Somerset Homecoming: Recovering a Lost Heritage

by Dorothy Spruill Redford, Michael D'Orso

In 1860, Somerset Place was one of the most successful plantations in North Carolina--and its owner one of the largest slaveholders in the state. More than 300 slaves worked the plantation's fields at the height of its prosperity; but nearly 125 years later, the only remembrance of their lives at Somerset, now a state historic site, was a lonely wooden sign marked "Site of Slave Quarters."

Somerset Homecoming , first published in 1989, is the story of one woman's unflagging efforts to recover the history of her ancestors, slaves who had lived and worked at Somerset Place. Traveling down winding southern roads, through county courthouses and state archives, and onto the front porches of people willing to share tales handed down through generations, Dorothy Spruill Redford spent ten years tracing the lives of Somerset's slaves and their descendants. Her endeavors culminated in the joyous, nationally publicized homecoming she organized that brought together more than 2,000 descendants of the plantation's slaves and owners and marked the beginning of a campaign to turn Somerset Place into a remarkable resource for learning about the history of both African Americans and whites in the region.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Memoir, African American

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1988

Reviews

[Tom Tallmadge · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of history, I really enjoyed this novel.Most of us have some interest in our families roots, but few have the stamina to search so industriously,as the author. Kudos to her, for a great book.

[Kym Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read for the summertime.

[Kim Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was told by a church member that his relative wrote the book. So I purchased 3 copies online (3 different published companies. All in "good" condition. 2 soft covers. 1 autographed. 1 contains picture of the author and Alex Haley). I can relate to the book because my family is from North Carolina as well and the same county. In addition, Mrs. Redford's maiden name is the same as members of my family. I hadn't made a connection, while I am also tracing my family tree. As I read the book, I was excited by the mentioning of the town from where my family lives. The story is very detailed. Therefore the description of the places mentioned helped me to be able to know exactly where the author visited. Names mentioned throughout the book are the same as names I've heard when I was growing up and visiting N.C. I enjoyed the book. I go back and read parts of it. When I found out Mrs. Redford wrote an additional book, Generations of Somerset Place, I purchased that as well.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I’d read this book sooner. I’ve had it on my to be read shelf since my last visit to Somerset in 2021 for their annual Christmas open house. The author was an amazingly tenacious researcher & her passion for discovering her family’s roots just pours off the page. I was dismayed to read online last night after finishing this book that she passed away just this past fall. I would have loved to have met her! I live in Eastern NC & have been all over the Creswell/Columbia/Pea Ridge area. And of course I’ve been to Somerset several times over the years, so this book was especially fascinating to me. I know many white folks from the area with the same last names as some of the black families…Spruill, Phelps, etc., & that makes me want to call them all and tell them to read this book! It was the perfect mix of history & memoir with the most wonderful example of something beautiful arriving from such horror for the most amazingly happy ending. I wish I’d read it 10 years ago!

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a marvelous book written by a very smart women (with author Michael D'Orso) about finding her heritage after her daughter had asked so many questions about where "she came from." The author spent 10 years researching her family's history while being a single mother and working full time. It was such an interesting read - not only about her life but about all the other lives she found out about along the way. Redford must have had boundless energy because after writing her book, and pulling together a "homecoming" for all the relatives she found and having it be so successful, she went to work for Somerset, as it had been set aside as an historic State park, until she retired from there. Ms. Redford was an astonishing, capable woman who made others lives so much richer after they found out who their family members were.

This is definitely a "must read" book!

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Somerset Homecoming is a terrific tribute to the enslaved families that lived on a alabama plantation, where the author's ancestors were also kept. The book clarifies her background, interests, and skills used to identify the enslaved people through deeds and other records to prove her findings.

I also enjoyed how the author researched everyone's line so that she could connect with descendants of each identified family that had ancestry there. Then she made her findings available to others. Her research is a testament to what is possible when you get hands-on deeds, conduct deep research, and walk the places your ancestors walked. This is a great book, and I highly recommend it for genealogist, historians, and anyone who loves a great story.

