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THE FAUNSDALE CONNECTION REUNION
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The Faunsdale Connection Reunion is a reunion comprised of descendants of slaves from a plantation in Faunsdale, Alabama called "The Faunsdale Plantation" Our family historian and professional genealogist, Mary Jones-Fitts discovered that these slaves were originally from a plantation called "Somerset Place" in Creswell, NC and owned by Josiah Collins, I. After Josiah Collins died in 1829, the slaves were divided, and were inherited by Louisa M. Collins, the grandaughter of Josiah Collins, I. Louisa married Thomas A. Harrison, and Dr. Harrison took Louisa's 80 slaves and moved to what is now known as Faunsdale, Alabama. He then returned later to bring Louisa to Faunsdale, Alabama.
After tracing our ancestors back to Somerset Place, in 2005 she, solely, put together a reunion in which we toured the Faunsdale Plantation which is on the National Register for Historical Places, and its slave cemetery. The plantation is still in the Collins family and the great-great grandaughter of the of Louisa Collins Harrison.
In 2007, again Mrs. Jones-Fitts put together a 4 day reunion that allowed us to tour Edenton, NC, where Josiah Collins had his homestead and Somerset Place (an Historic Site for North Carolina) and the plantation where our ancestors worked and lived before they were removed to Alabama in 1843.
The highlight of this reunion was on Friday, July 13th, and Saturday, July 14, 2007. On Friday, Dorothy Redford, Director and also a descendant of Somerset slaves, guided us on a tour of Edenton, NC and the home and the grounds of Josiah Collins' homestead house. On Saturday, July 14, 2007, Ms Redford allowed the Faunsdale Connection Reunion descendants to have their picnic on the grounds of the plantation, Somerset Place. Ther were an assortment of activities to choose from which included basket making, rope making, candle making, making gourds, and most of all touring the "big house", the slave hospital, slave cabins, the kitchen, and other outbuildings that are either original or have been restored. Not only were descendants from Alabama there, but we also met other relatives who were also descendants whose ancestors were left behind when separated by the division of slaves.
This is only a brief story of the Faunsdale Connection Reunion's history tour. There is so much more to tell. Currently, Mrs. Jones-Fitts is writing a book about the research she has done, and the plantations in our ancestor's lives.
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By: Mary Jones-Fitts
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