After I mentioned the Vance Song, I had several requests for the words from list members. There are several versions of the song, all written down from memory , usually years after the execution of Abner Vance. This version seems to be the most popular version. The Vance Song Green are the woods where Sandy flows, and peace it dwelleth there. In the valley, the deer, they lie secure,and the red buck roam everywhere. But Vance, no more shall Sandy behold,nor drink of it's crystal wave. The partial judge has pronounced his doom, the hunter has found his grave. The judge, he said he was my friend though Elliot's life I saved. A jury man I did become, that, Elliot he might live. The friendship I have shown to others has not been shown to me. Humanity, it belongs to the brave and I hope it remains with me. It was by the advice of McFarlin Judge Johnson did me call. I was taken from my native home and placed in yon stone wall. My persecuters have gained their quest, they promised to make good. They swore that they would never rest till they had gained my life's blood. There are David Horton, Bob and Bill, a lie against me swore, in order to take my life away that I might be no more. But they and I together must meet when Gabriel's trump shall blow. Perhaps I will rest in Abram's breast while they roll in the gulf below. I killed a man, I do not deny, he threatened to kill me. And for this I am condemmed to die, the jury all agree. But, I and they, together must meet where all things are made known. And if I have shed innocent, I hope mercy will be shown. Bright shines the sun on Clinches hills, so soft the west wind blows. The valley is covered all over with bloom, perfumed with the sweet red rose. But Vance no more shall Sandy behold, nor smell it's sweet perfume. This day his eyes must close in death and his body conveyed to the tomb. Farewell, My friends and children, dear, To you I bid farewell The love I have for your precious souls, no mortal tongue can tell. Farewell, my true and loving wife, to you I bid adieu, and when I reach fair Cannan's shore, I will wait and watch for you. Abner Vance was executed in Abingdon, in the court house yard on 16 July 1819. He is said to have sung this song from the gallows just before he was hung. Grace Dotson

Hello the list, We've had some fine musicians in the family tree. My great uncle is still living and plays the guitar and the banjo. Plays by ear, never learned to read music. I would love to hear from anyone doing research on the CULBERTSON's. I have quite a bit to share but they married a few mysterious ladies whose first names are all I have. Please contact me, or post to the list, if you have any lost or found Culbertson's. My mother was Shirley Ann Culbertson (d.7 Feb 1975) daughter of Harold Burdett Culbertson (d. 8 Sept 1975) I have the Culbertsons back to Scotland. Thanks, Regina Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --part0_921985326_boundary Content-ID: <0_921985326@inet_out.mail.aol.com.1> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII --part0_921985326_boundary Content-ID: <0_921985326@inet_out.mail.aol.com.2> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline From: MDotson973@aol.com Return-path: <MDotson973@aol.com> To: ANGEL329@prodigy.net Cc: SW_VA-L@rootswebcom Subject: Re: music Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 21:58:32 EST Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit The Vance Family Association was formed in 1985, it is well know and well respected in genealogical "circles" and we are all over the web. I can not imagine how you missed us. You can reach us at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vfa then follow the links. The VFA has over 400 members and we will surely welcome you. You will find a membership application on the hp. Grace Dotson --part0_921985326_boundary--

As I was writing to a friend last night, I caught myself usig the expression, "that's a horse of a different color". Now WHERE did that come from? Diane T.

Thank you Eddie for letting these Chat threads run. The Blue Grass and the Coal Mine memories are what make those of us on the west side of the big river, understand SW VA and feel what the rest of you who have actually experienced it, feel. Diana in TX

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------32A56626B221887BF37DB421 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Some of my best memories from childhood are of Blue Grass music. My stepfather was stationed at Andrews Air Force base outside of Washington, D.C. and he and my mother bought a "lot" in a new developement called Shenadoah Shores in Front Royal, Va.(this was around 1961 to 1964). We would plan our summer and go down to the "lot" to clear brush and so forth and drive back to D.C. so we could stop at Whiperwill Lake in Warrington, Va. at the Blue Grass Fesitval. I saw the Osborne Brothers, Flat and Scruggs (and the old bus, the "Martha White Flour") as well as Skeeter Davis and of course the one and only Bill Monroe. I have never forgot those times but till I started reading these messages the last couple of days I had forgot how good they had made me feel and how much I miss living in that area and being in Virginia. Thanks everyone for bring back the feeling --------------32A56626B221887BF37DB421 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="tango2.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Paul Griffith Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="tango2.vcf" begin:vcard n:Griffith;Paul x-mozilla-html:FALSE adr:;;;;;; version:2.1 email;internet:tango2@bellsouth.net x-mozilla-cpt:;0 end:vcard --------------32A56626B221887BF37DB421--

