a very troubling time filled with sorrow, grief and suffering. Mary lived 17 unhappy years after his death.

Her love for Mr. Lincoln is very obvious, and we see how totally lost she is with out him. Many of her decisions, events and situations, turn out badly for her because he was not there to help and protect her. In spite of this Schreiner does an excellent job telling how she dealt with the situations she finds herself. Through her letters we can see and understand why she acted the way she did and how her own family was troubled by her behavior. They didn't understand her and didn't know quite what to do with her. To a certain extent they didn't want to take the time to help her until they felt were forced to. We can see what a determined woman Mary is when she is forced to, she's no dummy, but the tragedies in her life finally overtake her.

Schreiner does a good job defending Mary and showing how Robert, overwhelmed with how to take care of her, makes some poor decisions and his actions alienate her for the rest of their lives. You will see Mary in a much more favorable light.

I recommend this book if you have the slightest interest in Mary Lincoln. You also will get a slightly different look at the Lincoln's relationship and marriage.

The print is of a good size and it is easy to read. It flows well, there are a few places where it gets a little detailed and dry. Later in the book these sections will help fill in the gaps in understanding Mary's "irrational" behavior.

The book is available on Internet Archives to borrow. It helps to read parts of it if you are not sure if you want to purchase your own copy.
https://archive.org/details/trialsofmrsl...3/mode/2up

It's an inexpensive book, and several used copies in very good condition are available for less than $10. You'll get your moneys worth. I give 4.5 stars out of 5stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Trials-Mrs-Lincol...378&sr=1-1]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5153.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:57:32 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5153.html Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
Mar 11, 2026, 08:43 ET

ELKTON, Md., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 27, 2026 Maryland auctioneers Alexander Historical Auctions, known internationally for their sale of historic letters, documents, and relics will be offering at auction an amazing discovery made by a young Lincoln scholar: a pair of eyeglasses worn by the slain 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. The glasses were once attributed to Lincoln's son, but the young man's dogged research has proven them to have belonged to Abraham Lincoln himself.

The same auction will feature the historic large flag which covered the body of President Ulysses S. Grant from the time of his death until its arrival for burial in New York. It was given to the family of the man who donated to Grant the cabin in which the president would ultimately pass.

Details and photos:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases...10429.html]]> Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
Mar 11, 2026, 08:43 ET

ELKTON, Md., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 27, 2026 Maryland auctioneers Alexander Historical Auctions, known internationally for their sale of historic letters, documents, and relics will be offering at auction an amazing discovery made by a young Lincoln scholar: a pair of eyeglasses worn by the slain 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. The glasses were once attributed to Lincoln's son, but the young man's dogged research has proven them to have belonged to Abraham Lincoln himself.

The same auction will feature the historic large flag which covered the body of President Ulysses S. Grant from the time of his death until its arrival for burial in New York. It was given to the family of the man who donated to Grant the cabin in which the president would ultimately pass.

Details and photos:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases...10429.html]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5152.html Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:09:27 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5152.html
Rich Hill was the home of Samuel Cox, a Confederate agent in southern Maryland. It is where JW Booth and his accomplice, David Herold, went after leaving the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd after Lincoln's assassination. Cox secreted the assassins, and waited for an opportunity to get them across the Potomac (and that is another conversation). For years, Rich Hill was on private property, viewable only from afar, and the house was about ready to fall down. Mike Mazzeo seized the opportunity to rescue and restore the house.

Another piece of the Lincoln assassination and the Booth escape has been restored. This is the press release:


The Historical Society of Charles County and the Friends of Rich Hill are excited and proud to announce that Historic Rich Hill is finished!



Rich Hill will be opened beginning the first weekend in April, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm, and every weekend thereafter through the first weekend in December!



IT TOOK A VILLAGE



First and foremost, we could not have finished this project without our phenomenal Steering Committee: Michael J. Mazzeo, Jr., Mary Pat Berry, Ronald G. Brown, Joyce Candland, Carol Donohue, Edward B. Edelen, Jr., Thomas Pike (deceased), Debra Scoggins, Dave Taylor, Cathy Hardy Thompson, Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management; Esther Doyle Read, Charles County Archaeologist; and Laurie Verge, (deceased) of the Surratt House Museum.



