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From:
Anne Pemberton <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:47:16 -0400
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Tom,

I think you are confusing Francis Jennings with Gavin Mensies. Jennings 
books have been around longer and are, at least to my estimation, are 
serious works in history and archeology.

Jennings,  like Charles Mann, and Farley Mowat examined evidence directly on 
the sites they write about.

And, an aside on Farley Mowat. If I remember correctly what I read, the 
sites he found in Canada are not in the databases of sites tested as yet. 
Therefore they would not be included in any blanket statement that say that 
no such sites have been found in North America. Not all possible sites have 
necessarily been tested. Therefore, it is more accurate to say that we do 
not YET have hard evidence of pre-columbian european occupation on North 
America. Certainly, all possible sites have not been tested, so stating with 
any certainty that there are NONE, NOT ONE, is a mistatement of fact.

Just as in the case of Madison Hemings, we cannot say with certainty that he 
LIED, we can only say with certainty that we have been unable to corroborate 
SOME of his statements. We cannot say with certainty that the elderly slaves 
from Monticello were in error when they said they say TJ and Sally having a 
relationship. We just haven't heard from as many people as say they heard 
the liberty bell ring. Was it likely that the Jefferson's deliberately 
concealed the relationship? They would have had both motive and opportunity. 
Why did not Sally herself announce her partner to the world after he passed 
away? Maybe she did! Not so much in words to be quoted, but in her daily 
devotion to his grave. Not all history is written in plain English.

Anne


Anne Pemberton
[log in to unmask]
http://www.erols.com/apembert
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org 

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