Another sad story - During the depression, a neighbor told my Dad that they Oatmeal for breakfast, Cornmeal for Dinner and Mismeal for Supper.

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Thanks for sharing that with us!! I had never heard it that way before. Also, I wasn't aware of a Vance Family Association and I am the gr.++++grandaughter of Abner and Susanna... Diana Kinzer Heath ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ USGenWeb County Coordinator for: Roanoke Co., Roanoke City & Salem City, VA at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~varoanok/index.html Wood Co., WV at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvwood/indexa.htm Mason Co., WV at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvmason/ Rootsweb Mail List Owner/Admin for: VAROANOK-L@Rootsweb.com WVWOOD-L@Rootsweb.com KINZER-L@Rootsweb.com GRALEY-L@Rootsweb.com MILLER-L@Rootsweb.com GenConnect Surname Boards Admin. for: KINZER, CORNS & MILLER. MY HOME PAGE: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/h/e/a/Diana-K-Heath/ ***Proud Rootsweb Sponsor*** -----Original Message----- From: MDotson973@aol.com <MDotson973@aol.com> To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 10:55 PM Subject: music >Abner Vance who lived on the upper Clinch from 1782-1819 is credited by the >SWVA FOLKLORE SOCIETY as having composed the first song, still in existance, >written west of the Blue Ridge. Sadly this was his death ballad written while >he awaited execution for murder. He was hung at Abingdon and is said to have >sung this song from the gallows just before he was executed. This song is >known as The Vance Song and sometimes as Abner Vance's Death Ballad. >Grace Dotson >Historian, Vance Family Association > > >==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== >#4 Chain letters, gossip, non-genealogical notes, commercial ads, pleas for help, etc. are >PROHIBITED on this List. Violators will be promptly locked out. -sysop >

In 1977 my wife and I visited Southwest Virginia in search of the town of Hagan, Virginia. It is no longer a town, but while there we visited the Scott County, Virginia courthouse. I was amazed to find there were HAGANs all over that general area at one time. I was taken into the courtroom an shown a picture of a prominent HAGAN. The picture was hanging on the side wall of the courtroom.. I was told he was a self made lawyer and that I carried a family resemblance. I was new at genealogy then and did not collect one bit in information about those HAGANs primarily because my HAGAN line, I thought, started in Frederick, Maryland. Is anyone out there researching the HAGAN line in Scott, Lee and surrounding counties? Fred Hagan

Speaking of smelly lunches, my older sister loved paw paws better than anything. She said they must have been the strongest smelling food there was, for when she carried her Bob White Syrup pail in the kids would say, "Teacher, Fern's got them stinkin' paw paws again." My mother went to grade school to her older sister. Mom said she would sometimes get so hungry she couldn't stand it. One day she took a chestnut from her pocket and ate it in class. Sister spanked her, then told her parents and they spanked her too. She said it was years before she could have a good feeling toward the sister again. And she still remembers the incident each time she has a chestnut......eighty-some years later.

"Edgar A. Howard" wrote: > > I must say I love that "high lonesome" tenor of mtn. music and bluegrass. > That was what I meant by hearing with my soul. It just touches me. > I get some real strange looks when I tell people. It must be what the blacks > feel in the jazz and R&B. There is something very basic about it. Like it > tells us who we are. Our roots. ------- Well then, maybe that proves I've a Melungeon ancestor, 'cause I feel both! (Also African, opera, Cajun, German waltzes, etc.) LOL -- - - - Carlyine Ritter Jessee@harborside.com ICQ #9189377 JESSEE, BROWNING, HABRON/HAYTON - SW VA BLACK/SCHWARTZ, PARSONS - Ashe Co NC RITTER, MEIER, VANDER HEIU, SE IA, WA

Hi Everyone, Does anybody remember an old son called " Maple on the Hill"...??? One of my Burke Ancestor's wrote it..I was told.. Pam Researching the following surnames: BURKE, CARTER, PATRICK, WINGO, McGRADY, WIMBERLEY, WITT/WHITT, HENSLEY, ROBERTSON.

