Dreams about teeth falling out of my mouth are always
unpleasant. Usually, a few days after such a dream, I get a message about
somebody’s passing. When there is blood in the dream + teeth falling out – it
means a message about a relative’s death. No blood in such a dream + loose
teeth = a message about an unrelated person’s death.
Raw meat in a dream, in my case always means somebody’s
illness. If somebody is eating raw meat in a dream, it usually means that persons ailment. The more
meat they are eating in my dream, the more serious the ailment is.
A dream about eating a cake, or someone eating it, is often a message about that person's temporary and less serious state of not feeling well.
When I put raw meat in a freezer or a fridge (in my dream),
later I am informed about a scare related to somebody’s health condition. F I
manage to place that meat in the fridge/freezer, that initial health concern
usually appears just a scare, though.
Not always, my dreams have a sensible meaning, or are a sign
of a message that comes a few days later. Some are just a mystery and remain a mystery. Perhaps, they
might have been my astral and time travels, who knows.
#1 That dream came about two/three years ago. I was on one
of the main streets in my home town. That street (Starowiejska St.) leads from
the city center (situated by the sea) to the railway station. Most buildings in Starowiejska St. are four or five-story houses. In that dream, I knew a huge flood was coming. I was telling
people to go to the roof tops to find shelter as, somehow, I was sure they would be safe there. When the
flood came (from the sea), the wave was higher than a five-story house at the end of the
street, closer to the city center. It flooded the entire street and everybody
who stayed at its lower level. After the flood, in one of the buildings on that
street, a shelter for the flood refugees was established.
This year, there was a severe flood in the nearby county. I
am not sure the dream about the flood in my home town, was related to that
tragic event that took place in Texas. Most probably not.
Before that real life
flood, I had a dream in which I took out of my mouth a half of my broken lower
jaw. The dream experience was very unpleasant. Many people lost their lives in
that county flood, which came a few days later.
#2The scenery and
people in that dream looked like taken from a futuristic movie. We (and many other
people) were resting somewhere in the open air. What I knew - we were not close
to our home. Some men, who looked like "Mad Max" show characters, had rifles/guns.
Everybody waswondering in which
direction they should go, to find shelter.
I said, “ We can’t go to the north,
it’s only decay and destruction there. Let’s hide in the south, it’s safe there."
Hopefully both dream #1 and #2 were just weird dreams not any sort
of premonition.
#3In that dream I could see big neon-like yellow capital letters hanging
in the air in front of myself. The neon sign was:
"SUGGESTED TIME OF DEATH: 2079 VI p.m."
A voice said, “On Friday, in some kind of an accident”.
A message from a paralel world? 2079 is quite far from now. Nevertheless, I would rather not know what the
message meant.
#4We were looking for a new home. Each of the buildings we
visited, had rooms full of people. They were really overcrowded. Finally, we
found a brand new block of flats/apartment hose. There were other people
waiting to see the inside of the house, as well. A few green spirits came and
said they would give us a tour inside the house. When the two of us were
telling our guide how many rooms we would want to have, the spirit told us that
the rooms for us were not ready.
When I woke up,I
thought of the line “There are many rooms in my Father’s house.” I am glad the
rooms for us are not ready, yet.
Dreams about my space travels are a totally different matter.
UPDATE:
Other dream themes and what their meaning according to my dream "experience":
- light red blood in a dream = joy, health/a positive message;
- clear, clean water + good health/ positive events;
lots of hair/hairy legs = most likely some money coming/something positive is "around the corner".
It seems I never mentioned it here. Not far from Boerne, TX, 90 feet below the ground, there is a wonder of nature known as "Cave Without A Name". Full of stalactites and stalagmites, refreshing air and water basins. We visited it for the very first time in 2021, and spent an hour walking in that amazing place. 100% humidity in the cave makes the air easy to breathe and refreshing. The temperature inside the place is moderate and quite pleasant. The time there passed quickly while we were admiring the scenery and listening to stories told by our guide.
Since then, we wanted to come back for a music concert in the cave, which they have every month. Various bands play their music pieces under the ground. We finally went there for the Equinox Concert in September.
Rudi Harst and his band play in the cave three or four times a year. We very much enjoyed their September program. It was something totally different from we had ever experienced, and the acoustic is great in the cave.