[Jane Terebey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent A very readable account of how a woman learned of her personal roots as well as the history of the slaves at Somerset Place. Somerset Place was one of the largest plantations in North Carolina and is now a State Historic Site within Pettigrew State Park in Creswell, North Carolina. We recently camped at the park and visited Somerset Place which piqued my interest. (Unfortunately, the vision the author had of the reconstruction of slave quarters on the property has not been completely fulfilled.)

A worthy contribution to our understanding of the lingering repercussion of slavery in today's society.descript

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorothy Spruill Redford was a woman on a mission. She wanted to trace her roots. She haunted archives, putting in thousands of hours to find her answers. I was mesmerized by this book. I applauded the author for her determination and perseverance. I loved all the family history she discovered. I did get lost with some of the descendants, but enjoyed reading about them. These kinds of books are some of my most favorite to read.

[Kristin Polseno · Rating 5 out of 5]

The research this woman completed is truly unbelievable. Not only did she research her ancestry but she went on to rebuild the slave quarters that had been torn down. “...One by one, of the same size and shape and on the same spots where they originally stood. People will walk into them as they can now walk into the Collins mansion. And they will know who lived here.”

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I happened to be reading this book, then I remembered my husband had just visited Somerset Plantation in NC.
Thank you so much to Dorothy Spruill Redford for all the research you did and for bringing the story of enslaved people forth so they are not forgotten.
Well, written and has a good pace.

[Carolyn Pulley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons: the style in which it is written is like listening to my grandparents tell their stories, the familiarity of so many places and scenery described, and a continuing growth in my understanding of black history and the history of the places I call home.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I found it at a local consignment store, not realizing quite what I was buying. When I picked it up to read, I was totally engrossed. Ms. Redford did an amazing job tracking down her relatives with very little to go on. My mother was the family historian and I was never interested in her research. To me it was just names and dates and it just wasn't interesting. Ms. Redford made the names and stories of her people come alive. I'm amazed at what she was able to piece together and the fact that she was able to make the reunion come together is pretty darn cool. My daughter's 4th grade class made a stop very late in the day at Somerset Plantation 2 years ago. We weren't able to tour the house, just the grounds. I wish I had had this book before we went. I plan to go back and pay more attention to what's around me at Somerset. Thanks so much for writing this, Ms. Redford!

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book, an amazing story, and a testimony to the power of perserverance. _Somerset Homecoming..._ tells the story of Dot Redford and her unflagging efforts to see the words "enslaved persons" reinserted into the interpretive histories shared with visitors at historic sites across the plantation south. Just as important, the willingness of descendants of former owners and enslaved workers at North Carolina's Somerset Plantation to hold joint family reunions, is a testimony to the power of honesty and candor in addressing matters relating to race and other historical ills--both at our nation's historic sites and in the hearts of its citizens. This is a great book, a great success, and anyone interested in history, museums, or heritage interpretation should be familiar with this site, these brave families (past and present), and Ms. Redford's remarkable legacy.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having to return Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles to the Library without finishing, (I barely started it. Really long book I could'nt find time to read) I picked up this old favorite of mine. It is a true story inspired by Alex Haley's search for his roots. Dorothy Spurill Redford (a decendant of slaves) has some great insight about the turmoil of the 60's and about the slave culture. I highly recommend this book.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I started reading it yesterday afternoon and finished this afternoon. It was a fast read. I'm into genalogy and finding the stories of my family. It was very interesting and heart warming to read another woman's account of what she went through to put her family puzzle together.

[Larry Lamar Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Redford made the connection to her roots in a North Carolina plantation where one can still see the canals her ancestors dug and the houses they built in the early days of slavery. I have visited the site, and her book and research made what was there almost comprehensible, and helped to bring the people in this book to life for me.

[Kenneth Kwame Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out these two books by Dorothy Spruill Redford http://www.amazon.com/Dorothy-Spruill...

She found out that almost everyone in her region of NC was originally from this one plantation Somerset Place.