Daisy Turner
Encyclopedia
Daisy Turner was born in Grafton, Vermont
to Alex and Sally Turner, freed slaves. She was famous for her oral recordings of her family's history, which can be traced back to Africa and England.
at the start of the Civil War, and joined the 1st New Jersey Cavalry
of the Union Army
. In the spring of 1863, Turner guided his regiment to his old plantation in Port Royal
, Virginia
, where he killed his former overseer.
After military service, he returned to New England
where he worked as a logger. He and his wife Sally had a homestead in Grafton, Vermont
where they raised 16 children. His strength was prodigious, and the Grafton Storekeeper once bet that if Alex carried a one hundred fifty pound barrel of flour home (uphill and over three miles) without setting it down he could have it for free. Alex went ahead and did so to feed his family but at the same time he was followed by forty or so men who carried their own "little jugs of jimmyjohn and hard cider... and after they all got up, they all got drunk." (Beck)
A powerful presence, Daisy Turner was proud of her heritage, and was a strong, outspoken woman from childhood to her death at the age of 104. She is remembered as a gifted storyteller and family historian. The Turner family homestead (they had 13 children in all) is located on the "Daisy Turner Loop", a biking trail near Grafton Pond.
She had been a "striking beauty in her youth, with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes" (Beck) and led an exciting life, many of the details of which have been recorded carefully. Daisy can be seen reciting Civil War poetry, at the remarkable age of 104, in Ken Burns' critically acclaimed PBS documentary, The Civil War
. Her story continues to attract wide attention as part of an effort to preserve the folk history of Vermont and the United States.
Grafton, Vermont
Grafton is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 649 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was founded as Thomlinson, but renaming rights were auctioned in 1791. The high bidder, who reportedly offered "five dollars and a jug of rum," changed the name to Grafton after...
to Alex and Sally Turner, freed slaves. She was famous for her oral recordings of her family's history, which can be traced back to Africa and England.
Biography
Alexander Turner was a slave who escaped from his plantationPlantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
at the start of the Civil War, and joined the 1st New Jersey Cavalry
1st New Jersey Cavalry
The 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry was a regiment from the U.S. state of New Jersey that participated in the American Civil War.Regiment lost during service 12 Officers and 116 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 185 Enlisted men by disease...
of the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. In the spring of 1863, Turner guided his regiment to his old plantation in Port Royal
Port Royal, Virginia
Port Royal is an incorporated town in Caroline County, Virginia, United States. The population was 170 at the 2000 census.Port Royal was established in the mid-17th century in the Colony of Virginia primary as a port on a navigable portion of the Rappahannock River for export of tobacco, Virginia's...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, where he killed his former overseer.
After military service, he returned to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
where he worked as a logger. He and his wife Sally had a homestead in Grafton, Vermont
Grafton, Vermont
Grafton is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 649 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was founded as Thomlinson, but renaming rights were auctioned in 1791. The high bidder, who reportedly offered "five dollars and a jug of rum," changed the name to Grafton after...
where they raised 16 children. His strength was prodigious, and the Grafton Storekeeper once bet that if Alex carried a one hundred fifty pound barrel of flour home (uphill and over three miles) without setting it down he could have it for free. Alex went ahead and did so to feed his family but at the same time he was followed by forty or so men who carried their own "little jugs of jimmyjohn and hard cider... and after they all got up, they all got drunk." (Beck)
A powerful presence, Daisy Turner was proud of her heritage, and was a strong, outspoken woman from childhood to her death at the age of 104. She is remembered as a gifted storyteller and family historian. The Turner family homestead (they had 13 children in all) is located on the "Daisy Turner Loop", a biking trail near Grafton Pond.
She had been a "striking beauty in her youth, with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes" (Beck) and led an exciting life, many of the details of which have been recorded carefully. Daisy can be seen reciting Civil War poetry, at the remarkable age of 104, in Ken Burns' critically acclaimed PBS documentary, The Civil War
The Civil War (documentary)
The Civil War is a documentary film created by Ken Burns about the American Civil War. It was first broadcast on PBS on five consecutive nights from Sunday, September 23 to Thursday, September 27, 1990. Forty million viewers watched it during its initial broadcast, making it the most-watched...
. Her story continues to attract wide attention as part of an effort to preserve the folk history of Vermont and the United States.