On the Banks of the Rappahannock
A captivating story of romance and mystery in colonial Virginia
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
William H. Herndon was Abraham Lincoln’s law partner in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln revealed a secret about his mother to Herndon one day and requested that it remain confidential during his lifetime. His partner kept the secret until twenty-two years after the 16th President was murdered at Ford’s Theatre in Washington. On Aug. 20, 1887, in Greencastle, Indiana, Herndon felt it was time for the world to know the truth about Lincoln’s parentage. He claimed Abe Lincoln told him ten years before he became President, "Billy, I'll tell you something, but keep it a secret while I live. My mother was a bastard, was the daughter of a nobleman so called of Virginia. My mother's mother was poor and credulous, etc., and she was shamefully taken advantage of by the man. My mother inherited his qualities and I hers. All that I am or ever hope to be I get from my mother, God bless her." For over one hundred years, historians have been wrestling with this outlandish revelation. Could what William Herndon claimed have any validity? If so, then why was ol’ Abe’s mother born illegitimately? According to many reliable historians, the 16th President’s grandfather was a planter in colonial Virginia of the gentry class. He lived in the Northern Neck during the eighteenth century. This means that more than likely one of the characters in this historical novel was the “nobleman so called of Virginia” who got Lucy Hanks pregnant and thus became Abraham Lincoln’s grandfather. Other earth-shattering revelations are featured in this book: 1. Thomas Jefferson was challenged to a duel when he was discovered being in bed with another man’s wife. The identity of this childhood friend of the future President is portrayed. 2. George Washington may not have fathered our country if his mother didn’t detest the British Navy. 3. Daniel Boone did not discover Kentucky, but rather Dr. Thomas Walker. All this significant person's vital genealogy and much of his biography is shown in this book.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
This historical novel will travel through the colonial days of the south beginning in 1699 and culminating in 1783 with the struggles of the Revolution. Three U. S. Presidents have ties to the historical characters in this book – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. Mary Ball, mother of the 1st president, is one of the main personalities highlighted. Nancy Hanks, mother of the 16th president, was probably the illegitimate daughter of one of this book’s characters. Thomas Jefferson and his family play a vital role in this historical novel. The main characters of this book will be lesser known but just as significant. These will be the Peacheys, the Glascocks, the Griffins, the Bertrands, the Balls, the McCartys, the Carters, and the Tayloes - all popular names in the eighteenth century on the Northern Neck of Virginia. Others featured are the Walkers and the Gilmers, especially Dr. Thomas Walker, who first discovered Kentucky for the white man. His close ties to President Thomas Jefferson helped promote the formation of the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. Rev. St. John Shropshire and his descendants are highlighted with their ties to the Peach family of South Carolina. This narrative starts during the early development of the Northern Neck of Virginia on the banks of the Rappahannock. With this as its beginning, the book takes its readers back to the immigrant ancestors of its main characters and then carries them forward to future generations. Many of the personalities in this book will be portrayed as they helped fight for the independence of the United States from England and formulate the new nation.
About the Author
John Harding Peach Twenty eight years ago, John adventured into the captivating hobby of genealogy. As he began the search for his own roots, he likewise had the compelling desire to help thousands of others with their genealogical search. Thus, he began writing books sharing the results of his research with thousands of his readers. After nine published books, John has written this composition as his first historical novel. This resident of Knoxville, Tennessee received his Master's Degree from Liberty University and has spent his lifetime as a pastor, a counselor and a genealogist. He has three daughters and four grandchildren. The other books published by this author: THE PEACH TREE DIGEST, 1985 (now out of print) THE PEACH TREE HANDBOOK, Vol. I, So. Carolina Branch, 1986 (now out of print) THE PEACH TREE HANDBOOK, Vol.II. So. Maryland Branch, 1988 THE PEACH TREE HANDBOOK, Vol.III, Marblehead Branch, 2000 THE PEACH/PEACHEY MIGRATIONS, 1066-1990 A.D., 1991 THE PEACH GENEALOGIES, Vol. 1, 2003 THE PEACH GENEALOGIES, Vol. 2, 2004 THE PEACH HEROES, 2009 THE PEACH/PEACHEY BRIDGES, Vol. I, 2010 Books can be ordered directly by writing to: John H. Peach, 221 Geronimo Rd., Knoxville, TN 37934