To our remarkable contractors who made things happen, thank you: The Ottery Group, Inc.; Robert Silman Associates; Garner Construction, LLC; SE Davis Construction, LLC (Sue Davis, Jeff Holt, Joe Rieman); Lawrence Abell & Associates LTD, (Lawrence Abell, Doug Norway); Chuck DiNatale; Tim Gilbert; Next Level Contracting, LLC, (Tony Catena); TMG Capitol Construction, LLC, (Tyler Gallo); and Edinger’s Carpet & Flooring.



We could not have funded this project without a Bond Bill from the State of Maryland sponsored by Senator Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., (deceased), the Historical Society of Charles County, Inc., many donations from the Friends of Rich Hill and funding from the following grants: Charles County Heritage Commission, Charles County Tourism, Civil War Roundtable of the District of Columbia, Commissioners of Charles County, the Maryland Historical Trust, the Maryland Humanities, Preservation Maryland, Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, the Society of Colonial Wars in Maryland and the General Society of Colonial Wars.



Grateful appreciation to our partners for their continued support: Advanced Architectural General Contracting, the African American Heritage Society of Charles County, Charles County Antique Arts Association, the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, the Charles County Garden Club, the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission, Charles County Tourism, Commissioners of Charles County, Dr. Samuel Mudd Society, Farm Heritage Conservancy, General Society of Colonial Wars, Lady Jane Sewell Chapter, Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, Maryland Historical Trust, Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriots Park, Port Tobacco Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Preservation Maryland, Shore United Bank, the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Maryland, Southern Maryland Civil War Roundtable, Southern Maryland Heritage Areas Consortium, the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, the Surratt Society, the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco, the Thomas Stone Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution and the Wallace Bowling Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans.



To Jessica Jennings of the Baynet, thank you for the incredible publicity for Rich Hill. Your articles are amazing!



And a very special heartfelt thanks to all those volunteers who worked diligently for four days and more to make Rich Hill ready to open to the public: Kevin Barry, Rick Boggs, Polly Boggs, Debra Bowling, Garth Bowling, Carol Donohue, Ned Edelen, Joe Gleason, Lee Gootee, Denise Grote, Sandy Harrison, Karl Hense, Kim Hense, Jackie Holson, Benjamin Martinez, Mike Mazzeo, Kathy Quimby, Debra Scoggins, Barbara Spears, Dennis Spears, Mary Vance, Brian Wedding, Terri Wedding; Brandon Burton and his team with Charles County Parks & Grounds.





And finally, with grateful appreciation to the person who had the vision of restoring Rich Hill and who initiated the entire project: Dr. Brad Gottfried, then President of the College of Southern Maryland, (now retired). Thank you!








DSC_0003
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4.2 MB]]>
Rich Hill was the home of Samuel Cox, a Confederate agent in southern Maryland. It is where JW Booth and his accomplice, David Herold, went after leaving the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd after Lincoln's assassination. Cox secreted the assassins, and waited for an opportunity to get them across the Potomac (and that is another conversation). For years, Rich Hill was on private property, viewable only from afar, and the house was about ready to fall down. Mike Mazzeo seized the opportunity to rescue and restore the house.

Another piece of the Lincoln assassination and the Booth escape has been restored. This is the press release:


The Historical Society of Charles County and the Friends of Rich Hill are excited and proud to announce that Historic Rich Hill is finished!



Rich Hill will be opened beginning the first weekend in April, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm, and every weekend thereafter through the first weekend in December!



IT TOOK A VILLAGE



First and foremost, we could not have finished this project without our phenomenal Steering Committee: Michael J. Mazzeo, Jr., Mary Pat Berry, Ronald G. Brown, Joyce Candland, Carol Donohue, Edward B. Edelen, Jr., Thomas Pike (deceased), Debra Scoggins, Dave Taylor, Cathy Hardy Thompson, Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management; Esther Doyle Read, Charles County Archaeologist; and Laurie Verge, (deceased) of the Surratt House Museum.