During each concert, the light is switched off for about 20 minutes and the Rudiments perform in total darkness. That makes it a form of meditation-like time. With no lights, it is so dark in the cave, you cannot see your own nose or fingers. Some people cannot handle it. The band always announces there would be no light period so anybody who does not like it can move to the section with lights on. There is always somebody who thinks they can manage, but they do not, and, feeling uncomfortable, they make all sorts of noise disturbance during that special performance. Myself, while sitting in the dark and listening to the sounds of the instruments, I felt like a tiny spec in Space.
Last night we were in the Cave again.
This time it was a Winter Solstice concert. It was very enjoyable again. Very Christmassy and very nice - our Christmas treat to ourselves. Despite that, we both liked the September show more, though.
The time of getting and giving presents has come again. Some people may sigh, “Socks again!” or “Another tie?!”, being frustrated about the gift exchange idea, and/or the anticipated item they will be given.
Are you one of those persons? Perhaps, the reason of such frustration is you, not the gifter or the gifts you get.
A lady I know, used to bring me a bar of white chocolate every time we met. The white chocolate gifting lasted long, for about a year. I had no idea why she was giving me it again and again. Finally, I asked her about that. Her answer was, “You like it best, don’t you?”
I found her thoughtfulness wonderful. She believed I loved that treat so she made an effort to get that type of chocolate. Just to please me and make me happy! Finally, I got it, and I appreciated it a lot. Both the gift and her intention.
It did not matter that the lady’s assumption was not exactly correct. Actually, I do not know where she took the “white chocolate idea” from.
It is the intention beyond the gift that matters, not the gift itself. We might never know what made somebody think we would like the item they have for us. Perhaps, this is what they would like to get? We may not understand another person’s mindset regarding the choice of presents. Nevertheless, what we can do is shift our perspective. From the gift to the intention beyond it, and to the exchange of good feelings. The good energy we give each other is often very much underestimated/lost in the process. If you feel upset about the present you are getting, it is because you choose to feel and see things in that certain way. Choose differently!
Stay positive and enjoy the holiday season!
Some people do not like getting cash. They take it as an impersonal attitude of the one who is giving it. Again, change your perspective. Perhaps, the giver wishes to avoid buying you what you do not like? Or is it what hurts, is knowing how much money that somebody intends to spend on the gift for you? Shift your focus! From your ego and from what it is telling you, to the entire occasion and the offering aspect. Well, if you still do not like the cash, send it to me (joking of course).
You may say, “I cannot afford to buy presents/ I have nothing to give to others”. You could not be more wrong. Material gifts are just a symbol of something else. A smile, kind word, a helping hand cost nothing, but can make a difference and turn someone’s dark moment into a lighter and easier one. In that meaning, each of us is full of gifts which are priceless. Give them to others every day, not only at Christmas.
When I heard this Christmas song, I thought, "I know this tune!". However, I had never heard in that version before - with the lyrics turned into a Christmas theme. The recording seemed to be old - sounded like made in the 40s or 50s.
On the Internet I only found a children's version of that Christmas song.
At first, I could not remember what were the words I knew. It was so long ago. I had not sang the song for ages. I recalled myself I taught it to kids in English classes. Then, after a while, only the refrain came back came back, " Yupi, yupi, ya!"
My husband showed me the original version of the song he knew.
"Ok" I said, "It is close, but it is not what I used to sing with kids". the words I taught to children were slightly different.
Later, that same day, I found it, though.
What a coincidence it was to hear the Christmas version of that song. Neither of us had heard that holiday edition before.
I wonder, how many other people would recognize the original tune? I am asking it myself because it has happened persons born and brought up here, did not know popular songs or movies written/made in this country, when we mentioned them. Examples? Some of them: "The Battle of New Orleans" song or "Beetlejuice", the original movie.
Anyhow, it was nice to hear the "Yupi, yupi, ya" tune again.
Joseph G Goodbread has waited long for the post dedicated to him. He was born in 1809, in North Carolina, to Philip R Goodbread and his first wife, whose name is unknown. Joseph’s great-grandfather Philippus Gutbrodt was born in 1725, in Wuertemberg and later, the man emigrated to North Carolina.
There are several land assessment Alabama records which mention Joseph G Goodbread. It was possible that it was ‘our’ Joseph as his family lived at that time in that state.
