First visit to my Martin ancestors, in the deep woods of Fairfield County, SC

On Sunday afternoon, in the pouring rain, Elizabeth and I accompanied Jackie Peden from Fountain Inn and Mark Paden from Hampton County to the old Martin-Aiken cemetery on Jackson Creek Road, in Fairfield County, S.C. We had come to see the graves of our ancestors Robert and Rebeccah Martin, who settled on this land around 1771-1772. They came from County Antrim, Ireland, with many other Scots-Irish Presbyterians seeking freedom and economic opportunity. Rebeccah was buried in her adopted land in 1793. Robert was interred with her in 1811.
Their sons Edward and David served in the partisan militia of Fairfield County. Edward was captured by the Tory militia in 1780 and threatened with hanging. But the partisan forces defeated his captors in a battle at Bratton's farm, and freed Edward.
Edward's sister Rebecca, probably just 4-6 years old when she sailed with her family to America, married my ancestor Alexander Peden, who had arrived in America from Ireland with his family at the age of about 15. They lived in southern Greenville County. Alex also fought in several battles with the Spartan Regiment of partisan militia, including the battle against Tory forces at Musgrove's Mill on the Enoree River.

This photo show me on the left, and Jackie Peden under the umbrella, with the gravestone of Robert Martin between us. Behind us is the grave of David Martin, Robert's son, and also our ancestor through the later marriage of Peden and Martin cousins.

Rest in Peace, Dan Foster, my old friend

Dan Foster died yesterday. He wrote sports columns for The Greenville News for 52 years. He was a good friend who always encouraged me in my career. He set an amazing example with hard work and determination to get a story, with a passion for telling the truth, but with compassion for the impact his story would have on people.

I will miss him.

Wood for winter fires

Excellent article on exploring Roman France

Travel
Roman France
By ELAINE SCIOLINO
Published: May 17, 2009

From amphitheaters and aqueducts to sarcophagi and statuary left behind by the conquerors, a hunt for what was once Gaul reveals traces of Roman civilization throughout the countryside.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/travel/17romfrance.html

I'll be interviewed on YOUR DAY radio show May 14

Your Day radio schedule for week of May 11, 2009

CLEMSON -- The following Your Day radio programs from Clemson University Radio Productions are scheduled to air on South Carolina ETV Radio for the week of May 11, 2009. The program airs from noon to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Listeners can call in during a “live” show by using the toll-free phone number: 1-888-539-8859.


THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2009

Water resources and the US Geological Survey. Donna London, director of the Jim Self Center on the Future talks with Chief Hydrologist Dr. Robert Hirsch of the US Geological Survey, who participated in the 2008 SC Water Resources Conference.

Citrus Greening Disease. Peter Kent talks with Dr. Christel Harden, assistant head of the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry about the dangers of citrus greening disease.

A World War II experience. Roy Scott visits with Jim Hammond, author of Tom’s War: Flying with the U.S. Eighth Army Air Force in Europe, 1944.

For more information visit http://yourday.clemson.edu.

Greeting spring

The last frost appears to be history. Tomato plants are in the ground. There's grass to be cut.

It will be nice to see the end of the pollen season, and watch the green leaves grow to maturity.

So much has changed around the family's Greenville County (former) farm. Fresh deer tracks appear in the yard and garden overnight. There were no deer in the area when I was growing up there. We have turkey in the woods. The woods between the house and lake are a wonderful sanctuary for birds and other wildlife.

I planted four Shumard oaks, which are now beginning to put on their spring leaves. There's a little Johnny Appleseed in me; I like planting trees.