To our remarkable contractors who made things happen, thank you: The Ottery Group, Inc.; Robert Silman Associates; Garner Construction, LLC; SE Davis Construction, LLC (Sue Davis, Jeff Holt, Joe Rieman); Lawrence Abell & Associates LTD, (Lawrence Abell, Doug Norway); Chuck DiNatale; Tim Gilbert; Next Level Contracting, LLC, (Tony Catena); TMG Capitol Construction, LLC, (Tyler Gallo); and Edinger’s Carpet & Flooring.



We could not have funded this project without a Bond Bill from the State of Maryland sponsored by Senator Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., (deceased), the Historical Society of Charles County, Inc., many donations from the Friends of Rich Hill and funding from the following grants: Charles County Heritage Commission, Charles County Tourism, Civil War Roundtable of the District of Columbia, Commissioners of Charles County, the Maryland Historical Trust, the Maryland Humanities, Preservation Maryland, Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, the Society of Colonial Wars in Maryland and the General Society of Colonial Wars.



Grateful appreciation to our partners for their continued support: Advanced Architectural General Contracting, the African American Heritage Society of Charles County, Charles County Antique Arts Association, the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, the Charles County Garden Club, the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission, Charles County Tourism, Commissioners of Charles County, Dr. Samuel Mudd Society, Farm Heritage Conservancy, General Society of Colonial Wars, Lady Jane Sewell Chapter, Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, Maryland Historical Trust, Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriots Park, Port Tobacco Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Preservation Maryland, Shore United Bank, the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Maryland, Southern Maryland Civil War Roundtable, Southern Maryland Heritage Areas Consortium, the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, the Surratt Society, the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco, the Thomas Stone Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution and the Wallace Bowling Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans.



To Jessica Jennings of the Baynet, thank you for the incredible publicity for Rich Hill. Your articles are amazing!



And a very special heartfelt thanks to all those volunteers who worked diligently for four days and more to make Rich Hill ready to open to the public: Kevin Barry, Rick Boggs, Polly Boggs, Debra Bowling, Garth Bowling, Carol Donohue, Ned Edelen, Joe Gleason, Lee Gootee, Denise Grote, Sandy Harrison, Karl Hense, Kim Hense, Jackie Holson, Benjamin Martinez, Mike Mazzeo, Kathy Quimby, Debra Scoggins, Barbara Spears, Dennis Spears, Mary Vance, Brian Wedding, Terri Wedding; Brandon Burton and his team with Charles County Parks & Grounds.





And finally, with grateful appreciation to the person who had the vision of restoring Rich Hill and who initiated the entire project: Dr. Brad Gottfried, then President of the College of Southern Maryland, (now retired). Thank you!








DSC_0003
.JPG
4.2 MB]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5151.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 12:01:53 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5151.html https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5150.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:54:51 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5150.html https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5149.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:53:28 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5149.html https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5148.html Sat, 07 Mar 2026 22:07:48 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5148.html SPRINGFIELD – One of the few surviving dresses worn by Mary Lincoln is now on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
The dress is extremely fragile, so the ALPLM rarely puts it on public display. This is the first time since 2011. The last time before that was in 1985.
Known as the “strawberry dress” for its decorative pattern of berries and leaves, the dress can be seen in the special exhibit “Lincoln: A Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation.”
Read more and see a color image of the dress here.
https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/Ne...ws-detail/]]> SPRINGFIELD – One of the few surviving dresses worn by Mary Lincoln is now on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
The dress is extremely fragile, so the ALPLM rarely puts it on public display. This is the first time since 2011. The last time before that was in 1985.
Known as the “strawberry dress” for its decorative pattern of berries and leaves, the dress can be seen in the special exhibit “Lincoln: A Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation.”
Read more and see a color image of the dress here.
https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/Ne...ws-detail/]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5147.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:01:34 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5147.html Lincoln's Frock Coat: The Enduring Mystery of an Assassination Relic is now available.

Building on the foundation of my earlier work, Lincoln’s Greatcoat, this new volume dives into a long-standing historical debate over three black frock coats given away by Mary Lincoln following the assassination. While all three have been historically claimed as the President’s "death raiment," this book seeks to solve the mystery of which garment is the true relic of that fateful night. 