31 August 1833, Joseph bought 39 acres for $1.25 in Chickasaw township area, Alabama (1).
On 24 November 1834, he purchased 52 acres in Chickasaw township area, Alabama. He payed $65 and received patent for the land on 27 September 1886 (2).
In 1837, Joseph married Miss Susan Johanna E Todd (born in about 1822 in Georgia). She was the daughter of William Henry Todd, Sr. and Martha "Patsey" Holder. Joseph and Susan had a daughter whom they called Mary, she was born in 1838.
Philip’s family came to Texas in 1838.
From July 9 to 10 August 1839, Joseph served with Captain Inman’s Harrison-Shelby County Volunteers, during the Cherokee War in Northeast Texas (3).
After the service, Joseph came back home to Shelby County.
In that time, land certificates were issued in the Shelby County. They were signed by local Land Commissioners. Many important lawyers of the area, who signed the certificates, believed they were good and legitimate because they were issued by the Land Commissioner’s Office.
If I had bought such land grants then, most likely I would have believed they were legal. Probably Joseph did think so, as well as he used them as a payment mean in the transaction with his former fellow Militia man, Albert George. Those land certificates amounted for 46 000 acres.
George on the other hand, allegedly put fake grantees names on the certificates which he received from Joseph.
Later, it appeared that despite the common believe, the land certificates were not legal as they hadn’t been signed by the travelling board of land commissioners appointed by the State.
The information about the deal and land certificates got to Charles W. Jackson, who was originally from Kentucky. He was a man of a dubious character and a criminal record. Jackson used to be a steamboat captain on the Mississippi River. Once, his boat was passing another one (named Ben Sherrod). That boat was in flames and sinking. Jackson did not try to help those people. He passed Ben Sherrod by – its passengers and the boat went down to the river bottom. Afterwards, Jackson moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he ran a store. The man was arrested by a group of men and was to be taken to New Orleans. He managed to escape, though and came back to Shreveport. There was a gun fight between Jackson and those ones who were after him. Jackson killed some of his opponents and fled to Shelby County in Texas. In Texas, the very same man ran for the position of the representative in the Texas Congress. He failed, though, and he blamed land speculators for that.
Jackson wrote letters to the General Land Office in Austin and other persons in Texas, and Louisiana . He also wrote one to Joseph Goodbread. The exchange between the two men was not pleasant, the least to say. Both man were agitated. Joseph wrote to Jackson telling him to mind his own business, otherwise, as Joseph said, he would kill Jackson.
On 20th September 1840 (4), Charles Jackson came to Shelbyville. When he approached Joseph, he was sitting on his horse while Goodbread was sitting on the ground. During the dispute, Joseph apologized for what he had written in his letter and the hasty words. Goodbread also stated he was unarmed. Despite that, Jackson kept demanding that Joseph would stand up. When the latter finally did, Jackson shot him dead. There was a witness of that encounter - Mr. Ephraim M. Daggett saw and heard what happened, and he later described that in his memoirs.
Soon after the incident, Jackson organized a group of men who were called Regulators. Officially, their purpose was to stop crime. Practically, however, Jackson got that group together to protect himself from Goobread’s friends and relatives, who were expected to retaliate after Joseph’s death. Thus, the Regulators first target, were Joseph Goodbread’s allies.
To make the long story short, Capt. Jackson was taken to trial on 16 July 1841 (7), in Harrison County. Jackson chose trial by Jury. The Judge by the name of John Hansford, was under enormous pressure. Hansford’s father-in-law, Joshua Prewitt, was murdered by the Regulators on 4 July. The old man was killed in in the presence of his daughter, Hansford’s wife. If it was not enough, 150 armed men, friends of Jackson, surrounded the court during the trial. It all led to Jackson’s indictment.
A contra group was organized by those who were against the Regulators. They were known as Moderators, and that is a subject to be talked about in a later post.
In the following months of the same year, Charles W. Jackson was shot dead by Moderators. It happened when he was on his way to Logansport.
Clipping source:Cruger & Moore.Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 41, Ed. 1, Wednesday, September 8, 1841, newspaper, September 8, 1841; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48150/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
The two homes mentioned in the clippings were the homes of James Strickland and John McFadden. Regulators burned the dwellings of those families and forced the wives and children out in the cold weather. Strickland and McFadden were called "outlaws" in the above clipping. Apparently, the newspaper editor either supported Regulators, or was afraid of their retaliation. As the previous events showed, it was not safe to openly condemn or oppose to the Regulators' actions.
