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Contact Me: bctrissel@yahoo.com
Welcome to the World of Author Beth Trissel
Historical, Light Paranormal, and YA Fantasy Romance Author, plus nonfiction. Avid gardener, farm wife, grandma, and animal lover. The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and surrounding mountains are my inspiration. I'm published by the Wild Rose Press and have my own indie titles.Like Me On Facebook
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Fog hugs the garden this morning but these pictures are from yesterday.I took this short garden video this morning. Lovely bird song. The large pink climbing rose is an old variety called zephirine drouhin. It’s a very fragrant rose I grew especially for mom💔She loved smelling my roses, so I mostly planted fragrant kinds. Still do. Can’t stop the rose madness.I call this my Abraham Darby forest because the roses by that name are huge. It’s my favorite rose. The scent is wonderful.CIVIL WAR TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE SECRET LADY WON BOOK OF THE MONTH!
‘A great read filled with romance and dash of suspense. Fans of time-travel romance won’t want to miss this novel!’
Inspired by Events that Occurred to My Ancestors in the Colonial Frontier
GHOSTLY HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVEL
HISTORICAL/PARANORMAL ROMANCE NOVEL
KIRA, DAUGHTER OF THE MOON WON BOOK OF THE MONTH!
RED BIRD’S SONG
NA HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVEL THROUGH THE FIRE
SHORT STORY–.99 IN KINDLE
HISTORICAL/PARANORMAL ROMANCE NOVEL
HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVEL THROUGH THE FIRE
“A catless writer is almost inconceivable,”~ Barbara Holland
“I know I was writing stories when I was five. I don’t know what I did before that. Just loafed, I suppose.” P.G. Wodehouse
NA HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVEL THROUGH THE FIRE
GHOSTLY ROMANCE NOVEL SOMEWHERE MY LOVE
The Dove of the Holy Spirit
LOGAN FROM HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVEL KIRA DAUGHTER OF THE MOON
BROTHER WOLF
Ask David Book Review Site
NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORICAL ROMANCE RED BIRD’S SONG
High 5 from the Pen & Muse for Historical Romance Into the Lion’s Heart!
White Elk
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."Autumn trees in the Alleghenies
They don’t make movies like this anymore. Sigh.
“Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.” Wesley, The Princess Bride
FOR SOMEWHERE MY LOVE
‘As I read Somewhere My Love, I recalled the feelings I experienced the first time I read Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca long ago. Using deliciously eerie elements similar to that gothic romance, Beth Tressel has captured the haunting dangers, thrilling suspense and innocent passions that evoke the same tingly anticipation and heartfelt romance I so enjoyed then, and still do now.’ ~by Joysann for Publishers Weekly at Beyond Her Book (blog feature now removed)
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- "Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly Away Home"
- "You have a great gift for rhyme." ~Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
- The History and Romance Behind 'Scarborough Fair'~
- Plants the Fairies Like and Dislike
- The Medicinal Value of Native American Plants: Pokeweed
- Poison Hemlock and Some of its Victims, Real and Fictional--Beth Trissel
- Herbs of Colonial Williamsburg and Early America
- Supernatural Tales from Brocks Gap, Rockingham County, Virginia
- Lovely Review for Red Bird's Song
- Old Southern Recipe for Buckwheat Pancakes
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- "Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly Away Home"
- "You have a great gift for rhyme." ~Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
- The History and Romance Behind 'Scarborough Fair'~
- Plants the Fairies Like and Dislike
- The Medicinal Value of Native American Plants: Pokeweed
- Poison Hemlock and Some of its Victims, Real and Fictional--Beth Trissel
- Herbs of Colonial Williamsburg and Early America
- Supernatural Tales from Brocks Gap, Rockingham County, Virginia
- Lovely Review for Red Bird's Song
- Old Southern Recipe for Buckwheat Pancakes
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The Legacy of Old Homes and Actual Site of the First Thanksgiving–Beth Trissel
While doing research for the sequel to my historical romance novel Enemy of the King (postponed after the idea for Somewhere My Love came to me) my mother and I toured several of the lovely old James River plantations. Two of these, Berkeley and Shirley, most influenced the home in Somewhere My Love, ‘Foxleigh.’ While visiting Berkeley, originally called Berkeley Hundred and named after one of its founders, I was especially impressed by the wealth of history behind this beautiful home and stately grounds. That sense of the past just flowed over me, and I particularly remember a kind and informative guide, an older woman. But there were others.
The magnificent terraced boxwood gardens and lawn extend a quarter-mile from the front door to the James River. The mansion itself wasn’t built until 1726, but the plantation’s history reaches much farther back into America‘s roots. I didn’t know that Berkeley was the actual site of the first Thanksgiving in America on Dec. 4th, 1619. Most of you probably don’t either. (*Image from Williamsburg Weekends)
On December 4, 1619, a group of 38 English settlers arrived at Berkeley Hundred about 8,000 acres on the north bank of the James River near Herring Creek in an area then known as Charles Cittie. It was about 20 miles upstream from Jamestown, where the first permanent settlement of the Colony of Virginia was established on May 14, 1607. The group’s charter required that the day of arrival be observed yearly as a “day of thanksgiving” to God. On that first day, Captain John Woodleaf held the service of thanksgiving.
During the Indian Massacre of 1622 nine of the settlers at Berkeley Hundred were killed, as well as about a third of the entire population of the Virginia Colony. The Berkeley Hundred site and other outlying locations were abandoned as the colonists withdrew to Jamestown and other more secure points. After several years, the site became Berkeley Plantation and was long the traditional home of the Harrison family, one of the First Families of Virginia. (*Image from Berkeley Plantation First Thanksgiving Festival)
Benjamin Harrison, son of the builder of Berkeley and the plantation’s second owner, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and three-time Governor of Virginia. William Henry Harrison, Benjamin‘s third son, born at Berkeley, was the famous Indian fighter known as “Tippecanoe,” who later became the ninth President of the United States, in 1841. His grandson, Benjamin Harrison, was the 23rd President.
Many famous founding fathers and mothers were guests at this gracious and elegant estate. For more on Berkeley Plantation and a fascinating glimpse into early America visit: http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/
And if you have the opportunity to visit in person, by all means go.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Benjamin Harrison, Berkeley, Berkeley Hundred, Berkeley plantation, First Thanksgiving, Historical romance novel, James River, united state, Virginia, Virginia colony. Bookmark the permalink.
How interesting. Thanks for the mini history lesson. 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed it.
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Aren’t we fortunate to live so near such important history Beth? Love this mini history lesson, and I may have to go visit Berkeley again. I love the old plantations and like you, the sense of history does indeed flow over you. Goosebumps even!
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Yes indeed, and thanks Jinny.
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Thanx for such a wonderful and informative post, beth. Especially loved the descripion of the plantations. Beautiful!
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Thanks Inion. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
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Beth, once again you wrote a fascinating post. My father’s family are related to the Harrison family, and I have wondered if it THE Harrisons. You’ve prompted me to investigate. Happy Thanksgiving.
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Thanks, and how kewl is that? Yes, do investigate and let us know.
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I wonder why the Berkeley 100 Thanksgiving has never been given its due. Virginia and Eastern North Carolina are probably the only places anyone knew about it. I grew up in the State of Washington. I took US History at Old Dominion University and it was never taught. The emphasis was always on the Plymouth Rock group. It is like First Landing and Jamestown never happened. Virginia history is picked up with near pre Revolutionary history. I knew more about Texas history than any other state besides Washington before I started traveling after high school.
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Thanks for chiming in Ray and sharing that. I totally agree and am trying to make people more aware of the significance and vital importance of Virginian history.
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