Moving beyond the anecdotal claims of White House servants, this investigation prioritizes the forensic evidence found in the written accounts of the two army surgeons (Leale and Taft) who treated Lincoln at the crime scene. Their professional reports provide the vital clues necessary to identify the garment that bears the physical evidence of the fatal wound.]]> Lincoln's Frock Coat: The Enduring Mystery of an Assassination Relic is now available.

Building on the foundation of my earlier work, Lincoln’s Greatcoat, this new volume dives into a long-standing historical debate over three black frock coats given away by Mary Lincoln following the assassination. While all three have been historically claimed as the President’s "death raiment," this book seeks to solve the mystery of which garment is the true relic of that fateful night. 

Moving beyond the anecdotal claims of White House servants, this investigation prioritizes the forensic evidence found in the written accounts of the two army surgeons (Leale and Taft) who treated Lincoln at the crime scene. Their professional reports provide the vital clues necessary to identify the garment that bears the physical evidence of the fatal wound.]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5146.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:03:34 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5146.html

https://www.citizensvoice.com/2026/02/28...n-gallery/]]>

https://www.citizensvoice.com/2026/02/28...n-gallery/]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5145.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:53:45 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5145.html https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5144.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:19:11 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5144.html
"It has long been a grave question whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to maintain its own existence, in great emergencies."]]>
"It has long been a grave question whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to maintain its own existence, in great emergencies."]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5143.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:02:29 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5143.html
"[A]n 8-foot-long, 37-star American flag covered [President Lincoln's] casket during the funeral train tour after his assassination in 1865.

Millions of mourners turned out to pay their respects as the train made its way from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Ill., where Lincoln was interred. Afterward, Maj. Lewis Applegate, an Army doctor, took possession of the flag.

The Applegate lineage kept it for more than a century, and it was eventually turned over to the Museum of Southern History in Florida. In 2024, the flag was put up for sale at a Guernsey’s auction. Tilman Fertitta, the Texas billionaire and owner of Keens, pounced, buying it for a reported $656,250."

Julia Lisowski, the steakhouse’s general manager, stood beside the curtain and faced the guests. “We are thrilled you are able to join us in the Lincoln Room as we confer the Abraham Lincoln Casket Flag of 1865 to its permanent home,” she said.

She recounted how it was made by the nation’s oldest flag maker, Annin & Company, noting that its 37th star existed in anticipation of Nebraska’s statehood. She told of a curator, Rhonda Hiser, who three years ago discovered the flag languishing behind a bookshelf at the Museum of Southern History.

She went on to thank Mr. Fertitta, the restaurateur and casino magnate who bought Keens two years ago, adding it to a portfolio that includes Rainforest Cafe and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Mr. Fertitta, who was not present for the party, also owns the Houston Rockets basketball franchise and serves as the United States ambassador to Italy and San Marino.

Finally, when the curtain was pulled back, the crowd cheered as the majestic hand-sewn flag was revealed. Along its hoist was Major Applegate’s signature and a marking indicating the date of Lincoln’s assassination.]]>
"[A]n 8-foot-long, 37-star American flag covered [President Lincoln's] casket during the funeral train tour after his assassination in 1865.

Millions of mourners turned out to pay their respects as the train made its way from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Ill., where Lincoln was interred. Afterward, Maj. Lewis Applegate, an Army doctor, took possession of the flag.

The Applegate lineage kept it for more than a century, and it was eventually turned over to the Museum of Southern History in Florida. In 2024, the flag was put up for sale at a Guernsey’s auction. Tilman Fertitta, the Texas billionaire and owner of Keens, pounced, buying it for a reported $656,250."

Julia Lisowski, the steakhouse’s general manager, stood beside the curtain and faced the guests. “We are thrilled you are able to join us in the Lincoln Room as we confer the Abraham Lincoln Casket Flag of 1865 to its permanent home,” she said.

She recounted how it was made by the nation’s oldest flag maker, Annin & Company, noting that its 37th star existed in anticipation of Nebraska’s statehood. She told of a curator, Rhonda Hiser, who three years ago discovered the flag languishing behind a bookshelf at the Museum of Southern History.