Albert George was elected a sheriff in 1841. He was not present at the Jackson's trial. Another man by the name of George was (first name Hezekiah). Judge Hansford tried to arrest and prosecute murders of Joshua Prewitt, with no success, though. At the end of 1841, he was to be impeached by the Senate. Hansford resigned before it happened.
Clipping source:Whiting, S.Daily Bulletin. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1, Thursday, December 30, 1841, newspaper, December 30, 1841; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80081/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
Clipping source:Whiting, S.Daily Bulletin. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 26, Ed. 1, Wednesday, December 29, 1841, newspaper, December 29, 1841; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80080/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
At the end of the year 1844, John M. Hansford was shot dead by Regulators.
Clipping source: Moore, Francis, Jr.Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 11, Ed. 1, Wednesday, February 28, 1844, newspaper, February 28, 1844; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth78039/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
Clipping source:Moore, Francis, Jr.Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 12, Ed. 1, Wednesday, March 6, 1844, newspaper, March 6, 1844; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth78040/: accessed December 5, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
Joseph’s widow, Susan Eleonor married Mr. Alfred M. Truitt, who was a Moderator and was present at the Jackson’s trial. More about Albert another time..
Sources:
1. "United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6JN8-VC9G : Fri Oct 31 09:02:26 UTC 2025), Entry for Joseph Goodbred, 31 Aug 1833.
2. "United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:62X9-JC8B : Fri Oct 31 11:03:10 UTC 2025), Entry for Joseph G Goodbread, 24 Nov 1834.
3. Savage Frontier: Rangers, Riflemen, and Indian Wars in Texas, Volume 2, 1838 – 1839, by Stephen L. Moore, p 275.
4. Texas State Historical Association. The Texas Historian, Volume 35, Number 5, May 1975, periodical, May 1975; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391259/: accessed December 3, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.
5. Yoakum, H. (Henderson K.), 1810-1856. History of Texas: From Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846, Volume 2, book, 1855; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2386/: accessed December 3, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.
6. Texas Gulf Historical Society. The Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, Volume 1, Number 1, November 1965, periodical, November 1965; Beaumont, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1433634/: accessed December 3, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Gulf Historical Society.
7. East Texas Genealogical Society. East Texas Family Records, Volume 8, Number 1, Spring 1984, periodical, Spring 1984; Tyler, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38042/: accessed December 3, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting East Texas Genealogical Society.
Sometime ago, we watched a TV program in which a lady (I do not recall who she was) talked about fulfillment in life, and how to achieve it during the retirement years. According to her, one just needs to re-find the inner child in themselves. To do that, we simply need to come back to the activities we enjoyed best in our childhood.
I thought, “What was it that I liked doing best when I was little?”
The answer came, “Nothing in particular.”
A few seconds later, I reminded myself, “Cemetery!”
When I was a kid, at least once a month, I went with my mom to the local cemetery where my grandma had been buried. At that time, there was no paid grave care service – people cared for their relatives’ graves on their own. What we usually did at the cemetery - removed weeds/ leaves from the tombstone and its area, put flowers and put/lit lanterns on the grave. The candle/lantern light is a sign somebody remembers the person whose body is buried there.
Once a year, before All Saints’ Day, we also cleaned the tombstone.
When I was little, mom did most of the job, I carried bags with leaves to the trash can, brought water from the nearby tap, and lit lanterns.
You could easily tell which graves were not attended to. They looked forsaken. I called them “abandoned gravies”. I did not want them to look sad and forgotten so I always put and lit a lantern on each such a grave in the section where my grandma’s tombstone was. I also enjoyed relighting lanterns (blown out by the wind) on other nearby graves.
During our visit, at the cemetery, mom was usually busy tidying up grandma’s burial place, I was running around lighting candles. Once, I was so much into it that, accidently, my new jacket caught fire. Luckily, mom was close and saved me and the jacket. Later, she fixed it in such a way that no one could tell in which spot the burned hole was.
When I grew up, we still visited the cemetery quite regularly, but not as often as it was in my childhood. I did not do my used to be “lighting lanterns” routine, though. Well, at least not that much.
