Our Somers Family Heritage

Church emblem featuring the Agnus Dei . Stained glass at the Rights Chapel of Trinity Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina , United States  ( Wikipedia ) Posted at the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources : On December 27, 1752 , the survey for a Moravian settlement began in what is now Clemmons. Bishop August Spangenberg led the frontier expedition that selected the land that became known as the Wachovia tract. The original survey contained only about 73,000 acres, so five additional parcels were surveyed, bringing the total to 98,985 acres. Spangenberg judged the tract to be about 50 percent good land, 25 percent medium and 25 percent poor. He was enthusiastic, however, about the numerous springs and creeks and the promise of potential sites for mills. He was satisfied that they had identified “the best land yet vacant” in the colony. A settlement in North Carolina offered Moravians the prospect of serving their neighbors, establi...

Cherokee Supreme Court Museum - Image source:  http://nativenewsonline.net/ I found this informative article posted at the Cherokee Phoenix yesterday which tells of an exhibit honoring the Christian work of the Moravian missionaries among the Cherokee people: Cherokee Christmas exhibit opens Dec. 8 BY STAFF REPORTS 12/06/2017 12:00 PM TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Experience the first Cherokee Christmas through a holiday exhibit at the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum. Cherokee Christmas shares the story of how Moravian missionaries brought holiday celebrations to the Cherokee people in 1805. The exhibit features information about how traditions began and displays decorations similar to what was used at the Vann’s Georgia home during the first Cherokee Christmas. The Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum is at 122 E. Keetoowah St. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Originally built in 1844, it is Oklahoma’s oldest public building. The 1,950-...