In a recent post that suggested a distinction between one Patrick Henry of
Gloucester Co. and the familiar orator born in Hanover Co., I mentioned a
friend's offhand and passing reference to Colonial Williamsburg ....
Neither I nor my friend intended any criticism of CW or anyone else.
The sense in which the passing comment was made (and in which I read it)
was two-fold:
1) that in some 20+ years of research he recalled conflations of the two
men on distant occasion(s) going back who knows how far, and
2) that even authoritative sources and scholars can and did tangle the
Gloucester and Hanover Henrys.
The second sense actually reflects high regard for CW and scholarship, and
I suppose that is what kept me from noticing that anyone would take
offense. Offlist, I have heard that offense was taken, and I apologize.
   As anyone who has tracked a handful of Swen's index citations through
the old issues of the VMHB, WMQ, Tyler's etc. knows, it is terribly
easy for confusion to arise when sources involve people of the same
name. And it is terribly easy for mistaken details to get into print or
circulation and take on a life of their own. Incidently, the
documentary producer whose PR blurb raised the question, cites a highly
respected text book as source. I once found a FIFTEENTH-century quote
to the effect of "To err is human, but woe to anyone who finds himself
in the hands of printers" -- a sentiment  expressed not long after
Gutenburg and movable type!
   I certainly intended no criticism of anyone at CW or of any specific
publication, website, etc. My apologies on that score.


Dr. Jon Kukla, Executive Vice-President
Red Hill - The Patrick Henry National Memorial
1250 Red Hill Road
Brookneal, Virginia 24528
www.redhill.org
Phone 434-376-2044 or 800-514-7463

Fax 434-376-2647

- M. Lynn Davis, Office Manager
- Karen Gorham-Smith, Associate Curator
- Edith Poindexter, Curator

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