These days, I still like visiting cemeteries especially places where old graves are. Lighting candles, however, where we live now, is not allowed here due to fire safety rules. I do something else instead.
Presently, most people still look after their family graves personally, not relying on paid care.
Reflecting on the above mentioned TV program, I realized that nowadays, one of the things I enjoy most is what I call “helping the ones who passed away to not be forgotten”. I mean not only researching and writing about our late close and far relatives but also doing the same regarding other persons, who lived before our time, not related to us at all. Somehow, I can feel they all want to be remembered.
In a way, I have made a circle and come back, in a bit different way, though, to what I used to do in my early years.
The cemetery we visited in my childhood is a real necropolis - so large, the size of a small town.
You do not need to wait until the retirement to re-discover the kid in you. Find the time in your life to do what you enjoyed doing in your childhood. Most likely, the activity will be an adjusted version of the one from the past due to the changed life circumstances, and also to the current you, your present abilities and possibilities. Play and have fun.
---
Photos taken on All Saints' Day - November - many years ago
Since I lived by the sea for a few decades, the Navy is the military formation which has always been closet to my heart.
The uniforms of the Polish Navy are always of the navy blue color + black shoes, not white as in the US.
During various kind of the Polish Armed Forces parades it was the "sailors" units that caught my attention the most.
I was so very used to their presence in the area where I lived, and the sight of a Navy officer and/or a regular Navy service person was quite a frequent and usual experience, part of life at the seashore. You could see those men and women on the city streets and on TV all the time.
There is Naval Academy in my home city in Poland. The academy is over 100 years old. Its motto is "Amor patriae suprema lex"/ "Love of the fatherland is the supreme law".
Another thing is the patriotic part. On All Saint's Day, we always lit lanterns at the monument dedicated to defenders the Polish coast at the WW2 time. It is a pity I do not have a photo of that monument taken on November 1. It was always surrounded by the light of dozens of lanterns.
Monument to the Polish Sailor in Kosciuszki Square, Gdynia
The monument dedicated to the Polish Sailor is a location where patriotic ceremonies take place at various occasions including the Polish Army Day on 15th August.
When I was younger, everybody who lived in our region, knew the song "Sea, our sea" know also as "Although each of us is young". It was the school song of quite a few elementaries but not only. The song was commonly sang by scouts among others. It is one of the tunes played most often by the Polish Naval Forces Representative Orchestra.
The song was written in the 1920s/30s by captain Adam Kowalski at the beginnings of the Polish Navy and the naval port/ city of Gdynia.
Loose translation of the first part of the song main part:
Although each of us is young, we are called old salty seadogs.
We, the guardians of Polish waters, Polish sailors we are.
Ref. Sea, our sea, we will guard you faithfully.
We have orders to hold you, or at the bottom, at your bottom fall,
or at the bottom with honor fall.
No force, no storm, will take Gdynia from us.
Our fleet, though not big, faithfully guards the port gates.
Sea, our sea, we will guard you faithfully.
We have orders to hold you, or at the bottom, at your bottom fall,
or at the bottom with honor fall.
---
Photos taken at the Naval Academy and Kosciuszki Square in Gdynia (2008).
UPDATE
Looking through my old files I have found the photos of the monument to the Defenders of the Coast fallen in 1939.
All Saints' Day. The later during the day it was and more people were coming to the cemetery, the more lanterns were lit
Not long ago, I relistened to the old “Tom Dooley” song. Since I like it, I used it during our line dance class. Surprisingly, one of the ladies (of my generation, born and raised in the US) had never heard the song and its title.
I came across “The Legend of Tom Dooley” movie made in 1959. Michael London, who played the part of Tom Dooley, was so young then. I do not know whether I had seen the actor in any other show made at the beginning of his career.
Anyhow, some parts of the movie plot did not make sense at all so I decided to find out more about the tragic main character. I guess, Thomas Dula (as his original name was) wants to be remembered, too.
Thomas Caleb Dula was born in Wilkes, North Carolina, on 22 June 1845. His parents were Thomas P. Dula (born in about 1794, in Wilkes County, NC) and Mary Keeton (born in about 1800, in Patrick County, Virginia). Mr. Thomas P. Dula was the grandson of Robert Dulin of the English descent, who emigrated from Ireland/England to Essex, Virginia, Colonial America.
