Margaret Mitchell’s ancestors have a story of their own, and one relation will surprise you! The name of the song played during the video is “An Ode to all Mothers” by Howard Harper-Barnes.
I married into Margaret Mitchell’s family. I assure you, she did indeed base her characters on her family members. To this day, those personality traits from Gone With the Wind can be found in the family. We had cousin Meredith as Scarlet. My father-in-Law was Ashley Welks. Another cousin was like Melonie. As for me, I married Rhett Butler 😉😎
@@RagtopHistorian I was born and raised in Indiana. I saw Gone With the Wind when I was 12 or so. After it was over, I remember thinking where in the world did they get these people?? No one around me acts like that. After I married Dan, I found out 😳 I read that Margaret Mitchell went to visit her grandparents parents. Old Civil War Veterans would come to visit. Margaret would sit on the porch and listen to the Vets tell tales of the Civil War. Apparently, she was 10 before she realized that War was over.
@@evaschonfeld5752 Believe it or not the family was STILL arguing about that war when I married into it 30 years ago! Being a Yankee (my Great Great Grandfather was in the Indiana 42nd), I reminded them that no matter what they said the North won the war! That shut them up!
@@deborahchapman222 You're lucky. My mom is from Michigan and my dad is from Alabama. His family did not welcome my mom 42 years ago and still aren't very warm to her.
This story made me cry, hearing about the generosity of Mr Fitzgerald, at Grace's persistence and strength of character, and at the cooperation behind the scenes that sometimes occurred between members of the two races. There were so many ways that good people quietly used to defeat the chattel slavery system in the Southern US states and border states. Stories that today's angry radicals will never acknowledge, but are undeniable and true, all the same.
Outstanding connection Margaret Mitchell and Doc Holliday....Our wonderfully small world is full of amazing connections. Thank you for bringing this and the other facts to us.
GWTW is one of my favorite novels and movies. I was fortunate enough to see it on the big screen in Atlanta in January 2020 (and took my son and his 7-year-old daughter, who both loved it). This happened right before the world went completely mad and tried to erase Mitchell's masterpiece to spare the feelings of a few foolish offended people. One of the best things I like about the video above is that the historian does not apologize for historical facts.
My mom saw it 7 times, when it came out... For her 80th birthday, we did a roaring twenties party, and we had Gone with the Wind posters on the walls.. I still have one on her bedroom door in my house.. She passed away in 2006...
This was absolutely wonderful. I am always intrigued with the stories behind the names and this was very good. How incredibly touching about Grace. Thank you for this opportunity to step into Margaret Mitchell's past. It's like the story of Mary Poppins' author. Once your know her family background, the entire story/movie takes on a completely different meaning.
After sleeping on it l remembered being in a play in 1970 called"Spoon River Anthology" it was set in a cemetery with each person telling their story from the grave. Then there was "Our Town" both hits in their day. Then there is the channel "Hollywood Graveyards" also on RU-vid
Just found this. So Dilcey, the Fontaines, Mayebelle Merriwether and so many other from that book are all right there or very close. Love it! Would love to learn more.
And Mr. Fitzgerald wasn’t a slave owner, against slavery, and he freed her as soon as he “purchased” her. He was an amazing man. and she must have been an amazing woman! Thanks for watching!
Cam Bennett is my 3x great grandfather. My grandparents, Glenn and Jeanne Brewer, lived in his house until they passed away recently. Lots of good memories in that town! The house is now the Southern Conservation Trust. Most of my family is buried in that cemetery.
Very interesting story. Grace sounds like a most remarkable lady. And of course the man who purchased her. Even though he didn't own slaves. And, the family allowing her to buried at the feet of her master.....how extraordinary is that?
It just dawned on me why Scarlett was so hard headed - she was Irish! Haha from a fellow Irishman. Thank you Deb for this interesting video. Great info & photography. Was wondering where the road would take us at the end....God Bless!!
@@steveadams7940 Not what OP is saying... she means, DETERMINATION AND STRENGTH OF CHARACTER that Irish people are known for, by which they lifted themselves up from indentured servitude, from being starving, penniless refugees to the great contributors to America they have always been and still are today.
There’s many of these good stories. My family is from Virginia and there’s many, many families that carry my family last name. Yes it’s in the history books as to how it became. Long before the civil war and after. The families was treated so well they did not want to leave. And to this day, they are still there in Essex county VA with the last name of Samuel, Butler, Bryant all connected in marriage dating back to 1750.
That's a beautiful story and I thank you so very much for sharing it. I love the movie Gone With the Wind it's nice to know some family history about Margaret Mitchell
Thank you, Richard. It is an amazing true story of love and kindness. We could all learn something from it. Thanks so much for watching and your comment!
Such a beautiful story Mary! So good to learn and add to history. Grace will never be forgotten in my church black history from now on. She was courageous in thinking of her future and so used all she knew in being brought as a slave. Slave owners depending on where one lived where different in ways they treated their slaves. Its so good that Grace's wish was honored. Grace rest in peace.
I’ve read gwtw so many times, including right now, and I am so grateful for the video. I would love to meet ms. Riddle the docent and pick her brain❣️ thank you for this video 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you! Deborah Riddle is doing a cemetery walk at the cemetery in the video, The Fayetteville City Cemetery on Friday, October 15th if you are interested! She has lots of stories!
Sounds a lovely family, for helping grace, the family must of meant a lot to her, especially requesting to be burried with them, and again for that to be granted.
@@RagtopHistorian aw thanks for letting me know. The gravestones look so beautiful now. It's sad when they're just left. Maybe no family now to care for them. Great job ❤️.
As a history geek myself, I found this story to be very heartwarming. I guess 56 others are too politically correct to want to understand this story in the context of the time in which it happened.
my late uncle loyd faught in world 1 ant 2 he was from the old carolinas told me a lot about the old south witch i have always had lot of respect for god bless.
This is great I love our history and even though black folks were not treated kindly at all this is a sweet kind loving tribute that people back then did do the right thing god bless their souls
What’s important to remember here is that she was buried next to Mr. Fitzgerald in a “white only” section of the cemetery. It was a way to show others that the family loved her enough to have her buried with them. It was an honor to Grace.
And it still plays the same unfortunate part Today only its position has changed every one sets to much on it black white Asian greek Italian its still 1 race the human race 🏁 😑
The Grace story reminds me a little of biblical Ruth. Minus the kinsman-marriage-thing. Requesting to lay at his feet makes me wonder if she took it from the Bible, as he did set her free.
@@RagtopHistorian vicious period of American history, but GWTW is a fascinating movie that I loved as a kid, poor Vivien Leigh died a tragic, broken character in real life.
I just stumbled upon this story. It is wonderful. I am one of those history detail lovers you talked about. When you were going through the background of the Fitzgerald family did you ever find any pieces that they were associated with JFK? Thank you
@@RagtopHistorian Thank you. There were so many common names & being Irish it just makes sense. I subscribed to your channel. I will keep watching. If your stories were as good as this one I will keep watching. Thank you for your hard work.
Actress Susan Hayward auditioned for the part of Scarlett in the film but did not get the role. She is buried in Carrollton Georgia. There is a memorial at the performing arts center here in Carrollton as well.
