County to mark 250th anniversary of Mary Jemison capture

(Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - 12/26/2007

On Wednesday, January 2, 2008, at 9 a.m., the Adams County Commissioners will issue a proclamation declaring that people in Adams County will conduct events on April 5, 2008 and throughout 2008 to commemorate the interesting life of Mary Jemison.

On April 5, 1758 Mary was removed from her peaceful childhood home in Adams County's pristine Buchanan Valley during the French and Indian War. April 5, 2008 will be exactly 250 years since that tragic day. Mary was adopted by two Seneca women who cared for her after the capture. She later was married twice (both were chiefs), had several children and became an important landholder in New York state. She also refused several opportunities to return to the White World.

The Remembering Mary Jemison Committee has been formed and it will be chaired by two Gettysburg leaders; Ms. Jacqueline White of the Historic Dobbin House and Ms. Debra McCauslin of For the Cause Productions. Programs will be sponsored by the Biglerville Historical Preservation Society (BHPS). Other committee members include, Harold Griffie (BHPS), Timothy H. Smith (BHPS), Richard Mountfort (Land Conservancy of Adams County), Ann Griffith (actress, drama teacher), Stacey Fox (Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau), Christine Little (editor, writer) and Deb Yocum (Gettysburg YWCA) The committee will make plans for this commemorative event. The public will be encouraged to participate by donating their time to join the committee, by providing funding to finance events and to attend events to learn more about this daughter from Adams County.

The committee's logo has been designed by Kris Driscoll of Gettysburg's Bare Hands Design and was funded by Debra McCauslin For the Cause Productions. The logo will be unveiled after the proclamation is read. Please attend to learn more about Mary Jemison, to meet some of the committee members and to discuss plans for the commemorative events.

Questions: Contact Debra McCauslin at 528-8553 (h) or 705-9115 (w) or via www.gettysburghistories.com

Adams County Commissioner's Office, 1st floor
Adams County Courthouse
111-117 Baltimore Street
Gettysburg, PA

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