A few years ago, with many genealogical facts in hand, I made a research trip to the Eastern Shore of Virginia in search of a place my ancestors helped settle when they first arrived on America’s shores around 1638. At the time, the land on Old Plantation Creek was being developed as Bay Creek Golf Resort and we were able to drive out to the actual spot where my ancestor’s plantation was located.
Compelled to write her story
When we reached the area, I stood on the actual ground on Old Plantation Creek where my direct ancestor, sixteen-year-old Mary Wilson, settled with her new husband. While standing there, I realized that Mary may have stood on the same ground and probably had the same view of Old Plantation Creek that I was now viewing. I was suddenly filled with emotion. I felt compelled to tell her story and the story of how her descendants made their way to Bibb County, Alabama.
I knew many facts about Mary’s life from all the research I had done, but I that would not be sufficient. I had to tell her life story with the emotions and feelings she must have experienced, instead of simply writing a compilation of the facts which surrounded her life. Mary’s story was my first venture into the genre of historical fiction.
Ancestors seemed to guide me
When I returned home, I started writing with enthusiasm. The story line developed quickly and the characters became very real and alive to me. At times, my ancestors seemed to guide me and I couldn’t type the words fast enough.
While doing the historical research necessary for such a project, I was continually astonished by the many facts that I had never been aware of before—especially in regard to religious freedom in the early days of America, and many of these were included within my ancestor’s story whenever possible.
John Cottingham (1707-1723) home on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Inspired by real people and real events
Since my ancestors’ story is typical of many families who migrated to Alabama from the same area, I decided to present it as a historical fiction series and include many other families who resided in the Eastern Shore community.
The result is my series, Tapestry of Love, a series that was inspired and includes the names of actual people and/or events that occurred on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware around 1638. I imagined much of their life so it is a fictional account, but I included many true historical facts and events within the storyline. The Appendix at the end of each book delineates fact from fiction by each chapter.
The second series, The Cottinghams begins with the first book, Discordance, and continues my family line with direct Cottingham ancestors who eventually migrated to Bibb County, Alabama.
Revel-West House in Accomack County, Virginia (Library of Congress) The Revel and West families are mentioned in Tapestry of Love Series
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Ribbon of Love (Book One) is about Mary Willson and the Pattenden’s life in 1638 America
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Faith & Courage (Book Two) continues with Ambrose Dixon’s family
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FreeHearts (Book Three) is about the Dixon’s and their children, especially the Cottinghams
Discordance – The Cottinghams – is the first book in The Cottingham series
Hungar’s church, Northampton County, Virginia – There has been a church on Hungar’s Creek since the early 1600s. This church is mentioned often in my Tapestry of Love Series but this is not the original building.
All of the books can also be purchased as Ebooks or paperbacks) on Amazon.com through the links below/
Tapestry of Love
Series on Amazon.com
- Ribbon of Love: 2nd edition – A Novel Of Colonial America: Book one in the Tapestry of Love Series
- Faith and Courage: 2nd edition -A Novel of Colonial America (Tapestry of Love Book 2): Book 2 in Tapestry of Love Series
- FreeHearts: 2nd edition A Novel of Colonial America (Tapestry of Love Series Book 3): Book 3 Tapestry of Love Series
Or All three books from the Tapestry of Love Series can now be purchased in one book.
Tapestry of Love: Three Books In One
The Cottinghams on Amazon.com
Follow the series on Tapestry of Love Facebook page.
P. S. Ask your library and/or local retail store to stock books by Donna R. Causey
When did you start this
Ribbon of Love was first published in 2011.
Thanks for the question.
Donna
Back then a doctor was midevil they called them witches
Yea, they now live in Utah! Poor Mormans. Actually there was a lot of killing when the Cole family moved out west. They eventually moved further north. All Cole family member’s were related to 3 Cole cousins descended from Constantine the Great or the Krauss family. I think that they were relatives as well.
The religious persecution I refer to in the Tapestry of Love series is to the Quakers. They came to American to get away from religious persecution only to have it occur in colonial America as well. The Mormon religion did not start until the 1820s.
I love everything “Alabama Pioneer” and admire your enthusiasm and efforts. I would love to read your Tapestry of Love book series. I too want to write my history of growing up on a rural Alabama farm and include my ancestors, some of which are Native American. In reading your books, I have a problem–is I have no way to purchase books from Amazon, or any online source….I do not have a charge card and would be afraid to use it if I did. Are your books in the Library, bookstores, drugstore, grocery store, in fact where I can purchase and/or check out to read?
Hi Peggy,
Thank you for your question. Libraries, all bookstores and other retail stores can purchase all the paperback books for you if you request them. All they need is the ISBN number of individual books. Simply print out the description of the book and they should be able to acquire it for you. They may charge a little extra for this service.
If you go to Barnes and Noble or Books a million, they can enter my name Donna R. Causey as a search in their online site and they will see all my books with the ISBN numbers on their websites.
Libraries are beginning to purchase some E-books to borrow as well. My books will be made available at more local stores and libraries if people request them. I am dependent on word of mouth advertising so thank you for asking. Donna
Yes.the devil never rest.
All kinds of persecution took place in this country since inception. No surprise
Judy Norton
Donna Heald
Are either of the two houses you show (WPA photos from the 30s?) still standing?
I believe Hungar’s Church is still standing. I’m not sure about the Revel West or Cottingham houses. The Cottingham photo came from a book.
Thanks for the response. Hungars is still standing, but the houses were of more interest to me. Neither are in the 1999 ed, of The Virginia Landmarks Register. That’s the sad thing about the WPA pix-they show us so many things that are lost. Of course, the images are better than nothing-but the buildings would be better. BTW, I live in Norfolk, VA, just across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay from the Eastern Shore.
David Nolan Rollins
Susan Tate your ancestors….The Cottinghams.
Susan Tate our ancestors!
Thank you so much Pamela Free, for sharing this. This is not too far from me. My ancestors were up here too. I want to get these books! What was your ancestors last name?
Love this house!
Enjoyed the article. BTW, I am 79 years old, and regarding the persecution comments, I do not dwell on “persecution” that sometimes went on in early America. Persecution has been going on since the stone age, and America has always had less than most! I could whine about being teased about my southern accent in a new school when we moved to California (called a hillbilly, etc.), but I just learned to speak like they did and went on about my business! I love my country and appreciate being able to live free and speak free. Let’s don’t let it be taken away!
My people came from Northampton County too. I do find it so interesting how so many lines moved gradually in that same repeated patter. Virginia to N. Carolina to S. Carolina through Georgia to Alabama. How neat that you were able to dig in this deeply and produce historical fiction based on your ancestors.
Thank You for the research and times
Spent on your books I have only pieces
of families history after1640 as this area
Was the place our families settled in 1650
came by ship from England. They are preachers ,Quaker and
Burgesses in Virginia even related to George Washington.
Interesting notes of Families lost , Plantations Serving in the Wars
Native American Indian heritage ,, Whig’s Colonel,
Made grist Mills, farming,Harvard law
Serve. Our Country,
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