She went on to thank Mr. Fertitta, the restaurateur and casino magnate who bought Keens two years ago, adding it to a portfolio that includes Rainforest Cafe and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Mr. Fertitta, who was not present for the party, also owns the Houston Rockets basketball franchise and serves as the United States ambassador to Italy and San Marino.

Finally, when the curtain was pulled back, the crowd cheered as the majestic hand-sewn flag was revealed. Along its hoist was Major Applegate’s signature and a marking indicating the date of Lincoln’s assassination.]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5142.html Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:00:43 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5142.html
"I have some articles to post to the Forum in a new post. The first one is from the 26 Feb. 1903 edition of the Enid Wave newspaper which reprints a letter sent to the mayor on the 18th of Feb. The letter was sent by an N. H. George asking for information to locate David E. George, not knowing David had died. N. H. doesn't say if he is a relative of David. But I think this could be a possible lead on the identity of David E. George. Using the address from the letter I was able to identify N. H. as Nelson Harley George a nightime railroad yardmaster in Arkansas City, Kansas. Here's his Find A Grave page:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7302...ley-george

I checked and David wasn't a brother of Nelson, so if they were familiarly related I can't figure out how, even after looking at online trees of Nelson's family. Nelson paid for one of those biographies of himself printed in 1918, I've attached images of that in case some future person comes along this Forum thread and want to do a little research into Nelson's family tree to find a connection if they can. Coincidentally, Nelson's widow would die in Enid herself in 1945 while visiting their daughter."







]]>
"I have some articles to post to the Forum in a new post. The first one is from the 26 Feb. 1903 edition of the Enid Wave newspaper which reprints a letter sent to the mayor on the 18th of Feb. The letter was sent by an N. H. George asking for information to locate David E. George, not knowing David had died. N. H. doesn't say if he is a relative of David. But I think this could be a possible lead on the identity of David E. George. Using the address from the letter I was able to identify N. H. as Nelson Harley George a nightime railroad yardmaster in Arkansas City, Kansas. Here's his Find A Grave page:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7302...ley-george

I checked and David wasn't a brother of Nelson, so if they were familiarly related I can't figure out how, even after looking at online trees of Nelson's family. Nelson paid for one of those biographies of himself printed in 1918, I've attached images of that in case some future person comes along this Forum thread and want to do a little research into Nelson's family tree to find a connection if they can. Coincidentally, Nelson's widow would die in Enid herself in 1945 while visiting their daughter."







]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5141.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:15:10 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5141.html
Among others, the program will feature national media personalities Steve Inskeep and Judy Woodruff, Pulitzer Prize winning author Edda Fields Black, Lincoln Prize winning author Richard Carwardine, musician duo Jay Unger and Molly Mason, celebrated author Walter Isaacson, and philanthropist David Rubenstein.

The symposium will be held at Ford’s Theatre on March 21, 2026 and will be FREE OF CHARGE.

For more information on the program, panel topics, and participants, and for a link to register for the symposium, please visit the Abraham Lincoln Institute’s symposium webpage:
https://lincoln-institute.org/ali-symposium-2026/

Please help the Institute continue to support high quality, Lincoln related programming and consider a donation, large or small, in furtherance of that goal. This year’s symposium is also made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Donations can be made at the ALI website donation page:
https://lincoln-institute.org/donate-ali/]]>
Among others, the program will feature national media personalities Steve Inskeep and Judy Woodruff, Pulitzer Prize winning author Edda Fields Black, Lincoln Prize winning author Richard Carwardine, musician duo Jay Unger and Molly Mason, celebrated author Walter Isaacson, and philanthropist David Rubenstein.

The symposium will be held at Ford’s Theatre on March 21, 2026 and will be FREE OF CHARGE.

For more information on the program, panel topics, and participants, and for a link to register for the symposium, please visit the Abraham Lincoln Institute’s symposium webpage:
https://lincoln-institute.org/ali-symposium-2026/

Please help the Institute continue to support high quality, Lincoln related programming and consider a donation, large or small, in furtherance of that goal. This year’s symposium is also made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Donations can be made at the ALI website donation page:
https://lincoln-institute.org/donate-ali/]]> https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5140.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 18:49:44 +0000 https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-5140.html
"A 217-year-old man has lived through centuries of change, so the most appropriate gifts would honor his history, offer unmatched comfort, or provide deep personal connection, rather than just more "stuff."