When I was little I spent a lot of time with grandma Julia Sheffey Collins. I would like to hide where she was working and listen to her sing because she would never sing if she knew anyone was around. I can remember that the ballads were of the High Lonesome sound and were so beautiful. My grandma was born in Cripple Creek, Wythe County, VA in 1889. I have a photo of her and her family when she was a child in front of this huge rambling pioneer home with an ox standing in the photo. I believe that this was the sound of music of the day and how far back it went, who knows. One scene in the video "That High Lonesome Sound" has this old lady in a scrubby cornfield singing while hoeing corn was so much the memory I have of grandma. Julia Sheffey was the grand daughter of Preacher Robert S. Sheffey Robert Crabtree

I realize I may be making a nuisance of myself, but in talking about bluegrass music and old ballads, it is definitely a part of our heritage. The songs were written for the times and tell about the way people lived. I am reminded that among my own ancestors, mid 1800s, someone composed a short ditty about my gggrandfather and his father-in-law on a hunting escapade in NC. Over the years it became so offensive to family members they went to court to have the people quit singing the song. Judge threw the case out of court. Pat

There's nothing more heartwarming than the old ballads. I remember long before Floyd Cramer recorded his version of "Wildwood Flower", I was going through the house humming it when my dad began singing the words. At the time I didn't even know my dad could sing, but learned he had a wonderful tenor voice. I was so surprised that he knew the song. He said, "Sis, that's not a new song. It goes way, way back. I used to sing that song to your Maw when we wuz' courtin'. " (1912-1915) Sure makes me wanna cry! Background on "Wildwood Flower": "Woody Guthrie and The Almanac Singers used this marvelous tune for their historic song on the sinking of the ship, "Reuben James." No one knows how far back to trace this song. One folklorist believes that the original lyric may have derived from the work of some ancient Greek poet. In any event, the song has wended its way through the folk process into many variations, although it undoubtedly has survived more because of its wild, infectious melody than its fairly mundane lyric." Just another story! Pat

I was acquainted with one of the ladies that started the Bluegrass Music Festival at Lexington, KY, in the mid 1970s. I attended the first festival. That was during the days of liberal freedom, burning of bras, etc., and boy did it show! I nearly put blinders on my 16-yr old son. I felt he was much too young for that kind of sex education-ha! The biggest problem the group had in producing the festival was Weather. It did rain part of the three days. They lost a bundle of money the first year, but made up for it in later years. If any of you are familiar with the McClain Family Singers-mostly gospel music. They got their big start at that first festival in Lexington. Pat O'Neal

Anyone know anything about Falls Mill, VA? Looking for McReynolds that was born and raised there but would like to also know about the area. Thanks.

Does anyone know where of IF I can find a copy of the "History of Tazewell Co. and Southwest Virginia 1748-1920" by William C. Pendleton.

I must say I love that "high lonesome" tenor of mtn. music and bluegrass. That was what I meant by hearing with my soul. It just touches me. I get some real strange looks when I tell people. It must be what the blacks feel in the jazz and R&B. There is something very basic about it. Like it tells us who we are. Our roots. -eddie Dear List, Growing up in Kentucky I cared little for "hillbilly" music and even less for the "high lonesome" tenors singing bluegrass. The accoustic instrumentals of the post-Monroe groups I really enjoyed. I attended many festivals while living in Ohio and Michigan and it was there I met the hammered dulcimer. It was love at first sound. In learning to play this instrument I learned many, many Irish jigs, reels and ballads. I learned an equal number of fiddle tunes. There is no doubt in my mind that Bluegrass evolved from our Celtic heritage. Sue McN. ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #9 As of 2/27/1999 we have 485 members. Traffic can get heavy so check your mailbox often. We should regulate traffic so it don't get out of hand. There is an average of ten members coming and going each week. -sysop "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more."