The 1771 War of Regulation was a turbulent time and evidence of the struggle survives at Alamance Battleground State Historic site. Descendants of participants of that battle - Regulators, Tryon's militia and the Allen family - will exchange stories and share genealogy research Aug. 8, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at a "Descendants Gathering" at the site. The public is invited to the free event. Lovers of the books and television series "Outlander" may find it most useful.
The informative program will offer tips on genealogy and researching family history from a program presented by Alamance County family librarian Lisa Kobrin at 1 p.m. Guest speakers will include Dr. Carole Troxler, author of "Farming Dissenters: The Regulator Movement in Piedmont North Carolina" and Chris Laforet, director and producer of the new documentary, "The Regulators."
John Allen built a house on the battle site in 1780; was a farmer, teacher and offered legal advice. He and his wife Rachel raised 12 children there. Not only do these descendants visit Alamance, so do fans of the "Outlander" historical novels by Diana Gabaldon and also a Starz TV series. Gabaldon's novels focus on a World War II nurse who mysteriously returns to 1740s Scotland. The Battle of Alamance figures significantly in "The Fiery Cross," fifth in the Outlander series. The author reportedly has shelves of books on North Carolina history for research.
To become informed on genealogy and family research and to see the Battle of Alamance battlefield and the bucolic countryside sought by Outlander's heroine Claire Fraser, come to the "Descendant's Gathering" at Alamance Battlefield State Historic Site. Alamance Battleground is included in the "It's Revolutionary!" event programming to celebrate North Carolina's colonial and Revolutionary War era history that will continue through 2017.
For additional information, please call (336) 227-4785. Alamance Battleground is within the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C.