Thomas Caleb was the youngest son of his parents. Tom’s younger siblings were Anna Evelyn (born 1825), Selina (born in 1830), John (born about 1834), Lenny (born about 1838), Louisa (born in 1838), and Elisa (born in about 1844).
Mr. Thomas P. Dula, the head of the family, passed on 10 November 1854. The land that belonged to the man was granted to his wife (1).
Young Tom got romantically involved with his cousin Ann (Angeline) Pauline Triplett Foster. She was born on 8 May 1843. Her mother was Charlotte Triplett Foster (born 1818), daughter of Thomas Bell Foster. Ann’s father was John Foster (born in 1793).
Ann married James Gabriel Melton on 22 June 1859 (2). He was born in May 1838. The man was a well established farmer and shoemaker.
Census, 24 August 1860 (3), Thomas (age 15) lived in Wilkes County, NC, Post Office Elkvill, with his mother (age 60), brother John (age 26), and sister Louiza (age 22). The mother, ran a farm with the help of her children.
James Gabriel Melton enlisted into the CA on 12 June 1861. He served with Company C, 26th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry (4).
He was wounded at Gettysburg and then again, 2 years later, at Hatcher’s Run. James was taken a prisoner of war when he was in hospital in Richmond. Then he was sent to the camp at Point Lookout, released on 26 June 1865, after signing the oath of allegiance (5).
Young Thomas joined the CA on 15 March 1862 and served in Company K, 42nd Regiment North Carolina Infantry (6).
In 1864, Thomas was wounded and taken care of at the Church Hospital in Williamson, Virginia. Later, the man was captured and was a prisoner of war in Port Lookout Maryland. Tom Dula was released on 11 June 1865.
Thomas was the only son of Mary Dula who came back home alive from the war. Two of his brothers were killed during the war. Thomas’ family home was in Wilkes County. Soon after coming back from the war, he restarted his relationship with Ann Melton.
The man was also intimately involved with some other women including Ann’s cousins, Pauline and Laura.
Laura (born in 1843) was the daughter of Wilson Foster (born in 1811), the brother of Charlotte Foster, who was Anne’s mother. Laura’s mother was Martha Bowman, who died in about 1863. The girl lived with her father Wilson Foster in Caldwell County, NC.
Pauline was born in 1843 to Ann Carlotta Church and Levi Leander Foster. One researcher suggests that Levi was an illegitimate son of John Dula and Mary Foster, the daughter of Robert Foster, brother of Wilson and Charlotte. John Dula (born in about 1800) was a younger brother of Thomas P. Dula, Thomas Dula’s father. In that way, Angeline (Ann), Laura, Pauline, and Thomas were quite closely related.
Pauline, invited by Ann Melton, lived at the Melton’s home and worked at James’ farm as a hire hand.
It is said that Laura got pregnant by Tom. She was stabbed with a knife on 28 May 1866, in Caldwell, NC. Her body was found about six weeks later. Thomas and Ann was arrested and accused of killing Laura. The trial was moved from Caldwell to Iredell County. It started in 19 October 1866.
I have read the transcription of the trial (7).
From the testimonies of the witnesses – it was common knowledge that James Melton did not share the bedroom with his wife Ann. It was also known that Thomas was at the house almost every day, and, occasionally, spent the night there. At such occasions, he first would have laid down where James Melton slept. Later, Thomas slipped to Ann’s bed (from Pauline Foster’s testimony).
Another fact used against Tom was what he had said to R. D. Hall. According to that witness, Thomas expressed, he would “put through” the girl who gave him syphilis. Thomas also told Doctor Carter it was Laura who had diseased him.
Pauline Foster testified, she had syphilis which she contracted at "Watangoo" (Watauga?) County. Before she came to live with the Meltons. She said she worked at their farm to earn money for the medicine to cure the disease. According to Pauline, Ann Melton encouraged her to have sex with Tom and insisted on that, so it happened. Pauline was the one who spread the disease on the other parties involved in their intimate relationship. Pauline had seen Ann in bed with Thomas. Colonel Isbell testified that it was common knowledge that “Ann Melton indulged in illicit intercourse with others besides the prisoner (Thomas Dula)”.
Laura’s father Wilson Foster was one of the witnesses at the trial. He testified that Laura left the family home, took her clothes, and the father’s mare.