Here are the best gift ideas, based on, in some cases, extrapolations from advice for centenarians and history enthusiasts:



1. Personalized & Historical Gifts (Honoring His Time)

Customized Time Capsule/Memory Book: A "My Life Story" journal, or a book documenting major world events that happened during his lifetime.
Historical Letter Subscription: Services like Letterjoy send rare, authentic letters from historical figures (e.g., from the early 1800s).
Framed Historical Map: A map of his birthplace from the year he was born or an early map of a place he loves.
Digitized Family Memories: A digital photo frame, preloaded with thousands of family photos, to act as a window to his past.




2. Comfort & Luxury (Enhancing Daily Life)

Premium Sleep Tech: A smart mattress cover (like Eight Sleep) to regulate temperature, which is often crucial for long-term health and comfort.
Heated Massage Chair or Blanket: To help with joint pain and keep him warm.
High-Quality Sheepskin Slippers: Offering comfort, warmth, and easy access.
Comfortable Reading Gear: A high-quality magnifier or a neck-caddy for books/tablet, and a book light.




3. Experiences (Time > Items)

A "Memory Trip": A trip to a place that held significance in his younger years, arranged with comfortable, accessible transportation.
Intimate Family Concert: A live performance featuring music from his youth (e.g., early 20th-century classical or folk).
Quality Time: A scheduled, quiet, and meaningful afternoon with family, perhaps recording stories to pass down.




4. Health & Wellness (Longevity Focus)

Advanced Diagnostic Membership: A membership to a longevity clinic (like Fountain Life) for proactive health management.
High-End Air Purifier: A HEPA air filter to ensure the cleanest possible air quality.
Nutrient-Dense Food Delivery: A subscription for healthy, easy-to-digest, or gourmet meals.


Summary Recommendation: The best gift is one that shows appreciation for his unique perspective, such as a personalized, handwritten letter book from every descendant or a high-end, customized piece of art reflecting his long life."

Best
Rob]]>
"A 217-year-old man has lived through centuries of change, so the most appropriate gifts would honor his history, offer unmatched comfort, or provide deep personal connection, rather than just more "stuff."


Here are the best gift ideas, based on, in some cases, extrapolations from advice for centenarians and history enthusiasts:



1. Personalized & Historical Gifts (Honoring His Time)

Customized Time Capsule/Memory Book: A "My Life Story" journal, or a book documenting major world events that happened during his lifetime.
Historical Letter Subscription: Services like Letterjoy send rare, authentic letters from historical figures (e.g., from the early 1800s).
Framed Historical Map: A map of his birthplace from the year he was born or an early map of a place he loves.
Digitized Family Memories: A digital photo frame, preloaded with thousands of family photos, to act as a window to his past.




2. Comfort & Luxury (Enhancing Daily Life)

Premium Sleep Tech: A smart mattress cover (like Eight Sleep) to regulate temperature, which is often crucial for long-term health and comfort.
Heated Massage Chair or Blanket: To help with joint pain and keep him warm.
High-Quality Sheepskin Slippers: Offering comfort, warmth, and easy access.
Comfortable Reading Gear: A high-quality magnifier or a neck-caddy for books/tablet, and a book light.




3. Experiences (Time > Items)

A "Memory Trip": A trip to a place that held significance in his younger years, arranged with comfortable, accessible transportation.
Intimate Family Concert: A live performance featuring music from his youth (e.g., early 20th-century classical or folk).
Quality Time: A scheduled, quiet, and meaningful afternoon with family, perhaps recording stories to pass down.




4. Health & Wellness (Longevity Focus)

Advanced Diagnostic Membership: A membership to a longevity clinic (like Fountain Life) for proactive health management.
High-End Air Purifier: A HEPA air filter to ensure the cleanest possible air quality.
Nutrient-Dense Food Delivery: A subscription for healthy, easy-to-digest, or gourmet meals.


Summary Recommendation: The best gift is one that shows appreciation for his unique perspective, such as a personalized, handwritten letter book from every descendant or a high-end, customized piece of art reflecting his long life."

Best
Rob]]>