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Water and Me

Water and Me

Tag Archives: Eastern Shore

Rev N.J. Tilghman

01 Sunday Mar 2020

Posted by Ronald Parks in Cemetery, Eastern Shore, HISTORY

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Cemetery, Eastern Shore, HISTORY, Research, Snow Hill, Tilghman

If the truth be told, I do miss doing historical research. So, when something of interest comes along, I will see what I can find out. Don’t get me wrong, I love being retired and enjoy doing the things that Kathy and I do. I really don’t have much time for writing and research. So when I can combine research and field trips, well, that makes retirement so much better!

The other day someone passed along to me a booklet: Whence Did The Negro Originate. by NJ Tilghman. My first reaction was – Are you kidding me??

Rear Cover

There are a lot of Tilghman’s down here on the Eastern Shore, but this one says he is from Palatka Florida. Time to do some research on this very odd booklet. Here is the full title page:

Interesting about the above is that the Publisher has been cut off the page (and erased off the rear cover). Without going into a lot of detail about the book I will say this – This guy was crazy! The Readers Digest version: Adam and Eve had Cain and Abel. Cain kills Abel and is cast out into the wilderness where he takes up a wife…Wait!! Adam and Eve had no daughters?? So who became Cain’s wife?? Well according to the Reverend and his “reliable information” Cain married an Orangoutang (his spelling) or Gorilla. He goes on to prove his point which makes absolutely no sense.

Then the question of “What about the Great Flood”? You know, where Noah takes a few million species of animals in a boat? Notes: The N in NJ Tilgman stands for Noah. Also, Tilghman had a son who it appears built a boat that was called Noah’s Ark. So, the booklet goes on to say that “…But Negroes, offspring of Cain and the ape, were not pure men, but unclean and must be preserved in the Ark with the unclean beasts.”

After some more research I found out that Tilghman was originally from the Eastern Shore and is buried at a cemetery in Snow Hill. Kathy suggested a road trip to find it. Looking at the Findagrave website we found it. So off we went.

We placed his little booklet on his headstone. I wonder if after meeting God he “rolled in his grave” as they say??

Here is his Death Certificate. I had to contact the person who posted the grave info to ask about the cause of death. I could not make it out. She said it was “Exhaustion due to Prostatitis, Contributory – Enlarged Prostrate.

Why do obituaries always say nice things about people? His actually glorifies him, 8 years after he wrote this pamphlet. Here are some excerpts: Rev. Noah J. Tilghman (1828-1918), one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Palatka…He was an earnest student of the Bible, and put into daily practice its great lessons of mortality and spirituality. He lived the life of practical Christianity, treating all men honestly and honorably, and so closely following “the golden rule” in his every act and endeavor as to make his example one worthy of emulation. Unbelievable!

A little further research found this information about this spiritual giant!

Source:State Archives of Florida: Series S12, Volume 01, Box 46 Description: Death warrant signed by Governor William S. Jennings. Date: January 16, 1901 Creator: Jennings, William Sherman, 1863-1920 Warrants Florida Boom and Progressive Era (1890-1926) General Note: On December 21, 1901, Governor William S. Jennings signed a death warrant listing Noah J. Tilghman as the man to be hanged. Tilghman’s name had been mistakenly written on the warrant. The death warrant was supposed to be issued for J. B. Brown, an African-American man wrongfully convicted of murdering white railroad engineer Harry E. Wesson. After the debacle with the death warrant, Brown was sentenced to life in prison. In 1913, Brown was exonerated. Tilghman wrote the Governor a few times about this.

After this we decided to roam around Snow Hill. There was some sort of Oyster Festival going on. We went into the Antique Toy store which was fun. Then to a really nice art studio with a wonderful artist named Nancy.

Water tower

Grabbed some lunch at the Down Under carry-out, headed back to Byrd Park, ate and looked for the Goats of Goat Island.

The yellow tag says UMES 1995

A really nice combo road trip and research kind of day!

Leonard’s Pond Kayaking

17 Monday Jun 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Eastern Shore, kayaking, nature

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bridges, Eastern Shore, kayaking, nature, ponds, turtles

Kathy’s friend from many years ago is in town so we asked if she would like to go kayaking with us? Off to Leonard’s Mill Pond we went. Kathy and Lisa strategizing our adventure.

Lisa waiting for us.

As we leave the smaller portion of the pond, where the visitor center is.

Under the bridges of Rte. 13 to the open water of the pond.

Idle canoes and kayaks.

A fork in the road, so to speak. Looking at a map before heading out, the left (north branch) goes to another pond (Williams Mill). That will be our route. The south branch looked like it just fizzles out in the woods.

Waiting to attack.

Heron to the left and unsuspecting kayakers to the right.

At the last minute he flew off.

We’ve never seen this many turtles in one day before.

X-Men Turtle.

The small guy jumped on the big guys back and the big turtle started clapping.

This guy has stuff growing on his back.

The north branch splits up into 2 other branches. The right side was guarded by geese. Lisa took this way. Up a ways you can cross thru to the left side. We went back and forth through the trees.

Kathy used the inflatable kayak again today. I was surprised at how tough it is. There are quite a few semi-submerged branches and trees in the water.

Heading through the trees.

The trees and reflections just sort of merge together. Seems like we are just floating in air.

Up ahead, the end or a new beginning?

Three pipes. Can we fit?

No we can not. But we needed to get out to look at what is on the other side.

Park the kayaks and head up the hill to the road (Williams Mill Road).

Williams Mill Pond. With launch area! New adventures await!

Time to head back.

Some sights along the return trip.

A Ducks Unlimited hidden camera.

Back towards open water.

The wind had picked up and it was a lot of work to get back.

Shipwreck.

Under the highway were a lot of barn swallows. Making it through without incident.

At the launch site.

The map of our trip. It was just over 2-1/2 miles round trip. Great day with a new friend and another new adventure!

Chincoteague

03 Monday Jun 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Eastern Shore, Hiking, National Parks

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Beach, chincoteague, Crabs, Eastern Shore, Hiking, memorial, National Parks, nature

The beach, an island and a memorial.

A bunch of these roaming around.

Holes everywhere.

Plovers.

Horseshoe crab that didn’t make it.

The surf.

Rode through town to the far end of the beach and found a Waterman’s Memorial Park.

People placed pennies and seashells on the marker.

Odd little section of the island. The paths looked to be scrapped up road asphalt.

Nice view though.

Heading back to the car.

C.C. Rider.

Nice day for a mini adventure.

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