Mrs. Betty Scott met Laura on Friday morning, when the latter was riding to the place where she was to meet with Tom. According to Laura, the two were to elope together. The ladies talked for a short while, Laura told Mrs. Scott what she was doing and where she was to meet Thomas.
Pauline Foster testified that on that same Friday she saw Thomas Dula at James Melton’s house.
The rumor was, Ann stabbed Laura when she was sitting at Tom’s lap. It could have meant Ann went to the place where Laura and Tom meant to meet.
Ann’s mother, Ms. Lotty Foster testified, Tom borrowed a “Mattach” from her on Thursday, before the day of Laura’s disappearance. The man was later seen, on the same day, by Martha Gilbert. Thomas was then working on the road, as he said ”making it wider so that he could go along at night.” I checked what the “Mattach” mentioned by the witnesses was. It was a tool called a mattock.
Laura’s body was found four to six weeks after she left her father’s house. Her grave was in a thicket ridge. The lady's body was decomposed, with no flesh on her face. She was recognized by the features of her teeth and her garments. The grave was not far from a river. Colonel Isbell testified, there were traces of a “Mattach” at Laura’s grave.
It was taken into consideration that Thomas possibly helped Ann to bury Laura’s body. It was mentioned (by Pauline Foster) during the trial that Ann put a knife under her bed.
After that, Thomas went to Tennessee, where he was later arrested.
Pauline Foster was detained after she made comments ( in front of two men) on Dula’s involvement in killing Laura.
Pauline and Mrs. James Scott testified on Ann’s violent behavior towards Pauline, after the latter had made comments on Thomas Dula being the one who murdered Laura. Ann attacked Pauline (at Mrs. Scott’s place) with a club, used aggressive language, and started choking Pauline, as well. Later, Ann Melton came back to Mrs. Scott’s house, threatened her and made Mrs. Scott swear she would say nothing to nobody about the entire incident. Pauline claimed, she learned from Thoams Dula that Ann Melton was jealous of her. The lady also said to Ann in the presence of Mrs. Scott “(…) You are as deep in the mud as I am in this mess.”
According to Washington Anderson’s testimony, who served with Thomas Dula in the same regiment and company, the Thomas was of good, peaceable, and honest character.
All the evidence was circumstantial and nothing was proved. Thomas claimed he was not guilty of murdering Laura. He was found guilty, though. He was a poor man and could not afford a good lawyer.
Thomas appealed to the Supreme Court of North Carolina. In the result of the following retrial, he was found guilty again. Thomas Dula was hanged on 1 May 1868 at 2:17 PM.
After his death, on 8th May, the “Salisbury Watchman”, a local newspaper, published a note regarding Thomas’ hanging. It included a statement allegedly signed by Dula. In that piece, he took the blame for murdering Laura Foster. One can only wonder whether the statement and the signature were legitimate and true. Based on that, Ann Melton was released from prison (in which she had spent two years) when her trial started later. Allegedly, a juror said “she was too pretty to hang”.
Ann Pauline Foster Melton died at the of about 31, in 1874, possibly of advanced venereal disease.
James Gilbert Melton remarried on 28 January 1875. His second wife was Luisa Gilbert, born on 3 November 1841, in Wilkes NC (8).
Pauline “Perline” Foster (whose first name was also Ann) passed in about 1890.
Well, quite a tragic story. May they all rest in peace.
1."North Carolina, Estate Files, 1663-1979", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDF-C5JG : Sat Mar 09 11:48:45 UTC 2024), Entry for Thomas P Dula, 1855.
2."North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-2011 ", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFS7-5J6 : Sat Mar 09 18:39:58 UTC 2024), Entry for James Milton and Anny Foster, 22 Jun 1859.
3."United States, Census, 1860", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD63-2WC : Mon Jul 08 16:48:09 UTC 2024), Entry for Mary Dula and John Dula, 1860.
4."United States, Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", FamilySearch https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=C01939BA-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
7.“Tom Dula Case 1866-68. Insight: The Tom Dooley Story from Thomas Dula Papers 1866-1868. Private Collection 1272.1”
8."North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-2011 ", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ7-MJN3 : Sun Mar 10 18:35:49 UTC 2024), Entry for James Milton and Louise Gilbert, 28 Jan 1875.
